The Great White Throne

Overview

• Testament: New
• Book: Revelation
• Chapters: Revelation 20:11-15
• Summary: John sees a great white throne and the One seated upon it, before whom earth and heaven flee away; the dead, great and small, stand before God as the books are opened, and another book, the book of life, is opened; all are judged according to their works; death and hell are cast into the lake of fire, which is the second death.

Significance

The Great White Throne judgment is the final, universal assize of all the dead, closing the present age and executing the sentence rendered by God’s perfect and impartial justice. The opening of the books alongside the book of life holds the two grounds of divine reckoning in view: deeds done in the body and the grace of God recorded in the Lamb’s book. The casting of death and hell into the lake of fire signals the absolute abolition of all that has oppressed mankind since the Fall.

Key Verses

“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.” — Revelation 20:11 (KJV)

“And the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.” — Revelation 20:12 (KJV)

“And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.” — Revelation 20:14 (KJV)

Cross-References

• Revelation — source book of the vision
• Judgment — the Great White Throne is the supreme expression of final divine judgment
• The Day of the LORD — the prophetic Day of the LORD finds its ultimate fulfilment here
• New Jerusalem — follows immediately as the eternal state opens
• The Seven Bowls — the bowl judgments foreshadow this conclusive act of wrath