Marking the conclusion of the Millennium, there will a judgment unlike any other signaling the end of human history as we have known it and the beginning of the everlasting state.
Revelation 20:11: “Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them.”
- Grammatical Usage: “place” on in the Greek, “topos” meaning, “location, region, opportunity”.
- Literal Interpretation: And then I saw a great white throne, and one seated upon it from whose presence both earth and sky fled and vanished, leaving no prospect.
- Contextual/Comparison: God keeps His Word: God continually uses His Word. There are significant aspects to the conclusion of human history:
- The final judgment cannot be avoided. Regardless of how we may choose to interpret prophecy on the end times, we are told that “it is appointed to men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). We all have a divine appointment with our Creator.
- God sits in judgment. We can be sure of this: no mistakes will be made in our hearings because we will be judged by a perfect God (Deuteronomy 32:4). This will manifest itself in many undeniable proofs. First, God will be perfectly just and fair (Acts 10:34; Galatians 3:28). Second, God cannot be deceived (Galatians 6:7). Third, God cannot be swayed by any prejudices, excuses or lies (Luke 14:16-24).
- As God the Son, Jesus Christ will be the judge (John 5:22). All unbelievers will be judged by Christ at the “great white throne,” and they will be punished according to 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).
- The Bible warns us of Judgment Day. Malachi the prophet wrote, “‘Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and the day that is coming will set them on fire,’ says the LORD Almighty. ‘Not a root or a branch will be left to them’” (Malachi 4:1). John the Baptist spoke of the need to “flee from the coming wrath” (Luke 3:7). Paul wrote to the unrepentant: “Because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. God ‘will repay each person according to what they have done’” (Romans 2:5–6; cf. Psalm 62:12). Judgment Day is a sure thing.
- Judgment is comprehensive. This is all who have ever died, small and great (insignificant as well as significant). No one escapes Judgment Day.
- Judgment is according to what individuals have done in their lives—they are judged according to their works. A person will not be judged according to what others did or didn’t do; he stands judgment alone, responsible for his own actions.
- Although the judgment is based on works, it is not a weighing of good deeds against bad. Ultimately, our entrance into heaven or hell is based on whether or not our names are recorded in the book of life. Those who are not recorded in the book of life will be cast into the lake of fire. Revelation 21:27 reiterates that only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life will enjoy everlasting life with God.
- All deniers will be judged. The multitude standing in judgement are diverse in religion and non-religion. It will include Buddhists and Muslims and Hindus and Protestants and Catholics and Baptists and Presbyterians. There will be those who believed in one God as well as those believing in many gods. It will include those who refused to believe in any God. It will encompass those who believed meditation as a means of salvation and those who believed good deeds would assure the same. What will happen to these ‘religious’ people? Jesus prophesied: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness” (Matthew 7:21-23).
- Truth itself will be defined and applied. Contrary to popular opinion, believing in your chosen truth does not make it true. Jesus stated, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).
- The Great White Throne Judgement will not happen in heaven or on earth. Revelation 20:11 states, “Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them.” It cannot take place on earth because at the appearance of the Lord, the earth and the heaven will have fled away. It cannot take place in heaven because no sinner can enter the presence of God there. While logistically the Bible does not provide a location, it does assure us the judgment will happen.
- The Great White Throne Judgment is both real and symbolic. More important than the logistics are the symbols of judgment: a) The word “great” speaks of the infinite One who is judge; b) the word “white” speaks of divide holiness, purity and justice; c) the world ‘throne’ speaks of the majesty of the One who has the right to determine the destiny of His own creation.
- Conclusion: “Having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). Have you placed your faith in God? Accepted Jesus as your Savior? Truly, it is your only hope in life…both your mortal and immortal existence.
