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Books that will challenge your current Biblical perspective.

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The Truth According to Scripture website is produced through the outreach ministry of Mesa Biblical Church located in California. We are non- denominational. We hold to all of the essential doctrines of the established Christian faith which are described in detail in our "Statement of Faith" below.

The articles and books written by various authors on this website we believe to be the truth according to the Scriptures. However, that does not necessarily imply that we would endorse any one of these authors in all that they teach or that they are without error in other areas of Christian Doctrine. Since our only agenda is Truth, we are always open to any correction that is based on sound Biblical exegesis, and would be thankful for your contribution to that end.

We believe that the Christian faith is that which embraces the truth of the essential doctrines of Christ as delineated in Scripture and in these there must be unity. However, since we are all subject to error, we believe it is a mistake to strictly follow after any one man's teaching or denomination at the exclusion of the teachings of the universal body of Christ. Whether Baptist, Presbyterian, Luthren, etc., none have exclusivity when it comes to truth. God has gifted men and women throughout His true Church, and it is to our own spiritual detriment to exclude them in our pursuit of truth that we might grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord. We are called to Test all things; hold fast what is good (1 Thess. 5:21) to "test the spirits, whether they are of God" (1 John 4:1) without respect to persons or denominations, and to search the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things are so (Acts 17:11). In other words, the final authority in regard to Christian Doctrine, in faith and practice, is to be found in the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments. "Let God be true and every man a liar" (Rom. 3:4)

Since, we believe, many men claim to be "called of God" and are not, we must look to those whom we know with certainty are truly called of God if we are to correctly discern the truth. Christ Himself established his Authority on earth by "many infallible proofs" and it is those alone to whom He Himself gave authority to establish the truth on earth that we look to. Christ established the authority of the Prophets of the Old Testament as He quoted their words as being that of God. He personally chose and gave authority to the Apostles of the New Testament. Therefore, we believe these alone can be said to be truly called of God with any measure of absolute certainty.

Most, if not all, of the aberrant and heretical teachings within the religious realm are a result of those who claim to have authority, rather than those to whom God has appointed as having authority. Jehovah Witnesses, Mormons, Islam, and even Catholicism are prime examples of the error of any religion centered around any one persons self-appointed or man-appointed authority. Therefore, we can conceive of no reason whatsoever as to why we would have any need to look outside the sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures in all matters of faith and practice. We believe that to do otherwise is to open ourselves up to the error and corrupt traditions of sinful men; a leaven which has always had detrimental effects on the Church throughout her history.

We strongly believe in the priesthood of all belivers(1 Pet. 2:5), and that every member of the body of Christ is to be engaged in some aspect of the work of the church. The ministry of the church is not a one-man ministry. Everyone is given grace, everyone is a priest, and everyone must serve God as a priest together with all others. The New Testament congregation is a "body" of believers where all members participate in the service of God decently and in order. Yet in most evangelical churches the majority of members function merely as spectators. We believe this to be a vital error with no scriptural basis whatsoever.

We believe the clergy-laity distinction to be unbiblical and retards the growth of the individual members effecting negatively the entire body of Christ. Many have the mistaken notion that the Pastor, Bishop, Elder, or so-called Priest are called to live on a higher spiritual plane than the so-called laity. However, there can be no higher spiritual life than that which all believers are clearly called to in Scripture. The call to "walk even as He (Christ) walked " and to "Be Holy even as I (God) am Holy" is the calling of every believer. Elders and Pastors are required to meet certain minimal spiritual requirements but that in no way suggests that all members are not called to the same spiritual standards set forth in God's Word.

Jesus said,

"But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers.
"Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven.
"Do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ.
But the greatest among you shall be your servant.
Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled;
and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted. (Matt 23:8-12)

Matthew Henry says of this passage,

It is repeated twice; Be not called Rabbi, neither be ye called Master or Guide: not that it is unlawful to give civil respect to those that are over us in the Lord, nay, it is an instance of the honor and esteem which it is our duty to show them; but,

1. Christ's ministers must not affect the name of Rabbi or Master, by way of distinction from other people; it is not agreeable to the simplicity of the gospel, for them to covet or accept the honor which they have that are in kings' palaces.

