TITLE: GOD’S GREAT WHITE THRONE 1/20/02 PM
TEXT: REVELATION 20:11 – 15
INTRO:
OF ALL THE MESSAGES I COULD HAVE PREACHED TONIGHT, I’D MUCH RATHER PREACHED SOMETHING ELSE INSTEAD OF THIS.
WHEN I FIRST STARTED PREACHING, I KIND OF ENJOYED PREACHING ON HELL, THOSE WERE THE MESSAGES THAT SEEMED TO GET PEOPLE DOWN THE ISLE AT LEAST IN THE (PRISONS & JAILS). NOW A DAYS YOU CAN’T GET THE SAINTS TO SHOW UP FOR CHURCH LET ALONE SEE THEM AT THE ALTAR.
BUT I NO LONGER ENJOY PREACHING ON HELL. AND I GUESS THE REASON WHY IS THE SIMPLE FACT THAT THE MORE I READ ABOUT IT AND THE CLOSER I DRAW TO GOD, THE MORE REAL & VIVID HELL ACTUALLY BECOMES.
BUT TONIGHT, I BELIEVE THIS IS THE MESSAGE GOD WANTS US TO HEAR. SO FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL MOMENTS, PLEASE GIVE ME YOUR UNDIVIDED ATTENTION.
THERE IS ONLY ONE EVENT THAT NEEDS TO TAKE PLACE IN ORDER FOR TIME AS WE KNOW IT NOW TO STOP, AND THAT IS THE -
1. SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST
AND I BELIEVE HIS COMING IS A LOT CLOSER THAN MOST WOULD BE WILLING TO BELIEVE. AND FOLLOWING HIS 2ND COMING THERE WILL BE A SERIES OF EVENTS TAKE PLACE BOTH IN HEAVEN AND ALSO ON THIS EARTH.
FOR THOSE WHO ARE GOING TO HEAVEN WE WILL BE GOING THROUGH –
1. JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST
ALL OF US WHO ARE SAVED WILL COME TO STAND BEFORE OUR LORD TO BE REWARDED FOR THAT WHICH WE HAVE DONE. I BELIEVE THAT OUGHT TO PROMPT ALL OF US TO GET BUSY WHILE WE ARE DOWN HERE ON THIS EARTH.
AT THAT TIME, WE WILL ALSO HAVE THE –
2. MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB
THIS WILL BE A TIME OF FEASTING & FELLOWSHIP WITH ALL THE SAINTS OF GOD AND THE ONE WHO DIED FOR ALL OUR SINS.
BUT WHILE YOU AND I ARE GOING THROUGH A WONDERFUL TIME OF REWARD AND FELLOWSHIP IN HEAVEN, THIS WHOLE EARTH WILL BE GOING THROUGH –
1. TRIBULATION LAST 3.5 IS GREAT TRIBULATION
THIS WILL BE A TIME WHEN THE DEVIL HIMSELF WILL HAVE POWER TO RULE AND REIGN AND WREAK HAVOC UPON THIS EARTH. THIS WILL BE A TIME WHEN THE DEVIL CAUSES ALL WHO ARE NOT SAVED TO RECEIVE THE MARK OF THE BEAST. DURING THIS TIME, GOD IS GOING TO POUR OUT HIS WRATH UPON THE EARTH AND LITERALLY MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO DIE AND GO TO HELL.
MY SUGGESTION TO THOSE OF YOU TONIGHT (WHO MAY NOT BE CERTAIN ABOUT YOUR SALVATION) WOULD BE FOR YOU TO GET IT SETTLED BEFORE IT IS ETERNALLY TOO LATE.
