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NASB | Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the Book of Life; and the dead were judged according to what they had done as written in the books [that is, everything done while on earth]. [Jer 17:10; Rom 2:6] |
Bible Question: Will judgement be private? Will everyone see when I'm being judged? |
Bible Answer: Jesus said, 'nothing is hidden that will not be openly revealed, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light' (Luke 8.17). This suggests that God will deal with men on an open basis. Indeed the whole point of a court is not only that justice is done, but also that it be seen to be done. Thus it would appear that we will be judged in the open publicly. That is why the books are opened. However, the observers will be our fellow accused. They will not be tut tutting at your sins. They will be facing up to their own. However, having said that we must recognise that all the pictures of judgment are given in earthly terms. What wlll actually happen will be beyond our knowledge. And the judgment might well be over in seconds. God hardly has to hear the evidence. The purpose of the books is not to assist Him but as evidence before all of what we have done. But if you are a Christian then you are being judged for your success or failure in service. Every Christan will have praise of God (1 Corinthians 4.5). Our problem may be that there is little to be praised. There will be no question of judgment and punishment (Roman 8.1). |