"SHARING GRACE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGEMENT OF GOD"
Revelation 20:11 “Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them.”
Revelation 20:12 “And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.”
Revelation 20:13 “The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.”
Revelation 20:14 “Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.”
Revelation 20:15 “And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.”
Taken from today's reading in "The One Year Bible”.
1. There is a great white throne in heaven.
Revelation 20:11 “Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them.”
God allowed John to see into heaven.
We will one day see what John saw.
In fact we will spend forever in heaven.
But as Christians we will not appear before this throne.
This judgment is strictly for those who have rejected Christ.
2. The unsaved dead will all appear before this throne to be judged.
Revelation 20:12 “And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.”
Revelation 20:13 “The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.”
All of those down through history who have refused God's free offer of forgiveness will be before this throne.
Every unbeliever, both small and great, will stand before God.
And several books will be opened at that time.
Those before the throne will be judged according to what is recorded in the books.
God keeps a record of everything that every man does.
Remember this is for non believers, not believers.
3. Death, and hades, will be cast into the lake of fire.
Revelation 20:14 “Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.”
At this time, two things will be cast into what is called the lake of fire.
Death will go there.
Hades or the present place of punishment for the wicked will also be cast into the lake of fire.
This is called the second death.
4. Anyone whose name is not written in the Book of Life will also be cast into the lake of fire.
Revelation 20:15 “And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.”
Here is the most tragic part of the judgement.
Any person whose name is not recorded in the Book of life will also be cast into the lake of fire.
The Book of Life contains the names of those people who are saved now during this lifetime.
As a saved person your name is in God's book of life in heaven.
But if a person is not saved, their name is not in that book.
And, they will be cast into the lake of fire.
That lake is really the place we think of when we think of hell.
It's a place of eternal torment and separation from God.
Some Questions:
1. Do you think about heaven much?
2. Do you know that every person will be there (some for just this judgement)?
3. Do you know that if you are saved you will remain in heaven forever, and you will not appear at this judgement?
4. Heaven is real, the judgment is real, and so is salvation through Jesus Christ real.
5. Are you on your way to heaven forever, or just for this judgement?
6. If you are not saved will you be saved today? I pray so.
A Prayer:
Father, thank You for the Book of Revelation. It gives us the end of the story as it were. A true and real look into the future, not fairy tale thinking, but the truth of God given to us. This section of Scripture is frightful for all who do not know Christ. May it put in us a desire to see others who do not yet know Christ come to know Him, so that they will not go to this judgement and will not be cast into the lake of fire. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia
