The Book of Life

Edited by Rita Wiliams, Cephas Ministries [5.23.04]

 

As usual, an issue came up again and again, I could see where people were shocked at my comments. The Lord prompted me to research the issue of "the Book of Life". Since God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34), all human beings should have an equal opportunity in accepting or rejecting the Gospel. How can we say that and what does that mean? It means that all our names were written in the Book of Life at the foundation of creation. All were meant to be saved. In Luke 12:7 it states "But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows."

1 John 2:12-19 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.

Our eternal lives depend on what we love and fill ourselves with, the world or the Word.

If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us." Why? because they loved the world more than God.

1 John 2:12-19 states that the Word abideth in every human being. The problem is that it is latent. In other words it lies hidden in our hearts. Human beings do not know that until they are taught the truth about it. The truth is in the Word of God. If they never read the Bible, they cannot come to that information. There is no way today that people are not aware of the fact that the Bible exists. Many labor under misconceptions about the content because they have seen some movie about it or gotten a sermon here and there and think they know what is in the Book. The hard part is that many make their eternal decision on a lack of knowledge and understanding because they cannot get in touch with what is in their hearts. Why is it that we choose to pick up the "How to book" last?

Especially in the United States as well as the rest of the world, people are inundated with worldly agendas to go to war, to work overtime and then some, to shop, to get self esteem, to vote, to get a worldly education to make a lot of money, to indulge in many television shows, read ads, sports, trips, movies, games, sex, homosexuality, drugs, and alcohol. In other words time is taken up 24/7 with being tossed to and fro without making time for God, who has freely created this whole universe with everything in it for our indulgence (unrestrained pleasure). That is undeniable. We take liberties today with the God's creation that make one's skin crawl and no one could ever convince me that there is no higher power who created this mind boggling creation. No human being could possibly have invented what we live with every day. Just one example: the perfect revolutions of the sun, moon and other planets around the earth in an empty space are awesome. I have never heard anyone even so much as talk about it in my circles. It feels like nobody gives a hoot.

An interesting thought came to me when I was cutting the lawn and had a chance to contemplate. What if some intellectual had discovered how to stop gravity from keeping us glued to this planet? It would be a much simpler solution than war. The tagged population would simply fall into outer darkness and float there forever. Believe it or not, Mormons threaten their congregation with that. Could it be they have some inside information? In their teachings, sons of perdition (apostates) will be cast into outer darkness. They don't believe in a literal hell or lake of fire. Why take a chance on something like that? Wouldn't it make much more sense to get in touch with what is in our hearts already before it is too late? Do we really want to risk eternal life by not paying attention to what should be the most important issue of our lives, ETERNAL LIFE? The problem is that all human beings have eternal lives and there are are only two places to go, heaven or hell. It's your choice.

To receive our inheritance there is only one requirement and that is to love the truth. 2 Thessalonians 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved." By not loving the truth, we could well end up in hell. God states that He is worth the effort, to at least read the Word before we accept or reject. It reminds me of signing a contract without reading what is in it. Would you? If you don't think it's important, you are forfeiting your inheritance and are rejecting the Gospel and your name is striken from the "The Book of Life."

 

Here is the Proof of the Pudding

 

God is Omnipresent and Omniscient

 

Psalms 139:14-18 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. How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.

 

Christ Is Coming Quickly

 

To confirm that our names can be removed from the Book of Life we read in Revelation 22:18-21 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. He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

 

The Golden Calf

 

In this Scripture in Exodus we find that sin is another reason we are striken from the Book of Life which means we need a Redeemer from sin to get our name reestablished in the Book of Life. Moses tried to do that in Exodus. He told God to blot his name from the Book instead of all the sinner's names.

