Yes — at the Great White Throne, the punishment of the lost will not be identical for everyone.
Les Feldick directly affirms, "Absolutely there will be" degrees of punishment. Jesus' warning that it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah than for Capernaum in the judgment shows that rejected light brings greater condemnation. The lost are raised bodily, judged by Christ, and sent to the lake of fire, called the second death.
Matthew 11:24 — Jesus says it will be more tolerable for Sodom than Capernaum in the day of judgment, showing varying severity.
John 5:28-29 — Jesus distinguishes the resurrection of the just from the resurrection of damnation.
Revelation 20:14-15 — The great white throne judgment concludes with death and hell being cast into the lake of fire.
The Bible shows a final resurrection for all people. Jesus says in John 5:28-29, "Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 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." This resurrection of damnation takes place after the thousand years, as Revelation 20 shows. At the great white throne, "death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works." Then "death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death" (Revelation 20:13-14). Anyone not found in the book of life is cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15). Jesus Himself indicated different degrees of judgment. He said to Capernaum, "If the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee" (Matthew 11:23-24).
Les is emphatic that there are degrees of punishment. When students ask, "Do you mean there's going to be degrees of punishment?" he answers, "Absolutely there will be" [Clip 4]. He explains that Jesus made this clear in His ministry: Capernaum saw God in the flesh performing miracles, while Sodom and Gomorrah never did. Had Sodom seen those works, they would have repented in sackcloth and ashes, so their rejection was less culpable than Capernaum's [Clip 1]. Les places this in the Great White Throne context. After the Millennium, hell is emptied and the resurrection of the unjust takes place [Clip 6]. The lost appear bodily before Christ, not in an invisible spirit state, and are sent to the lake of fire — an eternal separation from God [Clip 2]. Les notes that the lost will have a body fit for the lake of fire, with appetites that will never be satisfied [Clip 3][Clip 5]. Finally, Les explains that no one arrives at the Great White Throne by accident. Salvation has been offered to all, and those who spurn God's love choose their own destination. God, having loved them to the limit heaven could offer, has every right to reject them at the Great White Throne [Clip 5][Clip 7].
Jesus said that Capernaum, which saw His mighty works, would be judged more severely than Sodom and Gomorrah. Les explains that had Sodom seen such evidence, the people would have repented in sackcloth and ashes; Capernaum saw the same evidence and rejected it. Therefore, the punishment is not equal for everyone.
Les teaches that after the Millennium the lost are resurrected out of hell bodily and stand before Christ as Judge at the Great White Throne. It is not a place for believers; it is the final answering for every lost individual according to their record, and each goes to his doom.
When death and hell are cast into the lake of fire, Revelation 20:14 calls it "the second death." Les says this is eternal separation from God, which is what makes the lake of fire so awful. Those not found written in the book of life are cast into it.
Les says no one goes before the white throne except by his own choice. Salvation is offered to everyone, and if the offer is rejected, the end is the great white throne. God's love was shown at the cross, so He has the right to reject those who spurn it.
What Happens After Hell? The Great White Throne Explained
on all this, and this is why I'm comfortable teaching it. Now in Ephesians chapter 4, here again it comes out in such plain language. This isn't gobbledygook, this isn't something that takes a theologian degree in interpretation or anything like that, you just take it for what it says.
Capernaum and Sodom: Degrees of Judgment
Les explains Jesus' woe to Capernaum means that those who saw more miracles and rejected them will endure a more severe judgment than Sodom and Gomorrah.
The Great White Throne and the Lake of Fire
Hell is emptied and the lost are resurrected bodily to stand before Christ the Judge before being sent to the lake of fire, in eternal separation from God.
Resurrection of the Unjust
Les teaches that the same resurrection power that raises believers will raise the lost bodily out of hell to the Great White Throne with a body fit for the lake of fire.
Degrees of Punishment Directly Affirmed
When asked if there will be degrees of punishment at the Great White Throne, Les answers "Absolutely there will be."
The Lost Appear by Choice
Les explains that no one reaches the white throne apart from their own choice in rejecting salvation, and the lost body retains unsatiable appetites and eternal regret.
Death and Hell Cast Into the Lake of Fire
Les points to Revelation 20:14 to show that after the thousand years, death and hell are cast into the lake of fire, the second death.
God's Love and His Right to Judge
Les says God has every right to send the lost to eternal doom at the Great White Throne because they spurned the love He offered at the cross.
Matthew 11:23: And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.
This sets up the more-tolerable comparison that directly supports degrees of punishment.
Matthew 11:24: But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.
Jesus explicitly differentiates the severity of judgment for Sodom and Capernaum.
John 5:28-29: Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 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.
This shows a separate resurrection for the unjust that leads to damnation.
Revelation 20:13-15: 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. 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.
This describes judgment at the great white throne and final punishment in the lake of fire.
Yes. Jesus said it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah than for Capernaum in the day of judgment (Matthew 11:24). Since Capernaum saw greater miracles and rejected them, its punishment is greater.
Les Feldick teaches that a person's judgment reflects the light they received. Capernaum had God in the flesh and rejected Him, so they suffer more than Sodom and Gomorrah, which never had that evidence but would have repented had they seen it.
After standing before Christ at the Great White Throne, the lost are cast into the lake of fire, which Revelation 20:14 calls the second death. Les describes this as an eternal separation from God.
No. Les explains that everyone has salvation offered to them, but if they reject it, they will end up at the Great White Throne. The choice is made during life, not at the judgment.
Watch the Teaching: What Happens After Hell? The Great White Throne Explained