2. They must not assume the authority and dominion implied in those names; they must not be magisterial, nor domineer over their brethren, or over God's heritage, as if they had dominion over the faith of Christians: what they received of the Lord, all must receive from them; but in other things they must not make their opinions and wills a rule and standard to all other people, to be admitted with an implicit obedience.

Secondly, They are forbidden to ascribe such titles to others; "Call no man your father upon the earth; constitute no man the father of your religion, that is, the founder, author, director, and governor, of it." The fathers of our flesh must be called fathers, and as such we must give them reverence; but God only must be allowed as the Father of our spirits, Heb 12:9. Our religion must not be derived from, or made to depend upon, any man…We must not swear to the dictates of any creature, not the wisest or best, nor pin our faith on any man's sleeve, because we know not whither he will carry it. St. Paul calls himself a Father to those whose conversion he had been an instrument of; but he pretends to no dominion over them, and uses that title to denote, not authority, but affection: therefore he calls them not his obliged, but his beloved, sons, 1 Cor 4:14.

The sacrificial death of Jesus Christ annulled the Aaronic priesthood, as we read in the Epistle to the Hebrews. As the perfect Son of God and High Priest, Jesus established a new covenant (Heb. 9:15-22) with better promises (Heb. 8:6) when he offered himself (Heb. 7:27) as the perfect sacrifice once for all (Heb. 7:27) as our substitute (Heb. 7:27) and ransom (Heb. 9:15). By his death he took away our sins (Heb. 9:28), made us perfect (Heb. 10:14), obtained for us eternal redemption (Heb. 9:12), opened a new and living way in and through him to God's throne of grace, and sat down at the right hand of God (Heb. 10:12). He now invites every believer with a clean conscience (Heb. 9:14) to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus (Heb. 10:19) to offer continually spiritual sacrifices (Heb. 13:15, 16) as priests in Christ.

In our one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus, Christians come immediately and directly to God. They have no further need for any fallible human priest, whether Roman Catholic or evangelical. In Christ they are set free from the slavery of men and granted the dignity of a royal priesthood. As God's elect, believers have been given new birth into a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Pet. 1:3, 23). As living stones who trust in the living foundation stone, Jesus Christ, they are built into a new spiritual temple.

Believers are a holy priesthood who offer spiritual sacrifices as priests (1 Pet. 2:5). They are a royal priesthood (1 Pet. 2:9) and sons of God (1 Pet. 1:3, 23; Gal. 3:26) through faith in Christ Jesus. They are all kings, priests, and prophets in Christ (1 Pet. 2:9). There is no difference among believers, as Paul writes, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." (Gal. 3:28-29).

To each believer grace is given for service to God. "We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith" (Rom. 12:6). "Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good" (1 Cor. 12:7). "But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it" (Eph. 4:7). "Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms" (1 Pet. 4:10).

We believe in all the "solas": sola scriptura, solus Christus, sola gratia, sola fide, soli Deo gloria.

Statement of Faith

Of the Holy Scriptures.

In the Scriptures God has revealed Himself and the way of salvation.

The Holy Scriptures alone are sufficient, certain and infallible in the copies of the original manuscripts (that is, they cannot make a mistake) to communicate the truth that must be believed, trusted and obeyed in order to be saved.

Given by the inspiration of God and contained in the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, the Scriptures ought to be received and believed as the only rule of faith and practice.

They are complete, not to be added to by new revelation of the Spirit or the traditions of man.

Some of the truths revealed are more challenging to understand than others, but the things necessary to believe for salvation are very clear; and by reading and searching the Scriptures on his own, the believer grows in the grace and knowledge of the Lord, is informed how God is to be honored and worshipped, instructed in righteousness, finding hope and comfort for the soul.

Of God and The Holy Trinity.

God is the most majestically excellent being of all, and each of us is accountable to Him.

There is one true and living God, infinite, eternal and perfect. His supreme greatness is beyond our ability to completely comprehend. He rules over all things for His glory and according to His wisdom, love, grace, mercy, patience, goodness, and holiness. He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him, He judges entirely justly, and He will by no means clear the guilty. His knowledge is so complete, that for Him there are no uncertainties or contingencies. He is the source of all life, glory goodness and blessedness that any of His creatures might have; and accordingly, every creature owes to Him worship, service and obedience.

