Book'em or The Blotter Report

I have talked to a few people who were confused or in error as relates to the “Lamb’s Book of Life”. All realize that this book contains the names of all the redeemed (those who have trusted Jesus as their Savior). The confusion seems to be centered around the order in which this happens. I believe that some churches teach this incorrectly (if it is even taught at all which is rare these days in the modern church). If it is taught, it is taught that once you accept Christ your name is written in the book. This is an incorrect teaching. The name of everyone who has ever been born and who will be born was written in the book from the beginning of time. If someone dies without having received Christ as their Savior, then their name is stricken from the book. The Bible calls this having the name “blotted out”.

Let's look at scripture that backs this up. After all, if scripture can not back up a belief, it is just an opinion. The primary text is from Psalm 69:22-28 although verse 28 is the primary text.

" 22 May the table set before them become a snare; may it become retribution and a trap.

23 May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever.

24 Pour out your wrath on them; let your fierce anger overtake them.

25 May their place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in their tents.

26 For they persecute those you wound and talk about the pain of those you hurt.

27 Charge them with crime upon crime; do not let them share in your salvation.

28 May they be blotted out of the book of life and not be listed with the righteous."

From the context, this Psalm is talking about asking God to punish the evil people. In verse 28 the ultimate request was made to have their name "blotted out" of the book of life. It stands to reason that if a request is made to blot out their name that their name has to be in the book of life already. Since the people being referred to are evil it is obvious the text is not talking about people who were saved.

Here are two more scriptures that mention the names in the book of life from creation. The first is Revelation 13:8

"All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world."

The second is Revelation 17:8

"The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and will come up out of the Abyss and go to his destruction. The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast, because he once was, now is not, and yet will come."

Want another reason for eternal salvation assurance? Check out Revelation 3:5

"He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels."

Ok, so you say "but that is only if you overcome". True. But what does the Bible say about who the overcomers are. Scripture always interprets scripture. Look in 1 John 5:4-5

"4 For whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.

5 Who is he that overcomes the world, but he that believes that Jesus is the Son of God?"

So as we can see, the true believers in Christ are the overcomers which means that all true believers in Christ will never have their names blotted out (which is another way of saying they will never lose their salvation).