1)    Introduction

a)    The focus of this message is on the events in and around the time of the appearance of the Great White Throne, generally accepted as the eighth day of the FOT:

i)       LEVITICUS 23:34-36 “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days to the LORD. 35 ‘On the first day there shall be a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work on it. 36 ‘For seven days you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD. On the eighth day you shall have a holy convocation, and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD. It is a sacred assembly, and you shall do no customary work on it.

ii)     JOHN 7:37-38 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”

2)    GREAT WHITE THRONE Events

a)    REVELATION 20:

i)       REVELATION 20:5 But the rest of [the remainder] the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

1)    NOTE: The wording does not necessarily exclude the Millennium.

ii)     REVELATION 20:7-10 Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. 9 They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them [Gog and Magog]. 10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet were cast. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

1)    This occurs after the Millennium has ended.

iii)    REVELATION 20:11-15 Then I [John] saw a great white throne and Him [God the Father] who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before [in the presence; lit., in the face of] God, and books were opened [to read and understand]. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works [good or evil]. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

iv)   EVENTS SUMMARY:

1)    The “rest of the dead” who lived prior to the Millennium are resurrected.

2)    They stand “before [in the presence; lit., in the face of] God”.

3)    Books are opened and the resurrected dead are judged according to what is written in them. The Bible is the foundation of judgment:

a)    PSALMS 149:7, 9 To execute vengeance on the nations, and punishments on the peoples; … 9 To execute on them the written judgment [from the Bible]– this honor have all His saints. Praise the LORD!

4)    The saints will judge the world:

a)    1 CORINTHIANS 6:2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?

5)    Those not written in the Book of Life are destroyed in the Lake of Fire.

v)     EVENTS SUMMARY: The Great White Throne is a time of JUDGMENT of the resurrected dead!

b)    DANIEL 7:

i)       DANIEL 7:9-10 “I [Daniel] watched till thrones were put in place [for the saints], and the Ancient of Days was seated; His garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery [H5135 (Aramaic) = shining light] flame [H7631 = tongues of fire], its wheels a burning [H1815 = flaming] fire [H5135 (Aramaic) = shining light]; 10 A fiery [H5135 (Aramaic) = shining light] stream issued [flowed from it] and came forth from before Him. A thousand thousands [saints] ministered to Him; ten thousand times ten thousand [saints] stood before Him [to render judgment]. The court was seated, and the books [the Bible] were opened.

1)    The saints render judgment:

a)    REVELATION 20:4 And I [John] saw thrones, and they [the saints] sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. …

2)    The throne of God the Father is a Great White Throne that burns with a bright shining light with tongues of fire.

ii)     DANIEL 7:11-12 “I [Daniel] watched then because of the sound of the pompous words which the horn was speaking; I watched till the beast was slain, and its body destroyed and given to the burning flame. 12 “As for the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away, yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.

1)    The Beast and False Prophet were slain during the Day of the LORD:

a)    REVELATION 19:20 Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.

2)    The lives of the “rest of the beasts … were prolonged for a season” might refer to Gog and Magog.

iii)    JESUS CHRIST RESTORES ALL AUTHORITY TO GOD THE FATHER:

1)    DANIEL 7:13-14 “I [Daniel] was watching in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him [after His resurrection?]. 14 Then to Him [the Son of Man] was given dominion [lit., empire] and glory and a kingdom [lit., dominion (n)], that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed.

a)    Jesus Christ was given all authority in heaven and earth:

i)       MATTHEW 28:18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.”

