The Great White Throne judgment
Revelation 20:11-15
Message #38
We are on the verge of the grand finale of the greatest story ever told. The story that starts in Genesis 1 – we’re getting right to the end of it. We are on the verge of seeing, in Revelation, the New Heaven and New Earth and our eternal life with God. We are on the verge of all that we look forward to as Believers: the glory of Heaven and an eternity living in the very real presence of God.
There is just one passage between us and all that glory.
It is a passage that one scholar called “the most serious, sobering, and tragic passage in the entire Bible.” It is the Great White Throne Judgment and God’s Word forces us to look straight at it today, and I do not know of a more sobering and more serious text in all the Bible.
So, these are the next verses, and we are compelled by God to have the courage to read them and, honestly, to believe them as they’re written. That’s the way we do it. Our culture, including our church culture, has re-explained and ignored and avoided the simplicity of this truth because it’s easier to grow a church if you avoid these parts of the Bible. And so, too much of our culture has done that.
This is a sobering set of verses. It’s one of the most serious sets of verses in the Bible. But God wants to use this text to offer you true eternal life IF you are willing to believe the miraculous, supernaturally proven, Living Word of God. There is no document on earth like the Bible. There is no religious document, especially on earth, that can compare to the Bible. And so, once you cross that point, where you say, “Okay. I believe this is God’s Word,” then this is part of God’s Word. We don’t get to say, “Well, certainly, God would do that just because he wrote it in his living Word; that’s not very nice.” We just have to face it. Alright?
In our last Revelation message, we were celebrating “The Millennium.” That 1,000-year period on earth with Jesus physically ruling and Satan bound in the pit.
And we saw Satan released at the end of that 1,000 years. And Satan seduces many who were born during the Millennium to join him in one final battle against God, which (of course) they lose “decisively,” and Satan is finally thrown into the Eternal Lake of Fire, where the Antichrist and False Prophet already are.
So, at this point:
All Believers
From the Old Testament
and from the Church Age
and from the Tribulation
and from the Millennium
They have all been resurrected. But the combination of all those resurrections is only the first of two resurrections. The first resurrection is for all Believers who have been “saved by faith” in Jesus Christ. This first resurrection is called the Resurrection Unto Life. Those are all those who have put their faith in God and God’s plan of salvation. In the Old Testament, it was looking forward to God’s plan of salvation and faith in that. In the New Testament, it’s looking back to the Cross and God’s plan of salvation through Jesus Christ and him paying for our sins, and then giving us the righteousness of God in HIM through our identification with Christ by faith. That’s the plan of salvation that’s in the Bible. And those who those who take part in the first resurrection are those who have received that salvation in Christ.
Revelation 20:6(a) (NLT)
6 Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. For them the second death holds no power . . .
The first resurrection is for ALL Believers. The Resurrection Unto Life.
The second death refers to the Great White Throne Judgment that we will see today.
And so, generally speaking, there are two resurrections. The Resurrection Unto Life (for all Believers) and the Resurrection Unto Death (for all unbelievers).
AND there are two judgments. We already looked at the judgment for Believers called the Judgment Seat of Christ. We looked at it in message number 13 in this series called “The Bema Seat Judgment,” Salvation is not at issue at this judgment: instead, rewards or loss based on how we lived for Christ in this world. And the second judgment is the judgment we are looking at today, and it is only for unbelievers.
At the Judgment Seat of Christ, all believers already have eternal life (and that doesn’t change).
At the Great White Throne Judgment, all unbelievers already have eternal death (and that doesn’t change.
And so, the Great White Throne Judgment is not what we would call a “Courtroom Trial.” We don’t present our case and try to convince Jesus that we’re good enough, he should tell St. Peter at the Pearly Gates to let us slip in. Listen, it’s not up to St. Perter. If you just study Peter a little bit, you’re like, it’s definitely not up to that guy. It’s up to God. But we don’t get to say, “I was so much better than my Uncle Joe.” It’s not like that. It’s not a courtroom. The Great White Throne Judgment is what we would call a “Sentencing Hearing.”
