“The Book of Life”

[NetChaplain]

I would not hesitate to say that “the Book of Life” and the writing of its contents had no beginning and has no ending, for it is a conception of God, and everything known by Him is from everlasting (eternity past) to everlasting (eternity future), as in Psalm 90:2. Eternity has no time but it can be compared to time to reveal its meaning, and such is the Book of Life.

Concerning the compiling of its contents (names of people), it had no beginning, for God has always known who they are which will inherit “eternal life” (Mat 25:34). Concerning those involved in its contents, they do have a beginning, but no ending, for God knew when He would create, and knew all who would inherit eternal life even prior to creating, which content of this foreknowledge is unchangeable and unalterable. Can the destiny of one’s life change? All have only one destiny, and the concept of it changing would nullify the meaning of destiny.

For the Christian in this life, there is no greater encouragement than that of being convinced by “the word of truth,” that everyone who is truly “born again” will inevitably enter the eternal presence of God. If the Enemy can adversely affect the believer concerning this truth alone, there will never be a greater “weight” (Heb 12:1) that can hinder the believer from being “strong in faith” (Rom 4:20), nor one that could cause one to be any weaker (Rom 14:1), for the promise of eternal life is the sole hope of the believer in this life—it being the predominant support for the entirety for Scripture.

The hypocritical lives of those who “say” (Jam 2:18) they are redeemed but in truth are not, they give the appearance that one can attain regeneration (born again) and eventually forfeit its position (un-born again?), but this would not be eternal salvation, but rather temporal salvation, which is a non-existent concept in Scripture.

There exists Scriptural terminology which appears to refute this truth, but closer studies reveal their doctrines do not, and everyone is welcomed to present Scripture on which we can examine and share our thoughts and understanding. For example, passages pertaining to the “blotting out” of names in “the Book of Life” never actually design the intention of removing a name from “the Book.”

Here are some examples on which John Gill comments:

Exodus 32:32—“and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of the book which thou hast written“: “of eternal life, and is no other than the book of life of the Lamb, or God's predestination or choice of men in Christ to everlasting life, which is particular, personal, sure, and certain; and Moses asks for this, not as a thing either desirable or possible, but to express his great affection for this people, and his great concern for the glory of God; and rather than either should suffer, he chose, if it was possible, to be deprived of that eternal happiness he hoped for, and should enjoy.

Exodus 32:33—“whosoever hath sinned against Me, him will I blot out of My book”: “Not that anyone that is really in the book of life is ever blotted out, or that anyone predestinated or ordained to eternal life ever perish: but some persons may think themselves, and they may seem to be written in that book, or to be among the number of God's elect, but are not, and turn out obstinate impenitent sinners, and live and die in impenitence and unbelief; when it will appear that their names were never written in it, which, is the same thing as to be blotted out of it, see Psalm 69:28.”

Revelation 3:5—“And I will not blot out his name out of the book of life”: “by which is meant the choice of persons to everlasting life and salvation; and this being signified by a book, and by writing names in it, shows the exact knowledge God has of His elect, the value He has for them, His remembrance of them, His love to them, and care for them; and that this election is of particular persons by name, and is sure and certain; for those whose names are written in it shall never be blotted out, they will always remain in the number of God's elect, and can never become reprobates, or shall ever perish; because of the unchangeableness of the nature and love of God, the firmness of His purposes, the omnipotence of His arm, the death and intercession of Christ for them, their union to Him, and being in Him, the impossibility of their seduction by false teachers (Mat 24:24), and the security of their persons, grace, and glory in Christ, and in whose keeping this book of life is; which respects not this temporal life, that belongs to the book of providence, but a spiritual and eternal life, from whence it has its name.”

To me, the phrase “And I will not blot out his name” does not intend the possibility of a name being blotted out, but rather a situation which discloses the converse of such an action transpiring. My reason for continuing to address the truism of "Eternal Salvation" (Heb 5:9) is due to it being the most significant doctrine concerning spiritual growth. Again, the belief of one concerning this truth does not affect the receiving of salvation, but will affect the strength of one's faith.
-NC

 

[RJ]

I enjoyed your talk and I can relate to most of it.

Many of us try to put limits of a limitless God but the "Book of Life" is fairly simple, albeit, none of us fully understand the omniscient's of God.
Also God is omnipresent, he is the Alpha and Omega but not just the begining and will be the end, in his realm, he is both at the same all the time. In God's omnipotence, he knew at the foundation of the universe who would, sometime in the future, choose God's grace.
Truly, the only names in the Book of Life are those of believers and choice still applies. I agree with you on the "blotting out". It is a metaphor, for a non-believer who was never in the book from the begining. Our God is an awesome God!

 

[NetChaplain]

I enjoyed your talk and I can relate to most of it.

