THE BOOK OF LIFE
Introduction
What Is The Book Of Life?
Whose Book Is The Book Of Life?
When Was The Book Of Life Written?
What All Is Recorded In The Book Of Life?
Why Are Some Names Not Found In The Book Of Life?
Can A Child Of God’s Name Be Blotted Out Of The Book Of Life?
What Is The End Of Those Whose Names Are Not Found In The Book Of Life?
What is the inheritance of those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life?
When Will The Deliverance Of Those Who Are Written In The Lamb’s Book Of Life Occur?
Conclusion
INTRODUCTION
In Luke 10:20, Jesus told His disciples to rejoice, not because spirits were subject to them, but because their names were written in heaven.
Knowing that our names are written in heaven, and rejoicing in this fact, are very important parts of “sitting in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:6).
On this page, we are going to study the book in which our names are written in heaven. It is called “The Book of Life”.
Philippians 4:3: “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.”
As you can see from the above passage and from Luke 10:20, it is possible while living on earth, to know that our names are written “in the Book of Life” (Philippians 4:3), that our names are “written in heaven” (Luke 10:20).
Let us now study the main points about the Book of Life in which your name and mine (and those of other individuals who are clearly born again) are already registered in heaven. As we study these points, let us rejoice again and again, as Jesus commanded us to rejoice, that our names are registered in heaven.
What is the Book of Life? What’s written in it? Whose book is it? When was it written? Whose names are in it, and on what basis are they there? We will find the answer to these and other questions about the Book of Life in another book, God’s Word, the Bible.
WHAT IS THE BOOK OF LIFE?
The Book of Life is the last will and testament of the Lord Jesus Christ. A will / testament is a legal declaration of how a person wishes his possessions to be disposed after his death and to whom. It is a legally executed document containing the names of those designated as heirs by of the testator, and what their inheritance shall be. The last will and testament takes effect only after the testator’s death.
Let’s see what the Bible says about Jesus’ last will and testament.
Hebrew 9:14-17: “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.“
Jesus’ will and testament declares that, by His grace, without any merit on our part, we should be made his heirs, and inherit all things.
Titus 3:5-7: “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
Revelation 21:7: “He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.”
So to answer the question, “What is the Book of Life?”: It is the last will and testament of the Lord Jesus Christ containing the names of all His heirs.
WHOSE BOOK IS THE BOOK OF LIFE?
The Book of Life is the Lamb’s Book.
Revelation 21:27: “… the Lamb’s book of life.”
Revelation 13:8: “… the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”
And who is the Lamb? John the Baptist answered that question for us:
John 1:29: “… John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”
So to answer the question, “Whose book is the Book of Life?”: It’s the Lord Jesus Christ’s Book.
WHEN WAS THE BOOK OF LIFE WRITTEN?
The names and descriptions of God’s elect children were written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world.
Revelation 17:8: “… they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world …”
Revelation 13:8: “And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him [Antichrist], whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”
Psalm 139:14-16: “I will praise Thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are Thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from Thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in Thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.”
Note that the phrase “in continuance” means “in time.” Before the members of a believer’s body were fashioned, when in time there were as yet none of them, before he was ever born, all his members were written in the Book of Life. The reason this is possible and true is because God knows everything. He is omniscient and foresaw those who would receive Christ by faith from the beginning and chose us on that basis.
2 Thessalonians 2:13-14: “… God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the Truth: Whereunto He called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Peter 1:2: “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ …”
Romans 8:29-30: “For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He did predestinate, them He also called: and whom He called, them He also justified: and whom He justified, them He also glorified.”
Ephesians 1:4-5, 12-14: “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 …. That we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the Word of Truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory.”
1 Peter 1:18-21: “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by Him do believe in God, that raised Him up from the dead, and gave Him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.”
Matthew 25:34: “… Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”
So to answer the question, “When was the Book of Life written?”: Before the foundation of the world, because God through foreknowledge chose people to salvation from the beginning.
