Is Your Name In the Book?
There is a book in heaven, a registry, called the lamb's Book of Life, in which the names of all who will be in heaven are recorded.
The Lambs Book of Life
There is a book in heaven, a registry, called the lamb's Book of Life, in which the names of all who will be in heaven are recorded.
Jesus said to His disciples on one occasion after they had reported great success in their ministries,
"Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven" (Luke 10:20).
Is your name written in heaven?
Do you have a reservation there?
One day you'll stand before God and He will say to you, "Why should I let you into My heaven?"
You must be able to say, "My name is in the Lamb's Book of Life. I have a reservation. I have put my trust in Jesus Christ as my Savior and therefore I qualify to come into Your heaven."
Consider the following story as a way to explain the importance of having your name be written into the Lambs Book of Life.
Ruthanna Metzgar was once asked to sing at a wedding in Seattle, where she lives. It was an upscale wedding. One of the wealthiest families in the city had a daughter getting married, and Ruthanna considered it a great honor to be chosen as the soloist. She was particularly excited because the wedding reception was to be held on the top two floors of the Columbia Center, the tallest building in the Northwest.
The whole event was exclusive, and Ruthanna couldn't help thinking about how fun it would be to go there with her husband, Roy.
After the wedding, Ruthanna and Roy drove to the beautiful facility and approached the reception desk. They watched as the maitre d', who was decked out in a splendid tuxedo, admitted and introduced the guests and ushered them toward luscious hors d'oeuvres and exotic beverages.
Soon after, the bride and groom approached a beautiful glass and brass staircase leading to the top floor, and someone ceremoniously cut a satin ribbon draped across the bottom of the stairs and announced that the wedding feast was about to begin.
As Roy and Ruthanna approached the top of the stairs, the maître d' asked them, "May I have your name, please?" Before him was a bound book.
"I am Ruthanna Metzgar and this is my husband, Roy."
The maître d' searched through the listings in the book, then he looked again. He asked Ruthanna to spell her name, and he searched again. Finally he looked up and said, "I'm sorry, but your name is not here."
"Oh, there must be some mistake," Ruthanna said. "I am the singer. I sang for this wedding!"
"It doesn't matter who you are or what you did," said the man. "Without your name in the book you cannot attend this banquet." He motioned to a waiter and said, "Show these people to the service elevator please."
The Metzgars were unceremoniously ushered past beautifully decorated tables laden with shrimp, whole smoked salmon, and magnificent carved-ice sculptures. They passed the orchestra, preparing to perform. All the musicians were resplendent in white tuxedos. The Metzgars were led past the guests enjoying the food, the fellowship, the views, and the opulence of the moment.
The waiter took Ruthanna and Roy to the service elevator, ushered them in, and pushed G for the parking garage. The Metzgars were stunned to find themselves out on the street, driving home in silence.
Somewhere along the way, Roy looked over and asked, "Sweetheart, what happened?"
She said, "When the invitation arrived for the reception, I was very busy and I never bothered to return the RSVP. Besides, I was the singer, surely I could go to the reception without returning the RSVP"
Then, as Ruthanna later recalled, she started to cry-not only because she had "missed the most lavish banquet" she'd ever been invited to but also because she'd suddenly had a small taste of what it will be like someday for people as they stand before Christ and find their names missing from the Lamb's Book of Life.1
There are eight references in New Testament to the “book of life”, and two of them refer specifically to the book of life that belongs to the Lamb, Jesus Christ. Seven of the references appear in the book of Revelation. Those whose names are written in the book of life are those who belong to God, those who have attained eternal life.
Revelation 20:15 declares, “If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” The Book of Life, in this context, is the set of names of those who will live with God forever in heaven. It is the roll of those who are saved.
This Book of Life is also mentioned in Revelation 3:5; 20:12; and Philippians 4:3. The same book is also called the Lamb’s Book of Life because it contains the names of those who have been redeemed by the blood of the Lord Jesus (Revelation 13:8; 21:27).
How can you be sure your name is written in the Book of Life?
Be sure you’re saved. Repent of sin and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:5). Once your name is written in the Book of Life, it is never erased (Revelation 3:5; Romans 8:37-39). No true believer should doubt his eternal security in Christ (John 10:28-30).
The Great White Throne Judgment described in Revelation 20:11-15 is a judgment for unbelievers. That passage makes it clear that no one at that judgment has his name in the Book of Life (Revelation 20:12-14). The fate of the ungodly is sealed; their names are not in the Book of Life; their punishment is sure.
Overcome!
Some people point to Revelation 3:5 as “proof” that a person can lose his salvation. However, the promise of Revelation 3:5 is clearly that the Lord will not erase a name: “He who overcomes . . . I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life.” An overcomer is one who is victorious over the temptations, trials, and evils of this world—in other words, one who is redeemed. The saved are written in God’s registry and have the promise of eternal security.
Another passage over which confusion sometimes arises is Psalm 69:28: “Let them [David’s enemies] be blotted out of the book of the living.” This “book of the living” should not be confused with the Lamb’s Book of Life. David is referring to earthly, physical life, not eternal life in heaven. The same is true of the “book” mentioned in Exodus 32:32-33.
God keeps good records. He knows His own, and He has set the names of His children permanently in His book.
When Paul refers to those who have labored alongside him, he describes them in Philippians 4:3 as those whose names are in the book of life, which identifies the book of life as a record of the names of those who have eternal salvation.
As we reference, Revelation 3:5 where Jesus is speaking specifically to the Churches, we see how the book of life is where the names of believers in the Lord are found. More specifically, those recorded in the book are those who overcome the trials of earthly life, proving that their salvation is genuine. This verse also makes it clear that once a name is written in the book of life, Jesus promises that He will never blot it out, proving the doctrine of eternal security. The Lord Jesus is speaking to the churches in this part of Revelation, and He promises to acknowledge His own before His Father.
Conversely, Revelation 20:15 reveals the fate of those whose names are not written in the book of life—eternity in the lake of fire.
Revelation 17:8 clarifies when the names of the redeemed are written in the book of life: “The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast” (emphasis added).
The names of those who approve of the Antichrist are not found in the book of life, and the names that are in the book of life were written there before the world was created. Thus, Revelation 17:8 teaches both eternal security and election.
In Revelation 13:8 and 21:27, we find the references to the "Lamb’s book of life," in which also are the names of all those who have been washed by the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ.
Summary
The Lamb who has been “slain from the creation of the world” has a book in Heaven in which are written all those who have been redeemed by His sacrifice. They are the ones who will enter the Holy City, the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:10) and who will live forever in heaven with God. This book of life is that which records all who have eternal life through the Lamb.
We can conclude without any confusion that the book of life and the Lamb’s book of life are one and the same.