© 24 Colin Melbourne
God’s Books
Q: I read your post about God’s Scrap Book, is it the same as the Lamb’s Book of Life mentioned in Revelation?
A: I’m not sure, it could be, but I think of His Book of Remembrance; as a notebook in His pocket where He jots down highlights, much as we reach for our cameras, when toddler’s antics are thrilling out hearts. Holy Bible, Malachi 3:16-18 KJV;
Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.
And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.
The Lamb’s Book of Life is even more profound.
Here’s the Lamb’s Book of Life in the Holy Bible KJV;
Please note: I understand the Book of the Living (under the Old Covenant), and the New Testament Book of Life, and Lamb’s Book of Life, to be the same book.
The Book of the Living occurs in Psalms 69:27-28 KJV;
Add iniquity unto their iniquity: and let them not come into thy righteousness. Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.
Book of Life is found eight times;
I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord. And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.
Phil. 4:2-3 KJV
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. 3:5 KJV
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 KJV
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.
Rev. 17:8 KJV
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.
Rev. 20:12 KJV
And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Rev. 20:15 KJV
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.
Rev. 21:27 KJV
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.
Rev. 22:19 KJV
What About The Tree of Life?
As a side note, the Tree of Life in Revelation 2:7, 22:2, 22:14, is the same tree as in Genesis chapters 2 and 3, and not related to the phrases the Book of Life and The Lamb’s Book of Life.
Vatican Corrupted “Bibles”
I raise this point because corrupted Catholic “bibles”, disguised as modern versions, such as the; ESV, NIV, NASB, NET, etc, try to “correct” God’s written word by claiming God’s chosen Translators made a mistake in Revelation chapters 20 and 22.
Bible-correctors claim that Erasmus, when compiling his Greek Textus Receptus, “did not have access to sufficient bible manuscripts, and followed a “scribal error” for Book of Life in Rev. 22:19, when it ought to have been translated Tree of Life”.
That is flat-wrong, a satanic deception; Almighty God ensured Erasmus had both the intelectual ability, and access to sufficient manuscript sources, to determine the proper Greek rendering of His written word, and his translation “book” is correct in all places.
This is confirmed by the Greek texts of; Stephanus 1550, Beza 1598, Elziever 1624, Scrivener 1894, and even the Modern Greek Bible reads “book” not “tree” in Rev. 22:19.
Additionally, most pre-reformation Bibles, in all languages, and many of the early church writers authenticate the translation as “book”.
See Will Kinney’s excellent research, for more detail on this topic.
The Providence of God has seen fit to place the reading “BOOK of life” in most Bibles that have been used throughout history to reach millions for Christ. It was the textual reading found in All Reformation Bibles, in all languages which had a Bible during this time. These include Wycliffe 1380, Tyndale 1525, Coverdale 1535, the Great Bible (Cranmer 1539), Matthew’s Bible (John Rogers) 1549, the Bishops’ Bible 1568, and the Geneva Bible 1557-“God shall take away his part out of the Booke of life.” and the Beza New Testament 1599.
Indisputable Facts about the Lamb’s Book of Life
Psalm 69 is a prophetic picture fulfilled when Christ’s suffered at Calvary, Psalm 69:27-28 KJV;
Add iniquity unto their iniquity: and let them not come into thy righteousness.
Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.
God’s Enemies are Not In The Book of The Living
This scripture, shows that enemies of God, ie. sinners, unbelievers, the unrighteous, are blotted out from the book of the living, fall short of divine righteousness, so are barred from God’s kingdom.
Divine righteousness is obtained by heart faith in the LORD Jesus Christ, not by anything we can do, except Trust in His Blood, His Name, and His Faith.
In the context of the New Covenant, that means only born again believers in The LORD Jesus Christ come into righteousness and God’s Kingdom. (By faith in Christ alone), That is why He insists, Ye must be born again… Ye means everyone… are you?
Men and Women in The Book of Life are Busy for The LORD
Those whose names are written in the Book of Life spend their brief time on Earth labouring for the LORD, sharing His message and love. Women and men are honoured equally, and called to share the mind of Christ, instead of quibbling over doctrine. Phil. 4:2-3 KJV;
I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord. And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.
