WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT

The term, “White Throne Judgment” is taken from the Book of (Revelation 20:11-15).  It reveals to us a future event that is going to happen after the return of Jesus Christ.  In this event, the Lamb’s Book of Life is opened and everyone whose name is not written in it is judged according to his or her deeds.  The white throne judgment is said to determine the eternal fate of us all, either to enter into eternal life or to be cast into the lake of fire.

 

The “Book of Life” refers to the record of those who have salvation in Jesus Christ.  The concept of having one’s name “blotted out” of the Book of Life is referred to in various passages in Scripture, such as (Exodus 32:33) and (Revelation 3:5).  To be blotted out essentially means losing one’s salvation or being condemned to eternal separation from God.  Not intended to create fear or uncertainty in believers, but rather to emphasize the importance of a genuine relationship with Jesus and living a life that reflects the transforming power of HIS grace.  It is more a warning that simply claiming to be a follower of Christ is not enough, and that one must continually strive to live a life that reflects HIS love for others, while being obedient to HIS commands, with a firm vow to stay faithful to HIM.

 

Biblically, the number 10 is associated with completeness or perfection in some way.  The Ten Commandments were given to Moses on Mount Sinai as a complete set of moral laws for the Israelites to follow.  There were 10 plagues that God inflicted upon the Egyptians to demonstrate HIS power and demand their release of the Israelites.  The tabernacle, which was a portable temple used for worship by the Israelites, had 10 curtains.  There were 10 virgins in the parable of the wise and foolish virgins in (Matthew 25:1-5).  Here in Scripture, the importance of being prepared for the return of Christ is being stressed.  There are 10 horns on the beast in (Revelation 13:1), which tells us about a powerful enemy of God’s people.  The number 10 is used symbolically in Scripture, it represent completeness, fulfillment, or achievement.

 

Heavenly FATHER, we come before you today with humble hearts and a deep desire for your blessings of wholeness, contentment, and the success of YOUR children.  We know that YOU are the only God of abundance and that YOU desire the best outcome for YOUR children.  Lord, we ask that you shower us with YOUR blessings, that we may experience the fullness of life that YOU have in store for us.  FATHER, we ask that YOU bring completeness to any areas of our lives that are lacking, whether it is in our relationships, work, or our personal growth.  We pray for YOUR divine intervention in our pursuits so that we may experience fulfillment in everything we set our hands to do.  Help us to find purpose and meaning in our lives, and to know that we are making a difference in the world around us.  FATHER, we ask for YOUR guidance in our endeavors that we may achieve the goals that YOU have set before us.  Grant us the wisdom to discern YOUR will for our lives, and give us strength to persevere in the face of obstacles.  We trust in YOUR faithfulness Lord and believe that YOU will make all things possible for us.  May YOUR blessings of completeness, fulfillment, and achievement overflow in our lives that it spills over onto those around us, that YOUR name be glorified.  In the name of Jesus, we pray. AMEN

 

Revelation 20:11-15
New International Version
The Judgment of the Dead

11 “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. 12 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. 13 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. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.”

Revelation 20:11-15
King James Version

11 “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

12 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: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”

Revelation 20:11-15
Living Bible

11 “And I saw a great white throne and the one who sat upon it, from whose face the earth and sky fled away, but they found no place to hide. 12 I saw the dead, great and small, standing before God; and The Books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to the things written in The Books, each according to the deeds he had done. 13 The oceans surrendered the bodies buried in them; and the earth and the underworld gave up the dead in them. Each was judged according to his deeds. 14 And Death and Hell were thrown into the Lake of Fire. This is the Second Death—the Lake of Fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found recorded in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the Lake of Fire.”

 

Exodus 32:33
New International Version

33 “The Lord replied to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out of my book.”

Exodus 32:33
King James Version

33 “And the Lord said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.”

Exodus 32:33
Living Bible

33 “And the Lord replied to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me will be blotted out of my book.”

 

Revelation 3:5
New International Version

5 “The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels.”

Revelation 3:5
King James Version

5 “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.”

Revelation 3:5
Living Bible

5 “Everyone who conquers will be clothed in white, and I will not erase his name from the Book of Life, but I will announce before my Father and his angels that he is mine.”

 

Matthew 25:1-5
New International Version
The Parable of the Ten Virgins

25 “ “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.”

Matthew 25:1-5
King James Version

25 “Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:

But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.”

Matthew 25:1-6
Living Bible

25 “ “The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2-4 But only five of them were wise enough to fill their lamps with oil, while the other five were foolish and forgot.

5-6 “So, when the bridegroom was delayed, they lay down to rest until midnight, when they were roused by the shout, ‘The bridegroom is coming! Come out and welcome him!’ ”

 

Revelation 13:1
New International Version
The Beast out of the Sea

13 “The dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name.”

Revelation 13:1
King James Version

13 “And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.”

Revelation 13:1
Living Bible

13 “And now, in my vision, I saw a strange Creature rising up out of the sea. It had seven heads and ten horns, and ten crowns upon its horns. And written on each head were blasphemous names, each one defying and insulting God.”