Bible Word of the Day
Book of Life (Book of Life, Lamb’s Book of Life)
Meaning
There are two books referred to several times in the Bible. In addition, the Bible makes it clear that not having your name written in both books is not a good thing. The first book is called the “Book of Life” and this is the book where God records the name of every person who has ever been conceived. The Bible refers to this book, many times by name. The Bible tells us all, those who reject Jesus, as well as those who in the past (before Jesus’ incarnation) rejected God’s promise of the coming Messiah, will have their names removed from the Book of Life.
It appears all people have their names written in this book. However, once they reach the age of reason, if throughout their life they never seek after God and accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior, then their names are removed from this book. The Bible also makes it clear that anyone who truly seeks after God with all their hearts, truly seeking to know the true and living God, that the Lord will make Himself known to them.
There is also another book the Bible talks about and it’s called the “Lamb’s Book of Life” the “Lamb” referred to here is Jesus Christ our Lord. Jesus is called the “Perfect Lamb of God” because of His sacrifice for us on the Cross of Calvary. Also an important point for us to remember is the Exodus story of Passover. Passover was a picture of Jesus to come, showing us the need for His blood shed for us. So when we speak of Jesus as the “Lamb of God” it also ties back to the Exodus and the events of Passover.
The Bible tells us all, those who come to faith in Christ will have their names written in the Lamb’s Book of Life and any name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life will not be erased. The Lamb’s Book of Life is spoken of much in the book of Revelation. John in his letter to the seven churches, uses it as a means of condemning those who will follow the anti-Christ. And finally God tells us in His word at the end of this age, at the time of judgment, God will open these books to judge both the living and the dead. All those not found in these books will be condemned to Hell. However, those who place their faith in Jesus will not face this judgment, instead all believers will face the “Bema Seat of Christ.” This will be a time of rewards given to believers for their faith in Jesus and what they did out of their love for Christ with the time, talents and resources God had given them.
“Let them be blotted out of the Book of the Living, and not be written with the righteous.” (Psalms 69:28)
“And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.” (Philippians 4:3)
“And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:15)
“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (Gospel of John 1:29)
“And all that dwell upon the earth [who reject Jesus] shall worship him [the anti-Christ and Satan], whose names are not written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” (Revelation 13:8)
“And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and Books were opened. And another Book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the Books. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire [Hell].” (Revelation 20:12, 15)