FromNowUntilForeverBook8.5x5.5 REV.indd

By nature, people, especially those running from God, are turned off by religious fervor, especially if it relates to judgment and hell. Remember chapter 11, where we detailed the Judgment Seat of Christ, an event involving only believers that takes place before the millennium. Our main text in this chapter deals with the great white throne judgment (Revela- tion 20:11-15), reserved specifically for the lost. I’ve had people say, “We’re all after the same goal, head- ed for the same place, so, what’s the big deal?”The big deal is that we most assuredly are not all going to the same place. If you’ve been born again, saved, received Christ into your heart, or whatever terminology you want to use to indicate you are a child of God, you can look forward to going to heaven when you die. If you haven’t experienced this conversion, Scripture emphatically says that you’ll spend eternity in hell. In chapter 3, we dealt primarily with Hades, the place of temporary anguish and misery that imprisons unbelievers until the EndTimes. Recall the unnamed rich man who enjoyed lavish prosperity on earth, only to endure great torment fol- lowing his death. He found himself in a state of separation from God and permanent hopelessness (Luke 16:19-31). Now let’s switch emphases from the first death to the second death, from Hades to Gehenna –with the main thrust being on the condem- nation that comes before the destination. Exiled on Patmos, John “Saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it” (Revelation 20:11). Certainly, it’s God who sits upon the throne, as is usually the case in Revelation. The color white indicates His purity, glory, majesty and quali- fication for carrying out this somber, but necessary task. Recall from the previous chapter this scenario is preceded by Satan’s permanent banishment into the lake of fire, following his 1000 year imprisonment in the abyss (Revelation 20:10).

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