At this judgment, no one’s eternity is going to be changed. That’s what makes it so sobering and so eternally serious.
So, let’s go through it verse by verse.
Revelation 20:11 (NLT)
11 And I saw a great white throne and the one sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from his presence, but they found no place to hide.
Throughout the New Testament God has committed judgment to Jesus Christ.
Acts 10:42 (NLT)
42 . . . Jesus is the one appointed by God to be the judge of all - the living and the dead. (and 2 Timothy 4:1 – says same thing)
At the 1st Resurrection - Jesus Judges the Living
At the 2nd Resurrection - Jesus Judges the Dead
In other places in Revelation, God the Father is seated on the throne of Heaven. But this is a specific throne for a specific purpose, and Jesus Christ himself is administering this judgment.
And it’s only right that he should. It makes sense because Jesus Christ is the One who died in your place, taking your sins upon himself and paying the full penalty sot that you could avoid standing at this judgment. And so, if you have rejected h is free offer of salvation, the free gift of salvation in Christ, then he will also be the One who judges you. He died to save you. That’s sobering.
In Revelation Chapter 5, when John first sees Jesus, John see the effects of the Crucifixion on Jesus. John says, “saw a Lamb as though it had been slain,” which means at this judgment those who’ve rejected Christ will see that this is the same Jesus who died for them and offered them deliverance from this very judgment.
So, Jesus Christ is sitting (as Judge) on the Great White Throne.
And then (back in Revelation 20) we read this.
Revelation 20:11(b) (NLT)
11 . . . The earth and sky fled from his presence, but they found no place to hide.
There is an incredible “thought” in this statement. It seems this judgment occurs at a time that is in between the temporal earth and heavens and the eternal earth and heavens.
2 Peter 3:10 (NLT)
10 But the day of the Lord (Judgment Day) will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens (that’s speaking of our heavens, our atmosphere in space) will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements (a word for the planets and the stars in our close heaven – not where God abides, our heavens, our sky, and space) themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment.
That is this day, the day of the final judgment of God. There are some scholars who think this is God refining, rebuilding. But listen – here’s our incredible Bible interpretation approach. If you can take the Bible literally, do it. Read it and believe it – and tremble. This earth, this heaven is going to pass away.
And then, in the very next verse after this judgment.
Revelation 21:1 (NLT)
1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone.
So, it seems likely the Great White Throne Judgment occurs in between this earth and heavens passing away and the new earth and Heaven being created.
And so, because there can be no sin in the presence of God in the New Heavens and New Earth, those who have not had their sin removed by faith in Christ must have someplace to go. They can’t come into the glory of Heaven with us, and this present earth and heavens have “passed away.” They’ve burned up, on this earth there is a place that the Bible refers to as Hades, or Sheol – it’s the place of the dead. That is being burned up. And so, the dead outside of Christ, those that have rejected Christ, they need someplace to go. And so, at the Great White Throne Judgment, all those who have chosen to reject God’s eternal salvation through faith in Jesus Christ must be separated from God because of their sin.
And so, the dead will now be raised to stand before the Great White Throne Judgment.
Revelation 20:12 (NLT)
12 I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books.
No matter how great or small a person’s position on earth, they will all be equally trembling at this final judgment.
And as they are standing there, the books (plural) are opened. These books are the record of the lives of those standing (unbelievers) before this judgment, and they will be judged according to what they have done. Now, you may think, “Alright then, I should be okay because I’m a pretty good person . . .” the problem is the Bible says no sin can be in the presence of God. NO sin. ZERO.
And so, if you decide to take this route and you say, “Yeah, open up the books, check out my life . . .” the books will be opened and the first line will read Sinner by nature and by choice and you will be judged by your sin.
This is not a trial to see if you are “good enough” to get in
This is a judgment that is justly due upon your sin
Romans 3:10 (NLT)
10 . . .“No one is righteous - not even one.
And these books are opened to prove that.
