The apostle John said, "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" (Revelation 20:12).

This passage speaks of a book (singular) which is clearly identified as "the book of life." This book contains the names of those who are faithful children of God (Phil. 4:3; Rev. 3:5; 13:8; 17:8; 20:15; 21:27; 22:19). These are the saved who will enter heaven on the judgment day to be with God forever.

This verse also mentions books (plural). Some say our deeds (our works, all that we've ever done) are recorded in God's "books" of remembrance. While it is true that every man will have to give account of how he has lived in this world (2 Cor. 5:10; 1 Cor. 4:5; Rom. 2:16) and that God has a book of remembrance (Malachi 3:16), it does not appear that the "books" in this verse are made up of man's deeds.

John saw the dead being judged "out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works." Our works are compared to the books. Therefore, our works, our deeds, must be separate from the books out of which we are judged.

It appears that the books of God's Law are under consideration in this verse. These books, sixty-six in number, are compiled into one volume we call the Bible. There are 39 books in the Old Testament and 27 books in the New Testament. Therefore, everyone will be judged according to the things recorded in these books of Law. Those who lived under the 39 books of the Old Testament will be judged according to that law and those who lived under the 27 books of the New Testament will be judged according to that law.

All who live today are living under the New Testament law of Christ. This law was put into effect on Pentecost when the Gospel was first preached by the apostles in Acts 2.

Jesus said, "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day" (John 12:48).

How is your life when compared to God's Holy Word? Have you obeyed the law of Christ?

--Garland M. Robinson

We live in a callused and fickle society that for the most part chooses to evoke God's name only when it serves their whims and wishes. It is utterly amazing that many folks can appeal to the Creator for support of sanctity of life for animals and deny the Creator's edicts regarding sanctity of life for humans! Consistency has never been a virtue for people who do not respect divine authority.

Let it be emphasized that the following quotes are for illustrative purposes only. These people are not accused of being "anti" or "pro" anything. Their statements are used to illustrate the attitudes of many within our society.

The city of Carrollton, Texas has wandered into the proverbial "hornet's nest." The city decided to bulldoze and destroy a egret nesting and breeding area. The Wednesday, July 29, 1998 Dallas Morning News devoted the majority of the letter to the editor section to the bulldozed birds. The following are excerpts from three letters:

"I am ashamed of the city's recent destruction of the Egret and Heron Rookery...when my daughters watched the birds flying in search of their nests among the rubble, and they saw baby birds who had been crushed to death, they visualized a lesson in city government that neither you or I can explain away."

"These, too, were God's creatures doing what and when they so chose, as they were created to do. I doubt seriously if 'the Lord' would have wanted us to call up a SWAT team or an airstrike simply because of our human inconvenience or hubris."

"As a tearful spectator said, 'This is not the will of my God!' ... Mr. Mayor, just because man has the power to destroy living creatures, we also have an obligation to protect the few wild animals that have escaped our 'development'."

The purpose of this article is not to pronounce the city government of Carrollton guilty or innocent. If they violated a federal law and there was no health hazard, I am confident such will be addressed by the authorities. The purpose of this article is to question why there is such a public outcry against "bulldozed birds" and hardly any protest at all against "butchered babies!" It is of grave concern when there is greater regard for animal life than for human life.

The Bible tells us that man was made in the image of God. "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. And God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them" (Gen. 1:26-27). In Genesis 2:7 it is stated: "And Jehovah God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." We must never forget than man was created in the image of God; animals were not! Man has eternal attributes that animals do not possess -- the ability to think abstractly, a moral consciousness, an understanding of beauty and emotion, and the capacity for loving, worshipping and serving God [See The Genesis Record by Henry Morris, p. 74].

In the beginning, both animals and man were to obtain their food from plants and trees (Gen. 1:29-30). After the Noahic Flood man was permitted by God to use animals for food. The Bible states: "Every moving thing that liveth shall be food for you. As the green herb have I given you all" (Gen. 9:3; cf. 1 Tim. 4:3).

Human life is sacred and "whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed. For in the image of God made he man" (Gen. 9:6). Other Scriptures make it clear that it is "innocent blood" that is not to be shed (Deut. 19:10; Prov. 6:17). The sacrifice (killing) of children is wrong: "And shed innocent blood, Even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, Whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan; And the land was polluted with blood" (Psa. 106:38).

The Bible proves that the fetus (baby) is a human being. "When Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe [brephos] leaped in her womb..." (Luke 1:41). The unborn is called a "babe" (brephos). In Luke 2:12 it is stated: "...ye shall find a babe [brephos] wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger." The newborn is called a "babe" (brephos). The fact is that the unborn is as much a child as the newborn is a child!

It is a sad day in America when so many become infuriated and speak out against "bulldozed birds" but are calm and silent as millions of unborn babies (human beings) are butchered by the process of abortion!

What do we value most -- animals or human beings created in the image of God? Your answer will await you at the judgment.

Marvin L. Weir

5810 Liberty Grove Road

Rowlett, TX

As our mailing list continues to grow, so does our cost in postage. We have reduced our costs as much as possible. However, we are still looking for ways to cut even more.

We began last week to mail the bulletin in two separate lists. Those addresses within 100 miles of Corinth will be mailed every week. Those outside 100 miles will be mailed every two weeks. No one will miss a bulletin, it will just be mailed every other week. IF you prefer to receive yours every week, let us know and we'll keep you on the weekly list.

Another option is to receive the bulletin via EMAIL every Wednesday. This will remove you from receiving the paper copy. All you need is "acrobat reader" in order to view it (it is free). You can even print it out on your computer printer if you like. Send us your e-address and help us save money.

If you do not wish to receive the bulletin, we'll remove you from the list.

LET US HEAR FROM YOU SOON!

"Plan as though you'd live forever; live as though you'd die tomorrow. It isn't what happens to you that counts, it is what it does to you! It isn't the load that breaks you down--it's the way you carry it!"

"For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power" (Col. 2:9-10) --Glen Hitchcock

RESTORATION: Keith Williford responded to the invitation last Sunday asking forgiveness for his unfaithfulness and desiring to be restored. We commend him for his dedication to live a Christian life and pray that he will continue to be strong. Welcome Keith.

LADIES BREAKFAST: Saturday, March 17^th, Shoney's, 9:00am.

FOOD ITEM: Kool-aid

r SHUT-INS: Pauline Irvin, Nellie Wallace, Mary Dexter, Annie Nauman, Faye Jackson, Clydie Morrow, Frances Massengill, Doug Kimbrough, Sula Perry, Harry Prater, Lucille Leatherwood, Dorothy Johnson.

FREE VIDEO tapes of sermons by Garland Robinson. 75 tapes are available. Thousands have already been copied and distributed.

TAPE 73: "What God Expects of Young People" #1, #2, "We Can Put the Lord First" #1, #2, "The Comings of Christ," "Lessons From the Time of Noah," "Questions & Answers," "When Time Shall Be No More," "Questions & Answers."

Video and Audio tapes of the Gospel Meeting with David Paden are now ready. They are free. Send your name and address along with which tapes you prefer, or both if you like.

FREE CORRESPONDENCE COURSES: Enroll and study God's Word with us.