The Great White Throne Judgment

Revelation 20:7–15 (NKJV)

After the battle of Armageddon ended and the millennial reign began, the thousand-year-reign of Christ on earth was a time of peace and holiness. As the period ends, an interesting twist appears as Satan is released from the bottomless pit and allowed to tempt those born during the Millennial period.

7 Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. 9 They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. 10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Revelation 20:7-10

When the years of the period have ended, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations from all over the earth. Gog and Magog represent the kingdoms of the earth, specifically those who are gathered together to battle against Christ and His kingdom. This army gathered is more numerous than the sands of the sea. This army surrounded the camp of the saints in the beloved city. Before a shot can be fired or a sword drawn, fire comes down from heaven to devour the unholy army. After this swift defeat, Satan is captured and thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone to join the beast and the false prophet, imprisoned there after the battle of Armageddon. Their torment will last forever and ever day and night. This second war between the forces of Satan and the armies of God turns out the very same as the first, with Christ’s forces prevailing over those of Satan. In each case, the victory is astounding, as Christ does not have to actually engage the army, but simply creates a natural event that wiped out the opposing army in one fell swoop. The dominance is unreal, but yet divine in nature.

11 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. 12 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. 13 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. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

Revelation 20:11-15

After the carnage of the second divine war, a scene change occurs revealing a great white throne. The One who sat upon the throne was so awesome and even fearful that those who dwell on the earth and in heaven flee from His face. However, they could not have hidden from His face. there was no place where they could escape His view. The dead, small and great, stood before God and the books were opened. Another book was opened, which was the Book of Life. Two things appear to come before God, Who sits on the White Throne. He judges the people before him by their works, and He checks to see if their names are written in the Book of Life. At this judgment, everyone (the dead in Hades, in the sea, etc.) will be judged according to their works. After this judgment, Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. The lake of fire now includes the beast, the false prophet, the dragon, and now death and hell (Death and Hades). This is called the second death. In addition to the deceivers already in the lake of fire, all those not found written in the Book of Life were also cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death spoken of just earlier. This is what those who took the mark of the beast will suffer. This is the fate of the people who do not accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. This is where those who rejected the Lord and followed their own ways will go, into eternal torment. The lake of fire is the eternal abode of those without Christ. It is a horrible fate to face for a life lived without God. Choose right and live eternally with Christ.

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