"The Final Judgement" Revelation 20:12 - Ted

Let me start by saying our salvation is NOT determined by our works, but rather by accepting Jesus Christ into our hearts as our Savior and nothing more.  With that said I think this scripture is a fitting end for 2009.  Why are our works recorded in the Book of Life?  After a little more reading it seems that our works are "evidence" of our relationship with God.  The better our relationship, the more we naturally desire to emulate him and therefore the more we "work" for His Kingdom and NOT mans.  "Works" out of obligation is NOT the goal, but rather "works" from a changed heart eager to serve God.

My Prayer:  During 2010, I pray that my focus will be on God.

New Living Translation (NLT) "I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books. "

The Message (MSG) "11-15 I saw a Great White Throne and the One Enthroned. Nothing could stand before or against the Presence, nothing in Heaven, nothing on earth. And then I saw all the dead, great and small, standing there—before the Throne! And books were opened. Then another book was opened: the Book of Life. The dead were judged by what was written in the books, by the way they had lived. Sea released its dead, Death and Hell turned in their dead. Each man and woman was judged by the way he or she had lived. Then Death and Hell were hurled into Lake Fire. This is the second death—Lake Fire. Anyone whose name was not found inscribed in the Book of Life was hurled into Lake Fire. "

King James Version (KJV) "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."

New King James Version (NKJV) "And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God,[a] and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books."