Revelation 20:11; And I Saw a Great White Throne
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.
The prophet’s eyes fall on “a great white throne” first of all. It is great in comparison with the thrones mentioned in Revelation 20:4 because it is the throne of God Himself (Lee) and because it is the seat of the last of the judgments. It is white because of its purity and the holiness and righteousness of the verdicts that issue from it (cf. Psalm 97:2; Daniel 7:9).
Revelation 20:4 (KJV) And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Psalm 97:2 (KJV) Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.
Daniel 7:9 (KJV) I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.
The judgment has already taken place before the appearance of the Great White Throne (Revelation 20:4-5).
Revelation 20:4-5 (KJV) And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
Then the judgment of those who sit on thrones in Revelation 20:4 precedes that of the martyrs. The Great White Throne follows the Millennium (Scott).
The judgment of 2 Corinthians 5:10 takes place in heaven as it now exists, but the Great White Throne does not come until the disappearance of the present heaven (Walvoord). The inevitable conclusion is that future judgment will come in a number of phrases, with this from the Great White Throne being the last of them.
The Almighty Father is undoubtedly the One seated on this throne, as He has been throughout the book (Revelation 4:2-3, 9; 5:1, 7, 13; 6:16; 7:10, 15; 19:4; 21:5).
Revelation 4:2-3 (KJV) And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.
Revelation 4:9 (KJV) And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,
Revelation 5:1 (KJV) And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.
Revelation 5:7 (KJV) And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.
Revelation 5:13 (KJV) And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
Revelation 6:16 (KJV) And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
Revelation 7:10 (KJV) And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
Revelation 7:15 (KJV) Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.
Revelation 19:4 (KJV) And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.
Revelation 21:5 (KJV) And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
[Robert L. Thomas, Revelation 8-22 – An Exegetical Commentary, Moody, 1995, 428-429]