The following sequence takes place after the 1000 year millenial kingdom. The elect have already gained their salvation...either at the rapture or at Christs second coming depending on your belief:
Rev 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and Him sitting on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And a place was not found for them.
Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, the small and the great, stand before God. And 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.
Note: The dead great and small can't be the elect. They have already been raptured, translated, become Christ's at the beginning of the 1000 years. The elect are the dead in Christ and those who are alive at Christs coming.
Also interesting is they are judged on what is written in the "books", not just what is in the Book of Life. The books is greek "biblion". What other books that set God's standards are there but the books of the bible?
Rev 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead in it. And death and hell delivered up the dead in them. And each one of them was judged according to their works.
The dead are being judged. Again, can't be the elect because they don't need to be judged. They are the elect, those elected to be kings and priests in the millenial kingdom.
Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the Lake of Fire. This is the second death.
Rev 20:15 And if anyone was not found having been written in the Book of Life, he was cast into the Lake of Fire.
People are being judged. If the fate of all of them is to be thrown into the lake of fire, then there's no reason for a "judgement". Remember, they are judged on the "books", which can only be the books of scripture.
Act 24:15 And I have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.
Here Paul differentiates between the elect and the just. Paul didn't say here that the "elect" are resurrected, but the "just".
I would be interested to know how Calvinists interpet this passage.
Your problem is that you are listening to the gospel of secret whispers and dreams through a dreamer who dreamed of a rapture of the church. Does this bother you at all?
Note that SEVERAL books are mentioned...there is the book of life (containing the names of the elect) and the "other" books..the books of judgement. The elect are not in the judgement books as Jesus has paid the price and took their judgement for them
Rev 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.
Please note the judgements were not from the book of life here...but from the "other books"
Rev 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.
Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Rev 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Yes there is a need for the lost to be "judged..as every man must know why he deserves hell Doug
Rev 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither [whatsoever] worketh abomination, or [maketh] a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.
2Cr 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things [done] in [his] body, according to that he hath done, whether [it be] good or bad
Ecc 3:17 I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for [there is] a time there for every purpose and for every work.
Doug as you read Chapter 19 you see the marriage supper is prepared...now you do not prepare a marriage supper without already having a bride..The Bride is the church dressed in fine white linin..The Bride has her name written in the book of life..there is no sin judgement for the Bride as her sin was paid for in total by the Lamb...HE paid the Brides price
There is no record of our sins to be opened
Col 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross...He nailed them to the cross
And so the Bride waits as the judgement of God falls on the unsaved..
Rev 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire
Psa 28:4 Give them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their endeavours: give them after the work of their hands; render to them their desert.
Rev 11:18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
The Book of life is opened for the reward of the Saints..a judgement of works unto reward..not damnation
Doug I do not have much of an interest in the end times as a study..but there is no scripture to indicate that there will be salvation based on works for anyone.Only the elect written in the Lambs book will be at that celebration!
2Jo 1:10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into [your] house, neither bid him God speed: