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Selected Verse: Revelation 20:12 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Re 20:12	Strong Concordance	And [2532] I saw [1492] the dead [3498], small [3398] and [2532] great [3173], stand [2476] before [1799] God [2316]; and [2532] the books [975] were opened [455]: and [2532] another [243] book [975] was opened [455], which [3739] is [2076] the book of life [2222]: and [2532] the dead [3498] were judged [2919] out of [1537] those things which were written [1125] in [1722] the books [975], according to [2596] their [846] works [2041].
	King James	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.

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
the dead--"the rest of the dead" who did not share the first resurrection, and those who died during the millennium. small and great--B has "the small and the great." A, Vulgate, Syriac, and ANDREAS have "the great and the small." The wicked who had died from the time of Adam to Christ's second advent, and all the righteous and wicked who had died during and after the millennium, shall then have their eternal portion assigned to them. The godly who were transfigured and reigned with Christ during it, shall also be present, not indeed to have their portion assigned as if for the first time (for that shall have been fixed long before, Joh 5:24), but to have it confirmed for ever, and that God's righteousness may be vindicated in the case of both the saved and the lost, in the presence of an assembled universe. Compare "We must ALL appear," &c. Rom 14:10; Co2 5:10. The saints having been first pronounced just themselves by Christ out of "the book of life," shall sit as assessors of the Judge. Compare Mat 25:31-32, Mat 25:40, "these My brethren." God's omniscience will not allow the most insignificant to escape unobserved, and His omnipotence will cause the mightiest to obey the summons. The living are not specially mentioned: as these all shall probably first (before the destruction of the ungodly, Rev 20:9) be transfigured, and caught up with the saints long previously transfigured; and though present for the confirmation of their justification by the Judge, shall not then first have their eternal state assigned to them, but shall sit as assessors with the Judge. the books . . . opened-- (Dan 7:10). The books of God's remembrance, alike of the evil and the good (Psa 56:8; Psa 139:4; Mal 3:16): conscience (Rom 2:15-16), the word of Christ (Joh 12:48), the law (Gal 3:10), God's eternal counsel (Psa 139:16). book of life-- (Rev 3:5; Rev 13:8; Rev 21:27; Exo 32:32-33; Psa 69:28; Dan 12:1; Phi 4:3). Besides the general book recording the works of all, there is a special book for believers in which their names are written, not for their works, but for the work of Christ for, and in, them. Therefore it is called, "the Lamb's book of life." Electing grace has singled them out from the general mass. according to their works--We are justified by faith, but judged according to (not by) our works. For the general judgment is primarily designed for the final vindication of God's righteousness before the whole world, which in this checkered dispensation of good and evil, though really ruling the world, has been for the time less manifest. Faith is appreciable by God and the believer alone (Rev 2:17). But works are appreciable by all. These, then, are made the evidential test to decide men's eternal state, thus showing that God's administration of judgment is altogether righteous.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

the dead--"the rest of the dead" who did not share the first resurrection, and those who died during the millennium.

small and great--B has "the small and the great." A, Vulgate, Syriac, and ANDREAS have "the great and the small." The wicked who had died from the time of Adam to Christ's second advent, and all the righteous and wicked who had died during and after the millennium, shall then have their eternal portion assigned to them. The godly who were transfigured and reigned with Christ during it, shall also be present, not indeed to have their portion assigned as if for the first time (for that shall have been fixed long before, Joh 5:24), but to have it confirmed for ever, and that God's righteousness may be vindicated in the case of both the saved and the lost, in the presence of an assembled universe. Compare "We must ALL appear," &c. Rom 14:10; Co2 5:10. The saints having been first pronounced just themselves by Christ out of "the book of life," shall sit as assessors of the Judge. Compare Mat 25:31-32, Mat 25:40, "these My brethren." God's omniscience will not allow the most insignificant to escape unobserved, and His omnipotence will cause the mightiest to obey the summons. The living are not specially mentioned: as these all shall probably first (before the destruction of the ungodly, Rev 20:9) be transfigured, and caught up with the saints long previously transfigured; and though present for the confirmation of their justification by the Judge, shall not then first have their eternal state assigned to them, but shall sit as assessors with the Judge.

the books . . . opened-- (Dan 7:10). The books of God's remembrance, alike of the evil and the good (Psa 56:8; Psa 139:4; Mal 3:16): conscience (Rom 2:15-16), the word of Christ (Joh 12:48), the law (Gal 3:10), God's eternal counsel (Psa 139:16).

