In the book of Revelation, there’s mentioned this coming judgment often called the Great White Throne Judgment. If you’ve ever watched judgment scenes played out in movies you sometimes see this long line of individuals normally surrounded or standing in clouds waiting for his or her name to be called. Some have even used the reference to St. Peter on the pearly gates checking to see in case your name is on the list so you possibly can be let into heaven. While these lend themselves to much creative license it doesn’t diminish the proven fact that there’s a day of judgment coming. Because of the intense nature of judgment, you must ensure that what the Great White Throne Judgment is and who is that this judgment reserved for.
What Is the Great White Throne Judgment in Revelation?
In speaking of the Great White Throne Judgment people may seek advice from terms akin to Judgment Day or the Last Judgment. This event is mentioned in Revelation 20 which we are going to have a look at in a moment, but Jesus referred to this judgment even within the Gospel of John.
“Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who’re of their graves will hear his voice and are available out—those that have done what is sweet will rise to live, and those that have done what’s evil will rise to be condemned.” – John 5:28-29
Let’s forward to the book of Revelation and see how these two scriptures point to the identical event.
“Then I saw an ideal white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens 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 in accordance with what they’d done as recorded within 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 every person was judged in accordance with what they’d done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fireplace. The lake of fireplace is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found written within the book of life was thrown into the lake of fireplace.” – Revelation 20:11-15
Great White Throne Judgment Characteristics
When you’re reading or studying Scripture it’s all the time good to ask inquiries to help understand the passage. These might be known as the W questions, who, what, where, when, why. Let’s try this with this passage.
Who can be judged?
The Great White Throne Judgment is a judgment for unbelievers and never for believers. I do know you’re saying how do this? When you read slightly earlier in Revelation it reveals it.
“I saw thrones on which were seated those that had been given authority to guage. And I saw the souls of those that had been beheaded due to their testimony about Jesus and due to the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They got here to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (The remainder of the dead didn’t come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the primary resurrection. Blessed and holy are those that share in the primary resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they can be priests of God and of Christ and can reign with him for a thousand years.” – Revelation 20:4-6 (daring emphasis added)
The people who find themselves present and participating on this Great White Throne Judgment are those that weren’t resurrected firstly of what is known as the millennial period. They didn’t happen in that first resurrection they were a part of the second. In the second resurrection, all those that were dead at the moment are delivered to stand before God in judgment. For these, there isn’t a hope of everlasting life which is why John wrote “Blessed and holy are those that share in the primary resurrection.”
When and where will they be judged?
This judgment will happen after the thousand-year reign of Christ on the earth. These people will have already got died and can be lying in wait during this era until their final judgment is pronounced on them. In a criminal trial where bail isn’t offered or met an individual might be held in jail until their trial date occurs. This is how it should be for many who can be judged at this judgment. These people can be held in a spot called Hades until they’re called to seem before God for trial. At that point, they can be resurrected for the aim of facing their final judgment. This trial and judgment will happen before the very throne of God which is represented here by the Great White Throne.
What will they be judged for?
According to Revelation, these can be judged in accordance with what they’d done as recorded within the books. They can be judged for their very own actions and their very own sins.
Why are they being judged?
This judgment is because they’ve rejected Christ as their substitute they usually have chosen to pay the penalty for his or her sins themselves. Because God is a just, holy, and righteous God all sin requires that a penalty be paid for it. For those that receive Christ, the penalty for his or her sin is placed on him. For those that decide to reject Christ, they carry in themselves the penalty of their sin. As you possibly can see the penalty is extreme and severe.
Does the Bible Say That There’s One Judgment or Two Judgments?
When you look back on the passage in John Jesus mentions that some can be resurrected and live and others can be resurrected and be condemned. Jesus was referencing the proven fact that there are literally two different judgments mentioned within the Bible. There is a judgment for believers and a judgment for unbelievers. Let’s have a look at each.
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, in order that each of us may receive what’s due us for the things done while within the body, whether good or bad. – 2 Corinthians 5:10
The word for judgment here is from the foundation word “bema” within the Greek. This is a seat where rewards and punishments might be handed out. In this judgment of believers, we can be rewarded or not rewarded for what we did after we received Christ as savior. It is significant to differentiate that this isn’t a judgment of your salvation but of your works done after you received salvation. Paul refers to one of these judgment in 1 Corinthians.
“If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work can be shown for what it’s, since the Day will bring it to light. It can be revealed with fire, and the fireplace will test the standard of every person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it’s burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet can be saved—regardless that only as one escaping through the flames.” – 1 Corinthians 3:12-15
I would like you to note that regardless that an individual’s works could also be burned up, they are going to still escape with their salvation because they’ve received Christ as their savior.
How Does This Differ from the Great White Throne Judgment in Revelation?
The word for judgment utilized in Revelation 20:12 means to render a verdict either positive or negative. This isn’t a judgment of reward but a judgment of everlasting destiny. There is not any trial because God is solely rendering a verdict. At the Great White Throne Judgment, the time for mercy and style has passed. In this moment all that’s left is a final pronouncement or sentencing based on the guilt of the person being judged.
As you possibly can see the Great White Throne Judgment is serious business and ought to be very sobering. There is not any rejoicing for many who must face this and there ought to be no rejoicing for us after we know individuals who have died not knowing Jesus as their savior. For them, that is the destiny that awaits them. Here is what we’re reminded of in scripture,
“And because it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment” – Hebrews 9:27 (NKJV)
We will all die sooner or later and there’s a judgment seat waiting for all of us. The query is will or not it’s the bema seat or the Great White Throne? If you’re in Christ you is not going to see the Great White Throne. This shouldn’t only make you rejoice this must also motivate you to wish to share the gospel. Your desire ought to be to assist as many individuals escape this Great White Throne Judgment. This is what Jesus has called us to do. Hopefully being reminded of ultimate judgment will encourage us all to do more for the sake of the gospel and the sake of those that have no idea Jesus as Savior.
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This article is a component of our larger End Times Resource Library. Learn more concerning the rapture, the anti-christ, bible prophecy and the tribulation with articles that designate Biblical truths. You don’t have to fear or worry concerning the future!
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