Ever wonder what Revelation 3:5 means about getting blotted out of the Book of Life?
While I kind of don’t think there are actual “books” in which God writes people’s names, I do think the symbolism of the Book of Life is important to consider and understand.
The Book of Life vs. the Book of the Living
First, it is important to distinguish between the Book of Life and the Book of the Living. While the two books are similar in name, I think they are separate books… that is separate “symbols” in Scripture.
By looking at the ways the two symbols are used in Scripture, it seems that “The Book of the Living” is a way of referring to all people who are alive. So when a person is born, they are in the Book of the Living, and when they die, their name is removed or blotted out from this book (cf. Ps 69:28).
The Book of Life, on the other hand, seems to refer to those who have eternal life, that is, those how have life in Christ. Some evidence for this is seen in the fact that the Book of Life is sometimes referred to as the Lamb’s Book of Life (e.g., Rev 21:27).
Also, it appears that the names of unbelievers were never written in the Book of Life (Rev 13:8; 17:8), and never will be if they die in unbelief.
So while the Book of the Living seems to refer to everyone who is alive at the time, the Book of Life refers to everyone who has eternal life (Dan 12:1; Php 4:3; Rev 21:27).
So Can My Name Be Blotted Out of the Book of Life?
But if the Book of Life contains the names of people who have eternal life, then when Revelation 3:5 talks about blotting someone’s name out of the book of life, does this mean it is possible to lose eternal life?
No. I don’t think so.
The reason is that in Revelation 3:5, Jesus is using a figure of speech called litotes. Litotes is a form of understatement, or saying something positive in a negative way.
Explanation of Litotes
We use litotes all the time. Let’s say your favorite NFL team this year is the Kansas City Chiefs, who are undefeated. And let’s say they were scheduled to play the Jacksonville Jaguars, who haven’t won a game yet. As the date for that game neared, you might say, “If Kansas City plays like they have been playing, they will certainly not lose this game.”
This is an example of litotes. You have stated something positive — that Kansas City will sin — in a negative way: they will certainly not lose. The reason we use litotes is because it helps emphasize the positive thing we are trying to say. In the Kansas City – Jacksonville example, the use of litotes tells us that not only will Kansas City win, but the game will probably be a blowout.
But notice something else about litotes. While litotes states something positive in a negative way, this does not necessarily mean that the opposite statement is necessarily true.
In the example with Kansas City and Jacksonville, we said, “IF Kansas City plays like they have been playing, they will certainly not lose this game.” But what if Kansas City does not play like they usually do? What if they make mistakes, have turnovers, and throw a few interceptions? Does this mean that they will lose the game? Probably not. Even if Kansas City did not play the way they usually did, this does not mean they will lose. Kansas City is good enough and Jacksonville is bad enough that it is extremely unlikely that Jacksonville will win, no matter how Kansas City plays. (Sorry Jacksonville fans!)
Maybe another example that is not sports related will help.
What you think if you overheard me say, “If my wife makes me an apple pie, I will not stop loving her”? Would you assume from that statement that if she did not make me an apple pie that I would stop loving her? No, you would not. You would understand that my statement means that I do love her, and that if she makes me an apple pie, I would love it.
(And yes, my wife made me an apple pie this week! Thanks, Wendy! I LOVE You!”
This is also how we can understand Revelation 3:5
Litotes and Revelation 3:5
In John 3:5, when Jesus that those who overcome will not be blotted out of the book of life, He is using litotes. If you read through Revelation 2-3, Jesus is pronouncing warnings and blessings to the various churches of Asia Minor, and all the blessings are for those people who overcome.
So in Revelation 3, one of the blessings pronounced on overcomers is that they will not be blotted out of the Book of Life? How is this a blessing? It is a blessing because of litotes; a positive announcement is being stated in a negative way for emphasis.
To turn it around state it positively, Jesus is saying that those who overcome will not only keep their name in the Book of Life because they are believers, but will receive greater blessings from God and greater experience of life with God. That is what Revelation 3:5 means. In fact, even in the verse itself, two of the other blessings that are promised to overcomers is that they will receive white robes and will receive special recognition before God and the host of angels. Again, we don’t know much about these blessings, but they sound spectacular.
