Season 6 Podcast 34 Book of Revelation “Opening of the Seven Seals, Chapter 20:12 “The Book of Life.”

Season 6 Podcast 34 Book of Revelation “Opening of the Seven Seals, Chapter 20:12 “The Book of Life.”

There is an interim between death and the resurrection. Apparently the spirit world is a very large place. It contains a kingdom referred to by Christ as Paradise. Christ said to the thief on the cross.

Luke 23:42-43

“And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.”

Christ is not resurrected for three days. That means when he goes to Paradise he is a spirit where he stayed for three days. The gospel is taught in the spirit world. 

1 Peter 4:6

“For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.”

In the spirit world they did not see the resurrected Lord. That means they must accept the resurrection on faith just as those in the flesh must accept the resurrection on faith. The above scripture also suggests that the gospel continues to be taught even after he is gone. It is logical to assume that he organized his church among the righteous who would continue to preach the gospel to the dead. That, of course, would include his prophets who had died. There is also a place in the spirit world referred to as “Spirit Prison.” Those would be taught the gospel by the members of his church organized in the spirit world.

1 Peter 3:18-20

“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.”

All spirits of the dead remain in the spirit world until they are resurrected from the dead. Those who were not taught the gospel on earth will have a chance to hear the gospel there. The final judgment does not occur until after the resurrection.

Revelation 20

“And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God;” 

Since God judges by the heart, the ‘great’ probably refers to those who were obedient to God’s commandments while on earth, and the ‘small’ refers to those who were disobedient to God’s commandments while on earth. Two sets of books are open. 

Revelation 20

“and the books were opened: 

The first set of books, which refers to many books, refers to the Holy Scriptures, meaning, of course, the Holy Bible and all of the other sacred records revealed to man from the time of Adam. The record of Enoch, for example. They are the standards of judgment by which we will be judged.  However, we will only be judged out of the books that were available to us while on earth. The second book is singular, but it is extraordinarily important.

Revelation 20

“and another book was opened, which is the book of life:"

The second is called The Book of Life. It contains the names of those who are saved in the Kingdom of God. It refers to those who are righteous, who qualify to enter the Kingdom of God in Heaven. 

There are two standards by which we are judged. The absolute standards are contained in the Holy Scriptures.

Revelation 20

“and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books,” 

The Second standard will by our works. In other words, our works will be measured against the commandments of God that we were given while on earth. 

Revelation 20

“according to their works.”

Our works will be measured against our obedience to those laws, standards, ordinances, covenants, and conditions outlined in the Holy scriptures.