Revelation 20:12 "And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works."Most people misstate scripture, endeavoring to paraphrase it by, don't judge me! SURPRISE! - you will be judged. People who judge you now, may be the ones who save you from terrible judgment. You see, thou shalt not judge must be in context. Later on we find that judgment means condemnation:
Luke 6:37 "Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned..."Therefore our judgment must not be harsh. It is not to criticize but reprove, correct and rebuke - the very purpose of Holy Scripture (2 Tim. 3:16). On His throne, God will judge mercifully. Christians are to judge others with the same mercy. It is in the spirit of love that they judge. The purpose is to convict one of sin, not to say, "you are worse than me".
Enoch 61:9 "And trouble shall seize them, when they shall behold this Son of woman sitting upon the throne of his glory. 10. Then shall the kings, the princes, and all who possess the earth, glorify him who has dominion over all things, him who was concealed; for from the beginning the Son of man existed in secret, whom the Most High preserved in the presence of his power, and revealed to the elect."The Book of Enoch was at one time canon. It was accepted as the inspired word of God but because Jesus was too prominent in its teachings, the Hebrews de-canonized it. Look how accurately Enoch portrayed Jesus Christ sitting on His throne at the Great White Throne Judgment. You see, it's Jesus who will judge because Jesus Is God. Him sitting on the right hand of God is not a physical presence but a spiritual one. When one looks at the throne, it is Jesus he shall see because Jesus is God. Now he is visible, but throughout Hebrew scripture he was concealed! SURPRISE! In the Burning Bush Moses spiritually saw Jesus!
Not all Jews could see Jesus but the patriarchs could - they were the elect mentioned in the passages from Enoch above. Enoch, who knew Adam personally, knew Jesus perfectly. Like Paul after him, he saw Jesus - one before his birth, and one after he died! Scripture is so accurate because throughout, it was Jesus who was and Is the Word!
Returning to the presence of God on his throne, He is God in three aspects, referred to as the Holy Trinity. When looking at the presence of God it is looking at Jesus transfigured:
Matthew 17:1 "And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, 2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. 3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. 5 ... a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. 5 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid."Moses stood before God at the Burning Bush - The Word spoke to him, the Spirit appeared to him as fire, but yet he could not behold the face of God because He was yet to be revealed! At the transfiguration, Moses looked upon what be could not back on Mt. Sinai. Moses saw God face to face, He saw Jesus as God changed Him from the Son of Man to the Son of God! Symbolically, so did Saul later on as he went from Saul to Paul. To be like Jesus means spiritual change. We too must be transfigured. If we are not; SURPRISE, on Judgement Day it will be revealed!
You see, God is not three physical presences. He Is always there and the same. In the Burning Bush, Moses, one of the elect, saw Jesus. Enoch did before Moses did. God was not alone at the Creation nor in the Garden. Jesus walked in the Garden and spoke the Word in His own Voice. Jesus was there with Shadrack, Meshack, and Ebednego quenching the flames in the fiery oven. Jesus was there directing Abraham on how to sacrifice Isaac. Jesus was there receiving the tithe from Abraham, Jesus was there saving Adam and Eve by covering their shame! Jesus even wrestled with Jacob as The Angel of God! The Jews couldn't see Him but the elect saw Him plainly! SURPRISE- God reveals Himself to the righteous, not the unrighteous!
SURPRISE - but someday you too will see Jesus! The song's lyrics are "I'll be there!" Don't be surprised. You will be there on that great and terrible day. Your hope is that your name is in the Book of Life. If you are regenerated in the image of Jesus, no surprise - your name will be there. If you have not been transformed - SURPRISE, you will see Jesus but not on your terms but His!
SURPRISE! No one is exempt - even the kings and rulers shall kneel before the throne, some begging for mercy, and some bowed humbly to the King!
There is no need to be surprised. The secret has been revealed. When you stand before Jesus, sinners may withhold their gaze from the Father, but Christians will see Jesus. It's not God who changes, but how those who look with faith see Grace who is called Emmanuel - God with us, as Jesus always Is!
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