book of life-- (Rev 3:5; Rev 13:8; Rev 21:27; Exo 32:32-33; Psa 69:28; Dan 12:1; Phi 4:3). Besides the general book recording the works of all, there is a special book for believers in which their names are written, not for their works, but for the work of Christ for, and in, them. Therefore it is called, "the Lamb's book of life." Electing grace has singled them out from the general mass.

according to their works--We are justified by faith, but judged according to (not by) our works. For the general judgment is primarily designed for the final vindication of God's righteousness before the whole world, which in this checkered dispensation of good and evil, though really ruling the world, has been for the time less manifest. Faith is appreciable by God and the believer alone (Rev 2:17). But works are appreciable by all. These, then, are made the evidential test to decide men's eternal state, thus showing that God's administration of judgment is altogether righteous.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
And I saw the dead, small and great - All the dead - for this language would express that - the whole race being composed of the "small and great." Thus, in other language, the same idea might be expressed by saying, the young and old; the rich and poor; the bond and free; the sick and well; the happy and the unhappy; the righteous and the wicked; for all the human family might, in these respects, be considered as thus divided. The fair meaning in this place therefore is, that all the dead would be there, and of course this would preclude the idea of a "previous" resurrection of any part of the dead, as of the saints, at the beginning of the millennium. There is no intimation here that it is the wicked dead that are referred to in this description of the final judgment. It is the judgment of all the dead. Stand before God - That is, they appear thus to be judged. The word "God" here must naturally refer to the final Judge on the throne, and there can be no doubt (see Mat 25:31) that this is the Lord Jesus. Compare Co2 5:10. None can judge the secrets of the heart; none can pronounce on the moral character of all mankind, of all countries and ages, and determine their everlasting allotment, but he who is divine. And the books were opened - That is, the books containing the record of human deeds. The representation is, that all that people have done is recorded, and that it will be exhibited on the final trial, and will constitute the basis of the last judgment. The imagery seems to be derived from the accusations made against such as are arraigned before human courts of justice. And another book was opened, which is the book of life - The book containing the record of the names of all who shall enter into life, or into heaven. See the notes on Rev 3:5. The meaning here is, that John saw not only the general books opened containing the records of the deeds of people, but that he had a distinct view of the list or roll of those who were the followers of the Lamb. It would seem that in regard to the multitudes of the impenitent and the wicked, the judgment will proceed "on their deeds" in general; in regard to the righteous, it will turn on the fact that their names had been enrolled in the book of life. That will be sufficient to determine the nature of the sentence that is to be passed on them. He will be safe whose name is found in the book of life; no one will be safe who is to have his eternal destiny determined by his own deeds. This passage proves particularly that the righteous dead are referred to here as being present at the final judgment; and is thus an additional argument against the supposition of a resurrection of the righteous, and a judgment on them, at the beginning of the millennium. And the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books - The records which had been made of their deeds. The final judgment will proceed on the record that has been made. It will not be arbitrary, and will not be determined by rank, condition, or profession, but it will be according to the record. According to their works - See the notes on Co2 5:10. The fact that the name of anyone was found in the book of life would seem, as above remarked, to determine the "certainty" of salvation; but the amount of reward would be in proportion to the service rendered to the Redeemer, and the attainments made in piety.

