What is the Millennium? It is the literal 1,000 year period, ushered in by Jesus’ Second Coming, at the last battle of Armageddon, for which Jesus will set up his earthly kingdom. Being that it lasts for only 1,000 years, the Millennium is temporary. Last Sunday I told you two dramatic events mark the end of the millennial kingdom. The first event, which we talked about last Sunday, was the once and for all final defeat of Satan. We will now talk about the last and final event that will bring the millennial kingdom to an end and will come from Revelation 20:11-15.
What event are we talking about?
I am talking about what is called the great white throne judgment. John wrote in verse 11, “Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence the earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them.” If you take this literally, as I do, this event takes place at the conclusion of the Millennium, after Satan’s army is defeated for the final time and Satan is “thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur”. And with that there are 5 facts you need to know about the great white throne judgment.
Fact 1: Jesus will be sitting on this throne.
Looking back at verse 11 we see that John sees someone sitting on this great white throne, saying, “Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it.” But John does not tell us it’s Jesus, so how do we know it’s Jesus that John is seeing? It’s because the Bible tells so.
More specifically, tt’s because Jesus told us so. In John 5:22 and 27, Jesus said, “The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son…And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man.” All that means is that God the Father has delegated the work of final judgment over to His only Son, Jesus Christ. Why would God do that? It’s because Jesus is fully God and fully man, that’s what Jesus means by saying he is the “Son of Man”, and that makes him the best Person to judge human kind.
In addition to Jesus, Peter professed that Jesus will be this judge, saying in Acts 10:42, “And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead.” What that means is Peter and the other apostles were commanded by Jesus to declare that God has appointed him as this judge seated on this great white throne.
In addition to Jesus and Peter, Paul also confesses that Jesus will be the one seated on this great white throne, saying in Romans 2:16, “On that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.” Again Paul says in Acts 17:31, that God “has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed.” What these verses mean is that according to the predetermined plan and will of God, God has a predetermined day, that He has appointed, for which the world shall be judged by the Person God has appointed as judge, and that Person is God’s only Son, Jesus Christ.
How do we know that? I mean sure, Jesus said he would, then you have Peter and Paul’s testimony to support him, but what evidence do we have, aside from Jesus, Peter, and Paul’s testimony, that Jesus is the one John is seeing seated on this throne? Paul goes on to say in Acts 17:31, “of this he (being God) has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead”; in other words, if you want evidence that Jesus is the one seated on this great white throne, look to the resurrection. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is proof that Jesus is the God-appointed judge that sits on this great white throne on that God-appointed day.
Here’s what Dr. David Jeremiah has to say about this: “Christ will be the judge at both the final judgments of mankind. At the first, (Jesus) will judge the faithful; at the second, (Jesus) will judge the unredeemed. No one is better qualified than Christ. He offered salvation to mankind, so it is fitting that (Jesus) should judge those who both accept and reject his generous and costly offer.”
Fact #2: This event prepares the way for the New Heaven and New Earth.
Looking back at verse 11 John says, “From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them.” Remember the Millennium is not Heaven, but a prelude to Heaven. The words “earth and sky fled away” are symbolic language to let us know that the millennial age is concluding and that a new age is about to begin. So at the conclusion of the millennial kingdom, when Jesus takes his place as judge on the great white throne, the world will finally be ready to enter the final and everlasting kingdom of Jesus Christ, and everything we have ever hoped for regarding the kingdom of God, will be getting ready to begin.
Fact #3: Once the time comes for Jesus to take his seat on the great white throne the second resurrection will take place.
John said in verse 12 and 13, “And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne…And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them”. Again, this is what is called the second resurrection. Remember, the first resurrection will occur at the beginning of the Millennium, so the second will occur at the end. We call this second resurrection the Resurrection of the Dead.
But what kind of dead people are we talking about being resurrected? Are we talking about those who were Raptured? No. Remember, the Rapture is the event where every person dead and alive who has believed in Jesus will be called up to heaven, and that takes place before the Tribulation. These will return with Jesus at the Second Coming, enter into the Millennium, and reign with Jesus 1,000 years. So, it can’t be them.
Are we talking about those who were partakers at the Resurrection of the Just? No. The Resurrection of the Just are all those who died believing in Jesus during the Tribulation. When the Millennium begins those who died believing in Jesus during the Tribulation will be raised from death to life and enter into the Millennium to reign with Jesus 1,000 years, according to Revelation 20:4-6. So it can’t be them.