WHAT ALL IS RECORDED IN THE BOOK OF LIFE?
Psalm 139:14-16: “I will praise Thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are Thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from Thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in Thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.”
Daniel 12:1: “… people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.”
Philippians 4:3: “… names are in the book of life.”
Psalm 56:8-9: “… put Thou my tears into Thy bottle: are they not in Thy Book? When I cry unto Thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.”
From these passages we can see the Lamb’s Book of Life has
1) the physical descriptions of God’s elect (their members, their limbs, their DNA), whom in time were not yet even born, but God knew that they receive Christ when they heard His Word,
2) the names of the people who are His elect children, and
3) their righteous tears, these being most likely recorded in regard to their good works which He will reward.
The Bible also mentions “a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals”. This book is either contained in or referred to in the Lamb’s Book of Life for the 7-sealed book contains the Title Deed to the Earth which is part of the inheritance of believers. The Apostle John speaks of the seven sealed book in these words:
Revelation 5:1, 3, 5-7, 9-10, 12-13: “And I saw in the right hand of Him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. … And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. … And one of the elders saith unto me … behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. And I beheld … a Lamb as it had been slain …. And He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him that sat upon the throne. … And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. … Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.”
When Satan tempted Adam and Eve and they sinned against God (Gen 3:1-6), the result was that they, their posterity, and the Earth became pawns of Satan (Luke 4:5-7; 2 Cor 4:3; Eph 2:1-2 John 8:44, 12:31). When the Lord Jesus was likewise tempted, only more so, He did not waver as Adam did (Matt 4:2-11). And when the Lamb of God was slain on the cross He redeemed us to God by His blood (Rev 11:15).
Adam pawned the World into the power of Satan, but Christ Jesus redeemed it for mankind. His children have been given the victory and Christ has “made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth” (Rev 5:10).
When Adam and Eve Sinned God had this to say to them and to Satan:
Genesis 3:14-19: “And the LORD God said unto the serpent [Satan], … I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her Seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel. Unto the woman He said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. And unto Adam He said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.”
The same basic curse on mankind and the earth on which we live is expressed elsewhere in the Bible too.
Isaiah 24:4-6: “The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish. The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.”
But he promised to redeem those who trust in Him.
Hosea 13:14: “I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.”
Those whom He has redeemed will inherit the earth.
Psalm 37:22: “For such as be blessed of Him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of Him shall be cut off.”
Those whom He has redeemed and who will inherit the earth, shall have this redemption everlastingly.
Daniel 12:2: “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.”
We have everlasting redemption because we will be raised from the dead.
1 Corinthians 15:21-22: “For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”
Hebrews 2:14-15: “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.”
Once raised, we will have eternal glory, and once we have that glory, even earth will be redeemed, and there will no more be a curse upon the earth.
Romans 8:18-23: “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of Him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.”
1 Corinthians 15:53-57: “For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Revelation 21:4, 22:3: “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. … And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: “
So to answer the question, “What all is recorded in the Book of Life?”: The names and physical descriptions of God’s children, and their inheritance and rewards.
WHY ARE SOME NAMES NOT FOUND IN THE BOOK OF LIFE?
The Bible refers to some whose names are not written in the Book of Life.
Revelation 13:8: “… whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb…”
Revelation 17:8: “… whose names were not written in the book of life …”
There is actually only one reason that one’s name would not be found in the Lamb’s Book of Life: Disbelieving God! This unbelief can be broken down into three parts:
1) Rejection of the Word of God,
2) Rejection of Christ to whom it testifies, and
3) Refusal to repent of these rejections.
1. Rejection Of God’s Word:
Revelation 22:17-19: “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 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.”
There are many who had their part taken out of the Lamb’s Book of Life because they take away from God’s words. They don’t care about or don’t believe what God has said about free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ (cf. Rev 22:17; John 3:16, 10:28; Eph 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; Rom 5:15-18, 6:23).
The effect is the same if they do not believe God’s Words – it’s just as if they have discounted it, taken it out of the way.
