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[0:00] We find in the chapter of God's Word, which was read, in the book of Revelation, chapter 20, and we'll read at verse 11.

[0:16] And I saw a great false throne, and him that sat on it from his face the earth and the heavens fled away, and there was found no place for them.

[0:35] And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God, and the books were opened, and another book was opened, which is the book of life.

[0:50] And the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books according to their works, and so on.

[1:01] Well, the Revelation of John is a portion of scripture that is full of obscurity to us, and full of difficulties in the interpretation of it.

[1:32] And yet, I feel very happy that everyone in this gathering tonight knows that this book contains a revelation concerning things, as God says, things which must certainly come to pass.

[1:58] And here in this chapter, we're dealing with things that are going to come to pass as we approach the end of time.

[2:12] And the only part of this chapter that ups and all the obscenities in the whole of the book of Revelation is the most obscured passage of all.

[2:25] And here in this chapter, we're going to be talking about the fact that we're doing this in the all-in-law, it's a great question of the millennium, which has been such a source of difficulty to the church of Christ right down to our history.

[2:41] And you know that in that question, there are three particular schools of sorts. There are those who tell us that the millennium will come prior to the coming of Christ.

[2:56] There are those who tell us that the millennium will be issued in with the coming of Christ. And there are those who seem to obliterate both of these teachings and who tell us that perhaps the millennium is here and now.

[3:17] However, we are not going to answer into these great questions tonight. But I want to take you tonight to the great and the terrible day of the Lord.

[3:32] I want you tonight to concentrate all of your attention on the day of judgment, on the day of the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.

[3:45] Because the Bible makes the earthly circumcision that coincidental with the coming of Jesus will be the day of judgment and the position of ungodly men.

[4:02] That's what will happen when Jesus comes again. And Lord, first tonight I want us to gather together around the throne of nothing and consider how it will be for us to gather around a throne of judgment.

[4:23] Because tonight we are presented with this. We are presented with the reality of the great white throne.

[4:35] I think it was Jonathan Edwards who said concerning his old believers 200 years ago. He said this. We, he said, who listen to the gospel, are all of us on our journey.

[4:52] On our journey either to heaven or to heaven. And I ask you tonight to consider seriously what Lord you are on. What the path you are taking. And I ask you tonight to consider seriously what Lord you are on.

[5:12] What the path you are taking. Because either you are on the broad road that leads to destruction or you are on the narrow road that leads to life. And the Bible tells me something about these two words. It says this. There are many that go here on the broad road.

[5:23] And there are few that areểu่imos. And there are too many who find the narrow world. So that is what it is Edron之 need not to check and how should it be for us to accept it in the big hell. What else you are taking. Only you are on the broad road that leads to destruction or you are on the narrow road that leads to life. And you are on the narrow road that leads to life.

[5:35] And the Bible tells me something about these two words. It says this. and there are few who find the narrow world.

[5:50] So now, what can I ask, my dear friend, when you will come to this seriously? What word you're on? What your destination really is as you and I join together to the throne of God's judgment?

[6:09] The question of the local Israel text tonight is this. The Great White Throne. The Great White Throne.

[6:22] And I want us to consider these words. The Great White Throne. And then secondly, I would like us to consider tonight the one who sits on the Great White Throne.

[6:39] Because the Bible says that him who sits there before he escapes the earth and the heaven, see again.

[6:50] And then thirdly, I want to see he appears before the Great White Throne.

[7:01] And he says in verse 12, I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God and the books were opened.

[7:14] And that brings me to my final, saw the Great White Throne and its list, the judgment which will be dispensed from this Great White Throne.

[7:24] The Great White Throne. And finally, the judgment that will be dispensed from this Great White Throne.

[7:45] But first of all, we've brought face to face with a tremendously powerful image when we have described for us this Great White Throne.

[8:03] This describes, dear friends, the second coming of the Lord. You know how the Lord came the first time.

[8:14] All of you know that. How did he come? He came as a little baby. When he was born and death with him, and the Bible tells us that there was no one for the beginning.

[8:31] They laid him in the place in a manger because there was no one for him in the end. And you know, my friends, that as hard as the Christ of God is concerned, there's still no one for him in the end.

[8:49] There's still no one for him in the hearts and in the lives of the young men and women. There's still no one for him amongst the people of the world.

[8:59] But yet, I think, when we consider the first coming of Christ, you'll see that he came in obscurity.

