EVERYONE’S JUST DESSERTS
PART 3 – REVELATION 20:11-15
Having dealt with 2 of the three groups who will receive their Just
Desserts, we will take a look at the third group dealt with in
Revelation chapter 20. Prior to doing that, you may recall that we’ve
already seen the categories of Everyone’s Just Desserts for those first
two groups which I entitled The Believer’s Bonus in verses 4 through 6
and The Demon’s Detention located in verses 1 through 3 and 7
through 10. The last group mentioned in verses 11 through 15 is in
essence everyone left not part of the first two groups. From our
previous texts, this will include those mentioned in verse 5 that says,
“The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years
were ended.” In other words everyone who had died previous to the
millennial kingdom but wasn’t resurrected to be joint rulers with
Jesus Christ mentioned in verse 4. In addition, it will include those
who will die during battle of Gog and Magog. Specifically those who
were part of the force that marched against the camp of God’s people
surrounding the city he loves at the end of the thousand year reign of
Jesus Christ mentioned in verses 8 and 9. This last group will include
all who will or have already rejected God’s offer of redemption
through Jesus Christ as they have renounced their right to be children
of God and forgiven of their sins. This ability and right is clearly
outlined in the gospel of John in chapter 1 and the twelve and
thirteenth verse where it states, “Yet to all who received him (the him
being Jesus-the Word of God), to those who believed in his name, he
gave the right to become children of God—children born not of
natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born
of God.” Therefore the last category of this group who will receive
their Just Desserts, I’ve entitled:
1. THE RENOUNCERS’ REMUNERATION. This last section of the
chapter describing the third group being rewarded has the feel
of a courtroom and many of the components of courtroom
scene. I’d like to identify each of these components as we see
the scene unfold through these last 5 verses of Revelation
chapter 20. The Renouncer’s Remuneration section will have 4
separate and identifiable courtroom components. The first
courtroom components we see is:
a. The Judge – that is the one presiding over the trial who will
render the verdict. There will be no jury of peers here as
the judge has ultimate authority and final say. We see the
judge in verse mentioned in verse 11 where we read, “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.” Much as in a courtroom scene we have
the place of honor reserved for the judge. Normally a
judge will sit on the bench which is a raised seat in the
front of the courtroom. Here we see “a great white throne
and him who was seated on it,” which notes not only the
judge’s authority identified by where he sat but also the
fact that he is not only a judge but a ruler or king. The
extent of his authority can be noted by the fact that, “earth
and sky fled from his presence, as there was no place for
them.” The Greek word for fled is fyugo (pronounced fewgo) and means to flee away, to seek safety by flight, to
vanish. So awesome and terrible was the sight and
presence of the one seated on the great white throne that
the earth and sky (literally creation) flees from him. Now a
question arises from this verse. That question is, who is
this judge? To answer this we will look to scripture as we
will see three separate references. First in Acts 17:31 the
apostle Paul is speaking of God when he says, “For he has
set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the
man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all
men by raising him from the dead.” Who would that be
class? Who has be raised from the dead? Second in John
5:22, 23, Jesus is speaking, “Moreover, the Father judges
no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all
may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who
does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who
sent him.” And third, Paul the Apostle stated in 2 Timothy
4:1 as part of his charge to his son in the faith Timothy, “In
the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the
living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his
kingdom, I give you this charge; Preach the word…” Jesus
Christ is clearly shown as being the one who will judge.
The first courtroom component is the judge. The second
courtroom component is seen with:
b. The prosecuted – that is those who are on trial, the
defendants if you will. In the first part of verse 12 it reads,
“And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the
throne…” Later in the same verse it says, “The dead were
judged.” Then in verse 13 we read, “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…”
We have already determined who the dead mentioned
here are not. They are not those who were beheaded for
their faith and their testimony for Jesus. They are not
those who did not worship the beast or receive his mark on
their forehead or hand. They are not those who had died
in Christ or those who will be removed from this earth and
changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. They are
not those who died as servants of the Most High God prior
to Jesus birth, resurrection and ascension. The dead
mentioned here would be everyone who didn’t side or
trust in God through means of his Son, Jesus Christ. The
second courtroom component is the prosecuted. The third
courtroom component is:
c. The evidence – that is what is presented in court to prove
the innocence or guilt of those being prosecuted. The first
sentences in verse 12 of our passage ends, “and books
were opened. Another book was opened, which is the
book of life.” What books were opened? The book of the
life is referenced a lot in the bible. The Old Testament
sheds light in the book of Daniel 12:1 where we read, “At
that time Michael, the great prince who protects your
people will arise. There will be a time of distress such as
has not happened from the beginning of nations until then.
But at that time your people—everyone whose name is
found written in the book—will be delivered.” Jesus was
speaking to his disciples after they returned from being
sent out to preach the kingdom, heal the sick and cast out
demons in Luke 10:20 where he said, “However, do not
rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your
names are written in heaven.” The apostle Paul stated in
Philippians 4:3 when speaking of his fellow workers,
“whose names are in the book of life.” Jesus speaking of
those who overcome in Revelation 3:5 says, “I will never
blot out his name from the book of life, but will
acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.”
