Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 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
John writes that in his vision, he saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. What is this great white throne? It is great in status, power and authority; white in purity and holiness; and a throne in kingly sovereignty.
Next John tells us that earth and heaven flee from this throne, but there was found no place for them. There is absolutely no hiding from this throne. No one can escape the judgment that it represents. Neither heaven, nor earth, nor anything in between can hide from this judgment.
Many Bible scholars believe that Christians will never appear before this great white throne. If we do not, it will not be because we can hide from it - no one can. The idea is that we are spared from this awesome throne of judgment because our sins are already judged in Jesus at the cross. We don't escape God's judgment; but it is satisfied in Jesus. However, the Bible also indicates that Christians will have to stand before another throne - the judgment seat of Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:10 says, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” Some Bible scholars see the great white throne and the judgment seat of Christ as essentially the same thing, but only experienced differently depending on whether or not you are a believer in Christ.
Whatever the case, one thing is clear, we will all face a judgment! We will all have to give an account of our lives to God. Some of us will do that in humble worship of the God to whom we have already surrendered ourselves, and others will stand trembling with nothing but their works to defend them. The first group will be ushered into the presence of God, not based on their works, but based on the fact that their name is written in the Lamb’s book of life.
Standing before God: This is not a trial, trying to determine what the facts are. The facts are in; here is the sentencing of someone already condemned. Their standing posture means that they are now about to be sentenced. There is no hidden evidence that will get them acquitted and there is no appeal process, because there is no higher court to appeal to. Because this is not a trial, but a sentencing, there is nothing for these who stand before the throne to say. It is a terrible thing to have to stand before God and be judged solely on the merit of your works!
Jeff Frazier
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