Let's Settle Out Of Court

There could be no more solemn passage to be read in the entire Word of God than this passage nor is there a more somber message to preach.

Many things have taken place to get us to the passage. People since Adam have lived their lives upon this Earth. God has been ever present down through the ages of time giving man every opportunity to know the richness of His grace, His unconditional love, the abundance of His mercy for mankind. He has shown Himself to prophets, patriarchs, priests, political leaders, preachers, and people.

The passage begins in this manner with this word…Then. What does “then” mean to this passage? Before the happenings of this passage many things have taken place. We have witnessed the fall of man in the Garden, the Earth destroyed by a Flood, the raising up of a peoples from Noah and his 3 sons, the calling forth of Abraham to be the father of Israel, the gathering of the nation of Israel to Goshen of Egypt, the calling of Moses to lead the children of Israel from Egyptian bondage, the building of the powerful nation of Israel through David their anointed king, the fall of that nation, the prophecies by the prophets of the rebuilding of that nation, the coming Messiah, Jesus born in Bethlehem, the life and ministry of Jesus, the Crucifixion, the Resurrection, the Ascension, the Promise of Christ’s return, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the New Testament Church, the Rapture of the Church, the Great Tribulation, the Antichrist, the Battle of Armageddon, the hurling of the false prophet and the antichrist into the lake of fire, the 1000 year reign of Christ and His followers on earth, and “Then”…

I want us to see the final end of the ages as we know them. Where it will all come to a close. Where God will be; where people will be; where the world as we know it will be; and where you and I will be. Make no mistake God has revealed His plan for all things and in His merciful grace has given us warning after warning; sign after sign; prophecy after prophecy; time after time.

Let us look very close to this scripture passage and determined it’s events and where God and man are for at this scene God has hurled the Devil, the False Prophet, and the Antichrist into the lake of fire forever where they will never be able to lead any rebellion against God and His people.

Revelation 20:11–15 - ESV

First let’s look at…

I. THE SETTING

1. The Picture of This Throne -

a. A Great throne - it is the highest court in the universe. Nothing compares to this throne. All judgments rendered here are final.

b. A White throne - all human courts are tainted with some prejudice and fallibility. This court is absolutely perfect. The Judge who occupies this bench is absolutely fair and just and renders judgment with perfect righteousness and fairness

2. The Person on This Throne – None other than Christ Himself who has been granted all power and authority. Before Him Heaven and Earth will pass away.

3. The Presence of This Throne – The Earth and the Skies have been removed. There is no hiding place from this throne. There was no place for the old earth, the old heavenly bodies, for that time has passed and will be no more. They have disintegrated.

Psalm 102:25-28

Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away, but you are the same, and your years have no end.

The children of your servants shall dwell secure; their offspring shall be established before you.

II. THE SENTENCE

1. The Place of Those in the Courtroom

The defendants at this gathering are from the regions of the dead. The Scripture tells us that we who have trusted in Jesus as Savior have “passed from death unto life” – John 5:24.

God raises the dead from their tombs; from the seas; from where every particle of dust is located. Both Death – the state of death - and Hades – the place of death are called in to this courtroom. No defendant will not be able to missed this court date.

2. The Partiality to Those in the Courtroom

Both small and great are called to this courtroom. There is no partiality shown here. There are no differences made. Both male and female; both rich and poor; both healthy and ill; both young and old; both popular and unknown; both leader and follower. All are here in this courtroom.