Overcomers through Christ Are Made Righteous, and God’s Own
Every Overcomer is guaranteed divinely bestowed righteousness, our names remain in the Book of Life, and The LORD Jesus Christ Himself declares us His own before Heaven’s Assembly. Revelation 3:5 KJV;
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.
Everyone Absent from The Book of Life Worships Satan and His Beast
Those who are not in the Book of Life worship Satan and his Beast. Rev. 13:8 KJV;
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.
Divine Judgment of The Dead is Based On The Book of Life
The Great White Throne Judgment of the dead will reveal whose name is not in the Book of Life, and are damned by Almighty God in accordance with their recorded misdeeds. Rev. 20:12 KJV;
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.
Eternal Hell Awaits Absentees
Those not recorded in the Book of Life are cast into the lake of fire. Rev. 20:15 LKJV;
And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Heaven is Closed to Sinners, Idolaters, and The Sexually Immoral
Only those named in the Book of Life are allowed to enter the glory of God’s Kingdom of Heaven. Rev. 21:27 KJV;
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.
Altering God’s Written Word Results in Eternal Damnation
Those who try to change the words of God are removed from the Book of Life, barred from Heaven, and its blessings. Rev. 22:19 KJV;
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.
How to Respond
I believe Father God means exactly what He’s written for us, and by His Sovereign power will assuredly fulfil His own words in every detail.
Knowing the above irrevocable divine written facts, there ought to be just one question uppermost in our minds.
Is my name in God’s Book of Life?
If you don’t know, He wants you to have the same perfect assurance that every born again believer has.
Make sure your name is in the Lamb’s Book of Life: That’s the primary reason Father God brought you to read this.
Don’t leave until you’ve settled matters with your Creator: Heart to heart.
I respectfully invite you to diligently read the Gospel of John in the Holy Bible KJV, then believe-and-do what it says to do, and you’ll discover what has been revealed to every true believer down the centuries.
Mind Your Own Business
If you came here with the query; when are our names written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, you’ve probably been led astray by Calvinist teaching, and their endless metaphysical debating about predestination and free will.
To suchlike, may I remind them of the gentle rebuke Christ gave Peter when asked what would happen to the Gospel writer, John 21:21-22 KJV;
Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?
Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
In other words… “That’s none of your business Pete. C’mon let’s complete our mission.”
Let’s deal with the facts that God has made clear to us in His written word, and leave the rest to His wisdom, His discretion, and His judgment.
And all God’s saints shout a hearty Amen!
How To Be Certain Your Name is Written in God’s Book of Life
Believe The Good News of Jesus Christ
What good news?
The good news that God has come down from Heaven, and shown Himself to the world in Jesus Christ, His Only Begotten Son
Why?
So that you can know what real God is like, that He’s gentle, loving, kind, and merciful to the lost.
So what?
So believe on The LORD Jesus Christ, and receive God’s mercy instead of Judgment.
The good news that God wants you as His friend, His child, and His partner evermore.
Why?
Because God created you, and wants you to know Him, and His perfect love for you.
So what?
So you can be wrapped in His loving Arms by trusting in what Christ has accomplished for you at Calvary, not through anything you’ve done.
The good news that Jesus took your sin on Himself, and bore God’s Judgment in your place.
Why?
So that God can legally acquit you of guilt on account of Jesus’ Name.
So what?
So repent of unbelief in The LORD Jesus Christ, and believe all your sin was judged in Him.
The good news that Christ arose alive on the third day.
Why?
To prove that He was without sin of His own, and that the sins of the world have been judged in Him.
So what?
So repent and believe on Him, and the Living Christ will come into your heart, and give you His eternal life.
The good news that Jesus took your sickness and disease on Himself at the Cross.
Why?
So that you don’t ever have to be sick or diseased, but can live and walk in divine health evermore.
So what?
So believe Christ bore your pains, suffered your illness, and be healed by believing in Him as your Saviour-Healer.
When you understand these basic Gospel facts, and are ready to repent from unbelief, then do what the Bible says to do, then you’ll know your name is in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
© 24 Colin Melbourne