Books In Heaven

How does God know what we have done? God is omnipotent, thus all knowing. Heaven also has numerous books (perhaps scrolls) with information recorded in heavenly records. There are at least five different types of books in heaven that record information about those living on Earth.

1. The Book of the Living

There is a Book of the Living in heaven, which some suggest is the same as the Book of Life, which contains the names of the righteous. However, this Book of the Living appears to be a book revealing the destinies of all humans born on Earth. God spoke to Jeremiah and said...

Jeremiah 1
5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

This is an example of the foreknowledge of God. David knew about this foreknowledge when he wrote:

Psalm 139
16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

Prior to the physical birth of every human, there is information i heaven concerning the details of each living person. This is the Book of the Living, and the details for each infant were written before the infant was formed in the womb. God not only knew you before you were born, but he knows the number of days you will live! God Himself has a specific name that He has given to each person, and when we enter the heavenly kingdom, He will reveal to us our new name.

Revelation 3
12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go o more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: And I will write upon him my new name.

At times in the Bible God changed a person's earthly name and gave that person a new name with a new meaning. Jacob was changed to Israel (Genesis 35:10), Simon to Peter (Matthew 16:17-18), and Saul to Paul (Acts 13:9).

2. The Book of Life

Revelation 3
5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

The Book of Life, is mentioned twelve times in the Bible, in both Testaments. In the Old Testament it is mentioned by Moses (Exodus 32:32-33), by David (Psalm 69:28), and Daniel (Daniel 12:1); in the New Testament it is mentioned by Paul (Philippians 4:3) and John in the Apocalypse (Revelation 22:18-19).

This book is a unique book that contains the names of those who repent of their sins and trust God for their salvation. The great prophet Moses knew that names could be added to or blotted out of this heavenly ledger. When Christ became the High Priest in the heavenly temple and was positioned as the mediator between God and man, this heavenly book was named the Lamb's Book of Life after Christ, who was called the Lamb of God (John 1:29, 36). We are told that names are inscribed or recorded in the Book of Life in heaven (Luke 10:20). To enter the eternal kingdom of heaven, a person's name must be in this book:

Revelation 20
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

   

3. The Book of Tears

There is also a record of the tears of the saints.

Psalm 56
8 Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?

In the time of Christ there were small tear bottles that were used to collect the tears of men and women at a funeral. Tears were collected and placed in these small bottles and sealed. The imagery in this verse is that God watches over every tear that we shed (2 Kings 20:5). We know that God is moved by a broken heart and a contrite spirit (Psalm 34:18).

4. The Book of Remembrance

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.

In Malachi 3 the prophet was dealing with Israel's lack of obedience in giving their tithes and offerings at the temple in Jerusalem. He informed them of a special book in heaven that held the names of those who feared the Lord, gave their tithes and offerings, and witnessed to others about the Lord and His name. The Hebrew word for remembrance here is "zikrown" and alludes to something done as a memorial. An example of this book is found in Acts 10:1-4:

Acts 10
1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,
2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always.
3 He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day and angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Corneilius.
4 And when he look on him he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.

For a person's name to be recorded in the Book of Remembrance, that person must be a giver (Malachi 3:10), must fear God, and must witness of His name.Cornelius was giving alms, which is an English expression for offering charity for the needy. He feared God and was in prayer at the time of the visitation. His prayers and giving record came up before God and the Lord honored this man with a special family blessing as a result of his faithfulness! If you have ever wondered how God keeps up with your tithes, offerings, and charity to the poor, they are recorded in this Book of Remembrance in heaven.

5. The Book of Rewards

The fifth book is the most important, because it relates to the rewards of a believer. There are records in heaven of our deeds and works that are done while we live on Earth.

Daniel 7
10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.

Revelation 20
12 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 according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.

Our deeds include the words we speak.

Matthew 12
36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give an account thereof in the day of judgment.
37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

An idle word can allude to something useless, lazy, and barren. These are words that harm people and statements that are useless and produce no spiritual fruit. Words are very important, as the Scriptures declare that death and life are in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21). James gave a series of instructions regarding the power of the tongue and the importance of believers controlling what they say.

James 5
12 But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and let your nay be nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.

Remember, if you don't say it, then you'll never have to face it! Christ also gave a strong warning to anyone who would use words to offend a little child (Matthew 18:6) and to those who would lead an offense of some kind, therby creating a stumbling block for others (Matthew 18:7).

Our judgment will include judgment for the deeds we have done while living on Earth in our bodies, whether good our bad. The King James Version mentions deeds and how our deeds are judged (Romans 2:6). The Greek word for deeds is "ergon" and comes from the word ergo or "to work." It alludes to the ethical sense of human action, whether good or bad. It is not just what you did in the form of labor, but also the ethical or spiritual reason behind what you did. We would say it was the true motive for why you worked. If your motives were selfish, self-serving, and all about you and how you could get to the top, then you received your reward here and will have no reward in heaven.

Matthew 6
1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.

For example, consider two different ministers. One uses his or her income for personal gain, personal needs, and to live a rather expensive lifestyle... all in the name of prosperity. Another person... for example, someone similar to Mother Teresa... lives in absolute poverty in India and gives all her donations to the poor, helping to feed, clothe, and care for the poorest and most despised on Earth. Both die and stand before the judgment. I would suggest that the rich minister has already enjoyed much of his reward on Earth, but the one similar to Mother Teresa will have huge rewards because she accepted little on Earth but truly cared for the poor. Jesus spoke about some on Earth who "have their reward" because their deeds are seen of men, and they desire the honor and praise of men (Matthew 6:1-2). Others do their praying, giving, and helping in secret, and the heavenly Father will reward them openly (Matthew 6:4).


May the Spirit of the Lord bless you and keep you.