 Russell, do you think that God would need to look up the record of a sinner's life in order to determine his worthiness or unworthiness of everlasting life? Well, that's what the Bible says. What then is meant by the opening of the books? You know, Russell, God is his own interpreter. And in Isaiah chapter 29, verses 11 to 18, he gives us a definite clue as to the symbolism of the books and what is implied by their being opened.