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names written in the book of life from the foundation of the world. Passing on for the
moment to the second pair we are brought into the context of judgment:--
"And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne; and books
were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life" (20: 12).
"And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of
fire" (20: 15).
This passage has suffered somewhat at the hands of those who really believe the Word
of God, and therefore we would call attention to one or two facts which are of
importance:--
1. There are two sets of books.
2. There are two distinct sentences passed.
3. There are two classes who stand before the great white throne.
First as to the two sets of books. The Scripture calls particular attention to the "books"
which were opened, and "another book," which is the book of life. The sentences passed
differ, the one being connected with the books, and the other with the book of life. The
first sentence to be passed is judgment according to works. "The dead were judged out of
those things which were written in the books, according to their works." This judgment
according to works gives the needed room for the "few stripes" and the "many stripes,"
for the "more tolerable" judgment upon Sodom and Gomorrha than that to be inflicted
upon Capernaum.
It is a most unwarranted assumption to teach that all who are thus judged are cast into
the lake of fire and suffer the judgment of the second death, for this dread doom is not
only kept quite distinct, but is reserved for one class only, as we shall see in the next
reference. Note the change from the plural to the singular. Verses 12 and 13 bring
before us with strong emphasis the great multitude who stand before the great white
throne. Verse 15 by its sudden change to the singular calls for more careful attention,
especially if we keep in mind the dreadful character of the subject: kai ei tis ouch eurethe
en te biblő, &100::--
"And if anyone was not found written in the book of life, he was cast (singular) into
the lake of fire."
The title "The book of life" must be noticed. It is not the book of the kingdom and its
glories, for there might still be hope for those who had forfeited these blessings. It is not
the book of rewards, it is life; and for those not found in that book, the lake of fire
becomes, not a place of loss of privilege, loss of pleasure, loss of reward; not a place of
custody until these periods of glory have passed away, but it becomes the reverse of life,
namely, death. Revelation 20: passes immediately into 21:, with its new heaven and
new earth. If resurrection from the second death were true, here is the place where such a
tremendous subject would be mentioned.
Resuming our consideration of this passage we further ask, "Where is the warrant for
the teaching that "all who stand before the great white throne will be cast into the lake of