Revelation 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that 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, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

The purpose of the Great White Throne

The purpose was to pass final judgement before the ushering in the new heavens and the new earth. Remember from our studies that God has a path and plan to put things back to the way it was in the garden. Judgment is part of this restoration.

Who is there

The people that are participating in the Great White throne Judgement are simply, everyone, who died in disobedience to God was brought before God to be judged for the sins. All throughout history from the garden to the last battle… God always had a path to come to Him through obedience. Those who rejected that path were the main participants of this event.

Matthew 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Matthew 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Luke 13:27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.

28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.

Spectators

It also appears that the other groups that have already been tried and judged are there to watch. Note that the church, after the rapture, received the mind and body of Christ. At this event we will see those we know, those we had the opportunity to witness to, those we have the challenge to help; I believe there will be great sorrow in that day.

Revelation 21:4  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

There are many books that have been written in the Bible:

As part of this time of judgement, God utilizes information that has been written down.

Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

Note: “the books”. The Bible itself identifies many books that were used to record history, geneologies, the laws, judgments, accomplishments and more. Let’s look at just a few examples:

Genesis 5:1  This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;

Numbers 21:14  Wherefore it is said in the book of the wars of the LORD, What he did in the Red sea, and in the brooks of Arnon,

Joshua 10:13  And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.

1 Chronicles 29:29  Now the acts of David the king, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of Samuel the seer, and in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the book of Gad the seer,

Exodus 17:14  And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.

There are many references to books that are written to document the things of God; wars, plagues, law, covenant, events… and are written to remember and guide others. However there is a couple of books that God keeps that are quite important:

Exodus 32:32  Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin–; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.

Philippians 4:3  And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.

Taking into account the many references that are listed of the books that God opens, we know that there are, written in the books, the things that has done in the flesh from the beginning of time. Even more specifically, our name. Judgements were passed to those that were written in the book; however, more severely, for those not written in the books at all.

Revelation 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

So with this overview it is apparent that you WILL be at the Great White Throne Judgement… the question is are you going to be a participant or a spectator?