The following "Question" was asked by a member of the congregation at Grace Community Church in Panorama City, California, and "Answered" by their pastor, John MacArthur Jr. It was transcribed from the tape, GC 45-21, titled "Bible Questions and Answers." A copy of the tape can be obtained by writing, Word of Grace, P.O. Box 4000, Panorama City, CA 91412 or by dialing toll free 1-800-55-GRACE.
Question
"Who is judged at the Great White Throne?"
Answer
Turn in your Bible to the 20th chapter of Revelation, and I really haven't
put these in any other order than just to throw them in the Romans pile. I
got a little pile here from Matthew, and some about prophecy (I always get a
few of those), and some over here on dating. All of those of you who would
like a date, see our college pastor, Allan Adidian (sp.), he may have another
list of people who are waiting for someone like you, and we can match you all
up, or our singles group might too.
But this question comes out Revelation 20, and it has to do, of course, what
we studied about Romans--the judgment of the evil. In verse 11 of Revelation
20, "I saw a great white throne and Him that sat on it, from whose face the
earth and heaven fled away, and there was found no place for them." Of
course, this is God sitting on His throne in ultimate judgment. Christ is
there as well because all judgment is committed unto Him. He sits in the
Father's throne and so forth, from earlier in Revelation, and we know that as
well from the Gospel of John.
"And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God." "Small and great"
doesn't mean short and tall, it means insignificant and significant.
"And the books were opened." And people often ask the question, "Well,
doesn't God know who's save and who's not saved? What does He have to have
books for?"
Because, God is just, and God will not judge a person without manifesting the
objective criteria for that judgment. So there is no question in the mind of
anyone. God has kept the records. He knows every thought, and every word,
and every deed ever done by every human being who ever lived, and it is all
down so that judgment is on the basis of their works. He'll have the record
and He will also have the Book of Life.
"And the dead were judged out of those things written in the books, according
to their works." You see, works are the objective criteria which God uses.
"And the sea gave up the dead that were in it; death and Hades delivered up
the dead that were in them: and they were judged every man according to their
works." And there you are again, you shouldn't have a problem with that,
judgment is on the basis of works--ultimately.
"And death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second
death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into
the lake of fire." Now, I believe that this is a judgment of unbelievers. I
do not believe that we see here believing people. People then say, "Then,
why is the Book of Life here?" Simply because that is another criteria by
which God judges. One, He will open all the books, which give all the
records of all the deeds of all the ungodly. And then He will open up the
Book of Life, and not only will all their deeds manifest their ungodliness,
but their absence in the Book of Life will be the subjective criteria added
to the objective of the list of the works of their life, that will condemn
them forever.
Now the reason that I don't see believers here is because believers have
already been judged, by this time. The judgment of works, that we know as
the "Bema Judgment" (2 Corinthians 5, Romans 14:10-11). That judgment has
already occurred before the Millennial period began--1,000 years prior to
this. But this is the resurrection of the ungodly of all time. Now you say,
"Does that mean that it is a literal resurrection?" Yes, John 5, Jesus said
that there will be a resurrection, not only for those who will be raised to
life, but those who will be raised to death as well. All people who have
ever lived will be resurrected. They will receive a new body. Ours will be
fit for heaven and God's eternal kingdom; theirs will be fit for hell.
People have said, "Is hell literal fire?" That's a very difficult question
to answer. Jesus used that expression many, many times. I don't know how
literal the fire is. I tend to think there will be some kind of very literal
torment because there will be a real resurrection, and whatever kind of body
they have it will be a body that can exist forever, and it can exist in a
tormented state forever and never perish. I believe that this is the
judgment of those unrighteous dead who will all be gathered at one moment in
time, in the Great White Throne, and the record will be laid out and they
will not have the works to make it, and they will not be in the Book of Life. If you are not in the Book of Life the only way you could get in is to have a
perfect works record. Right? And nobody can do that, "For by the deeds of
the law shall no flesh be justified."
So, I believe that this is the unrighteous dead, who are then cast into the
Lake of Fire. Believers have already had their judgment.
Added to Bible Bulletin Board's "MacArthur’s Questions and Answers" by:
Tony Capoccia
Bible Bulletin Board
Box 119
Columbus, New Jersey, USA, 08022
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Email: tony@biblebb.com
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