Hebrews 9:27 (NKJV) And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment
Revelation 20:14b (NKJV) . . . This is the second death.
I. The case for judgment
1. God’s character
1) God is holy
2) God’s holiness requires holy behavior
3) Unholy behavior must be judged
Psalm 89:14a (KJV) Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne:
2. Man’s conscience
1) Our sense of right and wrong
Romans 2:14-16 (NLT) Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right. And this is the message I proclaim—that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life.
2) Our desire for justice
3. God’s plan
1) God introduces his standard
2) Man violates God’s standard
3) God sends Jesus to uphold God’s standard
Acts 17:30-31(NLT) God overlooked people’s ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him. For he has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead.”
II. The Tribulation is a time of Judgment
1. The Judgment Seat of Christ
2 Corinthians 5:10 (NKJV) For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
2. The Judgment of Israel
3. The Judgment of unbelieving Gentiles
III. The Millennial Reign of Christ ends with judgment
Revelation 20:7(NKJV) Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison
Revelation 20:8(NKJV) and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea.
Revelation 20:9(NKJV) They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them.
1. The judgment of the rebels
Revelation 20:10 (NKJV) The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
2. The judgment of the devil
3. The final judgment
Revelation 20:11 (NKJV) Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them.
1) A Great White Throne
John 5:22 (NLT) In addition, the Father judges no one. Instead, he has given the Son absolute authority to judge,
2) The second resurrection
Revelation 20:12 (NKJV) And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.
Revelation 20:13 (NKJV) The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.
3) Books are opened
4) Judgment concluded
Revelation 20:14-15 (NKJV) Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
The second death is eternal separation from God
The believer avoids the second death through Christ
Romans 5:18 (NKJV) Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.
