Revelation 20:11-15

Revelation 20 verses 11 to 15. And I saw a great white throne, him that sat on it from whose face, the earth and heaven fled away, and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great stand before God, and the books were opened. And then another book was open, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books according to their works. The sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them. And they were judged every man according to the, their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. Whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. God blessed to us is sacred and holy world’s morning. The matter of the millennium, which is the Latin term for 1,000 years, is mentioned only here in Revelation 20. But it has become. probably the essential part of the eschatology of today’s church. It’s doctrine of last things. There are many doctrinal errors that are associated with this chapter. We’ve addressed some of these problems, both regarding the pre-millennial and the post-millennial positions. Basically, the pre- and post-millennial positions are looking for some kind of carnal earthly rule of Christ. The scriptures, I think, are teaching us a spiritual, heavenly rule of Christ. The outline of the chapter is such. We have Satan bound in verses 1 to 3, and this tells us what’s happening on earth during the millennium. We have the reign of the saints, verses 4 to 6. This is what. what’s happening in heaven during the millennium. We have Satan loosed in verses 7 to 10. And this is what’s happening after the millennium period comes to an end. We have Satan’s final rebellion in verses 7 to 9. When the divine restraints are removed, Satan is again once, once again able to deceive. all the nations and attempt to destroy Christ’s church, which is called the beloved city, and it’s the camp of the saints. Satan’s doom is laid out for us in verse 10. We have Christ coming and flaming fire, destroying this effort on Satan’s part to destroy the church, And he’s careful. into the lake of fire. So we said that all three enemies of the people of God the dimension of the book of Revelation are defeated at this point. We have the beast and the false prophet. They were finished. Chapter 19. The end of 19 talks about the latter part, their demise. And here, 20, talks about a lengthier period before Satan comes to his demise. But they all come to their demise, and the people of God are spared. Well, we come now to this section, which is known as the Great White Throne Judgment Section. Verse 11 talks about the judge. I saw a great white throne and him that sat on it. Let me stop at this point as we look at this. Who is this person? sitting on this throne. Well, this scene, the final judgment, marks the beginning of eternity. We’re coming in, it brings to the end to this life that we know it in this world, and it sets up for us eternity. The one on the throne, to whom the Father has committed all judgment according to scripture, is the Lord Jesus Christ. Let’s look at a couple of verses of Scripture. I don’t want to weary you, but we should realize that this is the teaching of Scripture here. Would someone look up Acts 1731 for me? Would someone look up Romans 21, Russell? Would someone look up Matthew 25, 31 to 33? Mark? Okay. And when someone look up John 5, 22, 27, Tim, that’s probably enough. There’s also 2 Timothy 4.1, but we don’t have to read all of them. But we’ll look at these four to begin. I think that’ll be enough for us this morning. Acts 1731. Because he hath appointed a day in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained, whereof he hath given assurance unto all men in that he had… Okay, now, this is the Mars Hill sermon of Paul’s. The man that he’s speaking of is the man Christ Jesus, because he’s the one that gets raised from the dead, and that was the whole message that he lays out. And Jesus Christ is the one that’s going to be the judge. He’s going to judge all met by him. Romans 2.16. in the day when God shall judge the secret… Again, Paul’s laying out. He’s going to judge the secrets of men, which indicates to us nothing escapes the attention of God, and he’s going to do it by Christ. How about Matthew 25, 31 to 33? Okay, so here we have the judgment, and you notice both the righteous and the wicked are there, and they’re all standing before Christ. Then lastly, let’s look at John 5, 22, and then verse 27. Yeah, can you do both? So here we have Christ judging. Now, why do you think Christ would be the one that would be appointed as judge? There’s a couple of things that stand out of these verses that I think is interesting. What is it, what do you think it means when he talks about, he’s going to judge the world by that man that he hath appointed? In the passage that Tim just read talked about the humanity of Christ, there too? What do you think the significance of that is? The fact of Christ has a human nature, and he’s the God man, I think is significant. He’s the one, therefore, who