THE CLOSING CHAPTERS - THE BOOKS OF JUDGEMENT

REVELATION 20:11-15                                                                 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

There will be at least 3 Books at the Great White Throne Judgement. There may be more but there will not be less. For our part we will say three but we’ll explain how there could be more. The first book that the lost will be judged by is a familiar book to most of us. That book is:

 

I. THE BIBLE

1. The Bible is the Word of God [Mk. 7:13, Rev. 20:4, 1 Th. 2:13]

- Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

- And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image , neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

- For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

2. The Bible is the Word of Christ [Mt. 24:35, Luke 5:1, Colossians 3:16, Rev. 3:8]

- Jesus said, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away”

- And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God , he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,

- Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

- I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

3. The Bible is the Word of Judgement [Jn. 12:48]

He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

 

II. THE BOOK OF WORKS [Rev. 20:12-13] this could be 3 different books or 3 chapters of the same book

1. Judgement of Words [Mt. 5:22, 12:36-37, Jude 14-15]

- But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

- But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

- Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.

2. Judgement of Thoughts [Mt. 5:22a, 28, 12:34; Rm. 2:15-16, Heb. 4:12]

- But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment:

- But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

- O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

- Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another ;) In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

- For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

3. Judgement of Deeds [Jude 15, Rm. 2:1-5; Heb. 4:13, Rev. 20:12-13]

-To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.

-Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God

 

III. THE BOOK OF LIFE [Rev. 20:12, 15]

Evidently everyone is in the Book of Life originally then these factors come into play"

1. When a Person Trusts Christ His/her Name is Locked In [Dan. 12:1; Lk. 10:20, Rev. 3:5, 1 John 5:4-5]

- And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

- Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

- He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

- For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

2. When a Person Crosses God’s Deadline His/her Name is Blotted Out [Ex. 32:32-33, Ps. 69:28, Rev. 17:8, 22:19]

- Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written. And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.

- Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous

- The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was , and is not, and yet is.

3. The Only Way to Escape the Lake of Fire is to be IN the Book of Life [Rev. 20:14-15]

4. The Only Way to Enter Heaven is to be IN the Book of Life [Rev. 21:27]

EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME

Isaiah 45:23, Romans 14:11, Philippians 2:10

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

-I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.

- For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord , every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.

- That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

 

I. BOW THE KNEE IN HUMILITY [ACCEPT CHRIST AS SAVIOUR]

1. Without Christ We Are Helpless [Rm. 5:8]

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

2. Without Christ We Are Hopeless [Eph. 2:12]

That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

3. Without Christ We Are Hell-bound [Rev. 20:13-14, 21:8, 27]

- And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

- But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

- And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

 

II. BOW THE KNEE IN HONOR

1. Honor Christ as a True Prophet [Mt. 13:54-58]

And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house. And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

2. Honor Christ as God [John 5:16-27, 2 Jn. 9-11]

Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

3. Honor Christ as Saviour [Titus 2:11-13]

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

 

III. BOW THE KNEE IN HEARING

 

1. Hear Christ Gladly [Mark 12:35-37]

And Jesus answered and said, while he taught in the temple, How say the scribes that Christ is the son of David? For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The LORD said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool. David therefore himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he then his son? And the common people heard him gladly.

2. Hear Christ Reverently [1 Tm. 6:3-5]

If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

 

3. Hear Christ Obediently [John 2:5, Mt. 28:18-20]

- His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.

- And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway , even unto the end of the world. Amen.

TURN THANKSGIVING TO THANKSLIVING

 

TURN THANKSGIVING TO THANKSLIVING

PSALM 116

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. LOVE THE LORD [v. 1-6]

1. He Listens Intently [v. 1-2]

2. He Saves Unreservedly [v. 3-5]

3. He Helps Undeservedly [v. 6]

“When I think I’m unfairly hated, I try to remember that I am unfairly loved”. – R.C. Sproul

 

II. LIVE FOR THE LORD [v. 7-11]

1. Rest in the Lord [v. 7-8, Mt. 11:28]

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

2. Walk Before the Lord [v. 9, Phil. 1:21]

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

3. Confess to the Lord [v. 10-11, 1 Jn. 1:9]

keep short accounts with God

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 

III. LET THE LORD BE LORD [v. 12-19]

1. Maintain an Open Relationship [v. 12-13]

2. Maintain an Open Testimony [v. 14-16]

3. Maintain Open Praise [v. 17-19]

 

