Book of Life

[Georges]

Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is [the book] of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

What is the "Book of Life"?


If there is a "Book of Life", is there a "Book of Death"?


What are "the Books"?

 

[irishrain]

[quote

="Georges"]Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is [the book] of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

You can read the same thing in

Dan 7:10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.

What is the "Book of Life"?

God keeps records of all His children's activities. In this despensation of grace we can repent of our sins and they are deleted from the books.

If there is a "Book of Life", is there a "Book of Death"?

No there's the Lamb's book of life and book of election. If your blotted out of the Lamb's book of life your gone, ashes.

Rev 3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and 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.

Rev 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Psa 69:28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.

What are "the Books"?

GOD's records of your WORKS both good and those "Bad NOT repented for!"

 

[Georges]

What are "the Books"?

GOD's records of your WORKS both good and those "Bad NOT repented for!"

You mean like the scene in the movie "Bruce Almighty" where Jim Carrey opens up what he thinks is a short file....and it shoots him across the room? That was a pretty funny scene.

 

[irishrain]

You mean like the scene in the movie "Bruce Almighty" where Jim Carrey opens up what he thinks is a short file....and it shoots him across the room? That was a pretty funny scene.

:D LOL yep, as long as we are in this flesh age, this age of Grace we can repent.

 

[farley]

irishrain,

You said...

No there's the Lamb's book of life and book of election.

Are you saying that the above two books are one and the same, or are you saying that there is a separate book called 'election'?

My searches on 'book of election' yield zilch.

Do you have references that support this interpretation?

Thanks...

In Christ,

farley

 

[irishrain]

irishrain,

[quote:3bf63]You said...
[quote:3bf63]No there's the Lamb's book of life and book of election.

Are you saying that the above two books are one and the same, or are you saying that there is a separate book called 'election'?

Two separate books

Do you have references that support this interpretation?
Thanks...

[/quote:3bf63][/quote:3bf63]

I'll give it a shot, some may "see" differently. Notice that sometimes it just talks about the book of life. Then sometimes the word talks about the book of life from the foundation of the world.

They are different, one is from the Foundation of the world, meaning from the 1st earth age. Those of the election they stood against satan then and will again in this 2nd earth age. Rom 8:28-29

Rev 13:8 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.

Rev 17:8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

All Israel is Blinded but the Elect Rom 1:7-25 Why?
So the "Wild Olive or Gentiles can be brought into Christ. Eph 3:6

Most people have Freewill to follow God or Satan. They have the choice to be a overcomer here or in the Lords day millennum when Satan is released to test them again. Some never had a chance to here the truth, or were lead astray by false teaching, tradations of men.

Rev 3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and 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.

Rev 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

If at the end of the millennum, Lord's day those that have free will STILL don't want to follow Christ but Satan. Then its the lake of fire.

Rev 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

Rev 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

Study the word foundation http://www.docrob.100megsfree5.com/appe ... end146.htm
Hope this helps

 

[wavy]

I would "see" differently irishain. I think that is abstract and only a matter of personal opinion depending on your ideas of "election" and earth ages etc.

I don't think that is very conclusive evidence (no offense).

But anyway, I believe that the book of life is where you are blotted out from (also called the Lamb's book of life, as we know), and the "books" (scrolls, rather) are the books of the bible. That's where we find the standard of our conduct and that's what we will be judged off of.

 

[Georges]

In Judaism there are 3 books.....

1. The Book of Life
2. The Book of the Inbetween (undecided)
3. The Book of the Wicked

It has to do with Judgment......yearly judgement. It ties in with the Feast Days of the Jewish religious year. It also corresponds to end time events.


In a nutshell,

In Judaism (yearly and still practiced):

1. At Rosh Hashanah, all men pass before God for judgement. Men's lives are reviewed over the past year.
a. Those men who are found to be righteous are inscribed in the "book of life".
b. Those men who are found to be not righteous (or wicked) are inscribed in the "book of the wicked" as vessels fit for destruction.
c. Those men who have redeeming qualities (partially righteous) are written in the "book of the undecided".

2. The men whose names are in the
a. Book of Life....if they should die that year would receive "life in the coming Messianic kingdom".
b. Book of the Wicked...if they should die that year would not receive "life in the Messianic kingdom" and will eventually be destroyed at the final judgment.
c. Book of the Undecided....will have that 7 day period between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur to make amends and atone for the sins of the past year.

