The Book of Life is often discussed but is little understood as part of God’s plan. The Scriptures refer to it often:
1. MOSES KNEW OF THE BOOK OF LIFE Exodus 32:32 "Yet now, if You will forgive their sin — but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written." (NKJV)
2. GOD ACKNOWLEDGES ITS EXISTENCE Exodus 32:33 And the LORD said to Moses, "Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book. (NKJV)
3. IT SEEMS TO START WITH ALL WHO LIVE Psalm 69:28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, And not be written with the righteous. (NKJV)
4. GOD HAS A PLAN FOR THE FUTURE Daniel 12:1-3 "At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands [watch] [ Jude; Rev 12] over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, [Matt 24; Mk 13; Rev 6] Such as never was since there was a nation, [Even] to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, [Zech. 12-14; Rom. 9-11] Everyone who is found written in the book. 2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame [and] everlasting contempt. 3 Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever. (NKJV)
5. CHRIST TAUGHT IT AS A CAUSE FOR SECURE REJOICING Luke 10:20 "Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven." (NKJV)
6. PAUL ASSOCIATES IT WITH BELIEVERS IN THE CHURCH Philippians 4:3 And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names [are] in the Book of Life. (NKJV)
7. CHRIST WARNS AND PROMISES IN RELATION TO THIS BOOK Revelation 3:5 "He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life, but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. (NKJV)
WHAT DOES
"BLOT OUT HIS NAME…" MEAN?
There are four views. I believe the fourth is best:
1. This is a poetic, figure of speech called litotes [li-to-tez] that means ‘to affirm something by denying it’s opposite’. [lenski, Morris, Swete, Alford]
2. This is an allusion to a civic birth record erasing those who die. [Moffat]
3. It refers to one losing their salvation. [Lange]
4. It refers to a book containing all humanity who have possessed physical life, but are erased at death after having rejected Christ. Those who do receive Christ have their place confirmed by Him. [Walvoord]
Thus this book of life is seen as a source of security for all true believers. In the city of Sardis, the locals would have understood the backdrop:
Thus when you think of the Book of Life think of security.
Look back at the text. There are three clear truths to take with us.
1. We KNOW Satan is the Adversary. "out of the bottomless pit"
2. We ARE Citizens of Heaven. "dwell on the Earth"
3. We HAVE a Secure Salvation. "names were not…"
Now, let us dig deep and learn truths that transform us.
(FHA-66; 931114PM)
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