[9:10] He came as the Son of Mary who was returned to Joseph of Arkansas. And there was a few who saw his coming in the world.

[9:24] In fact, a star of the heavens had to guide wise men to the place and shepherds to the place where Jesus rode. It was a star of the heavens that guided these men to come see the place that they were all yours.

[9:44] My friend, here he comes again. It will be all so different. The Bible says that he will be on our great throne.

[9:59] Do you know what the greatness of this throne is? It's his every eye shall see it. It's going to be so great that there will be more obscurity about the throne.

[10:13] There will be more obscurity about the passion that comes. There will be more obscurity about the Christ who appears a second time where the most spirit of the salvation could have ended up in it.

[10:28] There will be more obscurity, my friend, because the throne is so great. There's majesty on the whole of this image. The majesty of the all together in the Lord.

[10:43] And he's coming. And he's coming on the throne of his glory. Yes. And I ask you tonight what will it be to you when this great throne comes into view for you.

[11:01] But there is something else about this throne. It's great. It's majestic. But it's also hot. Now, what does this mean?

[11:11] The throne of God is the place of God's judgment. You know that? It's the place of God's judgment.

[11:24] And the judgment of God is proclaimed to us in this image as being a holy judgment. Because, you see, white is the violet color for holiness.

[11:38] Oh, yes, my friend. Remember that when Jesus Christ will sit in the throne of judgment, he will sit on our holy throne.

[11:51] What does that mean? It means for you and for me that there is no favor of him that we stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

[12:04] Every course that ever is deep in the world has its own maxims of judgment and it's besmirched by the sin of man.

[12:15] But there's no sin that will besmirch the judgment of God when he comes to die and his people gives him and to cast those who are who are godless and Christless.

[12:31] There's holiness and started holiness in the throne of God's judgment. And my friend, do you realize that that when Jesus Christ comes to judge this world, he deals in unspotted purity, in wholeness, in whiteness, in splendor that cannot be compared so that as he sits on the throne of judgment it will be said to them who is that God might get to be.

[13:07] He's holy, my friend, on his throne of holy. And there's going to be a holiness about his judgment when he comes at the end of time.

[13:18] I saw a great white stone. And that brings me to perhaps what I should have said first of all, when he comes, he comes on the throne.

[13:38] What is the throne the symbol of? The throne is the symbol of majesty. It's the symbol of authority. That's what the throne is.

[13:50] It's the throne of majesty. It's the throne of authority. And my dear friend, however much you might raise your view in the glory of this God today.

[14:05] And there are people who are so foolish that they think they can raise the hero of a popular people of rebellion against God.

[14:17] I'm going to tell you something, my friend. He won't raise any hill of authority against the God before him they will stand when he sits on the throne because he's there in the place of authority and he's in the place of judgment.

[14:35] It's a throne of judgment. A throne of judgment. Do you realize that you're going to see this great white throne and I'm going to see this great white throne and together we're going to stand before the great white throne of God's judgment.

[14:57] Do you realize the solemnity of your standing before the God of heaven tonight? Do you have been glory to the judgment seat of Christ?

[15:07] listen to the Bible. The word of God says like this, we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ.

[15:20] we must all appear there. The snow will be going to get off from appearing before the Greek white throne. When our people say, I've got off for my sin to know.

[15:34] Nobody knows us. I have been for rock in this that's in my heart. My friend will go off and stand before the judgment seat of Christ with my cross in this in your heart.

[15:48] Will you believe me in the last day? Yes, because I heard this John a great white throne.

[16:02] My friend, have you ever given any consideration to the fact that this great white throne will soon appear? This great white throne will be a reality to you before you and I know it.

[16:19] Because all I feel is like a vessel that appears for a little child. All I feel is like a hand breast the Bible counted as a tale and its told it goes by it so quickly and then we'll stand before the great white throne.

[16:40] Yes, but now I want just to look at the person who sits on this hall and he it says in verse 11 and him that sat on it.

[16:57] Who is this person? It is no other than Jesus Christ my friend. Because the book of Acts in chapter 17 makes it abundantly plain that God has appointed that this man Jesus will be the judge of all the wounds of the earth.

[17:21] When you stand before the judgment of God, you stand face to face with Christ who died in Calvary, you stand face to face with the God, with the Son of God who became the last God who takes away the sin of the old.

[17:44] And will stand in his presence in all splendor and his deity in the throne. Jesus Christ the Lord is on the throne.

