Revelation 20 11

Revelation 20:11 kjv

And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

Revelation 20:11 nkjv

Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them.

Revelation 20:11 niv

Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them.

Revelation 20:11 esv

Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them.

Revelation 20:11 nlt

And I saw a great white throne and the one sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from his presence, but they found no place to hide.

Revelation 20 verses

Revelation 20 11 Meaning

Revelation 20:11 initiates the dramatic scene of the final judgment for all the unsaved, universally known as the Great White Throne Judgment. John is shown a majestic, pure, and supremely authoritative throne, from which the mere presence of its divine occupant causes the existing heavens and earth to utterly vanish. This powerful imagery signifies the complete dissolution of the old cosmos, making way for God’s righteous and perfect new creation and ensuring that nothing from the corrupted former order remains in His absolute holiness.

Revelation 20 11 Context

Revelation 20:11 appears within a sequence of critical end-time events. Following Christ's millennial reign and the final defeat of Satan (vv. 1-10), this verse introduces the ultimate judicial scene: the Great White Throne Judgment. This specific judgment is distinct from the prior judgment of believers and is exclusively for the resurrection and sentencing of the unsaved dead. Historically, during John's time, believers were experiencing severe Roman persecution. The vision of this final judgment would have offered profound solace and justice, reassuring them that their oppressors, and indeed all who opposed God's will, would face an unavoidable and perfectly righteous reckoning. It also underscores God's sovereignty over creation and history, reinforcing that the temporary political and cosmic orders are subservient to His eternal plan for a new, righteous kingdom.

Revelation 20 11 Word analysis

• Then I saw: (Greek: kai eidon, καὶ εἶδον). A common introductory phrase in Revelation, signifying a new vision or scene revealed to John. It emphasizes his role as a witness, lending direct authority to the subsequent revelation.
• a great: (Greek: megan, μέγαν). Indicates more than physical size; it denotes immense importance, majesty, and supreme authority. This throne surpasses all earthly or heavenly seats of power in its significance.
• white: (Greek: leukon, λευκόν). A strong biblical symbol for purity, holiness, and perfect righteousness. Its use here highlights the absolute moral integrity and incorruptibility of the coming judgment. It evokes divine glory and truth.
• throne: (Greek: thronon, θρόνον). Represents divine authority, sovereign rule, and judicial power. It is the seat of the universe's ultimate authority, from which absolute judgment will be rendered.
• and Him who was seated on it: (Greek: kai ton kathēmenon ep' auton, καὶ τὸν καθήμενον ἐπ’ αὐτόν). While unnamed, this figure is undeniably God—either God the Father or God the Son (Jesus Christ), as judgment is frequently ascribed to both in different aspects, yet all authority has been committed to the Son. The participle "seated" implies a posture of ultimate stability, authority, and control.
• from whose face: (Greek: hou apo prosōpou, οὗ ἀπὸ προσώπου). This strong idiomatic expression literally means "from His presence" or "from the presence of His face." It denotes the direct, overwhelming, and irresistible impact or emanation of His being, rather than merely His gaze. The sheer power of His holy essence causes things to react.
• the earth and the heaven: (Greek: hē gē kai ho ouranos, ἡ γῆ καὶ ὁ οὐρανός). This phrase refers to the entirety of the created cosmos, the universe as it currently exists. It implies the whole current physical order is involved, emphasizing the cosmic scale of what is about to occur.
• fled away: (Greek: ephugen, ἔφυγεν). This vivid, strong verb describes a complete and permanent disappearance, as if escaping an overpowering force. It suggests a radical, irreversible dissolution rather than mere movement or displacement. The old creation cannot stand in the intense holiness and justice of God's presence.
• and there was found no place for them: (Greek: kai topos ouch heirethē autois, καὶ τόπος οὐχ εὑρέθη αὐτοῖς). An emphatic declaration of absolute disappearance and non-existence for the old creation. It reinforces that the old cosmos ceased to be in any form within God's sight, preparing the way for an entirely new creation.

Words-group analysis

• "a great white throne": This phrase conveys the immeasurable majesty, unblemished purity, and perfect justice characterizing the ultimate seat of judgment. It highlights the divine, unparalleled authority and moral standard by which all will be assessed, a throne against which no rebellion can stand and no unrighteousness can abide.
• "Him who was seated on it": This signifies the absolute, unchallenged sovereign Judge. Whether primarily understood as God the Father or, by delegated authority, God the Son, this figure represents ultimate righteousness, omnipotence, and omniscience. His posture of being seated implies unshakeable authority and an unwavering readiness to execute final and just decrees.
• "from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away": This profoundly illustrates the overwhelming, holy, and consuming power of God's immediate presence. The current physical universe, corrupted by sin, cannot endure or coexist with such perfect righteousness and absolute power. It’s a powerful metaphor for the purging and obliteration of the old creation necessary before the new can be established.
• "and there was found no place for them": This emphatic statement underscores the absolute finality of the old creation's cessation. It implies complete obliteration and utter non-existence for the previous cosmos. No trace remains, no hiding place exists, for the former things in the presence of ultimate divine holiness, making a radical, unblemished new beginning possible.

Revelation 20 11 Bonus section

• The concept of creation being unable to stand before God's unveiled presence finds roots in several Old Testament passages where mountains melt or the earth quakes (e.g., Ps 97:5; Nahum 1:5), emphasizing the fearful majesty of Yahweh. This cosmic collapse is therefore not arbitrary chaos but a divinely ordained and purposeful act, leading to the establishment of the eternal, sinless new creation (Rev 21:1).
• While not explicitly stated as Christ, the broader New Testament teaching indicates that "all judgment" has been committed to the Son (Jn 5:22). Therefore, the One seated on the throne acts with full divine authority as the ultimate arbiter of all humanity’s eternal destiny.
• This specific judgment differs from other judgments mentioned in Scripture, such as the Bema Seat judgment for believers (2 Cor 5:10), which assesses faithful service for rewards, and not for salvation or condemnation. The Great White Throne Judgment is for the unrighteous dead, who are resurrected precisely for the purpose of receiving their final condemnation.

Revelation 20 11 Commentary

Revelation 20:11 depicts the climactic event of universal judgment: the Great White Throne. The scene is permeated with majesty and ultimate finality. The "great white throne" itself signifies God's absolute sovereignty, incorruptible purity, and perfect justice—every judgment rendered will be utterly righteous. The fact that the Judge is simply identified as "Him who was seated on it" reinforces His unparalleled authority, for His identity is supreme and unquestionable. The cosmic impact of His presence, where "the earth and the heaven fled away," dramatically illustrates His overwhelming holiness and power. The very fabric of the old creation, stained by sin, cannot endure in the unveiled light of His glory. This is not a partial renewal but a complete eradication, signified by "no place was found for them." This complete dissolution sets the stage for the creation of new heavens and a new earth, ensuring that all subsequent eternity will be utterly free from the lingering effects or traces of sin and imperfection. The verse is a profound reminder of every person’s inevitable accountability before a holy God, emphasizing the eternal consequences of rejecting His ultimate truth and grace.