God’s Word speaks of different “Records” (books)
The Record of our own CONSCIENCE - Romans 1 & 2
The Record of every SECRET THING - Romans 2:16, Eccleciastes 12:14
The Record of our own ACTIONS - Matthew 16:27
The Record of Every WORD we’ve spoken - Matthew 12:36
And these “Records” (books) will condemn every person who has rejected God’s redemption through faith in Jesus Christ. God must judge sin. These books are there to prove that no one is righteous enough on their own to enter the presence of God.
Not one person at this judgment will be able to speak a word in their own defense. Their lives will condemn them, and ours would have condemned us as well – had we not been clothed in the righteousness of Christ through our faith. We would’ve been right there with them, just as deserving of this judgment as any other sinner. Because it’s about Christ. It’s about our identification with Jesus Christ through faith, and either we stand at the resurrection unto life, clothed in the righteousness of God through our faith in Christ, or we stand at the Great White Throne of Judgment, and whatever we think our own righteousness is, Isaiah says it’s filthy rags. No one gets in. Everyone at the Great White Throne Judgment – it’s proven that they fully and completely deserve the judgment of God.
Let me show you where you and I were. If you’re a Believer today, if you’re a Christ-follower today, turn over to Ephesians Chapter 2. This is a very long read – but please stay with me. Ephesians 2 from 1 to 10, one of the greatest sections in the Bible, this set of ten verses tells the story. It tells the story. I won’t read it all; for times’ sake, I’m just going to read the portions that specifically apply to what we are looking at today. You meditate on it later (many times, hopefully).
Portions of Ephesians 2:1–9 (NLT)
1 Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins.
2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world . . . ,
3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger (wrath), just like everyone else. (We would have been at the Great White Throne Judgment had it not been for our putting our faith in Christ)
4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much,
5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) (AMEN!)
6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. (By faith, we become so identified with Jesus Christ that when he paid for our sin, it was as if we paid for it. And his righteousness becomes our righteousness. It’s the greatest exchange in all of the Bible for us, just through our identification with Christ, through faith, we exchange our sin for his righteousness. It’s written in 2 Corinthians 5:21 – one of my favorite scriptures to explain why all roads don’t lead to Heaven. Do you know why all roads don’t lead to Heaven? Listen, there are thousands of religions on earth. NONE OF THEM deal with your sin. None of them make you righteous before God. They say, “Oh, this is a good idea.” “This is good.” Whatever! There is a day coming when you will stand before God, and the only thing that will place you in the presence of God is your righteousness equal to God’s perfect righteousness, which you can only have through faith in Christ because he exchanges his righteousness to you for your sins to him. because we are united with Christ Jesus.)
. . .
8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. (When you believed. What does that mean, Dave? When was I saved? The Bible says you were saved when you believed. When did God know I was saved? Before the foundation of the world. He’s always known. He can’t not know. He has to know because he is God) And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.
9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.
The only way to avoid standing here at the Great White Throne Judgment is to freely receive the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ. That is it. It’s the only to avoid that judgment.
2 Corinthians 5:21 (NLT)
21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.
The only way you and I can stand in the presence of God is to be made right with God through faith in Jesus Christ alone. See, that is the great exchange. He takes our sin – he gives us his righteousness – we avoid the Great White Throne Judgment (which I beg you to avoid).
So back in Revelation 20, the middle of verse 12 says this.
Revelation 20:12 (NLT)
12 . . . And the books were opened, including the Book of Life . . .
This singular book is the most important book of all. All the other books prove those standing at the Great White Throne deserve this judgment. Only the Book of Life determines whether a person will escape this judgment – or not. The Book of Life is the register of every person who has put their faith in Jesus Christ and received God’s forgiveness and righteousness through him. Your name is written in the Book of Life in his blood. It is not written in pencil. It’s written in his blood. And if you have truly received Jesus Christ, made him your Savior and your Lord, then your name is in this book in the blood of the Son of God, and it’s not going anywhere. That’s the book you want your name in.
