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Now, here's today's podcast, From Pathway to Victory. Hi, this is Robert Jeffers and I'm glad to study God's Word with you every day on this Bible teaching program. On today's edition of Pathway to Victory, the fact is that book has been composed. every name in it. is a record of everyone who's ever been saved or will be saved.
And unless your name is written in that Lamb's Book of Life, you will not escape the Great White Crone Judgment. Welcome to Pathway to Victory with author and pastor Dr. Robert Jeffers. Jesus Christ could return to gather his church at any moment. But he continues to wait patiently so that unbelievers will have more time to place their trust in him.
Today on Pathway to Victory, Dr. Robert Jeffress warns that one day God's patience will run out. and he will come again to judge the unrighteous. But first, let's take a moment to hear some important ministry updates. Thanks, David, and welcome again to Pathway to Victory.
Listen up, this is really happening. We're sailing to Alaska in just days. June 13th will be here before you know it, and I'm making one last appeal. If you've been on the fence about joining us, this is your moment to step forward. Our final cabins are being claimed as I speak.
And once that ship leaves Vancouver's harbor, the opportunity is gone forever. Imagine standing on the deck watching glaciers calve, getting to know other like-minded believers and experiencing God's majesty in ways that defy description. The dates are June 13th through 20th. I want you there with us. You can make arrangements right now by going to ptv.org.
Well, for the entire month of April and into the early part of May, we're digging deeply into biblical prophecy. Our series is called Perfect Ending, and time is running out to take advantage of the special resources I've set aside for you. First, I've written a brand new book that represents the culmination of a lifetime of personal study. It's called Ask Dr. Jeffress About the End Times.
Second, I want to send you my popular Bible prophecy chart. This fold-out brochure gives you the entire scope of biblical prophecy at a glance.
so that you can visualize the chronology of God's time line for the future. And I'll make sure you receive both resources when you give a generous gift to support the ministry of Pathway to Victory.
Okay, it's time to continue our study of Revelation chapter 20 and an event I introduced on an earlier program. I hope today's message brings clarity to a subject that's often misconstrued. Today we're talking about the Great White Throne Judgment for Unbelievers in a message I've entitled Final Judgment. The Bible says one day Jesus Christ is coming back to earth. not as the Savior of the world, but as the Judge of the world.
And it's that second coming of Christ when He comes to judge all unbelievers that we're going to look at today. It is a judgment that takes place at an event we often call the great white throne judgment.
However, John says, before that final judgment, one last thing has to occur. God chooses to let Satan go. instead of dropping him into the lake of fire. Notice the reality of Satan's being released at the end of the thousand years. Revelation 20, verse 7.
And when the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, and he will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war. The number of them is like the sand of the seashore. That is, those who are deceived into making war against God. And they, that is the opponents of God, verse 9, came up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and of the beloved city, that is Jerusalem. And fire came down from heaven and devoured them.
What is the purpose of Satan's release? Why does God choose to let him go?
Well, it says in the text here: in order that he might deceive the nations.
Now of course that brings up a number of questions. Who are these people that would choose to follow after Satan? And why does it say that God must release Satan for a little while?
Well, let's identify those who are deceived by Satan's release. Let's make something very, very clear. It is impossible for somebody who is a genuine Christian to ever be lost. When God gives you eternal life, it's eternal. God is the author, Hebrews says, of eternal salvation.
God does not rescind his offer of eternal life.
So these are not genuine Christians who are deceived by Satan. But wait a minute, Pastor. Only believers can enter into the millennium. All unbelievers will be swept away at the judgment. Only believers enter into the millennium.
Those of us in our resurrected bodies and those Christians who survived the Great Tribulation.
So if it's only Christians who can enter into the millennium, how will some be deceived? It's because There will be some Christians who enter into the millennium in their natural bodies. And I believe it is the children of those Christians who are produced in the millennium in their natural bodies, some of whom will be deceived. You see, the Bible teaches that during the millennium there will be Christians. with two different kinds of bodies.
Some of us, the church, will have our resurrection bodies. But there'll be a group of Christians who survived the tribulation that entered the millennium in their natural bodies. You say, well, that's the oddest thing I've ever heard. I mean, that's science fiction. How would believers with two different kinds of bodies exist and have fellowship with one another?
Well, just think about Jesus Christ after his resurrection from the dead. He had a new body for 40 days, and yet he was able to fellowship with his disciples in their natural bodies. That's a picture of what will happen during the millennium. And that is the only explanation for how there can be both birth. And death in the millennium.
