“The Last Judgment” (Revelation 20:11–15)

“The Last Judgment” (Revelation 20:11–15)
Cameron Jungels/Eastside Baptist/Sun PM/May 3, 2015

“Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.”
(Revelation 20:11–15, NIV)

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9 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained.  10 They called out in a loud voice, "How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?"  11 Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters, were killed just as they had been. (Rev. 6:9-11, NIV)

1.    The Awesome Presence of God (v. 11)

25 In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.  26 They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded.  27 But you remain the same, and your years will never end.  (Psalm 102:25-27, NIV)

12 I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red,  13 and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind.  14 The heavens receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.  15 Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains.  16 They called to the mountains and the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!  17 For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?" (Rev. 6:12-17, NIV)

2.    The Resurrection of All the Dead (v. 12)

"At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people-- everyone whose name is found written in the book-- will be delivered.  2 Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.  3 Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. (Dan. 12:1-3, NIV)

3.    The Triumph of True Justice (v. 12–13)

10 A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him. Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was seated, and the books were opened. (Dan. 7:10, NIV)

7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.  8 Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear." (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God's holy people.)  (Rev. 19:7-8, NIV)

31 "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne.  32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.  33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.  34 "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.  35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,  36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'  37 "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?  38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'  40 "The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.' (Matt. 25:31-40, NIV)

4.    The End of Death and the Grave (v. 14)

5.    The Final Punishment of the Wicked (v. 15)

Main Idea: The holy God will finally judge sinners and justly punish them for eternity for their rebellion against their Creator.

Response of an unbeliever to this passage:
⦁    Fear and trembling before a holy God who judges sinners
⦁    Acknowledgement of personal sin and rebellion
⦁    Repentance and plea for mercy from God through Christ now before the judgment
⦁    Refusal to delay repentance for the sake of fleeting pleasures

Response of a believer to this passage:
⦁    Awe and fear before our holy God
⦁    Praise for the justice of God
⦁    Gratitude for the mercy of God that has placed our names in the book of life through Christ’s blood shed for us
⦁    Hope in the future mercy of God that spares repentant sinners from this awful fate
⦁    Loving concern for those who will likely be condemned to this fate without responding to the gospel