English
Português
Español
Français
Response
The final judgment before the lost are thrown into the lake of fire is described as the great white throne judgment in Revelation 20:11-15. According to Revelation 20:7-15, this judgment occurs after the millennium and after Satan, along with the beast and the false prophet, is cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 19:19-20;20:7-10). The books that are opened “And I saw the dead, small and great, standing 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.” (Revelation 20:12) contain records of everyone’s deeds, whether good or evil, as God knows all that has been said, done, or even thought, and will reward or punish each accordingly (Psalm 28:4;Psalm 62:12;Romans 2:6;Revelation 2:23;Revelation 18:6;Revelation 22:12).
At this time, another book is opened known as the “book of life” “And I saw the dead, small and great, standing 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.” (Revelation 20:12). This book determines
It determines whether a person will inherit eternal life with God or receive everlasting punishment in the lake of fire. Although Christians are held accountable for their actions, they are forgiven in Christ and their names were inscribed in the “book of life from the creation of the world” «The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. », (Revelation 17:8). We also know from Scripture that it is at this judgment when the dead will be “judged according to what they had done” «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. », (Revelation 20:12) and that “anyone’s name” that is not “found written in the book of life” will be “thrown into the lake of fire” «And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.», (Revelation 20:15).
The fact that there is going to be a final judgment for all people, both believers and unbelievers, is clearly confirmed in many passages of Scripture. Every person will one day stand before Christ and be judged for his or her deeds. While it is very clear that the great white throne judgment is the final judgment, Christians disagree on how it relates to the other judgments mentioned in the Bible, specifically, who will be judged at the great white throne judgment.
Some Christians believe that the Scriptures reveal three different
There are three main judgments to come. The first is the judgment of the sheep and the goats or a judgment of the nations (Matthew 25:31-36). This occurs after the tribulation period but before the millennium; its purpose is to determine who will enter the millennial kingdom. The second is a judgment of believers’ works, often referred to as the “judgment seat [bema] of Christ” «For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. », (2 Corinthians 5:10). At this judgment, Christians will receive degrees of reward for their works or service to God. The third is the great white throne judgment at the end of the millennium (Revelation 20:11-15). This is the judgment of unbelievers in which they are judged according to their works and sentenced to everlasting punishment in the lake of fire.
Some Christians believe that all three of these judgments refer to the same final judgment, not three separate judgments. In essence, the great white throne judgment in Revelation 20:11-15 will be the time when believers and unbelievers alike are judged. Those whose names are found in the book of life will be judged for their deeds to determine the rewards they will receive or lose. Those whose names are not in the book of life will be judged according to their deeds to determine the degree of punishment they will receive in the lake of fire. Those who hold this view believe that Matthew 25:31-46 is another description of what occurs at the great white throne judgment. They point out that the outcome of this judgment is the same as what is observed after the great white throne judgment in Revelation 20:11-15. The sheep (believers) enter into the kingdom, while the goats (unbelievers) are cast into eternal fire.
Regarding eternal life, the unbelievers (referred to as goats) will be thrown into “eternal punishment” «And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.», (Matthew 25:46).
Regardless of one’s perspective on the great white throne judgment, it is crucial to always remember the truths about the impending judgment(s). Firstly, Jesus Christ will serve as the judge, evaluating all unbelievers based on their actions, and they will face consequences accordingly. The Bible clearly states that unbelievers are accumulating wrath for themselves «But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; », (Romans 2:5), and that God will “repay each person according to what they have done” «Who will render to every man according to his deeds: », (Romans 2:6). Believers will also face judgment by Christ, but as Christ’s righteousness has been credited to us and our names are inscribed in the book of life, we will receive rewards, not punishments, based on our actions. Romans 14:10-12 affirms that we will all appear before the judgment seat of Christ and each of us will be called to account before God.
