October 9, 2013
Revelation 20:11-15
(All scripture is from the New King James Version unless otherwise indicated.)
“Thank God I never have to stand before the Lord and be judged!” That’s what a lot of Christians think. And there is a great scriptural basis for this. We will never have to face God’s pronouncement of condemnation described in Revelation 20:11-15:
And 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 the 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. 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. Then Death and Hades were cast
into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written
in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
This judgment – called the great white throne judgment – is reserved for those who reject Jesus Christ as Savior. And, yes, they have had the opportunity to hear the good news of the Son of God dying for their sins and rising from the dead! Read carefully Romans 1:18 through 32. Then consider what it says in Psalm 19:1 through 4 and compare it with what Paul wrote in Romans 10:9 through 18. All creation broadcasts that Jesus Christ is the risen Lord! And Paul sums up what it means for mankind in Romans 1:20, “…they are without excuse.” But this discussion is for another blog or two.
All those who stand before the great white throne will be condemned to eternity in hell! But thank God Jesus said what He did in John 5:24:
Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes in Him who
sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed
from death into life.
They who have accepted by faith the Lord Jesus and His work on the cross to take away their sins, have – as a present possession – eternal life! They never have to fear coming under God’s eternal condemnation!
What will it be like to stand before God as Judge at the great white throne? It will be a terrifying experience! For that one will know without a doubt that they are headed for a hot, eternal hell – separated from God, heaven and believing loved ones – forever!
More than that, they will realize that what they treated in a light manner – God, the cross, the Bible, church and the witness of Christians – was and is very real! And now – at the great white throne judgment – it will be too late!
And one more humiliating thing they will have to face – it says in Philippians 2:9 through 11:
Therefore God also has highly exalted Him [Jesus], and given Him the name
which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and
that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God
the Father.
Unbelievers would not bow the knee before Jesus and confess His name upon the earth, but they will do it then! They will be on their knees before the Lord even if an angel has to knock them to their knees! And they will confess that Jesus is Lord even if an angel has to grab their tongue and make them confess! And then they will hear the words from the Savior that should send a shudder into our very souls – “Depart from Me, you cursed, into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels…” (Matthew 25:41).
Praise His name that He has given us the opportunity now to bow before Him and confess His name voluntarily! If we do it now, we will never stand before the great white throne judgment!