Your name being in this book is the only thing that will change your eternity from eternal judgment upon your sin to eternal life in the glory of Heaven. And it comes through faith in Christ. That’s what the Bible says. It is not by religion, or belonging to a particular church. It is by faith alone.
It is not the lack of good works that condemns a person at the Great White Throne Judgment, it is the lack of their name being in the Book of Life that condemns them.
And it is not the lack of sin that puts a person’s name in the Book of Life. It is the forgiveness of their sin through faith in Jesus Christ that puts their name in this book.
And if your name is not found in this Book of Life, there can be no entrance into Heaven for you.
So, now we see the second resurrection we’ve been talking about – The Resurrection Unto Death.
Revelation 20:13 (NLT)
13 The sea gave up its dead, and death and the grave gave up their dead. And all were judged according to their deeds.
The Bible makes it excruciatingly clear. NO ONE gets into Heaven by their deeds (good works), and so this is the Resurrection Unto Death. They’re judged according to their deeds but it doesn’t mean they’re getting in because of their deeds. It means they’re judged because of their deeds to prove that they fully deserve the righteous, just, holy judgment of God upon their sin. This is the Resurrection Unto Death.
Previous to this resurrection those who have rejected faith in God for salvation, have been held in what the Bible calls Hades (or Sheol) “The ABODE (holding place) of the dead.” But there’s a transition right here where the old earth that was cursed with sin and the heavens with it are being dissolved, and Hades along with it. But now there is no need for Hades because no one will be held there any longer and there is NO need for what we know as death on this earth – that is over.
And so, death and the grave (which is just a nice word for Hades, or Sheol, the place of the dead) follow Satan into the Lake of Fire. Remember, right now it’s just Antichrist, False Prophet, Satan, and now death and Hades.
Revelation 20:14 (NLT)
14 Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death.
The second death is the Lake of Fire. Prior to this point, only Satan, Antichrist, False Prophet, and death and Hades are there. It was created for the devil and his angels, not for you. But God will honor your choice if you demand to go there by your rejection of him.
But finally, we have what, to me, is the most “personally disturbing” verse in all of the Bible.
Revelation 20:15 (NLT)
15 And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.
The Bible is true: whether or not it is something you want to hear. The Bible is true. This we don’t want to hear. Our church culture, for a large part, has removed from the Bible. We can’t remove it. This is eternal separation from God and eternal judgment for your sin. This is an eternal place. Why is it an eternal place? Because it says in Genesis 1:27 that we were made in God’s image. God said, “Let Us (speaking to the Trinity) make man in our own image.” Well, that image is an eternal image. We’re the only ones that God created with an eternal being. We have an eternal spirit. And so, when eternity begins, there are only two places, and the time to make the choice of which place is before you get there. There are no “do-overs.” There are no explanations. There are no “Yeah, but’s…”
if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire
I don’t know what level of importance you put on this life by comparison. Right? We’re kind of consumed with this life because this life has burdens and struggles, and joys and difficulties. We’ve got bills to pay, and cars to buy, and we’ve got some stuff we’ve got to get to. Listen – this is critical – tomorrow is not guaranteed to any of us. Step off the curb at the wrong second and that’s your Armageddon. That’s it. There are no “do-overs” after that moment. James 4, verse 14, puts it like this.
James 4:14 (NLT)
14 How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.
God says this life is a vapor – a mist – and it’s going to disappear into thin air. But not so with eternity. Eternity is eternal.
Mark 8:36 (NLT)
36 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?
Please make sure your name is written in the Book of Life. Eternity lasts for a lot longer than this life. Eternity means no time; it’s outside of time. Don’t give that up to try to better this little brief vapor of a life. Your name written in the Book of Life is the only way for you to escape an eternity in the Lake of Fire created for the devil, his demons, and death itself.
And the only way to ensure your name is written in his book is for you to put your faith in Jesus Christ as your Savior and begin a real, personal relationship with him as your Lord. Do you have that today? Have you begun a real relationship with Jesus Christ?
