Several passages in scripture mention being blotted out of the book of life. Arnold fruchtenbaums exposition of the topic and the distinction between the book of life and the lambs book of life. At the end of the book of revelation, a warning stands as a guard defending gods truth. The book of life and the lambs book of life are two different books the book of life is a book recording the names of all who ever lived. Babylonian religious writings speak of the tablets of transgressions and the tablets of destiny, which record mans fate. Wouldnt that mean, however, that god is responsible for creating a soul with a sin nature. Is there a difference between the book of life and the. Names blotted out commentary a testimony of jesus christ. In a similar fashion, the words, i will not blot out his name from the book of life, at once suggest the understatement of a litotes. Jan 19, 2016 the book of revelation is the book that refers to this most often and it is the book that has the text that sounds most problematical, i think. Book of life vs lambs book of life baptist christian forums.
This is logical since the book of life falls under the category of last things. But this does not appear to be the same as the lambs book of life. One s name is not written in at birth, nor does he or she have it written in by the sovereign choice of god. They too would desire to stay honest, as quickly as in heaven there names stay and dont come out of the the two books. The ancient belief can also be traced to mesopotamia. The life signified by the book is not mere human life but the eternal life purchased by the lamb. I can show several verse where it talks of people being in the lambs book of life or not being blotted out as long as they conquer and overcome. The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and i will never blot his name out of the book of life.
Can a believers name be blotted out of the book of life. 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. So then, at the great white throne judgment, if their names are not found in the book of life, it will show them to be unsaved and worthy of partaking in this particular judgment. There are several passages in the bible that speak about the book of life.
Its great to know ones name is in the lambs book of life and his promise to all the saved is, i will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but i will confess his name before my father, and before his angels revelation 3. In scripture, to blot one out of the book of life, is to reject him from the number of those who are to be saved. The lord shall never be willing to forgive him, but rather the. Book of life in the scriptures the following bible references speak of the book of life. Is it possible for a persons name to be erased from the book. In revelation, jesus said he would not blot out one of the seven churchs from the book of life. Which shows that you are one of gods heavenly children or citizens which was. For taking away from the words of the book of this prophecy. He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. Overcoming is the great charge the risen lord gave to the jewish congregations in asia minor revelation 2.
Everyone whose name appears in this book on the last day will be saved. Is there a difference between the book of life and the lambs. Can your name be blotted out of the lambs book of life. I will confess his name before my father and before his angels. Besides the holy scriptures, this is by far the most important book. None of the names written in this book is ever blotted out. I will confess his name before my father and before his. Ones name is not written in at birth, nor does he or she have it written in by the sovereign choice of god.
Not everyone has his or her name written in the lamb s book of life. These are the books in which are entered the names of those who have received eternal life. Can a persons name be erased from the book of life. The book of life contains the names of every person who ever lived. Blotting out of the book of life, or the lamb s book of life simply represents those in a congregational covenant relationship with god, being cut off from god. The following is an excerpt from the macarthur new testament commentary on revelation 3. 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. The phrase, the book of life of the lamb is found in revelation. At this point, the book of life becomes known as the lambs book of life, for it contains the list of everyone who has life in jesus, the lamb of god. In essence, the book of life serves as a testament to those saved who will. Those who are unsaved are blotted out of the book ps. If names were not written down in the lambs book of life from the beginning of time that implies that there were names written down. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment.
The first denies that god only intends to save a select elect, and the second. These references to blotting out of the book of life allow only two. The lamb s book of life seems to have those written in it who have been redeemed by the blood of the lamb of godjesus christ. What does it mean to be blotted out of the book of life. He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments.
Therefore, the way to avoid being blotted from the book of life is to get your name written in the lamb s book of life. I used to believe as you that once saved always saved. In revelation it talks about the lambs book of life that will be opened on the day of judgement. According to scripture, your name is written in this book of life when you accept jesus as your savior. May 21, 2014 i have been reading some conflicting opinions concerning the book of life and the lambs book of life.
Let them be blotted out of the book of life, and not be written with the righteous. Can a believer s name be blotted out of the book of life. Therefore, the way to avoid being blotted from the book of life is to get your name written in the lambs book of life. Apr 25, 2018 at this point, the book of life becomes known as the lambs book of life, for it contains the list of everyone who has life in jesus, the lamb of god. Others say the book of life has the names of everyone living and that names can be blotted out, and that the lambs book of life contains the names of born again believers and those names are eternally secure. No christian will have his name blotted from that book. Are names written in the book of life, or blotted out of it. 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.
