The Final Judgment: Revelation 20:11-15

 [11] Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. [12] And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. [13] And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. [14] Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. [15] And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:11-15 ESV)

Let me start by saying that when it comes to the millennium and the final judgment, several things are not clear.  For example, does this final judgment deal only with the lost or with both believers and unbelievers?  If it is only the lost, then are believers judged before the millennium?  When believers are judged, are all of their sins brought up?  If there is a millennium, do any people become believers during the millennium?  There simply aren’t clear answers to these questions.  As with last week’s passage though, what is most important about this passage is clear and should be our primary focus. This passage calls us to live in light of the final judgment.  So, how do we do so?  

I.              Live Fearing the Judge of All the Universe (11)

After the final defeat of Satan, John then sees a “great white throne” and one seated upon it (11).  Although we are not told here who is sitting upon this throne, we can be almost certain that it is God.  The only other time we have seen such a distinguished throne in Revelation, God was sitting on it (4:2,5:7).  Also, the major Old Testament passage behind this vision is Daniel 7:9-10, where it is the “Ancient of Days” who is seated in judgment: [9] “As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire. [10] A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened.”  This seems to be the same scene that John is seeing. 

Another indicator that God is the one seated upon this throne is the fact that “earth and sky fled away” from His presence (11b).  This same thing happened in Revelation 6:14 and 16:20 when the great day of God’s wrath had come (6:12-17, 16:17-21).  This probably signifies the removal of the first heaven and earth in preparation for the new heaven and earth in Revelation 21:1.  How dreadful is this picture: creation fears and flees from the presence of God when judgment day arrives. 

This awesome scene of God on His throne is meant to remind us that as created beings, we will all stand before our Creator and give an account of our lives to Him on the Day of Judgment.  Our Creator is also our Judge.  This understanding should cause us to live in the “fear of the Lord.”  That was the conclusion of the wisest man in the Old Testament: [9] Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment. (Ecclesiastes 11:9 ESV) [13] The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. [14] For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil. (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 ESV)  Every human being will answer to God for how they have lived their lives.  It does not matter whether they have believed in Him or not, they will still answer to Him.  This is one of the main reasons that the Bible teaches us that the “fear of the Lord” is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge (Job 28:28, Proverbs 1:7, 9:10).  When I live by faith in the truth that I will give an account of ever decision to the Lord on judgment day, it greatly affects the decisions I make.  That’s living in the fear of the Lord. 

II.            Live Understanding the Nature of the Final Judgment (12-13)

John also sees “the dead, great and small,” standing before the throne and “books” were opened.  One of these books is set apart from the others, the “book of life” (12).  According to this passage, the “books” are a record of everything every person has ever done and “the book of life” seems to be a register of God’s people (see 21:27).  The “dead” who are standing (12) and “the dead” that “the sea” and “Death and Hades” give up (13) are “judged” by what is written in these books.  As I said earlier, I’m not clear whether “the dead” here is referring to only unbelievers or both believers and unbelievers.  In Revelation as a whole, “the dead” simply refers to anyone who has died.  For example, Jesus is the firstborn of “the dead” (1:5).  In Revelation 11:18, it says the judgment of “the dead” includes both the “rewarding” God’s servants and the “destroying” the destroyers of the earth.  It also seems strange for “the book of life” to be pulled out here if no one being judged is going to be found in it.  In Revelation 20:5-6, however, we see that a portion of “the dead” (believers) comes to life in the “first resurrection” before the millennium, but that “the rest of the dead” do not come to life until after the millennium.  So again, it’s not that clear exactly who is included among ‘the dead” here. 

What does seem to be clear here is the nature of the final judgment.  God has an accurate record of the deeds of every person who has ever lived and on judgment day, every single person who has ever lived will be “judged…according to what they had done” (12,13).  So the final judgment will be a judgment based upon one’s deeds.  Several passages of Scripture confirm this. 

Jeremiah 17:10: “I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”  Matthew 12:36-37: [36] I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, [37] for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.  Matthew 16:27: [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.