UNTO ME EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW

Isaiah 45:23

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO THE GOD OF THE UNIVERSE [v. 18]

1. God Speaks! [v. 18a, Heb. 1:1-3]

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

2. God Created with Purpose! [v. 18b]

3. God Reveals Himself [v. 18c]

 

II. EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO THE GOD OF ISRAEL [v. 19]

1. God Speaks Redemptively [v. 19a, 17]

2. God Speaks in Righteousness [v. 19b, 2 Cor. 5:20-21]

Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

3. God Speaks Rightly [v. 19, Psalm 9:7-8]

But the LORD shall endure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment. And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness.

III. EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO THE GOD OF ALL NATIONS [v. 20-25]

1. The Only Saviour [v. 20-22, Titus 2:10-11, 13-14]

- Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

- Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

2. The Only Sovereign [v. 23, Rm. 14:9-12]

For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord , every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

3. The Only Sustainer

[v. 24-25, 1 Cor. 1:30-31]

But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

THE CLOSING CHAPTERS - THE DEVIL’S IN THE DETAILS

 

THE CLOSING CHAPTERS - THE DEVIL’S IN THE DETAILS

REVELATION 20:1-15

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. DONE DEAL [v. 1-3]

1. The Devil Defeated [v. 1-2a, Gn. 3:15]

And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

2. The Devil Detained [v. 2, 12:7-12]

3. The Devil Defined [v. 3, John 8:44]

Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

 

II. NO DEAL [v. 4-6] “Unconditional Surrender”

1. They are Reigning [v. 4-6]

2. They are Resurrected [v. 4-6]

3. They are Redeemed [v. 6]

 

III. REAL DEAL [v. 7-15]

1. The Sinful Deluded [v. 7-9, John 3:19]

And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

2. The Serpent Damned [v. 10, Isaiah 14:12-17]

How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning ! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?

3. The Second Death [v. 11-15]

DIE TO SELF

A.C. Gaebelein noticed a unique sign in a clothes dyeing establishment which read:

I live to dye, I dye to live.

The more I dye, the more I live,

The more I live the more I dye.

Read these words aloud and you will hear a great spiritual truth. Then turn in your Bible and read Galatians 2:20 to see how Paul expressed it many centuries ago. - Unknown source.

A REJOICING CHRISTIAN

PHILIPPIANS 1:4, 3:1, 4:4

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

A rejoicing Christian is a good testimony. A rejoicing Christian is sometimes a rare commodity. A rejoicing Christian is a Bible Christian. A rejoicing Christian is a less likely to get into sin. A rejoicing Christian is more likely to give God the glory. A rejoicing Christian is a person who enjoys life. A rejoicing Christian appreciates the blessings of God. A rejoicing Christian realizes God allows certain things in our lives for our good even when they may not be pleasant. Be a rejoicing Christian!

 

I. WHAT ARE SOME BARRIERS TO BEING A REJOICING CHRISTIAN?

Not hardships, suffering, separation from loved ones or imminent death. No the barriers to rejoicing are:

1. A Self-serving Attitude [1:12-18, 2:2-4, 21]

2. An Argumentative Ungracious Attitude [4:2-6]

3. A Carnal Sinful Lifestyle [3:2-3, 18]

 

II. WHAT IS THE BASIS OF BEING A REJOICING CHRISTIAN?

1. A Saving Relationship with Jesus Christ [1:1-6]

2. A Walking Relationship with Jesus Christ [1:5-6, 10-11, 19-21, 29] “And He walks with me…”

3. A Working relationship with Jesus Christ [1:22, 27; 2:12-13, 30]

 

III. WHAT IS THE BENEFIT OF BEING A REJOICING CHRISTIAN?

1. Rejoicing is Good for Us Personally [4:7-13, Pr. 17:22]

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

2. Rejoicing is Good for Others [1:3-4, 25-26]

3. Rejoicing Glorifies God [1:9-11, 2:11, 4:20]