Revelation 20:11,12

THE JUDGMENT

‘And I saw a great white throne.… And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God … judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.’

Revelation 20:11

The great white throne! If you study carefully this wonderful book in the Bible you will see that these words are really the culminating point of the whole book; that it all leads up to the Day of Judgment; that you have a series of pictures—bright pictures, growing brighter, and dark pictures, growing more and more lurid and dark, until there is the direct intervention of God at the Last Day. There is the judgment, and then there is nothing but brightness; there is all that wonderful vision of the heavenly city and joy and blessing.

We have to think of the judgment.

I. The judgment is a fact which cannot be escaped.

II. The judgment is a fact based on the most minute accuracy.

III. The judgment is a fact based upon the most unerring justice.

IV. How are we going to treat this fact?—Dramatically? emotionally? or practically? As a practical matter, think—

(a) How it deepens the sense of the responsibility of life.

(b) It creates the grace of humility.

(c) It is an absolute stay to the harsh voice of criticism.

(d) It is an incentive to courage.

(e) It is the spring of Christian hope.

—Rev. G. F. Holden.