Most of us either try to put limits of a limitless God but the "Book of Life" is fairly simple, albeit, none of us fully understand the omniscient's of God.
Also God is omnipresent, he is the Alpha and Omega but not just the begining and will be the end, he is both the same all the time.
Truly, the only names in the Book of Life are those of believers and choice still applies. I agree with you on the "blotting out". It is a metaphor, for a non-believer who was never in the book from the begining. Our God is an awesome God!

In God's omnipotence, he knew at the foundation of the universe who would, sometime in the future, choose God's grace.

Hi RJ - You've indicated the most significant of God's three attributes (Omniscience, Omnipotence, Omnipresence) concerning the permanency of salvation--Omniscience--which means He has always possessed foreknowledge of all things, and everything He knows is from eternity past, to eternity everlasting.

The reason I focus on His omniscience when relating to salvation is because He gives it only to those He knows who are His (John 10:14, 27), which means He knows it will be permanent. It would be to misunderstand God's omniscience if one would think He would give eternal salvation to someone He knew would eventually reject it (eventual rejection evinces never having received), that's why it's not salvation if it's not eternal, because there is only one type of salvation--eternal salvation. There is no such thing as temporary salvation, either one is saved or has never been saved.

 

[Jehonadab]

I would not hesitate to say that “the Book of Life” and the writing of its contents had no beginning and has no ending, for it is a conception of God, and everything known by Him is from everlasting (eternity past) to everlasting (eternity future), as in Psalm 90:2. Eternity has no time but it can be compared to time to reveal its meaning, and such is the Book of Life.

Concerning the compiling of its contents (names of people), it had no beginning, for God has always known who they are which will inherit “eternal life” (Mat 25:34). Concerning those involved in its contents, they do have a beginning, but no ending, for God knew when He would create, and knew all who would inherit eternal life even prior to creating, which content of this foreknowledge is unchangeable and unalterable. Can the destiny of one’s life change? All have only one destiny, and the concept of it changing would nullify the meaning of destiny.

For the Christian in this life, there is no greater encouragement than that of being convinced by “the word of truth,” that everyone who is truly “born again” will inevitably enter the eternal presence of God. If the Enemy can adversely affect the believer concerning this truth alone, there will never be a greater “weight” (Heb 12:1) that can hinder the believer from being “strong in faith” (Rom 4:20), nor one that could cause one to be any weaker (Rom 14:1), for the promise of eternal life is the sole hope of the believer in this life—it being the predominant support for the entirety for Scripture.

The hypocritical lives of those who “say” (Jam 2:18) they are redeemed but in truth are not, they give the appearance that one can attain regeneration (born again) and eventually forfeit its position (un-born again?), but this would not be eternal salvation, but rather temporal salvation, which is a non-existent concept in Scripture.

There exists Scriptural terminology which appears to refute this truth, but closer studies reveal their doctrines do not, and everyone is welcomed to present Scripture on which we can examine and share our thoughts and understanding. For example, passages pertaining to the “blotting out” of names in “the Book of Life” never actually design the intention of removing a name from “the Book.”

Here are some examples on which John Gill comments:

Exodus 32:32—“and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of the book which thou hast written“: “of eternal life, and is no other than the book of life of the Lamb, or God's predestination or choice of men in Christ to everlasting life, which is particular, personal, sure, and certain; and Moses asks for this, not as a thing either desirable or possible, but to express his great affection for this people, and his great concern for the glory of God; and rather than either should suffer, he chose, if it was possible, to be deprived of that eternal happiness he hoped for, and should enjoy.

Exodus 32:33—“whosoever hath sinned against Me, him will I blot out of My book”: “Not that anyone that is really in the book of life is ever blotted out, or that anyone predestinated or ordained to eternal life ever perish: but some persons may think themselves, and they may seem to be written in that book, or to be among the number of God's elect, but are not, and turn out obstinate impenitent sinners, and live and die in impenitence and unbelief; when it will appear that their names were never written in it, which, is the same thing as to be blotted out of it, see Psalm 69:28.”

Revelation 3:5—“And I will not blot out his name out of the book of life”: “by which is meant the choice of persons to everlasting life and salvation; and this being signified by a book, and by writing names in it, shows the exact knowledge God has of His elect, the value He has for them, His remembrance of them, His love to them, and care for them; and that this election is of particular persons by name, and is sure and certain; for those whose names are written in it shall never be blotted out, they will always remain in the number of God's elect, and can never become reprobates, or shall ever perish; because of the unchangeableness of the nature and love of God, the firmness of His purposes, the omnipotence of His arm, the death and intercession of Christ for them, their union to Him, and being in Him, the impossibility of their seduction by false teachers (Mat 24:24), and the security of their persons, grace, and glory in Christ, and in whose keeping this book of life is; which respects not this temporal life, that belongs to the book of providence, but a spiritual and eternal life, from whence it has its name.”

