The Great White Throne Judgment
Scripture Reading: Revelation 20:11–15
“And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works,” Revelation 20:11–13.
The Great White Throne Judgment
Father God, we thank you because your Presence in our lives makes all the difference. We thank you because all things are possible when you are in us; there is fullness of joy in walking with you. Thank you for drawing us to you. We ask that you give us your mindset, that we will do what you desire, and that our works will be worthy of your approval in Jesus’ name.
As recorded in Revelation 20:11–15, can you imagine a face that will cause the earth and heaven to fly away and find no place? And John the Revelator said that after the dead were brought up and judged, those whose names were not written in the book of life were cast in the lake of fire along with death and hell.
This is a very deep passage because it talks about eternity. Right now we have life; we have opportunity. We have the choice to work for God or not to work for Him. But when judgment day comes and God sits upon the great white throne, will you be ready or will it be too late? Will you have a work upon which God will judge your stay on earth? Our work will be tried by fire and every work we have done that is burnt up will have no value on that day.
There are three messages in today’s passage:
God is a loving God, but He is also a God of judgment.
God will judge according to our works.
Those whose names are not written in the book of life will be cast into the lake of fire.
No one is exempt from judgment. The Bible says, “and the books were opened: and another book was opened which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works”, verse 12. Even those who have died in the sea and those in hell will be delivered up and judged, verse 13. Are you prepared for God’s judgment? Are you at work for Him? Will your work stand the test? Is your name written in the book of life?
When your name is in the book of life you are not just alive on earth but alive in eternity. This can only happen if you have your own Emmanuel, your own relationship with Jesus the Lord and Saviour if you surrender your life to Him not just by a religious act, but by a deliberate commitment that values your relationship with Him above all else. Surrender your life today to Jesus Christ, the only one who can take you into eternity; the only one who can cause your name to be written in the book of life.
I pray that God will give you the grace to choose life, not just here, but in eternity. I pray that God will give you the grace to accept Jesus as your personal Saviour and in that acceptance, you will get into a work that will stand the test of time. Many are engaged in dead works that consume time and set them up for the lake of fire. Work for God so that He will record your favourable actions and on that day of judgment you will stand before Him, saved by the grace of Jesus and His salvation.
May He say to you, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant,” Matthew 25:21.
Surrender your life to Jesus and take up your cross daily to follow Him, walk with Him, relate with Him and take His counsel.
Surrendering to Jesus is much more than an initial prayer of surrender. We are to walk with Him in a manner that makes it is clear we belong to God. He leads His own, is faithful to His own, and directs and commands His own.
Prayer Points:
I pray that God will give you the grace to take Him seriously, and that as you walk with Him you will begin to worship Him. As you worship Him, I pray that you will learn to pray to Him and internalize His Word; that you will have a well-read Bible, and that the Word itself will dwell in you and give you life.
The Bible says that the words that the Lord speaks to you are truth and life. If you want your name to be in the book of life, surrender your life to Jesus, work with, and for Him, and also let the Word of life, the Bible, live inside you so that you will be able to stand on the last day at the white throne judgement. May God give us the grace to wake up while we have time. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen
