There are four Books that are opened at the final judgment:
1. The Book of Life, also called the Book of the Living and the Lambs Book of Life. This book contains the names of all the people to have ever lived. Saved and unsaved, it also reveals the work each person was chosen to do in the service of the Lord, before they are born, and whether you did the work for the Lord or not.
“Before I formed thee in the belly, I knew thee and ordained thee a prophet unto the nations” Jeremiah 1:5; Isaiah 49:1, 5
“In thy books all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned when as yet there was none of them” Psalm 139:16
Prior to physical birth of a person, there is information in Heaven that God writes about the details of each living soul, and those details are recorded in the “Book of the Living”.
The name of every person is written in the book of the living at the time of their birth. When a person accepts Christ, their name is entered in the “Book of the Life”. There are some things a person can do to be blotted out of the Book of Life, which speaks to your salvation. Things like, accepting the mark of the Beast or worshipping the Beast if you’re in the tribulation. (Rev 14:9-11) Taking words out of the book of Revelation or manipulating the book by changing the meaning of the book can all get you blotted out. (Revelation 22:19)
Finally, being deceived by Satan after the thousand year reign will do it too (Revelation 20:7-10).
“He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in White Raiment, and I will not blot out his name out of the Book of Life” (Rev 3:5; Exodus 32:32-33; Psalm 69:28).
Your name is not written in the Book of Life until you perform the act of choice and exercise your faith in the acceptance of Christ. Just as it is not blotted out, until you fail to overcome, as in the people who make it to Heaven, experience the thousand year reign, and then side with Satan when he is released and deceives them. (Revelation 20:7–9)
Just because God knows what we will do, does not mean He makes the decision for us in advance. We have to fulfill the choices we make, or else it is not a choice at all. The Book of Life is mentioned twelve times in the Bible. This Book became known as the Lambs Book of Life, after Jesus was resurrected and God gave Him all authority.
2. The Book of Tears
“Thou tellest my wandering, put thou my tears into thy bottle, are they not in thy Book”Psalm 56:8
God sees and acknowledges tears of man.
“Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen they tears, Behold I will heal thee” 2 Kings 20:5
“The Lord is nigh unto them that are of broken heart, and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit” Psalm 34:18
God has promised to wipe away the tears of man. He will reconcile the hurts of this life with us in the end (Isaiah 25:8).
“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain” Rev 21:4
During antiquity, even before David’s time, it was customary to collect the tears of the people who cried at funerals and put them in a bottle. These tears were sealed and used as a symbol that God watches over every tear shed and will reconcile them with man after the judgment.
3. The Book of Remembrance
This book has the names of those who fear the Lord and think of Him in all they do. God records all your efforts of compassion, obedience, responses to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, tithes, offerings and charity to the poor in this book.
“Then they that feared the Lord, spake often one to another and the Lord hearkened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him, for them that feared the Lord and that thought upon His name” Malachi 3:16
4. The Book of Rewards
This is where all men’s deeds are examined, specifically those that are done under the auspices of work for the Lord.
“Every man’s work shall be made manifest, for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire, and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is“ 1 Corinthians 3:13-15
“Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them, otherwise you have no reward of your Father which is in Heaven“ Matthew 6:1-4
The word ‘Alms’ in the Greek is “Eleemon”/ El-eh-ay, meaning compassion towards the poor or needy, merciful. Other works recorded in this book are the words we speak, specifically idol words. Idol words that harm people, making statements that produce no spiritual fruit towards God like gossip, spreading rumors, defaming someone’s character, planting evil seeds of doubt in the minds of others about a person, creating distrust or other forms of verbal manipulation.
“That every idol word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shall be condemned” Matthew 12:36-37
Words are very important to God, the creation of Heaven and Earth were accomplished with words, God’s words. (Genesis 1:3-26).
James spoke of the power of words (James 3:1-18).
Solomon said it quite simply,
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof” Proverbs 18:21
God out of the Book of Life, the Book of Rewards and the Book of Remembrance judges the lost. The Books of Rewards and Remembrance will determine the degree of punishment one will experience at the final judgment.
How the Books are used
The Book of the Living
Your entire life is recorded in this book, both those saved and the unsaved.
The Book of Life
Considered to be part of the Book of the Living, your salvation is recorded in this section of the Book. The moment you accept Christ, your name is entered into this Book.
The Book of Tears
Your life’s grief is recorded in this book, every moment of anguish and despair.
Book of Remembrance
This book keeps record of every physical deed both good and bad, with respect to your efforts to help or hurt God’s people. This includes any intercessory prayers, prayers of agreement, tithes, offerings, any help you have given to the needy is all recorded here.
“in as much as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” Matthew 25:35-46 (v. 40).
Book of Rewards
This Book outlines the actual rewards for the work you have done in the Earth for the Lord’s sake, including that which was placed in your heart to do for others. This will delineate what your actual reward is, crowns, mansions etc. The crowns of salvation are recorded here as is the crown of righteousness among others. Conversely, the degree of punishment for those condemned is outlined in this book too.
“And the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the Books, according to their works” Revelation 20:12
Tony - W.A.M. 