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Revelation 20:12-15

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

12. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; 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. 13. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Revelation 20:12-15 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Revelation 20:12

Theological / Devotional

The dead. This obviously refers to those raised in the second resurrection (see on vs. 5, 7).

Small and great. Station in life has no weight in this meeting with God. Many of high position in the world escaped, while alive, the fitting reward for their evil deeds. In this final accounting with God there will be no evasion of full justice.

Before God. Textual evidence attests (cf. p. 10) the reading “before the throne” (see on v. 11).

The books. Literally, “books.” The Greek has no definite article. These are the books containing the record of the lives of men. No sentence passed upon any wicked person will be arbitrary, biased, or unfair. For a classification of these books see on Dan. 7:10.

Another book. That is, “one more book.”

Book of life. See on Phil. 4:3; cf. on Luke 10:20.

According to their works. See on Rom. 2:6. The evidence that stands open for all to see and evaluate.

By SdaBc