THREE INTRODUCTORY PASSAGES
ONE
(2 Sam 12:18-23) "I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me."
We understand THREE things from this passage:
1. David believed that his baby that died went to some place.
2. He went to a place that he himself would someday go also.
3. When he reached that place, he and his child would know each other.
By comparing other passages, we know that King David was speaking about heaven:
"The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD’S throne is in heaven..."
"Whom have I in heaven but thee?"
"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever."
He expected to see his child again.
He said that his child had gone to a place that he also expected to go someday.
> He fully expected to know his child and his child to know him.
He later made it plain that the place he was referring to was heaven, the house of the LORD.
TWO
(Matt. 22:31-32) "God is not the God of the dead, but of the living."
Here in this passage, Jesus Himself speaks of 3 Patriarchs that have already died.
He tells His hearers that these men are alive and well with God.
> After all God is not the God of the dead, but of the living!
The point is, that there is a resurrection, and some have already experienced it to some degree.
> Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are already having fellowship w/ God.
THREE
(1 Cor. 6:1-3) "Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world?"
God’s people will participate with Christ at 2 final judgements.
1. We will be present and participants at the Great White Throne judgement.
> Where all the lost people will be judged before being sent to the lake of fire.
2. The judgement of angels.
> Where the fallen angels that rebelled with lucifer will be judged.
RECAP OF INTRODUCTION:
David’s baby died and went to heaven.
He expected to go also and see his baby again.
Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob are together now in heaven.
They know each other and see each other and are even now having fellowship with God.
God’s people are going to participate in the judgement of the world.
Part of which will occur at the Great White Throne judgement.
I said all of this to preach on...
I WONDER IF THE FAMILY CIRCLE WILL BE TOGETHER OVER THERE?
I. The Great White Throne Judgement (Rev. 20:11-15).
A. THE IDENTITY OF THE SOVEREIGN.
1. From whose face the heaven and earth fled...
> Daniel prayed: "O Lord, the great and dreadful God..."
> The Apostle Paul: Let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: FOR OUR GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE."
2. He is a gracious, loving, and seeking God...
> But He is also a bitter judge.
15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
17 FOR THE GREAT DAY OF HIS WRATH IS COME; AND WHO SHALL BE ABLE TO STAND?
10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up FOR EVER AND EVER: AND THEY HAVE NO REST DAY NOR NIGHT...
> Now is the time of atonement!
> Today is the day of salvation!
> Call on the Lord while He may be found... Seek ye Him while He is near!
3. Right now you can come to Him.
> Right now He is the Precious Savior, reaching out His hand to you.
> Right now He is the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of this world.
> But, one day He will be the righteous judge of all the Earth!
B. THE ABSENCE OF THE SAVIOR.
1. "If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous..."
> An Advocate is a lawyer.
> An Intercessor.
> A Go-Between!
2. Right now Jesus Christ is interceding on our behalf.
> He is our advocate between God and man.
"For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus..."
> Do you know what brings me comfort?
> The judges Son is my lawyer!
3. But, at the Great White Throne Judgement there will be no Advocate.
> The sinner stands fearfully alone.
THE IDENTITY OF THE SOVEREIGN...
THE ABSENCE OF THE SAVIOR...
C. THE FINALITY OF THE SITUATION.
1. There can be no appeal.
> There is no Limbo; No purgatory; or any wait time...
2. They same hour that you stand before the Great White Throne Judgement...
> You will be cast forever into the lake of fire.
THE IDENTITY OF THE SOVEREIGN...
THE ABSENCE OF THE SAVIOR...
THE FINALITY OF THE SITUATION...
D. THE SEVERITY OF THE SENTENCE.
1. The Bible has more to say about Hell than about Heaven.
> There are more Bible verses about hell than about heaven.
> Jesus spoke more about hell than He did about heaven.
2. Perhaps it was because God wants to absolutely convince you NOT TO GO THERE.
> God wants to fear hell and do all you can to flee from the wrath to come.
3. The worst thing about hell is not the torment...
> Hell will be fire.
> Unbearable burning pain.
