Verse 12: “I saw the dead, both small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened up, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what was written in the books, according to their deeds.”

No believer takes part in this great white throne judgement. Only those who, throughout all of the dispensations, all of the epochs of time, did not submit to God. Everyone is going to be judged according to their deeds.

Verse 13: “The sea gave up its dead, and death and Sheol gave up their dead. And they were judged, every man, according to his deeds.”

Verse 14: “Death and Sheol were cast into the lake of fire – this is the second death.”

The first death is a physical death. It is appointed to every man to die once and after that judgement (Hebrews 9v27) – this judgement is the second death. It is an eternal death. After God has judged them He is going to sentence them. The only way to escape this sentence is if your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. It is God’s desire that no man should perish but for everyone to come to everlasting life (2 Peter 3v9). When you reject the gospel, your name is blotted out of this book (Psalm 69v28). In the letters to the congregations, it was pointed out that those who submit to Yeshua (i.e. they receive the gospel) will not have their names blotted out of His book (Revelation 3v5).

Verse 15: “Every man, whose name was not written in the Book of Life, is cast into the lake of fire.”

To keep our names in the Book of Life:

1. Everyone knows that they are sinners. Our consciences help us to fall under conviction, especially when we are confronted with the Word of God. We need to confess that we are sinners (1 John 1v9)

2. We need to realize that we are unable to save ourselves. God is very willing to save us, but our sins have separated us from Him (Isaiah 59v2). The only way we can find salvation is through His grace, through His provision. The Lamb of redemption.

3. A need to accept God’s provision (Romans 10v9). Everyone who has experienced the Blood of Messiah is a new creation. (a Kingdom creation – 2 Corinthians 5v17) As a new creation you live according to the standards of the Kingdom, by the enabling of the Holy Spirit (John 14v26)

Those who reject the gospel place on themselves eternal death. Fire is synonymous with the eternal judgement of God.