Doctrine of Lamb’s Book of Life

July 19, 2010

Doctrine of LAMB’S BOOK OF LIFE

Thesis:  Saved person’s names are not entered into the Lamb’s book of life at the moment of salvation.
In eternity past, the Lamb’s book of life contained the names of every member of the human race.  At the end of human history, the Lamb’s book of life will contain only the names of those persons who became saved at some time in human history.  A person’s name is blotted out of the Lamb’s book of life when that person dies physically, having rejected Jesus Christ as Savior throughout his or her entire lifetime.  When a member of the human race believes in the Lord Jesus Christ, rather than his name being entered into the Lamb’s book of life, that name which already exists in the Lamb’s book of life loses its temporary status and becomes so permanent that it is incapable of erasure.

Introductory Statement

A.    The Lamb’s book of life is a registry of human names.

B.    This document assumes that the following biblical phrases either refer to or are associated with the Lamb’s book of life:

1.    the Lamb’s book of life  (Revelation 21:7)
2.    the book of life  (Philippians 4:3)
3.    thy book  (Exodus 32:32)
4.    my book  (Exodus 32:33)
5.    blot their name from under heaven  (Deuteronomy 9:14)
6.    the book of life of the Lamb  (Revelation 13:8)
7.    names written in heaven  (Luke 20:12)

C.    Bible verses related to the Lamb’s book of life:

Philippians 4:3
Revelation 3:5
Revelation 13:8
Revelation 17:8
Revelation 20:12
Revelation 20:15
Revelation 21:7
Revelation 22:19
Luke 10:20
Exodus 32:32-33
Deuteronomy 9:14]
Deuteronomy 29:20
2 Kings 14:27

D.    The concept of the eternal security of the believer or once saved always saved is implied throughout this entire document.

E.    The eternal security of the believer guarantees that no believer’s name will ever be removed from the Lamb’s book of life.
F.    This document sets forth a category of information about the Lamb’s book of life.

Body of Text

1.    The existence of the Lamb’s book of life in eternity past.

A.    Originally, it existed as a potential in the omniscience of God.

B.    Later, it became a literal physical reality outside of the omniscience of God.

2.    The Lamb’s book of life and the omniscience of God.

A.    In eternity past, and before the Lamb’s book of life came into literal physical existence, it existed as a potential in the omniscience of all three persons of the Godhead.

B.    In eternity past, the Lamb’s book of life came into literal physical existence from the omniscience of God the Father by a sovereign decree from God the Father.

3.    The literal physical existence of the Lamb’s book of life.

A.    It existed before man was created.

B.    It continues to exist throughout human history.

C.    It will be in existence in eternity future.

4.    There are, then, three different phases to the Lamb’s book of life.

A.    Eternity past phase.
B.    Human history phase.
C.    Eternity future phase.

5.    The three phases of the Lamb’s book of life differentiated:

A.    In eternity past, that is, before the creation of man, the Lamb’s book of life contained the name of every person who would ever be born into the human race from Adam to the end of human history.

B.    At some point in human history the Lamb’s book of life contains the following names:

1)    The names of all persons not yet born.

2)    The names of all the living persons who never become saved.

3)    The names of all the living persons who become saved.

4)    The names of all dead persons who became saved while they were alive physically.

C.    In eternity future, that is, beginning with the end of human history, the Lamb’s book of life will contain only the names of those who became saved at some time throughout human history.

6.    The difficulty associated with the Lamb’s book of life.

A.    The Difficulty Expressed:  If a name can be blotted out of the Lamb’s book of life, there is a serious problem with the idea that a believer’s name is entered into the Lamb’s book of life at the moment of salvation.

B.    Consider the two following concepts as being true:

1)    The eternal security of the believer.

2)    Names can be blotted out of the Lamb’s book of life.

C.    Given the two preceding facts, the following ideas must be considered:

1)    True or False:  If a name can be blotted out of the Lamb’s book of life, it has to be an unbeliever’s name because an eternally secure believer’s name cannot be blotted out of the Lamb’s book of life.

