End Times-

putting the pieces in place

by Sonny Bowman

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Chapter 11

White Throne Judgment

Revelation 20:11-12 (NKJV) 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. 12 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.

After the 1,000 year millennial reign of Jesus, Satan will be loosed to deceive Gog, Magog, and the nations (Rev. 20:7-8). They will attempt an attack against Jesus and Jerusalem (Rev. 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 (Rev. 20:10). Immediately after Satan is thrown into the lake of fire, the present heaven (i.e., universe) and earth disappear. Then the Great White Throne Judgment begins.

The Great White Throne Judgment is when those who do not belong to God are judged by their works (Rev. 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 (Rom. 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 Jesus (Rom. 5:8; 3:28; 4:5; 10:9-10, 13; Eph. 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 Jesus’ death and resurrection (Rom. 3:23-24; 6:23; 2 Cor. 5:20-21). Only those persons whose names are recorded in the Book of Life can enter the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:10, 27).

If a person’s name is not recorded in the Book of Life, that means that he has failed to accept Jesus’ provisions for paying his sin debt (John 12:48; Rom. 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 (Rev. 20:10,15). This is the second death (Rev. 21:8).

The Great White Throne Judgment is not the same as the judgment seat of Christ (2 Cor. 5:9-10). The judgment seat of Christ is an examination of Christians (Rom. 14:10-13). The work that each Christian does on earth for Jesus will be judged with some type of reward given as appropriate (1 Cor. 3:10-15). If a Christian’s works prove faulty, he will lose his reward, but he will not lose his salvation (1 Cor. 3:14-15).

After the Great White Throne Judgment is completed, a new heaven and earth will be created (Rev. 21:1).

Summary

Term Definition:

The Great White Throne Judgment is when those who do not belong to Jesus will be judged to determine where they will spend eternity (Rev. 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 Jesus’ sacrifice will have to pay the price themselves (Rom. 6:23; Rev. 20:15). It is probably significant that the judgment of sinful man follows immediately after Satan’s judgment to the lake of fire (Rev. 20:10-12).

Source of the White Throne Judgment:

God is the judge at the Great White Throne Judgment (Rev. 20:11-12).

Length of the White Throne Judgment:

The length of the Great White Throne Judgment is not given. It is possible that time will no longer function in the same manner that we know it since the old heaven and earth will no longer exist (Rev. 20:1).

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 (Rev. 20:10). The heaven (i.e., the universe, stars, etc.) and earth will cease to exist (Rev. 20:11, 2 Pet. 3:7,10-13).

Events of the White Throne Judgment:

The dead (spiritually) will be judged by their works (Rev. 20:12). Those who are not recorded in the Book of Life will be thrown into the lake of fire (Rev. 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 (Rev. 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 Cor. 6:2-3).

Satan During the White Throne Judgment:

Satan will suffer torment in the lake of fire during the Great White Throne Judgment (Rev. 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 (Rev. 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 (Rev. 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 (Rev. 20:15). This is the second death (Rev. 21:8).

Events Following the White Throne Judgment:

After the Great White Throne Judgment, a new heaven (i.e., universe) and earth will be created (Rev. 21:1). The New Jerusalem will come down to the new earth from God (Rev. 21:2).

Scripture references for the White Throne Judgment:

Rev. 20:11-15, 27; John 12:48; Acts 17:30-31; 1 Cor 6:2-3; Heb. 9:27-28

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End Times - putting the pieces in place

Unless otherwise stated, all Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New King James Version, copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

NKJV indicates quotations taken from the Holy Bible, New King James Version, copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

KJV indicates quotations taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Numbers associated with Greek (italic) or Hebrew (upright) words refer to the corresponding words in the Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, by James Strong, S.T.D., LL.D.

Please make copies of this book to give to your friends. (A searchable and printable version in Adobe Acrobat format is available for download.) Your comments and suggestion are also welcome. Thank you for helping others to understand the Bible teachings on the End Times.

God bless you.

Sonny Bowman

If you have questions or comments, please contact Sonny Bowman.