The Book of Judgment – Greg Albrecht

Question:

Would you please give me your perspective – your interpretation – of biblical passages regarding a book of judgment.  I am thinking in particular of a reference to names being blotted out/not found in the Lamb’s Book of Life – but of course there are other similar references to judgment in the Bible.

Response:

Thank you for a great question. There are, as you mention, many references in the Bible to books being opened, in the context of judgment. The cultural and literary context of each reference is helpful, beyond that necessary, in order to arrive at a Christ-centered interpretation. Given your reference to the Lamb’s book of life I suspect you have references in Revelation in mind, specifically Revelation 21:27 as well as 20:12.

“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.” (Rev. 20:22, my emphasis).

Considerations:

• 1. “Books were opened.” This is a standard literary device to speak of any judgment in which one’s life and contributions might be adjudicated on the basis of the deeds and behaviors found within the ledger. Books being opened calls to mind, then, in the Bible, especially in the Old Covenant, and now, in our contemporary society, the idea of negative charges against  us, so that our books are found wanting, in disrepair, morally and spiritually bankrupts. People today might idiomatically speak of someone involved in the wrong end of the legal system — they threw the book at her/him.”

• These are not literal books, but symbolic. Books by which we might be judged are metaphorical references, in our society now, and in the Bible at large.

• 2. Within the gospel of Jesus Christ in the New Testament we find many references to the fact that if the only evidence of our lives is found in such books, then we are all sunk —  road kill if you like. However, the good news is that there is another book. This book is the book of life, while the other book, or books if you like, is a book of death. As Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount, two ways, two roads – one by grace leading to life, the other, the broad way, often including Christ-less religion in my view, leading to destruction.  

• The book of life is offered by the grace of God without qualification on our part, for indeed, as Colossians 1:12, “the Father has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.” The book of life is what we do not deserve, the book(s) of our deeds and works, whether they are seen as moral deficiencies or moral virtues, is what we do deserve.   Paul tells us in Romans 6:23 that the gift of God is eternal life, whereas our wages – our earnings – is death. The gospel presents the gift of God, his grace, mercy, forgiveness and love, as a choice on our part, which we may embrace and accept, or deny and reject. 

• 3. The book of life is not our life, but the life of our risen Lord in which we are privileged and blessed to participate as we follow him. It is his life that may live within us, if we yield to him and embrace him. So again, the contrast, death and life. 

• 4. That said, the end of this 20^th chapter says that those who names are not found in the book of life are thrown into the lake of fire. If the books being opened are symbolic and metaphorical, how might we understand this lake of fire? As a literal place of torment? Well, that understanding is in direct conflict with the New Testament and the  gospel of Jesus Christ. 

• 5. Huge and important aspect. We are speaking of the book of Revelation. It is written in an apocalyptic literary genre –  we have no similar exact style in today’s literary genres.  Apocalyptic is filled with frightening images, animals and “beasts” that are known to us but with extraordinary powers beyond those of animals we know, and then unknown beasts we have never seen. Colors and numbers are used in a symbolic way – many feel they can reduce and define these numbers and colors so that they have specific, literal definition. However, if and when we do such a thing we are reading our understanding into the text (eisegesis) rather than seeking to listen to the meaning of the test as it speaks to us (exegesis).

• 6. Some of the chapters of Revelation are more mysterious and symbolic than others, and the last chapters seem to be more heavily flavored with symbolism.  

• 7. Your query “names being blotted out” and I add the “lake of fire” and there could be other ominous references. Do we take these as contradictions to the words of Jesus when he spoke of the never ending forgiveness of Father God? How we take/see/perceive such references, mysteriously symbolic, should be understood in the clear Light of the gospel, rather than seeing them as contradictions to the clear gospel, or as equal statements that cancel each other out.   

• 8. The Book of Life is the focus of the gospel. Many questions about it – as to whether there is a time when someone has been so evil they can never again be welcome to the Book of Life.  But such a terminal ending of the invitation to the gospel is opposed by the continuing love of God who is  our relentless lover, never quitting on someone, but of course always giving everyone the opportunity to reject him. Is there anything anyone can ever do that can so besmirch them that they are never again welcome to the Book of Life? The gospel seems to suggest otherwise – a study of the parables of Jesus, themselves highly symbolic, would suggest otherwise – beginning with of course, the prodigal son. Parables of course are not factual reports of an actual event or person, but because they are not limited by the literal, speak of deep, beautiful and transcendent Truth – specifically Jesus, who is “the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6).

Hoping this will help you, thanking you for allowing Plain Truth Ministries to be of service.

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