The Great Assize
Revelation 20:11-15
And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away…


There are three great days connected with the history of our race.

1. The day the world was made.

2. The day the world was redeemed.

3. The day the world will be judged. It is to the last of these days our text invites attention. Come forth with me and view the scene. Every prophecy is fulfilled, the last hour arrived; the funeral day of the world has come. For the first and last time are found in one great assembly every angel, every saint, and every devil. The books are opened.

I. THE PRELIMINARIES OF THE JUDGMENT.

1. The day will be ushered in with sound of trumpet and the voice of God. The debaucher will be revelling in obscenity — the prodigal rioting in prodigality and wantonness — the self-righteous wrapped up in his own carnal security — the robber on his errand of sin — the whisperer slandering his neighbour — the infidel glorying in his shame — the miser counting over his gold — the soldier in the tented field — the sailor on the briny deep — the careless sitting at ease — the hypocrite practising deceit. When the shrill blast of the archangel's trump, waxing louder than ten thousand thunders, shall shake the earth, and the angel shall swear by Him that liveth for ever and ever that time shall be no more.

2. The Judge will appear. Every eye shall see Him, for like the sun He will appear equally near to all who shall be placed at His dread tribunal. All our previous ideas of grandeur will be infinitely surpassed by the realities of this solemn scene.

3. The dead shall be raised, and all created intelligences shall stand arraigned before the judgment-seat. People of every age and condition, rank and degree. Populous assemblies! Not one missing of past, present, or future generations.

II. PROCEEDINGS OF THE JUDGMENT. "And the books were opened."

1. There will be the book of God's omniscience. Every thought, feeling, desire, motive, and purpose of every heart are fully recorded; and every act of every life.

2. The book of conscience. The one will be found to tally exactly with the other. Oh, trifle not with your conscience, for it will wake up in the judgment and echo the truthfulness of God's omniscience.

3. The book of life. The Divine wisdom or remembrance, whereby the Lord knoweth them that are His.

III. ITS FINAL AND IRREVERSIBLE RESULTS.

1. The whole will be divided, and there shall be no mistake. Not one sinner shall stand in this vast congregation of the righteous.

2. Sentence will be pronounced. If we have not on the wedding garment, we must hear that awfully tremendous voice saying unto us, "Depart, ye cursed."

3. Execution of the sentence.

(J. D. Carey.)



Parallel Verses
KJV: 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.

WEB: I saw a great white throne, and him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. There was found no place for them.




The Fourth Scene in the History of Humanity: the Age of Retribution
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