So then, what dead people are we talking about? If you’ll look with me to Revelation 20:5, John writes, “The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.” So we’re talking about a group of people who were not partakers of the Rapture or the Resurrection of the Just, because those groups will reign with Jesus during the Millennium, and both those groups had one thing in common: the believed in Jesus and trusted that Jesus’ death on the cross and his resurrection from the grave saved them from the consequences of their sin.
So what does that mean? That must mean one thing: the people that will be raised from death to life at the end of the Millennium, are all the people who did not come to life in the first resurrection, which therefore means, these are unbelievers. These are people who did not trust that Jesus’ death on the cross and his resurrection from the grave was enough to save them.
Notice from verse 12 John says these are people “great and small”, which means this will encompass all kinds of different people who did not believe in Jesus; Dr. David Jeremiah says, “even religious people” Why religious people? Because religion doesn’t save. Among these “great and small” you’ll have the rich, the famous, the poor, the not so famous, the middle class, Buddhist, Muslims, Hindus, Catholics and non-Catholics. There will be people who have attended church their whole life, paid their tithes, went to Sunday School, was a Sunday School teacher, a Children’s Church teacher, a Pastor, a Deacon, on the Praise and Worship team, in the choir, the choir leader, and regular church attenders who will have to stand before this great white throne because they did not truly believe and trust that Jesus’ death and resurrection saved them from the consequences of their sin; they heard the gospel, the believed the historical facts about Jesus, but they did not have saving faith. Imagine the shock some will have who have believed in God their entire life, no matter the religion, and find themselves standing before Jesus as he sits on this great white throne because the time has come for their judgment.
Verse 13 says some will come from the sea: “And the sea gave up the dead who were in it.” What does that mean? It’s a reference to those unbelievers who died at the sea, sank, and have been naturally buried by the sea bed.
Verse 14 says some will come from Death and Hades: “Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them.” Death is a reference to the grave where the bodies of those who died not believing in Jesus are buried. Hades refers to the place where the soul of the wicked go until the day comes for the final and second resurrection. So, at this second resurrection the soul and body of those who died not believing in Jesus Christ will be reunited.
Fact #4: Once those who are to be raised from death to life at the Resurrection of the Dead, they will then stand before Jesus at this great white throne, and books will be opened.
Looking now at verse 12, John writes, “and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life.” Aside from the book of life, notice John says “books were opened”, implying more books than just the book of life will be present. Leading me to this question: what books will be present? Dr. David Jeremiah suggests there will be six books present when this time comes and one thing you’ll learn from this is that God is a good record keeper.
Book #1: The Book of Law. What is the Book of Law? This book will have the record of the law in it. What is the law? The Ten Commandments. What are the Ten Commandments? They are God’s moral law: You shall have no other God before me, you shall make idols, you shall not use the name of God in vain, remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy, honor your father and your mother, you shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not lie, and you shall not covet. And in this book will be a record of those who are depending on the Law/good deeds to save them, instead of faith alone in Christ alone.
Book #2: The Book of Works. What is the Book of Works? Dr. David Jeremiah says, “This book will pose a detailed record of every act ever committed by every person on earth. Jesus said in Matthew 16:27, “For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.” John writes here in Rev. 20:12 and 13, “the dead…were judged…according to what they had done.” Paul said in 2 Cor. 5:10, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” Dr. David Jermiah states, in the Book of Works, “Every sin will be revealed.” Meaning, in this book every act of rebellion, every act of disobedience, and every time we have violated God’s moral law – the Ten Commandments – will be recorded.
Book #3: The Book of Secrets. What is the Book of Secrets? It’s a book that contains every single secret thing we have ever done. There is nothing you do or think in secret that is not recorded by God. In Luke 8:17, Jesus said, “For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known”. Paul said in Romans 2:16, “On that day when…God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.” Every motive of the heart and every thought of the mind – good and bad – and every dark secret we have ever kept will come to light at the great white throne.
Book #4: The Book of Words. What is the Book of Words? It’s a book that records every word we have ever spoken, good and bad. In Matthew 12:36 and 37, Jesus said, “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” In other words, Jesus will use our own words as a testimony for or against ourselves.
Book #5: The Book of Conscience. What is the Book of Conscience? Our conscience is the ability to perceive and discern and judge between what is right and wrong, so the Book of Conscience will have a record of all those times we have obeyed or disobeyed our conscience. In Romans 2:15 and 16, Paul wrote, “They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.” In other words, no one will be able to stand before Jesus and say they were not aware of what is right and wrong, even if they never heard the gospel. God has given every person a conscience with God’s moral law written on it, so that every person will know what God expects of them and that they might know God is real.
