Madisonville Church of Christ

by Russell M. Kline

 

The book of Revelation depicts many scenes in which God dispenses some kind of judgment. There is the judgment of God against the nations, in Revelation 11:18. There is the judgment of God against the harlot, in Revelation 18:8 and 19:2. There is the judgment of God agianst the beast and false prophet, in Revelation 19:11 through 21. In a way, all of these are a type, or foreshadow of God's final judgment of the whole world, which is described in Revelation 20:11-15. Of those mentioned so far, it is the only judgment that is yet to be passed, but it shall surely come into all of our lives (Heb. 9:27).

 

 

"And I saw a great white throne..." (Rev. 20:11). Obviously, this is the throne of God. It is the greatest of all thrones, because He who sits on it is the King of all kings, and the Lord of all lords (Rev. 17:14). More than a throne, it is a "judgement seat" upon which Jesus Christ shall determine our eternal habitation (II Cor. 5:10; John 5:22; Acts 10:42). The color of the throne symbolizes the purity, holiness, and glory of the one who sits upon it (Acts 17:31). The flight of "the earth and the heaven" from the face of God, which is mentioned in Revelation 20:11, is believed to be a reference to the destruction of the universe, which shall coincide with day of God's final judgment (Psa. 102:25,26; Mat. 24:35; II Pet. 3:7-12). Sometimes we think of the Earth and the heavens as being permanent fixtures, which can never be destroyed, but the judgment of God reminds us that all these things shall pass away!

 

 

"And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God..." (Rev. 20:12,13). Although some religious scholars may teach otherwise, the Bible plainly affirms that there shall be one resurrection of all the dead (John 5:28,29). It is a resurrection that shall involve every human being who has ever lived, from the greatest men and women in history to the lowliest denizens in obscurity. The "books" John saw being opened were those by which all humanity shall be judged. They are the books of the Old Testament, which bear witness to Christ and are an essential part of the revelation of God's will to man (John 5:39; Luke 24:25,44), and the books of the New Testament, which reveal the Law by which everyone now living shall be judged (John 12:48; Rom. 2:16; Heb. 2:3; John 6:68). The last book to be opened is the "book of life." Moses and David knew of its existence (Exo. 32:32; Psa. 69:28). It is a book in which the names of God's faithful children are written (Phil. 4:3), and it is a book from which our names can be blotted out, if we live wickedly (Rev. 3:5). Those whose names are not written in the book of life may not enter into Heaven (Rev. 20:15; 21:7). We must do whatever it takes to make sure that our names are written there (Rom. 10:17; Heb. 11:6; Acts 17:30; Rom. 10:9,10; Acts 2:38)!

 

 

"And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire..." (Rev. 20:14,15). I Corinthians 15:26 offers this prediction: "The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death." Revelation 20:14 offers us a glimpse at the fulfillment of Paul's prophecy. After the day of judgment, this world shall cease to exist, and there shall be n