Psalm 69:28 (KJV) Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.
Malachi 3:16 (KJV) Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.
"book of*" is found 110x, in 105 vs in our KJB.
1st mention of “book of*” – “book of the generations of Adam”- GEN 5:1
Other mentions of “book of”- “book of the covenant”- EX 24:7
“book of the wars of the LORD”- NUM 21:14
“book of this law”- DEUT 28:61
“book of the law”- DEUT 29:21
“book of the law of Moses”- JOSH 8:31
“Is not this written in the book of Jasher?”-JOSH 10:13
“the book of the law of God”- JOSH 24:26
“in the book of the acts of Solomon”- 1 KING 11:41
“the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.” 1 KING 14:19
“the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?”- 1 KING 15:7
“I have found the book of the law”-2 KING 22:8
“the words of the book of the covenant”- 2KING 23:2
“the book of this covenant.”- 2 KING 23:21
“in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah”- 1 CHRON 9:1
“in the book of Samuel the seer, and in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the book of Gad the seer”- 3 PROHETS, 1 CHRON 29:29
“in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer against Jeroboam the son of Nebat?”- 3 PROPHETS, 2 CHRON 9:29
“in the book of Shemaiah the prophet, and of Iddo the seer concerning genealogies?”- 2 CHRON 12:15
“the book of the law of the LORD”- 2 CHRON 17:9
“they are written in the book of Jehu the son of Hanani, who is mentioned in the book of the kings of Israel”- 2 CHRON 20:34
“the book of the kings.”- 2 CHRON 24:27
“the law in the book of Moses”- 2 CHRON 25:4
“written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, and in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel”- 2 CH 32:32
“written among the sayings of the seers”- 2 CHRON 33:19
“they are written in the lamentations”- 2 CHRON 35:25
“the book of the records of thy fathers: so shalt thou find in the book of the records”- EZRA 4:15
“And I found a register of the genealogy of them which came up at the first, and found written therein”- NEHM 7:5-6
“in the book of the law of God”- NEHM 8:18
“the book of the chronicles”- NEHM 12:23
“book of records of the chronicles”- ESTH 6:1
“book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia”- ESTH 10:2
THUS FAR, ALL THE ABOVE MENTIONED ARE BOOK OF RECORDS, EITHER OF GOD’S LAWS GIVEN MOSES, KINGS OF ISRAEL AND JUDAH, VARIOUS PROHPETS & GENTILE KINGS & THEIR INTERACTIONS.
“Psalm 69:28 (KJV) Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.”
This is the 1st verse in the Bible (KJV) that mentions the source of the book that is different than all the previous afore mentioned books, i.e., the book OF THE LIVING. A good question moving forward is, where and when does God make mention of this book of the LIVING? The Psalmist clearly had knowledge of this book in existence of course with the aid of the Holy Spirit. Could it be from this verse earlier mentioned, { Also, in bible study search, it’s important to remember bible verse parallels, for ex; words that are spelled the same or similar in other verse for exposition and cross ref, that’s another reason why I prefer my KJV, due to its consistent parallels, for ex; BLOT*…]“ Exodus 32:32-33 (KJV) 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.” Here in EX, it is the 1st mention of the term “BLOT (or various forms of it, simply add an * at the end a of a word in your bible study software to locate other verses”. Here, God made it known to Moses that He has authored a book, which He specifically referred to as “my book,” where one may be blotted from. However, this is not synonymous with the law already delivered Moses, i.e., the 10 CMMNDS. This book, and its contents, are under God’s control that seems to deal with humanity on an individual basis, in relation to “Whosoever hath sinned against me.” Which could be associated with the future context of New Testament revelation concerning souls that reject God will ultimately be sent to hill due to their sin of rejection against Him, C.F “John 3:18 (KJV) He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
John 3:36 (KJV) He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. Notice, the context of John 3, mankind is condemned in the present tense, due their un-belief in God, particularly since the 1st advent of our Lord, belief that He is His Son and trusting the record of His gospel, C.F “1 John 5:10 (KJV) He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.”