3. At Yom Kippur, the books are opened for final Judgment and men are inscribed for that year.
a. Book of Life......these men if they should die will enter Paradise and the Messianic kingdom.
b. Book of the Wicked...these men if they should die will not enter Paradise or the Messianic Kingdom. They will be destroyed forever at the last Judgment.
c. At Yom Kippur, the undecided are the ones scrutinized. If it is found that they had truly repented and atoned for their past sins, they were inscribed in the Book of Life, if they had not repented, they were written in the "Book of the Wicked" as "vessels fit for destruction".


This same theme runs throughout the Book of Revelation especially.

1. The righteous are written in the Book of Life
2. The wicked are written in the Book of the Wicked as vessels fit for destruction.
3. The inbetween have a chance to repent and be inscribed in the Book of Life.

The events of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are a picture of redemption that will occur during the future tribulation period and the 2nd coming of Christ.

Consider this like for more info on the Book of Life in Judaism.

http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view. ... 0of%20life

 

[gingercat]

Georges,

I believe we all have chance to repent no matter how wicked we are.

 

[Georges]

That's what the purpose of the books are....to give you that chance of forgiveness, if repentent.

My main point for starting the thread was to bring to light the Jewish (Paul's and John's) understanding of what the book of Life would have been, and how it is different from Modern Christianity's interpretation.

 

[Dave...]

I often hear Revelation 3:5 decerned as a threat, but really it's a promise. Nowhere in that verse does it claim that people will, or could have their name blotted out from the book of life, it only promises that if you persevere (who perseveres? true Christians being held by the power of God), that your name will not be blotted out. This is consistent with the rest of scripture.

I know some people will point to the threat at the end of Revelation as proof of the opposite, but the NASB has that verse translated "the tree of life". Some claim (I haven't researched it yet) that there is sound reason for translating it as "tree of life" instead of "book of life" to make the distinction between the two in that verse. In a few instances in the OT "book/tree of life" refers to our physical life, so the possibility is there as best as I can understand so far that the verse at the end of Revelation is refereing to our physical life, not our eternal destination. Perhaps it's time for me to brush up on this and take to the next level of understanding.

Second, using the same scripture provided earlier on a few different posts, if those whose names that were written in the book of life is from the foundations of the world, and those whose names that were not written in the book of life is from the foundations of the world, then we have two absolutes, both from the foundations of the world. So where is there room to transfer either in of out of that same book of life?

Dave

 

[Georges]

I often hear Revelation 3:5 decerned as a threat, but really it's a promise. Nowhere in that verse does it claim that people will, or could have their name blotted out from the book of life, it only promises that if you persevere (who perseveres? true Christians being held by the power of God), that your name will not be blotted out. this is consistent with the rest of scripture.

Dave....it is a threat...and it is a promise.....most definetely a warning....and it is most definetly a hopeful reward for the righteous. By the very promise of not being blotted out, is the promise that you will be blotted out if you are unrighteous. The inference of the "blotting out judgment" is the Jewish (not Christian) nature of the book, as the tradition is seen in the previous post I had presented.

I know some people will point to the threat at the end of Revelation as proof of the opposite, but the NASB has that verse translated "the tree of life". Some claim (I haven't researched it yet) that there is sound reason for translating it as "tree of life" instead of "book of life" to make the distinction between the two in that verse. In a few instances in the OT "tree of life" refers to our physical life, so the possibility is there as best as I can understand so far that the verse at the end of Revelation is refereing to our physical life, not our eternal destination. Perhaps it's time for me to brush up on this and take to the next level of understanding.

Dave....you (anyone) can't buck 3500 years of tradition in regard to the Book of Life. Print the verse in the above paragraph you are discussing.....there is nothing in the Book of Life verses that could possibly be mistakened for Tree of Life....wouldn't make sense....but there is a lot of revisionism in Christianity. Revisionists try to separate Christianity from Judaism. Not saying you espouse the revisionist agenda, but by suggesting the above indicates you've been exposed to it somewhat.