[18:00] And listen my friends to the way the Bible talks about the coming of the great bathroom. Here before him who sits on the throne, the earth and the heavens shall flee away.

[18:16] You see, this is a great climactic day in the history of our world, the day when Jesus comes on the throne. Because on that day, you see, the heavens were folded up like a vesture.

[18:32] The earth will be built up with fire on our slaves and terrible over the war, things that will happen and never happen before.

[18:45] The heavens and the earth will flee before his presence. Our smoke is driven and driven away. Till the name of grace for the earth as we live.

[18:59] And the heavens are free of men will disappear in a moment of time in a picture of the time of the last time there will be burned and fire.

[19:14] And from the ashes of that grave can flood grace will arise a new heaven and earth quail in their righteousness and the earth and the earth and the earth of heaven and face.

[19:31] What thunder and lightning and smoke and terrible signs of blood are on the earth and in the heavens will be seen in that day.

[19:43] It's a day of judgment and day of judgment because before the face of him that sits on the throne the earth and the heaven will fly in and there will be no more.

[20:02] There will be no more. Do you believe that this earth is going to last forever? I don't. No why I don't believe that this earth is done slowly last forever?

[20:18] No I know that that's the case because everything in this world has the tinct and curse of sin written all over it. That's why.

[20:30] And the Bible tells me that the earth and the heavens are waiting for this day even night. The Bible tells me that the whole creation grows waiting for their judgment waiting for the revelation of the Son of God.

[20:50] God yes the whole creation growing and families as as in praying until now waiting for this great generation of the second coming of Jesus Christ.

[21:08] The earth and heavens will flee away and there will be no more place for them. And notice the posture of the one who's on the throne.

[21:20] He sits. He sits. Oh my friend, remember that Jesus Christ has sat in glory.

[21:33] He sat at the well of Jacob before he went to glory and he sits on the throne now with his arms outstretched on a throne of mission.

[21:44] And tonight he sits on a throne of mercy for a sinner like you. But the day will come and he will sit in all the glorious attributes that are these on a throne of judgment.

[22:09] He sits on the throne. He sits like a judge to dispense justice. He sits to give out the sentence of life or death and that thing.

[22:25] And it's a terrible thing. Listen to the way the Bible talks about him when he comes. And the earth and heaven fled away and there was found no place for them.

[22:40] no place for them. My friend, I want to turn this message of the second coming now on this message of the great white throne of judgment.

[22:56] I want to turn it to those that will appear before the soul. Do you know, my friend, this concerns you.

[23:09] There are people coming to church, you know, and very often, they're sitting in church and they say, this message is for a person that's sitting next to me. This message is for someone else.

[23:20] My please let me tell you. The message of the great white throne is not just for the person sitting next to you. It's for you. It's for you.

[23:34] Who's going up here? I saw the dead. Just to mention myself, that day will be like the earth will give up its dead and the sea will give up its dead and those that have been dug to ashes in the cemetery of this hole the ashes will turn back to many peace on that day because the dead will stand on that day before the fall we are coming together as everyone at the moment.

[24:11] I lived for a time of my life in the city of Glasgow and I counted among my friends two middle-aged two elderly ladies who went to the same church as I went to and they were telling me that when they were little girls in Glasgow they lived close to the first crematorium in the city of Glasgow and their father who was an inspector of police and their mother who used to say to his children when they would see the smoke from the chimney of the crematorium they would say to them there is another atheist gone to his account today because you see in these early days of crematorium in

[25:14] Scotland it was only the person that had this kind of safety that by burning his body he would be able to hide from God that was the only kind of person that would go to have his body burned in a crematorium and he could hide from God isn't it strange that that kind of thinking was going to be his mind right to the second coming of Christ people hiding from God Adam is in the garden of Eden men will do it in all forms of non believing burial and you know this men will do it on this great and terrible day of the Lord of the second coming there will be men and they'll be climbed to the rocks to follow them and to the hills to cover them you know what Mr.