Numbers 5:16-29 contains the term BLOT in its context that helps us better understand the carrying out of this action when performed for visual representation, although this context is not directly related to the “book” which can blot one’s name etc.
“Deuteronomy 9:13-16 (KJV) Furthermore the LORD spake unto me, saying, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people: 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. So I turned and came down from the mount, and the mount burned with fire: and the two tables of the covenant were in my two hands. And I looked, and, behold, ye had sinned against the LORD your God, and had made you a molten calf: ye had turned aside quickly out of the way which the LORD had commanded you.”- Again, here’s another passage which helps further explain the idea of “blotting out names” from the part of God, in response to His creatures on the earth, in this context, humans- Israelites. He told Moses that He would “blot out their name from under heaven.” Notice, from under heaven. However, to help us understand what is meant, let us go back earlier to the event that Moses is rehearsing for parallel contextual comparison,
“Exodus 32:9-12 (KJV) And the LORD said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people: Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation. And Moses besought the LORD his God, and said, LORD, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand? Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath and repent of this evil against thy people.” Notice specifically verses 10-11, “my wrath…I MAY CONSUME THEM: and I will ….” After Moses’s intercession, the LORD repented of the evil later in “Exodus 32:14 (KJV) And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.”. Which shows God can change/modify His proposed plan of judgment when His free-will creatures seek His mercy in prayer in the immediate offered time/space of time He permits for their response. However, what did we observe, that “blotting out their name under heaven” is explained as destroying their physical lives while on the earth, specifically that generation of Israelites that sinned against Him, which consequently we know did take place later. Later we know the 2nd generation survived and hence the Book of Deuteronomy speaks to the 2nd generation of Israelites that were preserved of God.
DEUT 25:17-19 also expresses this idea of “blotting” out the name of the Amalekites from under heaven for their wicked deeds done against Israel during their exodus, i.e., to destroy their people.
DEUT 29:19-24 A great passage to read on your own time. It is great for spiritual application to us as New Testament Christians. However, notice hear, the warning is not to YE ( i.e., the plurality ), although Moses is speaking to all the 2nd generation as a whole, notice the warning is to the individual in vs.19, “when HE ( sing) heareth the words of this curse…HE bless HIMSELF in HIS heart…vs.20 the LORD will not spare HIM…His jealousy SHALL ( future) smoke against THAT MAN ( individual)…curses that are written in this book shall lie upon HIM, and the LORD SHALL blot out his name from UNDER heaven. Notice here, the blotting out FROM under heaven is associated with destroying their physical lives while on the earth. Read unto verses 28 to see that physical conditional dealing with Israelites under the curses of the law. C.F 1 CORINTH 10:1-12.
2 KINGS 14:23-28 “Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel began to reign in Samaria, and reigned forty and one years…And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD”. Notice again the individual here in context, because of the evil deeds done prior by Jeroboam the son of Nebat, Israel at this point in context was left in ruins spiritually and physically. , notice the threat from the LORD later in verse 27 that He proposed to bring about against Israel as a whole for the sins of its previous kings and present king.
BACK Story of Jeroboam the son of NEBAT( 1 KING 11:26-43, 12:2-33, 16:26-31
) he introduced idolatry to the 10 tribes given him of God, sadly he sinned and failed to obey the word of the LORD etc.
So in 2 KING 14, Jeroboam the son of Joash, followed after the deeds of his previous fore-fathers. God SAW the affliction of Israel, that it was very bitter. Check this out, vs.27” 2 Kings 14:27 (KJV) 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.”. Did you read that correctly? The LORD said NOT that He WOULD BLOT…He was not going to destroy the remnant of the 10 tribes for their idolatry because of his mercy. But He saved them by the hand of Jeroboam, even though he did evil, God still used this vessel to preserve the whole from physical destruction. Hence, within the hands of God is His book of the living, and He can BLOT out names of living humans on the earth FROM under heaven, or not to, based upon His mercy towards the hearts of men.
NEHM 4:1-5, Here, Nehemiah uses the term blot in prayer to God, requesting that He would not blot out the iniquity of the gentiles who were mocking them, and God. Hence, blotting in ref to recognition of man’s sins and actions performed, and God’s memory of them both before Him etc. “from before thee” vs.5.