> The skin will blister and pop.
> Your lips parch and crack.
> But that’s not the worst part...
4. The worst thing about hell is not the regret.
> Abraham told the rich man in hell: "Son, Remember..."
> It will certainly be horrible to remember all the "good things" you once had.
> Remembering the opportunities to repent, that you rejected.
> It will be horrible, but it will not be the worst part of hell.
5. The worst thing about hell is that you didn’t have to go there...
THREE THINGS YOU WILL KNOW IMMEDIATELY:
<1> That you are going to hell.
<2> That you deserve to go there.
<3> That you didn’t have to go.
THE IDENTITY OF THE SOVEREIGN...
THE ABSENCE OF THE SAVIOR...
THE FINALITY OF THE SITUATION...
THE SEVERITY OF THE SENTENCE...
E. THE PRESENCE OF THE SAINTS...
1. [1 Cor. 6:1-3] "Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world?
> The saints will be participants at the Great White Throne...
2. (Rev. 21:1-4) This does NOT say there will be no tears in heaven...
> It says, God shall wipe away all the tears...
> The tears He will wipe away is those that we shed in the chapter just preceding this passage!
> He will wipe away the tears we shed watching our family and friends at the Great White Throne Judgement.
3. We will be witnesses, not of the people being judged, but of the event.
> We will see our loved ones judged at the Great White Throne...
II. I Wonder If the Family Circle Will Be Together Over There?
A. The songwriter asked whether we would all make it to heaven:
Memories of my childhood days, I recall them now and then.
Gathered there with all the family near;
But the circle has been broken, it’s not the same anymore,
And up there, we’ll meet again on Heaven’s shore.
I wonder if the family circle will be together once again,
Over there on Heaven’s shining shore;
Never more to separate, we’ll sing around the throne,
I wonder if the family circle will all get home.
Will Daddy be there waiting, when I cross death’s chilly shore?
Will Mommy be there standing, by his side?
I pray the family circle, will be together once again,
In a land where the soul, shall never die.
I wonder if the family circle, will be together once again,
Over there on Heaven’s shining shore;
Never more to separate, we’ll sing around the throne,
I wonder if the family circle will all get home.
B. If your loved ones are not there you will long for them.
1. These are the tears that God will wipe away.
> The tears we shed for our moms and dads that didn’t make it...
> The tears we shed for our children that reject Christ.
> Oh the sorrow of watching a loved one be cast into eternal fire!
2. It is going to be tormenting to see your children be cast into eternal fire because of your neglect.
> Even if I was the most slothful man on earth, I’d still live for God for fear of this day.
> What if you live a carnal life, and then watch your children at the Great White Throne judgement?
3. Oh the sorrow of watching a parent cast into Eternal damnation.
> Dear soul, don’t put your children through such a sorrow.
> Even of you care not for your self; For the sake of those that love you... Come to Christ!
C. I would miss my children so very much that even if there were no fire it would still be hell to me.
1. Can you bear the thought of Eternity without your husband or wife?
> Can you bear the thought of your children in heaven while you are eternally separated from them?
2. Young person, what about your parents, in heaven while you are in hell?
> Oh, it breaks my heart to think that I would be in heaven without my children and grandchildren.
> My boys, my life, my joy, please be sure of your salvation.
3. Oh, young people, don’t play with this.
> If you have any doubt at all, get it settled with God.
> Mom, dad, get it settled.
> Oh, how painfully lonely you will be in hell, remembering those that love you so.
D. I Wonder If the Family Circle Will All Be Home?
1. Will heaven and hell separate your family?
2. (Matt.24:36-42) I know these are kingdom passages but the principle is the same...
> Two in the field...
> Perhaps Brothers, or Father and son?
> Two women at the mill...
> Perhaps Sisters, or Mother and daughter?
3. What are the odds that all of your family makes it in?
> Oh Pray dear brothers...
> Pray daughters...
> Pray Moms and Dads...
> Pray that the family circle all gets home.
4. A Promise from God (Acts 16:23-31).
> AND THY HOUSE...
