Revelation 20:12 Commentary and Bible Study

The books were opened (Daniel 7:10) – the record books – but as well as judgement books, the book of life is opened (Daniel 12:1). The dead judged and our sins are recorded there in the books, but the redeemed are also found in the book of life. Believers are not judged according to their deeds, but according to grace. How the saints welcome the grandeur of this scene as an answer to all the scoffing of men! The verse opens with the dead standing before the throne of God. Verse 12 anticipates what is said in verse 13 where the resurrection is described. This is evident from the repetition of the statement that they were judged. Verse 13 presents death and hell (Hades, the temporary place of the lost) delivering up their occupants so that they may be judged. But as they stand before the throne in verse 12, this has already happened for they are being judged. There will be a resurrection of the righteous and the unrighteous Scripture teaches. It will take place in the same hour according to John 5:28-29. The purpose of the resurrection of the wicked it is to allow them to be judged. They now stand before the throne of God, knowing that they are guilty, and can hide their guilt no longer. They have been summoned before God and not even death has not been able to hide them from his face. For them, resurrection is no blessing. They have been raised in order to receive their due punishment. They do not receive a body of honour, but they receive back their old bodies of dishonour. There is no higher court to which they can appeal. They stand defenceless before God in order that each one may receive the things done in the body. God has a complete record of history in the greatest possible detail. This is represented as a book to help us understand, but in reality God does not need a book to remember what has taken place. All our deeds and all our lives are not in a place as remote to God as a book; they are in his consciousness, influencing his current thoughts and actions. Nevertheless the Scripture represents this as a book to help us grasp how accurate and detailed a record it is, and how just are the consequences. There will be no denying that these things have taken place, for God will bring to our remembrance all that we have done, so that our consciences will be compelled to confirm what is written. Men will hear in terror of their past acts, acts which they believed at the time were buried in obscurity, acts that no one had witnessed. The secrets of men’s hearts will be revealed. Their endless efforts to cover over their deeds and conceal their motives will only add to their guilt. Each one will be brought into the presence of Christ personally. Judgment will not be delegated to some lesser being. He has been appointed to be the judge because he is the Son of Man. They will experience the shame of knowing that he sees into their hearts. What great terror will grip the heart. Those who have bribed and bullied their way through earthly courts will find this court to be incorruptible. No one is afraid of them anymore, for they stand before the Son of Man. At the same time that the resurrected dead are being judged, the Book of Life (Revelation 13:8) is also opened. This book is significantly different from the other books and so is mentioned separately. What matters more than anything else is whether our names are written in this book. What? Can the mere entry of our name in this book make the difference between eternity in heaven or in hell? Yes, for as a consequence of that entry comes all the work of God in our lives. The whole chain of saving providences in our lives follows.