Revelation 20

10 Then Satan received his final punishment: He was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where he will be tormented forever (see Revelation 19:20 and comment).

Thus we have to come to a great climax in John’s revelation: the defeat of Satan and the final victory over all the evil in the universe. But there are still two great climaxes yet to come: first, John’s vision of the last judgment (verses 11-15); and finally, his vision of heaven itself (Revelation Chapters 21-22).

11 Here John describes for us his vision of the last judgment. John saw a great white throne. There was one sitting on the throne, either God or Christ—John doesn’t say which. The New Testament teaches that God has given all work of judgment to Christ (see John 5:22; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 2 Timothy 4:1). Yet Paul has also said that we will all stand before God’s judgment seat (Romans 14:10). In the book of Revelation, the one sitting on the throne is usually God Himself (Revelation 5:13; 7:10; 19:4). But whether it is God or Christ sitting on the throne makes no difference, because God and Christ are one (John 10:30).

John then saw the earth and sky flee from God’s presence. The only thing remaining was the great white throne and the One sitting on it; all else had vanished. The new heaven and new earth were about to come (Revelation 21:1); but before the new could come, the old had to pass away (Isaiah 51:6; Matthew 24:35; 1 John 2:17).

12-13 Then John saw all the dead from every generation standing before the throne. Those who had drowned in the sea were also there. All those who had not believed in Christ and whose spirits had gone to Hades were there (see Revelation 1:18 and comment). And, except for the Christian martyrs⁴⁷ (verse 4), all other believers were also there. What John was seeing, therefore, was a vision of the “second resurrection,” in which all the dead—both unbelievers and believers (except martyrs)—will take part (see verse 5).

As soon as the second resurrection had taken place, God’s last judgment began. The books containing the records of each person’s life on earth were opened. John writes in verse 12 that the dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books (see Psalm 62:12; Jeremiah 17:10; Romans 2:6; 1 Peter 1:17). There was another book, too, the book of life. In this book were written the names of all those who were to be saved (Daniel 12:1; Revelation 3:5; 17:8). The names of all those who were true believers as recorded in the “record books” were written in the book of life. Thus the names in the book of life corresponded exactly to the information in the record books. Those who had not repented and believed in Christ and done the works of faith did not have their names written in the book of life. Men are not saved by their good works; they are saved only through faith. But the proof of true faith is good works. Those without good works are without true faith. Thus the faith of each person can be determined by what he or she has done on earth—as recorded in the books (see Ephesians 2:8-10; James 2:17,2024,26 and comments).

14-15 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire (see Revelation 19:20). In a way, death and Hades are partners. Hades is the place where death sends its victims. Hades is like the “stomach” of death; it is where those “eaten” by death end up. But at the last judgment, both death and its “stomach” will be destroyed (see Isaiah 25:8; 1 Corinthians 15:54-55 and comment).

And so in John’s vision, death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire,⁴⁸ just as had happened to Satan and to the beast and the false prophet earlier (Revelation 19:20; 20:10). Furthermore, allthosewhose names were not written in the book of life were also thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is called the second death; it lasts forever.

As it was in John’s vision, so it will happen at the end of the world. John gives us a preview of what the last judgment of God will be like. After the final judgment, there will be no chance for appeal. All whose names are not written in the book of life will be given everlasting punishment. Therefore, there is no more important question a person can ask in this life than this: Is my name written in the book of life, or not?