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.
3. The 2nd book of importance to us is...
II. THE BOOK(S) OF JUDGMENT. SOME BOOKS RECORD OUR DEEDS/SINS! “The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books” (Rev. 20:12).
A. THE GREAT JUDGE
1. Daniel Webster was asked, “What is the greatest thought you’ve ever had?” He said, “I’ve thought about many things, but the most awesome, the most terrifying, the most shattering thought I’ve ever had, is my personal accountability to God one day.”
2. Many think that when they get to the judgment, they’ll swagger up to Jesus on the throne and say, “Hey, Jesus! How’s it going? I hope you’ll overlook how I lived my life; after all, I’m only human.”
3. The truth is, when you see Jesus, you’ll be paralyzed with fear. When the Apostle John, who was the closest of the 12, saw Jesus in heavenly splendor with His “...eyes like blazing fire...feet like bronze glowing in a furnace... voice like a roaring water fall...and His face shining like the sun in all its brilliance” (Rev. 1:14-16), John fell at His feet as a dead man” (Rev. 1:17). If John responded like that, how will you and I respond?
4. Rev. 6:15-17 says, when they saw Him, “...the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and every free man HID IN CAVES and among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, "FALL ON US AND HIDE US FROM THE FACE OF HIM who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?"
B. THE UNIVERSAL JUDGMENT
1. EVERYONE WILL BE THERE. The TV Moguls, the billionaires, the politicians, the sports stars, the actors & actresses, the power brokers, the blue-collar workers – they’ll all be there that Day. Paul said, “For WE must all stand before God’s judgment seat” (Rom. 14:10). Rev. 1:7 says, “Every eye will see Him.”
2. Every Type of People Will Be There:
a. Young/Old...................e.Kings/peasants
b. Rich/poor.....................f. Moms/dads
c. Powerful/weak............g. Teenagers/children
d. Famous/nobodies
3. YOU WILL BE THERE, I WILL BE THERE. On that day, we will stand before that great Throne.
4. NO ONE WILL BYPASS OR ESCAPE THIS APPT.
a. Adam & Eve will be there.
b. Those long drowned and buried in the oceans. All the ancient civilizations, from every continent and time period, will “hear the voice of the Son of God” and will rise from the dead. Millions, billions will stand there, and God will judge each man/woman according to his works.
C. CRITERIA FOR THIS JUDGMENT
1. A RECORD HAS BEEN KEPT of every thought, word, and action (& even motive), or what we’ve done or said.
2. 1st Cor. 3:13-14 says, our “work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.”
3. Mark 4:22, “For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested.” Matt. 12:36, Jesus said “that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.” Scientists now know that our brains keep a permanent record of all of our life events and only need electrical stimulation for it to be retrieved.
4. No one knows what was on the 18 minutes of erased tapes of Richard Nixon’s Watergate, but all 18 minutes will be aired there. All the unsolved murders will be solved; all guilt exposed.
5. It will be too late to lean upon your husband or preacher or friend; too late to send for your lawyer or get someone to represent you. “We must all stand…” There is no exception.
6. THE SADDEST PART – ETERNAL SEPARATIONS.
a. Some for heaven, others for hell.
b. Mothers pulled from their children crying, “Please don’t take me away!”
c. Husbands pulled from wives, NEVER TO SEE EACH OTHER AGAIN and know the fate of their loved one. It’s too late.
III. ONLY ESCAPE: LAMB’S BOOK OF LIFE
10 FACTS ABOUT THE LAMB’S BOOK OF LIFE
1. It contains all the NAMES OF THE REDEEMED by Jesus Christ. That’s why it’s called “the Lamb’s Book of Life”, Rev. 21:27.
2. It’s the Names of those who are RIGHTEOUS. “Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous” (Ps. 69:28).
3. It’s those who are PART OF THE CHURCH of Jesus. “…to the church of the Firstborn, whose names are written in heaven” (Heb. 12:23). The people whose names are in it might have merited hell, but because their names are in this Book, they’re going to heaven!
4. The VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE are not written in it; “All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world” (Rev. 13:8).
