Reflection on Revelation 20:11-21:8

After talking about the Millennium in the early part of chapter 20, the last part of this chapter tells us that John sees a great white throne and the Judge seated on it. John doesn't make any attempt to describe the Judge, the sovereign God Himself. He describes the reaction of the heaven and earth. The first heaven and earth flee from their Creator. The fallen, sin-marred world as we know it will be a thing of past, there will be no place for them in front of the judgment seat and in the new world. The earth and sky are smart enough to flee, which leaves no place for sinners to hide. "The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them." Who are "the dead" here? We need to remember that all believers who were dead before Millennium have resurrected already, they have reigned with Christ for a thousand year. It seems "the dead" here are the "rest of the dead" mentioned in 20:5. Because of their unbelief, these dead did not participate in the first resurrection before the Millennium. They rise at the end of the Millennium to face their judgment now.

John sees "the dead, great and small, standing before the throne." I cannot comprehend the vast crowd of unbelievers that will stand before God's judgment throne, unable to escape. Their ancestors Adam and Eve got to hide behind a tree; they definitely got nowhere to hide. However and wherever they died, whatever the condition of their bodies, the dead will rise bodily to face God's judgment. They are all there. Among these, some are kings and presidents, and everyday citizens; Hollywood celebrities and movie watchers; great artists and gallery visitors and concert listeners; famous athletes and fans. They are all standing there on the same level ground. God will not excuse anyone, regardless of power or fame once possessed. He will overlook no one, no matter how insignificant. And "the books were opened.... The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books" There must be tons of books, the books of their deeds, recording of their thoughts, words and actions. For each of them, their worst work is the same, which is their decision to deny Christ. This decision made them judged according to the books of their deeds. They will forever experience the second death, sharing in the destiny of the false trinity they chose to follow. "Their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death." The most horrible mistake in this life is to reject the Savior.

John also sees "death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire." God never means for death to have a final say. The day is coming when sin and death that sin brought upon the earth will never again torment God's people. “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death is your sting?" (1st. Cor.15:26)

"Another book was opened, which is the book of life." This one is the book of forgiveness, the book of grace, the book of love. It contains names of all who put their trust in Jesus as Savior and Lord. Those who belong to Christ by faith also "must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ." (2nd. Cor.5:9-11) This suggests a separate examination by Jesus of His people's lives, probably at this same time or prior to their reign with Christ in the Millennium. We might not be sure when this examination happens, but we are sure that God's people will be examined according to the book of life, the recording of their names. Not one name in the book of life deserves to be written there. Each name is there by God's saving grace alone. In light of this, every believer who resurrected already can approach God's throne with confidence, knowing it is the throne of grace for them only. There can be no condemnation for those who trust in Jesus, for on the cross Jesus carried the full weight of His people's sin. His people can sing loudly, “Amazing grace! How sweet the sound. That saved a wretch like me!" 

At the beginning of chapter 21, John sees "a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea." What John sees is the solid, physical world of eternity. After Satan, the two beasts, their followers, and death and Hades are thrown into the lake of fire, the old way of sin, evil and death will have no place in the new heaven and earth. The removal of the sea might means that God will remove all that threatens His people and His creation since there are chaos and uncertainty in the sea constantly. This is the grand conclusion of history when God introduces His new world for His resurrected people to be their new home.

What a splendor place this would be! "The Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband." The renewed Jerusalem shines at the center of God's love and transforming grace. The Holy City is the new home for the community of the Lord's people to live with the Lord eternally as a perfect couple. The splendor of God's redemption fills God's people and the Holy City He prepares for them. A loud voice from the throne says, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God." God's commitment to dwell among His people is His grand plan of redemption. With a father's heart, God always planned to live among His children in perfect fellowship. God Himself will tenderly "wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." The life with God will satisfy every sense of loneliness and alienation ever experienced by a human heart. It will allow God's people to experience fullest joy and satisfaction. All of us were made for this.

But how can grief be gone if deeply loved but unbelieving ones are not in God's presence? We love the fact that Satan and beasts are in the lake of fire. We all have trouble that our loved ones are in the fire. This is very hard. We pray in tears now while we can trust the Judge of all to do right. We are so present in this world that we cannot imagine the infinite comfort and peace God will put in our hearts.

God says, "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End." What He begins, He completes. He claims that the vast sweep of history and every detail of each life are in His hands. He controls and reins all things at all time. God proclaims another great promise fulfilled: "To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life." God has to go so far to have His son paid the price no one else could pay, offers freely the water of eternal life. Through His Son Jesus, God has made available salvation, the spring of life, which is free for all who will come and drink. One more great promise follows another, "He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son." Jesus Himself gives all who believe and receive Him the right to become God's privileged sons and daughters forever. Every promise will be fulfilled as God brings His Holy City to the new world that once again blossoms with unspoiled life.

God revealed His complete consummation to John and told him, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." Surely God intends for this glimpse of the future to strengthen us to live for Him now. God intends to wake our hearts and minds to picture the glorious greatness of Him dwelling with us.

Hell is real. The second death, the lake of fire is real. The horrors of hell testify to the seriousness of sin. The reality of hell testifies to the sincerity of God's love. Because God has to sacrifices His one and only Son for you to be able not to end up in hell. The new heaven and earth is real. The joys of the new world testify to the magnitude of God's grace. Can you imagine walking physically with God in audible conversation? Every thought and desire will be perfectly in line with the Savior's. We will love God and one another fully. This can be real because God promised so.