For example, going back to that verse we've looked at several times: Isaiah 65, verse 20: no longer will there be in it. Talking about the millennium, an infant who lives but a few days. There are going to be babies in the millennium. How does that happen? Luke chapter 20, verses 35 and 36 says, You and I and our resurrected bodies won't be able to procreate, you know, no more pampers, you know, no need for that any longer.
We won't be having children. But yet, the millennium says there will be infants in the millennium. But he goes on to say, or will there be an old man who does not live out his days? For the youth will die at the age of 100, and the one who does not reach the age of 100 will thought to be accursed. Not only will there be birth in the millennium, there'll be death in the millennium.
It'll be later in life, but it will occur.
Well, how can that happen? We're in our resurrection bodies, and there is no death in our resurrection bodies. The only explanation is there are Christians who enter the millennium in their natural bodies, they will have children. And those children will be deceived, some of them by Satan. You know, that's an amazing thing when you think about it.
After living under the rule of Christ for a thousand years, having experienced the blessing of Christ ruling, some will be deceived and actually choose to follow Satan. But ladies and gentlemen, the fact is Every believer Has to make a choice. Every person who's ever lived, in whatever age he lived, starting in the Garden of Eden, has had to make an individual choice rather to follow God or follow Satan. And this is the reason God says he must be released for a little while. Every person who ever lives on this planet has to be given that choice of following God or following Satan.
And so the Bible says Satan will be released. He will deceive some, but it won't be a deception that will last for long because in Revelation chapter 20, verse 9, God sends a fire. He devours those who have opposed him. And verse 10 says, he then takes Satan and he drops him into the lake of fire where the beast and the false prophet are. And that prepares the way for this judgment we're looking at, the great white throne judgment.
Turn over to Revelation chapter 20, beginning with verse 11. There are some people who believe, some Christians, that there's only one judgment at the end of time, one judgment for both believers and unbelievers. But the Bible does not teach that. There is a judgment for Christians. We're going to talk about that judgment next week that you and I are going to face.
It's the judgment called the judgment seat of Christ. But there's another judgment for unbelievers that we're looking at today: the great white throne judgment. Look at the description of that judgment in verse 11. John says, 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.
As John looked, he saw a single solitary throne suspended in space. Heaven and earth We're gone at this point. What happened to the heaven and earth? See that white space in your Bible between verse 10 and 11? See a little white space there.
In that white space, This earth and this heaven were destroyed by fire. Just as 2 Peter 3, verses 10 and 11 state. That one day, this present heaven and earth being reserved for judgment will be destroyed by fire. And when we get to the Satan's judgment in verse 10, and then to verse 11, the judgment of all unbelievers. In between those two verses, the present heaven and earth fled away.
That is, they were destroyed. And so John only sees someone sitting on this great white throne.
Now, notice this is completely different from the picture in Revelation 4, verse 2, where at the beginning of the tribulation, John looked into heaven and he saw God the Father on a throne surrounded by the 24 elders, the church, and he saw the rainbow surrounding the throne and peals of lightning and the sounds of thunder. That's not this picture. This picture is of a single solitary throne, and it has a different occupant on it. The occupant is not God the Father, it is Jesus Christ the Son. Who is it?
That is going to be judged by Jesus the Son. Notice the subjects of the great white throne judgment in verses 12 and 13. John says, and I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and the books were open. Skip down to verse 13. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it.
Death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them. And they were judged, every one of them, according to their deeds. Remember when an unbeliever dies, no matter when it happens. His body goes into the grave, but his spirit, the real part of him, goes to this place called Hades. It's a temporary waiting place for the unsaved, but it is a horrible place.
Jesus talked about it in Luke 16, in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. Remember, the rich man opened his eyes and he found himself in this horrible place called Hades. The Bible says Hades is the place where all unbelievers are deposited until the final judgment. And at the great white throne judgment, John says in verse 13. Hades regurgitated all of the unsaved dead from the beginning of time to stand before this great white throne in judgment.
The subjects of the great white throne judgment are unbelievers. And how are they judged? What is the basis for their judgment? Go back to verses 12 and 13. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and the books underline that were opened.
And another book, singular, underline that, was opened. What is that book? It is the book of life. But the dead were judged from the things that were written in the books, plural, not the book. The book of life, they were judged by the things which were written in the books according to their deeds.
And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and the death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them. And they were judged, every one of them, according to their deeds, their works. Did you know God keeps two sets of books on all of us? There is the book. And there are the books.