2)    A “When” Question:  If an unbeliever’s name can be blotted out of the Lamb’s book of life, when was that unbeliever’s name entered into the Lamb’s book of life?

3)    A “What” Question:  If a believer’s name is thought to be entered into the Lamb’s book of life at the moment of salvation because the person became saved, what is the reason for an unbeliever’s name being entered into the Lamb’s book of life.

4)    Determine the following:  If an unbeliever’s name is in the Lamb’s book of life, and a believer’s name is thought to be entered into the Lamb’s book of life at the moment of salvation, are unbeliever’s names entered into the Lamb’s book of life prior to believer’s names.

7.    The following discussions should resolve the issues just discussed in point #6.

Philippians 4:3

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. (KJV)

Philippians 4:3  Indeed, true comrade, I ask you also to help these women who have shared my struggle in {the cause of} the gospel, together with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. (NAS)

Philippians 4:3  Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. (NIV)

Philippians 4:3  And I ask you, my true teammate, to help these women, for they worked side by side with me in telling the Good News to others; and they worked with Clement, too, and the rest of my fellow workers whose names are written in the Book of Life. (TLB)
Commentary

A.    Paul states that the names of the women who labored with him in the gospel, Clement, and his other fellowlabourers were at that moment written in the Lamb’s book of life.

B.    It does no violence to Scripture to assume that those mentioned here by Paul are born-again believers.

C.    Based on the principle of the eternal security of the believer, the names mentioned here by Paul are not just written in the Lamb’s book of life, they are permanently written in the Lamb’s book of life.

D.    For this verse to be understood, it must be viewed as though Paul were standing at the great white throne judgment because the Lamb’s book of life also contained the names of unbelievers at the moment this statement was made.

E.    If this verse is not to be viewed while standing at great white throne judgment, but at some moment prior to the great white throne judgment, someone might say to Paul, “Why don’t you wait until these people are dead to state that their names are recorded in the Lamb’s book of life because between now and then they may lose their salvation and no longer be found in the Lamb’s book of life?”

Conclusion:  The primary focus of this passage is not who is in the Lamb’s book of life and who is not, but the primary focus is the fact that Paul is addressing “yokefellows” about “fellowlabourers.”

Revelation 3:5

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. (KJV)

Revelation 3:5  He who overcomes shall thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels. (NAS)

Revelation 3:5  He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels. (NIV)

Revelation 3:5  Everyone who conquers will be clothed in white, and I will not erase his name from the Book of Life, but I will announce before my Father and his angels that he is mine. (TLB)

Commentary

A.    1 John 5:4-5 states that an overcomer is one who has believed that Jesus is the Son of God, that is, one who is saved..  Faith in Christ, then, is the means of overcoming.

4    For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world– our faith.
5    And who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? (NAS)

B.    Citing this passage, there should be no doubt that the one who has “overcome” is “saved.”

C.    This verse states that God “will not blot out his [ the overcomers ] name out of the book of life.”

D.    First, this verse does not state when the overcomer’s name was entered into the book of life, but there can be no doubt that the overcomer’s name is in the Lamb’s book of life.

E.    Second, this verse states that the overcomer’s name will not be blotted out of the book of life.  This statement strongly implies the eternal security of the believer or once saved always saved.

F.    Since this verse does not state when the “overcomer’s” name was entered into the Lamb’s book of life, it does no violence to Scripture to consider that it was entered into the Lamb’s book of life before the foundation of the world.

Conclusion: The “overcomer’s” name becomes a permanent fixture in the Lamb’s book of life the very moment the overcomer manifests faith in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation.

Revelation 13:8

Revelation 13:8  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. (KJV)

Revelation 13:8 kai\ proskunh/sousin au)to\n pa/ntej oi( katoikou=ntej e)pi\ th=j gh=j, ou(= ou) ge/graptai to\ o)/noma au)tou= e)n t%= bibli/% th=j zwh=j tou= a)rni/ou tou= e)sfagme/nou a)po\ katabolh=j ko/smou.

