| THE JUDGMENT |
|---|
| 11 I saw a great white throne, and him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. There was found no place for them. |
| Rev 20:11 a great white throne – to symbolize the righteousness of this judgment, to which no man can answer. and Him who sat on it – this is the Judgment seat of Christ (John 5:22; 2 Cor 5:10). from whose presence – the literal translation is face. This goes back to Gen 4:14, Cain could not look on the face (presence) of Christ. From whose face the earth fled. Now, no man can look upon Him, meaning there is none without guilt. |
| 12 I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne. Books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works. |
| Rev 20:12 I saw the dead – all of the dead stand before the throne (Heb 9:27; 2 Cor 5:10). and books were opened – that record every man’s deeds, including every idle word spoken (Matt 12:36); every angry word (Matt 5:22) and every act, whether good or bad. and another book was opened – the book of life, for whoever hears Christ’s words and believes, has already passed from judgment into life (John 3:16; John 5:24). |
| 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it. Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them. They were judged, each one according to his works. |
| Rev 20:13 the sea gave up the dead – the sea throughout Revelation refers to baptism/salvation. These are the saved who resurrect. death and hades gave up their dead – that is the unsaved. |
| 14 Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. |
| Rev 20:14 death and Hades were thrown in the lake of fire – those who rested in Hades are thrown into the lake of fire. But those from “the sea” are saved. |
| 15 If anyone was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire. |
| Rev 20:15 not written in the Book of life – see Rev 13:8; Rev 17:8. |
