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[Revelation Ch.20b: The Great White Throne]

IV. Its Criteria

REV 20:12 ...and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

Two kinds of records will be opened. First will be the "books." These are records of each life from the moment of his birth until physical death closed the books. Every word, every thought, every deed had been recorded by God and divinely penned.

Earthly laws judge people on what they had done, not on what they had thought. Someday, thoughts will be included before the Great White Throne. Jesus had warned--

MAT 5:21 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:

MAT 5:22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

MAT 5:27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:

MAT 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Then, the Book of Life is a record of the names of all the saved throughout all ages. It identifies those who have eternal life through the shed blood of the Son of God for his sin. John 3:36 affirms: "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."

At the very moment when a person said to God: "God, I am a sinner and cannot save myself. I now trust Jesus Christ as my personal Savior and Lord", God records his name on this Book of Life. He is also "baptized" into the Body of Christ (I Cor. 12:13), and he is forever a child of God. Those whose names are in the Book of Life will never have to enter the Lake of Fire.

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