The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917]
judged The final judgment. The subjects are the "dead." As the redeemed were raised from among the dead one thousand years before (Rev 20:5) and have been in glory with Christ during that period, the "dead" can only be the wicked dead, from the beginning to the setting up of the great white throne in space. As there are degrees of punishment (Luk 12:27); (Luk 12:48) the dead are judged according to their works. The book of life is there to answer such as plead their works for justification, for example (Mat 7:22); (Mat 7:23) an awful blank where the name might have been. The Judgments, Summary: Among the many judgments mentioned in Scripture, seven are invested with especial significance. These are: (1) The judgment of the Believer's sins in the cross of Christ. (See Scofield) - (Joh 12:31). (2) the believer's self-judgment. (See Scofield) - (Co1 11:31). (3) the judgment of the believers' works. (See Scofield) - (Co2 5:10). (4) the judgment of the nations at the return of Christ. (See Scofield) - (Mat 25:32). (5) the judgment of Israel at the return of Christ. (See Scofield) - (Eze 20:37). (6) the judgment of angels after the one thousand years. (See Scofield) - (Jde 1:6), and (7) the judgment of the wicked dead with which the history of the present earth ends.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
Before God Read θρόνου throne for Θεοῦ God. So Rev., before the throne. The books (βιβλία) No article. Read books. Compare Dan 7:10. Book of life See on Rev 3:5.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
And I saw the dead, great and small - Of every age and condition. This includes, also, those who undergo a change equivalent to death, Co1 15:51. And the books - Human judges have their books written with pen and ink: how different is the nature of these books! Were opened - O how many hidden things will then come to light; and how many will have quite another appearance than they had before in the sight of men! With the book of God's omniscience, that of conscience will then exactly tally. The book of natural law, as well as of revealed, will then also be displayed. It is not said, The books will be read: the light of that day will make them visible to all. Then, particularly, shall every man know himself, and that with the last exactness This will be the first true, full, impartial, universal history. And another book - Wherein are enrolled all that are accepted through the Beloved; all who lived and died in the faith that worketh by love. Which is the book of life, was opened - What manner of expectation will then be, with regard to the issue of the whole! Mal 3:16, &c.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
The dead, small and great - All ranks, degrees, and conditions of men. This description seems to refer to Dan 7:9, Dan 7:10. And the books were opened - See Dan 12:1. "Rab. Jehuda said: All the actions of men, whether good or bad, are written in a book, and of all they shall give account." - Sohar Gen., fol. 79, col. 298. "How careful should men be to shun vice, and to act uprightly before the holy blessed God, seeing there are so many which go throughout the earth, see the works of men, testify of them, and write them in a book!" - Ibid., fol. 105, col. 417. "In the first day of the new year the holy blessed God sits that he may judge the world; and all men, without exception, give an account of themselves; and the books of the living and the dead are opened." Sohar Chadash, fol. 19, 1. The books mentioned here were the books of the living and the dead, or the book of life and the book of death: that is, the account of the good and evil actions of men; the former leading to life, the latter to death. St. John evidently alludes here to Dan 7:10, on which the rabbinical account of the books appears to be founded. The expressions are figurative in both. According to their works - And according to their faith also, for their works would be the proof whether their faith were true or false; but faith exclusively could be no rule in such a procedure.

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¹⁷ He that hath [2192] an ear [3775], let him hear [191] what [5101] the Spirit [4151] saith [3004] unto the churches [1577]; To him [846] that overcometh [3528] will I give [1325] to eat [5315] of [575] the hidden [2928] manna [3131], and [2532] will give [1325] him [846] a white [3022] stone [5586], and [2532] in [1909] the stone [5586] a new [2537] name [3686] written [1125], which [3739] no man [3762] knoweth [1097] saving [1508] he that receiveth [2983] it.

³ And [2532] I intreat [2065] thee [4571] also [2532], true [1103] yokefellow [4805], help [4815] those women [846] which [3748] laboured [4866] with me [3427] in [1722] the gospel [2098], with [3326] Clement [2815] also [2532], and [2532] with other [3062] my [3450] fellowlabourers [4904], whose [3739] names [3686] are in [1722] the book [976] of life [2222].

¹ And at that time [06256] shall Michael [04317] stand up [05975], the great [01419] prince [08269] which standeth [05975] for the children [01121] of thy people [05971]: and there shall be [01961] a time [06256] of trouble [06869], such as never was since there was a nation [01471] even to that same time [06256]: and at that time [06256] thy people [05971] shall be delivered [04422], every one that shall be found [04672] written [03789] in the book [05612].

²⁸ Let them be blotted [04229] out of the book [05612] of the living [02416], and not be written [03789] with the righteous [06662].

³² Yet now, if thou wilt forgive [05375] their sin [02403]--; and if not, blot [04229] me, I pray thee, out of thy book [05612] which thou hast written [03789].
³³ And the LORD [03068] said [0559] unto Moses [04872], Whosoever [0834] hath sinned [02398] against me, him will I blot out [04229] of my book [05612].

²⁷ And [2532] there shall [1525] in no wise [3364] enter [1525] into [1519] it [846] any thing [3956] that defileth [2840], neither [2532] whatsoever worketh [4160] abomination [946], or [2532] maketh a lie [5579]: but [1508] they which are written [1125] in [1722] the Lamb's [721] book [975] of life [2222].