Revelation 13:8 tells us about the followers of beast when
it say, “All the inhabitants of the earth will worship the
beast—all whose names have not been written in the book
of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the
creation of the world.” In Revelation 21:27, where we read
about the New Jerusalem, it states, “Nothing impure will
ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or
deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the
Lamb’s book of life.” Now there is debate regarding the
other books mentioned. Daniel chapter 7:10 speaks of the
“Ancient of Days” and a final judgment saying, “A river of
fire was flowing, coming out before him. Thousands upon
thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand
stood before him. The court was seated and the books
were opened.” There was a Book of War mentioned in
Numbers 21:14, a Book of Remembrance mentioned in
Malachi chapter 3 and Psalm 56 and several other
references to books in scripture. However, you wish to
interpret these plural books, the emphasis seems to be on
the deeds of those written in them. In other words what
they did, their actions. The third courtroom component is
the evidence. This third component ties into the fourth
courtroom component which is:
d. The handing down of the verdict and sentence – that is the
means of coming to a decision regarding the innocence or
guilt of those being prosecuted and the result of that
decision. First we see that the verdict or decision was
based on the latter part of verse 12 which states, “The
dead were judged according to what they had done as
recorded in the books.” Also the latter part of verse 13
says, “And each person was judged according to what he
had done.” Clearly the judge or Jesus Christ will base his
decision upon what is written within the books presented.
Accountability will be placed upon the dead in direct
correlation to their actions (what they did while they were
living). The sentencing will be based on these actions
recorded in the books. This sentencing has two parts to it.
i. Death and Hades are sentenced to eternal
punishment. Verse 14 says, “Then death and Hades
were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is
the second death.” While these appear to be places
where those who choose not to follow God or Jesus
Christ were placed after physical death, don’t forget
they are also mentioned and associated with the
fourth horseman of the apocalypse after the fourth
seal was opened. Revelation 6:8 tells us, “I looked,
and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was
named Death and Hades was following close behind
him.” Therefore, this Death and Hades may be
demons or some of Satan’s fallen angels who were
given temporary charge over the underworld of those
spirits being tormented who rejected God but are
now resurrected to face judgment as Death and
Hades are now thrown into the lake of fire like their
leader Satan was in verse 10 of this 20th chapter and
the beast or anti-christ and the false prophet were in
chapter 19 and verse 20. The second part of the
sentencing sees:
ii. The rest of the dead sentenced to eternal
punishment. Verse 15 states, “If anyone’s name was
not found written in the book of life, he was thrown
into the lake of fire. While we saw that books were
opened. The real clincher and most important book
was the “Lamb’s book of life”. People’s eternal
destiny will be based solely on whether their name is
found there or not. If their name is in the book, they
will enter eternal reward and an eternity spent in the
presence of God and Jesus Christ. If their name is not
found in the book of life, it will mean eternal
“torment day and night for ever and ever.” As
mentioned of Satan, the beast and the false prophet
in verse 10 of chapter 20.
Now an additional observation and distinction must be made
regarding this judgment in Revelation chapter 20:11-15. This White
Throne judgment is a judgment of non-believers and is separate from
the judgment of believers which is often referred to as the judgment
seat of Christ which is brought into light in 1 Corinthians 3:11-15. It
says, “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already
laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using
gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown
for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed
with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. If what
he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he
will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping
through the flames.” This judgment of believers has nothing to do
with salvation as that has already been secured by Jesus through faith
in him. The idea behind this judgment comes from the ancient
Olympics, where a judge would sit on the Bema of judgment seat at
the finish line. The judge’s purpose was to determine what position
the runners came in (first, second, third, etc.) and give out the
appropriate awards. There is some debate as to the timing of the
believer’s judgment. Some state that it is upon physical death, other
believe it is during the end times. The timing of the believer’s
judgment really is not as important as the fact that we are prepared
for it. Paul referenced this judgment in 2 Corinthians 5:10 where he
says, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that
each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the
body, whether good or bad.” While an accounting will be part of this
believer’s judgment, our focus should not be on the sins but on the
reward.
So we have the listing of Everyone’s Just Desserts here in
Revelation chapter 20. In light of what is listed in the eternal and
infallible word of God, I implore you to make a decision today, whom
you will serve. I pray that you would choose Jesus Christ which leads
to eternal joy in the presence of the Saviour King. The alternate is a
horrendous end of eternal punishment and torment. You see God
created you to have relationship with you, sin entered the world
through the deception of Satan and now we can’t meet a Holy God’s
expectations as we all have sinned as stated in Romans 3:23. God
provided the means to have our sins forgiven through the sacrifice of
his perfect Son, Jesus who lived this life without sin and took our
punishment upon himself on the cross. He rose again in victory and
sits at the right hand of God almighty according to the scripture.
Scripture says if confess with your mouth that he Jesus is Lord and
believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be
saved. (Romans 10:9) Today is the day of Salvation. Choose Jesus!