PSALM 51:1-3... Here David is requesting God to blot out his transgressions before God, appealing to the lovingkindness & tender mercies of God’s character to do so. David’s sins are clear before the face of God, “in thy sight” vs.4. David acknowledges that his sin is ever before God, i.e., aware of them. In verse.4 David declares that solely against God has he sinned against. But sadly, there where consequences from his sins that others felt the effects of for ex; Bathsheba (physical), Uriah (physical), and his future born son (physical). Similarly, like God warned Israel through Moses back there in DEUT 9, His main concern and focus is for the heart of his people to be yielded towards Him, the heart, mind, soul, and strength are what the bible describes as the “INWARD PARTS” of our being. Vs.7-9, “Purge me with hyssop …wash me …Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities” K.D requests for God’s forgiveness, for He knows that God is the only one who can forgive sins (Mark 2:7 & Luke 5:21), the law provides NO benefit to K. D’s life for what his sins merit (ROM 3:20), he can only hope in the mercy of God to put away his sins from before the face of God. Notice the direction of God’s face (which speaks of His attention and direction of immediate knowledge). Vs.9-11, Here is how one’s sins can be blotted out from before God, when the sinner humbles him/herself, and comes to God with a broken and contrite spirit” Psalm 34:18 (KJV) The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit….Psalm 51:17 (KJV) The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise…Isaiah 57:15 (KJV) For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones…Isaiah 66:2 (KJV) For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. Notice God’s face, notice the direction He chooses to look towards the sinner’s heart, solely and only when the sinner comes to God with a humble heart and exercises sincere and genuine sorrowful repentance (ROM 2:4), asking Him to forgive his sins and have mercy towards his/her sin, and by faith believing that God will. This is how our sins can be blotted out from before His face and hence His book of records.
PSALM 69- K.D, messianic portion of scripture with a lot of N.T fulfillment in the life of our Lord, and future N.T Church doctrine to be exposited by the Holy Spirit through the apostles. K.D compares his life with the “they that hate me” people around him vs.5/vs.12” they that sit”, vs.14 “them that hate me”, vs.19 “mine adversaries”, vs.21”they gave me also gall”, vs.22-28 K.D asks God, “ let their table become a snare... a trap…their eyes be darkened…their loins continually to shake…pour out thine indignation upon them…anger take hold of them…let their habitation be desolate ( housing/ their abode ), let non dwell in their tents… vs.28 “Psalm 69:28 (KJV) Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.”. K. D’s request for God to blot them out of the book of the living, i.e., that their lives would not be reckoned with the lives of the righteous before God. That there would be a written division between the righteous and “they,” and that it would be written etc. Notice, of the “living” in context with the “righteous,” could this scripture explain the identification before God and man in that the book of the living? That it is associated with the lives of the righteous before God. (HEB 11, Hebrews 11:6 (KJV) But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him…Hebrews 11:39 (KJV) And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:). I take the position that this is what is meant.
This Psalm relates to Psalm 109, which parallels the same spiritual thought of PS 69 regarding the context of the chapter concerning K.D and those of his “enemies”. He asks God to remember their sins. In this context, the Chapter presents the prayer of offence against those who were against the king, in a physical and spiritual manner. i.e., he asks God to set satan on the right-hand side of the “they,” he asks for a wicked man as well to be set over him vs.5-6. Vs.7, however, offers a future insight in the judgement to come, “Psalm 109:7 (KJV) When he shall be judged, let him be condemned: and let his prayer become sin.” Notice, when he SHALL (future) be judged. Psalm 109:13-15 (KJV) Let his posterity be cut off; and in the generation following let their name be blotted out. Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered with the LORD; and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out. Let them be before the LORD continually, that he may cut off the memory of them from the earth. Notice the prayer of K.D against his adversaries, He asks God NOT to forget their sins, that their name be blotted out, and that their Memory FROM the earth would be cut off. Dealing with the future generations of the “they “against him at this day, here, the bible further illustrates this idea of ‘blotting out, having to do with memory before God’s face, in relation to His knowledge, and knowledge before man for future generations. I hope you see when we leave the bible alone, it interprets itself. Vs.31 future judgement again. Therefore, the blotting out here is described in a future context of God’s memories of sinner’s sin, to be remembered before him, as well as their memory on the earth by the destruction of their physical life.