1)    Also Matt. 11:27; Luke 10:22; John 3:35; 17:2; 1 Cor. 15:27; Eph. 1:10; Eph. 1:20-22; Phil. 2:9-10; Heb. 1:2; 2:8; 1 Pet. 3:22.

b)    The final act of Jesus Christ at “The End” restores the authority over the heaven and earth to God the Father:

i)       1 CORINTHIANS 15:24-28 Then comes the end, when He [Jesus Christ] delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He [Jesus Christ] puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He [Jesus Christ] must reign till He [Jesus Christ] has put all enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. 27 For “He [God the Father] has put all things under His [Jesus Christ’s] feet.” But when He [God the Father] says “all things are put under Him [Jesus Christ],” it is evident that He [God the Father] who put all things under Him [Jesus Christ] is excepted. 28 Now when all things are made subject to Him [God the Father], then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him [God the Father] who put all things under Him [Jesus Christ], that God may be all in all.

iv)   EVENTS SUMMARY:

1)    God the Father sits on His Great White Throne.

2)    The saints are given thrones.

3)    10,000 x 10,000 saints stood before God the Father.

4)    The Bible is opened and the dead are judged according to it.

5)    The Great White Throne is a resurrection to JUDGMENT!

6)    Jesus Christ was given all rule, authority, and power in heaven and earth and He restores it to God the Father at the end of the judgment.

c)     EZEKIEL 37:

i)       Ezekiel 36 is a description of The Tribulation, Yom Kippur, and The Millennium—Israel is punished, scattered, rescued, cleansed, and then blessed.

ii)     ISRAEL RESURRECTED:

1)    Ezekiel 37:1-14 is a resurrection of the dead—Valley of Dry Bones:

a)    EZEKIEL 37:1-2, 4-5, 10-12, 14 The hand of the LORD came upon me [Ezekiel] and brought me out in the Spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones. 2 Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry. … 4 Again He said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! 5 ‘Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: “Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. … 10 So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army [host]. 11 Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, ‘Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!’ 12 “Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. … 14 “I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken it and performed it,” says the LORD.’ ” …

i)       This is specific to Israel but they are “among” the gentile nations (Ezek. 37:21-28) that are also resurrected.

ii)     God makes a Covenant of Peace with them (Ezek. 37:26).

2)    Ezekiel 37:15-28 is The Millennium, not the Great White Throne:

a)    Judah and Israel (“Ephraim”) are reunited, rescued from “among the nations,” and multiplied (bear children).

3)    Ezekiel 38 is the destruction of Gog, corresponding to events after the end of the Millennium and before the resurrection of the dead in the Great White Throne period:

a)    REVELATION 20:7-10 Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. 9 They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. 10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet were cast. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

i)       NOTE: Gog and Magog are not destroyed in the Lake of Fire but by fire out of heaven from God.

iii)    GENTILES RESURRECTED: The Great White Throne includes resurrection of the gentiles:

1)    MATTHEW 10:15 “Assuredly, I [Jesus Christ] say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!

2)    MATTHEW 11:22 “But I [Jesus Christ] say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you.

3)    MATTHEW 12:41-42 “The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here. 42 “The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here.

a)    The “Day of Judgment” refers to the Judgment at the beginning of the Great White Throne period.

b)    Sodom, Gomorrah, Tyre, Sidon, Nineveh, and Ethiopia(?) are all gentile nations.

iv)   EVENTS SUMMARY:

1)    There is a resurrection to physical life of Israel and the Gentiles.

3)    New Heavens & New Earth

a)    Even though there is a resurrection to judgment at the beginning of the Great White Throne, the throne of God continues forever. What happens after the JUDGMENT are likely events that are part of the Great White Throne.

i)       REVELATION 21:1-8 Now I [John] saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” 5 Then He [God the Father] who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” 6 And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. 7 “He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. 8 “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

4)    City of New Jerusalem (Adornment of the Bride)

a)    REVELATION 21:9-14 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me [John], saying, “Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God. Her [the Bride of Christ] light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. 12 Also she [the Bride of Christ] had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: 13 three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west. 14 Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

i)       Standing within the City of New Jerusalem is the Wife of the Lamb, the saints who ARE the Bride! They SHINE, having the glory of GOD!

b)    DESCRIPTION

i)       City dimensions:

1)    REVELATION 21:15-16 And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. 16 The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs [1500 miles]. Its length, breadth, and height are equal.

ii)     Wall height:

