Podcast Summary: "What Is the Great White Throne / Final Judgment?"

Podcast: Grace in Focus
Host(s): Bob Wilkin (B), Philippe Sterling (C)
Date: December 31, 2025
Episode Length: 13 minutes

Overview of Episode Theme

This episode explores the biblical concept known as the "Great White Throne Judgment," as described in Revelation 20:11-15. Bob Wilkin and Philippe Sterling discuss how this judgment differs from other biblical judgments—most notably the Judgment Seat of Christ—and address common misconceptions, especially the often-used term "Final Judgment." The conversation centers on making careful distinctions crucial within Free Grace theology, focusing on fairness, assurance of salvation, and the biblical basis for differing judgments in the end times.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Distinction Between Judgments

• Scriptural Reference: Revelation 20:11-15 is read in full [02:30-03:25].
• Main Idea: The "Great White Throne Judgment" is distinct from the Judgment Seat of Christ and other biblical judgments.
  • Bob Wilkin [01:14]: Explains that the term "Great White Throne Judgment" only appears once in scripture and is not a universal term for all end-times judgments.
  • Traditional Confusion: Some Christian traditions collapse multiple judgments (Judgment Seat of Christ, Sheep and Goats, Great White Throne) into a single final event, which the guests argue against.
  • Bob Wilkin [03:51]: Shares an anecdote about Dr. Tom Schreiner's view of “one final judgment” and explains why this doesn’t fit the biblical text.
  • Use of parables (e.g., Parable of the Minas, Luke 19) and prophetic “gaps” (e.g., Zechariah 9:9-10) to illustrate separation between judgments.
  • Quote [04:42, Bob]: “The slaying them in my Presence is the second death of this passage, Revelation 20:11-15. And it's very clear they're not present at the judgment of the believers.”

2. The Timing and Participants in the Great White Throne Judgment

• Key Insight [05:40, Bob]:
  • Asserts there will be a thousand-year gap between the Judgment Seat of Christ (for believers) and the Great White Throne Judgment (primarily for unbelievers).
  • Both judgments are said to be "according to works," but involve different groups and outcomes.
• Participants [08:29, Bob]:
  • "All the Dead" are brought before the Great White Throne, but likely only unbelievers, referencing John 5:24 ("shall not come into judgment [for eternal life], but has passed from death to life").
  • Possible exceptions for millennial believers and witnesses, but these are speculative.

3. The Books: Works vs. Life [07:41-08:16]

• Books Opened:
  • Multiple "books" contain deeds; a separate "Book of Life" (also called "the Lamb's Book of Life").
  • Philippe [08:05]: Refers to passages like Philippians 4 and Luke 10:20, clarifying that “the Book of Life” includes those who have believed in Christ for everlasting life.
  • Quote [08:22, Philippe]: “Don't rejoice that demons are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

4. Purpose and Nature of Judgment

• Key Points:
  • The examination of works serves to demonstrate two things [10:27, Bob]:
    1. Fairness of God: The judgment is equitable, with degrees of recompense for the damned; e.g., “more tolerable” for Sodom and Gomorrah than for those who rejected Christ (Matthew 10, 11).
    2. Imperfection of the Condemned: To show none of the judged have earned everlasting life by their actions.
    • Quote [10:15, Philippe]: “And it will be a fair judgment.”
• Degrees of Torment:
  • Not all will experience the same punishment; torment will be “more tolerable” for some [09:36, Bob].
  • Rejects the idea of “the worst pain ever experienced in all of history.”

5. Salvation and the Book of Life

• Entry Requirement:
  • Salvation (and having one's name in the Book of Life) is by faith alone ("sola fide"), completely apart from works.
  • Quote [12:27, Philippe]: “Yes, it's only believe in Jesus for everlasting life.”
  • Referenced John 3:16 and the clarity of the Gospel in the Gospel of John.

6. Application and Relevance

• For Unbelievers:
  • Awareness of judgment is beneficial—it underlines God’s justice and the reality of future recompense.
  • However, in evangelism, stressing the Great White Throne is not emphasized by Jesus in the Gospel of John, but knowledge of it could aid understanding for some.
• For Believers:
  • Encouragement to contemplate these truths and live watchfully in anticipation of Christ’s return [12:39, Bob].

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Bob Wilkin [04:42]:
  “The slaying them in my Presence is the second death of this passage, Revelation 20:11, 15. And it's very clear they're not present at the judgment of the believers.”
• Bob Wilkin [05:40]:
  “There will be a thousand year gap between the judgment seat of Christ and the Great White Throne Judgment, those are two separate judgments.”
• Bob Wilkin [06:34]:
  “The idea that there's one final judgment is contrary to Scripture.”
• Philippe Sterling [10:15]:
  “And it will be a fair judgment.”
• Bob Wilkin [10:54]:
  “So it's real simple. You get in the book and it is possible that millennial believers will be judged at this judgment. ... But the thing that's important to recognize is that unbelievers would benefit by knowing about this coming judgment.”
• Philippe Sterling [12:27]:
  “Yes, it's only believe in Jesus for everlasting life.”
• Bob Wilkin [12:32]:
  “In Latin it's sola fide by faith alone.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:30] Reading of Revelation 20:11-15
• [03:51] Modern confusion over the number of end-times judgments
• [04:42] Distinction between the judgment of believers and the "enemies"
• [05:40] Thousand-year gap and differentiation of judgments
• [06:34] Critique of the "Final Judgment" terminology
• [07:41] Discussion of the books opened at the Great White Throne
• [08:29] Qualification for escape from judgment (John 5:24)
• [09:36] Degrees of punishment; “more tolerable” for some
• [10:27] Two purposes for judgment according to works
• [12:27] Only belief in Jesus is necessary for everlasting life

Conclusion

In this tightly focused episode, Bob Wilkin and Philippe Sterling emphasize the importance of making theological distinctions between different eschatological judgments. They argue that the Great White Throne Judgment is a separate, post-millennial event primarily for unbelievers, who are judged according to their works and whose names are not found in the Book of Life. Believers, by contrast, are assured of salvation by faith alone (sola fide) and escape this judgment. By clarifying common misconceptions, the hosts encourage listeners towards theological clarity and a grace-focused perspective on end-times teachings.