The Great White Throne

1. The Great White Throne Revelation 20:11-15

2. The Great White Throne Rev.20:6 Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection… I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. 11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. (Rev. 20:11-15) The Second Resurrection: Rev.20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged… …and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life… 12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne…and the dead were judged If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

3. The Great White Throne Rev.20:6 Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection… 11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. (Rev. 20:11-15) The Second Resurrection: Rev.20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged…

4. The Doctrine of Hell • Banished from the presence of God. • The “Outer Darkness” • The “Bottomless Pit” “…everlasting destruction, forever separated from the Lord and from his glorious power.” (2 Thess. 1:9) “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me!’” Matt. 7:23

5. The Doctrine of Hell • Banished from the presence of God. • Knowing the worthiness and beauty of God. “You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power.” Rev. 4:11 At the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. - Phil 2:10-11

6. The Doctrine of Hell • Banished from the presence of God. • Knowing the worthiness and beauty of God. • Yet still unrepentant and hardened… “If they won't listen to Moses and the prophets, they won't listen even if someone rises from the dead.” – Luke 16:31

7. The Doctrine of Hell • Banished from the presence of God. • Knowing the worthiness and beauty of God. • Yet still unrepentant and hardened… • Irreversible: God no longer strives with man. 8 And when [the Holy Spirit] comes, he will convince the world of its sin, and of God's righteousness, and of the coming judgment. 9 The world's sin is unbelief in me. 10 Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more. 11 Judgment will come because the prince of this world has already been judged. - John 16:8-11 “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever!”Gen. 6:4

8. The Doctrine of Hell • Banished from the presence of God. • Knowing the worthiness and beauty of God. • Yet still unrepentant and hardened… • Irreversible: God no longer strives with man. • Devoid of the goodness of God. • “Eternal Destruction” Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. (James 1:17)

9. The Doctrine of Hell • Banished from the presence of God. • Knowing the worthiness and beauty of God. • Yet still unrepentant and hardened… • Irreversible: God no longer strives with man. • Devoid of the goodness of God. • God takes no pleasure in it. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. (2 Pet. 3:9) “As I live!” declares the Lord GOD, “I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live.” Ez.33:11 [He] desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 1 Tim. 2:4

10. Objections Raised • “It’s Offensive!” • The Bible doesn’t teach it!

11. Objections Raised • “It’s Offensive!” • The Bible doesn’t teach it! • “Everyone goes to heaven!” • “I don’t believe it, so it doesn’t exist…”

12. Objections Raised • “It’s Offensive!” • The Bible doesn’t teach it! • “Everyone goes to heaven!” • “I don’t believe it, so it doesn’t exist…” • “Only the bad people go to hell!” • (i.e., not me) 82% Believe in Hell, but only 0.5% believethey’re going. Barna, George. Americans Describe Their Views About Life After Death.Available from http://www.barna.org

13. Serial Killer People who deserve Hell My lying, selfishness& disregard for God The sin graph: The Problem of Evil • 26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. . . • 28 And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God, he gave them over to a depraved mind. . .

14. The sin graph: God’s view The Problem of Evil People who deserve Hell • 26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. . . • 28 And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God, he gave them over to a depraved mind. . .

15. God’s Basis for Judgment “and books were opened…and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds” (Rev.20:12) Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men's hearts; 1 Cor. 4:5 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23

16. God’s Offer of Clemency “And another book was opened, which is the book of life…And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” - Rev. 20:12,15 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life” Jn.5:24 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45

17. What Does It Mean? • Only those who demand justice receive it. • Christians: stop demanding justice! "But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire compassion, and not sacrifice.’” (Matt. 9:13) • An end to ‘Smug Christianity’ “When Jesus went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and He felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things…” Mk.6:34