1 John 5:9-12: “If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.”
The reason why those who reject God’s Word are not found in the Book of Life is because we’re saved through faith, and faith comes by hearing the Word of God.
Ephesians 2:8-9: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
Romans 10:17: “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.”
Ephesians 1:12-14: “That we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the Word of Truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory.”
So those who reject the Word of God cannot have faith, and so cannot be saved, and so are not written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
2. Rejection Of Christ:
Psalm 69:24-28: “Pour out Thine indignation upon them, and let Thy wrathful anger take hold of them. Let their habitation be desolate; and let none dwell in their tents. For they persecute Him whom Thou hast smitten; and they talk to the grief of those whom Thou hast wounded. 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.“
The Book of the Living and the Book of Life are one and the same. Here in Psalm 69 the Holy Ghost speaks of them who “persecute Him whom Thou hast smitten.” This refers to the Lord Jesus Christ as can se seen from the following passage:
Isaiah 53:4-6, 10-12: “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. … Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
The passage from Psalm 69:24-28 states that merely to speak “to the grief of those whom [God] hast wounded” (Ps 69:26) is a sin worthy of being “blotted out of the Book of the Living” (Ps 69:28). Who exactly are those whom God has wounded? They are those who are “pricked in their heart” by the Word of God, and who repent, and who are “born again” by the Spirit of God (Acts 2:36-38; cf. Ps 109:21-22; Heb 4:12; 1 Pet 1:23; Jam 1:18; John 3:5-8). God often uses affliction and chastisement to prepare His people to receive salvation and to teach them (Ps 119:67, 71, 75; Heb 12:11). Numerous examples could be cited, but let us look at the Apostle Paul’s experience.
Before he was saved Paul persecuted Christians. When Paul, then known as Saul, was on the way to Damascus to apprehend believers and bring them bound to Jerusalem the Lord Jesus appeared to him saying, “… Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me? And he said, Who art Thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks” (Acts 9:4-5). During this experience he was temporally blinded, but he was shown that Jesus saves (Acts 9:6-17).
From this account we can also see that in God’s eyes when a Christian is persecuted it is the same as persecuting Christ Himself.
Peter had this to say about Christian persecution:
1 Peter 2:19-24, 4:13-14, 16: “For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For … if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. … But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. … Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.” (cf. Matt 5:10-12)
Rejection of Christ Jesus to the point of death is the one and only unpardonable sin. One may “talk to the grief of those whom [God] hast wounded [believers]” and even “speak a word against the Son of man [Jesus]” (Luke 12:10), but if one continues in this state of unbelief until death it means that his name had been “blotted out of the Book of the Living” “from the foundation of the world.”
This is not to say that God predestined anyone to Hell. God only predestines people “… unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ …” (Eph 1:5), and “… to be conformed to the image of His Son…” (Rom 8:29). God’s foreknowledge of one’s rejection of Christ did not make rejection of Christ happen. The Bible does not teach that it’s God’s will for people to perish. Rather it says:
2 Peter 3:9: “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (cf. Rev 2:21; Rom 2:4)
Ezekiel 18:31-32: “Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.”
1 Timothy 2:3-6: “…God our Saviour … will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the Truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave Himself a ransom for ALL, to be testified in due time.”
1 John 2:2: “And He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”
Matthew 12:31-32: “Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.”
The Holy Spirit’s work, through His Word (1 Pet 1:22-23), is to convict people of their sins and show them their need for Christ (John 16:8- 11), Who is the only way of salvation (1 Tim 2:5-6; Acts 4:12; John 14:6). But when one rejects the Holy Spirit’s wooing through the Word and persists in this rejection until the moment of one’s death, he has in effect spoken “against the Holy Ghost,” calling His testimony concerning Jesus a lie. This sin can “not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.”
