Central Christian Church Lampasas

Jonathan Edwards is remembered for preaching the sermon, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God. He held the manuscript so close to his face that the congregation was unable to see his expression as he read every word. The people, so moved by his words, gripped the backs of their pews, feeling that the ground below was about to open and swallow them into hell. One man rushed down the aisle crying, "Mr. Edwards, have mercy!"

That was then; this is now. Hell is not taken very seriously today. Martin Marty, American church historian, summarized the attitude of our day: "Hell disappeared, and no one noticed" (Erwin W. Lutzer, One Minute After You Die, p.97). The Bible clearly validates the existence of hell. Jesus spoke more about hell than anyone.

The great white throne judgment is described in Revelation 20:11-15 and is the final judgment prior to the lost being cast into the lake of fire. We know from Revelation 20:7-15 that this judgment will take place after the millennium and after Satan, the beast, and the false prophet are thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:7-10).

The books that are opened (Revelation 20:12) contain records of everyone’s deeds, whether they are good or evil, because God knows everything that has ever been said, done, or even thought, and He will reward or punish each one accordingly (Psalm 28:4; 62:12; Romans 2:6; Revelation 2:23; 18:6; 22:12).

Also at this time, another book is opened, called the “book of life” (Revelation 20:12). It is this book that determines whether a person will inherit eternal life with God or receive everlasting punishment in the lake of fire. Although Christians are held accountable for their actions, they are forgiven in Christ and their names were written in the “book of life from the creation of the world” (Revelation 17:8). We also know from Scripture that it is at this judgment when the dead will be “judged according to what they had done” (Revelation 20:12) and that “anyone’s name” that is not “found written in the book of life” will be “thrown into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:15).

The fact that there is going to be a final judgment for all people, both believers and unbelievers, is clearly confirmed in many passages of Scripture. Every person will one day stand before Christ and be judged for his or her deeds. While it is very clear that the great white throne judgment is the final judgment, Christians disagree on how it relates to the other judgments mentioned in the Bible, specifically, who will be judged at the great white throne judgment.

There is one judgment for Christians and another judgment for non-Christians.

There is a judgment of believers’ works, often referred to as the “judgment seat [bema] of Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:10). At this judgment, Christians will receive degrees of reward for their works or service to God. Those whose names are found in the book of life will be judged for their deeds to determine the rewards they will receive or lose.

The other judgment is the great white throne judgment at the end of the millennium (Revelation 20:11-15). This is the judgment of unbelievers in which they are judged according to their works and sentenced to everlasting punishment in the lake of fire. Those whose names are not in the book of life will be judged according to their deeds to determine the degree of punishment they will receive in the lake of fire. Matthew 25:31-46 is another description of what takes place at the great white throne judgment.

The result of this judgment is the same as what is seen after the great white throne judgment in Revelation 20:11-15. The sheep (believers) enter into eternal life, while the goats (unbelievers) are cast into “eternal punishment” (Matthew 25:46).

First it is called “great.” The Greek word is megas which connotes: (a) the size of something, the extent, (b) the intensity or degree of something, and (c) rank, dignity, or standing. These ideas have application here. It is great because of the awesome intensity and the degree of its importance. Here each unbeliever’s eternal destiny is determined and declared with ample proof and reason. It is great because it is the final judgment putting an end to all judgment for all time. Finally, it is great because all the unbelievers of all time, from Cain to the final revolt at the end of the Millennium, will be here assembled to face the bar of God’s perfect justice.

God’s Judgement in Old Testament Wisdom Literature

Why is this called the "great white throne" (v. 11) judgment? It is great because of the rank and dignity of the judge, the size and extent of the judgment, the vast number of people throughout world history who will be judged, and the fact that it will seal the eternal destiny of unbelievers. It is white because it displays and emphasizes the infinite purity and righteousness of Christ, who is the holy judge. It is a throne because Jesus Christ sits in sovereign majesty, using His authority to consign the wicked to eternal damnation.

It is important to never lose sight of the facts concerning the coming judgment. First, Jesus Christ will be the judge, all unbelievers will be judged by Christ, and they will be punished based on the works they have done. The Bible is very clear that unbelievers are storing up wrath against themselves (Romans 2:5) and that God will “give to each person according to what he has done” (Romans 2:6). Believers will also be judged by Christ, but since Christ’s righteousness has been imputed to us and our names are written in the book of life, we will be rewarded, but not punished, according to our deeds. Romans 14:10-12 says that we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ and that each one of us will give an account to God.

People have run from justice and justice often is delayed. However, just like the prisoners with the secret tunnel, God’s justice cannot be stopped.

How should knowing about God’s coming judgment affect the way we live?

From this passage in Hebrews and others like 1 Corinthians 11:27-32, God disciplines His children for the following reasons:

1. To bring a wayward child who refuses to judge himself back into fellowship (1 Cor. 11:31-32; Ps. 32:3-5).

2. It is part of the training process by which God’s children are brought into the experience of God’s holiness (Heb. 12:10).

3. It is an expression and a proof of God’s love (Heb. 12:6, 8).

4. It is designed to produce obedience and to protect them against untimely physical death (Heb. 12:9; Rom. 8:13; 1 Cor. 11:30).

5. It yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness (Heb. 12:11).

People Get Ready ... Jesus Is Comin'
by Crystal Lewis
Lord I’m ready now
I’m waiting for Your triumphant return
You’re coming so soon
This world has nothing for me
I find my peace and joy solely in You
Only in You
I want the world to see that
You’re alive and living well in me
Let me be a part of the harvest
For the days are few
He’s coming soon
People get ready Jesus is coming
Soon well be going home
People get ready Jesus is coming
To take from the world His own
There will be a day
When we will be divided right and left
For those who know Him
And those who do not know
Those who know Him well
Will meet Him in the air
Hallelujah
God is with us
Those who do not know
They will hear "Depart, I knew you not"
For my friends you see
There will be a day when well be counted
So know Him well, know Him well