“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” (Revelation
20:11-12).
After the 1,000 year millennial reign of Christ, Satan will be loosed to
deceive Gog, Magog, and the nations (Revelation 20:7-8). They will attempt an
attack against Christ and Jerusalem (Revelation 20:9). The battle will be very
short with fire coming down from God to destroy them all. Satan will be thrown
into the lake of fire where he will be tormented forever (Revelation 20:10).
Immediately after Satan is thrown into the lake of fire, the Great White Throne
Judgment will take place.
The Great White Throne Judgment is when those who do not belong to God
are judged by their works (Revelation 20:12-13). Each person’s works (i.e., the
things he did in life) will be examined. Since no one’s works are good enough
to save him, all will stand condemned (Romans 3:10, 20, 23). After each person
clearly sees that his works are inadequate to pay the price of his sin, the
Book of Life will be opened. The Book of Life records all those persons who
have accepted God’s mercy and salvation provided by faith through the sacrifice
of Christ (Romans 5:8; 3:28; 4:5; 10:9-10, 13; Ephesians 2:8-9). If a person’s
name is recorded in the Book of Life, his sin debt is paid in full through
faith in Christ’s death and resurrection (Romans 3:23-24; 6:23; 2 Corinthians 5:20-21).
Only those persons whose names are recorded in the Book of Life can enter the
New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:10, 27).
If a person’s name is not recorded in the Book of Life, that means that
he has failed to accept Christ’s provisions for paying his sin debt (John
12:48; Romans 10:3). All those whose names are not recorded in the Book of Life
are thrown into the lake of fire where Satan, the Beast, and the False Prophet
are (Revelation 20:10, 15). This is the second death (Revelation 21:8).
The Great White Throne Judgment is not the same as the judgment seat of
Christ (2 Corinthians 5:9-10). The judgment seat of Christ is an examination of
Christians (Romans 14:10-13). The work that each Christian does on earth for Christ
will be judged with some type of reward given as appropriate (1 Corinthians 3:10-15).
If a Christian’s works prove faulty, he will lose his reward, but he will not
lose his salvation (1 Corinthians 3:14-15).
SUMMARY
Term Definition:
The Great White Throne Judgment is when those who do not belong to Christ
will be judged to determine where they will spend eternity (Revelation
20:11-15). God will judge the dead from a great white throne. Possibly, the
white color of the throne represents purity, justice, and righteousness.
Significance of the White Throne Judgment:
This is when sin is finally and completely judged. Those whose sin debt
was not paid through acceptance of Christ’s sacrifice will have to pay the
price themselves (Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:15). It is probably significant
that the judgment of sinful man follows immediately after Satan’s judgment to
the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10-12).
Source of the White Throne Judgment:
God is the judge at the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation
20:11-12).
Length of the White Throne Judgment:
The length of the Great White Throne Judgment is not given.
Events Prior to the White Throne Judgment:
Just prior to the Great White Throne Judgment, Satan is judged for his
sin and cast into the lake of fire where he will be tormented forever (Revelation
20:10).
Events of the White Throne Judgment:
The dead (spiritually) will be judged by their works (Revelation 20:12).
Those who are not recorded in the Book of Life will be thrown into the lake of
fire (Revelation 20:15).
God During the White Throne Judgment:
God will judge the dead according to their works. He will also check to
see if their names are written in the Book of Life (Revelation 20:12-15).
Christians During the White Throne Judgment:
Christians are not mentioned during the Great White Throne Judgment in
Revelation chapter 20. It is possible that Christians will participate in this
judgment (1 Corinthians 6:2-3).
Satan During the White Throne Judgment:
Satan will suffer torment in the lake of fire during the Great White
Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:10).
Beast During the White Throne Judgment:
The Beast and the False Prophet will suffer torment in the lake of fire
during the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:10).
Non-Christians During the White Throne Judgment:
During the Great White Throne Judgment, non-Christians (the dead,
spiritually) will be judged by their works (Revelation 20:12-13). Those whose
names are not written in the Book of Life will be thrown into the lake of fire
where the devil is tormented (Revelation 20:15). This is the second death (Revelation
21:8).
Events Following the White Throne Judgment:
After the Great White Throne Judgment, eternity with Christ will begin (Revelation
21:9-22:21).
Scripture references for the White Throne Judgment:
Revelation 20:11-15, 27; John 12:48; Acts 17:30-31; 1 Corinthians 6:2-3;
Hebrews 9:27-28.
