What Are the Books?
In the book of revelation chapter 20 it speaks of the books. I know there is the book of life. What are the books?
The verses in question are:
Revelation 20:12And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
See All... And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Revelation 20:15And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
See All... And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
The book of life here is also called "the Lamb's book of life" (Revelation 21:27And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.
See All...) or "the book of life of the Lamb" (Revelation 13:8And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
See All...). This is the book of names of those who are saved and have a place in heaven. Notice that in Revelation 20:15And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
See All... (above) those who were cast into hell received this judgment because their name was not in the book of life.
The "books" mentioned in verse 12 are in addition to the book of life. They are the object of your question. Notice two things about them.
- What was written in the books told of their works. That is, the books were the books keeping an account of the works of the people being judged. They were a record of their works.
- These books were used to judge those who did not have their name in the book of life. They were not used to determine whether or not someone was saved. Rather, they were used to determine the punishment they were to receive. Christ taught in Luke 12:41-48 [41] Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all?
[42] And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?
[43] Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
[44] Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.
[45] But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;
[46] The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.
[47] And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
[48] But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
See All... that the servant who knew the Lord's will and did not do it would receive "many stripes" (v.47) while the man who knew not would receive "few stripes" (v.48). Certainly, we do not understand all the implications of this teaching, but it clearly teaches that there will be levels of judgment for the lost. In this parable, the unworthy servant is appointed his portion with the unbelievers (v.46), so we can say that he is lost.