Peter Barnes: Revelation 20:11-15
(10 June 2018)
SERMON NOTES: BEFORE GOD’S JUDGMENT SEAT (Revelation 20:11-15)
– the great white throne could belong to God or to Christ – Rev.7:15-17; 22:1. One judgment – Hebrews 9:27. In Dodo’s Caucus Race in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland: everybody wins and receives a prize.
- The judgment will be universal.
– 20:11-13; Psalm 114.
– Acts 24:10, 14-15. All human beings who have come into the world will come before the throne.
- The judgment will be according to works.
– 20:12-13; Heb.4:13. Note Psalm 62:12; Prov.24:12; Matt.16:27; 2 Cor.5:10; Rev.22:12.
– in Milton’s Paradise Lost it is Satan who says to Eve: ‘God cannot hurt you, and be just.’ That gets it totally backwards – Psalm 130:3.
– Calvin: on Canon XI of the Council of Trent on Justification: ‘It is therefore faith alone which justifies, and yet the faith which justifies is not alone’. Our works should make us deeply grateful for grace.
- The judgment will be forever.
– in 1990 Kerry Packer had a heart attack while playing polo, and was revived after being clinically dead for a few minutes. Later announced that there were no such places as heaven and hell. But read 20:14-15.
– the book of life in 20:12, 15; see Rev.13:8. Calvin: ‘Christ is the mirror of our election.’
Our deeds show that our righteousness is not enough; Christ’s sinlessness shows that His deeds are more than enough. Thomas Watson: ‘He who believes not in the blood of the Lamb must feel the wrath of the Lamb.’