11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sits upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them.

12 Then I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.

— Revelation 20:11-12

6 who will repay to each according to his works:

7 to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life;

8 but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and anger.

— Romans 2:6-8

For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay each one according to his deeds.

–Matthew 16:27

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace, mercy and love from Christ to you.

Revelation’s final chapters record the glorious liberation that awaits Christ’s second coming. In Revelation 19:1-20:10, we see the heavens open as Jesus returns, begins His millennial reign, and judges Satan. At that time, John saw a great white throne on which God the Creator sat and the earth and sky fled away before Him in awe. This signifies the fallen, sin-marred world’s response to God’s unveiled holiness. This world will become a thing of the past, for John says “there was no place for” the earth and the heavens.

Not a single person will be able to hide from God’s judgment because everyone must face the sovereign, righteous Lord. Regardless of the timing, everyone will be judged according to their words and deeds. Jesus has promised that when He returns He “will reward each person according to what they have done.” All will face the Lord Jesus Christ, either as Savior or as judge.