The Book of Life is mentioned throughout the Scriptures: Exodus 32:32; Daniel 12:1; Luke 10:10; Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:5; 13:8; 17:8; 20:12; 20:15. These passages tell us some very interesting facts.
The Book of Life has the names of all members of the human race who would ever live from the time of Adam and Eve, to the last person in human history. The reason it has the names of all members of the human race is because Jesus Christ died on the cross and paid for all the sins of all members of the human race, from Adam to the last person in human history. Therefore, because of what Jesus Christ did on the cross, all members of the human race are potentially saved.
When a person dies, and has not accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior through faith, then his name is blotted out of The Book of Life.
Therefore, when eternity begins, the only names left in The Book of Life are those who have believed in Jesus Christ, or those who have not reached the age of accountability for one reason or another.
At the end of time The Book of Life will only have the names of those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. During time the book of life contains the names of everyone, but everyone who dies without believing in Christ will have his name blotted out of the book, but not until he dies. Therefore, the only names who will be in The Book of Life at the end of time will be of those who accepted Jesus Christ in time, as per John 3:18; "Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son." John 3:36; "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever does not believe in the Son will not see life, because God's wrath (judgment) rests on him."
Revelation 20:11-15; "Then I saw a great White Throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, (great and small refers to important people and not so important people) standing before the throne, and THE BOOKS WERE OPENED. Another book was opened WHICH IS THE BOOK OF LIFE. The dead were judged according to their works (good deeds) as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades (the dwelling place of the dead. This refers to "hell") gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to their works. (according to his good deeds) Then death and Hades were thrown into the Lake of Fire. The Lake of Fire is the second death. If anyone's name was not found written IN THE BOOK OF LIFE, he was thrown into the lake of fire."
There are a few things I want you to notice in this passage of Revelation. First of all, no one is going to be judged for their sins. Why? Because Jesus Christ's death on the cross paid the price for all the sins in the human race. But all people will be judged according to their good deeds. The word "books" in the plural refers to books in which are recorded all of the good deeds of every unbeliever. And that is what they are going to be judged on. When individuals refuse to accept the work of Jesus Christ on the cross by faith, that automatically means that they are depending upon their own works. And when those works are evaluated and judged at the Great White Throne Judgment, people will realize that all their good works weren't enough. So the Lord will have no choice but to throw them into the Lake of Fire.
Again I want to point out that all this could be avoided by simply believing or trustng in Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. And if you do, your name will never be blotted out of The Book of Life, and you will never have to stand before the Lord at the Great White Throne Judgment. So won't you place your faith in Jesus Christ now? "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved." (Acts 16:31). "For God so loved the world that He gave His uniquely born Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but will have eternal life." (John 3:16). Your name is in The Book of Life now. Won't you keep it there by trusting in Jesus Christ today?
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Copyright 1999 by Robert H. Kreger. All rights reserved. Anyone may reproduce this material and distribute it, but it may not be sold under any circumstances whatsoever without the author's written consent.
