The Two Books

Revelation 20:11-15

11. 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.

12. 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.

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 he had done.

14. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death.

15. If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

This is Judgement Day.

Armageddon is not Judgement Day. Armageddon takes place 1000 years prior to Judgement Day. It is all rather clear to see in Revelation Chapter 20.

It is amazing how wrong the world, and general church, view of these events really is. A simple read of the chapter will show anyone willing to look at it. You can see it it Greek or English, it doesn't matter. It is the same.

There are two books opened on Judgement Day. One will list the works a person does. Each person will be judged by these works, as it is written.

Mark 10:18

18. "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good--except God alone.

Galatians 2:16

16. know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.

As you can see, no one, as Jesus said, will be good enough by their works or effort to be saved.

No one.

Faith is the only way to be saved. Faith, or more specifically faith in the work of Jesus Christ is the only way a name is written into the book of life

Luke 10:19-20

19. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.

20. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."

Ephesians 2:8-9

8. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-

9. not by works, so that no one can boast.

Revelation 3:5

5. He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.

Everyone will be judged according to what they have done.

Yet, only those whose names are written in the Book of Life will survive.

This same message holds true throughout all of scripture. Faith alone saves.

If you trust in your works, or ability, you will not find your name in the Book of Life.

Are you boasting about your service and sacrifice for God?

That is not Faith in Jesus Christ.

Do you relish in your power to pray against demons?

That is not faith in Jesus Christ.

Do you look down on others less successful than you in work, ministry, and society?

That is not faith in Jesus Christ.

Do you believe anything God gives you from faith to praying "in His name" offer you an ability or power to manipulate this world?

That is not faith in Jesus Christ.

They are all works.

If you hold to these things, you will face judgement by those works...and lose.

How do you want to be judged? By your impressive works, or by your terrible need for Jesus Christ?

Me, I got nothing. I'm solely holding on to the one who paid that price. The price that I could not afford.

That, as scripture says, is all I need.

I'm in the Book of Life.