In the one true God are three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three persons represent one substance, each having the whole divine essence, yet that essence is undivided.

Of Creation.

God planned and brought about all things, and they were good.

In the beginning God for His glory created the world and all things therein in 6 days and all very good.

God created man, male and female, after the image of God with reason, and the law of God written in the heart (also known as the conscience); and He gave them a command not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. With the power to obey and the possibility to transgress they were happy in communion with God.

Of Divine Providence.

God governs what He has created.

In the free exercise of His will and according to His great wisdom God governs all creatures and all events to the praise of His glory.

God ordinarily governs by use of means and secondary causes, but He is free to work without and against them as He pleases.

God governs in the lives of His elect for their good and for His glory.

Of the Fall of Man, of Sin and the Punishment Thereof.

The sin of Adam was a downward turning point in human history.

Our first parents, Adam and Eve transgressed the command of God, and by their sin they fell from their original righteousness and communion with God.

As God's appointed representatives for all humanity, their corrupt nature was conveyed to all their descendants.

Because of this transmission to their descendants of corruption (this bent of rebelliousness against God), all humans are inclined to do evil; and as a consequence they actually do transgress God's will. This corruption of their nature remains during all this life, but through Christ it is pardoned and mortified for the Christian.

Of God's Covenant.

God planned a way to remedy the problem of sin caused by the Fall.

The Father formulated a plan to save by redeeming a people. The Son achieved that planned redemption by His living, dying and rising again in order that it may be received by faith. The Holy Spirit applies the benefits of the achievement of the Son to individual sinners through faith.

Of Christ the Mediator.

Jesus Christ is the key figure who carried out God's salvation.

As the achiever of redemption, the Lord Jesus carries out several significant roles: prophet (the revealer of truth), priest (the reconciler and intercessor), and king (ruler), the Head and Savior of the Church, the Heir of all things, and the Judge of the world. And in these roles He has and does redeem, call justify, sanctify, and glorify a people for God.

The Lord Jesus has 2 distinct natures, humanity and deity, in one person; and accordingly He is the only and the most suitable mediator between God and man.

In order to mediate our salvation the Lord Jesus did the following: He was born under the law and perfectly fulfilled it; He underwent and suffered the punishment deserved by us, being made sin and curse for us; He was crucified and died; He arose on the third day with the same body in which He suffered; and He ascended into heaven where He sits at the Father's right hand making intercession for His people.

By His perfect obedience and sacrifice Jesus satisfied the justice of God, achieved reconciliation and purchased an everlasting inheritance in heaven for those who believe.

Of Free Will.

God has planned a salvation that must be freely chosen and that enables a sinful man to be a free chooser.

God has created man with a will that gives him the capacity to make unforced choices.

As a result of the Fall, all men are born in a state of sin, the corruption of which extends to their will and thus influences their choosing.

When God converts a sinner and translates him into a state of grace, He frees him from the bondage to sin, so that he is able to will and to choose that which is spiritually good.

Of Justification.

God saves a sinner by declaring him righteous for Jesus' sake.

God justifies a sinner by declaring him righteous for Christ's sake. Christ alone has achieved sufficient righteousness to save by His active obedience to the whole law and by His passive obedience in submitting Himself to the just punishment required by the law. Faith is only an instrument, and faith alone is the instrument by which a sinner may rest upon Christ and His righteousness for justification.

By His death Christ fully paid the debt of all those who are justified. As a result both the grace and the justice of God gloriously shine in the justification of sinners.

Of Adoption.

God saves a sinner by adopting him as his child.

God's salvation includes adoption, and God's adopted children gain His name, receive the spirit of adoption by which they cry, "Abba, Father", and gain bold access to Him. Further, they are shown compassion, protected, and disciplined by the Father in love. Never cast off by Him, they are sealed for the day of redemption when they will receive their full inheritance.

Of Sanctification.

God saves a sinner by setting him apart to be made really and personally righteous.

Sanctification refers both to a work of God completed definitively at the very start of a sinner's salvation and to a working of God that unfolds as a continuing process throughout the believer's life. In both cases the virtue of Christ's death and resurrection are the foundation.