1)    REVELATION 21:17-18 Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits [248 feet], according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel. 18 The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass.

iii)    Foundations of the wall:

1)    REVELATION 21:19-20 The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.

iv)   Gates:

1)    REVELATION 21:21a The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. …

v)     City street:

1)    REVELATION 21:21b … And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

c)     SUMMARY:

i)       City, wall, & gates: 1,500 miles square and 248 feet high made of jasper with twelve gates, three on each of the four sides, named after each the twelve tribes with an angel at each gate.

ii)     Foundations: the wall was set on twelve foundations made of jasper (matching the gates), sapphire, chalcedony, emerald, sardonyx, sardius, chrysolite, beryl, topaz, chrysoprase, jacinth, and amethyst and named after the twelve apostles.

1)    Anisotropic stones.

iii)    Street: Made of pure gold like transparent glass.

d)    THE BRIDE OF CHRIST IS ADORNED WITH A CITY!

5)    The Temple

a)    REVELATION 21:22-25 But I [John] saw no temple in it [New Jerusalem], for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it [New Jerusalem]. The Lamb is its light. 24 And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it [New Jerusalem]. 25 Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there).

b)    There is no more Temple or Holy of Holies that separate God from His people! ALL can come before Him and see Him!

6)    Healing of the Nations

a)    REVELATION 22:1-2 And he [the angel] showed me [John] a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

b)    Why do the nations healing AFTER they are made into spirit children of God? What remains after flesh and blood are made into spirit? Their MEMORIES. God promises to intentionally ‘forget’ all sins and transgressions:

i)       ISAIAH 43:25 “I [the LORD], even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins.

ii)     ISAIAH 44:22 I [the LORD, King of Israel] have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, and like a cloud, your sins. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.”

iii)    JEREMIAH 50:20 In those days and in that time,” says the LORD, “The iniquity of Israel shall be sought, but there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, but they shall not be found; for I will pardon those whom I preserve.

iv)   JEREMIAH 31:34 “No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”

c)     ISAIAH 65:17-19 “For behold, I [the Lord GOD] create new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered or come to mind. 18 But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; for behold, I create [New] Jerusalem as a rejoicing, and her people a joy. 19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in My people; the voice of weeping shall no longer be heard in her, nor the voice of crying.

i)       God CREATES New Jerusalem for a REJOICING. How can there be rejoicing if there are memories of evil, sadness, grief, pain, suffering, and the loss of those who died the second death? Do you think even God would want to remember ANY of those who were cast into the Lake of Fire?

ii)     After the new heaven and earth are created only spirit beings will exist and initially they will still have all their memories—they will still remember the “former” things of the first heaven and earth.

iii)    If God PROMISES to ‘forget’ the sins and transgressions of His children, then that also requires forever removing memories of the “former” things from His children. It does not make sense for God to ‘forget’ while His children can still remember.

iv)   I believe the leaves of the Tree of Life will heal ALL God’s children by removing all memories of “former” things—the cause of weeping and crying. That is the only way the children of God will have eternal gladness, joy, and rejoicing!

7)    Conclusion

a)    REVELATION 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.

b)    The Holy Spirit and the Bride of Christ, say ‘Come, come all you nations and drink freely of the Water of Life that the Lamb of God is offering!’ Is this not what the Last Great Day of the Feast of Ingathering is all about? ALL mankind will stand before the Ancient of Days on His Great White Throne who invites them to drink of the Water of Life of the Lamb of God.

i)       JOHN 7:37-38 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink [of the Water of Life]. 38 “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”

8)    Congregational Blessing of God

a)    The Bible records many blessings of God:

i)       NEHEMIAH 8:6 And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. Then all the people answered, “Amen, Amen!” while lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.

ii)     PSALM 134:2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD.

iii)    LAMENTATIONS 3:41 Let us lift our hearts and hands to God in heaven.

b)    The word bless when used toward God means “to bless God as an act of adoration.”

