Revelation Study Series 26b - God’s Mysterious Plan Fulfilled (Chapter 20b)
06.12.22
Things Everyone Hates:
Losing Things
Bills
Liars (Cheaters, Quitters)
Bad Wifi Service
Bad Attitude
Wrong Order
Traffic
https://www.theodysseyonline.com/things-nobody-likes/losing-things
You could add to that list High Gas Prices, Politicians, etc. I’m sure this list could get quite lengthy…but at some point there will be a five letter word added…Death!
No one wants to die! Everyone wants to live forever!
But, Death is not the worst thing that can happen to you! What comes after death could be!
Revelation 20:11
11 And I saw a great white throne and the One sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from His presence, but they found no place to hide.
There are two judgments specifically talked about in scripture:
the Judgment Seat of Christ
the Great White Throne Judgment
the Judgment Seat of Christ is for believers, and the Great White Throne Judgment for unbelievers.
Paul wrote about the Judgment Seat of Christ to all NT believers…
2 Corinthians 5:9-10
9 So we make it our goal to please Him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
The Great White Throne Judgment for unbelievers comes after the Millennial reign…
Revelation 20:12
12 I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books.
“the dead” are unbelievers. They are “dead” never having received the Way, the Truth, the Life!
Revelation 20:13-14
13 The sea gave up its dead, and death and the grave gave up their dead. And all were judged according to their deeds.
14 Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death.
Hebrews 9:27-28
27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, 28 so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.
Revelation 20:15
15 And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.
This “lake of fire” is hell. Hell was not made for mankind. (Matt. 25:41). It was made for satan and his demonic followers.
God created heaven for all mankind.
However, when a person chooses to reject Christ, they will have no place/home in Heaven. They will live forever in torment in hell!
“Hell is a witness to the righteous character of God. He must judge sin. Hell is also a witness to man's responsibility, the fact that he is not a robot or a helpless victim, but a creature able to make choices…” —Bible Exposition Commentary - New Testament
Immortality - often man’s ultimate goal…will become reality, for everyone. However, where and how you will spend that immortality will depend on if you chose to put your faith in Christ.
To those who choose Him, life awaits after the first death. But, to those who do not…they will die, and then they will experience a second death. They will be immortal in hell…but, that will not be life…it will be worse than death!
Revelation 20:15
15 And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.
the Book of Life…
It is possible that there will be more than one book at the Great White Throne Judgment.
Daniel 7:9-10
9 "I watched till thrones were put in place, And the Ancient of Days was seated; His garment was white as snow, And the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, Its wheels a burning fire;
10 A fiery stream issued And came forth from before Him. A thousand thousands ministered to Him; Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The court was seated, And the books were opened.
What are the “books”? God’s Word will be one of those books…
John 12:48 But all who reject Me and My message will be judged on the day of judgment by the truth I have spoken.
There may also be books of unbelievers' words…
Matthew 12:36-37
36 And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak.
37 The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.”
The term, “Book of Life” appears at least 8 times in scripture, and is referred to even more.
Moses made reference to it in the OT…
Exodus 32:31-33
31 Then Moses returned to the Lord and said, "Oh, these people have committed a great sin, and have made for themselves a god of gold!
32 Yet now, if You will forgive their sin--but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written."
33 And the Lord said to Moses, "Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book.
Paul stated with confidence that those who are saved are written in the Book of Life (Php. 4:3)…
David wrote in Psalms…
Psalm 69:28: "Let them be blotted out of the book of the living and not be written with the righteous."
John recorded what was revealed to him…
Revelation 3:5 All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before My Father and His angels that they are Mine.
The Book of Life is a registry of believers! It registers their heavenly citizenship! (like a registry book at a hotel, you are not a guest unless your name is recorded.)
Re 21:27 But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.
The unbeliever will see Heaven’s registry book. Their name will not be found recorded, and they will not be allowed to enter Heaven!
There is another warning about the Book of Life…
Re 22:19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
If you deny the Book of Revelation, you are denying the very revelation of Jesus Christ!
This should be a reminder that you never want to add to God’s Word, take away from God’s Word, nor twist God’s Word!
Jesus said…
Matthew 5:18
For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.
“jot” - smallest letter; “tittle” - smallest stroke -NKJV Commentary Notes
Remember how John opened the Book of Revelation…
Revelation 1:3
Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.