At the very start God sanctifies a sinner by granting him union with Christ, and as a consequence the sinner is regenerated (granted a new heart and a new nature) and is freed from his bondage to sinful corruption. From there on out sanctification unfolds as a continuing process by which a believer is made really and personally righteous in his behavior and character as the influence of sin is weakened and the influence of grace is strengthened; and in this the Word of God and the indwelling Holy Spirit are vital to the process.

Sanctification can be likened to a lifelong warfare, pitting the Christian against his own remaining corruption within.

Of Saving Faith.

The faith to believe, receive and trust Christ is granted to a sinner by God's grace.

The faith required for salvation is granted as a grace by a work within by the Holy Spirit and by the ministry of God's word.

By faith the Christian believes the Word of God as the authoritative revelation by God of Himself and of the way of salvation in Christ. By faith the Christian trusts God's promise, obeys God's commands, and heeds God's warnings. But it is Christ especially who is the object of saving faith, and it is Christ who the believer accepts, receives, and rests upon for justification, sanctification and eternal life.

Of Repentance Unto Life and Salvation.

The ability to turn from sin is granted to a sinner by God's grace.

The gospel commands sinners to repent. The capacity to repent is granted by a work of the Holy Spirit. A person repents when he comes to his senses to see the true evil of his sin, when he sees his need for pardon and strengthening help from Christ, and when he resolves to walk in a manner pleasing to God.

Continuing repentance from recurring sins is a part of every Christian's life.

Of Good Works.

God's salvation bears the fruit of good works in a believer's life.

Good works done in obedience to God's word are the evidence of true faith; and they demonstrate a believer's thankfulness to God, strengthen his assurance, edify other Christians, adorn the gospel, and stop the mouths of scoffers. Such good works glorify God.

Since the ability to do good works comes from the Holy Spirit, the believer must depend upon Him. And since doing good works is a duty, the believer will do them. Thus, good works are a matter of the believer depending and doing.

Of the Assurance of Grace and Salvation.

It is possible for a believer to enjoy the certainty of salvation.

It is possible and profitable for a true believer in Christ to enjoy in this life a sure persuasion that he is saved.

This assurance is based upon faith in the blood and righteousness of Christ, the evidences (such as good works and love of other believers) that grace has been granted by the Holy Spirit, and the testimony of the Holy Spirit with our spirits that we are the children of God.

Of the Law of God.

The Law of God remains useful to the Christian to help him to diagnose sin and to point him to Christ for a cure.

God has made known that which pleases Him—what is right and wrong, what is good and bad—and He has summarized it in the commandments. Even though the believer is not under the law as that which justifies or condemns him, it is still of great value to inform him of his duty, to reveal the sinfulness of his own heart, to show God's approval of obedience, and to show the need for Christ.

These proper uses of the law do not contradict the grace of the gospel; and only by the gospel does the Spirit of Christ subdue and enable the will of man to freely and cheerfully do that which is pleasing to God.

Of the Gospel and the Extent of the Grace Thereof.

Faith comes by hearing the word of God.

God uses the proclamation of the gospel in order to call and to grant the faith and repentance needed in order to respond.

The gospel is revealed only in the Word of God, and it is God's will for it to be proclaimed widely.

Of Christian Liberty and Liberty of Conscience.

Salvation grants the freedom needed in order to serve God.

Salvation grants the liberty to serve God in holiness and righteousness without fear of judgment all our days. This freedom frees us from the guilt of sin, the condemning wrath of God, the curse of the moral law, the yoke of the ceremonial law, bondage to Satan, the dominion of our own sin nature, the evil of afflictions, and everlasting damnation.

God has freed our conscience from the arbitrary rules of men which are contrary to the Word of God. So, we should not spoil our liberty by allowing our conscience to be bound to such rules of men.

Christian freedom should never be used as an excuse to freely sin; for that defeats the very purpose of freedom, which is to serve God, not rebel against Him.

Of Religious Worship.

All must worship God in the way He prescribes.

God alone deserves our worship, and He has revealed in His Word the only acceptable way; and that way requires Christ to be the mediator.