c)     PRINTOUT: I encourage everyone to stand and read along with me these praises of the God Most High, our Father in heaven!

d)    PSALMS 47:6-7 Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! 7 For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with understanding.

e)    1 CHRONICLES 16:23-25, 27-29, 31, 33, 34-36 Sing to the LORD, all the earth; proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day. 24 Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples. 25 For the LORD is great and greatly to be praised; … 27 Honor and majesty are before Him; strength and gladness are in His place. 28 Give to the LORD, O families of the peoples, give to the LORD glory and strength. 29 Give to the LORD the glory due His name; bring an offering, and come before Him. Oh, worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness! … 31 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; and let them say among the nations, “The LORD reigns.” … 33 Then the trees of the woods shall rejoice before the LORD, … . 34 Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. 35 And say, “… O God of our salvation; … To give thanks to Your holy name, to triumph in Your praise.” 36 Blessed be the LORD God of Israel From everlasting to everlasting! …

f)      PSALMS 57:7-11 My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and give praise. 8 Awake, my glory! Awake, lute and harp! I will awaken the dawn. 9 I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing to You among the nations. 10 For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens, and Your truth unto the clouds. 11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let Your glory be above all the earth.

g)    PSALMS 71:22-23 Also with the lute I will praise You– and Your faithfulness, O my God! To You I will sing with the harp, O Holy One of Israel. 23 My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing to You, and my soul, which You have redeemed.

h)    PSALMS 48:1-2 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in His holy mountain. 2 Beautiful [on high], the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion on the sides of the north, the city of the Great King.

i)       REVELATION 19:1, 6-7 … “Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power [belong] to the Lord our God! … 6 … “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! 7 “Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory …

j)      1 CHRONICLES 29:10-13 … “Blessed are You, LORD God of Israel, our Father, forever and ever. 11 Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, the power and the glory, the victory and the majesty; for all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and You are exalted as head over all. 12 Both riches and honor come from You, and You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; in Your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. 13 “Now therefore, our God, we thank You and praise Your glorious n      ame.”

k)     PSALM 106:48 Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting! And let all the people say, “Amen!” Praise the LORD!

9)    Blessing of God’s Children

a)    NUMBERS 6:23 “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them:

i)       I want to conclude with a blessing upon you all, my brethren. Please bow your head and raise your hands to God (if you desire).

b)    The blessing of the children of God:

i)       NUMBERS 6:24-26 “The LORD bless you and keep you; 25 the LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; 26 the LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.”

c)     AMEN! And AMEN!

10) May God’s grace and peace be upon you!

11) Congregational Blessing of God (To Be Read By All At the End)

Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! For God is the King of all the earth.

Sing to the LORD, all the earth; proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day. Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples. For the LORD is great and greatly to be praised; honor and majesty are before Him; strength and gladness are in His place. Give to the LORD, O families of the peoples, give to the LORD glory and strength. Give to the LORD the glory due His name; bring an offering, and come before Him. Oh, worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness! Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; and let them say among the nations, “The LORD reigns.” Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy is forever. And say, “O God of our salvation; to give thanks to Your holy name, to triumph in Your praise.” Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting!

My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and give praise. Awake, my glory! Awake, lute and harp! I will awaken the dawn. I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing to You among the nations. For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens, and Your truth unto the clouds. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let Your glory be above all the earth.

Also with the lute I will praise You– and Your faithfulness, O my God! To You I will sing with the harp, O Holy One of Israel. My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing to You, and my soul, which You have redeemed.

Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in His holy mountain. Beautiful on high, the joy of the whole earth is Mount Zion on the sides of the north, the city of the Great King.

Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God! Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory.

Blessed are You, LORD God of Israel, our Father, forever and ever. Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, the power and the glory, the victory and the majesty; for all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours. Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and You are exalted as head over all. Both riches and honor come from You, and You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; in Your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. Now therefore, our God, we thank You and praise Your glorious name.

Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting! And let all the people say, “Amen!” Praise the LORD!