874. 20:15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. This symbolically means that those who had not lived in accordance with the Lord's commandments in the Word and did not believe in the Lord were condemned.

That the Book of Life symbolizes the Word, and to be judged on the basis of that book means, symbolically, to be judged in accordance with the Word's truths, may be seen in nos. 256, 259, 295, 302, 309, 317, 324, 330 above. Moreover, no one is found written in the Book of Life but someone who has lived in accordance with the Lord's commandments in the Word, and who believed in the Lord. This, therefore, is what is meant.

That someone who does not live in accordance with the Lord's commandments in the Word is condemned, is something that the Lord teaches in John:

If anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him... (He) has that which judges him: the Word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. (John 12:47-48)

And that someone who does not believe in the Lord is condemned, also in John:

He who believes in the Son has eternal life, while he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him. (John 3:36)

259. "Who is worthy to open the book and to loose its seals?" This symbolically means, Who has the power to know the states of life of all in heaven and on earth and to judge each one according to his state?

"Who is worthy?" symbolically means, "Who can, or who has the power?" To open the book and to loose its seals means here, symbolically, to know the states of life of all in heaven and on earth and also to judge each one according to his state; for when the book is opened, an inquiry takes place into the people's character, followed by a verdict or judgment, comparatively as a judge judges with the book of the law and in accordance with it.

That opening the book symbolizes an inquiry into the character of each and every person's state of life is apparent from the following chapter, which describes what John saw when the Lamb opened its seven seals one by one.

302. When He opened the second seal. (6:3) This symbolizes an examination by the Lord of those people on whom the Last Judgment would fall, as to their states of life.

The symbolism here is similar to the symbolism before in no. 295, with the difference described in what follows.