Times Up!

Revelation 20:7-15

“Justice is Served”

11-19-23

Darin Elquist

Message Notes

Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Satan Goes to Court

Revelation 20:7-10
⁷ When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison ⁸ and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth —Gog and Magog —and to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. ⁹ They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God’s people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. ¹⁰ And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

The Dead Go to Court

Revelation 20:11-15

Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens 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 they had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.

“THEN…” Points back to the beginning of recorded Biblical history

The Setting

1. The Throne
2. The White Throne
3. The Person on the Throne
4. The Presence of the Throne (Vs 11)

Psalms 102:25-28

In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth,

and the heavens are the work of your hands.

They will perish, but you remain;

they will all wear out like a garment.

Like clothing you will change them

and they will be discarded.

But you remain the same,

and your years will never end.

The children of your servants will live in your presence;

their descendants will be established before you.”

2. The Sentence

This final judgement had 3 phases…

1. The Verdict
2. The Sentencing
3. The Penalty

Matthew 7:21-23
²¹ “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ²² Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ ²³ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

You see our faith isn’t so much about what you do, but why you do it.

It’s not even about who you are. It’s about who Jesus is and what He did.

James 1:22
²² Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

What does the Word say to do?

James 1:26-27
²⁶ Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. ²⁷ Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

The question is, will you reign with Jesus during the 1000-year reign?

Or will you end up before the Great White Throne?

• Recap the book of Revelation with the group.  If you get stuck, feel free to use the Revelation handout to fill in some of the gaps.
• What are the consequences for sin according to the bible?
  • Does everyone have to pay a price for sin?  Why or why not?
  • Is Satan responsible for our sin?  Why or why not?
  • Will there ever be a time without sin in the world?
• Read Revelation 20:7-10
  • Why do you think Satan is released after 1000 years being held captive?
• Read Revelation 20:11-15
  • What is the “book of life”?
  • Whose names do you think are listed in the book?
  • How did they get their names listed in the book?

• Can you summarize in a few sentences what the “great white throne” judgement is?
  • Who will receive this judgment?
  • Is there anyone who will not receive this judgment?
  • What will folks who receive this judgment be judged on?
  • Who will be on the throne judging?
• Darin summarized the history of the Bible.  Starting with Genesis, see how much of the history the group can piece together.
• Read Matthew 7:21-23
  • What does this scripture mean to you?
  • What do you think it means when Jesus says “I never knew you”?
• What is communion?
  • What does it represent?
  • Is there a right or wrong way to take communion according to the bible?
• Please lift up our Pastor and his family in prayer.  Please also pray for Israel.  We’ve seen in our scripture today and over the last few weeks how the world will turn on God’s city.  Pray for the children’s ministry and the awesome work the volunteer team is doing in helping to establish a firm foundation in Jesus.