Before the Great White Throne
by Rev. Kirby Williams
A final look at the final judgment.
Text: Rev. 20:11-15
Date: 03/18/2012, the Evening service.
Series: "Revelation" Part 54
Description:
At last, the saga of human sinfulness comes to its conclusion as John paints a somber picture of the dead standing before the Great White Throne awaiting judgment. The scene itself is stunning, and (as we have come to expect in the Apocalypse) raises as many questions as it answers. What does the throne represent? Who is sitting on the throne? Who are the people who stand before the throne? John describes two very different types of books that are opened. What is the significance of each? We will discuss these questions and the issues they raise one by one as we watch the final judgment unfold. Central to our discussion will be the ramifications of this imagery on Redemptive History and the damage that is being caused by modern day interpretations which attempt to alter and diminish it. The imagery revealed here carries within its symbolism the core of the Christian Gospel. It is an essential image for all the world to see-- because one day everyone will stand "before the Great White Throne".
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I. Introduction
II. Exposition of the text, Rev. 20:11-15.
A. Context
B. The setting, vs. 11.
1. The imagery of the throne, Rev. 4:2.
a. The "great" throne.
b. The "white" throne.
c. The seat of power and judgment.
2. The One seated on the throne.
a. The Lamb, Matt. 19:28, John 5:22, 27, 2Cor. 5:10.
b. God the Father, Dan. 7:9, John 10:30.
3. The dissolution of the physical universe, vs. 11b.
a. The destruction of the known physical universe, Isa. 51:6, Matt. 24:35, 2Pet. 3:10, Rev. 6:14.
b. The renewal of all things, Rom. 8:21, Acts 3:21.
C. The final judgment, vs. 12-13.
1. The dead before the throne, vs. 12.
a. The great and the small, Heb. 9:27.
b. Determining who are included in "the dead".
i. All the dead, John 5:28-29.
ii. The remainder of the wicked, Rev. 20:4.
2. The "books of the dead", Dan. 7:10, Matt. 5:48, Rom. 3:23, 2Cor. 5:10.
3. The Book of Life.
a. Old Testament references, Ex. 32:32-33, Psa. 69:28, Isa. 4:3.
b. New Testament references, Phil. 4:3, Rev. 3:5.
c. The significance of the book of life, Rev. 13:8, 17:8.
4. The judgment of the dead, vs. 12b-13.
a. The dead from the sea, vs. 13.
b. Death and Hades.
i. The Hebrew concept of "Sheol", Psa. 16:10.
ii. The pagan concept of "Hades".
iii. The meaning of "Hades" by the time of John.
c. The criteria for judgment.
5. The end of the "last enemy", vs. 14a, 1Cor. 15:25-26.
D. The final recompense, vs. 14b-15.
1. The second death.
2. The criteria for the second death.
III. Application
A. The Lamb before the throne, Rev. 5:6.
B. The imagery of the Great White Throne.
C. The corruption of the imagery of the Great White Throne.
IV. Conclusion