The book Is what the Bible calls The Lamb's Book of Life. Revelation 13 verse 8. It is a book that is a record of everyone who was saved. Of everyone who has trusted in Christ as his Savior. Do you know what Revelation 13:8 says?
It says, That book was written before the foundation of the world. Every name was entered into it before the foundation of the world. You probably thought, like I used to hear people say, well, when somebody walks down the aisle and trusts in Christ the Savior, God pulls out his pen and writes his name in the book of life. It doesn't happen that way. The book is finished.
All of the names have already been written in it that will ever be written in it. Revelation 13:8, before the foundation of the world. Or we say, well, how did God do that? Did he write people's names? On what basis were those names written?
Did God write down the names of people he knew? Would trust in Christ as Savior if given the opportunity? Is that the basis he wrote the names down in? Those he knew? Would accept Christ?
Or did he write down the names? that he predetermined. would accept Christ. The answer is the subject of another sermon at some point. How's that for a cop app?
But the fact is, that book has been composed. Every name in it. Is a record of everyone who's ever been saved or will be saved. And unless your name is written in that Lamb's book of life, you will not escape the great white throne judgment. There is the book.
But then there are the books. That is, God keeps a record of every person's believer and unbelievers works. Every word, every action, every thought is recorded according to the things that are written in the books. And nothing goes unnoticed by God. The money you gave to United Way, the time you helped an elderly grandmother across the street.
The ugly word you spoke to your mate just as you got into the car to go to worship this morning? That lustful thought you had about your neighbor, everything, the good, the bad, and the ugly, is recorded in the books. No good deed goes unrecorded. No sin goes unnoticed. It is all in the books.
The Bible says That the unsaved are judged according to the books, according to their deeds, according to the things that have been written in this book. The Bible says in verse 12: if any man's name is not found written in the book of life, he was judged forever and ever. The unbeliever, listen to this. Is the person who chooses to be judged not by having his name in the book. but according to his works in the books.
You know, one of the saddest aspects to me of this judgment. The white throne judgment is the confidence. with which believers unbelievers will approach it. After the unbeliever gets over the initial shock of seeing the Lord Jesus Christ, whom he rejected, sitting on that great white throne. After that initial shock, the unbeliever will actually start to feel pretty confident.
As he hears Jesus announce, The basis on which he's going to be judged. As Jesus begins to open the books and says, I will judge you as you've chosen to be judged. According to your deeds, according to your works. But that optimism, that confidence will turn to despair very, very quickly. As the unbeliever realizes that the basis, the standard, by which his works will be judged.
Will not be his relative righteousness to other people. But by the perfection of God's own Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the standard by which our righteousness will be judged, and by that standard Everyone falls short. What happens as a result of the white throne judgment? Look at verses 14 and 15.
And death and Hades, that is, unbelievers, were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if any man's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. You say, Pastor, I just can't put my mind around that. I cannot understand how a good and a loving God would choose to punish people, to torture people forever and ever and ever.
May I remind you: there will not be one occupant in the lake of fire who is not there by his own choice. The unbeliever is the person who has said to God. Whatever Jesus Christ did means nothing to me. I don't need his death. I don't need his righteousness.
I'm happy to be judged by you according to my own merits. And God says, fine, I'll give you exactly what you wish. will judge you according to your works. But nobody's works. will be good enough.
For you see, the Bible says, unless we have a righteousness that equals that. of Jesus Christ himself, none of us is qualified to enter into heaven. You say, well, that's impossible. Nobody could ever meet that standard. The perfection of Jesus Christ, nobody could ever meet that standard.
Exactly. Exactly. And that's why the only way we'll ever be qualified to enter into heaven. Is not on the basis of our goodness. But on the basis of the goodness, the righteousness of Jesus Christ.
I know I've said this before. But I think right now is a helpful time to illustrate exactly what that means: the righteousness of Jesus Christ, and what it means to put that on. I want you to imagine here two books. One book is titled The Life and Times of Jesus Christ. This is a book that records every good deed, every perfect thing that Jesus Christ has ever done, his complete record of absolute righteousness.
The life and times of Jesus Christ. I want you to imagine another book titled The Life and Times of Robert Jeffers. It is a book that records Some of the good things I've done. But it also describes every Wrong action. Every wrong thought, every wrong motivation for doing anything I've ever had.
This book reads like a supermarket tabloid. It's a book I hope nobody will purchase. Two books. The Life and Times of Jesus Christ, The Life and Times of Robert Jeffers.
