Revelation 20:11-15
“And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it... And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened... and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works... And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
King James Version
The final judgment — the dead raised before the great white throne, judged by their works from the books, with the book of life decisive — and death itself cast into the lake of fire.
Fulfillment References
Daniel 7:9-10 Daniel 12:2 John 5:28-29 Matthew 25:31-46
How Traditions Read This Prophecy
Apostolic (Oneness) PentecostalThe One on the throne is God Himself — and judgment is committed to Jesus (John 5:22,27); names in His book of life are saved.
JewishThe scene draws on Daniel 7's court and 12:2's resurrection to life or shame — the final assize.
CatholicThe general judgment of all the dead, by works and by grace, with eternal destinies fixed.
ProtestantThe final judgment of all before God; works are evidence, but the book of life (grace in Christ) is decisive.
OrthodoxThe dread judgment seat, where all are raised and judged.
DispensationalA final judgment of the unsaved dead after the millennium, distinct from the believers' earlier judgment.
AcademicThe throne-judgment reworks Daniel 7:9-10 and 12:1-2; the 'books' and 'book of life' motifs are widespread in apocalyptic literature.
Scholarship & Sources
The scene fuses Daniel 7:9-10 (the Ancient of Days, the court, the opened books) and Daniel 12:2 (resurrection to life or contempt). 'Judged according to works' (20:12-13) alongside 'the book of life' frames the works/grace question debated across traditions. The 'second death' (20:14) is defined within Revelation itself.
Open the full interactive entry →Cross-references, Hebrew/Greek, Dead Sea Scrolls notes, study tools and multi-tradition analysis in the interactive explorer.
Bible Prophecy Explorer · based on J. Barton Payne’s Encyclopedia of Biblical Prophecy catalogue · an openly Apostolic (Oneness) Pentecostal study resource — all traditions presented fairly. Pastor: C. Myles Young, PhD · Bishop: Nathaniel J. Wilson, Ed.D.