Notice, of course, that just as with the NFL and apple pie examples above, the opposite of this litotes is not true either. Many pastors and teachers say that if someone does not overcome, then their name will be blotted out of the Book of Life. But Revelation 3:5 doesn’t say that! It is a logical fallacy from this verse. Revelation 3:5 does NOT say that those who fail to overcome will be blotted out of the Book of Life.
A statement which is true one way is not necessarily true when reversed. We saw this above. Even if the Kansas City Chiefs do not play up to their ability, this does not necessarily mean they will lose to Jacksonville. Even if my wife does not make me an apple pie, this does not mean that I will stop loving her.
So also, even if someone whose name is written in the Book of Life fails to overcome, this does not mean that their name will get blotted out of the Book of Life. When it comes to the Book of Life, there are no erasers. The names found in the Lamb’s Book of Life are written in the permanent ink of His blood.
Does this help your understanding of Revelation 3:5?
I agree that those who are written in the book of life will certainly not be blotted. I believe that all those in Christ have overcome the world and are overcomers in this life. We are more than conquerers in Christ Jesus. I think that Jesus can fairly describe His elect as overcomers. He is faithful to sanctify us as we progress in our faith from glory to glory.
Thanks, Shawn. It sounds like I agree with you as well.
🙂
Nice!
Love the post! Great clarity on an otherwise often misunderstood passage. Thanks!
Glad it helped a bit!
David, Moses, Solomon etc were not overcomers but I’m positive they are in The Book of life. You become an overcomer when you allow your heart to be changed from worldly to heavenly, by believing and following Jesus, in spite of all the inevitable mistakes we will all make. Jesus made us right, once and for all by cleansing us from all unrighteousness. Amen
Right. I would completely agree about David, Moses, and Solomon. Obviously, we all should strive to be overcomers, and the Spirit empowers us to do so, but we can make mistakes.
Glad I found this web site. God Bless.
They sinned and were repentent and so there sins were covered by Gods grace and by faith they were raised to life.We are overcomers not in what we do but by the grace of God.brentnz
I am not so sure that Solomon kept his name in the book of life. If I told you of a believer that worshiped gods other than Jehovah in the latter part of his life would you think they are going to heaven? Seriously, this man was led astray just as God predicted by his many pagan wives that God told him not to marry! Wise as he was, he ended up doing very stupid things in his old age. It is no slam dunk that he will be in heaven.
Mike I believe he did I think he saw the error of his mistake.Ecclesiastes 12 vs 13 and 14 let me know that I believe he made it in.
Interesting line of logic to justify the doctrine of once saved always saved. I don’t buy it. It does not make sense to me and is not in agreement with Scripture as a whole.
Chris, well, I am aware of all those other passages also, and have explanations for them as well.
Jeremy in talking of blotting peoples names out of the lambs book this verse seems to say that a continuous faith in God is necessary that we be saved.
The reason they are mnot saved is because of lawlessness rather than being obedience to Gods word they believed in Jesus Christ but because of there hearts did not walk according to the word and because it speaks of signs and wonders it seems more about them and the works that they did.Of course none of us are saved by works.How do you understand that passage as some are saved and some are not it seems clear that to be saved we must believe and also walk in obedience to Gods word.brentnz
A Tree and its Fruit
mat 7 :2Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness.’ 24Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.…
I believe in once saved always saved but not like most once saved always saved people do. Perseverance in a sanctifying faith is I believe a sign of a Spirit sealed, saved believer. I honestly believe Jesus will have only two responses to those who claim Jesus. Well done faithful servant (is purified as He is pure mistakes and all)and depart from me I never knew you(iniquity worker). By their fruits you shall know them. Is Jesus faithful to work in them to continually nurture and build them up in their faith? I believe that obedient children are sometimes foolish, lazy, and stubborn but are mostly obedient because they believe in the goodness of their Father. They fit the description of Jesus in the beginning of the beatitudes and hear His sayings and do them. Disobedient children may do things that their Father never asked from them but will do works of the flesh in His name. Even wonderful works, but are still captive to sin and servants of corruption and walk in darkness. The saints are servants of righteousness and sin is not reigning as a rule, but is being overcome if only little by little. The Corinthian church was a mess. Paul sent a word of correction and reproof. He later commended them for their repentance to the error of their way and asked those who did not repent to make sure they loved Jesus and had the Christ in them. Jesus living in them working in them to the end of fruit bearing. Love for God and neighbor accompanied by fruits in keeping with repentance. A new creation.
