Rev. 20.12 “The dead” are “the rest of the dead” spoken of in 20.5. The phrase “standing before the throne” demonstrates that they are living, therefore they must be resurrected.
Will there be anyone saved at the Great White Throne? The answer is yes for the following reasons:
(1) This is a judgment. Judgment is a matter of determining as well as sentencing. If all are perished people, a mere proclamation of condemnation would be sufficient. Why should they be judged at all?
(2) Here are opened not only the books which record the works of everyone but also the book of life in which all the names of the saved are inscribed. May not all this suggest that some names are in the books of works while some are in the book of life?
(3) The Lord Jesus explicitly states that at the last day of resurrection some shall be saved: “For the hour cometh . . . they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment” (John 5.28,29).
(4) Facing fact, it seems hardly possible that there would be no saved people at the judgment, for the reasons listed below:
(a) There will be people who die during the millennial kingdom. If they are resurrected at this moment, can it be that there are no saved souls among them?(5) Besides the resurrected dead there are the living Israelites (as a matter of fact, the whole nation of Israel) who shall stand before the throne; can we say that they are not saved? Moreover, there are the nations that do not follow Satan at the last rebellion; again, can we say that they are not saved?
(b) Many will have lived before the kingdom comes. They have no part in the first resurrection (that is, reigning in the millennial kingdom on earth). If they appear at this time, will there not be saved souls?
(c) The spirits of those believers who have been excommunicated or who have remained unrepentant shall be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. If they should appear at this hour, how can they not be saved?
(d) The Bible explicitly states that those who do not confess Christ before men will not be confessed by Christ before the angels of God or Father in heaven (Matt. 10.32,33). This means they have no part in the kingdom. If they too were to appear at this juncture, they certainly should be among the saved.
(e) During the Old Testament period many were saved though unfit to reign with Christ. Were they to appear at this moment, they no doubt would be among the saved.
(f) Many have died in infancy. If they are not saved then, when will they be saved?
“Books” is plural in number. “According to their works” means (1) the judgment is based on works, and (2) punishment is measured out according to the quality of their works.
The quality of one's works are determined after one is born-again. But nobody has works that can save them so everyone in the book of works who is not saved is going to Hell.
20.15 To put this verse positively, if anyone’s name is found written in the book of life, that one is definitely saved.
Hence the judgment of the Great White Throne is according to principles: Those who perish perish because of their evil works (not because of their good works), and those who are saved are saved because their names are written in the book of life (not because of their good works).
Simply stated, a person who still rejects Christ and even worships a false Christ as, for example Mormons do, will perish and go to Hell even though they may have many good works. They don't go to Hell for their good works but for their evil works. And everyone who has ever been born has evil works. Works can not save you. Only faith alone in Christ can save you. Works are unto rewards and are what occur after one is saved. Works in Christ are far different than works not in Christ.