1 John 5:6-10: “… And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are One. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which He hath testified of His Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made Him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of His Son.” (The Word = Christ: cf. John 1:1, 14; 1 John 1:1, 5:7; Rev 19:13. Water = The Scriptures: cf. Eph 5:26; Isa 55:10-11; John 3:5, 17:17)
John 3:36: “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”
3. Refusal To Repent:
Exodus 32:32-33: “Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin–; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written. And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.”
2 Peter 3:9: “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
Ezekiel 33:11: “… As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
Luke 24:46-47: “… Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”
Note that the Lord Jesus said that both repentance and remission of sins should be preached. Repentance comes first and then sins can be remitted. These were some of the Lord’s last words before ascending back to Heaven. Likewise, at the beginning of His earthly ministry He said, “… repent ye, and believe the gospel” (Mark 1:15), and He emphasized twice, “except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3, 5).
From the following words of the Apostle Paul we see again God stressing both repentance and faith:
Acts 20:20-21: “And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Repentance and faith are like two sides of the same coin. You cannot have one without the other. One cannot have saving faith without repentance toward God in fear and godly sorrow first.
Job 28:28: “… Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.” (cf. Psalm 111:10; Prov 1:7, 8:13, 9:10, 10:27, 14:27, 15:33, 16:6, 19:23)
Luke 12:4-5: “And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear Him, which after He hath killed hath power to cast into Hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear Him.”
Psalm 34:18: “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”
2 Corinthians 7:10: “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”
What exactly is one to be sorry for? The Apostle Peter said this:
Acts 3:19: “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.”
Note that Peter said, “Repent ye therefore.” Whenever we see the word “therefore” in Scripture, we need to stop and ask ourselves, “What is ‘therefore’ there for?”
Just prior to verse 19, Peter had said this:
Acts 3:13-15, 17: “The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. … And now, brethren, I wot (old English for “know”) that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.”
Peter said that they had “denied the Holy One and the Just, and … killed the Prince of life.” This is the prime sin of all people. It was for our sins that Christ died! Therefore, each and every one of us individually “killed the Prince of life” with our sins and now, unless you have repented and received the Lord, you too are “den[ying] the Holy One and the Just” by your lack of “godly sorrow” for your heinous crime against God!
A lawyer once asked the Lord this question,
“Master, which is the great commandment in the Law?” (Matt 22:36)
The Lord Jesus answered him with these words:
Matthew 22:37-40: “… Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
Here we ought to be able to see that all of us have committed the greatest sin against God! There are no sins worse than these two! We have not loved the Lord our God with all our hearts, with all our souls and all our minds. We have also failed to loved our neighbour as ourselves. But the primary sin is the first of these two, because it is the sin against the greatest commandment. However, if we will, in “the fear of the Lord” and in “godly sorrow,” have “repentance toward God” for breaking “the first and great commandment,” and have “faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ,” then God will forgive us all of our sins and flood our souls with His Holy Spirit, and empower us to obey the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and all the other commandments.
When we repent and believe the gospel, we are born again into God’s family (Jam 1:18; 1 Pet 1:23; Titus 3:5-6; 1 Pet 1:3, 23, 2:2; 2 Pet 1:3; 1 John 3:9).
When we are born again God enables us to love even our enemies (Matt 5:43-45), even as God loved us when we were still His enemies (Col 1:21; Rom 5:10; Eph 2:2-3).
Love is of the highest importance to God, it’s what the Ten Commandments are all about, it’s what the Law and the Prophets are about, it’s what the whole Bible is about (1 John 4:10, 19; John 3:16; Rom 5:8, 13:9-10; Eph 2:4; Gal 5:14; 2 Thess 3:5; 1 Pet 4:8; Jam 2:8).
Do you fear Him who has power to cast into Hell (Rev 1:18)? Are you sorry that your sins killed the Prince of life (Acts 3:15; Isa 53:5)? Have you been born again (John 3:5-7)?
Romans 4:8: “Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.”
To “impute” means to count, reckon, or credit to one’s account (Rom 4:3, 5-6, 8, 11, 22-24). When God justifies someone He reconciles his account. Our sins are transferred to Christ’s account (Isa 53:6; 2 Cor 5:21), and His righteousness is transferred to our account (Isa 53:11; Rom 4:22-25; 2 Cor 5:21).