AFTER THE TRIBULATION PERIOD GOD IS GOING TO COME BACK AND WE ARE COMING WITH HIM TO FACE THE -
2. BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON
THE BEAST AND THE FALSE PROPHET WILL THEN BE DESTROYED AND CAST INTO A LITERAL BURNING HELL, NO MORE WILL THEY PLAGUE THE EARTH. DURING THIS TIME SATAN HIMSELF WILL BE CAST INTO THE BOTTOMLESS PIT FOR 1000 YEARS. AT THE SAME TIME SATAN WILL BE BOUND, WE CHRISTIANS WILL BEGIN THE -
3. MILLENIAL REIGN WITH CHRIST
GOD HIMSELF WILL SET ON THE THRONE OF DAVID. THIS WILL BE A TIME OF PEACE & YET STILL A TIME OF SIN. JUST AS IT IS TODAY, THERE WILL STILL BE PEOPLE GETTING SAVED AND SOME STILL GOING TO HELL. YOU AND I WILL STILL HAVE MUCH OF THE SAME MINISTRY WE HAVE TODAY – WINNING SOULS FOR JESUS CHRIST.
AND THEN AT THE END OF THE MILLENIUM -
4. SATAN WILL BE RELEASED FOR THE LAST TIME
REVELATION 20:3
AND CAST HIM INTO THE BOTTOMLESS PIT, AND SHUT HIM UP, AND SET A SEAL UPON HIM, THAT HE SHOULD DECEIVE THE NATIONS NO MORE, TILL THE THOUSAND YEARS SHOULD BE FULFILLED: AND AFTER THAT HE MUST BE LOOSED A LITTLE SEASON.
YOU SAY WHY IS GOD GOING TO ALLOW HIM TO BE RELEASED? I DO NOT KNOW. GOD FOR SOME REASON IS GOING TO ALLOW HIM TO HAVE ONE LAST CHANCE TO FIGHT – BUT HE WILL LOSE!
REVELATION 20:10
AND THE DEVIL THAT DECEIVED THEM WAS CAST INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE AND BRIMSTONE, WHERE THE BEAST AND THE FALSE PROPHET ARE, AND SHALL BE TORMENTED DAY AND NIGHT FOR EVER AND EVER.
AND THAT BRINGS US TO THE MESSAGE TONIGHT.
5. THE GREAT WHITE THRONE
3 THINGS ABOUT THIS THRONE I WANT YOU TO SEE. NOTICE WITH ME FIRST OF ALL -
I. THE PERSON ON THE THRONE V.11
WHO IS IT THAT IS SEATED UPON THAT THRONE? IT IS JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF.
JOHN 5:22
For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
2 TIMOTHY 4:1
I CHARGE THEE THEREFORE BEFORE GOD, AND THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, WHO SHALL JUDGE THE QUICK AND THE DEAD AT HIS APPEARING AND HIS KINGDOM
ILL: GENESIS
WHEN THE LORD WAS GOING DOWN TO SODOM & GOMORRAH TO DESTROY THE CITIES OF THE PLAIN, ABRAHAM CAME BEFORE THE LORD AND SAID, “SHALL NOT THE JUDGE OF ALL THE EARTH DO RIGHT?
HERE THE GLORIFIED CHRIST WILL BE SEATED UPON HIS THRONE. AND I BELIEVE HE WILL SHOW UP WITH SUCH POWER, HONOR AND GLORY THAT THE EARTH AND THE HEAVENS WILL HAVE TO FLEE AWAY.
JESUS HIMSELF WILL BE UPON THAT THRONE! AND WHO BETTER TO JUDGE THOSE WHO HAVE REJECTED CHRIST AS THEIR SAVIOR AND LORD.
NOW LISTEN TO ME. IF YOU ARE LOST AND YOU STAND BEFORE JESUS ON THIS DAY, YOU WILL NOT SEE HIM AS THE…..
A. LITTLE BABY WRAPPED IN SWADDLING CLOTHES
B. LOWLY CARPENTER OF NAZARETH
C. LAMB OF GOD WHICH TAKETH AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD
D. A MERCIFUL SAVIOR
YOU WILL SEE HIM AS THE OMNISCIENT, RIGHTEOUS JUDGE OF ALL THE EARTH!