will judge men. Also, Christ is the redeemer of his people. So if you’re going to have anybody judge you, wouldn’t you want your redeemer to be the one that would be judging you as a believer? I mean, he’s the one who’s purchased you, he’s purchased your forgiveness and so forth. Christ’s judgment here seems to relate to the fact of his position on the throne of God as king and ruler overall. And so that’s part of, I think, of it as well. Now, it’s a great white throne because this speaks of Christ’s greatness and majesty. It’s a white throne because I think it suggests the purity and righteousness of Christ’s decisions. They’ll be absolutely fair, honest, and just. Now, what do you make of the second part of this verse? From whose face the earth and the heaven fled away and there was found no place for them? What do you think that refers to? What do you think that’s talking about? We’re referring to Christ who sits on… Not that what you just… Yeah? The scripture that you just mentioned. That’s verse 11 of Revelation 20. Okay. We’re still in verse 11. 11. Okay. Oh, you were in. Oh, you were, yeah. Back in Revelation. Well, let’s look at Hebrews’s chapter one in a moment, verses 10 to 12. He’s quoting here really from Psalm 102, and we read here, and thou, Lord, in the beginning, have laid the foundation of the earth and the heavens or the works of thine hands. They shall perish, but thou remainest. They shall, they all shall wax, old as a garment, and as a vesture, shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed. But thou art the same. And thy years shall not fail. Now, when he talks about the heavens and the earth perishing here, he’s talking about the external order of things, the coat, the cover, if you would, a vesture. Not the substance and material, because the earth as scripture indicates, it’s going to go through fire. It’s going to be purged by fire. So there’s a sense in which what we know now is the earth is going to be purified. In that sense, what we see now is that will perish. The externals of things will perish. But the earth is going to be changed and the heavens are going to be changed. Look with me at 2nd Peter while. we’re here in this section of scripture. Just jump a couple of pages over. 2 Peter chapter 3, verse 10. Remember we just talked about the coming of the Lord and with flaming fire and so forth. And he says here, but the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night in which the heaven shall pass away with great noise and the elements shall melt with fervent heat. The earth also in the works that are there and shall be burned up. Then skip down to verse 12. Looking for and hastening unto the coming of the day of the Lord, wherein the heavens shall, being on fire, shall be dissolved, and the element shall melt with fervent heat. And so we see this idea of a purging, a changing, the old earth being completely renovated. Christ returns, provides for a new heaven and a new earth wherein dwells righteousness. Look at verse 13 of 2. Peter 3. Nevertheless, seeing that these things are going to happen, according to his promise, we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth where and dwells righteousness. So when we get to now, we go back to Revelation 20, if you would, he talks about from whose faith, from Christ’s face, the earth and the heaven, fled away and there was found no place for them. And then chapter 21, verse 1, and I saw a new heaven and new earth. The first heaven and first earth were passed away, and there was no more sea. So this sets the stage for the new heavens and the new earth. I think that’s what he’s talking about here. So any questions about the judge? All right, let’s go on to the next section here. and the next section has to do with the people who are judged. Versus 12 and 13 of Revelation 20. And I saw the dead small and great stand before God. And the books were open, and another book was open, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged out of those things which are written in the books, according to their works. The sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death. and hell delivered up the dead which were in them, and they were judged every man according to his works. Now, these verses emphasize the universality of the event here. The dead, whether they be small and insignificant, or whether they be great men like kings and rulers and so forth. It doesn’t matter. They will all stand. before Christ. Every individual of the human race will have to appear before the judgment seat of Christ without exception. 