Second, using the same scripture provided earlier on a few different posts, if those whose names that were written in the book of life is from the foundations of the world, and those whose names thatwere not written in the book of life is from the foundations of the world, then we have two absolutes, both from the foundations of the world. So where is there room to transfer either in of out of that book?

Rev 13:8 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.

Rev 13:8 Is broken down into 2 items....

1. "And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life". Those who worship the Beast are not written in the Book of Life.
2. "Lamb slain from the foundation of the world". The Lamb of God, the Messiah was slain....when? 33AD? yes.... when else? When the name of Messiah was created in the beginning of the world he was destined to be slain.

and with a different look....

Rev 17:8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

1. The first part indicates that these are not written in the Book of Life.

2. The second part states that the Book of Life has been in existence since the beginning of the world.

The Books have been from the beginning and are adjusted yearly......still are and will be until the end of the Messianic Millennial kingdom period.

Dave....thanks for the post....very thought provoking.

 

[Dave...]

Dave....it is a threat...and it is a promise.....most definetely a warning....and it is most definetly a hopeful reward for the righteous. By the very promise of not being blotted out, is the promise that you will be blotted out if you are unrighteous. The inference of the "blotting out judgment" is the Jewish (not Christian) nature of the book, as the tradition is seen in the previous post I had presented.

I would have to respectfully disagree with you here. I do not see it as a hopeful reward, otherwise the promise would be empty. I also do not see it as a threat. It sounds like it would be a safe assumption that those who do not persevere must have their names removed, but it doesn't say that and to read this into that verse would be contrary to the truth from the rest of scripture.

Rev 3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and 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.

Ephesians 1:4-5 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

This is a promise to all who are saved. He that overcommeth, we are told earlier in Rev. is one who is saved. One who is saved, is one who He hath chosen in Him before the foundation of the world, predestined according to the good pleasure of His will.

Dave....you (anyone) can't buck 3500 years of tradition in regard to the Book of Life. Print the verse in the above paragraph you are discussing.....there is nothing in the Book of Life verses that could possibly be mistakened for Tree of Life....wouldn't make sense....but there is a lot of revisionism in Christianity. Revisionists try to separate Christianity from Judaism. Not saying you espouse the revisionist agenda, but by suggesting the above indicates you've been exposed to it somewhat.

I understand what you are saying, and you are correct that we need to be careful. I'm not one of those who believes that the KJV is without it's problems in translation. The verse is Revelation 22:19.

KJV
Rev 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

NASB
Rev 22:19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.

1. The first part indicates that these are not written in the Book of Life.

2. The second part states that the Book of Life has been in existence since the beginning of the world.

The Books have been from the beginning and are adjusted yearly......still are and will be until the end of the Messianic Millennial kingdom period.

Rev. 17:8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

I disagree with the second. I don't see the separation in the names written and the 'foundations of the world.' I have not heard anyone who is well studied in the original languages make the claim that there should be separation in that sentence. I'm still looking into it, so if there is something to it, i'll find it, Lord willing.

I'm going over some of it tonight. We'll see what comes out of it all. 8-) Thanks for your reply. If I find anything good i'll let you know.

Peace

Dave

 

[Georges]

Dave....it is a threat...and it is a promise.....most definetely a warning....and it is most definetly a hopeful reward for the righteous. By the very promise of not being blotted out, is the promise that you will be blotted out if you are unrighteous. The inference of the "blotting out judgment" is the Jewish (not Christian) nature of the book, as the tradition is seen in the previous post I had presented.

I would have to respectfully disagree with you here. I do not see it as a hopeful reward, otherwise the promise would be empty. I also do not see it as a threat. It sounds like it would be a safe assumption that those who do not persevere must have their names removed, but it doesn't say that and to read this into that verse would be contrary to the truth from the rest of scripture.

The good thing about debate and discussion is we can respectfully disagree with each other.....each is entitled to their opinion...

Rev 3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and 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.

Ephesians 1:4-5 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

This is a promise to all who are saved. He that overcommeth, we are told earlier in Rev. is one who is saved. One who is saved, is one who He hath chosen in Him before the foundation of the world, predestined according to the good pleasure of His will.

Not sure if you view is 100% correct here Dave.....The promise that men would have the "opportunity" to be saved was created at the foundation of the world. The one who is saved is one who trusts Christs and does his best to live by the Law of God, which is the Law of Christ. The verse above can also be misunderstood to mean "there are those chosen and not chosen at the foundation of the world".

