The Millennium, the 1,000 year reign of Jesus on the throne of David in Jerusalem, ends with fire coming down from God out of heaven, devouring all the rebels that followed Satan in his attempt to take the kingdom away from Jesus. Satan is cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet already were. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever. Revelation 20:11-15 then deals with the judgment of the Great White Throne.

Rev 20:11 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. (NKJV)

1. It is a restricted judgment. This judgment is for those who flee from the face of God, rather than falling down before Him in worship. When John saw Christ in his glory he did not flee, but fell on his face in worship (Rev 1:12-17). Unbelievers, however, cry out for the rocks to hide them from the wrath of the Lamb, but find no way to escape (Rev 6:16). Those standing before this judgment throne are unbelievers from all ranks of life, and will be judged according to their works as written in God’s books. The first and foremost work is to receive Jesus. (Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent” (John 6:28). When a debt is forgiven it is removed from the books, so these books contain debts not forgiven that are still owed.

There is no indication of the presence of any believers at this judgment. The resurrection of the righteous dead already took place at the rapture and the judgment of the works of the righteous already took place in heaven at the judgment seat of Christ during the time of the tribulation here on earth. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things [done] in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” (2Cor 5:10). The Old Testament saints and the Tribulation martyrs were raised at the beginning of the Millennium to participate in the thousand year reign of Jesus, the Messiah.

Those whose names are not found written in the Book of Life are cast into the lake of fire
(Rev. 20:15). Nothing is said about those who are in the book of life because they are not present at this time. All of the unsaved in the history of man will stand before Jesus Christ at this judgment.

2. It is an awesome judgment: “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 [to hide]” (Rev 20:11). “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?” (Psalm 139:7)
A glorious throne. "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.” Mt.25:31
A fearsome Judge. “And His countenance was as the sun shines in its strength” (Rev 1:16).
Fire and perdition. “But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men” (2Peter 3:7).

3. It is an accurate judgment “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” (Rev 20:12).
This judgment is based on recorded facts (books opened), not hearsay or faint memories, but black and white. It is a judgment according to works, but what makes works good or bad?
1. The manner in which they are related to Christ. “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent (John 6:28).
2. If they are wrought in God – in faith. “But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God” (John 3:20-21)
3. If they are works prepared for us by God. “…unto good works which God ordained before that we should walk in them (Eph 2:10).

The Book of Life is mentioned here because works are judged by the degree to which they are an expression of the life of God in the soul and if they show faith in God or rebellion against God? Degrees of punishment will be given according to the works done and the light given. (See Mat 11:22

"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'” (Mat 7:21-23)

4. It is a thorough judgment (v.13)
The sea will give up its dead as Davy Jones locker is opened, and even Lake Superior, where bodies never come up because the water is too cold for gases to form, will give up its store of bodies. Death and hell or hades or the grave will give up their dead. Many people have convinced themselves that death ends all and the grave is the end, but death will turn over its prisoners, the grave will empty out its storehouse, and
no one will be overlooked, neither small or great.

5. It is the final judgment (v.14)
“Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death”. The first death is the separation of the soul from the body. The second death is the separation of the soul from God. Those who are born twice die once, but those who are born only once die twice. The result of this judgment is everlasting punishment. “And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” “If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched Mark 9:43)
where “Their worm does not die And the fire is not quenched”. (Mar 9:44).

6. It is a simple judgment (v.15) “And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” “All who dwell on the earth will worship him (the beast), whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” (Rev. 13:8)

Why does God bother with a judgment of a man’s works if everything depends on his name being written in the book of life? Because the judgment of a man’s works reveal his heart and help him see that God’s punishment is just. “The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked” (Jer.17:9). The publican beat on his breast and cried out, “Lord be merciful to me a sinner.” He saw the wickedness of his heart and realized the righteousness of God in assigning him to everlasting condemnation.

The Bible promises that whoever will call upon the Name of the Lord will be saved, but we have to know that we are REALLY lost before we will call out for salvation.
If you are in a rowboat that sinks near the shore of the lake, you are not concerned because swimming to shore would not be difficult. But if you are in a lifeboat of a ship that sinks out in the middle of the ocean and a ship comes on the horizon you cry loudly and wave a shirt because you know you are in trouble and hope they will see or hear you.

I was living a pretty good life without God, until someone gave me a tract. On the back page was the Bible verse: “What will it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul, or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” For months I was afraid of death and having to face God. (Showing how God can and does use tracts.)

It was war time when I entered the military, and many service men were not returning. I knew I was in trouble and decided to attend a Bible study at the chapel where I heard that Jesus died for my sins and if I would repent and receive Him as my Savior He would forgive my sins and come into my life. I could not sleep that night and about midnight I cried out for God’s pardon and presence and His presence filled my being and transformed my life. Now I know that my name is written in the Book of Life.

Thank you Jesus for those who shared the gospel with me. May I do the same for others by warning them of the Great White Throne of Judgment and the Lake of Fire so they will fear death and cry out to God for mercy.