The fellow I once knew who got “saved” every Sunday said his name was written in the Book of Life every Sunday, and erased by the following Saturday. He was concerned the page would get a hole from having been erased so many times.
Ha ha! Never heard that one before. Very funny.
Hey Jeremy, here is Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum’s exposition of the topic and the distinction between the “Book of Life” and the “Lamb’s Book of Life”:
“A threefold distinction should be made between the Book of Life, the Lamb’s Book of Life, and the other books mentioned in [Revelation 20] verse 12.
The Book of Life contains the names of every person who was ever born, according to Psalm 139:16:
Your eyes did see my unformed substance; And in your book they were all written, Even the days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was none of them.
Those who believe have their names retained in the Book of Life, according to Revelation 3:5:
He that overcomes shall thus be arrayed in white garments; and I will in no wise blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
However, in Psalm 69:28, the unsaved have their names blotted out of the Book of Life:
Let them be blotted out of the book of life, And not be written with the righteous.
So then, at the Great White Throne Judgment, if their names are not found in the Book of Life, it will show them to be unsaved and worthy of partaking in this particular judgment.
It is at that point that the other books mentioned in verse 12 are used. These other books contain accounts of one’s deeds and responses. It is on the basis of what is written in these books that the degrees of punishments will be determined.
Another book mentioned in the Scriptures that should be kept distinct is the Lamb’s Book of Life. This book contains the names of every individual who is born again and only those who are born again. Their names were written into this book before the earth was ever created, according to Revelation 13:8:
And all that dwell on the earth shall worship him, every one whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb that has been slain.
p 516 It is mentioned again in Revelation 17:8b:
And they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, they whose name has not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast, how that he was, and is not, and shall come.
In Psalm 69:28, it is known as the Book of the Righteous:
Let them be blotted out of the book of life, And not be written with the righteous.
Based on God’s election and foreknowledge, this book contains the names of only those who are born again. And because salvation is eternally sure, it is impossible to be blotted out of this particular book.”
Fruchtenbaum, A. G. (2003). The footsteps of the Messiah : A study of the sequence of prophetic events (Rev. ed.) (515–516). Tustin, CA: Ariel Ministries.
Hmm. I will have to check it out. I do have that book, and Fruchtenbaum is a top-notch scholar. Thanks for letting me know what he said the book of life and the Lamb’s book of life!
My honor dear brother!
I’ve not heard of this scholar but this is how I understand it too! I think it perfectly harmonizes God’s will and man’s will. God’s will is that all men should be saved. As such He writes the names of every person ever in the Book of Life. When man makes his free will decision to reject God his name is blotted out of the Book of Life.
He is an expert in Jewish backgrounds. I think he might even have Jewish heritage? I don’t know about that though.
I’ve heard this verse explained in a similar way before. However you made it much more clear and understandable. Thanks Jeremy.
Thanks, Aaron!
How does a person find out if their name is in the book of life and what it tells about that person?
If you have believed in Jesus for eternal life, then your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life! You can’t see the book (it’s just a symbol anyway), but you can know you have eternal life because you believe the promises of Jesus that He gives eternal life to those who believe in Him for it!
Jeremy.. I like your thoughts on the litotes, Zane Hodges did something similar..
Consider the following for a moment…
Consider that the Book of Life is not a record of who has believed in Jesus Christ. Consider that having our “names written is heaven” is actually the record of those who have believed in Jesus Christ and are assured eternal life (Luke 10:20, Hebrews 12:23). Note particularly the perfect tense in Hebrews 12:23. Consider then that the Book of Life, as it relates to believers, is a record of service (Philippians 4:3) which will serve as the basis for rewards (1 Corinthians 3:12-15, 1 John 2:28). Consider further that the Book of Life, as it applies to unbelievers, is a record of those who have offered perfect obedience before God and are thus worthy of eternal life when they are judged by God on the basis of their works at the White Throne Judgment (Romans 2:6-16, Romans 10:4, Galatians 3:10-12, Revelations 20:11-15), none of whose names will actually be found in the Book of Life and will therefore be condemned (Matthew 19:16-22).
Yes, I believe I got that idea of litotes from Zane Hodges.