“Proverbs 9:7-10 (KJV) He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot. Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.”- Food for thought during my study on this subject.
ISAH 43:1-25, “thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel,”, setting up the context of this chapter. Great chapter to read. However, our focus will be on the later verses to stay on topic. “Isaiah 43:22-27 (KJV) But thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob; but thou hast been weary of me, O Israel. Thou hast not brought me the small cattle of thy burnt offerings; neither hast thou honored me with thy sacrifices. I have not caused thee to serve with an offering, nor wearied thee with incense. Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money, neither hast thou filled me with the fat of thy sacrifices: but thou hast made me to serve with thy sins, thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities. I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake and will not remember thy sins. Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified. Thy first father hath sinned, and thy teachers have transgressed against me.” God declares in vs.25, that He Himself is the source of forgiveness for the people’s sins, not just for Israel as a whole, but in application today we can safely apply this to our faith in His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. Forgiveness of sins where never earned nor merited by the works/deeds of the laws of Moses, nor works of righteousness which Israel nor anyone today can earn from God as something to be received for transaction for our payment of “good works” C.F ROMANS 4, ROM 9:30-33. Solely the eternal truths that within the Godhead are merciful attributes of God; and these attributes / traits of God is where hope is found for the sinner who seeks Go; and in return God seeks to save them. C.F Psalm 69:32 (KJV) The humble shall see this, and be glad: and your heart shall live that seek God. But notice, He said that He Himself “blotteth out thy transgressions for MINE OWN sake and will NOT REMEMBER thy sins.” Did you see that? Are you catching along now with this pattern of action on God’s part when He ‘blots’ out sins from before Him, or a name, it is associated with His knowledge of sins of the people and their names! He can CHOOSE to remember sins no more, C.F Hebrews 8:12 (KJV) For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. Hebrews 10:17 (KJV) And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Isn’t that amazing! God, in His infinite wisdom, can choose to forgive and forget/remember NO MORE the sins of His free-will creatures, when they respond to Him in faith! What a mighty God we serve!
This is the same concept that carries over into CH 44, another great read. “Isaiah 44:21-23 (KJV) Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for thou art my servant: I have formed thee; thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me. I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee. Sing, O ye heavens; for the LORD hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the LORD hath redeemed Jacob and glorified himself in Israel.”-. Notice in verse 22. Once again, the Bible has thus far established that God blots out from before Himself, memories of sin, hence, within the higher than man’s thought’s mind of God and how HE chooses to function and operate, in His infinite wisdom, He can choose to forget knowledge known prior, to exercise forgiveness, because He is a merciful God.
JER 18:1 “Jeremiah 18:1 (KJV) The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,” Establishing the verse in context. Another great chapter to read. Interesting verses in vs.6-10 God responds to the free-will decisions of men; His knowledge concerning His future interactions with man seems to be dependent upon the immediate time as man responds to Him for future judgements etc. vs.11 is Jeremiah’s commission. Later, from vs. 18-23, Jeremiah pleads with God to intervene with immediate judgement against his fellow countrymen of that day who were devising evil against him. He asks God to remember their sin, like K.D from the PSALMS. But from where, “before THY sight” vs.23, perhaps from the book of the living or His Book, is associated with the immediate knowledge of who stands righteous before the very sight of God.