Now what happens when I trust in Christ as my Savior? You know what God does? He takes the cover of this book. and he places it on this book containing Jesus' good deeds. And so when God looks at the life and times of Robert Jefferson, he no longer sees my sin, he sees all of the good things that Jesus did.
And he gives me credit for his righteous life. But there's something else that happens. When I trust in Christ as my Savior, God takes the cover of this book, The Life and Times of Jesus, and He places it around my life story. 2,000 years ago, when God looked down on Jesus on the cross. He saw my sin.
He saw your sin. And he judged Jesus for what we have done. It's the greatest exchange that has ever taken place when we become a Christian. I take my sinfulness and my righteousness and give it to Jesus Christ to suffer for. And he takes his righteousness and he credits it.
to my account.
So that I spend eternity benefiting from the perfect life of Jesus. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says it this way: God made him. Jesus, who knew no sin. to become sin for us. That we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
The most important choice you ever make in life is this. What am I depending upon? to get me into heaven one day. Am I going to depend upon my righteousness? The fact that I'm a member of First Baptist Church Dallas, that I got baptized, that I had a grandfather who was a preacher one time, am I going to depend on that?
Or am I going to choose to depend upon the righteousness of Jesus Christ and the perfect life He led? You see, it's one or the other. Either you're depending on your righteousness. Or you're depending completely on the righteousness of Christ. It's one or the other, it can't be both.
And ladies and gentlemen, that choice of what you're depending on. To get into heaven is a choice you have to make right now in this life. If you wait until you die to make that choice, you've waited too long. If you wait until you die to call on the name of Christ for salvation, there is no salvation. If you find yourself standing before that great white throne judgment, It's too late.
You must choose the righteousness of Christ now. to escape. That final white throne judgment. God has given us clear details about these future events to impact the choices we make every single day. And while there's still time, let me urge you to get in touch with Pathway to Victory today to request the brand new book I've written for you.
It's entitled, Ask Dr. Jeffress About the End Times. My book is designed to answer 20 common questions and to help you grasp the key elements.
so that you're filled with joy and anticipation as you look forward to the Lord's return. A copy of my book is yours when you give a generous gift to support the ministry of Pathway to Victory. And when you give generously, you'll enjoy the satisfaction of knowing that God is using your regular giving to truly make a difference in pushing back the darkness in our culture. Friends, Jesus really is coming back again one day soon. And God has given us the responsibility of sharing this message with as many people as possible before it's too late.
Thank you so much for partnering with me as together we pierce the darkness with the light of God's Word. Here's David to tell you more. When you give a generous gift to support the Ministry of Pathway to Victory, We'll say thanks by sending you Dr. Jeffress's brand new book, Ask Dr. Jeffress, about the end times.
To request your copy, call 866-999-2965 or visit online at ptv.org. You can also support this ministry by texting PTV to 78800. And when you invest in this ministry with a gift of $125 or more, you'll also receive Dr. Jeffers' best-selling prophecy book, Perfect Ending. You'll get the complete perfect ending teaching series on audio and video disc and the stunning full color resource, The End Times Illustrated, a panorama of Bible prophecy from Genesis to Revelation.
To make your request, call 866-999-2965 or visit ptv.org. You could write to us at PO Box 223-609-Dallas, Texas 75222. Again, that's P.O. Box 223-609, Dallas, Texas, 75222. I'm David J.
Mullins. Many Christians assume that heaven will be exactly the same for every believer. But the Bible describes a time of judgment during which every Christian will be evaluated and hopefully rewarded for his or her good works on earth. Learn more about Rewards in Heaven, Friday on Pathway to Victory. Pathway to Victory with Dr.
Robert Jeffress comes from the pulpit of the First Baptist Church of Dallas, Texas. You made it to the end of today's podcast from Pathway to Victory, and we're so glad you're here. Pathway to Victory relies on the generosity of loyal listeners like you to make this podcast possible. One of the most impactful ways you can give is by becoming a Pathway Partner. Your monthly gift will empower Pathway to Victory to share the gospel of Jesus Christ and help others become rooted more firmly in His Word.
To become a Pathway Partner, go to ptv.org/slash/donate, or you can follow the link in our show notes. We hope you've been blessed by today's podcast from Pathway to Victory. Oh, and one last thing before we go. Have you reserved your spot yet for the 2026 Pathway to Victory cruise to Alaska? You've been hearing me and Dr.
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Experience five-star dining, luxurious staterooms, and visiting iconic ports like Juneau, Ketchikan, and Skagway. We're also bringing along our own Christian entertainment. You'll love it. Seats are filling up, so book your spot today at ptv.org.
