The Books Will Be Opened

Revealing the truth about who we really were...

If you could open the record of your life right now, every thought, word, and choice, what would you see? That day is coming. Revelation 20 says, “And the books were opened… and another book was opened, which is the book of life.” This is one of the most sobering passages in all of Scripture.

The Throne Is Set: God’s Justice Is Certain

Before there’s a word spoken or a name called, John sees a great white throne. The Judge is already seated. The King has taken His place. His throne is great because it belongs to the Sovereign of the universe. It’s white because it’s pure. There is no prejudice, no partiality, and no mistakes in its verdicts. And it’s final. There is no appeal beyond it.

Every knee will bow. Every secret will be revealed. Every heart will stand bare before Him. But this vision isn’t meant to terrify God’s people; it’s meant to purify them. God’s patience may delay justice for a time, but one day His patience will give way to His justice. And on that day, the only thing that will matter is whether you were ready to meet Him.

The Books Are Opened: Our Lives Are Revealed

When John says “the dead, great and small, stood before the throne,” that covers everyone. Death levels the ground: no titles, no wealth, no status. And then, “the books were opened.” Those books are the record of our lives: every thought, word, motive, and deed, written down.

It’s humbling to think about. We can fool people. We can even fool ourselves. But we can’t fool God. When those books are opened, they will tell the truth, not about who we wanted to be, but about who we really were.

Yet this judgment is not only about exposing sin; it’s also about revealing faithfulness. Those same books will show the prayers you prayed in secret, the forgiveness you gave when it hurt, the acts of love no one saw. Nothing done in faith is ever forgotten by God (Hebrews 6:10). So yes, the books will reveal our failures, but they’ll also reveal our faith. For those who belong to Christ, the record of sin is covered by His blood.

If Faith Justifies Us, How Do Works Judge Us?

This is where the question arises: If we are justified by faith, why are we judged by our works?

Scripture teaches two truths. Justification, our position before God, is by faith. Judgment, our assessment before God, is by works. They are not in conflict. Works do not generate salvation, but they do demonstrate genuine faith. Faith unites us with Christ; works prove that union is real. As James says, “Faith without works is dead.” True faith always bears fruit.

On the day of judgment, our works will testify, not to earn salvation, but to show that our trust in God’s grace was genuine. The lamp shines because it’s plugged into the power source. Faith connects us to God’s grace, and good works are the light that follows (Ephesians 2:8-10).

This also shows God's fairness. He judges according to deeds because He is impartial. No one will be able to accuse Him of favoritism. The books will speak for themselves. The evidence will be plain. And yet, after the record of deeds is read, another book will open: the Book of Life.

The Book of Life: Grace Still Speaks Louder Than Guilt

When John sees the books open, he also sees another book, and suddenly the whole tone changes. After the awe and heaviness of judgment comes a word of hope: Another book was opened, which is the Book of Life.

This book is different. It doesn’t record what you’ve done; it records who you belong to. It’s the Book of Life, containing the names of those whom the blood of Jesus has redeemed. If the first book shows the story of our deeds, this book shows the story of our salvation. One reveals our sin; the other reveals our Savior.

When you obeyed the gospel, i.e., when you confessed His name, turned from sin, and were buried with Christ in baptism, your name was written there. Jesus said, Rejoice that your names are written in heaven (Luke 10:20). That’s the greatest reason for joy any son or daughter of God could have.

Think about what that means. If you belong to Jesus, your record no longer stands against you. Paul says, “He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross” (Colossians 2:14).

The blood of Christ didn’t just cover your sins; it canceled them. So when God opens the book of your life, He will see your name, not your shame. He will see His Son’s righteousness covering your weakness. He will see a child of the King, redeemed and secure in His grace. That’s why Paul could boldly write, There is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1).

When you walk in the light, the judgment day isn’t something to dread; it’s the day your faith is vindicated. On that day, grace will speak louder than guilt. Mercy will speak louder than memory. And the name written in His book will speak louder than anything written in ours.

So the question isn’t whether your record is perfect—none of ours is. The question is whether your name is in the Book of Life, because that’s what determines your eternal story.

The Call: Live in Light of That Day

God didn’t give us Revelation 20 to inform us about the future. He gave it to transform how we live right now. Peter said, Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of people should you be? (2 Peter 3:11).

We should live in holiness.

We should live in readiness.

We should live gratefully for grace.

When you know a day is coming when every secret will be made known, you stop wasting time on what doesn’t matter. You forgive quickly. You serve faithfully. You love deeply. You seek the Kingdom first.

Because when the books are opened, the only record that will matter is the one written in the blood of the Lamb.