Lesson 66
Revelation - Study of Things to Come
The Millennial Reign of Christ -
Chapter 20
Review:
e. Lk 16:19-31 The rich man and Lazarus
-
This passage refutes the idea that death is annihilation and soul sleep.
Some
characteristics learned from this passage:
#1. A place of
consciousness;
#2. Inhabitants are
in great agony and pain because of the torment; it is a place of torment! 16:23, 28
#3. It is a place
of separation. vs:27-28
#4. It is a place
of memory. vs:25
#5. It is a place
of utter hopelessness; no change of status once there.
f. Paul
2 Ths 1:7-9; the consequence of not properly relating
to the Gospel; will pay the penalty of eternal judgment and separation from God.
g.
Peter 2 Pet 3:7 speaks of a day of judgment and
destruction, fire of judgment kindled by
His +R and executed by His justice!
20:11-15
Judgment of all Unbelievers of human history.
GWTJ
a. Scene is Set for GWTJ 20:11
b. The ones judged and the basis of the judgment 20:12-13
c. The Consequence of this last judgment 20:14-15.
Intro:
This is a most awesome and sobering passage.
Rem: The Father has committed all judgment to
Him. Jn 5:22,
27; Acts 17:31
The Time: at the close of the Millennium.
The Place: In space
somewhere? Not on earth.
- The holiness of this
great throne and the One sitting on it is so awesome
and this is seen in the reaction of the heavens and the earth to this throne
when it is revealed.
"from whose presence earth and heaven fled away,"
- The fact of the
dissolution of the present heavens and earth is taught elsewhere. Mt 24:35; Mk
- Actual dissolution 2 Pet 3:10-13; Isa 65:17; 66:22
20:12-13 The ones judged and the basis of the
judgment
The next thing that John
sees is the multitude standing before the throne.
Notice where the dead are said to come from!
1. The sea gave up the dead.
2. Death and hades gave up the dead which were in
them.
3. Why the special mention of the sea?
Point is being made that no matter how one dies and
no matter where the body ends up; no sinner, no UB'r
one escapes this judgment.
4. When it says, Death and hades
gave up the dead which were in them; what does death mean? or
refer to? The rest of the bodies coming out of the grave; the physical, material part of man.
While Hades being the
temporary abode of the souls and spirits of those who died as unbelievers;
brings into the picture the souls and spirits, the immaterial part of man.
5. So the result is that
we have now the coming together in this second resurrection the bodies and the
souls/spirits of all of the unbelievers from all of human history.
The basis of the judgment
is explicitly said to be their works.
The data needed to prove the case; to demonstrate
that God is indeed righteous and just in carrying out this judgment is
contained in several books.
"the books
were opened, and another book was opened, which is the book of life:"
Several books are mentioned!
#1. One of those books will
be the God's word, Jn 12:48;
Christ says here that it will be His word that is
the criteria for their judgment.
#2. "The books";
"judged from the things written in the books, according to their deeds."
#3. "The
book of life;" all the names
of the Redeemed; all believers from all of human history.
Need to analyze these books:
#1. God's Word: They will be
held accountable for the truth they have heard and rejected; especially the
Gospel.
#2. The books:
- The deeds or works
speaks of that which man in his arrogance supposes is going to satisfy the
righteous requirements of God's holiness and allow him into heaven.
#3. Book of life:
- There is also another
book not mentioned here called the Lamb's book of life; 13:8
- By contrast the names
in the book of life are said to be not erased out of it when they become
believers; Rev 3:5
- At the GWTJ there will be a balancing of the books, if you will, The book of life will be checked against the Lamb's book of life written in eternity past to see if they are the same.