What matters more than the translation, however, is the nature of this book. The evil sinful people will have their names blotted out of this book. Those who believe have their names retained in the book rev. The following is an excerpt from the macarthur new testament commentary on revelation 3.
This verse is usually involved in the debate concerning eternal security. He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments. Only those who overcome the sins of this world will be clothed in white raiment, and they will not risk getting their names blotted out of the book of. Jul 11, 2019 can your name be blotted out of the book of life. And i will never blot out his name from the book of life, but i will confess his name before my father and his angels.
Sep 14, 2014 the books of deeds and book of life are distinguished in rev. Jan 02, 2020 i will not blot out his name from the book of life. If a person is never going to come to a genuine true faith in god their name will not be put in there from the beginning. Being blotted out of this book results in spiritual death and eternal damnation. Is it possible for a persons name to be erased from the book. It is our view that attempting to explain the various passages by using two or three different books is overly complicated and imposes distinctions. The book of life is a translation from the greek phrase to biblo tes zoes. Thus the book of life, where all names are recorded, were afforded by individual choice while in a first born state to transfer their name to the lambs book of life which no name can be blotted out from fulfilling the understanding of the john passage above. Likewise, unbelievers names were never written in the book of life, and therefore were never blotted out from it. Those who fail to exercise faith prior to death are blotted out of the book. From the scriptural view of a covenanted perspective, the book is a figure of a registry of the names of all covenanted members of gods congregation. This goes against gods promise of eternal security.
Unlike popular doctrines such as eternal unconditional security, the truths of people being blotted out remain. Several verses speak of god blotting or not blotting names out of the book of life. If a person committed crimes, or otherwise defiled his standing in the city, he could be called before a tribunal and his name removed from the city registry, literally blotted out. The lambs book of life seems to have those written in it who have been redeemed by the blood of the lamb of godjesus christ.
His eternal identity rests on the fact that he is an individual whose name is written in heaven luke 10. Names blotted out of the book of lifeshocking info god. The book refers to the place in exodus where moses prays, but now please forgive their sin, but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written, and god replies, everyone who has sinned against me i will blot out of my book. No, your name can not be blotted out of the book of life. It shall be that the firstborn whom she bears shall assume the name of his dead brother, so that his name will not be blotted out from israel. The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and i will never blot his name out of the book of life. Book of life a book which records the name of every individual ever born.
Cities in johns day had a city register which listed the names of every citizen. The saved are written in gods registry and have the promise of eternal security. The saved are in the book of life, there names will not be blotted out. None of the names written in this book is ever blotted out rev. An overcomer is one who is victorious over the temptations, trials, and evils of this worldin other words, one who is redeemed. Are names written in the book of life, or blotted out of it. This one who conquers or overcomer is a reference to christians. The book of revelation is the book that refers to this most often and it is the book that has the text that sounds most problematical, i think. I will confess his name before my father and before his. A second passage sometimes cited as a removal of a name from the book of life is from psalms. Having said that, there are three passages in scripture that refer to names being blotted out or erased from the book of life the first from exodus.
Another book, the lambs book of life contains the name of every individual who is born again, and only those who are born again rev. Will god ever blot a believers name out of the book of life. If a person never calls upon the lord jesus christ for salvation, the theory is that this persons name will be blotted out of the book of life. I will never blot out his name from the book of life. And the lord said unto moses, whosoever hath sinned against me, him will i blot out of my book ex. There is one book of life, and that is the book of the lamb book is a translation from the greek word biblio, strongs 976.
Apr 25, 2018 being blotted out of the book of life in revelation 3. Therefore, this is not an example of a name being blotted out of the book of life. May 04, 2019 how does a name get added to the book of life and can it be erased. In fact, they say just the opposite, that no believer will ever be blotted out. It is the same idea of being blotted out of the book of life and in revelation 3. The book of life contains the names of every person who ever lived.
He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and i will not blot out his name from the book of life. Book of life of the lamb a book which records only those individuals who are predestined to salvation. It is therefore possible to have ones name blotted out of the book of life because of sin as in the days of the old testament times people were under the law, not under grace. Sadly, many christians fear this may happen to them. May 21, 2014 i have been reading some conflicting opinions concerning the book of life and the lambs book of life. In scenario number two, the book of life is revealed from the perspective of being a. There is no mention of being blotted out of this book. 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. The implication is that if you end up giving in to sin, your name will be blotted out of the book of life and you will be denied before god and the angels, something jesus elsewhere emphasizes mt 10. They further argue that god, who knows the future, would never list a name in the book of life in the first place if it would have to be blotted out later.
There is only one book of life, and names can be removed from. This will cause god to blot your name out of the book of life at the time for your death. Blotted out of the book of life protestant reformed churches. English standard version let them be blotted out of the book of the. The positive is emphasized by the negation of its negative. Can a believers name be blotted out of the book of life. Are names written in the book of life, or blotted out of. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my father and his angels. Being blotted out of the book of life in revelation 3. Nov 27, 2011 the believers name can never be blotted out of the book of life. Some passages speak about names being written in the book of life, some about names not being written in the book of life, and some about names being blotted out of the book of life. Those who are unsaved are blotted out of the book ps. Jan 01, 2004 these references to blotting out of the book of life allow only two possibilities.
If a person thinks their name can be blotted out it turns a promise into a threat. Names blotted out commentary a testimony of jesus christ. Book of the law the curse of the law oblivion god not forgiving. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment. I am not sure what he is trying to do with those verses, but they do not say that anyone has ever had their name blotted out of the book of life. That means both those who claim new life, and those that are truly born from above. It is not sinning against one another that blots a persons name out of the book of life but it is the sin against god in not acknowledging that jesus is lord of your life that causes god to blot your name out of the book of life.
Jan 19, 2016 the book of revelation is the book that refers to this most often and it is the book that has the text that sounds most problematical, i think. Can a persons name be erased from the book of life. Im reading a book that says names are not added to the book of life, they are blotted out. Let them be blotted out of the book of life, and not be written with the righteous. Many pastors and teachers say that if someone does not overcome, then their name will be blotted out of the book of life. Are we saved as long as our name is written in the book. So then, at the great white throne judgment, if their names are not found in the book of life, it will show them to be unsaved and worthy of partaking in this particular judgment. Others say the book of life has the names of everyone living and that names can be blotted out, and that the lambs book of life contains the names of born again believers and those names are eternally secure.
How does a name get added to the book of life and can it be erased. Scripture clearly teaches that a true believer in christ cannot have his name blotted out of the book of life and that an unbelievers names never were in the book of life. Blotting out of names the book of life learn the bible. Is it possible for a persons name to be erased from the. Therefore, the way to avoid being blotted from the book of life is to get your name written in the lambs book of life. No christian will have his name blotted from that book. The book of life is the names of everyone ever born. In a similar fashion, the words, i will not blot out his name from the book of life, at once suggest the understatement of a litotes. Another version of this scenario is that the lambs book of life differs from the book of life.
If we cannot lose our salvation, why does the bible speak about names being blotted out of the book of life. What does it mean to be blotted out of the book of life. The overcomer mentioned in this letter to sardis is the christian. I will confess his name before my father and before his angels.
If we cannot lose our salvation, why does the bible speak about names being blotted out o. The phrase the book of life or the book of the living are fine translations for this phrase. Id always thought our names were added to the lamb. I will not blot out his name out of the book of life rv 3. Is it possible for a persons name to be erased from the book of life. The lord shall never be willing to forgive him, but rather the. My blog on 2222012 was very important and today i want to tell you why. The book refers to the place in exodus where moses prays, but now please forgive their sin, but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written, and god replies, everyone who.
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