The reading of Scripture, teaching, hearing the Word, spiritual songs, singing to the Lord, and observing the ordinances of baptism and the Lord's Table are all parts of religious worship. The believer should be careful to do these with understanding, faith, reverence, and humility. Acceptable worship is an activity of the believer's spirit, and it must be according to truth; so, true worship is not limited to any specific place.

God has appointed one day in seven for the believer to withdraw from his ordinary labor, in order to engage in the special employment of the worship of God. Since the resurrection of Christ, this day has been the first day of the week, called the Lord's Day.

Of Lawful Oaths and Vows.

Christians ought always to speak the truth plainly.

There are times when a Christian may use a formal oath to confirm a statement of truth or purpose. Care must always be taken, and especially when the name of God is used, to state the truth plainly.

Of the Civil Magistrate.

God has ordered societies by means of civil magistrates.

God, the supreme Lord and King of all the world, has ordained civil magistrates to be under Him and over the people for His glory and for the good of the public good.

Christians ought to pray for them that rule over them, and they themselves may lawfully hold such offices.

Of Marriage.

God has ordered families by means of marriage.

Marriage has been ordained by God to be between one man and one woman, for their mutual benefit and for the wholesome increase of mankind. It is the duty of Christians to marry only in the Lord.

Of the Church.

God has ordered the fellowship and union of His people.

All believers throughout history share oneness and union under Chirst, who is their Head; various names have been used for it, including the church, the universal church and the church invisible. The Bible uses descriptions such as the Bride of Christ and the Body of Christ.

All those who profess faith in the gospel and who live in obedience to God in keeping with that profession may be called visible saints. Those who profess faith in Christ ought to identify themselves with a local church for mutual edification and public worship. Even the best local churches are subject to error and mixture with nonbelievers, who Jesus likened to weeds in a garden.

Christ organizes each local church body with overseers (elders and deacons). Investing elders with the responsibility of exercising oversight and the ordering of worship.

Of the Communion of the Saints.

Christians ought to live out their connectedness in Christ.

All Christians are united to Christ, and so they share together a fellowship and a common experience of Christ's graces, sufferings, death, resurrection, and glory. Christians also are united to one another in the Body of Christ, and so they share a loving fellowship and connectedness in their gifts and graces and in their mutual duty to do good and to serve one another. Accordingly, all Christians ought to live out their connectedness with other Christians in public worship, mutual edification, and service.

Of Baptism.

Christ has given baptism to be practiced by His church.

Baptism, which was prescribed by the Lord to be practiced in the church, is for believers only and performed by immersion; and it is to be a sign of union with Christ in His death and resurrection, of cleansing from sin, and of commitment to follow Christ in newness of life.

Of the Lord's Table.

Christ has given the Lord's Table to be practiced by His church.

The Lord's Table, which was prescribed by the Lord to be practiced in the church, is for believers only; and it is a memorial, by means of the elements of bread and the cup, to the sacrifice of Christ in His death.

Of the Resurrection of the Dead.

We believe in a bodily resurrection from the dead. "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive." (1 Cor. 15:22) This is clearly delineated in the following verses:

1 Corinthians 15

For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. 17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! 18 Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.

35But someone will say, "How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?" 36 Foolish one, what you sow is not made alive unless it dies. 37 And what you sow, you do not sow that body that shall be, but mere grain—perhaps wheat or some other grain. 38 But God gives it a body as He pleases, and to each seed its own body…

42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. 43 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 45 And so it is written, "The first man Adam became a living being." The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. 47 The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven. 48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.

John 5:28-29

"Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, 29 and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.

Of Judgment.

We believe "…it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment" (Hebrews 9:26)

That judgment is depicted in the following verses:

Eccl 12:13-14

The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. 14 For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.

Matt 16:27

"For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every man according to his deeds.

Matt 25:32-46

All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; 33 and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left.34 "Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 'For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; 36 naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.' 37 "Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? 38 'And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? 39 'When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' "The King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.' 41 "Then He will also say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; 42 for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; 43 I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.' 44 "Then they themselves also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not 1 take care of You?' 45 "Then He will answer them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.' 46 "These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

John 5:28-29

"Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, 29 and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.

Rom 2:5-11

But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who will render to each person according to his deeds: 7 to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; 8 but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation. 9 There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek, 10 but glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with God.

2 Cor 5:10

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

Rev 20:11-13

Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds.