The book of life and more books?

[CheeseKing]

As I went reading through the bible, a verse stood out to me, in revelation. Before, I was thinking of there only being one book, the book of life, but that is not true, according to the verse...

Revelation 20:12 "And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, 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."

The scripture says that other books were opened and they were used to judge works of the dead. We are not saved by the works we do, but it does matter, for the Lord would want us to act justly and according to what the scripture states. Many beliefs and ideas can open, from this verse while others can say that it does not mean what it directly says. I would like to hear your comments on this.:bible

[CheeseKing]

I started this thread long ago and feel that this verse is leading into much more. Levels in heaven. If one was saved, what would be the purpose of the other books? If a person like the sinner on the cross made it to heaven, having lived a life of sin, would they be equal in heaven, to a person who had lived their life for God? The verse says that there were small and great people. It isn't a form of communism. We are told to work on increasing our riches in heaven and to take up our crosses and follow Jesus. What do you guys think?

[Anginichi]

The way I see this, at least for now, is that those who are standing there at that particular judgment in Rev. 20:12, are the dead, which are those who take part in the [I]second[I] resurrection after the 1000 year period has ended. They are considered dead, even though they have been resurrected, because they rejected the message of Jesus during their lifetime and are judged at that time accordingly. The books open which are their works, since that is what they lived by... and not by faith. The book of life is also opened and it says that anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. All of these that are resurrected in this second resurrection will undergo the second death when they are thrown into the lake of fire, and will utterly perish in that lake of fire. They are basically being resurrected to undergo the final judgment, but it does say that when the 1000 years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison and be able to go out and deceive the nations that are all over the earth once more. And it also says that these people who are resurrected after the 1000 years will surround the camp of the saints and the beloved city, until fire comes down from God and devours them. It would seem to me, then, that they follow Satan all the way through.
It's all kind of confusing, and it would be interesting to hear what others think about this.
The first resurrection, which takes place BEFORE the 1000 year reign with Christ, is of the saints only (Rev.20:4-6), whom I believe are judged by a different standard, one that was based on their works that came through faith. Over them, the second death has no power, since they are given eternal life by Jesus at his coming.

[Potters House]

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." Don't you just love this verse?
Everytime we speak of the Lord with one another, and think upon his name, it is recorded. Every post here, every Bible study, every song we sing, every prayer,etc. is recorded. Wow, thats gotta be a big book!