Revelation 13:8  And all who dwell on the earth will worship him, {everyone} whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain.  (NAS)

Revelation 13:8  All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast– all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world. (NIV)

Revelation 13:8  And all mankind– whose names were not written down before the founding of the world in the slain Lamb’s book of life worshiped the evil Creature. (TLB)

Revelation 13:8 And all [ unbelievers, because their names are not in the book of life ] that dwell upon the earth [ during the Tribulation ] shall worship him [ D/RRE ], whose [ unbelievers ] names are not written in [ because they have been blotted out of ] the book of life [ known as the Lamb’s book of life ] of the Lamb [ Christ ] slain [ in the mind of God the Father ] from the foundation of the world.  [ It is the Lamb slain, not the book of life, that relates to the foundation of the world; (from the beginning of the "kosmoj:"  The kosmoj is Satan’s plan which plan is tantamount to working independently from God.  This plan predates human history.) ]

Commentary

A.    Notice that the (NAS) and (TLB) translate Revelation 13:8 in a manner different from the (KJV) and the (NIV).

1)    In the (NAS) and (TLB), that which is from the foundation of the world are the names not written in the Lamb’s book of life.  Question:  If not from the foundation of the world, then when?

2)    In the (KJV) and the (NIV), it is the Lamb that was slain from the foundation of the world.

B.    The (NAS) and (TLB) contradict the thesis at the beginning of this document while the (KJV) and the (NIV) allow an interpretation consistent with the thesis of this document.

C.    A brief look at the Greek manuscripts from which these four versions of the Bible are translated show the (NAS) and (TLB) to be interpretive translations rather than translations.

D.    The interpretive translations of the (NAS) and (TLB) are inconsistent with the Greek construction of Revelation 13:8.

E.    Consistent with the Greek manuscripts that are used to translate the KJV, NAS, NIV, and TLB, it was the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, not names that were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world.

F.    Question:  What, then, in Revelation 13:8 was “from the foundation of the world?  the Lamb slain? or names not written in the book of life?

Answer:  the Lamb was slain from the foundation of the world.

G.    Question:  If the people of Revelation 13:8 are alive when they worship the Dictator of the Revived Roman Empire, and their names are not in the Lamb’s book of life at that time, how can their names not be in the Lamb’s book of life and, that fact, still be consistent with this document’s thesis?

Answer:  Very simply, these worshippers are unbelievers and their worship, which takes place during the Tribulation, is being viewed from a great white throne perspective, by which time no unbeliever’s name remains in the Lamb’s book of life.  In other words, place yourself at the great white throne judgment and look backward into human history to the Tribulation, and while viewing the activities of this Tribulation passage from the great white throne, ask yourself the following question:  Will these people’s names be in the Lamb’s book of life when they arrive here at the great white throne judgment?  Answer: No!

Principle:  Correct interpretation of Scripture is frequently a matter of perspective.

Application:  For a correct interpretation of Revelation 13:8, perspective is everything.
Conclusion:  There is nothing in this verse that would challenge the thesis at the beginning of this document.

Revelation 17:8

Revelation 17:8  The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. (KJV)

Revelation 17:8  The beast that you saw was and is not, and is about to come up out of the abyss and to go to destruction. And those who dwell on the earth will wonder, whose name has not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they see the beast, that he was and is not and will come. (NAS)

Revelation 17:8  The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and will come up out of the Abyss and go to his destruction. 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, because he once was, now is not, and yet will come. (NIV)

Revelation 17:8  He was alive but isn’t now. And yet, soon he will come up out of the bottomless pit and go to eternal destruction; and the people of earth, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life before the world began, will be dumbfounded at his reappearance after being dead. (TLB)

