After death, unbelievers go to hell and remain there until the resurrection of the unjust, when they are raised before the great white throne and cast into the lake of fire.
Les Feldick teaches from Revelation 20 that while believers are resurrected and reign with Christ for a thousand years, the lost — the "rest of the dead" — do not live again until that thousand years is finished. At the great white throne, every lost person is resurrected out of hell, judged, and sent to the lake of fire, which is the second death. Their resurrection body is fit for eternal punishment, not for heaven.
Revelation 20:5-6 — These verses distinguish the first resurrection of believers from "the rest of the dead" who live not again until the thousand years are finished.
Revelation 20:13-15 — These verses describe death and hell giving up the dead for judgment and the final casting into the lake of fire.
Scripture speaks of two resurrections. Jesus Himself said in John 5:29, "And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." In Revelation 20:5, after describing believers who lived and reigned with Christ, John writes, "But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection." In Revelation 20:12-13, John describes the great white throne: "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. 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." Revelation 20:14-15 then states, "And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."
Les is careful to show that there are only two groups of people in God's sight: the saved and the lost. Since the saved are resurrected and in the Lord's presence during the thousand-year kingdom, "the rest of the dead" in Revelation 20:5 must be the lost. He repeatedly points out that many people think death is the end for the lost, but they are actually waiting in hell for their resurrection out of hell at the end of the thousand years. At the great white throne, the lost of all ages stand before God in resurrected bodies. Les stresses that this judgment is strictly for unbelievers and that believers will not appear there. He describes the resurrected body of the lost as a body fit for the lake of fire, not for glory. After the books are opened and every man is judged according to his works, the lost are cast into the lake of fire — the second death. Les also notes that death and hell themselves give up the dead, and then death and hell are cast into the lake of fire. Les makes a clear distinction between hell and the lake of fire. Hell is the temporary place of the lost dead who are waiting for this judgment; the lake of fire is their final, eternal doom. He teaches that there will be degrees of punishment because every individual's record is opened.
Revelation 20:5 says "the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished." Les identifies these as the lost. In Clip 2, he connects this to the great white throne, saying the rest of the dead live not again until the thousand years are finished. Clip 7 confirms that death and hell is the place of the unbeliever who has died, waiting for this great white throne judgment.
Les says "all the difference in the world." Hell is the temporary abode of the lost dead prior to the great white throne. At the great white throne, death and hell deliver up the dead who are in them, and after judgment these are cast into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is far worse and is the final doom.
Les is emphatic: the great white throne is strictly for unbelievers. Believers will not come before it. Believers have already been resurrected and are in the Lord's presence during the thousand years, and their rewards are given out shortly after the rapture.
The lost will be resurrected out of hell, but their body will not be glorious like that of believers. It will be a body fit for the lake of fire, a body that will not be consumed or burned up. It is a body suited for eternal punishment.
The Rest of the Dead Are the Lost
Les teaches that since the saved are already resurrected and in the Lord's presence, the "rest of the dead" in Revelation 20:5 must be the lost.
The Resurrection of the Unjust
Les explains that the lost will also be resurrected out of hell and appear bodily at the great white throne in a body fit for the lake of fire.
The Rest of the Dead Live Not Again
Les connects Revelation 20:5 to the timing of the great white throne: the lost do not resurrect until the thousand years are finished.
The Great White Throne Is Strictly for Unbelievers
Les stresses that believers will not come before the great white throne; it is exclusively for the lost.
The Lost Are Resurrected Out of Hell
Les points out that death is not the end for the lost; they will be resurrected out of hell, brought before the great white throne, and then go to the lake of fire.
Bodies Fit for the Lake of Fire
Les teaches that the dead of all ages stand before God in resurrected bodies that are fit for the lake of fire and will not be consumed.
Degrees of Punishment at the Great White Throne
Les says every lost individual sees the record at the great white throne and goes to his doom, and there will be degrees of punishment.
Hell and Death Give Up the Dead
Les shows that hell gives up the dead to be judged, and then those who occupied hell are cast into the lake of fire.
Revelation 20:5: But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
This verse directly identifies the lost as those who are not resurrected at the first resurrection.
Revelation 20:6: Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
It shows that believers are not subject to the second death.
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.
This describes the great white throne judgment where the lost are judged according to their works.
Revelation 20:13: 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.
It shows that death and hell give up the dead, indicating the lost are raised out of hell for judgment.
Revelation 20:14: And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
It defines the lake of fire as the second death.
Revelation 20:15: And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
It affirms that the lost are cast into the lake of fire.
John 5:29: And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
Jesus Himself taught a resurrection of damnation for those who have done evil.
No. Les teaches that when an unbeliever dies, death and hell are that person's place until the great white throne judgment. At the end of Christ's thousand-year reign, the dead are resurrected out of hell, judged, and then cast into the lake of fire.
No. The great white throne is strictly for unbelievers. Believers are already resurrected and in the Lord's presence during the thousand years, and this judgment is not for them.
The second death is the lake of fire. Revelation 20:14 says death and hell are cast into the lake of fire, and this is the second death. Believers have no part in it because the second death has no power over them.
Watch the Teaching: The Millennium Explained: What Revelation 20 Really Teaches