AND IT IS HERE THAT GOD HIMSELF WILL GO THROUGH THE BOOKS AND EXAMINE EACH AND EVERY LOST SOUL WITH RESPECT TO THEIR OPPORTUNITY FOR SALVATION AS WELL AS THEIR WORKS. GO BACK IN TIME WITH ME TONIGHT AND SEE YOURSELF AS YOU:
A. SAT THROUGH
SERVICE AFTER SERVICE, WEEK IN AND WEEK OUT, ALL THE TIME PLAYING CHURCH, ALL THE TIME LIVING A LIE.
B. THE LIFE YOU LIVED
EVEN THOUGH YOU SAID YOU WERE A CHRISTIAN, YOUR PRIVATE LIFE NEVER SAID THE SAME. EVERY HIDDEN THING WILL BE REVEALED ON THIS DAY. YES, YOU MAY HAVE THE PREACHER FOOLED, YOU MAY HAVE YOUR HUSBAND OR WIFE FOOLED – BUT YOU WON’T FOOL GOD!
WHO IS THIS JUDGE YOU WILL STAND BEFORE SOMEDAY – IT IS ALMIGHTY GOD! NOT ONLY THE PERSON ON THE THRONE, NOTICE ALSO-
II. THE PEOPLE AROUND THE THRONE V.12 - 13
WHO ARE THESE THAT STAND BEFORE GOD’S THRONE? THESE ARE THOSE WHO –
* NEVER TRUSTED CHRIST AS SAVIOR
* WENT THROUGH LIFE REJECTING THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE SAVED
* TURNED THEIR BACKS ON GOD SO THEY COULD ENJOY SIN
* TRIED TO EARN THEIR WAY TO HEAVEN INSTEAD OF DEPENDING ON CHRIST
* THOSE WHO HEARD ABOUT CALVARY BUT TRAMPLED RIGHT OVER THE BLOOD SO
THEY COULD LIVE ON IN THEIR SIN
WHO WILL THIS INCLUDE? IT WILL INCLUDE BOTH SMALL & GREAT.
SMALL: THERE WILL BE LITTLE CHILDREN THERE WHO HAVE NEVER ACCEPTED CHRIST AS THEIR SAVIOR. THAT IS WHY IT IS IMPORTANT FOR YOU AND I TO HAVE OUR CHILDREN IN CHURCH (EVERY TIME) THE CHURCH DOORS ARE OPENED!
YOU SAY MY CHILD IS SAVED! I THOUGHT I WAS TOO FOR MANY YEARS UNTIL GOD OPENED MY EYES. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY YOU DON’T KNOW THEIR HEART.
GREAT: THERE WILL BE ADULTS THERE AS WELL. THE RICH, THE POOR, THE EDUCATED, THE UNEDUCATED, THE NEVER BEFORE SEEN INDIAN FROM A DISTANCE DESOLATE LAND AS WELL AS THE SOPHISTICATED AMERICAN WHO HAD THE GREATEST OF TECHNOLOGY – ALL WILL BE THERE TO STAND BEFORE ALMIGHTY GOD! ON JUDGMENT DAY, GOD WILL HAVE NO RESPECT OF PERSONS, NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE!
YOU SAY PREACHER, WILL WE CHRISTIANS BE THERE – YES WE WILL! NOT TO BE JUDGED BUT TO WATCH THE JUDGMENT.
PAUL – ABSENT FROM THE BODY, PRESENT WITH THE LORD
I THESSALONIANS 4:17
THEN WE WHICH ARE ALIVE AND REMAIN SHALL BE CAUGHT UP TOGETHER WITH THEM IN THE CLOUDS, TO MEET THE LORD IN THE AIR: AND SO SHALL WE EVER BE WITH THE LORD.
EZEKIEL 18: THOSE CHRISTIANS WHO REFUSE TO WARN SINNERS ABOUT HELL, THOSE WHO REFUSE TO SPREAD THE GOSPEL TRUTH, THEIR BLOOD WILL BE DRIPPING FROM OUR HANDS ON THIS DAY!
