Opening Other Scrolls

How must these resurrected ones demonstrate their obedience? Jesus himself pointed to the two great commandments, saying: "The first is, 'Hear, O Israel, Jehovah our God is one Jehovah, and you must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind and with your whole strength.' The second is this, 'You must love your neighbor as yourself.' (Mark 12:29-31) There are also Jehovah's well established principles that they must follow, such as to repudiated stealing, lying, murdering and immorality. - 1 Timothy 1:8-11; Revelation 21:8

However, John has just mentioned other scrolls that will be opened during the Millennial Reign. (Revelation 20:12) What will these be? At times, Jehovah has given specific instructions for particular situations. For example, in Moses' day he provided a detailed series of laws that meant life for the Israelites if they obeyed. (Deuteronomy 4:40; 32:45-47) During the first century, new instructions were given to help faithful ones to follow Jehovah's principles under the Christian system of things (Matthew 28:19, 20; John 13:34; 15:9, 10) Now John reports that the dead are to be "judged out of those things written in the scrolls according to their deeds." Evidently, then, the opening of these scrolls will publish Jehovah's detailed requirements for mankind during the thousand years. By applying in their lives the regulations and commandments of those scrolls, obedient humans will be able to lengthen their days, attaining finally to everlasting life.

What an extensive campaign of theocratic education will be needed! In 1987 Jehovah's Witnesses worldwide were conducting on the average 3,005,048 Bible studies in various locations. But during the resurrection, countless millions of studies, based on the Bible and the new scrolls, will no doubt be conducted! All of God's people will need to become teachers and to exert themselves. Resurrected ones, as they progress, will no doubt share in this vast teaching program. Likely, the resurrection will proceed in such a way that those who are alive may have the joy of welcoming and instructing former family members and acquaintances, who, in their turn, may welcome and instruct others. (Compare 1 Corinthians 15:19-28, 58) The more than three million witnesses of Jehovah who are active in spreading the truth today are laying a good foundation for the privileges they hope to have during the resurrection. - Isaiah 50:4; 54:13.

With regard to the earthly resurrection, Jesus said that 'those who did good things come out to a resurrection of life, those who practiced vile things to a resurrection of judgment.' Here "life" and "judgment" contrast with each other, showing that those resurrected ones who "practiced vile things" after being instructed in the inspired Scriptures and scrolls are judged unworthy of life. Their names will not be written in the scroll, or book, of life. (John 5:29) This would also be true of any who previously followed a faithful course, but who, for some reason, turn aside during the Thousand Year Reign. Names can be erased. (Exodus 32:32, 33) On the other hand, those who obediently follow the things written in the scrolls will keep their names on the written record, the scroll of life, and continue living. For them, the resurrection will have proved to be one "of life."

Next time: The End Of Death And Hades

Revelation Its Grand Climax At Hand! Watchtower Bible And Tract Society, 1988