When the Books are Opened - November 27 Readings - Revelation 20:11-15

 

Give Thanks to God

Today's Reading:  Revelation 20:11-15          

Then I saw a great white throne and one seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from his presence, and no place was found for them. 12 I also saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged according to their works by what was written in the books. 13 Then the sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them; each one was judged according to their works. 14 Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.

Through the Bible Readings: Daniel 11-12, James 4, Psalm 132:13–18, Proverbs 29:4–6

 

If you wish to read through the Bible in a year, follow these readings. 

Devotional:  When the Books are Opened      

What an odd Thanksgiving passage. Why would I take you to hell when we are considering reasons to give thanks? 

Final judgment exists. When we arrive at Revelation 20:11-15, we cannot pretend otherwise. There is a Great White Throne and seated on it is the Judge of all the earth. Every man and woman who has ever lived and died is brought to stand before this throne and is judged. It has been appointed to us to die once, and after that, the judgment. 

John describes two different sets of books being opened. In verse 12, it says, "the books were opened." This implies that the dead are judged according to their works, and that is something that no human being wants. "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." Every one of us who is judged according to the works we have done in this life will be found wanting. No one passes this judgment. There is no one righteous, not even one. No one offers an appeal or justification. Guilty as charged. That day will be a TRUE Black Friday. 

But there is another book that is opened, mentioned in verse 12 as well, the "book of life," also called the Lamb's book of life. In this book is written the names of those who have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.

Why do people go to hell? Because their name is not written in that book! Because as sinners they have not repented of their sin and turned to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. John put it about as clearly as one could in his first epistle.

"He who has the Son has life. He who does not have the Son does not have life." (1 John 5:12)

Eternity is about Jesus. What did you do with him? There's not a single one of us who can stand when God opens the books and judges our lives. We are sinners. But those who have placed their faith in Jesus have a secure hope in heaven for all eternity, a hope for glory.

It is my guess that most of those who read this devotional "have the Son." You have repented of your sin and put your faith in him. If you haven't, do so now. But if your name is written in the book of life by the grace of God, by the blood of Christ, a passage such as this should evoke the highest praise. 

Give thanks that your eternity does not depend on you but on Jesus Christ. Give thanks that Jesus paid with his blood so that your name could be written in the Book of Life. Give thanks that though your works could never earn righteousness, his was imputed to you. Give thanks that you need never fear the Great White Throne because "Jesus Paid It All." 

Father, I thank you for your Son, our Savior. Because of him, I have hope for all eternity. I have life I didn't serve and a place in heaven I couldn't earn.  

Giving Thanks:

What characteristics of God do you see here for which you can give thanks? 

What has God done for you for which you can give thanks? 

Is your name written in Book of Life? Do you "have the Son" - because you repented of your sins and put your faith in Christ? If not, turn to him now and give your life to Christ.

If you are "in the Book" give thanks that God saved you and give glory to him. You have heaven even though your sins deserved hell. Rejoice.