What Happens at the Great White Throne Judgment?
by David K. Bernard
Podcast recording (no venue stated in the delivered transcript)
Kind: teaching
Scripture: Revelation 20:11-15, 1 Corinthians 3

Source: https://acts238.life/repository/sermons/david-k-bernard--what-happens-at-the-great-white-throne-judgment
Published by Acts 2:38 Life from the sermon transcript on that page.
Free to copy and share with attribution.

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this is what we consider to be the last judgment so God is fair he is just so he gives everyone the opportunity to be examined and it appears here this judgment is primarily for those who are lost because he will present each one with a record of their sins as the just basis for their punishment uh so actually if you read through the whole book of Revelation and compare it with the other passages of the New Testament it seems that those who are saved are already resurrected and in fact earlier in chapter 20 they rule and reign with Christ for a thousand years so it doesn't seem that those who are saved are going to now go to a judgment if they are going to a judgment it will just be to confirm what has already been reality just to go go on record as saying these have been found to be righteous and of course they'll be found righteous not on the basis of so many numbers of Good Deeds but on the fact that Jesus Christ paid the price for them and Jesus died for their sins rose again and they appropriated his gospel to their lives and were born again so it could be if if we are to think of the whole the whole world of the whole universe of people at all time then we'd be thinking of the righteous simply being confirmed you're saved by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ that you accepted and then those who are lost you are going to be condemned because of these Deeds so the only practical effect will be those who are lost that's why if you look at the end it says the result of that um it says in uh Revelation chapter 20 and U it says you read that everyone would judge according to the works 13 14 then death death and Hades I'm reading from the new King James the Hades being the place of the Dead the temporary Abode of someone who dies their their their soul spirit is in Hades then death and Hades were cast in the Lake of Fire this is the second death and anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast in the Lake of Fire so it seems the only change will be for those who are lost death in Hades so they they'll be cast into the Eternal Lake of Fire the Eternal judgment so from the temporary place of their body being in the grave their soul being in Hades now they're brought up to face God in the Judgment they're found to be wanting because of their sins that were never forgiven never redeemed and they're cast into the Lake of Fire which represents Eternal judgment so the and that's why many would say well the only people left to judge are those who are lost because those who are saved have already been judged so to speak and found to be righteous um but anyway so that's the Practical effect this will be the last judgment and those who have not been saved will be eternally lost I will point out there is what is apparently a prior judgment although some could merge these two 1 Corinthians 3 talks about a judgment of the righteous and it's very specific to say that we uh who are saved who are in in Christ uh will be judged according to our works we're not saved by our works we're saved by Jesus Christ Jesus Christ is the foundation verse Corinthians 3 is very clear on that and it's not a judgment of Salvation or damnation 1 Corinthians is clear on that but it's saying our works done in this life can be compared to gold jewels precious stones uh silver or wood ha and stubble so if you go a judgment by fire if you put the fire to these things everything that's wood ha will be burnt up everyone that's precious metals precious jewels will be will survive the fire well what would that mean well it's not talking about sins because they've already been forgiven but it's talking about our Christian Life it's not talking about salvation by works because we're Saved By Faith but what did you do with your life so going to work every day is commendable uh but it's not really of Eternal value I guess to the extent you provide for your family that's a that is doing the will of God but but let's say you pursue Hobbies or sports are those evil not necessarily are you going to be condemned and go to hell because of recreation no but is that of Eternal value not really so that's kind of wood hay and stubble so if your whole life was basically spent just yeah you love God you went to church you you obey you know the word of God you live by faith but you spent 90% of your time for yourself well that's of no eternal value that's burned up but your prayers your study of the word your evangelism your discipleship your investment other people your love your helping the church helping your family helping others well that's of Eternal value because those people will be there in eternity with you so the things you've done for Christ will be of Eternal value you will be rewarded so there is this judgment is often called the Judgment seat of Christ for those who have saved and then there's the Great white Throne judgment for those who are lost so even if you would say well those occur simultaneously they're separated logically and I actually think they're probably separated temporarily because the Judgment seat of Christ what kind of rewards will we get well I don't know but part of it may be fulfilled in the millennial Kingdom uh in in the the rule of Reign of Jesus Christ and his Saints on Earth that may be where we receive some of the various rewards that is given at the Judgment seat of Christ so it does seem Revelation 20 is talking about the last judgment and specifically for the unrighteous and they will go into the Eternal judgment which obviously we don't want to be there it's called the second death well unless the Rapture takes place we're going to all experience the first death but that's the only death we want to experience we want the first death and then we want to go in the first resurrection yes amen