ACTS 3:12, “Acts 3:12 (KJV) And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? Now we are in the N.T side of God’s revelation to man, i.e., after the Lord was manifest in the flesh, He died, and rose again. Here, the Holy Spirit has since been sent into the heart of the early apostles and disciples, and here peter is preaching to the immediate jews in Jerusalem etc., some who were eyewitnesses to the shouts and demands of the crowds who chanted “Mark 15:13 (KJV) And they cried out again, Crucify him, Mark 15:14 (KJV) Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him, Luke 23:21 (KJV) But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. John 19:6 (KJV) When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him. But scarier than their willful rejection of their promised Messiah, is their declaration of the following: “Matthew 27:23-25 (KJV) And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified. When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. Here, the people told Pilate, and clearly before the face of Almighty God, that they would willfully stand in judgement for the innocent blood of this man Jesus Christ.” They essentially told God, “God, we are willing to be guilty of this man’s blood, remember this in your book. Although they thought they did God service “John 16:2 (KJV) They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.” This they did, not only willingly, but ignorantly, “Acts 3:14-18 (KJV) But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled… “Acts 2:23 (KJV) Him (Jesus), being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain”. God’s foreknowledge of the Jew’s willful and ignorant rejection of their Messiah was used as the vessel/means to bring about redemption not only for Israel, but for the whole world, C.F Galatians 4:4 (KJV) But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, however it must be said, that God is NOT the cause for His rejection, rather, knowing ahead of time their rejection of Jesus, He operated through their willful rebellion ( Romans 11). And for this sin, the sin of Israel’s rejection of Jesus, this is what Peter admonishes his audience about back in ACTS 3:19. He calls on these jews to repent of their sin of rejection, that when God establishes the future kingdom of heaven (physical dominion of Jesus in Jerusalem and Israel etc.), these jews would be participants of those O.T promises in the kingdom of their Messiah etc. That their sins MAY be blotted out, notice the word “MAY,” because it would be up to the hearer to respond by free-will to the preaching of Peter.
So, I ask, what have we learned together so far regarding how the sins of men are acknowledged before God? His face! His memory! Although he for-saw Israel’s rejection, He is still holy and will hold those sinners accountable for their rejection against Him, “Exodus 34:6-7 (KJV) And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.”, “Numbers 14:18-20 (KJV) The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation. Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of thy mercy, and as thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now. And the LORD said, I have pardoned according to thy word:” He will by NO MEANS clear the guilty where the guilty are deserving for their sins to be punished, however, God has always offered/offers man a space of time to repent, to offer them an opportunity for their sins to be “blotted “out etc. For ex, “Revelation 2:21 (KJV) And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.”, notice, Jesus is speaking here, He said He gave Jezebel time to repent, but she didn’t, which once again shows what? The outcome of future judgments of God based upon the decision that man makes in response to the Word of God whenever delivered unto them throughout time etc.
EPH 1:13 & COL 2:13-14, “Ephesians 1:13 (KJV) In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise” & “Colossians 2:13-14 (KJV) And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.” This is the exact same truth proclaimed by the Lord Himself during His 1st advent, John 5:24 (KJV) Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. The bible teaches us N.T Christians, that when we where still sinners dead in sins and trespasses, separate from God because of our sin, we FIRST had to HEAR the gospel presented, then, either in that very moment or over time, when our spirit/conscience responds to it, AFTER we heard and chose to BELIEVE, we THEN trusted, and AFTER trusting the gospel by faith, we are saved by God’s supernatural operation through faith , “Colossians 1:12-13 (KJV) Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son…”Colossians 2:12 (KJV) Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.”. At the very moment of our conversion, we were born again, all simultaneously taking place by the operation of God through faith. God the Father converts us through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, making us meet/suitable for entrance INTO the spiritual kingdom of His dear Son. During this regeneration process, the Holy Spirit places us into the body of Christ, C.F Romans 6:3 (KJV) Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 1 Corinthians 12:13 (KJV) For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. Galatians 3:27 (KJV) For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. During this process, either before or after some of these operations, Jesus Christ BLOTS out from before the face of God the Father, the “handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took IT out of the way, nailing it to HIS CROSS. CAN I GET AMEN GLORY TO GOD!!! I believe it is the Lord Jesus Himself who performs this very act hallelujah. The One who always stood as mediator between almighty Jehovah for Israel in the O.T, and the world after the N.T was established, the One who offered to BLOT out Israel’s transgressions, is the SAME ONE who offers it after His 1st advent, none other than the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is true then, the statement the jews of our Lord’s Day stated, when they said that only “who can forgive sins but God only?- Mark2:7. The doctrine of the Godhead/trinity is NOT difficult for the sincere bible believer, “1 John 5:7 (KJV) For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.”. Jesus is ONE with the FATHER, and therefore, able to forgive the sins of men, but most importantly, BLOT them out from the memory of God. C.F John 5:22 (KJV) For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son. Can you imagine what a wonderful heavenly scene that takes place every time a sinner comes to Jesus, pleading God’s mercy for His Sons Name’s sake, and although wrath stands between me the guilty sinner and God the sinless Saviour, “James 2:13 (KJV) For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.”, within the Holiness and holy state that God dwells in, mercy seeks to rejoice against judgement. It is this communicable attribute of God that reminds the Godhead, that pardon/forgiveness is available to us sinners. What an amazing God we serve! Truly, Romans 11:33 (KJV) O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
Alas, we get to our last verse of study on this topic.