WHAT WILL IT BE LIKE TO SEE YOUR –
* HUSBAND OR WIFE
* SON OR DAUGHTER
* RELATIVE OR NEIGHBOR BROUGHT FORTH TO STAND BEFORE THIS GREAT WHITE THRONE?
I KNOW A LOT OF PARENTS WHO CARE MORE ABOUT THE –
* CLOTHES THEIR CHILD WEARS
* CAR THEIR CHILD DRIVES
· PEOPLE THEY HANG OUT WITH MORE THAN THEY CARE ABOUT THEIR CHILDS SOUL AND WHERE THEY WILL SPEND THEIR ETERNITY!
MY FRIEND, IF YOU WANT TO SEE YOUR CHILD IN HELL SOMEDAY, YOU KEEP ON –
* LIVING LIKE THE WORLD – SMOKING, DRINKING, DANCING AS SOME DO
* LAYING OUT ON SUNDAY NIGHTS SERVICE
* MISSING OUT ON FAMILY DEVOTIONS
AND SOMEDAY, YOU WILL SEE YOUR TEEN AGED SON OR DAUGHTER THROWN INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE.
ILL. ETHAN ALLEN
IN PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A MAN BY THE NAME OF ETHAN ALLEN STOOD UP TO TESTIFY AT A CHRISTIAN MEETING. ETHAN ALLEN WAS FOR YEARS AN OFFICER IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY. ALLEN GAVE THIS TESTIMONY AT A BUSINESSMEN’S LUNCHEON: "I MARRIED THE GIRL OF MY DREAMS. WE WERE SO IN LOVE, SO HAPPY. BUT SHE WAS A CHRISTIAN; I WAS AN INFIDEL. I WATCHED HER GO TO CHURCH SUNDAY AFTER SUNDAY. I LOOKED AT HER LIFE, LISTENED TO HER PRAYERS. I SAW HER BIBLE STAINED WITH TEARS. I WAS AN INFIDEL. I LAUGHED AT HER AS SHE WALKED OFF TO CHURCH, MADE FUN OF HER AS SHE PRAYED. I THOUGHT SHE WAS FOOLISH FOR READING THE WORD OF GOD. I WAS AN INFIDEL." ETHAN ALLEN SAID: "AFTER AWHILE, GOD GAVE US A BABY, A PRECIOUS LITTLE GIRL. OH, HOW WE LOVED HER! WHEN SHE WAS AN INFANT, HER MOTHER CARRIED HER TO SUNDAY SCHOOL EVERY SUNDAY. WHEN SHE WAS A BEGINNER--FOUR, FIVE, SIX--EVERY SUNDAY SHE WAS AT CHURCH. EVERY SUNDAY NIGHT- -BACK TO THE SUNDAY NIGHT SERVICE. EVERY WEDNESDAY NIGHT--TO MID-WEEK PRAYER SERVICE. SHE NEVER MISSED. EVERY WEEK SHE WENT WITH HER MOTHER." THEN SAID ETHAN ALLEN: "WHEN SHE WAS SIX--TO CHURCH WITH MOTHER. SEVEN- -TO CHURCH WITH MOTHER. EIGHT, NINE, TEN, ELEVEN--TO CHURCH WITH MOTHER. BUT WHEN SHE GOT TO BE ABOUT TWELVE, I BEGAN TAKING HER WITH ME TO NIGHT CLUBS, TO DANCE HALLS, TO HIGH BALLS. SHE HAD A GOOD TIME. "FINALLY SHE BEGAN TO TELL HER MOTHER, ’MOTHER, I DON’T WANT TO GO TO CHURCH TODAY. I AM TOO SLEEPY. DADDY AND I STAYED OUT SO LATE LAST NIGHT.’" ETHAN ALLEN CONTINUED: "I WOULD LAUGH UNDER MY BREATH AND SAY, SHE IS NOT GOING TO FOLLOW THE OLD-TIME RELIGION OF HER MOTHER. I AM SO HAPPY ABOUT THAT. HER MOTHER WOULD PLEAD AND BEG, ’HONEY, PLEASE GO WITH MOTHER. PLEASE GO WITH MOTHER.’ BUT I WOULD SAY, ’HONEY, YOU STAY HOME IF YOU WANT TO.’ SO SHE WOULD SAY NO TO HER MOTHER. "FINALLY ON SUNDAY NIGHTS I WOULD TAKE HER OUT TO THE DANCE HALLS OR SOME NIGHT CLUB WITH ME, AND WE WOULD HAVE A BIG TIME PAINTING THE TOWN RED WHILE MOTHER WAS AT THE CHURCH HOUSE WEEPING HER EYES OUT BECAUSE HER DAUGHTER HAD GONE INTO SIN." HE SAID: "FINALLY OUR DAUGHTER QUIT GOING TO CHURCH. SHE NEVER WENT WITH HER MOTHER. SHE WAS A BEAUTIFUL GIRL, FIFTEEN OR SIXTEEN YEARS OF AGE. WE LOVED HER DEARLY. HER MOTHER WAS A CHRISTIAN; I AN INFIDEL. SHE WAS FOLLOWING DADDY’S FOOTSTEPS. "BUT ONE NIGHT SHE WAS OUT WITH A GANG OF KIDS IN A CARRIAGE. THEY HAD BEEN SWIMMING, AND SHE CAUGHT COLD. AFTER AWHILE IT WENT INTO PNEUMONIA. IN THOSE DAYS WE DIDN’T HAVE PENICILLIN AND ALL THE OTHER CURES WE HAVE NOW. SO BEFORE LONG SHE WAS AT THE POINT OF DEATH. "THE DOCTOR CALLED ME IN AND SAID, ’MR. ALLEN, YOUR GIRL IS DYING.’" ALLEN LOOKED AT THOSE BUSINESSMEN AND SAID: "I WENT IN AND LOOKED AT MY LITTLE GIRL--JUST A TEEN-AGER. HER MOTHER HAD SERVED JESUS CHRIST; I WAS AN INFIDEL. I LOOKED AT HER AND MY DAUGHTER SAID TO ME, ’DADDY, I AM DYING, AM I NOT?’ "I REPLIED, ’YES, HONEY. YOU ARE GOING TO DIE.’ THEN I BEGAN TO WEEP. HER MOTHER WAS CRYING. BUT THERE WAS NOT A TEAR IN OUR LITTLE GIRL’S EYES. SHE SAID, ’DADDY, I WANT TO KNOW ONE THING. ALL MY LIFE MOTHER HAS GONE ONE WAY, AND YOU HAVE GONE THE OTHER WAY. NOW DADDY, SINCE I AM DYING, I HAVE GOT TO KNOW THE ANSWER. I HAVE GOT TO KNOW. I LOVE YOU, DADDY. I LOVE YOU AND I TRUST YOU AND BELIEVE WHAT YOU SAY. DADDY, WHILE I AM DYING, SHOULD I DIE MOMMY’S WAY OR YOUR WAY?"’ ETHAN ALLEN SAID: "I BEGAN TO CRY. THEN I THREW MY BODY ON HERS AND SAID, ’HONEY, CHOOSE MOTHER’S WAY! CHOOSE MOMMY’S WAY! QUICKLY, HONEY! CHOOSE MOMMY’S WAY!"’ ETHAN ALLEN SAID: "BEFORE I COULD GET IT SAID, SHE HAD GONE OFF TO MEET THE LORD JESUS. I WILL NEVER KNOW UNTIL I FACE GOD WHETHER SHE CHOSE MOMMY’S WAY OR DADDY’S WAY!"
DEAR FRIEND IF YOU ARE LOST, YOU BETTER CHOOSE THE RIGHT WAY WHILE YOU CAN. WHAT IS THAT WAY?
JOHN 14:6
I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE…..
DON’T BE LIKE THAT TEENAGED GIRL, AND THERE ON YOUR DEATH BED BE UNABLE TO UTTER THE WORDS – LORD, SAVE ME I AM A SINNER – BE SAVED TODAY BEFORE IT’S TO LATE!