Do you see a difference between the Book of Life and the Lamb’s Book of Life?
Hello Jeremy.. Great Question.. I certainly think it is easy to interpret “Lamb’s Book of Life” to mean “The record of those who have been redeemed by the Lamb of God.” However, I think “Lamb’s Book of Life” can just as easily be understood as the Lamb’s record or the record kept by the Lamb or the record kept by the Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 14:9
9 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
The death and resurrection of Christ made Him Lord of All. He is the redeemer of all men but, clearly, men must accept that redemption. Yet, He remains Lord over all whether they be redeemed or not (Philippians 2:10-11, Acts 10:36).
So, to answer your question, I don’t see a difference in the strictest sense. I currently see “Lamb” or “Lamb’s” as a possessive adjective that simply denotes ownership, the person to whom the record belongs or is kept by. Certainly, “Lamb” or “Lamb’s” can take on additional significance in a given context. For example, in Revelation 13:8, “Lamb,” to me, highlights the contrast of lives pleasing to the Lamb or lived in His honor as opposed to “worship him,” meaning Satan, which can apply to both believers and unbelievers. Worship of Satan doesn’t have to be some blatant act of human sacrifices, etc by an unbeliever. Peter was a believer in Christ, yet Jesus rebuked him with “Get thee behind me, Satan.” The basis for that rebuke was that Peter was not “mindful” of the things of God, but of man. So, worship of Satan can be as simple as being mindful of the things of man, being selfish, etc.
As I mentioned earlier, one of the reasons I don’t accept the Book of LIfe being the same as “written in heaven” in Hebrews 12:23 is because the perfect tense is used for “are written” in Hebrews 12:23. And, “are written” is probably better rendered “have been written.” Bear in mind, also, that that assurance in Hebrews 12:23 was given to people who’d just received a thorough thrashing for seeking refuge, or being tempted to seek refuge, in the law. The perfect tense was used by Jesus on the cross to declare the famous words, “It is finished,” meaning, it is once-and-for-all finished. And so, just as the work of the cross cannot be overthrown or undone, neither can names that have once-and-for-all been written in heaven be blotted out. Also, Jesus told the apostles (Luke 10:20) to “rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.” What possible cause for rejoicing could there be if those names could be blotted out?
Regarding the perfect tense, the Blue Letter Bible site has the following:
The perfect tense in Greek corresponds to the perfect tense in English, and describes an action which is viewed as having been completed in the past, once and for all, not needing to be repeated.Jesus’ last cry from the cross, TETELESTAI (“It is finished!”) is a good example of the perfect tense used in this sense, namely “It [the atonement] has been accomplished, completely, once and for all time.”
God bless you in what you’re doing Jeremy.. You’re one of the few I’ve come across that’s drawn a line in the sand and decided that when Jesus said “eternal” in John 3:16 He actually meant it. When our conclusions regarding regarding troubling passages in the NT contradict the clear, positive statements out of the mouth of Jesus in John 3:16, 18, 5:24, and elsewhere, regarding eternal life being a simple matter of faith we need to keep seeking until our understanding of those passages agrees with that He said. Keep seeking, keep writing.. God bless you..
P.S. Perhaps there is room to see the Book of Life as distinct from the Lamb’s Book of Life by implying election in some way I cannot currently see. Also, this may open up new avenues of insight for you.. http://www.godspointofview.com/public/articles/orthodox_salvation.htm,
It would be a strange thing, would it not, to be accepted by God into covenant relationship through faith in Jesus Christ, all sins having been forgiven, and then transition into a walk where even petition wouldn’t be sufficient for forgiveness of sins but overcoming would supplant petition.
I was thinking that there is the Book of Life that contains the names of everyone born.. and should people die unsaved, their names are blotted out. When they are saved, their names are never blotted out… plus, the names of the saved are recorded in the Lambs Book of Life.. which, can never be blotted out. Two different books. And of course, other books also.
I pretty much agree. Two different books.
Jeremy how can we be in the book of life if we have no life apart from Christ then when we believe in him we are written into the lambs book of life we cannot be in the book of life as we are under the curse of death through sin thats the judgement that fell on Adam and Eve and were cast out of the garden so that they could not partake of the tree of life.To me that your explanation makes no sense at all.brent