“The Great White Throne”
Revelation 21:11-15
Introduction
C.S. Lewis wrote in his book, The Screwtape Letters, “There is a legend about Satan and his imps planning their strategy for attacking the world that’s hearing the message of salvation. One of the demons says, “I’ve got the plan, master. When I get on earth and take charge of people’s thinking, I’ll tell them there’s no heaven.”
The devil responds, “Ah, they’ll never believe that. This Book of Truth is full of messages about the hope of heaven through sins forgiven. They won’t believe that. They know there’s a glory yet future.”
On the other side of the room another says, “I’ve got the plan. I’ll tell ‘em there’s no hell.”
“No good,” he says. “Jesus, while He was on earth, talked more of hell than of heaven. They know in their hearts that their wrong will have to be taken care of in some way. They deserve nothing more than hell.”
And one brilliant little imp in the back stood up and said, “Then I know the answer. I’ll just tell them there’s no hurry.” And he’s the one Satan chose.”
Every person who dies without Jesus will spend eternity in the blazing fires of Hell in torment and agony forever & ever & ever.
“Just remember: If one bird carried every grain of sand, grain by grain, across the ocean, by the time he got them all on the other side, that would only be the beginning of eternity. ”? Truman Capote
Sermon Idea: God’s Judgement is Garruanteed for all Who Die Lost.
Let all creation rejoice before the LORD, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his faithfulness. - Psalm 96:13
And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, - Hebrews 9:27
“Behold, He cometh with clouds and every eye shall see Him, even those who pierced Him, and all the nations of the earth shall mourn because of Him.” - Revelation 1:7
Look at this judgement tonight. Ask yourself, Should we not hurry the gospel message to the Lost?
First, notice that . . .
The Scene of Judgement is Described
John said, “I saw a great white throne.” Look carefully at that throne. It displays power, purity, purpose, and the person of Jesus Christ.
Power - Great
Purity - White
Purpose - Throne
D. Person - Him who sat on it
John 5:22, "'For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son.'"
Acts 17:31, ". . . He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”
Today Jesus says, "Him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out."
The time is coming when every man, every woman, and every child will stand before this throne. Our response to this throne should be repentance and fear.
II. The Summons to Judgement is Delivered
Can I tell you this morning that you will exist somewhere forever. One hundred years from today, one thousand years from today you will be somewhere. Notice the Summons to judgement.
The Subjects of Judgement
1. You will stand alone–No one will stand with you
You will stand alarmed–At the pardon that was possible
You will stand amazed–At Jesus the lovely lamb
You will stand ashamed–At your wickedness
You will stand afraid–At your eternal and infernal abode
The Scope of Judgement
Lean forward in your pew and look out into that vast throng and who do you see? You see Kings and Queens, presidents and peasants, millionaries and mill workers, the poor and the prosperous, all standing to be judged.
Sinners
Self-righteous
Procrastenators
False Religionists
Unreached
Lost Church members
The Silence at Judgement
Look into their eyes. See the sadness & despair.
Reasoning
Regretting
Remembering
Remorseful
I dreamed that the great judgment morning
Had dawned, and the trumpet had blown;
I dreamed that the nations had gathered
to judgment before the white throne;
And oh, what a weeping and wailing,
as the lost were told of their fate;
They cried for the rocks and the mountains,
they prayed, but their prayer was too late.
The Sinners at the Judgement
The Rich Young Ruler
Pilate
Herod Aggrippa
Judas
The Saints at the Judgement
1 Corinthians 6:2 when Paul says, "Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?"
III. The Sin of Judgement is Disclosed
Book of Deeds
The Psalmist said, "The Lord looks from Heaven; He sees all the sons of men."
Illustration: Hope’s rings. Blood still on them. When we sin the blood of Christ is on those sins, but not so the wicked.
A. Our Thoughts will be recorded in the books.
Psalm 139:4, "For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O Lord, You know it altogether."
Luke 8:17, "'For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light.'"
1 Corinthians 4:5, "Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts."
B. Our Words will be recorded in the books.
Matthew 12:36, "But I say to you that for every idle word men my speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment."
Luke 12:2-3, "'For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.'"
