11And I saw a great white throne and the one sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from his presence, but they found no place to hide.
Revelation 20:11
12I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books. 13The sea gave up its dead, and death and the grave gave up their dead. And all were judged according to their deeds. 14Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death. 15And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.
Revelation 20:12-15
What a remarkable sequence of events. Don’t miss the sequence of these God-given visions John received. That is the reason why I have maintained the colouring of I saw, from Gem 2368. Did you pick up on the fact that the vision of the Great White Throne stands alone, followed by the vision of the dead? Following which John sees the New Heaven and the New Earth when the first heaven and earth disappeared. When did that happen? In Revelation 21 verse 1. The first heaven and earth disappear at the appearance of the Great White Throne; the earth and sky fled from His presence! The God of Heaven and Earth sitting on HIs throne is a compelling sight. After this, John turns to the glory which awaits the righteous. Therefore we see the New Jerusalem, the dwelling place of the people of God, coming into focus. It is like it is all choreographed, and why wouldn’t it be?
Do you notice I have left emboldened that which I drew your attention to from the previous Gem?
Anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.
To reiterate: John sees all of the dead, both great and small. I don’t believe John saw dead adults and children. The “great and small” refer to the status given to human beings on the world stage. John has mentioned the “great and small” three times in Revelation.
He required everyone—small and great, rich and poor, free and slave—to be given a mark on the right hand or on the forehead.
Revelation 3:16
Come and eat the flesh of kings, generals, and strong warriors; of horses and their riders; and of all humanity, both free and slave, small and great.”
Revelation 19:18
I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books.
Revelation 20:12
Yet GREAT and small are both the same size standing before the throne of God. The difference in their final destination is dependent on, in which book their name is found. Is your name to be found in the book of deeds or the Lamb’s Book of Life? But I am sure you realise by now, the moment for you to be able to choose has long since passed. When you are standing before GOD seated on the Great White Throne, the time for you to choose is over. Do you notice also the link between the great and small references and those given the mark of the beast on the right hand or forehead? Your earthly size or status matters not, what matters is if you are the LORD’s? Do you belong to Christ having asked forgiveness for your wrong doing? Do you know He has forgiven you? Do you know that you are now covered by the blood of Christ? Are you assured of your salvation and know that when God looks at you He sees you in right standing with Him?
I have told you that I would update you on my progress on the three verses I laid before you in Gem 2374:
The smoke of their torment will rise forever and ever, and they will have no relief day or night, for they have worshiped the beast and his statue and have accepted the mark of his name.”
Revelation 14:11
Then the devil, who had deceived them, was thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulphur, joining the beast and the false prophet. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
Revelation 20:10
And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.
Revelation 20:15
In Gem 2372 I listed for you the four Hebrew levels of Interpretation:- Peshat, Remez, Midrash and Sod. A plain reading of these verses suggest there are different levels of judgement. Notice there are different subjects in focus for each of those verses.
- The devil, the beast and the false prophet [20:10]
- Those who worshipped the beast and accepted the mark [14:11]
- Those whose names are not in the Book of Life [20:15]
Could it be that there are different levels of punishment in hell to match the severity of what is deserved or reserved for each group of participants? This reading in Matthew would bear that out:
If any household or town refuses to welcome you or listen to your message, shake its dust from your feet as you leave. I tell you the truth, the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah will be better off than such a town on the judgment day.
Matthew 10:14-15
However, be careful with this verse. At face value the context is reversed. It is not that the judgement on the town in focus is less than that of Sodom and Gomorrah, infamous for their evil practices. In point of fact, it is worse in the context of these verses. Most commentators would argue that the severity is great on the household or towns in question because a greater clarity of truth is seen in the light of the advent of Christ. Rather than the general light God gave through the created world as expressed in:
They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.
Romans 1:19-20
Given the clarity that comes from the revelation through Christ compared with the statement of Paul in Romans 1:18 they are worlds apart as Paul makes clear.
For God’s wrath is being revealed from heaven against all the ungodliness and wickedness of those who in their wickedness suppress the truth.
Romans 1:18
Two chapters later Paul wrote the following:
But now, apart from the Law, God’s righteousness is revealed and is attested by the Law and the Prophets — God’s righteousness through the faithfulness of Jesus the Messiah—for all who believe. For there is no distinction among people, since all have sinned and continue to fall short of God’s glory. By his grace they are justified freely through the redemption that is in the Messiah Jesus . . .
Romans 3:21-24 ff
Continue to read what Paul wrote in Romans 3. The clarity is compelling. If it is confusing to you, then read what I wrote in the Bible Gems on this passage in Romans. [Gem 140 and Gem 141] It is clear that greater severity of judgment will fall on those who reject God’s answer to the human condition stated in Romans 3:23, namely the forgiveness that can only be yours by accepting Christ’s righteousness. It’s not rocket science; salvation is free to all who accept God’s judgement on your sin while offering you the free gift of forgiveness IN CHRIST. Read the Gem series The Gospel in a Nutshell (8) if it is not clear to you yet. To shun God’s solution to cover your sin puts you ultimately under greater judgement on Judgement Day.
The ultimate test is NOT whether your good deeds outweigh your bad deeds; it’s whether you have repented and given your allegiance to Christ. Then you are covered by Jesus’ righteousness.
Ian
Your good deeds won’t out-weigh the bad. What matters is whether your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life!
Ian
Don’t wait until you’re dying to repent. Seek God’s forgiveness through Christ before it’s too late.
Ian
There but for the grace of God, go I.
John Bradford, Paul of Tarsus, Me
I was sent this meme this morning by a friend and couldn’t resist including it.
It just seems so perfect for this Gem, given the small and the great and the relevance to us all.