Book #6: The Book of Life. What is the Book of Life? The Book of Life is a record of those who have believed in Jesus and trusted in Jesus’ death and resurrection to save them from the consequences of sin, instead of works. It’s a record of those who have been saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. Therefore, it does not contain the names of those who do not believe and trust Jesus’s death and resurrection to save them. In order for your name to get on this Book of Life, you must trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation.
Fact #5: Once the books are opened, it will be time for all those who stand before Jesus at this great white throne to be judged and receive their sentence.
Looking now to verse 14 and 15, “Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” From this, I hope you understand that what happens at the great white throne is a time of judgment.
Who all will be there? Will it just be those who are raised from death to life in the second resurrection? No. Remember, the believers who have reigned with Jesus during the Millennium will be there too. Jesus describes this moment in Matthew 25:31, saying, “Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.” And Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:10, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” So this means two groups will appear at the great white throne judgment: the unbelieving who will be resurrected at the end of the Millennium and the believing who have reigned with Jesus during the Millennium. And based on Matthew 25:31, these two groups will be separated from one another, as goats are separated from sheep.
And you might be wondering how long will this judgment take? We don’t really know. Many scholars suggest this will take only a few minutes. That Jesus, being God, will have the ability to judge every person from every nation that has ever existed and give them their eternal sentence simultaneously.
How will Jesus judge? Verse 12 says, “And the dead were judged by what was written in the books”; so Jesus will judge according to the books we mentioned. If your works, your secrets, your words, and your conscience are found having violated God’s moral law, according to the records kept in the five books mentioned, and your name is not found written in the sixth book – Book of Life, you will be found guilty, thrown into the lake of fire, and experience the second death with Satan, the Antichrist, the False Prophet, and everyone who has not believed.
Now you might say, I didn’t know there was a second death? What is the second death? The first death is the time you die in this world. At that time your physical body is buried in the ground and your soul goes to one of two places. If you know Jesus, your soul goes to be with him until the Rapture or the Resurrection of the Just, and then your soul and body will be reunited. If you die as unbeliever however, your body is buried in the ground and your soul waits in Hades until this judgment – the Resurrection of the Dead. At that time the body and soul of the unbeliever will be reunited and will experience the second death, which is punishment in the lake of fire that is never-ending. This is the fate for everyone whose name is not recorded in the Book of Life.
You also may be wondering where the believers, like you and I and others, who will reign with Jesus during the Millennium will be when all this takes place? Like I said, believers like you and I and others will make an appearance at this great white throne as well. But when the time comes for this judgment to take place, those who have placed their trust in Jesus will be treated differently from those who haven’t, and that’s because their sins will be treated differently. In fact, on this day Christians, while we will be present, we will not even approach the court.
Why is that? Is it because Christians are perfect people? No. Christians are not perfect people. Christians, contrary to what many teach and believe, still sin.
So then, why will Christians be treated differently? Why will Christians not even have to approach the courts as the unbelievers will? It’s because “there is…no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1). Again, it’s not because of anything the Christian has done, but because of what Jesus has done. His blood shed on the cross atoned for the sins of those who put their trust in him so that every record of every sin from the first five books previously mentioned was erased the moment he or she placed their trust in Jesus Christ for salvation. In the words of Dr. David Jeremiah: believers “will appear before the court with their slate wiped clean.” The only book the Christians name will not be erased from is the Book of Life. So instead of the second death, they will be granted eternal life in the kingdom of God. They will be permitted to enter into the eternal age of the New Heaven and New Earth.
Conclusion: And with that, I want to end by reminding you of something I told you when we began to study the Millennium that I hope makes better sense now – everyone will be resurrected, but not everyone will have the same destination.
Jesus’ resurrection paved the way for everyone to be resurrected. Everyone who has ever lived will be one day raised from the dead. But consider this: when you are resurrected and the destination you go to upon your resurrection, depends on your relationship with Jesus Christ.
Here’s what I mean: Those who refuse to believe in Jesus and refuse to trust that his death and resurrection is not enough to save them will be resurrected at the end of the Millennium and cast in the lake of fire; and those who believe in Jesus and trust that his death and resurrection is enough to save them, will either be raptured or be resurrected at the beginning of the Millennium, reign with Jesus during the Millennium, and be allowed to enter into the eternal kingdom of God.
That choice is yours. God sent Jesus into this world so that anyone who would believe in Jesus might not perish in the lake of fire but have everlasting life; and Jesus himself came, died, was buried, and rose from the grave so that you and I can have this eternal life. My hope and prayer is that this morning, right now, you will repent of your sins, believe in Jesus, and trust his death and resurrection is enough to save you from the consequences of your sin.