You begin your eternal life with Jesus by putting your faith in him as your Savior for the forgiveness of your sins and committing to follow him as your Lord.
If you have not done that, then please do it today! Where you spend eternity absolutely depends on it.
There is just one passage between us and all that glory.
It is a passage that one scholar called “the most serious, sobering, and tragic passage in the entire Bible.” It is the Great White Throne Judgment and God’s Word forces us to look straight at it today, and I do not know of a more sobering and more serious text in all the Bible.
So, these are the next verses, and we are compelled by God to have the courage to read them and, honestly, to believe them as they’re written. That’s the way we do it. Our culture, including our church culture, has re-explained and ignored and avoided the simplicity of this truth because it’s easier to grow a church if you avoid these parts of the Bible. And so, too much of our culture has done that.
This is a sobering set of verses. It’s one of the most serious sets of verses in the Bible. But God wants to use this text to offer you true eternal life IF you are willing to believe the miraculous, supernaturally proven, Living Word of God. There is no document on earth like the Bible. There is no religious document, especially on earth, that can compare to the Bible. And so, once you cross that point, where you say, “Okay. I believe this is God’s Word,” then this is part of God’s Word. We don’t get to say, “Well, certainly, God would do that just because he wrote it in his living Word; that’s not very nice.” We just have to face it. Alright?
In our last Revelation message, we were celebrating “The Millennium.” That 1,000-year period on earth with Jesus physically ruling and Satan bound in the pit.
And we saw Satan released at the end of that 1,000 years. And Satan seduces many who were born during the Millennium to join him in one final battle against God, which (of course) they lose “decisively,” and Satan is finally thrown into the Eternal Lake of Fire, where the Antichrist and False Prophet already are.
So, at this point:
All Believers
From the Old Testament
and from the Church Age
and from the Tribulation
and from the Millennium
They have all been resurrected. But the combination of all those resurrections is only the first of two resurrections. The first resurrection is for all Believers who have been “saved by faith” in Jesus Christ. This first resurrection is called the Resurrection Unto Life. Those are all those who have put their faith in God and God’s plan of salvation. In the Old Testament, it was looking forward to God’s plan of salvation and faith in that. In the New Testament, it’s looking back to the Cross and God’s plan of salvation through Jesus Christ and him paying for our sins, and then giving us the righteousness of God in HIM through our identification with Christ by faith. That’s the plan of salvation that’s in the Bible. And those who those who take part in the first resurrection are those who have received that salvation in Christ.
Revelation 20:6(a) (NLT)
6 Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. For them the second death holds no power . . .
The first resurrection is for ALL Believers. The Resurrection Unto Life.
The second death refers to the Great White Throne Judgment that we will see today.
And so, generally speaking, there are two resurrections. The Resurrection Unto Life (for all Believers) and the Resurrection Unto Death (for all unbelievers).
AND there are two judgments. We already looked at the judgment for Believers called the Judgment Seat of Christ. We looked at it in message number 13 in this series called “The Bema Seat Judgment,” Salvation is not at issue at this judgment: instead, rewards or loss based on how we lived for Christ in this world. And the second judgment is the judgment we are looking at today, and it is only for unbelievers.
At the Judgment Seat of Christ, all believers already have eternal life (and that doesn’t change).
At the Great White Throne Judgment, all unbelievers already have eternal death (and that doesn’t change.
And so, the Great White Throne Judgment is not what we would call a “Courtroom Trial.” We don’t present our case and try to convince Jesus that we’re good enough, he should tell St. Peter at the Pearly Gates to let us slip in. Listen, it’s not up to St. Perter. If you just study Peter a little bit, you’re like, it’s definitely not up to that guy. It’s up to God. But we don’t get to say, “I was so much better than my Uncle Joe.” It’s not like that. It’s not a courtroom. The Great White Throne Judgment is what we would call a “Sentencing Hearing.”
At this judgment, no one’s eternity is going to be changed. That’s what makes it so sobering and so eternally serious.
So, let’s go through it verse by verse.
