As with the previous two judgments considered, the Great White Throne judgment is future. It occurs at the close of the Millennium, a thousand years after the judgment of the nations. This is not a scene which takes place on earth, but will take place during or after the renovation of the earth by fire (2 Pet. 3:7). The judgment of the Great White Throne is the judgment of the wicked dead of all ages past by God the Father and the Son (vv. 11-12). Job declares that the wicked are reserved to the day of destruction and will be brought forth to the day of wrath (Job 21:30). The resulting judgment will see the lost cast into the lake of fire (vs. 15).
The question before the Great White Throne for the wicked or ungodly dead will not be whether they are entitled to eternal life, but to ascertain their degree of punishment. The “book of life” is opened verifying the eternal destiny for each of the wicked, while the “books” are also opened in which the deeds of all men have been recorded – thus verifying the life which each one lived in rejection of Christ. Sadly, there will appear at this judgment many whom we would call kind, loving and lovable - “good” or “not so bad” people, who were not saved. They will be classed with the “ungodly” and spend eternity in the lake of fire (vv. 14-15) because they are “without God” and “without Christ” (Eph. 2:12, 11), having rejected Jesus Christ as Savior. “Every man [will be judged] according to [his] works” (20:13). As a result, some will be sentenced to a more severe punishment than others, but none will escape. Friend, consider a serious question – Where will you spend eternity, in heaven or hell? Please receive Christ as Savior today – be assured of heaven!
The question before the Great White Throne for the wicked or ungodly dead will not be whether they are entitled to eternal life, but to ascertain their degree of punishment. The “book of life” is opened verifying the eternal destiny for each of the wicked, while the “books” are also opened in which the deeds of all men have been recorded – thus verifying the life which each one lived in rejection of Christ. Sadly, there will appear at this judgment many whom we would call kind, loving and lovable - “good” or “not so bad” people, who were not saved. They will be classed with the “ungodly” and spend eternity in the lake of fire (vv. 14-15) because they are “without God” and “without Christ” (Eph. 2:12, 11), having rejected Jesus Christ as Savior. “Every man [will be judged] according to [his] works” (20:13). As a result, some will be sentenced to a more severe punishment than others, but none will escape. Friend, consider a serious question – Where will you spend eternity, in heaven or hell? Please receive Christ as Savior today – be assured of heaven!