Revelation 20:11-15
11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that 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, 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. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
One of the most terrifying events in all of the Bible is described in Revelation 20:11-15. There is coming a day when the lost world will all individually stand before God to be judged “according to their works” at a Great White Throne. This judgment is for all who have died in unbelief. It is for all who have rejected the One True God and the salvation offered through His Son Jesus Christ. It is for all who have chosen to go their own way rather than His way. Rather than having their sins paid for by Jesus, they choose to have their sins judged at this judgment.
How do we know that this judgment is for the lost and not for all of mankind? First, where the individuals that are present are raised from. They are raised from “death and hell.” This describes the place of the dead and a place of torment for lost souls. The New Testament is clear that saved people go immediately to be with Christ in heaven. He wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:8, “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”
The second reason we know this judgment is for the lost is that they are referred to as “the dead.” Jesus made it clear when referring to saved individuals like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, “God is not the God of the dead, but of the living” (Mark 12:27). Those at this judgment are not just physically dead, they are spiritually dead in their sins and trespasses (Ephesians 2:1).
The third reason we know this judgment is for the lost is because the righteous have already been raised according to Revelation 20:4-6. We read there, “But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished” (Revelation 20:5).
This resurrection and judgment is what Jesus referred to in John 5:29 as “the resurrection of damnation.” The lost are judged “according to their works.” All of the “books” are “opened” that contain all of their thoughts and deeds. Everything about their lives will be brought out into the open and judged. John 5:25-29 tells us that Jesus will be the judge before whom they stand and He will judge in perfect righteousness. There will be no favoritism and nothing left out.
Can you imagine? Look back over the course of your life and consider for a moment all of the ways you have sinned. Look at your thoughts…your deeds…your words…truth you have chosen not to obey. If you are lost, all of these things will one day be brought out at a great white throne and you will be judged for every single sinful thing.
A final book, called the book of life, will be checked one final time. It contains a record of all of those who have been saved by God’s grace by faith in His Son Jesus. The result of this judgment is that those whose names are not written in the book of life are cast into the Lake of Fire. This is the eternal hell that Jesus says was prepared for the devil and his angels but will one day be inhabited by all who the devil (Matthew 25:41). It will be a place of eternal darkness, fire, suffering, and gnashing of teeth.
The reality of the matter is that Jesus came and took our judgment on Himself when He died on the cross. He paid the price for all of our sins and offers forgiveness to all who repent and believe. Have you had your sins forgiven? Have you placed your faith in Christ? While those at this judgment will be condemned to the Lake of Fire on that day, that does not have to be your end. If you will place your faith in Christ, the promise of God is “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). To those who choose to never bow the knee to Jesus as Lord and Savior, the Bible tells us that there is a “a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries” (Hebrews 10:27). In John 5:24 Jesus tells us, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” Today is the day for you to trust in Christ. Will you?