To me, the phrase “And I will not blot out his name” does not intend the possibility of a name being blotted out, but rather a situation which discloses the converse of such an action transpiring. My reason for continuing to address the truism of "Eternal Salvation" (Heb 5:9) is due to it being the most significant doctrine concerning spiritual growth. Again, the belief of one concerning this truth does not affect the receiving of salvation, but will affect the strength of one's faith.
-NC

Please explain then, how, Revelation 22:19 "And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book."

 

[B-A-C]

Paul seemed to know the names of some his friends were in the BOL.
Php 4:3 Indeed, true companion, I ask you also to help these women who have shared my struggle in the cause of the gospel, together with Clement also and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

I have heard people say, "People's name were written in the Book of Life before the foundation of the world, God already knows who is going to heaven". It may be that he knows, but that isn't what the verses below say. It talks about those whose names have NOT been written in the BOL since the foundation of the world.

What about people who's name's have never been written in the BOL?
These verses are talking about the Beast
Rev 13:4 they worshiped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?"
Rev 13:5 There was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies, and authority to act for forty-two months was given to him.
Rev 13:6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, that is, those who dwell in heaven.
Rev 13:7 It was also given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him.
Rev 13:8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain.
.
Rev 17:7 And the angel said to me, "Why do you wonder? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns.
Rev 17:8 "The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up out of the abyss and go to destruction. And those who dwell on the earth, whose name has not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, will wonder when they see the beast, that he was and is not and will come.

Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.

This is kind of important.
Rev 20:15 And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

These verses are talking about the New Jerusalem, your name has to be in the book to get in.
Rev 21:22 I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.
Rev 21:23 And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb.
Rev 21:24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it.
Rev 21:25 In the daytime (for there will be no night there) its gates will never be closed;
Rev 21:26 and they will bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it;
Rev 21:27 and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.

Once your name is in the BOL, can it be deleted?
Psa 69:28 May they be blotted out of the book of life And may they not be recorded with the righteous.
Rev 3:5 'He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

These next few verses don't specifically say "book of life", but it could be this is the book mentioned here.
Exo 32:31 Then Moses returned to the LORD, and said, "Alas, this people has committed a great sin, and they have made a god of gold for themselves.
Exo 32:32 "But now, if You will, forgive their sin--and if not, please blot me out from Your book which You have written!"
Exo 32:33 The LORD said to Moses, "Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book.

Deu 29:18 so that there will not be among you a man or woman, or family or tribe, whose heart turns away today from the LORD our God, to go and serve the gods of those nations; that there will not be among you a root bearing poisonous fruit and wormwood.
Deu 29:19 "It shall be when he hears the words of this curse, that he will boast, saying, 'I have peace though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart in order to destroy the watered land with the dry.'
Deu 29:20 "The LORD shall never be willing to forgive him, but rather the anger of the LORD and His jealousy will burn against that man, and every curse which is written in this book will rest on him, and the LORD will blot out his name from under heaven.

 

[NetChaplain]

Please explain then, how, Revelation 22:19 "And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book."

Hi J - I believe it eludes (which Scripture often does for our learning) to the truth that names in the "Book" cannot be removed, anymore than the Word of God can be truly altered, in which case truth-seekers could be misled from truth, which is an impossibility (Mat 7:7; cf24:24).

 

[NetChaplain]

Hi BAC - When God compiled the BOL He of course knew those who were to inherit eternal life and His foreknowledge of this has been from eternity past. After the names were written, He did not add any because He already knew all of them.

 

[Jehonadab]

Hi J - I believe it eludes (which Scripture often does for our learning) to the truth that names in the "Book" cannot be removed, anymore than the Word of God can be truly altered, in which case truth-seekers could be misled from truth, which is an impossibility (Mat 7:7; cf24:24).

Have you noticed that there are four key expressions used in the Bible:

(1) "from the foundation of the world" (Matthew 13:35; Matthew 25:34; Luke 11:50; John 17:24; Hebrews 4:3; Hebrews 9:26; Revelation 13:8; 17:8)
(2) "from the beginning of the world" (Matthew 24:21; Acts 15:18; Ephesians 3:9
(3) "from the creation of the world" (Romans 1:20)
(4) "before the foundation of the world" (Ephesians 1:4;1 Peter 1:20

By a preponderance of the evidence in comparing these five expressions, I have determined them all to be specific points in time:

(1) "the foundation of the world" = From Adam's and his offspring's generations forward (Genesis 5:1)
(2) "the beginning of the world" = From the point of Adam's firstborn offspring
(3) "the creation of the world" = From the creation of Adam himself
(4) "before the foundation of the world" = From Adam's sin but before Adam gave birth to offspring (the point where due to Adam's sin, Romans 8:20)

In other words I am telling you I do not believe they in any way support the Omniscience doctrine. In fact, having gone verse by verse in the Bible proving to myself what I should or shouldn't believe, as I try to do with all that I believe, I find myself very skeptical that the Omniscience doctrine is even valid.

