The Hope Of The Saints In This Broken World Series

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Can you remember the first time you had to go to the dentist? When you are young facing this unknown experience it can be a little scary at first, can't it.

What is going to happen?

Will the Dentist have to do work on my teeth?

Will it hurt?

For some reason Dentists have always made us a little scared … especially when you get the bill.

Here is another area of life that makes that makes us scared … it is called judgement day in the Bible. Even those who have faith in Jesus might find this day a little worrying.

Judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and expose the motives of men's hearts.

1 Corinthians 4:5

You read a passage like that and you imagine judgement day being like a movie – in a huge movie theatre – where each one of us will be featured on the screen.

“Now we are going to show the life of … Colin Tamplin”.

And the spot-light goes onto Colin so everyone knows exactly who he is. Then up on the big screen comes Colin’s life.

All the dark parts … all our shocking hidden motives … it’s all revealed.

Everyone around him is shaking their head. And Michelle is there saying – if I had of know that I would never have married you.

Maybe it won’t be exactly like that, but you get the point don’t you. Even for a believer judgement day could be a day that makes us a little fearful.

Today the section of Revelation we are going to read is going to show us that judgement day is not a day we need to fear … as long as we are standing ourselves in the right place.

So let’s have a look at the Scriptures.

Revelation 20:11-22:5

The Hope of the Saints in this Broken World.

Obviously the event being described here is a serious event. This is a Revelation to us as to what is going to happen on the last day in a world which has been stained by sin. The serious of the whole situation is emphasised by where it is taking place. I saw a great white throne and Him who was seated on it.

We know, because we have seen the great white throne a number of times in Revelation, that the One who sits on the throne is God. That is important to see.

The place before the throne of God is a place of holiness. When Isaiah saw a vision of the Lord seated on His throne Isaiah cried out, Woe to me ... I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips ... and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty. Isaiah knew that God will not tolerate sin in His presence. God's holiness demands that sin be driven from Him.

But, on a few rare occasions, God makes an exception to this rule. The day of judgement is one of those few exceptions – such is the seriousness of the event.

Judgement day will be a day when very sinner, representing every sin ever committed, stands before God and His throne awaiting God's verdict.

For some it will be the first … and last … time they will be allowed to see the face of God.

For others it is going to be just the beginning of an eternity of being in God’s presence. A delicious entree before gathering to celebrate at the wedding supper of the Lamb.

But, no matter who they are, everyone there at judgement day is stained with sin. The sin will stand out so clearly against the holiness of God. More to the point, everyone at judgement day deserves to be driven from the presence of God … yet God makes an exception so that His grace can be shown.

You see, many people have this idea that God is an angry God who enjoys punishing people.

Lots of people, even Christian people, look at the Old Testament and say, “God did some stuff that looked like He was pretty angry”.

Giving the order to wipe out whole villages.

He once took out a whole clan of Israelites.

He almost took out the whole earth at the Flood.

He was angry. The Bible says God is the same yesterday, today and forever. So He still must be angry.

Yes God is angry. But it is only a small part of His character. God isn’t going to enjoy judgement day. Rather it is going to be a day of real pain to Him. In this crowd stand all those who have turned their backs on God – all who chose to reject God the Creator.