Beliefs about the Afterlife (LXVIII)

So far, in studying on life in the city of God in the new heavens and earth, we have looked at some of the details of that place and of the life experience of those who are citizens of it. We have focused on the things that are sources of life abundance and renewal, such as the fountain or water of life, the river of life, the tree of life, and on the size and appearance of the city, and on the various individual rooms prepared for each of the citizen saints, etc., and now we focus on some other features and aspects of it. We begin with -

The Book of Life

"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." (21: 27)

One of the first things to notice is that "book of life" is another genitive. So, we must decide the kind. Does it mean a book that gives or imparts life? A book that gives rights to life? Or, is it a book that records those who already have life apart from the book? There are a half dozen or more kinds of genitives, but these two are the most frequent (being a genitive of source, or subjective genitive, and therefore uses the preposition "of," or an objective genitive, in which case we would use the preposition "for"; think of "love of God," another genitive, and how, depending on context, could mean love from God or love for God). 

I think "the book of life" is the same kind of genitive as in "the fountain of life," or "the water of life," or "the river of life," or "the tree of life," etc., and in each case it signifies a source of life and abundance of life, or renewal. I think the book has legal import or connotation, being a kind of registry wherein legal documents are recorded, all for the purpose of preserving information. Many years ago people would often obtain a deed to a piece of land without having it recorded in a governmental office. They would keep their deed(s) in a hidden and safe place and when they wanted to sell the property, they would bring forth the deed and sign it over to the buyer or new owner. But, if they lost that title deed, they would have to some other way obtain a replacement deed. 

In preceding chapters we have cited a few texts of scripture that speak of rights, such as how believers in Christ are given "right to become the children of God." (John 1: 12) We have also, in focusing our study on the tree of life, have seen how those who partake of it must first have a right to it. So the text says:

"Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." (Rev. 22: 14)

To have a right is to have the power or authority and these two words are most often used in the KJV rather than right, but the idea conveyed in the Greek (exousia) includes all these ideas. Notice also this text:

“And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations ‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’ as I also have received from My Father; “and I will give him the morning star." (Rev. 2: 26-29 nkjv)

The word "power" is the same word in Greek translated as "right." So, not only do believers have a right to eternal life and to citizenship in the city of God, but have right to rule over the nations. 

“NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, [a]the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].” (Heb. 11: 1; Amplified Bible)

The KJV translates as "faith is the substance (Grk. hupostasis) of things hope for, the evidence (Grk. elengchos) of things not seen." Wrote one commentator on the meaning of this text:

"By saying that it is the "evidence" or "assurance" (the word can literally be translated "title deed," but "assurance" seems to be the best all-around word) of things hoped for, the author comes much closer to defining what faith is." (Ritenbaugh in Forerunner commentary)

Said another writer (Berg - here):

"About that word translated "substance" in the 11th Chapter of Hebrews: When they translated the New Testament from the Greek nearly 400 years ago they were still puzzled by the word "hupostasis". Now they knew from the way this word "hupostasis" was used in some Greek literature and so on that it apparently was something fairly substantial, pretty sure, some very sure evidence of some kind, so they translated it "substance".

But just a few years ago archaeologists uncovered the burned ruins of an old inn in Northern Israel. There they found a small iron chest containing apparently the valuable papers of some Roman noblewoman who had been travelling in Israel at that time. In this little chest they found most of the papers labelled with a big title "HUPOSTASIS" at the top of almost every paper. The business of the day was done in Greek because this was the worldwide language of business and culture, even though the Romans were ruling the World.

All of these papers which had the title "Hupostasis" in big letters across the top were, guess what?--TITLE DEEDS to her properties! But this was long after the King James was translated, so they didn't have the advantage of that discovery.

If you want to turn to Hebrews the 11th Chapter, the word "substance" there is just as good and conveys the message and I am quite sure it's sufficient, but if you want to make it even clearer and more explicit you can write above that word "substance", in parentheses, "title deed". Now faith is what?--THE TITLE DEED!"

So, the word translated substance literally means a legal title, or proof of ownership, and thus the right to enjoy or possess what is described in the title or deed. 

Barnes in his commentary wrote on the meaning of the Greek word translated as "evidence":

"The word rendered "evidence" - ἔλεγχος elengchos - occurs in the New Testament only in this place and in 2 Timothy 3:16, where it is rendered "reproof." It means properly proof, or means of proving, to wit, evidence; then proof which convinces another of error or guilt; then vindication, or defense; then summary or contents; see "Passow."

In legal jargon we have what is called "evidence of title." It can be a document that is called a "title deed" and is the evidence or proof of ownership and imparts rights to property. So, faith is the evidence or "proof of title," or, we may say that faith is your personal title deed or proof of citizenship in the kingdom, but the book of life is comparable to our modern day "register of deeds" office, the place where those individual deeds are recorded and where attorneys or those who do title searches go for "proof of title." If one loses his title document, or deed, then he can go to the register of deeds (or in the case of vehicles, go to the state title office), and get a copy, duplicate, or replacement.  