Revelation 20:11 (NLT)
11 And I saw a great white throne and the one sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from his presence, but they found no place to hide.
Throughout the New Testament God has committed judgment to Jesus Christ.
Acts 10:42 (NLT)
42 . . . Jesus is the one appointed by God to be the judge of all - the living and the dead. (and 2 Timothy 4:1 – says same thing)
At the 1st Resurrection - Jesus Judges the Living
At the 2nd Resurrection - Jesus Judges the Dead
In other places in Revelation, God the Father is seated on the throne of Heaven. But this is a specific throne for a specific purpose, and Jesus Christ himself is administering this judgment.
And it’s only right that he should. It makes sense because Jesus Christ is the One who died in your place, taking your sins upon himself and paying the full penalty sot that you could avoid standing at this judgment. And so, if you have rejected h is free offer of salvation, the free gift of salvation in Christ, then he will also be the One who judges you. He died to save you. That’s sobering.
In Revelation Chapter 5, when John first sees Jesus, John see the effects of the Crucifixion on Jesus. John says, “saw a Lamb as though it had been slain,” which means at this judgment those who’ve rejected Christ will see that this is the same Jesus who died for them and offered them deliverance from this very judgment.
So, Jesus Christ is sitting (as Judge) on the Great White Throne.
And then (back in Revelation 20) we read this.
Revelation 20:11(b) (NLT)
11 . . . The earth and sky fled from his presence, but they found no place to hide.
There is an incredible “thought” in this statement. It seems this judgment occurs at a time that is in between the temporal earth and heavens and the eternal earth and heavens.
2 Peter 3:10 (NLT)
10 But the day of the Lord (Judgment Day) will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens (that’s speaking of our heavens, our atmosphere in space) will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements (a word for the planets and the stars in our close heaven – not where God abides, our heavens, our sky, and space) themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment.
That is this day, the day of the final judgment of God. There are some scholars who think this is God refining, rebuilding. But listen – here’s our incredible Bible interpretation approach. If you can take the Bible literally, do it. Read it and believe it – and tremble. This earth, this heaven is going to pass away.
And then, in the very next verse after this judgment.
Revelation 21:1 (NLT)
1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone.
So, it seems likely the Great White Throne Judgment occurs in between this earth and heavens passing away and the new earth and Heaven being created.
And so, because there can be no sin in the presence of God in the New Heavens and New Earth, those who have not had their sin removed by faith in Christ must have someplace to go. They can’t come into the glory of Heaven with us, and this present earth and heavens have “passed away.” They’ve burned up, on this earth there is a place that the Bible refers to as Hades, or Sheol – it’s the place of the dead. That is being burned up. And so, the dead outside of Christ, those that have rejected Christ, they need someplace to go. And so, at the Great White Throne Judgment, all those who have chosen to reject God’s eternal salvation through faith in Jesus Christ must be separated from God because of their sin.
And so, the dead will now be raised to stand before the Great White Throne Judgment.
Revelation 20:12 (NLT)
12 I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books.
No matter how great or small a person’s position on earth, they will all be equally trembling at this final judgment.
And as they are standing there, the books (plural) are opened. These books are the record of the lives of those standing (unbelievers) before this judgment, and they will be judged according to what they have done. Now, you may think, “Alright then, I should be okay because I’m a pretty good person . . .” the problem is the Bible says no sin can be in the presence of God. NO sin. ZERO.
And so, if you decide to take this route and you say, “Yeah, open up the books, check out my life . . .” the books will be opened and the first line will read Sinner by nature and by choice and you will be judged by your sin.
This is not a trial to see if you are “good enough” to get in
This is a judgment that is justly due upon your sin
Romans 3:10 (NLT)
10 . . .“No one is righteous - not even one.
And these books are opened to prove that.