[quote:54b47]Dave....you (anyone) can't buck 3500 years of tradition in regard to the Book of Life. Print the verse in the above paragraph you are discussing.....there is nothing in the Book of Life verses that could possibly be mistakened for Tree of Life....wouldn't make sense....but there is a lot of revisionism in Christianity. Revisionists try to separate Christianity from Judaism. Not saying you espouse the revisionist agenda, but by suggesting the above indicates you've been exposed to it somewhat.

I understand what you are saying, and you are correct that we need to be careful. I'm not one of those who believes that the KJV is without it's problems in translation. The verse is Revelation 22:19.

KJV
Rev 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

NASB
Rev 22:19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.

1. The first part indicates that these are not written in the Book of Life.

2. The second part states that the Book of Life has been in existence since the beginning of the world.

The Books have been from the beginning and are adjusted yearly......still are and will be until the end of the Messianic Millennial kingdom period.

Rev. 17:8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

I disagree with the second. I don't see the separation in the names written and the 'foundations of the world.' I have not heard anyone who is well studied in the original languages make the claim that there should be separation in that sentence. I'm still looking into it, so if there is something to it, i'll find it, Lord willing.

Dave...consider that Greek doesn't have punctuation marks...so a lot of translation is subject to the person doing the translation....in other words, when translating Greek into English, punctuation is determined by the translator....As I was trying to stress in the above posts, it is important to learn the history of the Jewish terms used ie "Book of Life" and how the concept was developed.

I'm going over some of it tonight. We'll see what comes out of it all. 8-) Thanks for your reply. If I find anything good i'll let you know.

I would appreciate it....I'm always willing to learn.....weigh it and use it if works...

Peace

Back at cha bro.....

Dave[/quote:54b47]


Thanks Dave....

 

[Bick]

The book of life

Hi, I thought I would get on this thread, to, hopefully, shed some light on this subject.

First, it is necessary to list all the verses speaking of, or alluding to, the "book of life".
Some good definitions have been given. I would understand it to be a record, whether literal or figurative, of those who will be granted life, as a reward, either in the millennial age or the new earth age; or in the heavenlies The Church/Body of Christ are promised a glorious future in changed bodies fit for the heavenlies. See Eph. 1-3.

Moses asked to be blotted out His book, if He didn't forgive the Israelites.
Exod. 32:32
God said, "Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out of my book."
Exod. 32:33
"May they be blotted out of the book of life and not be listed with the righteous." Psa.29:28
"....Your people--everyone whose name is found written in the book will be delivered. Multitudes whose sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt." Dan.12:1,2.
In Deut.29:18-20, Moses says God will blot out the name of any person or tribe who introduce idolatry to Israel.
And this is why the tribes of Levi and Joseph are listed among the 144,000 who will be protected from the woes of the tribulation. Rev.7:4-8.
Christ in Rev.3:5 promises those "overcomers" in the Sardis ecclessia, to be dressed in white, and that their names will never be blotted out ot the book of life.-

COMMENT: Up to now, it has been called the "book of life" and IMO has to do with Israel. In Rev.13:8 and 21:27, the "Lamb's book of life" is referred to and perhaps, is limiting those whose names are in it to a special group of believing Israelites. Or, this may be referring to the same book.

Rev.17:8 tells us those inhabitants of the earth, whose names are not written in the book of life from the disruption of a world, will be amazed at the beast being healed from his death wound.

Now, in Rev.20:12&15, this "book of life" must include individuals from all peoples, back to the time of Adam and Eve, who, in God's opinion, are worthy of life. Notice, those resurrected to be judged at the great white throne, are judged from other books, not from the book of life.

As for the Church/Body of Christ, Paul speaks of "the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life." Phil.4:3


Some comments: Georges: there is no "book of death" in the scriptures. If a person is not alive, he is dead; until resurrected.
"The books" in Rev.20:12, record the deeds, good or bad, of those being judged.

Irishrain: There is nothing in the scriptures re a "book of election".


All for now, Bick

 

[Georges]

Re: The book of life

Hi, I thought I would get on this thread, to, hopefully, shed some light on this subject.

