The Lamb's Book of Life

Revelation 20:11-15

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.  And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.  And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done.  Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.  And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Yes, there will be a day of judgment, and there is only one judge of all.  John is back in God’s Throne room, where he is given the vision of God’s final judgment for those who had died during the millennial reign.  Recall that Jesus separated the righteous from the unrighteous after the Great Tribulation (Matthew 25 – sheep and goats).  The righteous (sheep) were judged and will go with Jesus into the 1000-year reign, while the unrighteous (goats) will be cast into the lake of fire.  So, the Great White Throne judgment is of those who died having turned from Christ during the millennial reign.  There will be one point of evidence in this judgment event, the Lamb’s Book of Life.  Either your name is in it, or it is not.

I know this is somewhat confusing, but think about the people groups over time.

Righteous 

1. Believers in God from before Jesus’ death and resurrection (OT saints raptured)

2. Believers who have died before the Great Tribulation with faith in Christ as Lord (Church age saints raptured) 

3. Believers (alive and those who were martyred) from the Great Tribulation (return with Jesus during the Millennial reign)

4. New believers converted or born during the Millennial reign of Jesus Christ

Unrighteous

1. OT enemies of God before Jesus

2. Those who died having denied Christ prior to the Great Tribulation

3. Those who denied God during the Great Tribulation despite His signs, plagues, and wrath (many were swept away during the reaping in Revelation 14, others still were burnt up during the battle of Armageddon, birds ate their flesh). Any remaining were separated (goats from Matthew 25) and judged by Jesus before the 1000 year reign began.

4. Those who enter the new Millennial reign of Christ, but turn away from Christ and follow Satan after the Millennium (joined forces with Satan, Gog, and Maggog and were burnt up in the final battle)

These unrighteous are now brought before the Great White Throne for judgment by God alone.  The sea (bottomless pit), death in unrighteousness, and Hades (death before Christ) all gave up their dead to be judged a final time. This judgment will establish their eternal destination in the lake of fire.  Each of these people had a first death (physically), and now has experienced the second death and permanent separation from God the Father, just as they wished.  God does not wish that any shall perish, but those who of their own free will choose to be separate from Him will be granted their desire permanently.   

So, as a believer, are we without judgment?

No, in Romans 2:6 we are told God “will render to each person according to his deeds.”, So yes, we will be judged, again, reference Matthew 25 when Jesus judges the sheep and the goats.  Those who follow, believe, and trust in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord are His sheep and have their names written in the book of life.  The judgment of our eternal fate is contained in that alone.  Yes, the sinful actions of our lives are outside of His righteousness and recorded in the books, but are redeemed by His sacrifice, death, and God’s grace.  It is only through Jesus blood that we can be accepted as righteous on that day.