Revelation 17:8 The beast [ the seven headed beast, focusing upon the sixth head of the beast ] that thou [ John ] sawest [ saw ] was [ kept on being:  the Roman Empire from 96 A.D. to 476 A.D. ], and is not [ was destroyed in 476 A.D. ]; and shall ascend [ will be revived again ] out of the bottomless pit [ the abyss:  it is not located in the bottomless pit, but its power is derived from Satan whose home will be the bottomless pit ], and go into perdition [ will be destroyed again at the end of the great Tribulation ]: and they [ unbelievers ] that dwell on the earth [ during the Tribulation ] shall wonder [ be astonished at the resuscitation of the Roman Empire ], whose [ unbelievers' ] names were not written [ indicates that they have been blotted out ] in the book of life [ which book has existed ] from [ since ] the foundation of the world [ Greek:  kosmoj ], when they [ Tribulation unbelievers ] behold the beast [ the sixth head, the Roman Empire ] that was [ kept on being:  the Roman Empire  from 96 A.D. to 476 A.D. ], and is not [ was destroyed in 476 A.D. ], and yet is [ the Roman Empire revived during the Tribulation ].

Commentary

Question:  How can their names not be in the Lamb’s book of life and, this fact, remain consistent with the thesis of this document?

Answer:  The problem in this passage, once again, is a matter of perspective.  Just as in Revelation 13:8, the statement regarding the names not being written in the Lamb’s book of life must be viewed from a time perspective of the great white throne judgment.

Query:  If this answer seems to stretch the imagination, I must ask thinking people to explain the position into which they are forced.

Forced Position:  The names of the unbelievers in Revelation 17:8 are not written in the Lamb’s book of life from the foundation of the world; yet, for a name to be blotted out of the Lamb’s book of life, it must first have been entered into the Lamb’s book of life.

Question:  If an unbeliever’s name is not in the Lamb’s book of life from the foundation of the world, when was it entered and why was it entered if it can be blotted out of the Lamb’s book of life by the time that the great white throne judgment occurs?

Conclusion:  There is nothing in this verse that would challenge the thesis at the beginning of this document.

Revelation 20:12

Revelation 20:12  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. (KJV)

Revelation 20:12  And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is {the book} of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. (NAS)

Revelation 20:12  And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. (NIV)

Revelation 20:12  I saw the dead, great and small, standing before God; and The Books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to the things written in The Books, each according to the deeds he had done. (TLB)

Revelation 20:12 And I [ John ] saw the dead [ unbelievers from all dispensations; those who were not judged as part of the first resurrection ], small [ unimportant people ] and great [ important people ], stand before [ in the presence of ] God [ Christ seated on the great white throne ]; and the books [ books in which every good deed of every unbeliever is recorded ] were opened [ for evaluation ]: and another book [ the Lamb’s book of life] was opened [ the first step in the great white throne judgment], which is the book [ DNE, but implied ] of life [ the book containing the names of every member of the human race, but from whose pages the names of unbelievers have been removed upon their death ]: and the dead [ unbelievers from every dispensation ] were judged out of those things [ their good deeds ] which were written in the books [ those containing the good deeds ], according to their [ unbelievers from every dispensation ] works [ reference to the good deed accomplishments of the unsaved ].

Commentary

Question:  How does this verse contribute to our thesis?

Answer:  This verse establishes the fact that those being judged at the great white throne judgment have no direct association with “the book of life” because they are being judged from “the books . . . according to their works.”  The implication is that their names are not found written in the Lamb’s book of life, and therefore, must be judged from “the books of works.”
Conclusion:  There is nothing in this verse that would discredit the position that the people of Revelation 20:12 are being judged because they had rejected Jesus Christ as their Saviour throughout their entire lifetime, and their names which had been entered into the Lamb’s book of life from the foundation of the world were subsequently blotted when they died physically.

Revelation 20:15

Revelation 20:15  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (KJV)

Revelation 20:15  And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. (NAS)

Revelation 20:15  If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. (NIV)

Revelation 20:15  And if anyone’s name was not found recorded in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the Lake of Fire. (TLB)

Revelation 20:15 And whosoever [ the name of any person born into the human race whose name ] was not found written [ because the name had been erased ] in the book of life [ the book containing the name of every member of the human race and from whose pages is erased the names of unbelievers at the time of their physical death ] was cast [ thrown ] into the lake of fire [ the place of eternal separation from God ].

