The Elect and the Gospel

Okay, I understand now.

Whether those at the Great White Throne are aware of their need for salvation or not, they have to rely on their works for salvation as they have no other choice. It's de facto.

 

Ken H,

Okay, so you mean their reliance upon works is "default" for the non-elect. I understand that point but I'm still confused about the concept in the light of Total Depravity.

You're suggesting, I think, that those at the Great White Throne are there as a result of their "works for salvation". That still doesn't make sense to me. The Totally Depraved should never be "working for salvation". They also should never be found before God has having presented their "works for salvation".

 

The 'works' referred to in Revelation 20:13 are not only good works but evil works, better known as acts of sins.

Dr. A.T. Robertson, the Greek scholar, suggests this on page 464 of his Word Pictures In The New Testament. 'We are saved by grace, but character at last (according to their works) is the test as the fruit of the tree {Matt. 7:16, 20; . . . . 25:31-46; John 15:6; . . . . }.

The alleged 'good works' of sinners in Revelation 20:12 is a misnomer. The Bible says that even 'the plowing of the wicked is sin' in the eyes of God. [Proverbs 21:4]