My method of study is to created a list of pros and cons for each belief.
I try to see in my mind how many different ways each verse I come across can be viewed.
When it appears that there are more than one possible view I turn to the original language to determine which is the most likely.

I do this with all that I believe as I do not answer to men, but to God, for what I believe.

 

[NetChaplain]

Have you noticed that there are four key expressions used in the Bible:

(1) "from the foundation of the world" (Matthew 13:35; Matthew 25:34; Luke 11:50; John 17:24; Hebrews 4:3; Hebrews 9:26; Revelation 13:8; 17:8)
(2) "from the beginning of the world" (Matthew 24:21; Acts 15:18; Ephesians 3:9
(3) "from the creation of the world" (Romans 1:20)
(4) "before the foundation of the world" (Ephesians 1:4;1 Peter 1:20

By a preponderance of the evidence in comparing these five expressions, I have determined them all to be specific points in time:

(1) "the foundation of the world" = From Adam's and his offspring's generations forward (Genesis 5:1)
(2) "the beginning of the world" = From the point of Adam's firstborn offspring
(3) "the creation of the world" = From the creation of Adam himself
(4) "before the foundation of the world" = From Adam's sin but before Adam gave birth to offspring (the point where due to Adam's sin, Romans 8:20)

The only understanding of omniscience involves not only knowing all things, but also always having known them.

John Gill comments concerning "Before the foundation of the world." "That it was so early, is certain, from the love of God to His people, which this is the effect of, and which is an everlasting love; and from the covenant which was made with Christ from everlasting, on account of these chosen ones, when Christ was set up as the Head and representative of them; and from the provision of all spiritual blessings for them in it, which proceeds according to this choice; and from the preparation of a kingdom for them from the foundation of the world; and from the nature of God's decrees, which are eternal; for no new will, or act of will, can arise in God, or any decree be made by Him, which was not from eternity: God's foreknowledge is eternal, and so is His decree, and is no other than Himself decreeing."

 

[Jehonadab]

The only understanding of omniscience involves not only knowing all things, but also always having known them.

John Gill comments concerning "Before the foundation of the world." "That it was so early, is certain, from the love of God to His people, which this is the effect of, and which is an everlasting love; and from the covenant which was made with Christ from everlasting, on account of these chosen ones, when Christ was set up as the Head and representative of them; and from the provision of all spiritual blessings for them in it, which proceeds according to this choice; and from the preparation of a kingdom for them from the foundation of the world; and from the nature of God's decrees, which are eternal; for no new will, or act of will, can arise in God, or any decree be made by Him, which was not from eternity: God's foreknowledge is eternal, and so is His decree, and is no other than Himself decreeing."

Because I am not a member of any of man's divided religions but am only a member of the free church above (as spoken of at Hebrews 12:22-24) I am free to mingle with and share the paradigms of all religions so as to assist me to gather my list of the pros and the cons for each belief, without any fear of their accusing me of being an apostate or what ever other emotionally based ideas they might wish to hurl against me due to their slant.

I am therefore far more sociable than they in that I have no clicks as they. I have one interest and one interest alone, that being to have God's view of things regardless of if the whole world and every man in it disagree with his view.

I am even free to drop a few dollars into the contribution plates of those I find doing at least a fair job of representing the truth of God.

I don't necessarily advocate that everyone do as I do for I know that they cannot. I encourage all to work together to weed falsehood out and grow in God's truth. Too many are stagnated in their growth by the illusion of conviction based not really on faith but upon credulity.

After many years of this intense unbiased searching I have come to believe that the "strong delusion" of 2 Thessalonians 2:11 began just after the death of the Apostles and of Paul. Acts 20:29-31

Reciting to me what John Gill, or Tertullian, Cyprian, Ambrose and Ambrosiaster, or Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons, or Augustine, or Luther, or Calvin said proves nothing to me. I use them as mere references of possible views but in no way worship their word upon things so that I become stalled there in my search for God's truth.

 

[NetChaplain]

I agree that every believer has the right to choose how they desire to study and research God's Word, and concerning any type of opposition, we need not take offense but rather continue to exercise neighborly love in its place, through unconditional forgiveness.

I also believe that if a believer doesn't desire "to have God's view of things regardless," he has not yet began to learn godliness.

I'm glad to see our goals here are the same, as should all believers, concerning these two issues.

God's blessings to your Family!