Whose Names will be Written in it?

Are we close to the End Times?

Should we be worried whether our name is written in the Book of Life or not?

Are you sure your name is recorded in the Book of Life? How can you be sure it is?

Let’s explore what the Book of Life is and whose name is written in it.

Book of Life

All biblical references to the Book of Life convey to us that it is a book that records the names of true believers in God. All of these registered believers are guaranteed eternal life in heaven:

1 Peter 1:3-5
Blessed [worthy to be praised] be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith [true belief] for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

The names of the people written in the Book of Life do not include a single name of anyone who has rejected the Savior at the time he died or at the time of Christ’s Second Coming at the end of the seven-year Tribulation (the beginning of the Millennial reign).

Righteous in God’s Eyes

Isaiah tells us God considers all believers to be holy—that is, those who believe in God, will be righteous in His eyes—and will have their names recorded.

Isaiah 4:3
And it shall come to pass, that he who is left in Zion [the city of David very near SE side of old city Jerusalem], and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy, every one who is recorded among the living in Jerusalem.

Romans 3:21a
But now the righteousness [holiness] of God…
Romans 3:22a
even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe.

A Record of Believers

Daniel also refers to the recording of believers who will be saved:

Daniel 12:1
[An angelic visitor (perhaps Gabriel) speaks to Daniel:]  “At that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, and at that time: your people shall be delivered, every one who is found written in the book.”

The Lord Jesus tells the seventy who returned to Him that their names are written in the book:

Luke 10:20b
“but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.”

Jesus confirmed that the names of the seventy He had sent out are written in that specific book.

Who else says so?

In Philippians, Paul the Apostle tells us that God revering believers’ names are in the Book of Life:

Philippians 4:3
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.

Then we have John the Apostle who first refers to the Book of Life when quoting the Lord in Revelation:

Revelation 3:5
“He who overcomes [he who was a true believer] shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.”

Not in the Book of Life?

Furthermore, John informs us of some names of those who will live during the Tribulation time of trouble who will not be in the Book of Life:

Revelation 13:8
All who dwell on the earth will worship him [the Antichrist], whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Second Death

When a believer dies here on earth, he will not suffer the second death which is eternal suffering in the Lake of Fire.

Revelation 20:6
Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
Revelation 20:14
Then Death and Hādēs were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

First Resurrection and Second Death

What is the first resurrection? (Revelation 20:6, 14)

The first resurrection has 3 principal phases:

1) the resurrection of Christ;
2) the resurrection of His Church at the Rapture; and
3) the resurrection of Old Testament and Tribulation saints at the end of the seven-year Tribulation.

Revelation 7:14b
“These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb [the Son of God].”

The Great White Throne

The second death is preceded by a resurrection of the unsaved to face the Lord at the Great White Throne.

John prophesies that all who died while in disbelief in God will not have their names written in the Book of Life. The great white throne judgment will take place at the end of Christ’s Millennial reign; He will judge all rejecting, unbelievers who ever were on the face of the earth:

Revelation 20:11-15
Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it [The Son of God, Jesus], from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them [Satan, the Antichrist, false prophet and their followers]. And I saw the dead, small and great, [all unbelievers] standing before God [the throne], 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. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death [possibly the ones who had not yet died, but are about to die now] and Hādēs [the ones who had died earlier and were brought up from their graves (Luke 16:19-31) to be judged and to experience the second death] delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hādēs were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death [lake of fire]. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

In this second death the unbeliever just keeps dying; it is eternal punishment in the lake of fire which will never be quenched (Isaiah 66:24; Jeremiah 7:20; Ezekiel 20:47-48; Mark 9:44, 46, 48; Jude 7).

Free Offer – Yes or No?

Those who will perish into the eternal suffering of the Lake of Fire did not and will not accept the free offer extended to them by the wide open arms of Jesus that were nailed to the cross on their behalf. (Romans 5:15-16)

Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift [free gift] of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Is your name written in the Book of Life? Have you repented and accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior to receive eternal life?

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Leave us a comment below. We would like to hear your opinion on the Book of Life and what it means to you.

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Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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Another answer to “What is the Book of Life?” can be found on GotQuestions.org