Thank you for the question, “What are the “new scrolls” talked about in the Book of Revelation? Are these books that have already been published?”
I wished the questionnaire would have stated what verses one was referring to in the Book of Revelation. That would be very helpful in giving an answer to the question.
The word, scroll, in the Greek is “biblios” or book. Since questionnaire refers to “new scrolls”, I am assuming that the writer is not referring to the following passages:
A. Revelation 1:11 refers to a singular scroll, not a plurality of scrolls.
“10 On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, 11 which said: “Write on a scroll (bibylion-singular) what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea” (A searchable online Bible in over 150 versions and 50 languages). Bible citations are from the New International Version.
B. Revelation 5:1–9 refers to a singular scroll, not a plurality of scrolls. “Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll (bibylion-singular) with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals” (verse 1 NIV). That particular scroll is mentioned several times in this passage.
C. Revelation 17:8 refers to a singular scroll, not a plurality of scrolls. “8 The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and yet will come up out of the Abyss and go to its destruction. The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book (bibylon-singular) of life from the creation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast, because it once was, now is not, and yet will come” (NIV).
D. Revelation 20:12 refers to plural scrolls and a singular scroll, “12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and book (bibylia-plural form) were opened. Another book (bibylion-singular) was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book (bibylion-singular) of life was thrown into the lake of fire” (NIV).
E. Revelation 22:18–19 refers to a singular scroll, “18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll (bibyliou-singular): If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described–19 And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll-bibylw-singular” (NIV).
If I missed any references to scroll/book, it is inadvertent. As far as I know there is one reference to scrolls/books in the plural form and that is in Revelation 20:12. The adjective, new, is not in the Greek text, but a translator’s interjection or interpretation of the text.
The context of Revelation 20:12 is of judgment of the dead individuals in this world. The books that are opened reveal the actions and attitudes of that person. The text states that if that person’s name is not written in the Book (singular form) of Life, that person was thrown into the Lake of Fire. Thus in my opinion, the books or scrolls are the judgment of non-believers for condemnation, not salvation. There is an recorded actions and attitude in case the accuse forgets what has happened or denies that action or attitude. God makes no mistakes in his records.
The publication of the books in Revelation 20:12 is not known to anyone except to God. A person may know be able to confirm one’s own salvation of being written in the Book of Life for his/her belief in Jesus Christ as the atoning sacrifice for his/her sins (I John 2:2). No one is saved by his good deeds to earn salvation from God.
SUMMARY: The Books are recorded attitudes and actions of every unsaved person in the world. Their names being absent from the Book of Life affirms that they do not have forgiveness of sins and eternal life.
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