Now that I am saved, I can say that Jesus has made it “just as if I” had never sinned (Ex 32:33).
This is because the Lord Jesus Christ “was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification” (Rom 4:25). If it were not for this fact all would have to be blotted out of God’s Book (Ex 32:33).
Romans 3:23-26: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.”
1 Corinthians 6:9-11: “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.“
So to answer the question, “Why are some names not found in the Book of Life?”: Because most people reject the Word of God. They especially refuse to repent of their sins and receive Christ Jesus to whom God’s Word testifies.
CAN A CHILD OF GOD’S NAME BE BLOTTED OUT OF THE BOOK OF LIFE?
Revelation 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.”
Some use the above verse to teach that salvation can be lost, but the Lord Jesus clearly says here that He will NOT blot out the name of an overcomer from the Book of Life. Those who err in thinking that this verse teaches that one can lose their salvation do so because they do not understand what it means to overcome.
The apostles Paul and John explain that a born again child of God has already overcome:
1 Corinthians 15:56-57: “The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the Law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 John 5:4-5: “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?”
1 John 4:4: “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”
So to answer the question, “Can a child of God’s name be blotted out of the Book of Life?”: Absolutely not!
WHAT IS THE END OF THOSE WHOSE NAMES ARE NOT FOUND IN THE BOOK OF LIFE?
Revelation 20:11-15: “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 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. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.“
The above passage describes the final judgment of the lost. Saved people whose names are written in the Book of Life will not be judged at the great white throne judgment. But all the lost of all ages since the creation of the world will stand and be judged according to their works. The only reason that they must stand in this great white throne judgment is because they received not the love of the Truth.
John 12:48: “He that rejecteth Me [Jesus], and RECEIVETH NOT My words, hath One that judgeth him: the Word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.”
John 1:12-13: “But as many as RECEIVED Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that BELIEVE on His name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
1 John 5:10: “He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that BELIEVETH NOT God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.”
2 Thessalonians 2:10-12: “And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they RECEIVED NOT the love of the Truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who BELIEVED NOT the Truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
James 1:17-18, 21: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Of His own will begat He us with the Word of Truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. … Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity [excessiveness] of naughtiness, and RECEIVE with meekness the engrafted Word, which is able to save your souls.”
To receive Jesus Christ (the Way, the Truth and the Life, John 14:6) one must turn from his unrighteousness (repent) to God’s Truth (believe). It is because people fail to receive the love of the Truth that they must stand at the great white throne judgment.
The severity of their punishment in the Lake of Fire, however, will be determined by their works in this life. Each one of them will be judged according to their works.
Revelation 21:7-8: “He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
So to answer the question, “What is the end of those whose names have been blotted of Book of Life?”: First they die and go to Hell, and afterwards they will be resurrected, judged and cast into the Lake of Fire which is the second death.
WHAT IS THE INHERITANCE OF THOSE WHOSE NAMES ARE WRITTEN IN THE LAMB’S BOOK OF LIFE?
Hebrews 12:22-24: “But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.”
Revelation 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.”
John 14:2-3: “In My [Jesus’] Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”
Revelation 21:7: “He that overcometh shall inherit ALL THINGS; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.”
1 Peter 1:3-5: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
1 John 3:2: “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.”
1 Corinthians 15:53-54, 57: “For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. … [T]hanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26-28, 3:5, 12, 21: “… To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. … He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. … To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. … And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. And I will give him the morning star. … 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. … Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. … To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.”
Psalm 16:11: “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in Thy presence is fulness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”
Revelation 1:5-6: “… Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”
So to answer the question, “What is the inheritance of those whose names are written in the Book of Life of the Lamb?”: We shall inherit all things, including: eternal life in Heaven with God, a new body, a mansion, priesthood and rulership with Him, fullness of joy and pleasures for evermore, etc., etc., etc.
