Foundations of our faith:

ETERNAL JUDGEMENT

Penge Baptist Church

23rd October 2011

Revelation 20:11-15• Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on

it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

An awesome scene

• The seat of judgement– a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and

sky fled from his presence

– Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead (2 Timothy 4:1)

• The scope of judgement– I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne…

The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them

– For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10)

– death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire

God’s holy justice

• The standard of judgement– books were opened….the dead were judged according

to what they had done as recorded in the books– For God will bring every deed into judgment,

including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil. (Ecclesiastes 12:14)

– God does not show favoritism. (Romans 2:11)– Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Genesis

18:25)

• The survival of judgement– Another book was opened, which is the book of

life….. – Jesus said “He who overcomes will, like them,

be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.” (Revelation 3:5)

– I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. (John 5:24)

– Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1)

A solemn and glorious day• The solemnity of judgement

– For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. (Acts 17:31)

– If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

– all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf,and like the wind our sins sweep us away (Isaiah 64:6)

• The glory of judgement– Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let

the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy; they will sing before the LORD, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his truth. (Psalm 96:11-13)

A judgement foreshadowed

• By Christ: But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. (Matthew 12:36)

• By Paul: judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts (1 Corinthians 4:5)

Implications for our lives• Satisfies our need for justice in the world• Enables us to forgive others freely

– Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord (Romans 12:19)

• Provides a motive to live righteously• Provides a great motive for evangelism• Helps us to trust in God’s mercy

– The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (1 Peter 3:9)

An unavoidable choice• Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from

me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. (Matthew 25:41)

• Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life. (Matthew 25:46)

• Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. (Matthew 25:34)

He’s worth it!• Then the angel showed me

the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.

• No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever. (Revelation 22:1-5)