Commentary

The fact that the names of those judged at the great white throne judgment are not in the Lamb’s book of life does not imply that those names were never in the Lamb’s book of life.  In fact, they were in the Lamb’s book of life from the foundation of the world, but were blotted out at the moment of their physical death because they had rejected Jesus Christ as their Savior throughout their entire lifetime.

Conclusion:  There is nothing in this verse that would challenge the thesis at the beginning of this document.

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. (KJV)

Revelation 21:27  and nothing unclean and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. (NAS)

Revelation 21:27  Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. (NIV)

Revelation 21:27  Nothing evil will be permitted in it– no one immoral or dishonest– but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. (TLB)
Revelation 21:27 And there shall in no wise [ manner ] enter into it [ new Jerusalem ] any thing [ literally, "everything" ] that defileth [ common ], neither whatsoever [ DNE ] worketh [ correction:  "he who practices" ] abomination [ shamefulness ], or maketh [ DNE ] a lie: but [[ those who enter into the new Jerusalem are ]] they [ believers ] which [ who ] are [[ permanently ]] written [ Greek:  perfect tense indicating a name written in the past with the result that the name remains written forever ] in the Lamb’s book of life. [[ This indicates that the inhabitants of the new Jerusalem will be characterized by eternal life and absolute purity ].

Commentary

The issue:  The issue in this verse regards who will enter the New Jerusalem, that heavenly city that comes down out of heaven during the millennium.

Answer:  Those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Perspective Problem:  Again we have a perspective problem.  Those who enter the New Jerusalem during the millennium are those whose names are found permanently written in the Lamb’s book of life subsequent to the great white throne judgment.

Remember that during the millennium there will be unbelievers in physical bodies that contain old-sin-natures.  These people will still have their names in the Lamb’s book of life until they die physically.  Their lifestyle is set forth in this verse as descriptive of unbelievers.  They are denied access to the New Jerusalem during the millennium because they are unbelievers.

Conclusion:

Again, if the “perspective concept” is rejected, the one who rejects the concept is forced to explain the issues raised under the” Query” in Revelation 17:8.

Applying the perspective concept to this verse, there is nothing in this verse that would challenge the thesis at the beginning of this document.

Revelation 22:19

Revelation 22:19  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. (KJV)

Revelation 22:19  and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book. (NAS)

Revelation 22:19  And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. (NIV)

Revelation 22:19  And if anyone subtracts any part of these prophecies, God shall take away his share in the Tree of Life, and in the Holy City just described. (TLB)

Revelation 22:19 And if [ 3rd class condition:  maybe he will, and maybe he won't ] any man [ anyone ] shall take away [ anything ] from the words of the book [ Revelation ] of this prophecy [ the nature of the content of this book ], God shall take away his [ the one who takes away from the words of this book ] part [ salvation and the inheritance that goes with it ] out of the book of life [ the name will be blotted out of the book of life ], and [[ will take away his part ]] out of the holy city [ new Jerusalem ], and from [ DNE ] [[ and will take away his part out of ]] the things [ blessings belonging to the saints ] which are written in this book [ Revelation ].

Commentary

1.    In the first place, in Revelation 22:19, the book of life is mentioned only in the KJV, and then, it is mentioned erroneously.

2.    In the NAS, THE NIV, AND TLB the phrase is “the tree of life.” The NAS, the NIV, and TLB are correct according to the older manuscripts.

3.    Since the book of life is not even mentioned in the older manuscripts in Revelation 22:19, any doctrine developed on the book of life from this passage must be discarded and given no consideration.

Principle:  Sound doctrine cannot be developed from false issues.

Luke 10:20

Luke 10:20  Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. (KJV)

Luke 10:20  “Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.” (NAS)

Luke 10:20  However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” (NIV)

Luke 10:20  However, the important thing is not that demons obey you, but that your names are registered as citizens of heaven.” (TLB)

Note:  This verse introduces a new argument.  The question regarding this is verse is whether the statement “your names are written in heaven” is synonymous with “your name written in the Lamb’s book of life.”  Let’s assume for a moment that it is.  Given this assumption, the content of this verse adds nothing to our thesis at the beginning of this document.