5. It lists those who have ETERNAL LIFE. This is implied by the title of the Book.
6. It is REQUIRED to enter NEW JERUSALEM. Revelation 21:27, “Nothing impure will ever enter it [New Jerusalem], nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”
7. IF your name is in it, it’s THE GREATEST CAUSE FOR REJOICING! Jesus said, “Do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven” Lk. 10:20.
8. It makes the difference between going to HEAVEN OR HELL
9. IT’S POSSIBLE TO HAVE YOUR NAME BLOTTED OUT OF IT. (Mentioned 5X in Scripture:)
a. Exodus 32:32, “Yet now, if you will forgive their sin-- and if not, blot me, I pray, out of Your book which you have written.”
b. Exodus 32:33, “And the Lord said unto Moses, ‘Whoever has sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.’”
c. Deut. 29:20, “...and the Lord shall blot out his name from under heaven.”
d. Psalms 69:28, “Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.”
e. Rev. 3:5, “He that overcomes, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life.”
10. It was the BOOK OF FINAL APPEAL. “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire” Rev. 20:15. Question – Is Your Name There?
CONCLUSION
A. ILLUSTRATION
1. Alexandra Flynn of Fremont, Nebraska, was looking forward to the 2002 homecoming dance. She left home in high spirits, but she did not have her high school ID with her. When the man at the door refused her admission without her ID, she went home to get it. Unable to find it, her mother went with her back to the dance to identify her and to explain.
2. Again, the daughter was refused admission without the ID. Alex had the tickets in her hand but still was not admitted. Even though Alexandra Flynn of Freemont High is Student Body President, plays cello in the Allstate orchestra, is on the Honor Roll, is the school’s number one cheerleader, and she spent hours decorating the gym for the Homecoming Dance, she was still not admitted.
3. Did I mention she was homecoming queen? But, she never did get in. In a similar way, getting into heaven isn’t a matter of our good deeds and accomplishments. Without Jesus Christ, we have no ID to get into heaven.
B. ALTAR CALL: HOW CAN I GET MY NAME IN THAT BOOK? 2 THINGS:
1. It’s sin that keeps you out of this Book, so you must repent and forsake your sins.
2. Secondly, we must trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as the atoning sacrifice for our sins. When we repent and believe, that gets us into the Book; Jesus’ blood makes the difference.
3. Let’s pray and get forgiveness & new life!
C. THE LORD’S SUPPER
BIBLE VERSES ABOUT THE BOOK OF LIFE
THIS BOOK IS THE LIST OF THOSE WHO ARE APPROVED BY GOD AND LIVING FOR GOD
1. IT CAN BE ASSUMED THAT DEDICATED WORKERS ARE IN IT
Luke 10:20, “Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.”
Philippians 4:3, “And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellow-laborers, whose names are in the book of life.”
Heb. 12:23, “to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect.”
2. IT’S POSSIBLE TO HAVE YOUR NAME BLOTTED OUT
Exodus 32:32, “Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.
Exodus 32:33, “And the Lord said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.
Deuteronomy 29:20, “...and the Lord shall blot out his name from under heaven.
Psalm 69:28, “Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.
Revelation 3:5, “He that overcomes, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
3. THE FOLLOWERS OF BEAST WON’T HAVE THEIR NAMES IN IT
Rev. 13:8, “All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world.”
Revelation 17:8, “The beast that you saw was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
4. IT WILL BE USED AT THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT
Revelation 20:12, “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. [Since this judgment is for the wicked dead, the Book of Life will probably be used as final confirmation of their rejection of Christ and loss of eternal life.]
5. IF NOT IN BOOK, THROWN INTO LAKE OF FIRE
Revelation 20:15, “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
6. REQUIRED TO ENTER NEW JERUSALEM
Revelation 21:27, “And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defiles, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or makes a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.
7. OTHER POTENTIAL VERSES
Daniel 12:1, “...and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.”
Malachi 3:16, “Then they that feared the Lord spoke often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.
Daniel 7:10, “A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.
