Written by Paul J Bucknell on May, 14, 2022

Revelation 20:12 The Opened Books with Study Questions

Question Given

Revelation 20 describes the final judgment, where we read “books were opened and another book was opened which is the book of life.” What are the books that were opened?

“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” (Rev 20:12).

The Immediate Scene

Revelation 20:12 nicely provides your answer as to what the “books” refer. There are two references to these “books” in verse 12. The first initiates the judgment scene. Everyone somehow manages to squeeze before the throne “and the books were opened.”

The “Book of Life” is differentiated from these books—“then another book was opened.” The book of Life is not one of the many “books.” The Book of Life includes the names of those redeemed by the Lamb’s blood, and saved from the judgment incurred by wicked deeds.

But there is one more reference to the “books.”

Altogether there are five NT references to “books;” three of them refer to different books from these.

John 21:25 — books that could be written of the deeds of Jesus Christ.
Acts 19:19 — magic books brought to be destroyed in Ephesus
2 Timothy 4:13 — Paul’s books that he asked Timothy to bring

Revelation 20:12 mentions the dead—“and the dead”, who apparently are now resurrected people so that they can stand before God’s throne of judgment. There is life after death but, for many, it is to face God’s judgment and so described as death not life.

God records all the past deeds in these books. The concept of our deeds being written down comes from the phrase “according to what they had done.” God will expose the evil of our deeds and accordingly judge us. Don’t count on your good deeds to outweigh your evil deeds! It’s a mighty scary thing to depend on one’s good deeds when God only pays attention to their wrong deeds.

The plural “books” is probably used because many books were needed to record the deeds of so many people.

Summary

This judgment scene necessarily reveals all the wrongs mankind has done before God, making every person fully accountable for all they have done before their Maker. He resurrects the dead to hear and bear their sentences based on their deeds.

The Old Testament Books

It’s important to look at the Old Testament, especially when reading the Book of Revelation. Many concepts, symbols, and words used in Revelation are found in the Old Testament, especially in the Book of Daniel.

We are not disappointed! Again, we discover four verses with the word “books;” three of them not applicable to this topic of judgment.

Ezra 4:15 — The Persian kings’ historical records
Ecclesiastes 12:12—the warning against writing excessive books
Daniel 9:2 — “Books” refers to the Scriptures that Daniel consulted (OT)

“The dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done” (Rev 20:12)

Daniel 7:9-10

Our key reference is Daniel 7:9-10 which provides not only the use of “books” but a scene similar to the one in Revelation 20.

“⁹ I kept looking

Until thrones were set up,

And the Ancient of Days took His seat;

His vesture was like white snow

And the hair of His head like pure wool.

His throne was ablaze with flames,

Its wheels were a burning fire.

¹⁰ A river of fire was flowing

And coming out from before Him;

Thousands upon thousands were attending Him,

And myriads upon myriads were standing before Him;The court sat, and the books were opened.”

Daniel first describes the majestic Judge’s awesome presence in verse 9. Given His glorious appearance, He is hardly able to be mistaken for one of the powerful earthly Persian kings. The image of pure wool evidently represents His wisdom. The image of flames signifies His consternation toward all rebellious behavior. He stands determined to judge all disobedience at the end of the ages.

Daniel 7:10 sets the courtroom’s scene with a blazing river of fire flowing from God. This scene unequivocally denies any challenge to His judgment. The thousands who accompanied Him were possibly saints and angels.

Revelation 10:12 uses “the dead” to descriptively refer to the “myriads upon myriads who were standing before Him.” At the end, we discover the first use of “books” applicable to Judgment Day—“And the books were opened.”

Both Daniel and Revelation refer to the opening of the books, suggesting that they were closed before this time. No doubt, their deeds were being recorded in them. The books were not yet opened to reveal the accusations against them. This suggests that God has purposed to put off until later His final judgment upon the world.

There appears to be no need for one’s testimony or defense. The deeds are all reliably written down in the books, and express the individual wrongs of all the throngs of people. God will not ask what you felt, though He truly know us better than ourselves, but what you did. Interestingly, the rest of the judgment is described further on in Daniel 7, but we will end our discussion with these verses.

If Revelation 20:12 left any question about God’s judgment, Daniel completes it. And though we mention the opened books, much more description is given to the Eternal Judge who holds us all accountable.

The Book of Life is not here mentioned. Out of its eight uses, only two are used in the Book of Revelation. We are ever so grateful for the Book of Life. Make sure your name is written in this Book of Life. Otherwise, your deeds are uncovered before the Almighty Judge. See more: The Book of Life with Study Questions.

Summary

Both Daniel and Revelation use “the books” to present a compelling and concurring picture of the judgment of human beings. They will gain a renewed body to stand before the Almighty God for judgment according to their recorded deeds in “the books.” All attention should be given to assuring that our name is in the Book of Life and the spreading of the Gospel so others might believe before the finality of that day.

There is no escape from God’s judgment except your name written in the Book of Life.

Bible Study Questions on Revelation 20:12

Is the Book of Life one of the “books” referred to in Revelation 20:12? How do you know?
How does the Book of Life differ from those books?
Why does the author conclude that the “books” refer to a listing of the people’s deeds which God will hold them accountable for?
What is a judge responsible for? What about the Judge of the universe?
Who will execute the sentence stemming from the revelation of these wicked deeds and incurred judgment?
Will the deeds of Christians be written in the books? How do you know?
What are three of your deeds that you know are written in the books?
How does our name being written in the Book of Life help? How does it work?
Is your name in the Book of Life? How do you know?