Friday, January 26, 2007

The Book of Life and the Books


In Revelation we read:

11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life . The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life , he was thrown into the lake of fire. Rev 20:11-15 NIV

This is a very interesting passage because there appear to be judgments taking place with two different standards being applied. In verse 12, "books were opened," and then, "Another book was opened, which is the book of life." The "books" and the "book of life" are different, and are used differently. The books are used to judge everyone by what they do. This passage does not say what the consequence of that judgment will be.

The book of life is also used to judge people, but the standard is different. The only thing in the book of life are names. If one's name is not in the book, they are thrown into the lake of fire. Presumably those whose names are in the book of life remain to participate in the new heaven and the new earth which are described in chapter 21 which follows immediately.

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