Whose name is blotted out of the book of life?
The best understanding of this that I have is that, as God works outside of time, the book of life had everyone's names listed in it and when they chose not to believe the gospel, they were blotted out. That it's possible everyone's name is written in the book of life until they die without believing the gospel, as we all have chances to believe in our lives and death will be the point when those opportunities cease.
We definitely know that people can be blotted out of the book of life:
However, here is one verse that I think causes people the most fear:
So those who overcome will be clothed in white raiment and won't be blotted out of the book of life. What then is overcoming? Let's let the Bible define it:
So overcoming, at least in this context I believe, is having faith--believing that Jesus is the Son of God. And what does being clothed with white raiment mean?
Now I think we can better understand Revelation 3:5.
To reinforce this conclusion, we see that the saved are indisputably found in the book of life:
So what about the text saying that you have to be without sin (as I understand it) to be written in the book of life, as in these examples?
There's also the fact that those who are saved will, in the future, receive glorified bodies that will be without the sin nature.
So what about the verses talking about adding to or taking away from His words causing you to be blotted out?
I believe these are essentially addressing false gospels. I can say I have faith that Jesus Christ paid the full price for my sins, and that would be the gospel (at least a very summarized version, but to make a point). I could then say I believe that, but I also have to ask forgiveness for my sins every day or I could lose my salvation. That would be adding to His word or the gospel, showing that I believe His sacrifice was insufficient and taking the glory away from Him. We would be trusting in our ability to ask forgiveness in addition to what He did, instead of fully resting in what He did. And from another point of view I could preach that same false gospel and it could be seen as taking away from His word, as I would be saying Jesus Christ didn't pay for it all--that I also have to pay my small part by asking for forgiveness every day, going to church, or whatever else. Perhaps adding or taking away from the words of the book could mean the plain reading as well, I just don't know exactly how that would play out or what it means for certain.
Now that we've solidified the concept that the saints are in the book of life and can't be removed, I'd like to move on to what really convinces me everyone's name is in the book of life at some point, at least from our human, time-constrained perspective. And that's that all babies go to heaven if they die before the age of accountability, or the time at which they can distinguish good from evil. Proving that isn't that difficult in my opinion.
We know that everyone has to be in the book of life to enter heaven:
Let's take a look at some verses which point us in the right direction.
Those who don't believe the gospel will go to hell and/or the lake of fire, and those things and their plagues are certainly written about in the word of God, and especially in the book of Revelation. And when they hadn't believed the gospel by the time they passed from this world, they were then blotted out of the book of life. That's the belief I hold, anyway.
I believe the antichrist (assuming that he is yet to come and Futurism holds true) will preach a false gospel that is works-based, in one way or another. Whatever the enemy can do to get you to trust in yourself instead of trusting in God, satan will attempt. And that's why they may worship the beast, because they may think he's God, because they've bought into his false gospel:
Looking again at Revelation 13:8 and 17:8 (from our time-constrained perspective of things) I'd agree that it's difficult to see that someone who died in unbelief (or received the mark of the beast) might have been written in the book of life only to later be blotted out when they died (or took the mark), so I think these may be from God's perspective who has complete foreknowledge of all things instead of ours.
We definitely know that people can be blotted out of the book of life:
- Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin—; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written. (Exodus 32:32)
- 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. (Deuteronomy 29:20)
- Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous. (Psalm 69:28)
However, here is one verse that I think causes people the most fear:
- 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. (Revelation 3:5)
So those who overcome will be clothed in white raiment and won't be blotted out of the book of life. What then is overcoming? Let's let the Bible define it:
- ¶ Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. (1 John 4:4)
- For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, [even] our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? (1 John 5:4-5)
So overcoming, at least in this context I believe, is having faith--believing that Jesus is the Son of God. And what does being clothed with white raiment mean?
- And round about the throne [were] four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. (Revelation 4:4)
- I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and [that] the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. (Revelation 3:18)
- ¶ For we know that if our earthly house of [this] tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in [this] tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. (2 Corinthians 5:1-4)
Now I think we can better understand 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. (Revelation 3:5)
To reinforce this conclusion, we see that the saved are indisputably found in the book of life:
- Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. (Luke 10:20)
- To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, (Hebrews 12:23)
- 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. (Philippians 4:3)
So what about the text saying that you have to be without sin (as I understand it) to be written in the book of life, as in these examples?
- 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. (Revelation 21:27)
- 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 20:12)
- For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, [Saying], Blessed [are] they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed [is] the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. (Romans 4:3-8)
There's also the fact that those who are saved will, in the future, receive glorified bodies that will be without the sin nature.
So what about the verses talking about adding to or taking away from His words causing you to be blotted out?
- For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: (Revelation 22:18)
- 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. (Revelation 22:19)
I believe these are essentially addressing false gospels. I can say I have faith that Jesus Christ paid the full price for my sins, and that would be the gospel (at least a very summarized version, but to make a point). I could then say I believe that, but I also have to ask forgiveness for my sins every day or I could lose my salvation. That would be adding to His word or the gospel, showing that I believe His sacrifice was insufficient and taking the glory away from Him. We would be trusting in our ability to ask forgiveness in addition to what He did, instead of fully resting in what He did. And from another point of view I could preach that same false gospel and it could be seen as taking away from His word, as I would be saying Jesus Christ didn't pay for it all--that I also have to pay my small part by asking for forgiveness every day, going to church, or whatever else. Perhaps adding or taking away from the words of the book could mean the plain reading as well, I just don't know exactly how that would play out or what it means for certain.
Now that we've solidified the concept that the saints are in the book of life and can't be removed, I'd like to move on to what really convinces me everyone's name is in the book of life at some point, at least from our human, time-constrained perspective. And that's that all babies go to heaven if they die before the age of accountability, or the time at which they can distinguish good from evil. Proving that isn't that difficult in my opinion.
We know that everyone has to be in the book of life to enter heaven:
- 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. (Revelation 21:27)
Let's take a look at some verses which point us in the right direction.
- Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good. For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings. (Isaiah 7:15-16)
- Moreover your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, and your children, which in that day had no knowledge between good and evil, they shall go in thither, and unto them will I give it, and they shall possess it. (Deuteronomy 1:39)
- And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:3)
- ¶ Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put [his] hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. And he laid [his] hands on them, and departed thence. (Matthew 19:13-15)
- ¶ And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and [his] disciples rebuked those that brought [them]. But when Jesus saw [it], he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. And he took them up in his arms, put [his] hands upon them, and blessed them. (Mark 10:13-16)
- ¶ And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when [his] disciples saw [it], they rebuked them. But Jesus called them [unto him], and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein. (Luke 18:15-17)
- Because they have forsaken me, and have estranged this place, and have burned incense in it unto other gods, whom neither they nor their fathers have known, nor the kings of Judah, and have filled this place with the blood of innocents; They have built also the high places of Baal, to burn their sons with fire [for] burnt offerings unto Baal, which I commanded not, nor spake [it], neither came [it] into my mind: (Jeremiah 19:4-5)
- Moreover thou hast taken thy sons and thy daughters, whom thou hast borne unto me, and these hast thou sacrificed unto them to be devoured. [Is this] of thy whoredoms a small matter, That thou hast slain my children, and delivered them to cause them to pass through [the fire] for them? (Ezekiel 16:20-21)
- And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell [whether] GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live? But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me. (2 Samuel 12:22-23)
- Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. (Psalm 23:6)
- For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully [and] wonderfully made: marvellous [are] thy works; and [that] my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, [and] curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all [my members] were written, [which] in continuance were fashioned, when [as yet there was] none of them. (Psalm 139:13-16)
Those who don't believe the gospel will go to hell and/or the lake of fire, and those things and their plagues are certainly written about in the word of God, and especially in the book of Revelation. And when they hadn't believed the gospel by the time they passed from this world, they were then blotted out of the book of life. That's the belief I hold, anyway.
I believe the antichrist (assuming that he is yet to come and Futurism holds true) will preach a false gospel that is works-based, in one way or another. Whatever the enemy can do to get you to trust in yourself instead of trusting in God, satan will attempt. And that's why they may worship the beast, because they may think he's God, because they've bought into his false gospel:
- 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 13:8)
- 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. (Revelation 17:8)
- And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:15)
Looking again at Revelation 13:8 and 17:8 (from our time-constrained perspective of things) I'd agree that it's difficult to see that someone who died in unbelief (or received the mark of the beast) might have been written in the book of life only to later be blotted out when they died (or took the mark), so I think these may be from God's perspective who has complete foreknowledge of all things instead of ours.
Ralph Yankee Arnold makes some additional points that I didn't hear about until recently. Like that the Book of the Living is a list of those who are currently alive in the flesh (and therefore everyone can be blotted out of it) and that the Book of Life is a book of the saints (those who are saved), which I believe can reconcile with my understanding of things.