⁸ And [2532] all [3956] that dwell [2730] upon [1909] the earth [1093] shall worship [4352] him [846], whose [3739] names [3686] are [1125] not [3756] written [1125] in [1722] the book [976] of life [2222] of the Lamb [721] slain [4969] from [575] the foundation [2602] of the world [2889].

⁵ He that overcometh [3528], the same [3778] shall be clothed [4016] in [1722] white [3022] raiment [2440]; and [2532] I will [1813] not [3364] blot out [1813] his [846] name [3686] out of [1537] the book [976] of life [2222], but [2532] I will confess [1843] his [846] name [3686] before [1799] my [3450] Father [3962], and [2532] before [1799] his [846] angels [32].

¹⁶ Thine eyes [05869] did see [07200] my substance, yet being unperfect [01564]; and in thy book [05612] all my members were written [03789], which in continuance [03117] were fashioned [03335], when as yet there was none [0259] of them.

¹⁰ For [1063] as many as [3745] are [1526] of [1537] the works [2041] of the law [3551] are [1526] under [5259] the curse [2671]: for [1063] it is written [1125], Cursed [1944] is every one [3956] that [3739] continueth [1696] not [3756] in [1722] all things [3956] which [3588] are written [1125] in [1722] the book [975] of the law [3551] to do [4160] them [846].

⁴⁸ He that rejecteth [114] me [1691], and [2532] receiveth [2983] not [3361] my [3450] words [4487], hath [2192] one that judgeth [2919] him [846]: the word [3056] that [3739] I have spoken [2980], the same [1565] shall judge [2919] him [846] in [1722] the last [2078] day [2250].

¹⁵ Which [3748] shew [1731] the work [2041] of the law [3551] written [1123] in [1722] their [846] hearts [2588], their [846] conscience [4893] also bearing witness [4828], and [2532] their thoughts [3053] the mean while accusing [2723] or [2228] else [2532] excusing [626] one another [3342] [240];)
¹⁶ In [1722] the day [2250] when [3753] God [2316] shall judge [2919] the secrets [2927] of men [444] by [1223] Jesus [2424] Christ [5547] according [2596] to my [3450] gospel [2098].

¹⁶ Then they that feared [03373] the LORD [03068] spake often [01696] one [0376] to another [07453]: and the LORD [03068] hearkened [07181], and heard [08085] it, and a book [05612] of remembrance [02146] was written [03789] before [06440] him for them that feared [03373] the LORD [03068], and that thought [02803] upon his name [08034].

⁴ For there is not a word [04405] in my tongue [03956], but, lo, O LORD [03068], thou knowest [03045] it altogether.

⁸ Thou tellest [05608] my wanderings [05112]: put [07760] thou my tears [01832] into thy bottle [04997]: are they not in thy book [05612]?

¹⁰ A fiery [05135] stream [05103] issued [05047] and came forth [05312] from [04481] before [06925] him: thousand [0506] thousands [0506] ministered [08120] unto him, and ten thousand [07240] times ten thousand [07240] stood [06966] before [06925] him: the judgment [01780] was set [03488], and the books [05609] were opened [06606].

⁹ And [2532] they went up [305] on [1909] the breadth [4114] of the earth [1093], and [2532] compassed [2944] the camp [3925] of the saints [40] about [2944], and [2532] the beloved [25] city [4172]: and [2532] fire [4442] came down [2597] from [575] God [2316] out of [1537] heaven [3772], and [2532] devoured [2719] them [846].

⁴⁰ And [2532] the King [935] shall answer [611] and say [2046] unto them [846], Verily [281] I say [3004] unto you [5213], Inasmuch [1909] as [3745] ye have done [4160] it unto one [1520] of the least [1646] of these [5130] my [3450] brethren [80], ye have done [4160] it unto me [1698].

³¹ When [1161] [3752] the Son [5207] of man [444] shall come [2064] in [1722] his [846] glory [1391], and [2532] all [3956] the holy [40] angels [32] with [3326] him [846], then [5119] shall he sit [2523] upon [1909] the throne [2362] of his [846] glory [1391]:
³² And [2532] before [1715] him [846] shall be gathered [4863] all [3956] nations [1484]: and [2532] he shall separate [873] them [846] one [240] from [575] another [240], as [5618] a shepherd [4166] divideth [873] his sheep [4263] from [575] the goats [2056]:

¹⁰ For [1063] we [2248] must [1163] all [3956] appear [5319] before [1715] the judgment seat [968] of Christ [5547]; that [2443] every one [1538] may receive [2865] the things done in [1223] his body [4983], according [4314] to that [3739] he hath done [4238], whether [1535] it be good [18] or [1535] bad [2556].

