Revelation 20:11-15 tells of the heavenly throne before which stands every person, great and small, all who have ever lived. In the vision, certain books are opened, and all are judged according to what is written in the books.

The Throne and the Books

Rev 20:11-15

1 The Throne

The throne in this vision represents the throne of the kingdom of God —that throne of David, of which Peter spoke on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:29-36). Jesus "who holds the key of David" (Rev 3:7) sits there, for he is the king of God's kingdom. Therefore he said, "I have sat down with my Father in his throne" (Rev 3:21).

Be in awe of Jesus the King of heaven. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open (Rev 3:7). He is the one who will open the doors of heaven for you, or shut them against you. Against his judgment there is no appeal.

2 The Soon-coming Judgment

Jesus spoke of his judgment Day. "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on the throne in heavenly glory. All nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left" (Matthew 25:31-33).

What will the Majesty on that throne decide for you? Can you imagine how you will feel if you must go to his left? You will hear him say to you, "Depart from me you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared from the Devil and his angels" (Matthew 25:41). You will have no choice but to obey the King, and go to your doom.

Are we talking about the future or the present here? The judgment, certainly is future. But how far in the future? Remember Jesus says, "I am coming quickly!" How many years do you have left? How many days? How many heartbeats? The fact is, you don't know. You may be down to your last thousand heartbeats, isn’t that so?

3 The Books

Now what of the books? These books exist right now in your present.

• There are books that record what God will is for you. These are the books of the Bible. You should be conforming your life to these books right now.
• There are books that record every deed people have done. You are causing one of these books to be written right now, by everything you think, say, and do. The most important thing you can do today is to ensure that your sins have been "blotted out" of the record of your deeds (Acts 3:19). Unless the blood of the Lamb has made you clean (Rev 7:14), your name cannot be found when the book of life is opened on the great Day of God Almighty.
• There is another book called "The Book of Life" which has the names of all the friends and servants of Jesus. The time to have your name registered in that book is right now. Do you know that some people give more attention to getting their name in the telephone book than to getting their name in the Lamb’s book of life!