| |
First,
if the non-dispensationalists are correct that this is the Great White
Throne judgment, then everyone should be sent to the Lake of Fire,
according to Rev. 20:11-15. Even the sheep should be sent into eternal
punishment. But this cannot be true since earlier in Rev. 20:4-6 the
Holy Spirit has told us that those who are resurrected earlier - the
first resurrection - will not be subject to the "second death."
There are two different resurrections and two different judgments
in Rev. 20 (Rev. 20:4-6 and Rev. 20:11-15).
| |
And
I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given
to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded
because of the testimony of Jesus and because of the word of
God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image,
and had not received the mark upon their forehead and upon their
hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand
years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand
years were completed. This is the first resurrection. Blessed
and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection;
over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests
of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand
years. (NASB) Rev. 20:4-6
And
I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose
presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found
for them . . . And the sea gave up the dead which were in it,
and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and
they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds.
And death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This
is the second death, the lake of fire. (NASB) Rev. 20:11, 13-14 |
God
made a decision or a judgment in order to select those who would reign
in the Kingdom.
Second,
in Matthew 25:31 Jesus sits on a glorious throne and in Rev. 20:11
Jesus sits on a great white throne. A throne of judgment. The first
is a time of victory and the second is a sober time.
Finally,
this judgment is for those are living (Matt. 25:31). In Revelation
20:4-15, there are two resurrections - for the dead people. At the
end of Rev. 19:20-2, we find that living persons who received the
mark of the beast and who worshipped his image were immediately judged.
This is the time of the Sheep of Goat judgment.
| |
And
the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed
the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had
received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image;
these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns
with brimstone.
(NASB) Rev. 19:20 |
Conclusion:Yes,
the Sheep and Goat judgment occurs on earth just before the 1,000
year reign of Christ. Scripture teaches that there are three judgments:
Bema Seat judgment, Sheep
and Goat Judgment, and the Great White Throne judgment. The Bema Seat
judgment is for all Christians. The Goat and Sheep judgment separates
the living saints from those who are not. The saints enter the Kingdom
both those who were resurrected and those who were still living at
the end of the Tribulation. The Great White Throne judgment is for
all dead non-Christians. |
|
