11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sits upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them.

12 Then I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.

15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

— Revelation 20:11-12; 15

A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened.

— Daniel 7:10

Then those who feared the Lord spoke with one another. The Lord paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the Lord and esteemed his name.

— Malachi 3:16

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace, mercy and love from Christ to you.

Revelation 20:12 mentions some books were opened and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. Alongside the books of deeds, another book is opened-the Book of Life, a record of all those who put their trust in Jesus as Savior and Lord. Not one name in the Book of Life deserves to be written there. Each name is in the Book of Life by God’s grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Only God’s gift of faith in Jesus produces the God-pleasing obedience that fulfills His will.

The last note in the scene of final judgment affirms “anyone whose name was not found written in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.” God offers a way of restoration that acknowledges our need for Him; rejecting God’s way of salvation is declaring we do not need His help. The most serious mistake in this life is to reject the Savior. Those whose names are not written in the Lamb’s Book of Life will die the second death and suffer the just punishment for their sin forever. These sobering facts about judgment should compel God’s people to pray for and share the gospel with those who do not yet know the love of their Savior.