Book Of Life

daviddcbud said:

Can someone who does not believe in predestination explain to me the "book of life"? below are some notes I created on the verses and my interpretations.

1. The book has already been written, the names
were placed in this book from the foundation of the world (Rev 13:8
and Rev 17:8)
2. It is possible that even if your name was written
in the book originally, that it could be erased (Rev 3:5)
3. Only those names in the book of life will
enter into heaven, all others are thrown into the
lake of fire (Rev 21:27, Rev 20:15)

Implications of those verses
1. Could it be that all names were originally written
in the book and only those who reject Christ are blotted
out of the book? I don't think Rev 13:8 and Rev 17:8 support
that view so there must have only been some written in
it and not all
2. If all names were not originally written in the book
then it means that some that were originally chosen
for eternal life will lose their salvation by not
overcoming (Rev 3:5)
3. The names were written from the foundation
of the world so if your name was not already there
from the beginning, then it won't be there in the end
Acts 13:46 also supports the view that book is written
already because only those appointed to eternal life believed. This means that those who didn't believe
were those were not appointed to eternal life.
This seems to imply that if I don't believe I was
never appointed to eternal life, If I do believe
then I was appointed to eternal life.

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In short:

God's Bookkeeping


There are several books that God keeps. Rev 20:12

One set of books is called "the book of life".

In part one of that book all living (including the unbelievers) are registered. See Ex 32:32; Ps 69:29; Ps 139:16;
Out of that part names can be deleted. Those that perish are scratched out of that book.

Part two of the book has all those who have eternal life. Out of this part none will be deleted: the life is eternal.
Dan 12:1; Philip. 4:3; Rev. 3:5; 13:8; 17:8; 20:12, 15; 21:27. Compare also Luke 20:10 and Heb 12:23.

1. The book has already been written, the names were placed in this book from the foundation of the world (Rev 13:8 and Rev 17:8)

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I think that from the foundation of the world means that God has been recording names since the world began not that he wrote every name down at the beggining.

2. It is possible that even if your name was written in the book originally, that it could be erased (Rev 3:5)

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I think again it is a progressive book. God has been writting it since the foundation of the world. When someone becomes saved thier name is entered , when they backslide it is erased. It is a record as much as it is a book.

3. Only those names in the book of life will
enter into heaven, all others are thrown into the
lake of fire (Rev 21:27, Rev 20:15)

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Once again if you become saved your name will be entered.

Hi Daviddcbud, I do not believe anyone was predestined to eternal life before creation. So how do I understand the "Book of Life?"

First, the OT refers to a "book of life" but modern translations render it "the book of the living" because it seems to be a listing of everyone alive, and therefore to be blotted out of the book of the living is to physically die.

And so lets focus on the Lamb's book of life, the one our names must be written in in order to avoid the lake of fire. First, when does scripture say our names are written in the book? Answer, scripture does not say! Ok, but when does scripture imply our names are written in the book of life? Before creation? Nope. From creation? Yes. What time frame is suggested by the term "from creation?" It starts during the creation week of Genesis and extends to the end of the ages. From means out of or after or since. Not before. Yes, you can translation shop and find a translation that renders "apo" as before, but the lexicons and the vast majority of translations consistently render it "from" or "since." Therefore Revelation 13:8 and 17:8 contradict the idea that names were entered before creation.

Next, scripture says Christ promises to never blot out names written in his book. Two inferences are possible, other names not mentioned will be entered and then blotted out, or only names that will never be blotted out are entered. So does scripture teach everyone's name is entered and then they are blotted out when we physically die in unbelief? Nope. Hebrews 12:23 says the assembly of the first born are enrolled in Heaven, indicating those who are not part of the assembly are not enrolled in heaven. Therefore this passage too, suggests names are entered into the Lamb's book of life from creation to the end of the ages, and only those who will never be blotted out are entered.

But you say, what if the person does not endure to the end, then will not his or her name be blotted out? Nope, because born again believers will endure to the end. Who has overcome the world? Christ! Where are born again believers? In Christ. Thus "in Christ" we have overcome the world.