[26:14] MacDonald whose plaque is there and who is the minister of this congregation that I once heard and seen he said this there will be people he said clandering to get to the prayer meeting on the day of judgment who were never wanting to go to a prayer meeting before he said what will be their prayer what will be their prayer on the great judgment it will be a prayer to the rocks to follow them and to the hills to cover them from the awful and dreadful presence of the one who sits upon the throne my friend have you come to a throne of mercy and have you pledged for forgiveness have you pledged for mercy before they want to stand before the judgment seat of curse I saw the dead my friend you know there isn't a crevice of the created world that won't give up its dead wherever the dead will be whether their bodies were born to others they will be constituted on our dead on the dead of when we are great coming together of the dead from home to the best of the dead and the coming together and that great and terrible day of the

[27:38] Lord make no mistake most made I saw the dead and the time of just thought John was praying here to tell us the great variety of the dead that will appear before the judgment seat I saw the dead small and great there will be people there in the judgment of Christ who are nobodies in this world that you know that there is before God God knows them together to our judgment seat of Christ everyone that ever lived will stand naked and often before the God with whom we have to be on the judgment there is nobodies in this morning the Lord came from the earth and said there from princess they were combined to flock against the

[28:44] Lord they did and the little men in this world that didn't count for anything they did on the day of judgment my friend and you know something for me you did and I did we can't desert on this appointment listen to the word of God it was appointed unto men once to die and after this the judgment men is an appointment you can be so don't you can flinch come into church you can flinch your appointment with God in the world but you won't flinch your appointment of God in the judgment you won't flinch with one you won't let fight on that meeting no no I saw the dead small and great and where are they they stand before the storm oh what

[29:51] I'm meeting it will be that I want to concentrate on two groups of people that will be there on that day I want to concentrate on two groups that will be there at the throne of judgment on that day first of all I want to mention that gospel hearers will be there and you know my friend that that means that you will be there and you'll have to give an account for what you've been hearing in the gospel on that day but for myself there's something more awful than that gospel hearers will be there and that brings me to the other group that will be there gospel preachers will be there and I also thought that you pastor will be there standing before the stone on the day of judgment Bye because you see

[30:52] God sent me as a watchman over these days you will be there and you'll have to give an account for all that you've ever heard and I will be there and I have to give an account for all that I've ever spoken in the name of Christ And listen, my friend, if I'm not greatly mistaken from the word of God, not only will gospel hearers be there and gospel pastors will be there, but pastors will meet their people at a throne of judgment.

[31:37] Do you know, my friend, that you're going to be there, and you're going to have an account to give for what is heard? And just as you give an account for what is heard, I must give an account for what I've spoken to you at the judgment seat of Christ.

[31:58] And we know that there's going to be one of two outcomes to our ministry at the throne of judgment. One of two outcomes. Either this will be true, that your blood will be required at my hands because I fail to tell you the gospel.

[32:21] It's not an awful thought, that there are ministers who have student pupils and are failing miserably in preaching the gospel to their people.

[32:35] And the blood will be upon, it will be required at the minister's hand. Isn't that an awful thought? That your blood will be required at my hands if you die Christless, and I haven't warned you, and I haven't spoken to you, and I haven't proclaimed the gospel to you.

[32:55] Isn't that an awful thought? Because it is. And the other alternative is this. That your blood will be upon your own head.

[33:06] And that I, a saved pastor who have learned for your soul to be one for Christ, will have to put my amen to your damnation eternally at the judgment seat of Christ.

[33:23] My friends and great friends, I love you for Christ. I want you to see your souls come to Christ. I feel like I pray that I will always preach the gospel to you, to feel the hope of Christ.

[33:42] That, Lord, my senses are going to be true that the day will come. And at the judgment seat of Christ, I must put my amen to your eternal damnation, and say that it's right that God puts me to hell.

[34:00] I saw the dead, small and great, stand before the throne. We are going to be there, my friends. I wonder tonight that I can ask you, what kind of meeting will I have with you at a throne of God's judgment?

[34:19] My friend, what kind of answer will you have to the judge that sits on the throne, when he stands, when he sits there, and we stand before him?

[34:32] Listen. Listen. What is the judgment that will be dispensed on that great day of the throne? And the books were opened.

[34:43] And the books were opened. Now I'm going to say four things about the books that will be opened on the great day of judgment. Four minutes. First of all, let me say this.

[34:56] The books that cannot lie will be opened on that day. The books that cannot lie. Do you remember what? Do you remember what Benjamin said about heaven?

[35:08] That there were two things that surprised him about heaven. Those who thought he'd be there, he weren't there. And those who never expected to be there, he would be there.

[35:22] Why is that? Because the books cannot lie. There are two, my friend, as God himself, the books that are going to be opened at the judgment seat of Christ.

[35:34] There are two of God. Yes. These books, they cannot lie. It's true, unadulterated truth. However much it might come into you, so I'm into mine.

