III. The great and final judgment scene: and here we must notice.

1. That the TIME of this judgment is after "the thousand years" have ended.

2. The PLACE of this "great white Throne," is not on this earth. In this it is similar to the appearance and of

the Saints in 2 Cor. v. which is in the Heavens, though before the Bema of Christ; and it is distinguished

from "the Throne" in Matt. xxv., for that is on the earth, while here it is distinctly stated that "the earth and

heaven fled away, and there was found no place for them" (Rev. xx. 11).

3. The PERSONS who are here judged are all of them Raised from the dead, for this special purpose. Hence it

is called in John v. 29, "the resurrection of life." There shall not be one before this throne who has not died.

In this it differs from both the other judgment scenes, for in the first (2 Cor. v.) only "those which are alive

and remain" and "the dead in Christ" then raised will be there: and in the second (Matt. xxv.) only living

nations, for resurrection is not even hinted at. Those who introduce "the dead" into the judgment of the

living nations (Matt. xxv.) do not hesitate to introduce the living amongst those who are here called "the

dead"! But they have no more authority for the one than for the other.

4. The judgment itself is one of standing and character. It is "according to their works" (verse 12, 13). Not to

discover "good works" which may be rewarded, or "dead works" which may be burned up and the workers

"saved": but to punish "wicked works" which manifest the character of the workers as the "enemies of

5. One question arises here, and that is, are any found in this judgment who are rewarded and saved? The

answer is, that not a word is said about it: and where God has not s poken we must hold our peace. All we

can say is that the omission is very strange and unaccountable if this be a general judgment of good and

bad. The fact of its being called "the Resurrection of Judgment" as distinguished from "the Resurrection of

Life" seems to imply that all who are thus raised are for condemnation. True, the Lamb's book of Life is

opened, but it does not say that the names of any who are judged are found therein. There is not a word

about any arraignment, there is no pleading, no defence; all are "speechless."

The description seems to include the wicked dead of every age for "the sea gave up the dead which were in

it; and death and the grave (margin) delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every

man according to their works" (Rev. xx. 13).

It does not say that any whose names were in the book of life, were here. It does not say that there were any

who were not "cast into the lake of fire" which is "the second death."

While Scripture is silent on this particular point, and where this is so we may not speak with certainty, yet

on one point all is certain: this judgment is absolute and final. There is no reprieve, and no release. There is

no room here for the newly invented fiction of a Protestant purgatory, or for the new theory of "eternal

hope." It may be found in man's theology, but it is not found in God's word, and he is a bold interpolator

who dares to insert any hope in the words of this scripture. To attempt it is to repeat the lie of Satan and say

"ye shall not surely die"! How can there be room for repentance then, when the call to repent "to-day" is

based on the very fact, that there will be none after death. God "NOW commandeth all men everywhere to

repent BECAUSE He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness," &c.

(Acts xvii. 30, 31). The very fact of there being a "JUDGMENT TO COME" is the reason why men are

commanded to repent "NOW."

The great and important question for us, now and here, is Have you repented now? and Are you sheltered

from this judgment? Its portion is yours if you are not washed in the blood of the Lamb. If you have not

your "part" in the "first resurrection," "the resurrection of life," then you must have it in "the Resurrection

of Judgment." That judgment will not be like the judgments of this world. These are generally limited in their