The
Great White Throne Judgment
and
the Destruction of the Earth
Revelation 20:11-15 – 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.
After the non-battle between
God and Satan comes the end. The final judgment takes place, at which time
everyone who was not raised or transformed a thousand years earlier at Christ’s
return will be resurrected and sent to their eternal destiny. This includes
those non-believers who died before Christ’s return and everyone, Christians
and non-Christians alike, who may have been born and died during the thousand
year reign.
It also says that “the
earth and the heavens fled from [God’s] presence, and there was no place for
them.” This means that our present earth will be destroyed. It will be “no
place.” It will be completely gone.
2 Peter
3:3-13 – Above all, you must understand that in the last days
scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4 They
will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ He promised? Ever since our ancestors died,
everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” 5 But
they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into
being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6 By
these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7 By
the same word the present heavens
and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and
destruction of the ungodly.
8 But do not forget this one thing, dear
friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are
like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise,
as some understand slowness. Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone
to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
10 But the day of the Lord will come like
a thief. The heavens will
disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth
and everything done in it will be laid bare.
11 Since everything will be destroyed in
this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly
lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed
its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the
heat. 13 But in keeping with His promise we are
looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.”
The last scene we saw
prior to the Final Judgment was the last battle between Satan and God, in which
God throws fire (Revelation 20:9) or burning sulfur (Ezekiel 38:22) down from
Heaven to destroy the rebellious army. I wonder if this fire from Heaven might
not be the same fire that destroys the heavens and the earth. This world and
Satan’s army could be destroyed at the same time, while God protects His
followers.
Who will Judge?
- Jesus the Christ
Matthew 16:27 – "For the Son of Man is going
to come in His Father's glory with His angels, and then He will reward each
person according to what He has done."
John 5:27 – “And [God] has
given [Jesus] authority to judge because He is the Son of Man.”
Acts 10:42 – He commanded us to
preach to the people and to testify that He is the one whom God appointed as
judge of the living and the dead.
God has
given Christ the power to judge. (See also Romans 2:16.)
- The twelve disciples
Matthew 19:28 –Jesus said to them, “I tell you the
truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on His glorious
throne, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the
twelve tribes of Israel."
(See also Revelation
20:4.)
- Christians
1 Corinthians 6:2-3 – Do you not know that the saints will
judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to
judge trivial cases? 3Do you not know that we will judge
angels? How much more the things of this life!
Who will be Judged?
- Every person who ever lived
Romans 14:9-12 – For this very reason, Christ died
and returned to life so that He might be the Lord of both the dead and the
living. 10You, then, why do you judge your
brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before
God's judgment seat. 11It is written: 'As surely as I live,'
says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before Me; every tongue will confess to
God.' 12So then, each of us will give an
account of himself to God.
(See also 2 Corinthians
5:9-10; 2 Timothy 4:1; 1 Peter 4:5; Revelation 20:11-14.)
- Fallen Angels
Jude 6 – And the angels who did not keep
their positions of authority but abandoned their own home—these He has kept in
darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day.
2 Peter 2:4 – For if God did not spare angels
when they sinned, but sent them to Hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to
be held for judgment…
(See also 1 Corinthians
6:2-3.)
- Demons
Matthew 8:28-29 – When He arrived at the other side
in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs
met Him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. 29'What do you want with us, Son of God?'
they shouted. 'Have You come here to torture us before the appointed
time?'"
Remember that Fallen
Angels and Demons are not the same!
---
This blog post is included in my book, Last Days: A Biblical Guide to the End Times.
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