The Book of Life is mentioned several times in the Bible, primarily in the book of Revelation. It is described as a record containing the names of all who have eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ. Here is an overview of what the Bible teaches about the Book of Life:
It Contains the Names of the Righteous
The Book of Life contains the names of all who have been declared righteous through faith in Jesus Christ (Philippians 4:3, Revelation 3:5, Revelation 13:8, Revelation 17:8, Revelation 20:12, Revelation 20:15). Being written in the Book of Life signifies eternal life in the kingdom of God.
In Luke 10:20, Jesus tells His disciples to rejoice because “your names are written in heaven.” This refers to the record God keeps of those who belong to Him. The Book of Life is also known as the Lamb’s Book of Life because it contains the names of those who have been redeemed by Jesus, the Lamb of God (Revelation 13:8, Revelation 21:27).
It Records All Humanity
The Book of Life contains the names of every person who has ever lived. Psalm 139:16 indicates that even before a child is born, its days are recorded in God’s book. Exodus 32:32-33 further indicates that the Book of Life records the names of all humanity, the righteous and unrighteous alike.
Every person’s name is written in the Book of Life from birth and remains there until death. The names of those who reject Christ are blotted out from the Book of Life after death (Psalm 69:28). Thus, the Book of Life shows the names of all people, whether they are accepted into eternal life or not.
It Is Referenced at the Final Judgment
The Book of Life plays a significant role at the final judgment before God. The Bible indicates that everyone whose name is found recorded in the Book of Life will inherit eternal life with God in heaven (Revelation 20:15). Those whose names are not in the Book will be thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15).
The judgment before God’s throne will involve books being opened, including the Book of Life (Revelation 20:12). Those whose names are written in the Book of Life will be delivered from God’s wrath against sin (Daniel 12:1). The Book of Life, therefore, determines who will enter God’s eternal kingdom.
Names Can Be Blotted Out
Jesus promises that those who overcome will not have their names blotted out from the Book of Life (Revelation 3:5). So while all humanity is recorded in the Book of Life, the names of those who reject Christ are blotted out, signifying spiritual death (Psalm 69:28).
This means that no one’s place in the Book of Life is permanently secure. Our names remain there only through faith in Christ. Revelation 3:5 promises that the one who remains faithful to Jesus will never have his name erased. Yet those who finally reject Christ will be blotted out from the Book of Life.
The Book of Life Is the Lamb’s Book of Life
The Book of Life is also called the Lamb’s Book of Life because it contains the names of those saved by the Lamb, Jesus Christ. In Revelation 21:27, only those who are recorded in the Lamb’s Book enter the New Jerusalem. Those who rejected Jesus are excluded.
Being written in the Lamb’s Book of Life means eternal security in God’s kingdom (Revelation 13:8). Jesus, the Lamb who takes away the sins of the world, keeps the record of those who belong to Him for eternity. The Lamb’s Book and the book of life are different names for the same book.
We Can Have Confidence in Eternal Life
Christians can have full confidence that their names are recorded in God’s Book of Life (Luke 10:20). This is not because of anything we have done, but solely because of what Jesus finished for us on the cross (Hebrews 12:2). Good works cannot earn a place in the Book of Life because inclusion is based on relationship, not performance.
Believers can rejoice that eternal life is secure. Once our names are written in the Book, they cannot be removed as long as we trust in Christ (Philippians 4:3). Our place in God’s book was obtained at a very high price – the blood of Jesus (1 Peter 1:18-19).
It Is a Motivation to Godly Living
The promise that our names will never be erased from the Book of Life motivates believers to faithful obedience. We do not obey to get our names written in the Book but because they are written there (Philippians 2:12-13).
Out of gratitude for the eternal life God has given, believers seek to honor Him with holy living. The assurance that our eternity is secure forever in Christ motivates consistent Christian growth and maturity. God’s grace teaches us to live righteously (Titus 2:11-14).
The Book of Life Is a Symbol of Security
The Book of Life represents the eternal security believers have in Christ. Just as a person’s name cannot be erased from a birth certificate, so all those recorded in the Book of Life are safely preserved there. Our place in God’s book is guaranteed and cannot be lost.
Yet unbelievers have no such security. The unsaved will be blotted out from the Book of Life after facing God’s judgment for sin. But those redeemed by the blood of Christ can joyfully anticipate eternal life, confident that their names are indelibly recorded by Jesus Himself.
It Is a Book, Not Necessarily a Literal Volume
The Book of Life is described as an actual book or volume that records names. However, it is unlikely that there is a literal, physical book that God opens to check names in deciding a person’s eternal destiny. The Book of Life is a symbol pointing to the omniscience of God.
God has perfect knowledge of who belongs to Him. He knows eternally those who trust in Christ for salvation. The biblical imagery of a book indicates that the record of the righteous is permanent and cannot be changed. It remains eternally secure in God’s infallible knowledge.
The Wicked Are Absent from the Book
Psalm 69:28 asks for the wicked to be blotted out of the book of the living. The Book of Life contains only the names of those who have been redeemed by Christ and given eternal life. The unsaved will face God’s judgment and condemnation for their sins.
At the great white throne judgment depicted in Revelation 20:11-15, the dead are judged according to their deeds recorded in the books. Yet no dead person’s name will appear in the Book of Life, leaving them to be judged guilty and sentenced to the lake of fire.
It Is Connected to the Tree of Life
In Revelation 22, the Book of Life is closely connected with the tree of life, which represents eternal life given by God. Verse 19 indicates that those who tamper with God’s word do not have their names in the Book of Life and will not eat from the tree of life.
Only obedience to Scripture shows that our names are recorded in God’s book. Partaking of the tree of life goes hand in hand with an unshakable kingdom inheritance in the Book of Life through faith in Jesus (Revelation 2:7, Revelation 22:2).
The Book of Life and the Names in It Are Permanent
The Book of Life endures permanently as God’s infallible record of His elect who have been saved by grace. There is never any possibility of a name being erased after it is written into the book. Assurance of salvation rests securely on the eternal preexistence of the Book of Life in God’s mind.
God has known His chosen ones from before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4). All who trust in Jesus to the end will never have their names blotted out of the Lamb’s Book that grants eternal heavenly citizenship (Revelation 21:27). The immutable Book of Life guarantees that salvation is forever fully secure.
Summary of the Book of Life
The Bible’s teaching about the Book of Life offers much assurance and hope to believers. Key points include:
- It records the names of those who have eternal life in God’s kingdom
- The names of the wicked are blotted out of it
- It is consulted at the final judgment before God
- Those in the Book of Life enter the New Jerusalem
- It represents eternal security for believers
- It motivates righteousness and obedience
The Lamb’s Book of Life guarantees that all who trust in Jesus will escape final judgment before God’s throne. Their eternal citizenship in heaven is indelibly recorded forever. This hopeful truth encourages faithful Christian living until the end with joyful anticipation of heaven.