Exodus 32:29-35 For Moses had said, Consecrate yourselves to day to the LORD, even every man upon his son, and upon his brother; that he may bestow upon you a blessing this day. And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses said unto the people, Ye have sinned a great sin: and now I will go up unto the LORD; peradventure I shall make an atonement for your sin. And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. 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. Therefore now go, lead the people unto the place of which I have spoken unto thee: behold, mine Angel shall go before thee: nevertheless in the day when I visit I will visit their sin upon them. And the LORD plagued the people, because they made the calf, which Aaron made.

 

Woes to Unrepentant Cities

 

In Revelation Jesus said that His name is the Word of God. To prove that the Word is in us, Jesus said in Luke, speaking to the 70 who were sent to teach the Good News in Luke 10:16-20 He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me. And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

 

A Prayer of Trust

 

David cried to God to remove his enemies from the Book of Life in Psalms 56:4-13 In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me. Every day they wrest my words: all their thoughts are against me for evil. They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul. Shall they escape by iniquity? in thine anger cast down the people, O God. 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. Thy vows are upon me, O God: I will render praises unto thee. For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?

 

Again David's Cry of Distress is Very Similar to Our Cries of Distress

 

Here David first prays for his enemies in spite of the fact that they want to destroy him because of the gravity of eternity which is at stake and finally judges them to be removed from the Book. Psalms 69:1-28 <<To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, A Psalm of David.>> Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul. I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me. I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God. They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not away. O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from thee. Let not them that wait on thee, O Lord GOD of hosts, be ashamed for my sake: let not those that seek thee be confounded for my sake, O God of Israel.

Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; shame hath covered my face. I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother's children. For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me. When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach. I made sackcloth also my garment; and I became a proverb to them. They that sit in the gate speak against me; and I was the song of the drunkards. But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O LORD, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation. Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters.

Let not the waterflood overflow me, neither let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me. Hear me, O LORD; for thy lovingkindness is good: turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies. And hide not thy face from thy servant; for I am in trouble: hear me speedily. Draw nigh unto my soul, and redeem it: deliver me because of mine enemies. Thou hast known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonour: mine adversaries are all before thee. Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.

They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap. Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their loins continually to shake. 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 Time of the End

 

Speaking of the Tribulation, the prophet Daniel warns that Israel and only those found in Book of Life will be resurrected and others raptured. He calls those the wise because they made a wise choice.

Daniel 12:1-4 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. 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. But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

 

"Rejoice in the Lord"

 

Many get the impression when they read the Bible that the Apostle Paul was anti females because he addresses men giving women a feeling of not being considered of equal importance or even left out of heaven when considering that there are no sexual differences there. God too addresses all as sons of God. In Philippians the record is set straight and should be comforting to women. Their names are also in the Book of Life.

Philippians 4:1-9 Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved. 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. Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

 

To The Seven Churches, the Church of Sardis in Particular

In the address to the Church of Sardis we find out that Jesus has to confess our name before His Father and before His angels. That should tell us that we better have a relationship with Him so He can be our intercessor and plead our case. To have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ is to study Him and what He had to say and heeding His words by doing them.

Revelation 3:1-5 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. 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.

 

The Beast

 

We are told in Revelation 13 that all will worship the Beast except those whose names are written in the Book of Life. So much for those who believe that we have to be tested during the Tribulation. We have been purchased by the Lamb of God who was slain from the foundation of the world to redeem us. Jesus paid the full price. We had nothing to do with that. All are redeemed but all do not chose the righteousness of Christ Jesus as their covering and their names are striken from the Book of Life.

The fact that "he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:" implies that the Body of Christ, the believers are long gone to heaven.

Revelation 13:1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.

Revelation 13:6-18 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. 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.

If any man have an ear, let him hear. He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword.

Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

 

Exhortations to Holiness

 

Hebrews 12:23-29 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are (I) 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. See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire. [(I) Enrolled in Heaven.]

 

The Final Judgment Day

 

Revelation 20:12-15 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 New Jerusalem

 

Revelation 21:21-27 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. 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. AMEN

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