Revelation 3:1-5 (KJV) 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.
Allow me to remind of us context. Let us go back to REV 1. Revelation 1:1 (KJV) The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John. This last blessed book of our God to mankind starts with, “to shew unto his SERVANTS”. Notice, the recipients of this book are said to be HIS Servants. Let’s skip down to verse 4-6 “Revelation 1:4-6 (KJV) John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. The recipients are said to be 7 CHURCHES. God has already defined for us what makes up a church ( Ephesians 5:29-30 (KJV) For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones., 1 Corinthians 1:2 (KJV) Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours. The church is made up of born-again sinners; jews & gentiles, who have been sanctified in Christ, and placed into His spiritual kingdom of God in heaven, eternally secure and sealed. Vs.5 of REV 1, says of these 7 churches, that He “loved us, and washes us FROM OUR SINS in HIS OWN BLOOD”. Therefore, moving forward, each church identified contain members in them that are genuinely saved and born again, from which position in Christ CANNOT be changed or removed, either by men or even God Himself, because He cannot lie of the promise of the hope of eternal life, “Titus 1:2 (KJV) In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;”. Vs.6 of REV 1 reassures the believers of their future service to their great Saviour, their great Head, their great King. ALL who convert and become born again throughout the church age WILL become a fellow priest and king with Christ, to co-rule and co-reign with Him at His 2nd advent (REV 20:6) Hence, since these recipients are ALREADY fellow heirs, born again, these churches HAVE eternal life, remember it was a gift! REV 3:1-2, “I know THY (singular) individual works, that thou (singular) hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Jesus is rebuking some of the members of this truth for their hypocritical profession of dedicated Christian service. Before other men they appear right, but before God they are wrong. In vs.2, He stated that those believers still possessed enough time permitted by Him, or something within their personal characteristics of life, that He sees can still change before their physical death, because He said their works are NOT perfect, but could be improved upon. In vs.3, This is the answer to their problem, of which clearly, they were historically aware of, from the first time they heard the gospel and believed, if they do not repent according to the Lord’s direct command, He promised a special visitation to this church, as a thief. Which denotes a secret, sudden surprise and perhaps removal of their church, like a thief removes items from someone during a robbery etc. vs.4, He identifies a “FEW” names in Sardis which have NOT defiled their garments, which indicates that of the whole church, only a few where not walking out their faith carnally, but rather, where obedient spiritual Christians, C.F 1 Corinthians 2:15 (KJV) But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 1 Corinthians 3:1 (KJV) And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. As pertaining to the garments defiled perhaps James 5 could add further light on how one’s clothing can spiritually be identified by God as to the state of the believer. C.F Matthew 15:18 (KJV) But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. Mark 7:15 (KJV) There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man. Mark 7:20 (KJV) And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. Hebrews 12:15 (KJV) Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; There where a few strong, spiritual believers maintaining proper order of Christian conduct and obedience to their Saviour, even while assembling themselves with their fellow carnal church members. Vs.5, to the overcomer, Christ promises a special recognition before God and His angels at the judgment seat of Christ or at some future time frame when these believers see Him face to face. Christ here promises NOT to blot out “his name” out of the book of life. Jesus did not say that the believer’s names are preserved conditionally in the book of life, He simply stated that He will NOT blot out their names out of the book of life. This seems to indicate to me that He will NOT blot out their names from the book of life, since their sins where already blotted out on His cross. The Lord does not state in other words, anything near the idea that one could lose their salvation as this being synonymous with their name in the book of life. The book of life is in His possession and their names are written in it when they at the first responded by faith to the gospel, the true individual believer in this church will NOT have to concern themselves with losing their salvation. Which is a clear admonition to others within their congregation who perhaps assemble but are not genuinely born again, like many today who simply go to church, without ever trusting Christ fully with their heart etc. Consider this verse, 2 Corinthians 13:5 (KJV) Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
Lastly, “Philippians 4:3 (KJV) 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.”, Revelation 17:8 (KJV) 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., Revelation 20:12 (KJV) 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., Revelation 20:15 (KJV) And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire., Revelation 22:19 (KJV) 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..