Greek scholar A.T. Robertson says: “We venture to suggest the translation ‘Faith is the title-deed of things hoped for.’” ("Word Pictures in the New Testament")

So, the "book of life" is a register of all the saved of the earth and by having names enrolled there, along with the proof of title (faith), gives the right or privilege of becoming heirs of eternal life. The Lord Jesus said this to his disciples:

"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)

Also, the apostle Paul writes:

"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." (Phil. 4: 3)

So, how did the apostle know that the people mentioned above had their names written in the book of life? Surely it is because faith in Christ is that proof.

The names of the saved are written in heaven because that is where the book of life is located. That is where the divine registry is located. In the Apocalypse we also read:

"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." (Rev. 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." (Rev. 17: 8)

"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." (Rev. 20: 12)

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

Here we see how the book of life is said to be "the book of life of the Lamb," a double genitive. This would make the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Lamb of God and sacrificial lamb (the one so called by John the Baptist when he said "behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" - John 1: 29), to be the possessor of the book or registry, indicating that he is the one who records who are his believing ones, and the one who verifies title and right to ownership and possession, like a local elected register of deeds authority.  

There are more references to the Book of Life in the Apocalypse than in any other book of the bible. Several we have cited already above. Let us now notice another and make a comment upon it.

"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 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." (Rev. 3: 5)

We will refer to this, the Lord willing, again when we come to speak of the attire of the resurrected and glorified saints, for though they live in a superior Eden, or Eden restored, they will not be naked as Adam and Eve when they were first placed in the earthly Paradise. They will "be clothed," and that in "white raiment." But, we cite it now because it references the "book of life" and note that is adds some information about it not contained in the previous citations.

Defining "Life"

"Life" is not easy to define. Also, it has several different ways it is used. Life, as distinguished from death, is defined as "the quality that distinguishes a vital and functional being from a dead body." (Merriam Webster) But, he also gives several other usages of the word such as "the activities of a given sphere, area, or time" as in saying "the political life of the country." Or, as "one providing interest and vigor" as in "life of the party." Already in previous chapters we have called attention to the fact that Jesus spoke of mere life versus life in abundance. (John 10: 10) But, how can one be more alive than another? That such can be is seen in the words of Christ above. Further, if one can be more alive than another, can they be more dead than another? Did not Jesus speak of a person being "half dead"? (Luke 10: 30) So today we speak of someone "living life to the full." 

When a person believes in Christ he then receives in his soul or spirit life from the Lord, as the apostle John wrote - "whoever has the Son has life" (I John 5: 12). In the resurrection of the righteous, however, the believer will receive immortality and eternal life in his body. Following that happening, the believer will be given life in other ways, as in one way Webster defines it, as "the activities of a given sphere, area, or time," for believers certainly will, in a greater way enter into new activities within the sphere of the new heavens and earth, and New Jerusalem. 

Names Erased

"And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book." (Exo. 32: 33) 

In the old testament the “book (scroll) of life” (or its equivalents) was a register of the citizens of the theocratic community of Israel. To have one’s name written in the book of life implied the privilege of participation in the temporal blessings of the theocracy, while to be erased or blotted out of this book meant exclusion from those blessings. In other words, this book had reference to the rights of citizenship for the Jewish people (cf. Ex. 32:32; Ps. 69:28; Isa. 4:3).

In the Psalms we have another reference to people being erased or blotted out of this book of life. Wrote the Psalmist: "Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous." (Psa. 69: 28) This text tells us that the book of life is a registry of the righteous, not of the unrighteous. When an Israelite died his name was erased. Also, when an Israelite committed transgression that merited being exiled from the nation, his name was also removed. 

From the passage cited above from Revelation 3: 5 we are told that those who overcome will not have (Luke 8: 18 nkjv) their names blotted out. I understand that to mean that no one who is resurrected with the righteous will ever lose his or her place in the coming kingdom and city of God. However, we must not only understand the warning of Revelation 3: 5 in light of the old testament's references to the book of life and someone's name being blotted out but also in light of another text in Revelation.

“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.” (Rev. 22:18–19)

On this text, Barnes commentary writes:

"When it said here that "God would take away his part out of the book of life," the meaning is not that his name had been written in that book, but that he would take away the part which he might have had, or which he professed to have in that book." 

This treatise on the afterlife and life in eternity is not intended to be an investigation into the question as to whether a truly born again child of God can lose his salvation, so my words will be few upon them. I take it to be the teaching of the bible that children of God cannot be disinherited nor cease to be the children of God. However, texts like the above does give one pause. They do serve as a warning to all who profess to be saved to examine themselves regularly so that they are not deceived. The texts we have already examined do tell us that none who fail to overcome will be saved, nor any who are not righteous. That being so, I accept the two explanations given by Dr. Barnes above. Many other commentators agree with Barnes. It may be interpreted to mean that of all those who "seem to have" their names in the book of life will have their names removed (seemingly). We do have scriptural warrant for that explanation. Notice these words of Christ:

"Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him.” 

On the other hand, it may be that every person in the world has his name written in the book of the living and for anyone to fail to believe in Christ for salvation, or who refuse or corrupt the message of Christ, or fail to overcome, would be to lose his proffered "part" in the register of all who become recipients of life eternal.