2 Corinthians 5, Tan says, for we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that everyone may receive the things done in his body, whether it be good or evil. Now, when it talks about death and hell here, death I refer to the grave, how the place of departed spirits, Hades is the term that’s used there. We get the idea of the bodies being resurrected and those in a place of the departed spirits, whether they are, whether they be in heaven or whether they be in the fire of hell, either one, there’s going to be reunite, Everybody gets a new body at this point. And they’ll all stand at this judgment before the Lord. The righteous and the wicked. As we saw in Matthew 25, the sheep as well as the goats will be there. And they’re going to be judged by Christ. It’s an error to think only the ungodly will be at this judgment. Do you remember what Jesus? Jesus said, when we’re studying Jonah in 1241 of Matthew, the men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation shall condemn it. The queen of the South, the Queen of Shiba, will also rise and have a judgment against this generation. Because a greater prophet than Jonah is here and a greater king than Solomon. It’s Christ himself. This seems to indicate that those who have repented will be there. By the way, you notice it says here, they’re going to be judged in verse 12 out of those things which are written in the books, plural. There’s only two books mentioned. The book of works and the book of life. Now, if people were judged out of the book of life, there have to be some righteousness. people there, that your name’s written in it, and the judgment of Christ is this person’s names here. I have redeemed them. I have purchased them. So the presence of the Book of Life seems to indicate the presence of the righteous. I like the fact that he says no one is cast in the lake of fire without first checking the Book of Life. No accidents. You know, nobody by mistake gets drawn in. Check the book. Check the book of life. See if their name’s in. there after not in, and in they go. Sort of like for our sake, I think God is saying, this is how sure it will be. You know, that God, you know, there will be no mistakes at the judgment. In the unhuman courts, people make mistake. People go to jail for wrong reason. Well, here, God doesn’t make mistakes, you know, and everything is perfectly checked out and weighed before the judgment is needed that. This is the people word judge. Any question about the people? Also in verses 12 and 13, we have the standard of judgment. All will be judged, every man according to his works. The books record all the things you’ve ever done. It’s a perfect record. It’s complete in every detail possible. Your works will be compared to the revealed will of God. And you will will be judged accordingly. There’s an interesting passage in John’s Gospel, John Chapter 12 and verse 48. Where Jesus says this, he that rejecteth me and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeteth him, the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. I’ll judge him by my own word. The word of God will be the way we’re judged and our works will be compared to what God has said. Now there will be degrees of punishment and reward. Reward for the righteous, punishment for the wicked at this judgment. Would someone look up Matthew 11, 22, to 24? No, I’ll read it. A mark you want to read it? The fact that it’ll be more tolerable indicates to us some type degree. Some are going to be punished more severely than others. Those who are privileged to hear Christ are going to have a greater judgment than those who were not privileged and had the same privilege as like, say, Copernium had. Let’s look at Luke also chapter 12, 47, and 48. We read here in that servant, which knew his Lord’s will and prepared on himself, neither did according to his will. Notice there here again, the will of God is revealed to us in Scripture is what the judgment is, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required. And to whom men have committed much of him they will ask for more. And then one more passage in Luke 20, verse 47. When he talks about the scribes here, he says, which devire widows houses, and for a show make long prayers, the same shall receive greater damnation. So I think there is some type of degree of punishment with regard to the wicked and certainly with regard to the righteous, there seems to be some kind of reward regarding them that is also in various degrees. The scripture clearly teaches us, and we have to be clear about this, that salvation is never by works. We know that, you know, Ephesians 2, 8, 9, Titus 3, 5 makes that very clear to us. However, Jesus told us. told us that people are known by their works or their fruits, if you would, what they bring forth in their lives. The godly produce good works, the ungodly produce evil works. If you look at Luke 6, verses 43 to 45, we see this clearly indicated by our Lord. For a good tree, bringeth forth bringeth not forth corrupt fruit, neither doth a corrupt tree, bringeth forth good fruit. For every tree is known by his own fruit, for of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. A good man, out of the good treasure of his heart, bringeth forth that which is good. And an evil man, out of the evil treasure of his heart, bringeth forth that which is good. And an evil man, out of the evil treasure of his heart, bringeth forth that which is