NAMES IN THE LAMB'S BOOK OF LIFE 

             "Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven" (Luke 10:19, 20). Jesus sent seventy of His followers out as 35 pairs to be His witnesses. They returned astounded at the power that was present with them, saying, "Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name" (verse 18). His response is given in the verses we are studying. He told them that knowing their names were written in Heaven was more important than any power they may have on earth. From other Scriptures, we have reason to believe that the names written in Heaven are recorded in what we call the Lamb's Book of Life. At what time the names are written in the Book of Life is up for debate with some. That is the purpose of this study.

            Calvinism (Reformed Theology) teaches that before the foundation of the world God sovereignly looked down through all the descendants of Adam's race on earth and selected those He wanted to be His for eternity. Those He chose were at that time given to Christ and all their names were written in the Book of Life. They further believe Jesus would only die for those whose names were in the book. Thus, the ones chosen became the 'elect' and were 'predestinated' to one day believe in Jesus. Their beliefs are based on their interpretation of 2 verses found in Revelation. "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" (13:8), and "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" (17:8). At first glance, their interpretation of these verses seems to be valid. However, I think that what they believe are only assumptions and are as invalid as many of their other beliefs!   

            Many other theologians totally reject the Calvinist's belief concerning the way of salvation, but they still accept the interpretation of these verses from Revelation. They also believe all the names of those who would one day be saved were written in the Book of Life prior to the foundation of the earth. However, they base their beliefs on God using His omniscience to have the names written in the book that He KNEW would one day be saved. Once again, I disagree with their beliefs on when the names of those who are saved are actually written in the Book of Life. There are three reasons I want to share.

            First, at the Great White Throne Judgment at the end of the Millennium, all the lost from all the ages of humanity will stand before God to be judged. The final decision on where each will spend eternity is given in Revelation 20:15, "And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." They will not be able to say to the Lord, "But, You wouldn't let our names be written there!" However, the Calvinist says everyone deserves to go to Hell, so they are only getting what everyone of us deserves. They see nothing wrong with a sovereign God choosing to save us from Hell by writing our name in the Book of Life and allowing others to get what they deserve. That seems very callous to me!

            Secondly, something very special evidently happens in Heaven each time a sinner repents of his sins and believes on Jesus for salvation on earth. When Jesus told about the shepherd who left 99 safe sheep in search of one that was lost, He shared what happened when the lost sheep was found and brought home. "I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance" (Luke 15:7). Then, He told about the joy of the woman who found her lost coin. "Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth" (verse 10). Why is there rejoicing in Heaven when people are saved on earth if their names are already written there in the Book of Life? Doesn't make sense to me.

            The third reason (and main reason) I disagree with them is their failure to understand what the word 'from' could really mean. It could mean prior to the foundation as they believe, or it could mean beginning at the foundation of the world and continuing through all the ages. When this possibility is shared with a Calvinist, they will go ballistic in their disagreements. When I am studying a translated word or phrase in Scripture, I find it helpful to discover what the original Greek or Hebrew words they are translated from and other ways the particular word or phrase is translated in other places. The phrase 'from the foundation of the world' found in the verses from Revelation above is each translated from the same exact three Greek words. Those same three Greek words with the very same spelling are found in at least two other places in Scripture! Can you imagine how they were translated in those other instances?

            Jesus, Himself, spoke those same words to His disciples in Luke 11:50, 51, "That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD, may be required of this generation; From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation" (Caps mine.). Was the blood of all the martyrs shed before the foundation, or since the foundation? The answer is obvious!

            The writer of Hebrews also used the very same words in describing the sacrifice of Jesus in Hebrews 9:26, "For then must he often have suffered SINCE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself" (Caps mine). In this place, the word was translated 'since' rather than 'from'. A lot of confusion would have been averted if the translators had used 'since' in all of these places as well.

            So, when is an individual's name written in Heaven in the Lamb's Book of Life? The very moment he is born again! At that very same moment, he becomes an 'elect' and is 'predestinated' to one day be just like Jesus and receive his heavenly reward! The Lord then does not just know all about him, but He knows him very intimately as a member of His own family! IS YOUR NAME WRITTEN IN HEAVEN?