First, it is necessary to list all the verses speaking of, or alluding to, the "book of life".
Some good definitions have been given. I would understand it to be a record, whether literal or figurative, of those who will be granted life, as a reward, either in the millennial age or the new earth age; or in the heavenlies The Church/Body of Christ are promised a glorious future in changed bodies fit for the heavenlies. See Eph. 1-3.

Moses asked to be blotted out His book, if He didn't forgive the Israelites.
Exod. 32:32
God said, "Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out of my book."
Exod. 32:33
"May they be blotted out of the book of life and not be listed with the righteous." Psa.29:28
"....Your people--everyone whose name is found written in the book will be delivered. Multitudes whose sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt." Dan.12:1,2.
In Deut.29:18-20, Moses says God will blot out the name of any person or tribe who introduce idolatry to Israel.
And this is why the tribes of Levi and Joseph are listed among the 144,000 who will be protected from the woes of the tribulation. Rev.7:4-8.
Christ in Rev.3:5 promises those "overcomers" in the Sardis ecclessia, to be dressed in white, and that their names will never be blotted out ot the book of life.-

COMMENT: Up to now, it has been called the "book of life" and IMO has to do with Israel. In Rev.13:8 and 21:27, the "Lamb's book of life" is referred to and perhaps, is limiting those whose names are in it to a special group of believing Israelites. Or, this may be referring to the same book.

Rev.17:8 tells us those inhabitants of the earth, whose names are not written in the book of life from the disruption of a world, will be amazed at the beast being healed from his death wound.

Now, in Rev.20:12&15, this "book of life" must include individuals from all peoples, back to the time of Adam and Eve, who, in God's opinion, are worthy of life. Notice, those resurrected to be judged at the great white throne, are judged from other books, not from the book of life.

As for the Church/Body of Christ, Paul speaks of "the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life." Phil.4:3


Some comments: Georges: there is no "book of death" in the scriptures. If a person is not alive, he is dead; until resurrected.
"The books" in Rev.20:12, record the deeds, good or bad, of those being judged.

Irishrain: There is nothing in the scriptures re a "book of election".


All for now, Bick

You are correct Bick in that there are no words "The Book of Death" in the Bible as we have it.....today. The living, while still alive are who are not acting righteously, are written into the "Book of the Wicked" for review upon their ressurection. This includes those people in remote Siberia who may never have heard the Gospel. The book in which your deeds are written is the "Book of the Wicked"....and synonymous with "The book of death" why? Because the rigteous won't need to have their deeds revealed (if in fact their sin is covered by Jesus), and the wicked will be judged by their works and judged as vessels fit for destruction (hence, book of death). It is the Jewish understanding and tradition of the terms that you may be missing. Your perception of the definition may work if you Christianize it, but it's not originally a Christian concept. I hope you realize that there is more to the Bible than what man has determined to be the Canon. There are other very important religious works (written and oral) that aren't in the OT, but are as important because they offer insight for interpretation.


Thanks for the input Bick.....

 

[cj]

Men are not sent to hell because of their sins, they are sent to hell because of their unbelief, the one unique sin that causes people to perish (John 16:9).

Because of this, that men are only sent to eternal perdition for unbelief, all believers can be assured that no believer will spend eternity in hell.

There are two sets of scrolls, one for believers, the book of life, and one for unbelievers, simpey referred to as "the scrolls."

Revelation 20:12

"And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and scrolls were opened; and another scroll was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by the things which were written in the scrolls, according to their works."


Revelation 20:15

"And if anyone was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire"

It was at the foundation of the world that the Lamb was slain, this at the same time the book of life, which is the slain Lamb's book, was brought into being. The book of life is only about those who have received the slain Lamb, and thus have been saved. An unbeliever's name cannot be found in the Lamb's book of life. But all believer's names will be; yet, for a time, some may have their name erased/blotted out as a form of further disciplining unto perfection.


Georges, you were onto something when you spoke about the Jews and the Messianic reign.

This is actually what the book of life is about, reigning with the King during His thousand year reign. This is the reward of the overcomers, and is the reward that will be lost by the believers who do not overcome.


See if the following helps....


Revelation  3 : 5

"He who overcomes will be clothed thus, in white garments, and I shall by no means erase his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels."


