And if your name is in this book, that means you have repented of your sins and accepted jesus christ as your personal savior and you are spiritually born again from above. We have the first mention of this book in exodus 32. This would imply the lambs book of life and the book of life are two names for the same thing. It simply says to the one who is in the book and who conquers in faith. This would imply the lamb s book of life and the book of life are two names for the same thing. The other book the lambs book of life contains the names of the redeemed alone. What would it mean to have ones name erased from the lamb. There does seem to be a difference between these two very important books. God is the author of life and life is a sacred thing to god.
Speaking to the overcomersall those redeemed by the blood of the lambjesus gives his word that he. No true believer should doubt his eternal security in christ john 10. In other words, being erased is a fearful prospect, which i will not allow to happen to those who persevere. How can you know that your name has been written in the lambs book of life.
The book of life contains the names of every person who ever lived. Cities in johns day had a city register which listed the names of every citizen. The book of life written in the heart and i stood upon the sand of the sea, and i saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns. Scholars believe john refers to it as the lamb s book of life in revelation because it is full of names of those who have life because of the lamb who was slain. The following is an excerpt from the macarthur new testament commentary on revelation 21. The following is an excerpt from the macarthur new testament commentary on revelation 3. Some say that god has several books, and not just one i. Once your name is written in the book of life, it is never erased revelation 3.
Since the book of life is that which records all who have eternal life through the lamb, its clear that the book of life and the lambs book of life are one and the same. John does not say, if you worship the beast, your name is erased. Having said that, there are three passages in scripture that refer to names being blotted out or erased from the book of life the first from exodus. This book would include all those who have ever lived.
All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the book of life of the lamb slain from the foundation of the world revelation. How do i get my name written in the lambs book of life. Book of life vs lambs book of life baptist christian forums. The concept of the book of life seems to less be like this. If a person experiences physical death, never having trusted christ for forgiveness, his name is erased from the book of life. The book of life is the book in which appears the name of every person who is born. To have ones name written in the book of life implied the privilege of participation in the temporal blessings of the theocracy, while to be erased or blotted out of this book meant exclusion from those blessings. The book of life also called the lambs book of life is a record containing the names of those who have overcome sin through accepting jesus as christ having a spiritual rebirth. Can your name be blotted out of the lambs book of life. Those not found in the book of life are thrown into.
Jan 02, 2020 never does scripture say that god erases a believers name from the lambs book of life there is never even a warning that he is contemplating it. The names written in the lambs book of life were written before the foundation of the world, and no name can ever be blotted out of it the book of life is on going in which names are. A book of life is mentioned specifically on seven different occasions in the new testament. It simply says, to the one who is in the book, and who conquers in faith. In other words, they lose their salvation on that reading of the verse. If you accept jesus as your saviour, your name already is written in the lambs book of life. Book of life the book of life mentioned in revelation contains several exciting stories and one story reveals that the father wrote a book before angels and human beings were created. The lambs book of life records the names of those who have placed their trust in the lord jesus christ. Are the names of all people originally written in the book. Can your name be removed from the lambs book of life. To get your name written in the book of life or the lambs book of life, you have to be. The promise i will not erase his name from the book of life, does not necessarily imply that some do have their names erased.
Since only john uses the expression the lambs book of life and the expression book of life here is what can be surmized. He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments. Besides the holy scriptures, this is by far the most important book. The overlooked eschatological element in revelation 20 we read of a period of time when the books plural are opened as well as the passover lambs book of life. God in heaven owns a book which consists of two parts. The book of life and the blotting out of backsliders. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the lamb slain from the foundation of the world. This provision for eternal life for everyone is only potential, however. So rather than inventing the lambs book of life, we find it identified in revelations. Some believe they are different books, some believe they are the. Life and death come down to one fundamental and profound question, is your name written in the lambs book of life. Like other servants of god, moses understood that his name was already written in the book of life exodus 32. He says, if your name is written, you will not worship the beast. Please give scriptural references that substantiate your viewpoint.
In revelation it talks about the lambs book of life that will be opened on the day of judgement. Furthermore, if you are not in the lambs book of life then you are under the wrath of god subject to receive all his plagues and woes to be poured out upon an unrepentant world. Sep 9, 2015 gives a nice explanation regarding the books. Only those who overcome the sins of this world will be clothed in white raiment, and they will not risk getting their names blotted out of the book of life. They are the servants of jesus, working in the spirit of jesus to minister more abundant life to the world. If a person committed crimes, or otherwise defiled his standing in the city, he could be called before a tribunal and his name removed from the city registry, literally blotted out. Is there a difference between the book of life and the. Cooper has prepared the following explanation, giving the difference between the book of life and the lambs book of life. This verse is usually involved in the debate concerning. James smith, new park street church, london, 1849 the lord jesus christ is often represented in sacred scripture by the figure of a lamb, either to set forth the mildness, patience, and loveliness of his nature. I will not erase his name from the book of life does not necessarily imply that some do have their names erased. Of these, six appear in the book of revelation and one in philippians. Those in the lambs book of life get into heaven, and avoid judgement. Can a persons name be erased from the book of life.
Those who believe have their names retained in the book rev. Can the regenerate be erased from the book of life. The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and i will never blot his name out of the book of life. To have your name written in the lamb s book of life from the foundation of the world guarantees that you will not worship or marvel at the beast. Furthermore, the passages that indicate one can be blotted out of the book of. This man who is now being laid into the ground may have known tremendous success in life but now it is moot. This view goes on to state that while unbelievers can be blotted out of the book. Likewise the apostle john refers to those who will be erased from the book of life, or perhaps from the tree of life, for interfering with the pages of the sacred record rev 22. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. If youre name isnt in the book, you cant get into heaven. Those who are unsaved are blotted out of the book ps. Because the father knows everything omniscient, he wrote a complete history of sins drama this includes everyones thoughts, words, and actions.
Jesus said that abraham, isaac, jacob and the prophets will be in the kingdom of god, so their names are certainly in the book of life. Those whose names are in the book of life are lifegivers. There is only one book of life, and names can be removed. One book the book of life contains all of mankinds names in it. It becomes actual only when appropriated by each person. However, the bible also talks about not blotting peoples names out of the book of life.
Is it possible for a persons name to be erased from the book of life. Never does scripture say that god erases a believers name from the lambs book of lifethere is never even a warning that he is contemplating it. In other words, this book had reference to the rights of citizenship for the jewish people cf. The book of life contains the names of those who have been spiritually converted and who have dedicated their lives to the service of god. The saints who have had their names written in the lambs book of life, those who are truly saved, are delivered from his wrath to come. There is one book of life, and that is the book of the lamb book is a translation from the greek word biblio, strongs 976. The great white throne judgment described in revelation 20. According to scripture, your name is written in this book of life when you accept jesus as your savior. Is it possible for a persons name to be erased from the. Your name must be written in the lambs book of life for the following reasons. The very phrase the lambs book of life is a declaration of this, and distinguishes it from every other list of names that was ever written. The lamb who has been slain from the creation of the world has a book in which are written all those who have been redeemed by his sacrifice. Lets look first at what the scriptures say about the book of life, or the book of the living.