10 Facts About The Lamb's Book Of Life

THE LAMB’S BOOK OF LIFE

Rev. 20:11-15

INTRODUCTION

A. WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE ABOUT LIFE AFTER DEATH? Survey of Opinions of Life After Death:

1. “I think that when you die, you’re dead. That’s it. There’s nothing else.” John, St. Louis, Missouri.

2. “After death, God will judge people based on their intentions in life...the good people will go to heaven and the bad people will go to hell...some...in hell that feel remorseful will possibly be forgiven and later go to heaven too.” Zeina, Memphis, Tennessee.

3. “You go get in line for the final judgment....If you’ve been good in the eyes of Jesus you go to heaven; if not, you go to hell.” Sally, Winnipeg, Canada.

4. “You are reborn. Sort of like reincarnation....People come back as animals because some are loving people and some are mean,” Kuala, Edinburg, Pennsyl.

5. “We are in hell now, and when we pass on, heaven awaits us.” Wendy, email.

6. “There is an afterlife, but I don’t believe in hell. The next world is closer than we think.” Nika, email.

7. “We are all children of God. After we die, there is peace. Heaven is in the face of the people you love. To get there, make choices that will be of service to others.” Imelda, email

8. Everyone has their opinion, but the Bible is the infallible authority about life, death, and eternity. Let's see what it says:

B. THESIS & TEXT

1. TEXT: Revelations 20:11-15, “Then I 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. 12And 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. 13 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 they had done. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.”

2. The Bible tells us about Three Books that will impact our future. How we deal with these three books will affect where we spend eternity. The last is the Lamb’s Book of Life. But first is...

I. THE BOOK OF THE LAW

“Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.” Josh. 1:8. One of the books at the Judgment will be the Book of the Law. What is it?

A. THE UNCHANGING STANDARD OF HUMAN CONDUCT

1. The WORD OF GOD IS THE STANDARD. It is the moral ruler or straight edge against which all human behavior is measured/ compared, whether it’s right or wrong. There is no other correct standard.

2. As an Example:

a. ¼ of couples in the U.S. are living together. Our society (talk shows) will tell you it’s “OK”. The education establishment will tell you it’s “OK”. Your friends on social media will tell you it’s “OK”.

b. I don’t care who says it’s “OK”, God’s Word says it’s sin! Even if everybody’s doing it, it is still wrong!

3. Listen to 2 Tim. 3:16-17(Message), “Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God's way...”

B. IT WILL JUDGE US

1. Some think they can sit in criticism on God’s Word, but they can’t. Rather, the Bible sits in judgment on us. The “Canon” of Scripture means “a reed or measuring rod”. The Bible is the ruler by which our lives will be judged.

2. Jesus said, “There is a judge for the one who rejects Me and does not accept My words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day” (John 12:48).

C. BE DOERS OF THE WORD

1. The Apostle James tells us to “be doers of the Word of God and not hearers only.” It’s not knowing the Bible that’s important, but putting its teachings into practice.

2. Before China became communist, there was a Chinese man who became a Christian. To the amazement of the staff at the mission, he brought a number of his friends to faith in Christ. When he was asked how he succeeded in bringing so many to Christ, he replied; “First I get on my knees and talkie, talkie, talkie. Then I got on my feet and walkie, walkie, walkie.” He put feet to his prayers. He didn’t just hear the Word, but put it into practice.