The final judgment, otherwise known as, ‘The Great White Throne Judgment,’ is when all will see and understand why some people will go to the “lake of fire.”
(11) Then I saw a great 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.
(12) 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.
(13) 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 they had done.
(14) Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death.
(15) Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.
What Is the “Lake of Fire?”
Also know as “Gehenna,” is a real and conscious place. How is this place described in the following scriptures?
(17) His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
(36) Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.
(11) And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.”
(8) He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
(9) They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might
(24) leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.
(25) “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison.
Matthew 8:12 (NIV)
(12) But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Matthew 22:13 (NIV)
(13) “Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
(28) “There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out.
(29) People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God.
Revelation 21:8 (NIV)
(8) But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
Revelation 22:15 (NIV)
(15) Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
Matthew 25:41 (NIV)
(41) “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.
What Is This Judgment Based On?
(19) This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.
(20) Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.
(11) Then I saw a great 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.
(12) 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.
(13) 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 they had done.
(14) Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death.
(15) Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.
Will There Be Degrees of Judgment?
Describe the judgment for:
People of all nations outside of Israel (Gentiles)
(12) All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law.
(13) For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.
(14) (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law.
(15) They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.)
(16) This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.
The Jews
(12) All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law.
(13) For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.
(14) (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law.
(15) They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.)
(16) This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.
Those who hear the Gospel and reject it
John 12:48 (NIV)
(48) There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day.
John 15:22 (NIV)
(22) If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin.
Ask
Do you have any other questions about the Final Judgment?
Application
Why are these truths important for us?
a) What is the fear of the Lord?
(12) Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,
(13) for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
b) How does it make me aware of my responsibility?
Mark 16:15-16 (NIV)
(15) He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
(16) Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
2 Corinthians 5:11 (NIV)
(11) Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience.
c) How should I rejoice in my salvation?
Habakkuk 3:17-18 (NIV)
(17) Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,
(18) yet I will rejoice in the Lord , I will be joyful in God my Savior.
Isaiah 25:9 (NIV)
(9) In that day they will say, “Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the Lord , we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.”
Philippians 1:11 (NIV)
(11) filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
Prayer Model
Lord Jesus, I give You thanks for my salvation. Help me to live my life mindful of my responsibility, motivated to live a life that tells others about Your great grace.
Key Verse
“Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before His eyes, and He is the one to whom we are accountable.”
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