¹⁰ But [1161] why [5101] dost [2919] thou [4771] judge [2919] thy [4675] brother [80]? or [2228] [2532] why [5101] dost [1848] thou [4771] set at nought [1848] thy [4675] brother [80]? for [1063] we shall [3936] all [3956] stand before [3936] the judgment seat [968] of Christ [5547].

²⁴ Verily [281], verily [281], I say [3004] unto you [5213], [3754] He that heareth [191] my [3450] word [3056], and [2532] believeth [4100] on him that sent [3992] me [3165], hath [2192] everlasting [166] life [2222], and [2532] shall [2064] not [3756] come [2064] into [1519] condemnation [2920]; but [235] is passed [3327] from [1537] death [2288] unto [1519] life [2222].

⁶ And [5037] the angels [32] which kept [5083] not [3361] their [1438] first estate [746], but [235] left [620] their own [2398] habitation [3613], he hath reserved [5083] in everlasting [126] chains [1199] under [5259] darkness [2217] unto [1519] the judgment [2920] of the great [3173] day [2250].

³⁷ And I will cause you to pass [05674] under the rod [07626], and I will bring [0935] you into the bond [04562] of the covenant [01285]:

³² And [2532] before [1715] him [846] shall be gathered [4863] all [3956] nations [1484]: and [2532] he shall separate [873] them [846] one [240] from [575] another [240], as [5618] a shepherd [4166] divideth [873] his sheep [4263] from [575] the goats [2056]:

³¹ For [1063] if [1487] we would judge [1252] ourselves [1438], we should [302] not [3756] be judged [2919].

³¹ Now [3568] is [2076] the judgment [2920] of this [5127] world [2889]: now [3568] shall [1544] the prince [758] of this [5127] world [2889] be cast [1544] out [1854].

²³ And [2532] then [5119] will I profess [3670] unto them [846], [3754] I never [3763] knew [1097] you [5209]: depart [672] from [575] me [1700], ye that work [2038] iniquity [458].

²² Many [4183] will say [2046] to me [3427] in [1722] that [1565] day [2250], Lord [2962], Lord [2962], have we [4395] not [3756] prophesied [4395] in thy [4674] name [3686]? and [2532] in thy [4674] name [3686] have cast out [1544] devils [1140]? and [2532] in thy [4674] name [3686] done [4160] many [4183] wonderful works [1411]?

⁴⁸ But [1161] he that knew [1097] not [3361], and [1161] did commit [4160] things worthy [514] of stripes [4127], shall be beaten [1194] with few [3641] stripes. For [1161] unto whomsoever [3739] [3956] much [4183] is given [1325], of [3844] him [846] shall be much [4183] required [2212]: and [2532] to whom men [3739] have committed [3908] much [4183], of him [846] they will ask [154] the more [4055].

²⁷ Consider [2657] the lilies [2918] how [4459] they grow [837]: they toil [2872] not [3756], they spin [3514] not [3761]; and yet [1161] I say [3004] unto you [5213], that Solomon [4672] in [1722] all [3956] his [846] glory [1391] was [4016] not [3761] arrayed [4016] like [5613] one [1520] of these [5130].

⁵ But [1161] the rest [3062] of the dead [3498] lived [326] not [3756] again [326] until [2193] the thousand [5507] years [2094] were finished [5055]. This [3778] is the first [4413] resurrection [386].

⁵¹ Behold [2400], I shew [3004] you [5213] a mystery [3466]; We shall [2837] not [3756] all [3956] [3303] sleep [2837], but [1161] we shall [236] all [3956] be changed [236],

⁹ I beheld [01934] [02370] till [05705] the thrones [03764] were cast down [07412], and the Ancient [06268] of days [03118] did sit [03488], whose garment [03831] was white [02358] as snow [08517], and the hair [08177] of his head [07217] like the pure [05343] wool [06015]: his throne [03764] was like the fiery [05135] flame [07631], and his wheels [01535] as burning [01815] fire [05135].