NOTES -

The entire verse is the Lord's promise to the overcomers. It will be fulfilled in the millennial kingdom after the Lord comes back. That a name is erased out of the book of life indicates that that name has already been written in the book of life. The book of life is a divine record of the names of those who partake of the blessings that God has prepared for them. The names of all the saints chosen by God and predestinated to partake of these blessings are written in this book (Luke 10:20). These blessings are in three stages: (1) in the church, (2) in the millennial kingdom, and (3) in eternity. The blessings in the stage of the church, such as forgiveness, redemption, regeneration, eternal life, the divine nature, etc., are the initial portions. All God's chosen ones whose names are written in the book of life have a share in these initial portions to begin their spiritual life. If they cooperate with God's supplying grace, they will mature in life in the church age, and this earlier maturity in life will constitute a prize with which the Lord will reward them at His coming back. That prize will be the entrance into the millennial kingdom and participation in the divine blessings in that stage, such as the joy and rest of the Lord (Matt. 25:21, 23; Heb. 4:9-11), the reign over the nations (2:26-27; 20:4, 6), etc., which God has prepared as an incentive for His chosen ones to go on with Him in the church age. However, many of His chosen ones, after receiving His forgiveness, redemption, eternal life, divine nature, etc., will not cooperate with His grace and will not go on with Him. Hence, they are unable to mature in life in the church age and thus will not be ready at the Lord's coming back to enter into the millennial kingdom and share in the divine blessings of that age as a prize. Therefore, during the millennial kingdom their names will be erased from the book of life. After being disciplined by the Lord and growing in life unto maturity during the millennial kingdom, they will share in the divine blessings in the stage of eternity, such as the eternal priesthood with God's eter-nal presence, the eternal kingship (22:3-5), the New Jerusalem, the tree of life (22:14), the water of life (22:17), etc. At that time their names should again be written in the book of life. This means that all God's chosen ones whose names are written in the book of life and who have been brought into the participation of the divine blessings in the stage of the church "shall by no means perish forever," (John 10:28); that is, they shall by no means lose the divine blessings of eternity. But some, those who do not cooperate with the Lord in the church age, will be dispensationally disciplined by the Lord during the millennial kingdom and will miss the divine blessings in that stage.


In love,
cj

 

[cj]

Re: The book of life

Men are not sent to hell because of their sins, they are sent to hell because of their unbelief, the one unique sin that causes people to perish (John 16:9).

Because of this, that men are only sent to eternal perdition for unbelief, all believers can be assured that no believer will spend eternity in hell.

There are two sets of scrolls, one for believers, the book of life, and one for unbelievers, simpey referred to as "the scrolls."

Revelation 20:12

"And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and scrolls were opened; and another scroll was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by the things which were written in the scrolls, according to their works."


Revelation 20:15

"And if anyone was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire"

It was at the foundation of the world that the Lamb was slain, this at the same time the book of life, which is the slain Lamb's book, was brought into being. The book of life is only about those who have received the slain Lamb, and thus have been saved. An unbeliever's name cannot be found in the Lamb's book of life. But all believer's names will be; yet, for a time, some may have their name erased/blotted out as a form of further disciplining unto perfection.


Georges, you were onto something when you spoke about the Jews and the Messianic reign.

This is actually what the book of life is about, reigning with the King during His thousand year reign. This is the reward of the overcomers, and is the reward that will be lost by the believers who do not overcome.


See if the following helps....


Revelation  3 : 5

"He who overcomes will be clothed thus, in white garments, and I shall by no means erase his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels."