Exodus 32:32-33

32    Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin–; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.
33    And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.   (KJV)

Exodus 32:32-33
32    ”But now, if Thou wilt, forgive their sin– and if not, please blot me out from Thy book which Thou hast written!”
33    And the LORD said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book.  (NAS)

Exodus 32:32-33
32    But now, please forgive their sin– but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written.”
33    The LORD replied to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out of my book.  (NIV)

Exodus 32:32-33
32    Yet now if you will only forgive their sin– and if not, then blot me out of the book you have written.”
33    And the Lord replied to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me will be blotted out of my book.  (TLB)

Commentary

1.    The context:  Exodus 32:30-35.

2.    For Moses to say, “blot me out from Thy book which Thou hast written” does not imply that God would or could do so.  This statement simply reflects the zeal that Moses had for Israel.  This same zeal was expressed by the Apostle Paul in Romans. 9:3.

Romans 9:3  For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race,  (NIV)

Have you ever faced a bad set of circumstances and said something like this?  “I could just kill myself.”  You didn’t really mean that you wanted to kill yourself.  Your statement simply reflected anguish of heart over a bad set of circumstances.

Moses knew that God can blot names out of the book of life, and his anguish for Israel was such that he expressed a willingness to have God do so if it would mean salvation for the nation that had crucified its Messiah.  The only thing is that God could not blot Moses’ name out of the book of life because Moses was saved.

Conclusion:  Here is a passage that recognizes God’s prerogative to blot names out of the book of life even though it was impossible for God to do what Moses wanted.

Deuteronomy  9:14

14    Let me alone, that I may destroy them, and blot out their name from under heaven: and I will make of thee a nation mightier and greater than they.  (KJV)

Deut 9:14  ‘Let Me alone, that I may destroy them and blot out their name from under heaven; and I will make of you a nation mightier and greater than they.’  (NAS)

Deut 9:14  Let me alone, so that I may destroy them and blot out their name from under heaven. And I will make you into a nation stronger and more numerous than they.”  (NIV)

Deut 9:13  “‘Let me alone that I may destroy this evil, stubborn people!’ the Lord told me, ‘and I will blot out their name from under heaven, and I will make a mighty nation of you, mightier and greater than they are.’  (TLB)

14    Let me [ God ] alone, that I [ God ] may destroy [ put to death physically ] them [ unbelievers among the Israelite nation ], and blot out [ from the Lamb's book of life ] their [ unbelievers among the Israelite nation ] name from under [ the third ] heaven [ heaven’s authority, control ]: and I [ God ] will make of thee [ Israel ] a nation mightier and greater [ because the unbelieving reversionists are gone ] than they [ the Israelite nation minus the unbelieving reversionists ].  (KJV)

Commentary

1.    The context:  Deuteronomy 9:1-29

2.    God states that He will blot out names from under heaven.  This is just another way of saying that God will blot names out of the Lamb’s book of life.

3.    Since believer’s names cannot be blotted out of the book of life, it remains that only unbeliever’s names can be blotted out of the book of life.

4.    If an unbeliever’s name can be blotted out of the Lamb’s book of life, the unbeliever’s name must be in the Lamb’s book of life before it can be blotted out.

5.    If a person rejects the thesis of this document they must be able to answer the following question:

Question: If the names of unbelievers were not entered into the Lamb’s book of life from before the foundation of the world, then when were the names of unbeliever’s entered into the Lamb’s book of life?  And if not before the foundation of the world, why not before the foundation of the world?

Conclusion:  There is nothing in this verse that would challenge the thesis at the beginning of this document.

