The Book Of Life

by Don Hite
(Kingsville, MO)

The Book of Life and the Lambs Book of Life

In the Book of Life every person who is born has their name written or recorded in it. It is important to note that names of the wicked or those that are not righteous in the book can be removed or blotted out of it:

Psalm 69:28: Erase their names from the Book of Life; don’t let them be counted among the righteous. - NLT

On the other hand those who overcome or are victorious over sin will never have their names removed or blotted out of it:

Revelation 3:5: All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before my Father and his angels that they are mine. – NLT

This is not an actual book but serves as God’s accounting and it is referred to as a book so that it is in terms that mortal men can understand. The first reference to the book was in Exodus after the Israelites constructed the golden calf while Moses was with God on Mount Sinai receiving the stone tablets where the Ten Commandments were written on them by the finger of God.

Exodus 32:33: But the Lord replied to Moses, “No, I will erase the name of everyone who has sinned against me. - NLT

The Lambs Book Of Life

In the Lamb's Book of Life which appears in Revelation every person who has been saved has their name written in it. Names of the righteous or born again believers cannot be removed from the this book because the saved cannot be unsaved. As a result followers and believers of Jesus Christ will have their names written in both the Book of Life and the Lambs Book of Life.

In the end if your name is not written or found in the Book you will perish in the lake of fire along with the beast, the false prophet, the devil, death and hades "Hell" and will be tormented forever:

Revelation 20:15: If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. - NIV

If your name is in the Lambs book of Life – and the book of life – heaven will be your reward:

Revelation 21:27: Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life. – NIV

This book is not an actual book but here it serves as God’s registry listing those that belong to him. To reach heaven and stand in the presence of the almighty your name must be found in this book – as well as the Book of Life – and if it is not the final judgment will be swift and terrible for those whose names are not found.

Salvation

Both Books can be thought of as a city registry where everyone who lives in the city has their name and other information written in it.

Like a city registry where the cities population count is derived from if someone dies or moves away their name is removed from or blotted out of the book. If a name is removed from the Book that person is dead to God and is not dead to sin and has not accepted Jesus Christ as their personal savior and has no salvation.

By birth your name is in the Book and by salvation or accepting Jesus Christ your name is then written in the Lambs Book. In the final judgment if your name is not written in the books your fate will be like that of the evil one the Devil or Satan.

To be sealed by God and redeemed by Jesus Christ you must accept Jesus Christ and bring God into your life:

Matthew 10:32-33: Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven. - NLT
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In the final judgment when you appear before God the father and Jesus Christ the son you want to hear the Lord say to you "Well done, good and faithful servant"' and not hear the words “I never knew you. Away from me”.

The choice is yours but can only be made while you are still among the living.