The Last Day For Rebels Part 2 | Revelation 20:7-15 | Richard Caldwell

Scripture

• Revelation 20:7–15

About this sermon

Introduction: The thousand years of Christ’s kingdom on earth have been completed. Satan has led his final rebellion. That rebellion was devoured by fire and he has been thrown into the lake of fire. The only thing left for God to deal with is His final judgment upon sinners. It is that judgment that our verses describe. What increases the sadness of this judgment, from the vantage point of the desire to see sinners saved, is that this judgment is of people whom the father of lies convinced they would never face judgment. Satan does this in a variety of ways. He tries to convince that THERE IS NO GOD. He has done this overtly and subtly (evolution). He tries to convince that THERE IS ANOTHER KIND OF GOD (one who won’t judge anyone). He tries to convince that THERE WILL BE ARGUMENTS TO BE MADE ON BEHALF OF SINNERS APART FROM FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST (what about those who were not exposed to Christianity?). In these ways and others, he tries to convince people that there will be no CERTAIN final accountability for their sins. He tries to convince people that saving faith in Jesus Christ doesn’t necessarily change a person’s nature and therefore a person’s living. He tries to convince people that the way to eternal life is broader than faith in the Son of God. AND WHAT ALL OF THIS ADDS UP TO IS PEOPLE GOING ON IN THEIR SINS — IMAGINING THEY WILL NEVER HAVE TO ACCOUNT FOR THEM. ESV Psalm 94:1 O LORD, God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, shine forth! 2 Rise up, O judge of the earth; repay to the proud what they deserve! 3 O LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked exult? 4 They pour out their arrogant words; all the evildoers boast. 5 They crush your people, O LORD, and afflict your heritage. 6 They kill the widow and the sojourner, and murder the fatherless; 7 and they say, "The LORD does not see; the God of Jacob does not perceive." Revelation 20:11-15 tells us that there will be a day of final accountability. A day of final judgment. And the apostle John had that day set before his eyes. Tonight, we continue to look at the LAST DAY FOR REBELS. Review: I. THE LAST DAY FOR REBELS ON THE EARTH (vs.7-10) We looked this morning at the final gathering for war, at the end of the thousand years, and how Christ destroys that final rebellion. How God destroys with fire a group of rebellious sinners as large as the sand of the sea. We saw how Satan is cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, never to be released again. REBELS WILL NEVER AGAIN BE FOUND ON THE EARTH. II. THE LAST DAY FOR REBELS AT GOD’S THRONE (vs.11-15) Now we see that rebels, sinners, will have one final appearance before the throne of God. This is the judgment of unbelievers. This is their final day in court. And what might be most amazing about this account is that it is SO VERY SIMPLE AND STRAIGHTFORWARD. God doesn’t need to do a single thing to convince us of the awfulness of this judgment except to leave us with a description that simply tells us in the most straightforward way, what will take place. IF YOU BELIEVE IT, YOU WILL RECOGNIZE THE WEIGHTINESS OF IT. A. THE VISION OF THE JUDGE (vs.11) The first thing that John relates is what he sees when he sees the judge. 1. THE THRONE a. GREAT – IN SIZE AND IN IMPORTANCE b. WHITE – Reminding us of perfect purity, singular holiness, and unbending justice. 2. THE ONE SITTING ON THE THRONE The one sitting on the throne is God. In the book of Revelation, the Father is described as on His throne, and the Son is described as on that throne with His Father. a. THE FATHER (4:5-11) ESV Revelation 4:5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, 6 and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: 7 the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. 8 And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!" 9 And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 "Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created."

Topics

• Bible Study
• Prophecy & End Times