Deuteronomy 29:20

20    The LORD will not spare him, but then the anger of the LORD and his jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the LORD shall blot out his name from under heaven.   (KJV)

Deut 29:20  “The LORD shall never be willing to forgive him, but rather the anger of the LORD and His jealousy will burn against that man, and every curse which is written in this book will rest on him, and the LORD will blot out his name from under heaven.  (NAS)

Deut 29:20  The LORD will never be willing to forgive him; his wrath and zeal will burn against that man. All the curses written in this book will fall upon him, and the LORD will blot out his name from under heaven. (NIV)

Deut 29:20  For the Lord will not pardon! His anger and jealousy will be hot against that man. And all the curses written in this book shall lie heavily upon him, and the Lord will blot out his name from under heaven.  (TLB)

Commentary

1.    The context:  Deuteronomy 29:1-29

2.    This passage once again teaches the possibility of having one’s name blotted out from under heaven.  This is just another way of saying that one’s name can be blotted out of the Lamb’s book of life.

3.    Since believer’s names cannot be blotted out of the book of life, it remains that only unbeliever’s names can be blotted out of the book of life.

4.    If an unbeliever’s name can be blotted out of the Lamb’s book of life, the unbeliever’s name must be in the Lamb’s book of life before it can be blotted out.

5.    If a person rejects the thesis of this document they must be able to answer the following question:

Question: If the names of unbelievers were not entered into the Lamb’s book of life from before the foundation of the world, then when were the names of unbeliever’s entered into the Lamb’s book of life?  And if not before the foundation of the world, why not before the foundation of the world?

Conclusion:  There is nothing in this verse that would challenge the thesis at the beginning of this document.

II Kings 14:27

27    And the LORD said not that he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven: but he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash.  (KJV)

II Kings 14:27  And the LORD did not say that He would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven, but He saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash.  (NAS)

II Kings 14:27  And since the LORD had not said he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven, he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam son of Jehoash.  (NIV)

II Kings 14:27  And he had not said that he would blot out the name of Israel, so he used King Jeroboam II to save her.  (TLB)

Commentary

1.    The context:  2 Kings 14:1-29.

2.    This passage once again teaches the possibility of having one’s name blotted out from under heaven.  This is just another way of saying that one’s name can be blotted out of the Lamb’s book of life.

3.    Since believer’s names cannot be blotted out of the book of life, it remains that only unbeliever’s names can be blotted out of the book of life.

4.    If an unbeliever’s name can be blotted out of the Lamb’s book of life, the unbeliever’s name must be in the Lamb’s book of life before it can be blotted out.

5.    If a person rejects the thesis of this document they must be able to answer the following question:

Question: If the names of unbelievers were not entered into the Lamb’s book of life from before the foundation of the world, then when were the names of unbeliever’s entered into the Lamb’s book of life?  And if not before the foundation of the world, why not before the foundation of the world?

Conclusion:  There is nothing in this verse that would challenge the thesis at the beginning of this document.

Concluding Statement

Statement:  For the sake of argument, however, assume the following to be true facts:

1)    the eternal security of the believer or once saved always saved is a valid biblical principle, and

2)    the possibility that one’s name can be blotted out of the Lamb’s book of life, and

3)    those not found in the Lamb’s book of life are unsaved.

Conclusion:  Assuming the previous three facts to be true, the following conclusion must be reached:  if a person’s name has been blotted out of the Lamb’s book of life:  the name blotted out would have to be the name of a unbeliever because it is impossible for a believer to lose his salvation.

Come Let Us Reason Together

Principle #1:  If an unbeliever’s name can be blotted out of the Lamb’s book of life it must first be in the Lamb’s book of life before it can be blotted out.  (That’s deep, isn’t it!)

Principle #2:  If for the sake of argument, a believer’s name is added to the Lamb’s book of life at the moment of salvation, the previous principle #1 implies that unbeliever’s names are in the Lamb’s book of life preceding the names of believer’s.

An inquiry:  If an unbeliever’s name is ever in the Lamb’s book of life, it should be determined when that name was first entered into the Lamb’s book of life.

Principle #3:  If an unbeliever’s name is ever included in the Lamb’s book of life, the conclusion must be reached that the Lamb’s book of life must undergo editing before the Great white throne judgment because there are no unbeliever’s names in the Lamb’s book of life at the Great white throne judgment.