Last Great Day

THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT

“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… On the eighth day you shall have a holy convocation.” (Leviticus 23: 34, 36)

The Last Great Day is the closing assembly following the Feast of Tabernacles. It is a shadowy feast day for which little is said in the Old Testament. However, there are scriptures that give us some indications about its meaning. First, although closely connected with the Feast of Tabernacles, it is a separate and unique holy day with its own special meaning. For example, although the Israelites were commanded to dwell in booths during the Feast of Tabernacles, they were not required to do so on this Last Great Day. Secondly, the role of the eighth day in scripture seems to convey the idea of new beginnings or sanctification. For example, on the eighth day from birth, every male child was required to be circumcised as a sign of God’s covenant with Abraham. After a seven day ordination ceremony, Aaron began his service as high priest on the eighth day. Likewise, after a seven day cleansing period, an Israelite healed of leprosy (and some other bodily ailments) was officially declared “clean” on the eighth day.

The New Testament sheds additional light on the meaning of the Last Great Day. Notice what Jesus said on the Last Great Day of the feast in John 7: 37-39: “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. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.’” In his message, Jesus invites those who are thirsty to come to Him and drink of living water which is the holy spirit. We are also reminded of what Isaiah said: “Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters.” (Isaiah 55: 1) So based on what Jesus said, the offering of the holy spirit to those who thirst is somehow connected with this Last Great Day. Because Jesus never did or said anything with out reason, we should consider the significance of Jesus’ teachings. We should also remember that the holy spirit was first poured out on the church on the Day of Pentecost. But here on the Last Great Day, Jesus is offering the holy spirit to all who thirst for God and come to Jesus. What does this mean?

The Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, and Feast of Tabernacles foreshadow the prophetic events of Revelation 20 from the return of Jesus Christ through his millennial reign. That said, it is reasonable to conclude that prophetic events associated with the Last Great should follow the millennial reign of Jesus Christ. And they do! Notice what John says in Revelation 20:4-6: “And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.”

According to the above scriptures, the dead in Christ are resurrected in the “first resurrection”. They are called “blessed and holy”. They reign with Christ for a thousand years, and upon them, the second death has no power. But things are quite different for the “rest of the dead” who are brought back to life in the “second resurrection”. The “rest of the dead” includes everyone who did not belong to Jesus Christ. They are not called blessed or holy. They did not reign with Jesus Christ for a thousand years. They must face Jesus in the Great White Throne Judgment. And upon them the second death does have power. But does this mean that they are condemned for eternity? Notice what John says:

“Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. 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. 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. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20: 11-15)

This is the time of judgment, and Jesus Christ is the Judge! But these scriptures are very interesting in light of traditional views of the Great White Throne Judgment. If everyone is resurrected to condemnation, then why is the Book of Life opened? (Remember, all who belonged to Jesus Christ were brought back to life in the first resurrection a thousand years earlier.) Is it possible that even now God’s grace is sufficient for a repentant sinner to find mercy? If it is too late, then why even open the Book of Life? Remember, the Judge of all mankind is also the Savior of all mankind who died that we might have life! Before we pass judgment, we should consider the following sample of scriptures:
 

• “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you”. (Matthew 11: 21-22)
  
  According to Jesus, Tyre and Sidon would have repented in sackcloth and ashes a long time ago if His mighty works had been performed in their cities. Are they now condemned because they were not? Furthermore, according to Jesus, they are not necessarily condemned in the Great White Throne Judgment because it will be more tolerable for these people then for the people of Chorazin and Bethsaida. “More tolerable” does not mean condemned!
   
• “And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.” (Matthew 11: 23-24)
  
  Again Jesus said that Sodom would have remained to this day if only it had the benefit of Jesus’ mighty works. But they didn’t! So, are they now condemned? Are some saved because they had the benefit of a mighty witness while other are condemned because they did not have the benefit? Interestingly, even though the city of Sodom was destroyed because of its sinful deeds, Jesus does not say that they will necessarily be condemned in the judgment. On the contrary, He says that it will be “more tolerable” for them then the people of Capernaum.
   
• “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.” (Matthew 12: 41-42)
  
  How is it that the men of Nineveh rise up and condemn this generation? Were they saved? Did they belong to God? Certainly not! Yet, Jesus seems to commend their deeds and doesn’t condemn them. So, what happens to them in the Great White Throne Judgment?
   
• “I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness! For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them. For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?” (Romans 11: 11-15)
  
  In Romans 9, 10, and 11 Paul explains his concern for his fellow Jews who are rejecting the gospel and refusing to believe in Jesus Christ. In trying to understand this, Paul finally concludes that they “were blinded” by God and couldn’t understand (Romans 11: 7). Does Paul then believe that they are lost and condemned forever? Absolutely not! On the contrary, Paul believes that if their casting away means the reconciliation of the world, then their acceptance can only mean life from the dead!

As we consider the Last Great Day, we should ask ourselves a few questions. What about those who have never heard the gospel of Jesus Christ or do not understand God’s will? Will a loving God condemn them for what they didn’t know? Didn’t Paul say, “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10: 14) The Last Great Day teaches us that there is one last chance for the repentant sinner at the Great White Throne Judgment. Like the prodigal son and the thief on the cross, mercy can still be shown to a sinner who wishes to repent. Yes, the Great White Throne Judgment is a time of judgment. Yes, men will have to give an account for their sins and some will be eternally condemned. But is it also possible that some, if not many, will find mercy, forgiveness, and grace because they were repentant?

God does not take pleasure in the death of anyone. God loved the world so much that He sent his only Son to die so that we might have life. And Jesus Christ died for us so that we could be forgiven. Is it possible that the day of salvation for most is found on this Last Great Day? After all, this will be the first time that many even recognize Jesus Christ as the Savior and King. For those who accept Him as such, this Last Great Day offers them one last chance at a new beginning. But for those who reject Jesus Christ as their Savior and King and refuse to repent, there will be eternal condemnation.

As this period of judgment comes to a close, something else happens. Death and Hades (i.e. the grave) are destroyed as they are thrown into the lake of fire. The former things have come to past. It is time for a new beginning, a new heaven and a new earth. And so we read:

“Now I 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. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 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. 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.’ Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’” (Revelation 21:1-5)

Joe Weicks