The Books Which Determine the Degree of Punishment
In the Revelation 20 passage, books are mentioned in determining the degree of punishment, in addition to the book of life (v. 12). A threefold distinction should be made between the Book of Life, the Lamb’s Book of Life, and other books mentioned.
1. The Book of Life
The Book of Life contains the names of every person who was ever born according to Psalm 139:16: Your eyes did see mine unformed substance; And in your book they were all written, Even the days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was none of them.
Those who believe on the Messiah have their names retained in the Book of Life according to Revelation 3:5: He that overcomes shall thus be arrayed in white garments; and I will in no wise blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
However, in Psalm 69:28, the unsaved have their names blotted out of the Book of Life: Let them be blotted out of the book of life, And not be written with the righteous.
To be blotted out of the book of life does not mean losing your salvation. The point is this: the first book, the book of life, contains the names of everyone who was ever born. If a person is a believer, he has his name retained in the book of life; if someone dies as an unbeliever, his name is blotted out of the book of life.
So then, at the Great White Throne Judgment, if their names are not found in the Book of Life, it will show them to be unsaved and worthy of partaking in this particular judgment.
2. The Other Books
It is at this point that other books, mentioned in verse 12, are used. These books contain accounts of one’s deeds and responses. It is on the basis of what is written in these books that the degrees of punishment will be determined.
3. The Lamb’s Book of Life
Another book mentioned in the Scriptures that should be kept distinct is the Lamb’s Book of Life. This book contains the names of every individual who is born again and only those who are born again. Their names were written into this book before the earth was ever created, according to Revelation 13:8: And all that dwell on the earth shall worship him, every one whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb that has been slain.
It is mentioned again in Revelation 17:8b: And they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, they whose name has not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast, how that he was, and is not, and shall come.
It is known as the Book of the Righteous in Psalm 69:28: Let them be blotted out of the book of life, And not be written with the righteous.
Based on God’s election and foreknowledge, this book contains the names of only those who are born again. And because salvation is eternally sure, it is impossible to be blotted out of this particular book.
Excerpt from Dr Arnold Fruchtenbaum:
MBS045 AFTER THE KINGDOM: Pg 6-7