God’s Word speaks of different “Records” (books)
The Record of our own CONSCIENCE - Romans 1 & 2
The Record of every SECRET THING - Romans 2:16, Eccleciastes 12:14
The Record of our own ACTIONS - Matthew 16:27
The Record of Every WORD we’ve spoken - Matthew 12:36
And these “Records” (books) will condemn every person who has rejected God’s redemption through faith in Jesus Christ. God must judge sin. These books are there to prove that no one is righteous enough on their own to enter the presence of God.
Not one person at this judgment will be able to speak a word in their own defense. Their lives will condemn them, and ours would have condemned us as well – had we not been clothed in the righteousness of Christ through our faith. We would’ve been right there with them, just as deserving of this judgment as any other sinner. Because it’s about Christ. It’s about our identification with Jesus Christ through faith, and either we stand at the resurrection unto life, clothed in the righteousness of God through our faith in Christ, or we stand at the Great White Throne of Judgment, and whatever we think our own righteousness is, Isaiah says it’s filthy rags. No one gets in. Everyone at the Great White Throne Judgment – it’s proven that they fully and completely deserve the judgment of God.
Let me show you where you and I were. If you’re a Believer today, if you’re a Christ-follower today, turn over to Ephesians Chapter 2. This is a very long read – but please stay with me. Ephesians 2 from 1 to 10, one of the greatest sections in the Bible, this set of ten verses tells the story. It tells the story. I won’t read it all; for times’ sake, I’m just going to read the portions that specifically apply to what we are looking at today. You meditate on it later (many times, hopefully).
Portions of Ephesians 2:1–9 (NLT)
1 Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins.
2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world . . . ,
3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger (wrath), just like everyone else. (We would have been at the Great White Throne Judgment had it not been for our putting our faith in Christ)
4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much,
5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) (AMEN!)
6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. (By faith, we become so identified with Jesus Christ that when he paid for our sin, it was as if we paid for it. And his righteousness becomes our righteousness. It’s the greatest exchange in all of the Bible for us, just through our identification with Christ, through faith, we exchange our sin for his righteousness. It’s written in 2 Corinthians 5:21 – one of my favorite scriptures to explain why all roads don’t lead to Heaven. Do you know why all roads don’t lead to Heaven? Listen, there are thousands of religions on earth. NONE OF THEM deal with your sin. None of them make you righteous before God. They say, “Oh, this is a good idea.” “This is good.” Whatever! There is a day coming when you will stand before God, and the only thing that will place you in the presence of God is your righteousness equal to God’s perfect righteousness, which you can only have through faith in Christ because he exchanges his righteousness to you for your sins to him. because we are united with Christ Jesus.)
. . .
8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. (When you believed. What does that mean, Dave? When was I saved? The Bible says you were saved when you believed. When did God know I was saved? Before the foundation of the world. He’s always known. He can’t not know. He has to know because he is God) And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.
9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.
The only way to avoid standing here at the Great White Throne Judgment is to freely receive the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ. That is it. It’s the only to avoid that judgment.
2 Corinthians 5:21 (NLT)
21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.
The only way you and I can stand in the presence of God is to be made right with God through faith in Jesus Christ alone. See, that is the great exchange. He takes our sin – he gives us his righteousness – we avoid the Great White Throne Judgment (which I beg you to avoid).
So back in Revelation 20, the middle of verse 12 says this.
Revelation 20:12 (NLT)
12 . . . And the books were opened, including the Book of Life . . .
This singular book is the most important book of all. All the other books prove those standing at the Great White Throne deserve this judgment. Only the Book of Life determines whether a person will escape this judgment – or not. The Book of Life is the register of every person who has put their faith in Jesus Christ and received God’s forgiveness and righteousness through him. Your name is written in the Book of Life in his blood. It is not written in pencil. It’s written in his blood. And if you have truly received Jesus Christ, made him your Savior and your Lord, then your name is in this book in the blood of the Son of God, and it’s not going anywhere. That’s the book you want your name in.
Your name being in this book is the only thing that will change your eternity from eternal judgment upon your sin to eternal life in the glory of Heaven. And it comes through faith in Christ. That’s what the Bible says. It is not by religion, or belonging to a particular church. It is by faith alone.
