(OPINION) ETH – “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
The passage above describes one of the most terrifying events that will take place in the future regarding a final judgment for all men, both believers, and unbelievers, This will be that final day when all humanity will stand before Christ and be judged for his or her deeds. I want to give you seven things that will take place on that day:
1- All will stand before this judgment
The Bible makes this clear in the scripture when it says that “I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God”. It is a terrifying thought to know that all humanity will one stand before the creator of the Universe and give an account.
2- Books will be opened including the Book of Life
This is very interesting that books will be opened during the “Great White Throne” because many have speculated on what these books are that are being opened but the Bible actually mentions multiple books in Heaven from the “Book of Life” to the “Book of Remembrance”. Notice the scriptures states that books will be opened and then the “Book of Life” and that brings me to the next point.
3- The dead will be judged by what is written in these books
The Word of the Lord states that when these books are opened that humanity will be judged by the contents that they will contain. The Book of Revelation clearly states that we will ben judged according to our works. I believe this coincides with what the Apostle Paul spoke of in the New Testament to the Church of Corinth when he stated:
“Each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.” 1 Corinthians 3:13-15
4- The souls of the dead that are in Hell will stand before this judgment
What’s fascinating to me about this is the fact that there will be people that are already in Hell and have been there since the time of their death but will be brought up out fo this compartment that I believe is located under the earth and will be judged one final time.
5- Those who were in Hell not found in the “Book of Life” will be cast in the Lake of Fire
The final thing that will take place is that all those who will be brought up from Hell will suffer a second and final death when they are thrown into the Lake of Fire that burns for eternity. This will also be the final judgment for all those whose names will not be found in the registry of Heaven, which is the “Book of Life” The most important thing any individual on this side of eternity can do is to assure that their names are found in this book and the way that happens is by repenting and putting your faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for your salvation. Please do not put this off but make this decision now!
“That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation”.– Romans 10:9-10
Conclusion –
Interestingly, I have always been taught for years that believers will be judged before this great white throne judgment but there is only one problem with that when you read the passage it clearly states:
“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.
Then read the next portion. Of scripture following that.
“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.
This is clearly two separate groups being judged. The first group is the believes and the second group is the unbelievers. Notice that when the first group is judged that it never mentions them being thrown into the Lake of Fire or being brought up from Hell. However, the second group is brought up from Hell, judged and thrown into the Lake of Fire. Two separate groups, two separate outcomes
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You forgot to say… “Obey Acts 2:38.”. The Repentance that you mentioned is only One Third, (1/3) of Acts 2:38, they would still need to get Water Baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and then they would need to receive the Gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38 is the True Gospel that Jesus Christ Teached the Apostles to Preach. Acts 2:38 is the Original New Testament Plan of Salvation. Any other way of Salvation is a False Gospel and the Apostles did not preach it.
I think, the only problem with that Ricky, is that when the Lord returns and takes his bride home, those that comprise the church will no longer be dead. 51 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.
ESV 1 Co 15:51–53
If you believe the rapture takes place before the tribulation, then there will not be any dead Christians to be raised, because they have already been raised at the rapture. We will be judged, but at the Judgement seat of Christ.
This judgement does not include believers. When it says “the dead” in both passages it is referring to the spiritally dead. Those in Christ are made alive spiritally when we are born again. Believers will be judged at the bema seat of Christ after the rapture. There we will recieve rewards or not. We will not receive judgement for sins as we are covered in the righteousness of Christ. The great white throne judgement is for the lost. I think the book of Life is there to prove their guilt of rejecting salvation through Christ as God is completely just. Likewise their works will be tested by fire and burned up offering further proof of their guilt.
In scripture it says Hod is the God of the living, not the dead. So our Heavenly Father would never call His church, Christ’s body and bride, “dead”
We, the children of God will never die, never be dead. God is the God of the living not the dead.
Something about this made me wonder. It says of those brought up from hell, if their names are not in the book of Life they would be cast into hell. Does this mean that there is the possibility that some people in hell have their names written in the book of Life? This is puzzling to me because why check a book for the name of anyone in hell? As far as I am concerned, no one who is currently in hell would have their names written in that book. So why even check it?
anyone dead, which means they are not found in the book of life. You are correct, nobody in hell would have their names in the book of life. God won’t “check” to see it their names are there. 😉