NOTES -

The entire verse is the Lord's promise to the overcomers. It will be fulfilled in the millennial kingdom after the Lord comes back. That a name is erased out of the book of life indicates that that name has already been written in the book of life. The book of life is a divine record of the names of those who partake of the blessings that God has prepared for them. The names of all the saints chosen by God and predestinated to partake of these blessings are written in this book (Luke 10:20). These blessings are in three stages: (1) in the church, (2) in the millennial kingdom, and (3) in eternity. The blessings in the stage of the church, such as forgiveness, redemption, regeneration, eternal life, the divine nature, etc., are the initial portions. All God's chosen ones whose names are written in the book of life have a share in these initial portions to begin their spiritual life. If they cooperate with God's supplying grace, they will mature in life in the church age, and this earlier maturity in life will constitute a prize with which the Lord will reward them at His coming back. That prize will be the entrance into the millennial kingdom and participation in the divine blessings in that stage, such as the joy and rest of the Lord (Matt. 25:21, 23; Heb. 4:9-11), the reign over the nations (2:26-27; 20:4, 6), etc., which God has prepared as an incentive for His chosen ones to go on with Him in the church age. However, many of His chosen ones, after receiving His forgiveness, redemption, eternal life, divine nature, etc., will not cooperate with His grace and will not go on with Him. Hence, they are unable to mature in life in the church age and thus will not be ready at the Lord's coming back to enter into the millennial kingdom and share in the divine blessings of that age as a prize. Therefore, during the millennial kingdom their names will be erased from the book of life. After being disciplined by the Lord and growing in life unto maturity during the millennial kingdom, they will share in the divine blessings in the stage of eternity, such as the eternal priesthood with God's eter-nal presence, the eternal kingship (22:3-5), the New Jerusalem, the tree of life (22:14), the water of life (22:17), etc. At that time their names should again be written in the book of life. This means that all God's chosen ones whose names are written in the book of life and who have been brought into the participation of the divine blessings in the stage of the church "shall by no means perish forever," (John 10:28); that is, they shall by no means lose the divine blessings of eternity. But some, those who do not cooperate with the Lord in the church age, will be dispensationally disciplined by the Lord during the millennial kingdom and will miss the divine blessings in that stage.


In love,
cj

 

[Georges]

Re: The book of life

It was at the foundation of the world that the Lamb was slain, this at the same time the book of life, which is the slain Lamb's book, was brought into being. The book of life is only about those who have received the slain Lamb, and thus have been saved. An unbeliever's name cannot be found in the Lamb's book of life. But all believer's names will be; yet, for a time, some may have their name erased/blotted out as a form of further disciplining unto perfection.

I can agree with you paragraph above....it is basically the way I see it. The only thing I will suggest about the opening paragraph is that there are 3 books (in Judaism) at the time between RH and YK. These of course are wittled down to 2 at the end of YK. The whole scheme of the 3 books plays out during the future tribulation period.

1. The righteous are sealed in the book of life....period...raptured?
2. The inbetweener's are those who are fence sitters...During the Trib period, there will be a dividing line...some will accept Messiah (book of life), some the false messiah (book of the wicked).
3. The wicked will be destroyed (bodily) at the second coming and eternally? at the Last Judgment.
4. As during the Jewish religious year between RH and YK, men have a chance to repent and return to God...same thing with the trib period.


Georges, you were onto something when you spoke about the Jews and the Messianic reign.

This is actually what the book of life is about, reigning with the King during His thousand year reign. This is the reward of the overcomers, and is the reward that will be lost by the believers who do not overcome.

agreed....

In love,
cj

 

[Georges]

Re: The book of life

Some comments: Georges: there is no "book of death" in the scriptures. If a person is not alive, he is dead; until resurrected.
"The books" in Rev.20:12, record the deeds, good or bad, of those being judged.


All for now, Bick

Bick....some excerps here from Jewishencyclopedia.com concerning the Book of Death....

....The Book of Jubilees (30:20-22) speaks of two heavenly tablets or books: a Book of Life for the righteous, and a Book of Death for those that walk in the paths of impurity and are written down on the heavenly tablets as adversaries (of God). Also, according to ib. 36:10, one who contrives evil against his neighbor will be blotted out of the Book of Remembrance of men, and will not be written in the Book of Life, but in the Book of Perdition.

and,

....the Testament of Abraham, and elsewhere, the great Judgment Day to the hereafter, the Pharisaic school taught that on the first day of each year (Rosh ha-Shanah) God sits in judgment over His creatures and has the Books of Life and Death opened, together with the books containing the records of the righteous and the unrighteous. And out of the middle state of the future judgment (see Testament of Abraham, A, xiv.) there arose the idea of a third class of men who are held in suspense ("Benonim," the middle), and of a corresponding third book for this middle class (R. H. 15b).

For the entire article...[url]http://www.jewishencyclopedia ... 0of%20life[/url].

As I stated in a previous post, you are correct that the term "Book of Death" isn't found in the Canon of the Bible, but it is found in other important religious documents and should be considered viable.