The Great White Throne Judgment  –What Will You Do There?

My friend Brian posed a thought-provoking question a few days ago: “Why do you think there are only unbelievers and no Christians on trial at the Great White Throne Judgment?  I’ve always heard everybody had to face judgment on the Last Day.”

Good question, I felt.  After all, Brian pointed out, the verses there in Revelation 20 don’t explicitly say there are no Christians at this judgment.  In response, I’ve investigated and dug a little deeper.  I could be wrong, but for several  reasons I believe that no Christians, only unbelievers will be judged at the Great White Throne Judgment.

In John 3:18 Jesus declares, “He who believes in Him (the Son of God) is not judged.“  In John 5:24 Jesus reiterates, ”Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.”  True believers don’t even come into a final “life verses death” judgment.  That decision has already been made. If Jesus is not referring to the Great White Throne Judgment, what judgment could he be referring to? (Now we do know that all believers will appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ mentioned in 2 Corinthians 5:10.  This is not a judgment about heaven or hell, but a decision about eternal rewards and place in heaven.)

In Revelation 20:10-15, the single Scripture that specifically names the Great White Throne Judgment, the only outcome is the lake of fire, the second death.  If true Christ-followers were present, the outcome would, of course, be eternal life with Christ in heaven.

The Bible speaks of two resurrections, a resurrection of the righteous and a resurrection of the wicked.  At the first resurrection, the righteous will come to life and reign with Christ for a thousand years. (Revelation 20:4)  This is called the resurrection of life in John 5:29 and the resurrection of the righteous in Luke 14:14.  “Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.” (Revelation 20:6)  In contrast, Revelation 20:5 states, “The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed.”  And so we see there are 1000 years between the resurrection of the righteous and the resurrection of the unbelievers.

Several Scriptures indicate believers will give judgment, not get judgment at that great Day of the Lord.  St. Paul, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit teaches, “The saints will judge the world.” (I Corinthians 6:2)  This is the same concept we discover in Revelation 20:4 and 5 where the saints are described as reigning with Christ.  Further, The Queen of the South shall rise up with the men of this generation at the judgment and condemn them.” (Luke 11:31) “And the men of Nineveh shall stand up with this generation at the judgment and condemn it, because they (the Ninevites) repented.” (Luke 11:32)

It’s not good to be overly dogmatic about things of the end times.  As my friend Brian later laughed and pointed out, our opinion doesn’t really matter.  What we know for sure is believers go to heaven and Christ rejecters don’t.