NOT ONLY HAVE WE SEEN THE PERSON ON THE THRONE, THE PEOPLE AROUND THE THRONE, I WANT YOU TO ALSO SEE –
III. THE PURPOSE OF THE THRONE V. 14 - 15
MY FRIEND ACCORDING TO THOSE VERSES, THE ONLY PURPOSE FOR THIS GREAT WHITE THRONE WILL BE TO PASS AN ETERNAL SENTENCE OF HELL FIRE AND DAMNATION ON THE UNSAVED DEAD.
SOME WILL SUFFER UNIMAGINABLE TORMENT IN THE LAKE OF FIRE, WHEREAS OTHERS WILL SUFFER TO A LESSER DEGREE – (BUT IN EVERY CASE EACH SENTENCE WILL BE VERY, VERY BAD).
LIKE 12:47 – 48
AND THAT SERVANT, WHICH KNEW HIS LORD’S WILL, AND PREPARED NOT HIMSELF, NEITHER DID ACCORDING TO HIS WILL, SHALL BE BEATEN WITH MANY STRIPES.
BUT HE THAT KNEW NOT, AND DID COMMIT THINGS WORTHY OF STRIPES, SHALL BE BEATEN WITH FEW STRIPES. FOR UNTO WHOMSOEVER MUCH IS GIVEN, OF HIM SHALL BE MUCH REQUIRED:
THINK ABOUT IT. THE ADOLF HITLER’S, STALLINS, BIB LADENS, MC VEIGHS, VOLTAIRE’S, PAINE’S THEIR SIN IS STILL WREAKING HAVOC TODAY. AND THEIR JUDGMENT WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD AGAINST THEM UNTIL THIS JUDGMENT DAY.
ILL. THOMAS PAINE THOUGHT HE COULD LIVE WITHOUT GOD.
WHEN PAINE CAME TO DIE HE SAID, "I WISH I HAD NEVER LIVED!"
ILL. VOLTAIRE LAUGHED AND MOCKED AT GOD
AND WHEN VOLTAIRE CAME TO FACE DEATH, HE SAID, "0H JESUS CHRIST, 0H JESUS CHRIST! IT IS HELL TO BE LEFT ALONE!
ILL. THOMAS HOBBS WROTE BOOK AFTER BOOK DENYING THE EFFICACY OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST.
AS HE LAY ON HIS DEATH BED SAID, "IF I HAD THE WHOLE WORLD TO DISPOSE OF, I WOULD GIVE IT TO LIVE ONE DAY."
AND WHEN THOMAS HOBBS CAME TO DIE, HE SAID, "I AM TAKING A FEARFUL LEAP INTO THE DARK! 0 CHRIST! 0 JESUS!"
GIBBON, THE HISTORIAN, AND SKEPTIC: "THE PRESENT IS A FLEETING MOMENT, THE PAST IS NO MORE, AND MY PROSPECT OF FUTURITY IS DARK AND DOUBTFUL."
MIRABEAU THE ATHEIST SAID: MY SUFFERINGS ARE INTOLERABLE; GIVE ME MORE OPIUM THAT I MAY NOT THINK "OF ETERNITY."
I WANT TO ASK YOU A QUESTION: IF YOU WERE ON YOUR DEATHBED TONIGHT, COULD YOU DIE WITH A PEACE OF MIND KNOWING YOU ARE SAVED. OR WOULD YOU DIE (LIKE THESE MEN) WITH THE LACK OF ANY HOPE KNOWING GOD IS NO WHERE TO BE FOUND?
MY FRIEND, I WANT TO WARN YOU, TO TURN YOUR BACK ON CHRIST NOW, MAY MEAN THAT HE WILL TURN HIS BACK ON YOU SOMEDAY AND SAY THESE FATEFUL WORDS, “DEPART FROM ME YE THAT WORK INIQUITY, FOR I NEVER KNEW YOU!”
