REVELATION 4-6
SEGMENT II
page 2

Bible Writers Mention the Book of Life

Several Bible writers knew that the Book of Life existed. Notice this conversation between Moses and God: “But now, please forgive their sin [of Israel] – but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written.” The Lord replied to Moses, “Whosoever has sinned against me I will blot out of my book.” (Exodus 32:32,33) Moses knew that God had written the history of life in the Book of Life and he begged God to forgive Israel or blot his name out of the book that had been written! God responded to Moses saying that whoever has sinned against Him would be blotted out. This response has led some Christians to conclude that the Book of Life is a dynamic recording, that is, names are added and removed as necessary. This is not the case for two reasons. First, the Book of Life was written and sealed before the creation of the world. (Revelation17:8) Second, the eternal destiny of people is not decided until they stand before the judgment bar of Christ! (2 Corinthians 5:10) Therefore, God’s response to Moses is an assurance that the wicked have been blotted out of His book. Moses knew that the book had been written – that is, the book had been completed! Therefore, God’s response to Moses must be understood within this context. God said, “When I wrote the Book of Life, I blotted out the names of those who would sin against me.” Notice how this conforms with a statement taken from Revelation concerning the appearing of the Antichrist during the Great Tribulation: “…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…” (Revelation 17:8) Did you notice when the Book of Life was written in verse 8? Did you also notice whose names were left out of the Book of Life at the time it was written? God already knows who will worship the beast and who will not; God knows everything. But (and this is an emphatic “but”), even though God foreknows what we will do, the choice has to be ours! This is freedom. Because God gives us the power of choice, the responsibility for our actions rests on our heads. If we were mere robots, we would have no moral obligation or responsibility. However, in a universe of unfettered freedom, people who have the power of choice also bear responsibility and accountability for their choices.

King David knew about the Book of Life. He wrote, “May they [the wicked] be blotted out of the book of life and not be listed with the righteous.” (Psalm 69:28, insertion mine) King David also knew that his entire life record was written in the Book of Life long before he was born. He wrote, “Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” (Psalm 139:16) Jesus alluded to the Book of Life when He said to His disciples, “However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:20) Paul also mentions the Book of Life by name: “Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.” (Philippians 4:3)

The Seven Seals

Now that we know something about the purpose and contents of the Book of Life, and we know why it was sealed, we naturally want to know about the seven seals that protect the sensitive data inside the book. The seven seals on the Book of Life are associated with seven revelations about Jesus. When the Father wrote the Book of Life, He foreknew the rise of sin and He foreknew that Jesus would die for sinners. This is why John says that Jesus is “the Lamb that was slain from the foundation of the world.” (Revelation 13:8) The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit agreed from the beginning that Jesus would undertake the task of resolving the sin problem for man. (Psalm 2; John 3:16) They also agreed that Jesus would be the divine agent who would resolve the sin problem for the Godhead as well. In order to resolve for both God and man, Jesus had to be worthy by angels and men! This is why the angelic host and the twenty-four elders from Earth were summoned to the great convocation described in Revelation 4 and 5 and Daniel 7:9. (The twenty- four elders were people taken from Earth and are serving as members of a jury.)

 When the solution for sin was presented before the innumerable congregation (the Book of Life contains the solution to the sin problem), everyone present agreed that Jesus alone was worthy to receive the book sealed with seven seals. (Revelation 5)  Because the angels and elders have the power of choice, this was not a rubber stamp approval. Jesus was found worthy to redeem man on the basis of His accomplishments, that is, His perfect life and shed blood. (Revelation 5:9)  He was also found worthy to exonerate the Godhead of all charges of misconduct on the basis of His perfect submission to the Father’s will. (John 6:38; Hebrews 5:7-10) These points are mentioned because no one other than Jesus can solve the sin problem for God and man. The unique qualifications of Jesus permit Him to resolve the sin problem in seven campaigns. As each seal is broken open on the Book of Life, a new campaign begins on Earth. Actually, this is why the book of Revelation is called, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ.” The book of Revelation explains an incredible series of campaigns that sweep away the mystery and reveal all that Jesus really is!  Jesus is more than an angel. Jesus is more than a man. Jesus is fully God!

Seven Revelations about Jesus

Jesus received the Book of Life in 1798 and He broke the first seal at that time. This date will be closely examined in the next section. As each subsequent seal is broken, a new revelation about Jesus is disseminated throughout Heaven and Earth. This process grows in glory and intensity until everyone sees a full disclosure of the Creator. At the end of the thousand years, every being who has received life from Jesus will be present. At the present time, three seals have been broken open and the fourth is next. The seven seals contain seven progressive revelations about Jesus:

Seal 1: The salvation of Jesus

Seal 2: The teaching of Jesus

Seal 3: The judgment bar of Jesus

Seal 4: The authority of Jesus

Seal 5: The faith of Jesus

Seal 6: The glory of Jesus

Seal 7: The deity of Jesus

The question could be asked, why are there seven revelations of Jesus? Seven is a perfect number – God’s signature showing completion. The Father has predetermined a complete revelation of Jesus because the Father wants the universe to understand something about the operation of the Godhead. Jesus has the power, prerogatives and rights of the Father and He is due the same honor and worship! (Colossians 1:16-19; John 5:23) Because Jesus is the Word of God (John 1:1; Revelation 19:13), Jesus is the spokesperson for the Godhead. Jesus is a member of the Godhead who lives among His creation as one of us, so that He might speak to us and reveal the will and ways of the Father to us. Because Jesus humbled Himself to come, live, and die as a man, the Father, at just the right time, stepped aside and exalted Jesus above the highest heavens! In this continuing process, the universe will learn that Jesus is coeternal and coequal with the Father. Then, at the end of the thousand years, after receiving the highest honor that can be bestowed, Jesus will give His position back to the Father so that He may live among His created beings. Paul describes this incredible scene writing, “The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For he [the Father] has put everything under his [Jesus’] feet.” Now when it says that ‘everything’ has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ. When he has done this [destroyed death], then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all.” (1 Corinthians 15:26-28, insertions mine)

Think about this for a moment. After Jesus received all the glory, praise and accolades that can be given, He does not remain there, eternally basking in the glory and fame. Rather, He chooses, once again, to be subject to the Father so that He can live among His creation. What a Creator! What a God! What love! What a stunning revelation about the humility and meekness of the Godhead! “Like Father – like Son!”

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