My last conclusions on this matter are this. REV 17:8 speaks of names not written in the book of life FROM the foundation of the world, whereas the next book
“Revelation 13:8 (KJV) 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., Revelation 21:27 (KJV) 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.”.
The Book of life OF THE LIFE OF THE LAMB, seems to be an additional separate book, of which anyone who enters this world via physical birth whose names are generally written in the 1st universal book of life, has an opportunity during the church age, to receive a 2nd birth, whereby their names will be recorded into that book of the LAMB. Whereas the book of life, seems to denote “John 1:9 (KJV) That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.”,
that EVERY MAN that cometh INTO the world (through physical birth OF Adam’s seed), by virtue of God’s eternal laws and decrees, has their name written in this general book of life. However at some point between birth and death, their names can be removed from the book of life, due to their willful rejection of God, who grants to men a 2nd life through the gospel, whereby this 2nd birth can place their names into the Lambs book of life. It appears that during the future great white throne judgment, ALL mankind that has been born into the world of Adam’s seed, will be judged by name. If their name is not found written in this general book of life, this gift of life given and offered all, they will literally become unknown to God for eternity, relationally speaking, before God and those individuals. God, who is the author of all life, will literally tell these resurrected creatures, “Matthew 7:23 (KJV) And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”. I NEVER KNEW YOU. Concerning the knowledge of God I will write another article on this in the future. But to simply state the obvious, regardless of whatever systematic theologies and methodologies have been established by men to rationalize the infinite God and attempt to simplify His revelations in their finite man, God has limited His knowledge concerning the salvation of souls. The “omnipotence” of God is explained in scripture concerning His works, not the free-will response to those works throughout time. Therefore, of those from Adams seed who have rejected God throughout time, and will prior to the great white throne judgement, the bible is clear when He will declare to them, that He never knew them. It is my opinion that this denotes personal relationship through adoption of sons. Hence, they will be blotted from His memory of existence, due to their willful rejection of His love. This will be His statement to these resurrected creatures that attempt to argue with Him on the day of judgement. These souls however had their names removed from the book of life, and hence do NOT have their names recorded in the additional LAMB’s book either, due to their rejection of God throughout time, and from the time of His 1st and 2nd advent, they willfully rejected to honor God the Father through the command of the gospel for all men to repent, C.F “Acts 17:30-31 (KJV) And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.”. and to believe in His Son Jesus, for God has ordained Him to be the future Judge of the dead. Therefore, my conclusion on this topic is this, the book of life denotes a universal general account of ALL names of humans born into our world (mankind’s existence from the seed of Adam) that enter this life, this world of Adam’s generation/race. The book of life of the Lamb seems to denote a 2nd book, in which those of Adam’s seed from the time of Christ to the 2nd advent, have an opportunity to become incorporated into the Lamb’s book of life by their free-will choice to believe in Him. The 1st is automatic record keeping by God, future removal at some point before one’s death based on their choice of response to God’s revelation to them throughout time, the 2nd, man’s choice to respond to the gospel, whereby the grace of God would place them into His Son’s book of the gift of everlasting life.
