Speaking of the Great White Throne Judgment and Calvinism recently made me want to mention something else. Let’s have another look at the scripture about the Great White Throne Judgement.
Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
Revelation 20:11-15
Two Sets of Books
The “books” referenced in verse 13 are commonly seen as the individual histories of each of the people standing before God for judgement. My favorite question is, if salvation is a result of something we did, why are there two sets of books?
Why does a shopkeeper keep two sets of books? One that he shows to the government for taxes, and the other for his personal use that tells the real story.
So, if salvation is something that happens inside the realm of time, then why is the individual history not enough? Why consult with the Lamb’s Book of Life, which this scripture shows, is the one that makes the decision about whether a person spends eternity in heaven or hell?
Since it’s the Lamb’s Book of Life that counts, let’s find out how you get your name written in this book.
And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast, because it was and is not and is to come.
Revelation 17:8b
From the Foundation of the World
Revelation 17:8 says that our names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life from the foundation of the world. How, then, could it be possible that it results from a decision we make within time?