WHEN WILL OCCUR THE DELIVERANCE OF THOSE WHO ARE WRITTEN IN THE LAMB’S BOOK OF LIFE?
Daniel 12:1: “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.”
Jeremiah 30:7: “Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.”
The main subject of Daniel chapter 11 is the Antichrist and the Tribulation. Chapter 12 verse 1 is a continuation of chapter 11. In this first verse of chapter 12, it says that “there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time” (cf. Jer 30:7). This is the 7-year “Great Tribulation” (Matt 24:21; Rev 7:14; cf. Dan 9:27).
Here in Daniel 12:1 we see “at that time shall Michael stand up … for [he shall defend] the children of thy people.” “Thy people” here are Daniel’s people, the people of Israel (Jacob), the Hebrew people. Many lost Jews will enter the Tribulation without Jesus, but will be saved during that terrible time because they will come to faith in Jesus when they realize that the AntiChrist whom they accepted as the Messiah turned out not to be the Messiah but rather their enemy and the enemy of God.. This realization will make them think of Him whom they pierced (Zechariah 12:10) and they will mourn for Him and repent of their centuries-long rejection of Him..
All these who receive Christ during the “time of Jacob’s trouble” “shall be saved out of it.” They will be saved out of it in two ways:
1) Some will live through the Tribulation to enter the Millennial Kingdom of Christ in human bodies (Matt 25:31-34), and
2) Others will be killed by the Antichrist and be resurrected at the end of the Tribulation (Rev 20:4).
However, God has promised to deliver believers of this Church Age prior to the Tribulation (Rev 3:10, 4:1, 1 Cor 15:51-52, 1 Thess 4:13-18). This deliverance will occur in the Rapture. The Rapture is, of course, a bodily resurrection and transformation. Because when one is born again he is then saved and as sure of Heaven as though he were already there (1 Pet 1:3-6; Eph 1:13-14, 2:4-6), and when a believer dies his spirit is immediately taken by angels to Heaven (Luke 16:22; 2 Cor 5:5-8).
Church Age believers who have died will be raised before the Tribulation (and those who are alive at that point will have their bodies transformed from mortal to immortal). Old Testament and Tribulation saints will be resurrected at the end of the Tribulation (cf. Dan 9:27, 12:11-13; Job 19:25-27).
The entire chapter of Hebrews 11 speaks of Old Testament saints. It names Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sara, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Gedeon, Barak, Samson, Jephthae, David, Samuel, and makes reference to other Old Testament saints. At the end of the chapter it says this:
Hebrews 11:39-40: “And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.“
So the answer the question, “When will the deliverance of those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life occur?” is: At the Tribulation. More specifically, just before the Tribulation for Church Age believers, and just after the end of the Tribulation for believers saved during the Tribulation and for Old Testament saints.
CONCLUSION
We have established that the Book of Life is the last will and testament of the Lord Jesus Christ, and that it contains the names of those He has designated as His heirs, their physical description, their tears, and their inheritance (Heb 9:14-17; Titus 3:5-7; Ps 56:8-9, 139:14- 16). It is called “the Lamb’s Book of Life” (Rev 21:27, cf. 13:8), and the Lamb of God,of course, is the Lord Jesus, “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29).