Matthew 25:31-46: [31] “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. [32] 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. [33] And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. [34] Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. [35] For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, [36] I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ [37] Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? [38] And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? [39] And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ [40] And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

[41] “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. [42] For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, [43] I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ [44] Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ [45] Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ [46] And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

John 5:28-29: [28] Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice [29] and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. Romans 2:5-11: [5] But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed. [6] He will render to each one according to his works: [7] to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; [8] but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. [9] There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, [10] but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. [11] For God shows no partiality.  1 Corinthians 3:12-15: [12] Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—[13] each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. [14] If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. [15] If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. 2 Corinthians 5:10: [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 how are we supposed to think about the fact that we are saved by grace but will be judged by our works?  This does not mean that our works in any way merit our salvation; I think it means that our deeds will be the confirmation that we were in fact saved or will expose the fact that we were not.  So your works, while they do not save you, are not irrelevant. 

III.         Live Rejoicing Over the Defeat of the Last Enemy (14)

One of the most remarkable things about this passage is that it forever closes the chapter on sin and evil.  “Death and Hades” themselves are “thrown” (19:20, 21:20) into the lake of fire.  What exactly does this mean?  “Death and Hades” are references to the realm of the dead (1:18), but also are personifications (6:8) of the power of death and hell (perhaps even demonic powers).  Ultimately, this passage is reminding us that one day death and everything that has to do with death will be no more.  I believe Paul was referring to this event when He said that “death” would be the “last enemy to be destroyed” (1 Corinthians 15:26). 

One of the toughest things for me to think about is the prospect of the death of a loved one.  I don’t think about it often, but every now and again, I will remember that one day my parents are going to die.  One day my wife is going to die.  One day my children are going to die.  One day I am going to die.  As much of a joy as each one of them is to my life, they will all face death one day and I will not be able to save them from it.  I take heart in the fact that as great an enemy as death is, it will be defeated at the final judgment. 

IV.          Live Trusting the One Who has Borne Our Judgment (15)

One final thing that this passage seems to make clear is that the only hope of escaping eternal torment is if one’s name is written in the Lamb’s book of life.  This passage says that everyone is going to be judged according to what they have done, but it doesn’t say that anyone escapes the “the second death,” which is “the lake of fire,” a place of eternal torment (20:10), based upon what they have done.  Only those whose names are found in the book of life escape the lake of fire (15) and enter New Jerusalem (21:27).  Anyone whose name is not found in “the book of life” is “thrown” into the lake of fire. 

So how can we have assurance that our name is written in the Lamb’s book of life?  Because both Revelation 13:8 and 17:8 clearly state that the names in the Lamb’s book of life were written there “before the foundation of the world,” our task is not so much to get it written there but to find assurance that it is written there.  A clue to answering this question comes when we consider the full name of this book give in 13:8.  It’s called “the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.”  From that title we see that there was something about the Lamb being slain that gave the people in this book life.  Revelation 5:9 tells us what it was: when He was slain, His blood paid the “ransom” for His people.  The cross of Jesus Christ, where the blood of the Lamb was shed, was God’s way of judging the sins of His people without destroying them in the process.  So to have assurance that you are in the book of life, you have to be a person who is trusting Jesus’ being slain to have ransomed you. 

 We see this same reality in Jesus’ words to the church at Sardis in Revelation 3:5: The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.  It seems that to have assurance of being the Lamb’s book of life, you have to be someone who “conquers.”  Well, how does one “conquer” in Revelation?  Revelation 12:11 gives us the answer: one conquers by “blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony.”  To be a conqueror, one has to be covered by faith in the blood of the Lamb, a faith that produces a testimony.  This testimony will be the evidence of their conversion at the final judgment.  In the end, this is the only reason that any of us should have assurance of our salvation: that we are trusting in the finished work of Jesus to save us and we are still following Him.  How do you measure up to this assessment?  In the end, Jesus is our only hope on the day of judgment because He has borne our judgment upon His cross.