[35:49] It's truth, my friend, that's going to be on the books that will be opened on the day of judgment. No lies. No lies there. And then the second thing I've got to say about the books is this.

[36:03] I'm going to try and identify them. And I'm going to try and identify themselves from God's side. The book of God's omniscience will be opened.

[36:15] What does that mean? The book of God's omniscience will be opened. From thy spirit whither shall I go, from thy presence fly.

[36:29] Ascend thy heaven, lo, thy love, let the earth in hell I lie. Take out the morning wings and dwell in utmost parts of sea. Even thy Lord shall thine hand me lead, thy right hand go, it shall me.

[36:44] That book is going to be opened, the book of God's omniscience. I wonder what that book has to tell about you and me, my friend.

[36:55] The book of God's omniscience. I'm going to say one thing about the book of God's omniscience before I leave it. Written on the cover is this. Be sure your sin will find the earth.

[37:10] Be sure your sin will find the earth. But then, let's turn and see the other books that will be opened. I'll tell you one that's going to be opened on the day of judgment.

[37:25] The book of conscience is going to be opened on the day of judgment. Do you know, my friends, that into your conscience daily and daily, there's a recording process going on just the same as that recording machine down there.

[37:43] There's a recording going on in your mind and it can be obliterated and it can be put below the surface and you can forget about things in it. But they'll all wait in on the day of judgment, my friend, when the book of conscience will open.

[37:58] Do you know that on the day of judgment, if you are judged out of this book of conscience and you'll give out, I'll tell you, my friend, there'll be made 20 hours from the book of conscience.

[38:13] I'm going to tell you another book that's going to open when the book of conscience opens. The book of memory as you stand looking straight in the eyes of him before whom the earth and heaven flees away.

[38:32] The book of memory. The book of memory. And oh, what a story is in the book of memory for you and for me and for everyone here.

[38:44] A story of guilt. A story of guilt. Of unconfession and guilt before God.

[38:57] And another book will be opened. What's it called? The book of life.

[39:09] The book of life. Where was it written? I'll tell you where it was written. It was written in a past eternity when God entered into covenant with Christ in the covenant of grace.

[39:22] And when Christ committed himself to die for as many as would be saved eternally. And as many as would be saved eternally have their names written in the large book of life.

[39:37] My friend, the great quest of your life and mine is this. To find out our own names there. That's all that matters. Everything else. Everything else can go into the background.

[39:57] And when the book of life is opened, there are two things going to happen at this time of judgment for the people of God. I'll tell you what they are. They will be openly acknowledged and acquitted in the day of judgment.

[40:14] Open acknowledgement as a child of God. Open acquittal because Christ died. That's the position of the child of God at the throne of judgment.

[40:26] But what about the one who dies Christless? What about the one who goes to his death and goes to the judgment seat without God and without Christ?

[40:39] What is it written? Listen. Listen. And the Lord, this was saved.

[41:11] Listen. What can a lake? It's the lake that burns with fire. It's the lake where the world dieth not, and where the fire will not be quenched.

[41:30] It's the lake that is called in the book of Jude, the darkness of the blackness of darkness forever. It's the lake that the Bible presents to us as the eternal punishment of the damned in hell.

[41:51] What does our soul in hell have to look forward to? Wave upon wave upon waves of wrath. Wave upon wave upon waves of the fire that will never be quenched, the conscience that will never die.

[42:12] Wave upon wave upon wave of the fire that will not go out. Oh my friend, it's that the eternity that you looked. It's that you'd prosper tonight.

[42:27] Wave upon wave upon wave of the mighty God's displeasured, because you've lived and you've died in your sin. Wave upon wave upon wave of eternal death, where the world dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

[42:46] Is that the prospect? Is that the prospect? That's the prospect of the soul that dies godless and Christless. Listen to me. The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

[43:13] Will you not go to God. Will you not go to him? Will you not ask him to give you that gift before you die in your sin?

[43:24] Oh, I wish I could make the gospel more attractive to you, my dear friends. I wish I could draw you in my own arms and bring you to Christ. You know, my nights when I stand in this pulpit, and that's the way I feel, if only, if only I could take these young and not so young who may not be the Lord and take them to Christ, I would do it.

[43:49] Oh, let's pray. We can do it in our prayers. Lord, we don't know how they're going to come, but we want them to come.

[44:05] Oh, we want to see many women taken from the life of sin and snatched like ground from... Oh, thank you.

[44:21] Oh, thank you. Thank you.