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Wednesday, October 31, 2012

The Book of Life


Have you ever wondered about the Lamb’s Book of Life? I have. I used to think that when someone accepts the Lord as his personal Savior, then someone—an angel scribe perhaps—writes his name in the Book of Life. That could be.

But then, I read Scriptures like Revelation 3:5 and 22:19 where someone’s name was blotted out of the Lamb’s Book of Life. Exodus 32:32-33 also talks about blotting out a name from the Book. How does that happen? 

At the last judgment, some people’s names are in this Book, and some are not there. (Revelation 13:8, 21:27) The Book of Life contains Christians’ names. (Philippians 4:3) Those not found there, at the time of the last judgment will be cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:15) So, whether or not ones’ name is in the Book of Life makes the difference between heaven and hell.

The Bible says that God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9b). Jesus shed His blood on the cross for the sins of the world, every person in the world. And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2).

This is my theory. (I can’t prove it, but it makes sense to me.) I think everyone in the whole world—every person ever born—is written into the Lamb’s Book of Life. (Jesus desires to save everybody.) Until that person has rejected God completely or has died without Christ, his name is in the Book. If he rejects Jesus’ payment for his sins, seriously and finally, any time before his last breath, his name is taken off the list. This is the “unpardonable sin” spoken of in Mark 3:29. (Now, we can’t judge another’s heart. If even the vilest of sinners calls out to Jesus in repentance, even in his last moments of life—like the thief on the cross—he will be saved. We will never know until eternity what has happened in someone’s heart.)

At the end of time, at the last judgment, those still written in the Book of Life are those who will enjoy heaven for eternity, and those who aren’t found there are forever doomed to hell.

Whether my theory about the Book is right or wrong isn’t really important. It’s just something I think might be true. When a person’s name gets written in the Book of Life isn’t the most important thing.

What is important is the location of your name. Is it written in the Lamb’s Book of Life? Will you have eternal life through God’s Son Jesus Christ?

That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world;
but that the world through him might be saved (John 3:15-17).

And there shall in no wise enter into it (the New Jerusalem) any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie:
but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life (Revelation 21:27).

Is your name written in the Book of Life? If so, is your friend’s name there?


3 comments:

  1. I agree with you. The Scriptures also talk about predestination, which is essentially the same idea. We're all predestined for Heaven, until we rebel against God so badly, He has no choice but deny entrance. Our salvation or condemnation is our own responsibility, not God's.

    ~ VT

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  2. That's what I think, too, Lou Ann -- that everyone's names are there until they die without Christ or ultimately completely reject Him to the point that they will never repent.

    And it's so true that what's most important is knowing that one's name is there and won't be blotted out because one has indeed believed on the Son.

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