What are the books opened at the Great White Throne judgment used for?
The books opened at the Great White Throne are records of the unbeliever's life and deeds on earth. When a person's name is absent from the Book of Life, those plural books are used to judge the dead according to their works, showing their sins they must face as unbelievers.
Les explains that at the Great White Throne the books are opened, along with the singular Book of Life. When it becomes evident that a lost person's name is not in the Book of Life, Christ turns to the record—the books that record their life here on earth. The dead are judged out of those things written in the books, which is the record of their deeds. They can no longer claim their sins were paid for by the blood of the cross; it is too late, so their sins now come up to plague them, and they must face them as God passes judgment according to their works. Les illustrates this with Congress appropriating billions for a program and setting it aside in the Treasury books: it sits there until someone draws on it and puts it to work. In the same way, the work of the cross is totally paid for and ready for anyone to draw on by believing. If they will not believe, they must face their sins as an unbeliever at the Great White Throne.
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.
More Questions
What are the dead judged out of at the Great White Throne?
The dead are judged out of the things written in the books, which are the record of their deeds.