BIBLE DOCTRINE 20
THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT
God’s Word teaches:
That
the Great White Throne Judgment is when God finally judges all (the living and
the dead, small and great) who have ever lived on the face of the earth,
according to their works. This is after the Millennium. At this time, the final
Judgment known as the Great White Throne Judgment will be held. All those, from
all ages, who have not yet been judged (believers’ judgment for sin, borne and
accomplished by Christ on the Cross - John 5:24; 3:17-19 will stand before God
at this time. The devil and his angels are judged at this time also and sent to
the lake of fire forever - Daniel 12:2,3; Matthew 10:15; 11:21-24,12:41,42;
John 5:28,29; Romans 2:15,16; 14:12; 2 Peter 2:9; Jude 6; I Corinthians 6:1-4;
Acts 10:42; Revelation 20:11-15.
In
this teaching on the events of the last days or eschatology, the Lord is
graciously unveiling the curtain of eternity to reveal to humanity His
program for this present evil world. The doctrine of “The Great White Throne
Judgment” opens our eyes to see a time to come when all wicked/ungodly people
(the living and the dead, small and great who have neglected God’s salvation)
will face the final judgment of the Living God (Romans 14:12). We caution that
the teaching must not be approached with doubtful disputations or viewed as
fable or fiction but a fact. These are true sayings of God written for our
learning and admonition upon whom the ends of the world are come (Romans 15:4;
I Corinthians 10:11; Revelation 19:9).
The
Bible (Gods revelation to man) clearly presents the order of events preceding
the Great White Throne Judgment and constantly enjoins “He that hath an ear,
let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches” (Revelation 2:7). At
the close of the millennium, the devil will be released from “the bottomless
pit” (Revelation 20:3) and he will deceive thousands of people and will
gather them to fight against the King (Jesus Christ) and His Saints. This will
be the battle of Gog and Magog; but at the end of the battle, when the
rebellious have been killed, and destroyed by the fire of His indignation which
comes down from heaven, the devil will be cast into the lake of fire
(Revelation 20:7-10). After this, the Great White Throne Judgment will be set.
God will sit on a throne so white, magnificent and terrible at sight that the
whole face of the earth and heaven (the atmospheric heaven) will tremble and
flee from Him. All those who died unrepentant from the time of Adam till the
time of the Great White Throne Judgment will be resurrected (Daniel 12:2; John
5:28-29; Acts 24:15). This is called the second resurrection. And they will all
stand before God to account for their deeds. This final judgment of sinners
(the living and the dead, small and great) is known as the Great White Throne Judgment
(Psalm 9:17; Daniel 7:9-10; Matthew 11:20-24; 10:15; John 5:28-29; Revelation
20:11-15). The Bible is replete with pointers to this great and notable day of
the Lord (Ecclesiastes 12:14; Matthew 11:21-24; 12:41,42; Romans 2:15,16; 2
Peter 2:9; Jude 14,15).
The
world is corrupt and polluted. Man is
rebellious and disobedient against God. For a long time it has repented the
Lord that He has made man on the earth, for every imagination of the thoughts
of man’s heart has been evil continually (Genesis 6:5-6). Will man continue in
his willful disobedience and rebellion against God? No, for “...He hath
appointed A DAY, in which He will judge the world in righteousness ...”
(Acts 17:30,31). No true believer whose name is written in the Book of Life
will face the Great White Throne Judgment since their judgment as sinners was
accomplished by Christ on the cross (John 3:17-19,30; Romans 8:1; John
5:20,24). Besides, “...God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain
salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ” (I Thessalonians 5:9). “But the
fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and whore mongers, and
sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake
which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death”
(Revelation 21:8). That great congregation will consist of: (i) All categories
of sinners (dead and alive) from Adam to date. They will be judged for
neglecting the salvation of God (Hebrews 2:3). (ii) All backsliders in all
dispensations who denied the faith of Him that once bought them (Exodus 32:33).
(iii) All who deny the deity of Jesus Christ (John 3:18, 36). These are the
skeptics, the atheists, the idol worshipers and all religious hypocrites
(Matthew 23:27).
At
the Great White Throne Judgment, Death,
the age-long enemy of God's creation and Satan's principal messenger of destruction and
instrument of cruelty will be stripped of his power, and together with hell,
will be cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:14; 1 Corinthians 15:26). The
old heaven and earth which had been polluted with sin, defiled by Satan, demons
and sinners, shall be burnt up (2 Peter 3:7,10-12).
In
righteousness He will judge: (a) all unrighteous deeds of men (I John 5:17;
Romans 11:28-32). Every unrighteous act,
feeling or imagination that was not cleansed by the blood of the Lamb will be
condemned at the Great White Throne Judgment.
(b) The secret deeds of men (Matthew 10:26; Romans 2:16; Hebrews 4:13; 2
Chronicle 16:9). Every secret bribery,
immorality, pornography, drunkenness, abortion, etc., will be revealed. "....Books (books of records) were
opened...and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the
books, according to their works" Revelation 20:10. There is a record in heaven for everything
done under the sun "...whether it be good or bad" (2
Corinthians 5:10b). (c) The words of men
(Matthew 12:36,37; 5:22; Ephesians
4:29,31; 5:4). “Every idle word that men shall speak,
they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment". Every gossip, backbiting and slander against
our neighbors, fellow believers or church leaders will be judged. All foolish
unedifying words, corrupt, graceless words, defamatory and abusive words
against others will be accounted for at the Great White Throne Judgment. “For
by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned”
(Matthew 12:37). God will judge every unrepentant sinner or backslider
according to His divine will and righteousness (Proverbs 11:21). God’s judgment
will be fair, without partiality or respect of persons (Romans 2:2-12; Job
34:18-22). He will judge the small and the great, the rich and the poor, the
educated and the illiterate, the highly respected and the most despised. “For
the Lord your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a
mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth
not persons, nor taketh rewards [bribe]” (Deuteronomy 10:17). The righteous
Judge of the universe will receive no bribe to pervert judgment on the great
day of His wrath. But "... in righteousness he doth judge and make war"
(Revelation 19:11). Without partiality “WHOSOEVER was NOT found WRITTEN in
the BOOK OF LIFE was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:15).
