Last Things Lesson 16
Jesus Second Coming • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Last Things
Lesson 16
Book of Life
Book of Life
Biblical References
Revelation 20:12 (NLT) — 12 I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books.
I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books.
Psalm 69:28–29 (NLT) — 28 Erase their names from the Book of Life; don’t let them be counted among the righteous.
Erase their names from the Book of Life; don’t let them be counted among the righteous.
I am suffering and in pain. Rescue me, O God, by your saving power.
Philippians 4:3 (NLT) — 3 And I ask you, my true partner, to help these two women, for they worked hard with me in telling others the Good News. They worked along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are written in the Book of Life.
And I ask you, my true partner, to help these two women, for they worked hard with me in telling others the Good News. They worked along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are written in the Book of Life.
Revelation 3:5 (NLT) — 5 All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before my Father and his angels that they are mine.
All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before my Father and his angels that they are mine.
Revelation 13:8 (NLT) — 8 And all the people who belong to this world worshiped the beast. They are the ones whose names were not written in the Book of Life that belongs to the Lamb who was slaughtered before the world was made.
And all the people who belong to this world worshiped the beast. They are the ones whose names were not written in the Book of Life that belongs to the Lamb who was slaughtered before the world was made.
Revelation 17:8 (NLT) — 8 The beast you saw was once alive but isn’t now. And yet he will soon come up out of the bottomless pit and go to eternal destruction. And the people who belong to this world, whose names were not written in the Book of Life before the world was made, will be amazed at the reappearance of this beast who had died.
The beast you saw was once alive but isn’t now. And yet he will soon come up out of the bottomless pit and go to eternal destruction. And the people who belong to this world, whose names were not written in the Book of Life before the world was made, will be amazed at the reappearance of this beast who had died.
Revelation 21:27 (NLT) — 27 Nothing evil will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty—but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
Nothing evil will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty—but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
Bible Dictionary
Bible Dictionary
Term used to refer to a heavenly record.
The Christian understanding of the phrase, however, is rooted in the OT. Passages such as Exodus 32:32; Psalm 87:6; Daniel 7:10; 12:1; and Malachi 3:16.
This passages are seen as God keeping account of his people’s faithfulness and disobedience.
Malachi 3:16 (NLT) — 16 Then those who feared the Lord spoke with each other, and the Lord listened to what they said. In his presence, a scroll of remembrance was written to record the names of those who feared him and always thought about the honor of his name.
Then those who feared the Lord spoke with each other, and the Lord listened to what they said. In his presence, a scroll of remembrance was written to record the names of those who feared him and always thought about the honor of his name.
Paul uses “book of life” to encourage his fellow workers in a lively hope for the future.
Philippians 4:3 (NLT) — 3 And I ask you, my true partner, to help these two women, for they worked hard with me in telling others the Good News. They worked along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are written in the Book of Life.
And I ask you, my true partner, to help these two women, for they worked hard with me in telling others the Good News. They worked along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are written in the Book of Life.
What is interesting about this passage is that Paul is connecting the Book of Life to real life activity.
People who are engaged in ministry.
Use in the Book of Revelation
Sardis
Sardis
Revelation 3:5 (NLT) — 5 All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before my Father and his angels that they are mine.
All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before my Father and his angels that they are mine.
Jesus was not so nice to Sardis. Rev 3:1-6
In our don’t offend me society, truth is needed.
The Risen Lord, identified as “the Lamb,” is custodian of the book (13:8; 21:7).
Revelation 13:8 (BSB) — 8 And all who dwell on the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written from the foundation of the world in the Book of Life belonging to the Lamb who was slain.
And all who dwell on the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written from the foundation of the world in the Book of Life belonging to the Lamb who was slain.
A citizen of heaven
A citizen of heaven
We truly are foreigners in a distant land.
We do not belong here.
Judge opens the books
Judge opens the books
Judgement begins
Verse 12: “And the books were opened”
Daniel 7:9–10 (NLT) — 9 I watched as thrones were put in place and the Ancient One sat down to judge. His clothing was as white as snow, his hair like purest wool. He sat on a fiery throne with wheels of blazing fire, 10 and a river of fire was pouring out, flowing from his presence. Millions of angels ministered to him; many millions stood to attend him. Then the court began its session, and the books were opened.
I watched as thrones were put in place and the Ancient One sat down to judge. His clothing was as white as snow, his hair like purest wool. He sat on a fiery throne with wheels of blazing fire,
and a river of fire was pouring out, flowing from his presence. Millions of angels ministered to him; many millions stood to attend him. Then the court began its session, and the books were opened.
What a scene that will be.
These books contain the record of every thought, word, and deed of every unsaved person who ever lived.
Verse 13: “And all were judged according to their deeds”
Deeds – Words – Thought
Deeds – Words – Thought
Jesus gave the measurement our deeds will be measured by.
Matthew 5:48 (NLT) — 48 But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.
But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.
Peter reminds us that we are to be holy as God is holy.
1 Peter 1:15 (LSB) — 15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your conduct;
but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your conduct;
1 Peter 1:16 (LSB) — 16 because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
Question: Does saying “we sin everyday” or “nobodies perfect” minimize our sin?
Paul makes the point that we are cursed under the “LAW”.
Galatians 3:10 (ESV) — 10 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law and do them.”
For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.”
Guilty of all.
(This passage doesn’t say all sins are the same.)
James 2:10 (ESV) — 10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.
For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.
Not one person can say they are sinless.
Romans 3:23 (ESV) — 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.
God’s Motivation
God’s Motivation
Justice
Justice
God’s justice demands payment for every person’s sins.
Christ paid that penalty for believers.
Galatians 3:13 (NLT) — 13 But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”
But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”
2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV) — 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.
The sweet doctrine of justification
Justification is the Christian doctrine concerning the manner in which God communicates Christ’s righteousness to believers so that they may stand as righteous before him and gain eternal salvation.
A mighty act of God by which he declares sinful people not guilty but righteous instead. He does so by imputing, or crediting, the perfect righteousness of Christ to them.
No remorse
No remorse
Sinners will judged for their thoughts
Psalm 44:21 (NLT) — 21 God would surely have known it, for he knows the secrets of every heart.
God would surely have known it, for he knows the secrets of every heart.
Luke 8:17 (NLT) — 17 For all that is secret will eventually be brought into the open, and everything that is concealed will be brought to light and made known to all.
For all that is secret will eventually be brought into the open, and everything that is concealed will be brought to light and made known to all.
Sinners will also be judged for their words.
Brood of vipers
Matthew 12:34–37 (NIV) — 34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. 35 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 36 But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.
A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.
But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken.
For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Sinner judged by their actions
Ecclesiastes 12:14 (NLT) — 14 God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad.
God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad.
See also Matt 16:27
God’s judgement is just.
God’s judgement is just.
Each person’s life will be individually evaluated.
Each person’s punishment will be consistent with that evaluation.
