People stand at the Great White Throne because of their unbelief — not because Christ's death failed to pay for their sins.
Les Feldick teaches that Christ's death accomplished a pardon for every human being; those at the Great White Throne are there because they refuse to appropriate that pardon by faith. Their central problem is unbelief — they could not believe what God said concerning the work of the cross. Because of that unbelief, they stand before God while the books are opened, and they are judged according to the works written in those books.
Revelation 20:12 — This is the very scene Les describes: the dead, small and great, stand before God and are judged out of the opened books according to their works.
John 5:29 — Jesus promised a resurrection of the just and of the unjust, which Les uses to explain why the lost appear bodily at the Great White Throne.
Revelation 20:12 describes the great white throne scene: John saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and the books were opened. The dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. Another book was opened — the book of life (Revelation 20:12). John 5:29 records Jesus' promise that all who are in the graves shall come forth — those who have done good unto the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation. This is the two-fold resurrection that brings the unjust to stand before the throne (John 5:29). Revelation 20:15 states the outcome for those not found written in the book of life: they are cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15).
Les teaches that the Great White Throne is exclusively for the lost of the ages — from Cain through the end of the thousand-year reign. No believer will ever be there; believers' sins were already judged at the cross, and the judgment seat of Christ is only for rewards (Clips 2, 3, 5). The central reason people are judged there is unbelief. Millions of good people will stand before the throne, but their sin is that they could not believe what God said concerning the work of the cross. Every human being has already been pardoned by virtue of the cross; the only reason the lost do not receive it is that they refuse to appropriate it by faith (Clip 1). Nobody goes to that throne except by his own choice — salvation was offered to all, but those who reject it end up there (Clip 4). The books are opened so each lost person will see the record of what he has done in the flesh, and he will go to his doom. The judgment is according to works written in the books — not works that earn heaven, but the record of a life lived in rebellion and unbelief (Clips 0, 7). The lost are resurrected in bodies fit for the lake of fire, and there will be degrees of punishment (Clips 3, 6, 7).
No. Les is emphatic that the great white throne judgment is for the lost of the ages only (Clip 3). Believers will never face their sins because their sin was already judged at the cross, and the judgment seat of Christ exists only to determine rewards, never eternal destiny (Clip 2). No believer will be at the great white throne, and no lost person will be at the judgment seat of Christ (Clip 5).
Les says millions of good people will come before the great white throne. Their problem is not bad works — it is unbelief. They could not believe what God said about the work of the cross, and although their pardon is already accomplished in Christ's death, they will not appropriate it by faith (Clip 1).
Revelation 20:12 shows the books being opened and the dead judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. Les explains that every lost individual is brought to a place where he will see the record of what he has done in the flesh, and then go to his doom — so the books reveal the works of lives lived in unbelief (Clips 0, 7).
Yes. Les answers directly that there will be degrees of punishment. The lost appear in resurrected bodies that are fit for the lake of fire — bodies that will never be consumed, but that will have eternal regret and unsatisfied appetites. Every lost person goes there because he chose to reject the salvation offered to all (Clips 4, 6, 7).
The Great White Throne Scene — Revelation 20:12
Les reads Revelation 20:12 and identifies the dead before God as the lost from Cain through the end of the thousand-year reign, judged out of the books according to their works.
Unbelief Is the Sin of the Lost
Les teaches that millions of good people will stand at the great white throne, but their sin is unbelief — they could not believe what God said about the work of the cross, even though their pardon is already accomplished.
Sin Judged at the Cross
Les contrasts the judgment seat of Christ — where believers never face sin because it was judged at the cross and rewards are determined — with the great white throne, which is for the lost, the rebellious, and those of no faith.
Two Resurrections and the Unjust
Les explains Jesus taught two resurrections — the just and the unjust — and that the unjust will be resurrected to stand at the great white throne in a body fit for the eternal lake of fire.
Choice, Not Accident
Les says nobody goes before the white throne except by choice; salvation has been offered to everyone, and only those who reject it end up there.
Two Separate Judgments
Les reaffirms that no believer will be at the great white throne and no lost person will be at the judgment seat of Christ — the two judgments are completely separate.
Resurrected Bodies Fit for the Lake of Fire
Les describes the lost standing in resurrected bodies — not glorious like believers' bodies, but fit for the lake of fire where they will not be consumed.
Seeing the Record and Degrees of Punishment
Les explains the great white throne brings every lost individual to see the record of what they have done in the flesh, and he affirms there will be degrees of punishment.
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 is the core scene Les explains — the dead of all ages standing before God while the books are opened and judgment is according to works.
Revelation 20:15: And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
The outcome of the great white throne judgment: those not written in the book of life go to the lake of fire, which Les refers to as the eternal doom of the lost.
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 taught two resurrections — the just and the unjust — which Les points to as the reason the lost appear bodily before the great white throne.
Les teaches that every human being has already been pardoned by virtue of the work of the cross. The people at the Great White Throne are there because of unbelief — they refuse to appropriate that pardon by faith. Their judgment is not because Christ's payment failed, but because they rejected it (Clip 1).
Yes. Les says millions of good people will come before the throne, but their sin is unbelief: they could not believe what God said concerning the work of the cross. They thought their own works could get them in, so they never received the pardon that was already accomplished (Clip 1).
The books are opened and each lost person sees the record of what he has done in the flesh before going to his doom. The lost stand in resurrected bodies fit for the lake of fire, and there will be degrees of punishment (Clips 6, 7).
No. Les teaches that believers will never face sin when they come into glory, because sin was already judged at the cross. The judgment seat of Christ is only for rewards, and no believer will be at the Great White Throne (Clips 2, 5).
Watch the Teaching: Revelation 20 Explained: Satan Bound, the Millennium & Final Judgment