496 – The Great White Throne and the New Heaven and New Earth

BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE

COURSE: BIBLE SURVEY VI LESSON # 96

THE GREAT WHITE THRONE OF JUDGMENT AND THE NEW HEAVEN AND NEW EARTH

INTRODUCTION:

1. The title of this lesson necessarily implies a lot of subject matter.
2. This is eschatology at its greatest chronological point of revelation.
3. It involves the last judgment of unregenerate occupants of this earth.
4. Then it involves the destruction of the corrupted cosmos, and the new heaven and the new earth, upon which the redeemed shall live.

I. THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT (REV. 20:11-15 )

1. Arminian philosophy envisions a general judgment in which men are justified or condemned by good and evil works being weighed each against the other.
2. In lesson #93 I pointed out two resurrections and two judgments.
3. Theologians of bygone days, such as Spurgeon and Gill, have used the term “General Judgment” who teach two judgments.
4. By General, they meant a great judgment of all unregenerate.
5. The justification for such a title is found in Rev 20: 12-13

.
6. They agreed, however, that this judgment excluded participants in the first resurrection for at least the following reasons.

i. Their judgment and reward necessarily preceded Rev 19:11-14

.
ii. Regenerate men are not judged for sins which were laid on Christ.
iii. The second death hath no power over participants of the first resurrection. (Rev 20:6

)
iv. They have already lived and reigned with Christ 1,000 years. (Rev 20:6

)

7. This resurrection shall extract, for forced judgment, bodies from all places whether they were fallen or deliberately placed. (Rev. 20:13

)
8. Hell, the terrible place of wicked, departed spirits, shall also deliver up its dead, so we see the bodies and spirits are reunited. (Rev. 20:13

)
9. The standard of this judgment is works, not to determine destiny but degree of punishment in the lake of fire. (Rev. 20:13-15

)
10. The comfort of the regenerate is our part in the first resurrection.

II. DESTRUCTION OF THE FIRST HEAVEN AND FIRST EARTH

1. I expect that all the events of Rev 20:7-15

are chronologically concurrent and happen in a short time, if not almost instantly.
2. By Rev 20:11, we

might think heaven and earth merely beyond consciousness because of the presence of God upon His throne.
3. I should not be at all surprised that Rev 20:9

, Rev 20:11

and 2 Pet. 3:10-12

, all describe the very same event.
4. Whatever the case, the people at this judgment are aware of nothing but the enthralling presence of God upon His throne.
5. Every person at this judgment is eternally condemned, having no part in the first resurrection. (Rev 20:6

compared to Rev 20:14-15

)

III. THE NEW HEAVEN AND THE NEW EARTH

1. In Revelation chapters 21-22, the word new takes a new meaning.
2. There is a new heaven where the air is no longer defiled by Satan.
3. There is a new earth without the sea, without sin, without defilement.
4. A new atmosphere where the redeemed live without sin’s presence.
5. A new relationship with God, that is His personal, visible presence.
6. A new status of life, no tears, sorrow or death, no pain, no crying.
7. A new relationship as sons, having inherited all things. (vs 7)
8. New Jerusalem where we live with Christ as a bride with the groom.
9. New comfort, no temptation from Satan, or pressure from unsaved.
10. New wealth, for all that is His is ours, not by faith but sight, the treasures of a city Abraham sought, hitherto untold. (Rev 21:10-21

)
11. No temple, the representative of God’s presence for he is personally, visibly present. (Rev 21:22-23

)

IV. WHAT SHALL WE SAY TO THESE THINGS

1. That judgment will be complete and righteousness will reign
2. That Adam’s poor fallen race will be reconciled and fully restored.
3. That we shall then be free from all sin and its curse. (Rev 22:3

)
4. That the time is not yet, and we are still left here to preach Christ. (Rev 22: 16-17

)
5. Above all, we must sing “Hallelujah For The Cross” for only in the cross do we have hope, indeed full assurance, of all these promises. 6. Let me close this last lesson of BIC with two scriptural thoughts.

i. The spirit of all these prophesies is Christ’s gospel. (Rev 19:10

)
ii. The whole theme of this Book of books we have studied is Jesus Christ alone. ” No man but Jesus only” (Heb 10:1-7

)

Berean Baptist Church