(This is the continuation of the article entitled: WHAT WILL BE OUR NEW NAME? To understand this article better, I suggest to read first that article.)

We have known that a NAME in the Bible is actually the attributes of the owner. We have known also that our NEW NAME is actually our new attributes or the New Us. With this in mind, we are now ready to answer our main question: WHAT IS THE BOOK OF LIFE?

We read in Philippians 4:3, Paul mentioned the name of Clement and his “fellow labourers, whose names are in the book of life” and we know that Paul does not mean that it was their literal earthly given names that are written in the Book of Life, instead it was themselves (the real them) who are written in the Book of Life.

So if it is not our earthly given names which are written in the Book of Life but the real us, this means also that the Book of Life is not a literal book! It should be something where our attributes (the Real Us) can be written. If it’s not a literal book with literal names written on it, then what it is? Why is it called a book? How can our attributes be written on it?

WHY IS IT CALLED A BOOK?

2 Corinthians 3:2-3

“Ye are our EPISTLE written in our hearts, known and read of all men: Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the EPISTLE OF CHRIST ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.”

We are a book. We are written by Christ Jesus. We read in 2 Cor. 3:2-3 that we are considered the epistle (book) of Christ “written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. Every one of those who do the will of the Lord is His epistle to be read by many. He is the one who wrote us, He is the author and the finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). And He is the One Who is still working on us (Phil. 2:13, Phil. 1:6). Right now, our Lord is still writing us. And one day, He will be fully written and reflected on us.

All human beings are books. Everyone is an epistle. But just like the literal books, not all of them contained Christ. Not all of them we can read the life of Christ. It is only in those books who were authored by the Lord Himself that we can read Him. But to those whose author is not the Lord, and whose works are not the working of the Lord, are certainly not His. One can’t read the Lord in them and He is not reflected in each page of their lives.

AND THE BOOKS WERE OPENED

Revelation 20:12 “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.”

This scene will be during the white throne judgment where all books (people) who did not make it in the first resurrection (Rev. 20:5) of the saints (which happens during the resurrection of the Lord, during the Rapture and the Resurrection of the Great Tribulation saints) will face God and shall be opened. These books are those people who have lived on this earth from Adam up to the judgment day which is not included in the first resurrection. This will be the last and final judgment where sin will be completely dealt with. No one will be exempted. The sea will gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them. Every book will be judged. Every book will be opened and will be read. All that is written on each page shall be exposed.

“…and another book was opened, which is the BOOK OF LIFE”

After the opening of the books, the Book of Life was also opened. So if the books are people, then this book of Life must also be a person! Who is it then?

He is no other than our Lord Jesus Christ! He is the only source of Life (John 14:6), that’s why He is called the Book of Life and the Word of God (Rev. 19:13). Just like us, He is also a Book. He is the Book of all books. His Life is even according to the volume of the book that is written of Him (Heb. 10:7). He gave His life for us that we might be founded (written) on Him and be a part of that Book of Life, which is His Body – the whole Him.

To be written in the Book of Life means to be part of the Body of Christ – to be part of His Attributes which is the source of Life. We are written by Him before the foundation of the world. Let us consider this Psalm of King David in Chapter 139 verse 16:

“Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; AND IN THY BOOK ALL MY MEMBERS WERE WRITTEN, which in continuance were fashioned when as yet there was none of them.”

Yes, our Lord is the builder of His Bride (Isa. 54:5). He is the maker of Her and all our members are written on Him for us to be a part of Him!

“…and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.”

They shall be judged according to what is written on them – their works. Their works will be ones which shall be written on their books. And they shall be opened and those works that are written on them shall be read during the White Throne Judgment. It will be exposed. If it is you who is the author of your book, it is only natural that it will be also your works which are written and can be read in that book.

Now, remember that we cannot be saved by our own works (Eph. 2:8-9). No works of us can save us, even if our works are good works. Even if you wrought so many good works in your book and the Great Judge read it and found out that the contents of your book are according to your works, your book shall automatically be thrown into the lake of fire (Rev. 20:14-15). THIS IS THE REASON WHY ALL OF THOSE SOULS THAT WILL BE JUDGE BY THE LORD ACCORDING TO THEIR WORKS DURING THE WHITE THRONE JUDGEMENT ARE ALL UNSAVED SOULS. They will ALL be thrown in the Lake of Fire. For none can be saved by their own works.

The only way for the books to be saved and not to be burned is when you let the Great Judge be the author of that book. For that book will be His workmanship (Eph. 2:10). If it is the Lord Jesus Who is the Author and the One Who works in our book (Phil. 2:13, Phil. 1:6), then it is only natural also that it is Him who can be read in us. It can be seen on the cover page of our book the words “Authored by the Judge Himself”. Now, the Judge knows His works because it is His very own. It is Him Who is written on that book! When that book will face Him, He can see His own reflection in It because He is the One Who wrote It! He owns It and He knows every page of It for He is the author of It! He knows that It is His own work that’s why He will separate it from the other books and will treasure and keep it with Him just like an author who keeps His authored books in His Library.

That’s why brothers and sisters, DO NOT BE TEMPTED, I repeat, DO NOT BE TEMPTED to work in your book. In the first place, it is not your book. It is the Lord Who owns it. Give it to Him and let the Owner do the writings. If it is the Great Judge Who worked in you, the first time He will saw you, He will automatically know you and will separate you in His right. You are free from judgment (Rev.20:6) because what’s written in your book is not according to your works, but according to the work of the great Judge.

Revelation 20:15 “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”

Our names are written in the Book of Life, which means that our attributes (our book) are written in our Lord (The Book of Life). We reflect the attributes of our Lord because He is our Author. For when these two Books (us and the Lord) will come face to face with each other one day, they will see their own reflections with each other. They will have the same likeness of contents for they are authored by the same person. That’s why we are written in Him! Our attributes are in Him! We are part of Him! And we are one with Him!

Oh what a day that would be! Amen!

“And the Spirit and the Bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”

– Rev. 22:17

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