Book of Life

The Book of Life is God’s record book in which the names of the righteous, the redeemed or saved, those whom God has called are written.

The concept of God’s having a "Book of Life" was first hinted at by Moses after ancient Israel had grossly sinned by making the golden calf and God’s wrath was kindled and He was going to destroy them and then Moses said: "Oh, these people have committed a great sin, and have made for themselves a god of gold! {32} "Yet now, if You will forgive their sin; but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your Book which You have written" (Exodus 32:31-32). Notice that Moses was bold and yet humble when he asked God to blot out his name out of God’s Book if He wouldn’t forgive Israel their great sin of idolatry.

What is this Book? Why would the Great God, who created the heavens, the earth, and the sea and everything that is in them, need a book with people’s names written in it? God who is spirit relates to us on a physical plane so we can understand the spiritual. God has a Tabernacle in heaven and He had Israel make a physical Tabernacle after the pattern that He showed Moses on Mount Sinai (Exodus 25:8-9.) Through the physical Tabernacle we can comprehend God’s spiritual Tabernacle.

We, as humans, can relate to a physical book. God’s Book of Life gives us a sense of security and encouragement that by our names being written in the Book, then God will not forget us or our name.

Jesus said that our "names are written in heaven (Luke 10:20) and the apostle Paul made a statement that "Our citizenship is in heaven" (Philippians 3:20). Our birth certificate has the location of where we were born and that would indicate that we are citizens of the United States. Our spiritual citizenship is reserved in heaven in the Book of Life, but that does not mean that we are going to heaven and live there. Jesus said: "Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work" (Revelation 22:12). Jesus Christ is going to return to the earth at the seventh trump and we, the Saints, those whose names are written in the Book of Life will be resurrected at the first resurrection, and we are going to rule with Him on the earth for a thousand years (Revelation 5:10, 11:15, 20:4-6).

Who is Listed in the Book now?


The writer of the book of Hebrews said the Church of the firstborn are registered in heaven (Hebrews 12:23). The word ‘registered’ is another reference to being registered in the Book of Life. The term ‘firstborn’ is a term similar to ‘firstfruits’ which is a reference to the resurrected Saints. The apostle John recorded: "These are the ones who follow the Lamb (Jesus Christ) wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb (Revelation 14:4).

Let’s notice a few things that we need to do to make sure our names are recorded in the Book of Life. The prophet Malachi recorded the following: "Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, And the LORD listened and heard them; so a Book of Remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the LORD And who meditate on His name" (Malachi 3:16).

This Book of Remembrance is another term for the Book of Life and to have your name recorded, you are to fear the LORD and meditate on His name.

Deuteronomy 10:12 amplifies the idea of how to fear the LORD: "What does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, {13} And to observe the LORD'S commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?" God was advising His people to FEAR him, walk in his ways, keep His commandments and honor His name.

A Warning

The apostle John recorded Jesus as saying: "He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels" (Revelation 3:5). Did you notice the warning? If you don’t overcome sin then your name will be blotted out of the Book of Life. Sin is the transgression of God’s Law (1 John 3:4, Hebrews 10:26).

What happens if your name is not written in the Book of Life? Jesus said: "Anyone not found written in the Book of Life will be cast into the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:15). This lake of fire is a reference to hell and the second death (Revelation 20:14).

Is your name written in the Book of Life? True Christians whose names are written in the Book of Life will be given eternal life and will inherit the earth, the new heavenly Jerusalem and ultimately the entire universe (Hebrews 12:23, Revelation 21:22-27).

Pray to God that He will write your name in the Book of Life and that you can be in the first resurrection and be a part of His family and inherit eternal life.