Showing posts with label second death. Show all posts
Showing posts with label second death. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

THE WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT

“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. 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 20:11-12).

After the 1,000 year millennial reign of Christ, Satan will be loosed to deceive Gog, Magog, and the nations (Revelation 20:7-8). They will attempt an attack against Christ and Jerusalem (Revelation 20:9). The battle will be very short with fire coming down from God to destroy them all. Satan will be thrown into the lake of fire where he will be tormented forever (Revelation 20:10). Immediately after Satan is thrown into the lake of fire, the Great White Throne Judgment will take place.

The Great White Throne Judgment is when those who do not belong to God are judged by their works (Revelation 20:12-13). Each person’s works (i.e., the things he did in life) will be examined. Since no one’s works are good enough to save him, all will stand condemned (Romans 3:10, 20, 23). After each person clearly sees that his works are inadequate to pay the price of his sin, the Book of Life will be opened. The Book of Life records all those persons who have accepted God’s mercy and salvation provided by faith through the sacrifice of Christ (Romans 5:8; 3:28; 4:5; 10:9-10, 13; Ephesians 2:8-9). If a person’s name is recorded in the Book of Life, his sin debt is paid in full through faith in Christ’s death and resurrection (Romans 3:23-24; 6:23; 2 Corinthians 5:20-21). Only those persons whose names are recorded in the Book of Life can enter the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:10, 27).

If a person’s name is not recorded in the Book of Life, that means that he has failed to accept Christ’s provisions for paying his sin debt (John 12:48; Romans 10:3). All those whose names are not recorded in the Book of Life are thrown into the lake of fire where Satan, the Beast, and the False Prophet are (Revelation 20:10, 15). This is the second death (Revelation 21:8).

The Great White Throne Judgment is not the same as the judgment seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:9-10). The judgment seat of Christ is an examination of Christians (Romans 14:10-13). The work that each Christian does on earth for Christ will be judged with some type of reward given as appropriate (1 Corinthians 3:10-15). If a Christian’s works prove faulty, he will lose his reward, but he will not lose his salvation (1 Corinthians 3:14-15).


SUMMARY

Term Definition:

The Great White Throne Judgment is when those who do not belong to Christ will be judged to determine where they will spend eternity (Revelation 20:11-15). God will judge the dead from a great white throne. Possibly, the white color of the throne represents purity, justice, and righteousness.

Significance of the White Throne Judgment:

This is when sin is finally and completely judged. Those whose sin debt was not paid through acceptance of Christ’s sacrifice will have to pay the price themselves (Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:15). It is probably significant that the judgment of sinful man follows immediately after Satan’s judgment to the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10-12).

Source of the White Throne Judgment:

God is the judge at the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11-12).

Length of the White Throne Judgment:

The length of the Great White Throne Judgment is not given.

Events Prior to the White Throne Judgment:

Just prior to the Great White Throne Judgment, Satan is judged for his sin and cast into the lake of fire where he will be tormented forever (Revelation 20:10).

Events of the White Throne Judgment:

The dead (spiritually) will be judged by their works (Revelation 20:12). Those who are not recorded in the Book of Life will be thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15).

God During the White Throne Judgment:

God will judge the dead according to their works. He will also check to see if their names are written in the Book of Life (Revelation 20:12-15).

Christians During the White Throne Judgment:

Christians are not mentioned during the Great White Throne Judgment in Revelation chapter 20. It is possible that Christians will participate in this judgment (1 Corinthians 6:2-3).

Satan During the White Throne Judgment:

Satan will suffer torment in the lake of fire during the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:10).

Beast During the White Throne Judgment:

The Beast and the False Prophet will suffer torment in the lake of fire during the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:10).

Non-Christians During the White Throne Judgment:

During the Great White Throne Judgment, non-Christians (the dead, spiritually) will be judged by their works (Revelation 20:12-13). Those whose names are not written in the Book of Life will be thrown into the lake of fire where the devil is tormented (Revelation 20:15). This is the second death (Revelation 21:8).

Events Following the White Throne Judgment:

After the Great White Throne Judgment, eternity with Christ will begin (Revelation 21:9-22:21).

Scripture references for the White Throne Judgment:


Revelation 20:11-15, 27; John 12:48; Acts 17:30-31; 1 Corinthians 6:2-3; Hebrews 9:27-28.