C. Our Secrets will be recorded in the books.
Ecclesiastes 12:14, "For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil."
Romans 2:16, ". . . God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ."
Hebrews 4:13, "And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account."
Book of Life
IV. The Sentence is Declared
Literal
Eternal
How can a loving God send anyone to Hell? Because He is righteous and just. When a serial killer comes before a judge, do you want the judge to be loving or just? Or, what about a child abuser? Or, a rapist? I’m not looking for a judge of love, but a judge of justice.
Matthew 7:22-23, "'Many will say to Me in that day, "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?" And then I will declare to them, "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!"'"
Matthew 13:40-42, "'Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth."
1 Corinthians 4:5, "Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts."
Conclusion
82% of the unchurched said if someone invited them to church they were likely to attend — yet, there they go into eternal fire.
2% of church attenders who said they had ever invited a lost person to church — yet, there they go into eternal fire.
Tilly Smith, 2004 Tsunamis
B. Our Words will be recorded in the books.
Matthew 12:36, "But I say to you that for every idle word men my speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment."
Luke 12:2-3, "'For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.'"
C. Our Secrets will be recorded in the books.
Ecclesiastes 12:14, "For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil."
Romans 2:16, ". . . God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ."
Hebrews 4:13, "And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account."
Book of Life
The Sentence is Declared
Literal
Eternal
Matthew 7:22-23, "'Many will say to Me in that day, "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?" And then I will declare to them, "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!"'"
Matthew 13:40-42, "'Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth."
“The Great White Throne”
Revelation 21:11-15
Introduction
Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth. - 1 Chronicles 16:33
And he judges the world with righteousness; he judges the peoples with uprightness. - Psalm 9:8
Then people will say, "Surely the righteous still are rewarded; surely there is a God who judges the earth." - Psalm 58:11
Let all creation rejoice before the LORD, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his faithfulness. - Psalm 96:13
And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, - Hebrews 9:27
“Behold, He cometh with clouds and every eye shall see Him, even those who pierced Him, and all the nations of the earth shall mourn because of Him.” - Revelation 1:7
The Scene is Described
Power - Great
Purity - White
Purpose - Throne
Person - Him who sat on it
John 5:22, "'For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son.'"
Acts 17:31, ". . . He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”
Today Jesus says, "Him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out."
The Summons is Delivered
Can I tell you this morning that you will exist somewhere forever. One hundred years from today, one thousand years from today you will be somewhere.
The Subjects of Judgement
1. You will stand alone–No one will stand with you
You will stand alarmed–At the pardon that was possible
You will stand amazed–At Jesus the lovely lamb
You will stand ashamed–At your wickedness
You will stand afraid–At your eternal and infernal abode
The Scope of Judgement
Lean forward in your pew and look out into that vast throng and who do you see? You see Kings and Queens, presidents and peasants, millionaries and mill workers, the poor and the prosperous, all standing to be judged.
Sinners
Self-righteous
Procrastenators
False Religionists
Unreached
Lost Church members
The Silence at Judgement
Reasoning
Regretting
Remembering
I dreamed that the great judgment morning
Had dawned, and the trumpet had blown;
I dreamed that the nations had gathered
to judgment before the white throne;
And oh, what a weeping and wailing,
as the lost were told of their fate;
They cried for the rocks and the mountains,
they prayed, but their prayer was too late.
And oh, what a weeping and wailing,
as the lost were told of their fate;
They cried for the rocks and the mountains,
they prayed, but their prayer was too late.
The great man was there, but his greatness,
when death came, was left behind!
The angel that opened the records,
not a trace of his greatness could find.
The soul that had put off salvation---
"Not tonight; I'll get saved by and by;
No time now to think of religion!"
At last, he had found time to die.
And oh, what a weeping and wailing,
as the lost were told of their fate;
They cried for the rocks and the mountains,
they prayed, but their prayer was too late.
1 Corinthians 6:2 when Paul says, "Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?"
The Sin is Disclosed
Book of Deeds
A. Our Thoughts will be recorded in the books.
Psalm 139:4, "For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O Lord, You know it altogether."
Luke 8:17, "'For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light.'"