evil, for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaking. Works actually demonstrate whether you have a good heart or a bad heart. And the indication is if a person is regenerate, they will produce good works. But a person who is unregenerate cannot possibly produce the good works that God requires. And so Ephesians 210, which goes on to say we are, you know, God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus under good works, indicates to us that even though we’re saved by grace, Ephesians 2,8, 9, salvation leads to a proper lifestyle. Titus 214 also indicates that we are supposed to be as Christ’s people purchased by him zealous of good work. So this is the standard of judgment. Any questions about the standard judgment? Okay. The fate of those judged verses 14 and 15 here now back in Revelation 20. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. Death and hell, body and soul, will be cast, of the wicked at least, will be cast in the lake of fire. Now think about this. Presently, only the souls of the ungodly are in what we call hell, the place of punishment. Their bodies are in the ground. After Christ’s coming, because the body will be raised, they’re going to get a new type of body, an eternal body of some sort. the body and the soul will be cast into the lake of fire. So that they are punished body and soul, it will increase the severity of the punishment they have to endure. Those who have their names written in the book of life will hear Christ say, Come ye blessed of my father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Thus, the ungodly shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into everlasting punishment. everlasting life, according to Matthew 2546. So here’s the Great White Throne judgment. We have to see the judge, we see the people judged, we see the standard of judgment, and we see the fate of those who were judged. Any questions about this section then? Let me make some practical observations as we end this chapter. The first is this. Christ can restrain Satan’s activities so that his kingdom may advance on the earth. This is the comfort we have as the people of God, and we’re laboring for Christ in this life, is that Christ is able to restrain Satan. Notice in verses 1 to 3 also this idea. Satan’s deception is so powerful, his hold over men is so powerful that unless he is restrained in something, fashion. No one would ever be saved. Christ breaks Satan’s hold over sinners in order to save his elect from every nation under the sun. Man’s total inability here is seen. Look at how easily man is deceived. How easily he’s led by Satan. As soon as Satan’s loosed, as soon as he’s let loose, again, man is deceived. back to following Satan. Spiritually man is helpless. He can do nothing to save himself. He can’t do anything to break Satan’s hold over him. The Bible says in 1. John 519, the whole world lieth in wickedness. It’s like quicksand. You can’t get out of it by yourself. You need divine help. You need Christ’s mighty power to break Satan. power over you. Verse 4 of this chapter. If you are a believer, your soul is immediately transported to heaven upon death. Where you will live and reign with Christ, the soul raised up to heaven to sit with Christ on his throne is what is indicated to us. Verse 6. Unless you are granted a spiritual resurrection, unless we take part in this first resurrection from a state of spiritual deadness, dead and trespasses and sins, will never be transported to heaven, will never reign with Christ, and therefore we’ll never enjoy the blessings of being with the Lord. Versus 7 to 10. There are dark times when it looks like Christ’s church on earth will be utterly destroyed by satanic forces that will overwhelm us but God always intervenes in some fashion to save his people. Also in verse of 7 to 10. We must not expect a carnal, visible, earthly kingdom, a Christianized world prior to Christ’s second coming. This age, ends in a great falling away. It ends in apostasy. It ends with Satan loose and the nations deceived. As 2 Thessalonians 2 dovetails with this indicates that this is the case when the man of sin is let loose upon the world. Apostasy prior to Christ coming in flaming fire, destroying the enemy. Versus 11 to 15 of revelation twin. The final judgment will demonstrate the truth of Christ’s words. You shall know them by their fruits. Matthew 716. Are we zealous of good works? What kind of fruit is produced in your life? Verse 10 and verse 15. The eternalness of the punishment of the lake of fire is demonstrated by the fact that after a thousand years there’s a long period of time the beast and the false prophet are still suffering in the lake of fire when Satan gets cast into it. They are not annihilated. Verse 10 of this chapter indicates that they are cast into that place of judgment and that that’s where they still are. They’re there when Satan gets cast in. I think that’s important too. Any other thoughts or questions or anything we want to add before we close here?