Revelation Part 15: The Dead are Judged

Here is a statement no one can argue with:

Everyone will die someday.

There is absolutely no way to get around it. YOU. WILL. DIE. SOME. DAY! The question a lot of people ask, however, is, "What happens after we die?"

The answer is in Revelation 20:11-15:

"Then I [John] 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. 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. 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. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire."

Folks, it doesn't get much plainer than that! We will be judged according to what we've done here on earth! And one of the things that will be asked is, "Did you love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength? Did you know His Son, Jesus Christ, as your Savior?"

Jesus himself said in John 14:6, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Good deeds will not get you into heaven where the Father is! Being a good person won't do it. Giving to the poor won't do it. It is only through Jesus Christ! He is our door to heaven.

Notice the books mentioned in Rev. 20:12. "Books" are opened, which have all our deeds recorded in them. The dead are judged by what is in these books. I imagine these books are huge and many since every single person that has ever lived will be judged. This is where our good deeds and giving to the poor come in. It's where our victories and failures have been recorded. God will remind us of all we've done--good and bad--and he'll judge us based on what is in these books.

But...

...There's another book.

This book is THE book! It is the book of life! When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, our names are written in the book of life.

"If anyone's name is not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire." (20:15)

We already know that Satan, the beast and the false prophet have been thrown into the lake of fire, which is the second death. Rev. 20:10 says "they will be tormented day and night for ever and ever." Even death and Hades--which is hell--are thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is worse than any "hell" we can imagine.

If your name is not written in the book of life, you will be thrown into the lake of fire and experience the same eternal punishment that Satan and his minions will endure.

I've said this before in this study:

The time to repent is now, folks!

My deeds are recorded in those books. I will be judged. You will, too. But praise God, I am assured that my name is written in the book of life, so I will not suffer eternal punishment!

Is your name in the book of life? If not, what are you waiting for? It can be written in there today!