Life Application:
The Great White Throne Judgment is reserved for the unbeliever. Those who do not accept Jesus’ free gift of salvation…will stand before Him.
The books which list all the good or bad they have done will be opened.
It will not matter if the good outweighs the bad. The only thing that will matter is if they had chosen to accept/follow Christ.
The registry of Heaven (the Book of Life) will be opened. When it is found that their name is not recorded (blotted out) then they will be cast into hell (which is the second death).
Let me say it plainly…When someone dies, if before they died they had never accepted Jesus unto salvation their name will not be found in the Book of Life, nor will it be later.
There is nothing that person, nor anyone can do to rescue them. There will be no exceptions. There will be no allowances or excuses! Nothing will, nor can ever be done! That person will have chosen hell and they will spend the rest of forever there!
Luke 16:19-31
19 Jesus said, “There was a certain rich man who was splendidly clothed in purple and fine linen and who lived each day in luxury. 20 At his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus who was covered with sores. 21 As Lazarus lay there longing for scraps from the rich man’s table, the dogs would come and lick his open sores.
22 “Finally, the poor man died and was carried by the angels to sit beside Abraham at the heavenly banquet. The rich man also died and was buried, 23 and he went to the place of the dead. There, in torment, he saw Abraham in the far distance with Lazarus at his side.
24 “The rich man shouted, ‘Father Abraham, have some pity! Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. I am in anguish in these flames.’
25 “But Abraham said to him, ‘Son, remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So now he is here being comforted, and you are in anguish. 26 And besides, there is a great chasm separating us. No one can cross over to you from here, and no one can cross over to us from there.’
27 “Then the rich man said, ‘Please, Father Abraham, at least send him to my father’s home. 28 For I have five brothers, and I want him to warn them so they don’t end up in this place of torment.’
29 “But Abraham said, ‘Moses and the prophets have warned them. Your brothers can read what they wrote.’
30 “The rich man replied, ‘No, Father Abraham! But if someone is sent to them from the dead, then they will repent of their sins and turn to God.’
31 “But Abraham said, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’”
Someone did rise from the dead! And, that Someone people either choose to believe Him, or by not choosing they reject Christ!
Let’s circle back to the Judgment Seat of Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:10
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
Believer, you will also stand before God in judgment. However, having accepted Christ unto salvation it is a whole different story!
Revelation 3:5 All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before My Father and His angels that they are Mine.
“The judgment seat of Christ does not determine salvation; that was determined by Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf (1 John 2:2) and our faith in Him (John 3:16). All of our sins are forgiven, and we will never be condemned for them (Romans 8:1). We should not look at the judgment seat of Christ as God judging our sins, but rather as God rewarding us for our lives. …”
https://www.gotquestions.org/judgment-seat-Christ.html
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. -Romans 8:1
For His unfailing love toward those who fear Him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.
He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. -Psalm 103:11-12
We will not be judged for our sin in the manner of our name blotted from the Book of Life.
We will enter Heaven, saved by faith through grace!
Two Questions:
Will there be different rewards in Heaven based upon one’s works of faith?
That answer seems to be a definitive “yes”...
As an example in scripture, when Peter spoke to the elders/pastors/leaders of the church he told them...
1 Peter 5:2-4
2 Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God.
3 Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example.
4 And when the Great Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of never-ending glory and honor.
The Bible does speak of different crowns/rewards a believer can be given.
Will there be different levels of positions in Heaven based on how one has lived out one’s faith?
There is an hierarchy order of angels - Will there be a hierarchy of believers in Heaven?
Does the parable of the Ten Talents that we talked about last week indicate the level of your reward based on your faithfulness/faithfulness?
Many theologians/Bible scholars hold different views on this. Some believe there will be different levels, some believe that all will be at the same level.
A case can be made either way. However, Your goal in this life should not be your reward in the coming life!
Your goal now, should be your faithfulness to the Lord!
Focus on your faithful work toward Him…and let the rewards come what may, however they come!
We don’t work for a crown…we live for the Crown!
2 Timothy 4:8
And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of His return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to His appearing.
Standing before God awaits all mankind.
The Great White Throne Judgment for the unbeliever.
The Judgment Seat of Christ for the believer.
At which one will you stand?
What will the books say?
Is your name written in the Book of Life?
