You Can Run But You Can’t Hide

INTRODUCTION

Last time, we saw that Satan was throne to the lake of fire after being defeated at the Battle of Armageddon. Now, John is ushering into the next vision that he saw in the Island of Patmos.

John saw…

I. THE GREAT WHITE THRONE, 11

Two adjectives great and white the throne

• Great—indicates the highest and final judgment

• White—signifies fairness and purity of the one that will judge the world. Everyone is assured of righteous judgment.

a. Everyone tries to run

b. Nowhere to hide

II. THE ONE SITTING ON THE WHITE THRONE, 11-14

a. Judges everyone

i. Great and small

ii. From the graves, oceans, death and Hades

v. 12. the dead -- "the rest of the dead" who did not share the first resurrection, and those who died during the millennium. (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown’s Bible Commentary)

b. Judges death and Hades

v. 14. Death and Hades, as personified representatives of the enemies of Christ' and His Church, are said to be cast into the lake of fire to express the truth that Christ and His people shall never more die, or be in the state of disembodied spirits (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown’s Bible Commentary)

i. Thrown in the lake of fire

ii. The second death

III. THE BOOKS BEFORE THE THRONE THAT WERE OPENED, 14-15

a. Book of Deeds (Ps 56:8 139:4 Mal 3:16)—way they have lived=lake of fire

b. Book of Life (Re 3:5 13:8 21:27 Ex 32:32,33 Ps 69:28 Da 12:1 Php 4:3). Besides the general book recording the works of all, there is a special book for believers in which their names are written, not for their works, but for the work of Christ for, and in, them. Therefore it is called, "the Lamb's book of life."—not listed=lake of fire

CONCLUSION

Nobody can escape God’s judgment. God’s system is perfect. It doesn’t matter if you are rich or poor, black or white, man or woman, what is in your heart is the basis of His judgment. Sinners can run but they can never hide from God. Everything is being watched and recorded in heaven. Our deeds are not secret to God. Everything to him is in the spotlight. Make sure that your name is listed in the Book of Life.

How?