God is our righteous judge. Jeremiah 11:20 “But, O LORD of hosts, that judgest righteously.” In Daniel 7:9-10, we see that the great judgement is in session. “I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool:  his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.   fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.   10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him:  thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him:  the judgment was set, and the books were opened.” There are two books mentioned in the Bible. The Book of Life and the Book of Remembrance. 

1.⁠ ⁠The Book of Life

The book of Revelation states that names of those not found in the ‘Book of Life’ will perish. “And if anyone’s name was not found written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:15). Revelation 17:8 states that names of the followers of the Beast will not be written in the Book of Life. This is further confirmed in Daniel 12:1, which states that only those whose names are written in the Book will be delivered. Thus, the names of only the righteous will appear in the ‘Book of Life’, who will rightfully inherit the kingdom of God. Matthew 25:46 points out, “And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

2.⁠ ⁠Book of Remembrance

This book records the works/deeds of man. Malachi 3:16 “Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another:  and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. “They contain the painful experiences of God’s servants (Psalms 56:8), the acts of love performed on behalf of others (Nehemiah 13:14), and the conversations of those who fear the Lord (Malachi 3:16).

 

If anyone thinks he acts in secret and no one sees, he is sadly mistaken. “The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good” (Proverbs 15:3). He sees what is behind and what is ahead, all the threats, all the dangers. “God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether it is good or whether it is evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14). The books of good and evil deeds are opened particularly during the judgment. Daniel 7:9- 10 describes the divine tribunal in session and the use of books during the proceedings. A similar scene is described in Revelation 20:12, “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.” It is explicitly stated that the final and immutable verdict is based on what is recorded in the books.

 

Psalms 96:13 “Before the LORD:  for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth:  he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.” In Daniel’s visions of the future, we see thrones being set up and the “Ancient of Days,” God the Father, seated as the Judge. “The court was seated, and the books were opened.” (Daniel 7:9, 10). May our names be found in the ‘Book of life’.