It is not the lack of good works that condemns a person at the Great White Throne Judgment, it is the lack of their name being in the Book of Life that condemns them.
And it is not the lack of sin that puts a person’s name in the Book of Life. It is the forgiveness of their sin through faith in Jesus Christ that puts their name in this book.
And if your name is not found in this Book of Life, there can be no entrance into Heaven for you.
So, now we see the second resurrection we’ve been talking about – The Resurrection Unto Death.
Revelation 20:13 (NLT)
13 The sea gave up its dead, and death and the grave gave up their dead. And all were judged according to their deeds.
The Bible makes it excruciatingly clear. NO ONE gets into Heaven by their deeds (good works), and so this is the Resurrection Unto Death. They’re judged according to their deeds but it doesn’t mean they’re getting in because of their deeds. It means they’re judged because of their deeds to prove that they fully deserve the righteous, just, holy judgment of God upon their sin. This is the Resurrection Unto Death.
Previous to this resurrection those who have rejected faith in God for salvation, have been held in what the Bible calls Hades (or Sheol) “The ABODE (holding place) of the dead.” But there’s a transition right here where the old earth that was cursed with sin and the heavens with it are being dissolved, and Hades along with it. But now there is no need for Hades because no one will be held there any longer and there is NO need for what we know as death on this earth – that is over.
And so, death and the grave (which is just a nice word for Hades, or Sheol, the place of the dead) follow Satan into the Lake of Fire. Remember, right now it’s just Antichrist, False Prophet, Satan, and now death and Hades.
Revelation 20:14 (NLT)
14 Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death.
The second death is the Lake of Fire. Prior to this point, only Satan, Antichrist, False Prophet, and death and Hades are there. It was created for the devil and his angels, not for you. But God will honor your choice if you demand to go there by your rejection of him.
But finally, we have what, to me, is the most “personally disturbing” verse in all of the Bible.
Revelation 20:15 (NLT)
15 And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.
The Bible is true: whether or not it is something you want to hear. The Bible is true. This we don’t want to hear. Our church culture, for a large part, has removed from the Bible. We can’t remove it. This is eternal separation from God and eternal judgment for your sin. This is an eternal place. Why is it an eternal place? Because it says in Genesis 1:27 that we were made in God’s image. God said, “Let Us (speaking to the Trinity) make man in our own image.” Well, that image is an eternal image. We’re the only ones that God created with an eternal being. We have an eternal spirit. And so, when eternity begins, there are only two places, and the time to make the choice of which place is before you get there. There are no “do-overs.” There are no explanations. There are no “Yeah, but’s…”
if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire
I don’t know what level of importance you put on this life by comparison. Right? We’re kind of consumed with this life because this life has burdens and struggles, and joys and difficulties. We’ve got bills to pay, and cars to buy, and we’ve got some stuff we’ve got to get to. Listen – this is critical – tomorrow is not guaranteed to any of us. Step off the curb at the wrong second and that’s your Armageddon. That’s it. There are no “do-overs” after that moment. James 4, verse 14, puts it like this.
James 4:14 (NLT)
14 How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.
God says this life is a vapor – a mist – and it’s going to disappear into thin air. But not so with eternity. Eternity is eternal.
Mark 8:36 (NLT)
36 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?
Please make sure your name is written in the Book of Life. Eternity lasts for a lot longer than this life. Eternity means no time; it’s outside of time. Don’t give that up to try to better this little brief vapor of a life. Your name written in the Book of Life is the only way for you to escape an eternity in the Lake of Fire created for the devil, his demons, and death itself.
And the only way to ensure your name is written in his book is for you to put your faith in Jesus Christ as your Savior and begin a real, personal relationship with him as your Lord. Do you have that today? Have you begun a real relationship with Jesus Christ?
You begin your eternal life with Jesus by putting your faith in him as your Savior for the forgiveness of your sins and committing to follow him as your Lord.
If you have not done that, then please do it today! Where you spend eternity absolutely depends on it.