The book of revelation contains the most references to the subject of the book of life. Aug 21, 2014 the book of revelation contains the most references to the subject of the book of life. And i will never blot out his name from the book of life, but i will confess his name before my father and his angels. These references to blotting out of the book of life allow only two possibilities. Does this mean genuine believers can lose their salvation. The book refers to the place in exodus where moses prays, but now please forgive their sin, but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written, and god replies, everyone who. 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. The lambs book of life seems to have those written in it who have been redeemed by the blood of the lamb of godjesus christ. It seems logical to say here that these ungodly men. We see, then, that the bible offers three reasons for having ones name blotted out of the book of life or the lambs book of life.
Some suggest having ones name blotted out is not about salvation. Are we saved as long as our name is written in the book. King david, in great despair of his enemies prayed in psalms 69. And i think it is not quite precise to say, as charles does, in quite a few of the scriptures it mentions you can be blotted out of the book of life. The psalmist prays that the wicked will be blotted out of the book of life. I believe that the book of life is a record of all who are living whether on earth or in heaven. Whoever has sinned against me, i will blot him out of my book exodus 32. Here we see that to blot ones name out of the book is to take ones life. What is the book of life and the book of the living.
The book of revelation is the book that refers to this most often and it is the book that has the text that sounds most problematical, i think. In revelation, jesus said he would not blot out one of the seven church s from the book of life. God was very clear that a persons name can be removed from the book of life. Another solution holds that the lambs book of life differs from the book of life. Is it possible for a persons name to be erased from the book of life.
His eternal identity rests on the fact that he is an individual whose name is written in heaven luke 10. And the lord said unto moses, whosoever hath sinned against me, him will i blot out of my book ex. When it comes to the doctrine of eternal security or perseverance of the saints, we need to speak with precision. The lambs book of life records the names of those who have placed their trust in the lord jesus christ. May 18, 2007 in revelation it talks about the lamb s book of life that will be opened on the day of judgement. The lambs book of life vs the book of life the herald of hope. Nothing unclean shall enter the new jerusalem, nor any one who practices abomination or falsehood, but only those who are written in the lambs book of life. This will cause god to blot your name out of the book of life at the time for your death.
This one who conquers or overcomer is a reference to christians. To blot out a name, a person or a nation, is to destroy the person or nation. It shall be that the firstborn whom she bears shall assume the name of his dead brother, so that his name will not be blotted out from israel. Not everyone has his or her name written in the lambs book of life. Blotting out of the book of life, or the lambs book of life simply represents those in a congregational covenant relationship with god, being cut off from god. Does this mean that it s possible for names to be blotted out.
We had an email question from a reader which asked about whether or not our names can be blotted out of the lambs book of life. The book of life held much meaning for other world religions as well. Whichever approach you choose, it is important to note that while scripture does teach about getting blotted out of the book of life, this does not ever refer to losing eternal life. It is our view that attempting to explain the various passages by using two or three different books is overly complicated and imposes distinctions. For not being clothed in the righteousness of christ through the new birth, and. Book of life of the lamb a book which records only those individuals who are predestined to salvation. Those who believe have their names retained in the book rev. I have been reading some conflicting opinions concerning the book of life and the lambs book of life. I dont think it ever says you can be blotted out, at least not in the sense. If any ones name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. Does this mean that its possible for names to be blotted out. The book of life is mentioned several times in the bible, but its not a book of life, but the book of life or the book of the living, meaning, there. None of the names written in this book is ever blotted out rev. These conquerors refer to all christians, meaning every person who has genuine faith in christ will never be removed from the book of life.
A threefold distinction should be made between the book of life, the lambs book of life, and the other books mentioned in revelation 20 verse 12. The names found in the lambs book of life are written in the permanent ink. The book of life, and lambs book of life are two different books, are they not. Im reading a book that says names are not added to the book of life, they are blotted out. If our salvation is secure, how can christ blot out our name. It is not sinning against one another that blots a persons name out of the book of life but it is the sin against god in not acknowledging that jesus is lord of your life that causes god to blot your name out of the book of life. May 21, 2016 if names were not written down in the lambs book of life from the beginning of time that implies that there were names written down. But someone may say, still, everyone could have been written in and only unbelievers blotted out.
Believers who hold to eternal security say revelation 3. By contrast, those with their names written from the foundation of the world represent the truly saved of that covenant registry. Overcoming is the great charge the risen lord gave to the jewish congregations in. Nov 27, 2011 the book of life, and lamb s book of life are two different books, are they not. True christians will wear theirs at the marriage supper of the lamb 19. Blotting out of names the book of life learn the bible. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my father and his angels revelation 3. They further argue that god, who knows the future, would never list a name in the book of life in the first place if. Late night meditations on the book of life desiring god. The concept of a book was also used to portray gods allinclusive decree. There is no mention of being blotted out of this book. We had an email question from a reader which asked about whether or not our names can be blotted out of the lamb s book of life.
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