“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.” (1 Peter 1:18-21)
The Lamb’s Book of Life was complete from the foundation of the world (Rev 13:8, 17:8, Ps 138:14-16). God foresaw those who would receive Christ by faith and chose us according to His foreknowledge (1 Pet 1:2; Rom 8:29-30; 2 Thess 2:13-14)
“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 …. That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the Word of Truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:4-5, 12-14)
The names that are “not written in the Book of Life” had been blotted out “from the foundation of the world” (Rev 13:8, 17:8; Ex 32:33). They were originally written, because God is “… not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Pet 3:9; cf.Ezek 18:31-32, 33:11; 1 Tim 2:4-6), but they were blotted out “from the foundation of the world,” because God foresaw that they would reject the Truth (2 Thess 2:10-12; 1 John 5:9-10). From Psalm 69 we learned that names were blotted out because people “persecute Him whom [God] hast smitten” (Psalm 69:26-28; cf. Isaiah 53:4-6, 10) When one rejects the work of Christ on his behalf for salvation, and dies in this rejection, he has in effect persecuted and “killed the Prince of life” (Acts 3:15). Furthermore, Revelation 22:19 states that “if any man shall take away from the words of the Book of this prophecy [the Bible], God shall take away his part out of the Book of Life,” so disbelief of God’s Word concerning Christ Jesus, repentance, and salvation are the reasons that names were blotted out of the Book of Life. Rejection of God’s Word, especially rejection of Christ Jesus to whom it testifies, is the reason people are lost. They do not care about or believe what God has said about the free gift of salvation (cf. Rev 22:17; John 3:16, 10:28; Eph 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; Rom 5:15-18, 6:23). God said, “Whosoever hath sinned against Me, him will I blot out of My Book.” (Ex 32:33) “If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.” (1 John 5:9-11)
In Revelation 3:5 the Lord Jesus said, “He that overcometh … I will NOT blot out his name out of the book of life.” And we learned that we overcome by faith in Jesus Christ (1 John 4:4, 5:4-5; 1 Cor 15:57). Therefore, it is absolutely impossible for a born again child of God to be blotted out of the Lamb’s Book of Life or to lose his salvation.
The Bible clearly teaches that all who reject Christ and thus are not found written in the Book of Life will be cast into the Lake of Fire.
The Lord Jesus said,
“He that rejecteth Me, and RECEIVETH NOT My words, hath One that judgeth him: the Word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.”
The Apostle John described the last judgment:
“And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 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. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Rev 20:11-15)
“He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” (Rev 21:7-8)
“But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.” (Heb 12:22-24)
“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)
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Pet 1:3-5)
The timing of our final deliverance, that is, the redemption of our bodies, we learned will occur at the Tribulation. Church Age saints will receive their inheritance prior to the Tribulation, whereas Old Testament and Tribulation saints will receive theirs at the end of the Tribulation (Dan 12:1, 11-13; Job 19:25-27; Heb 11:39-40; Rev 3:10, 4:1; 1 Cor 15:51-52, 1 Thess 4:13-18).
The Bible also tells us about another book that is, a Book of Remembrance that was written before the Lord.
Just as the “book written within and on the backside [and] sealed with seven seals” (the Title Deed to the Earth) spoken of in Revelation 5 is more than likely referred to in the Lamb’s Book of Life, so also this Book of Remembrance is more than likely referred to in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Here’s what the last book of the Old Testament says about it:
Malachi 3:16-17: “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.”
This Book of Remembrance was written “for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon His name,” and for them that serve Him as sons. It seems to be speaking of rewards here rather than inheritance as in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Rewards are earned by works, while inheritance is given free by virtue of relationship to the deceased. However, rewards in addition to the inheritance might also be referred to in a will. A son who served well may receive extra rewards in addition to his inheritance. God speaks of rewarding the “saints” (i.e. saved individuals) in these words:
Matthew 5:10-12: “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” (Rev 2:10; Jam 1:12)
Revelation 11:18: “And … the time [is come] … that Thou shouldest give reward unto Thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear Thy name, small and great …”
Daniel 12:1-3: “… and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.”
Psalm 126:5-6: “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” (cf. Phip 4:1; 1 Thess 2:19)
Psalm 56:8-11: “Thou tellest my wanderings: put Thou my tears into Thy bottle: are they not in Thy book? When I cry unto Thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me. In God will I praise His Word: in the LORD will I praise His Word. In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.”
Hebrews 10:35: “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.”
Colossians 3:23-24: “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.”
1 Corinthians 3:11-15: “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”
2 Corinthians 5:10: “For we must all appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.”
2 John 8: “Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.”
2 Timothy 4:8: “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”
Bibloscope 