Revelation 20 (WEB)

Book of Life

Word Study· Steve Stanley
βίβλος bíblos ·Strong's G976

This phrase is used seven times in the NT, all but one (Phil 4:3) in the book of Revelation. Unlike in this verse, four of the uses are anarthrous (do not use definite articles). The only example in the OT is Ps 69:28. The book of life clearly records the names of individuals, and every individual ever to live is evaluated as to inclusion in the book. It appears that names may be erased from the book (Rev 3:5; Ps 69:28), yet some are not included in the book “from the foundation of the world.” In this verse, the book of life is identified as belonging to the “Lamb that was slain.” This verse and Rev 20:15; 21:27 indicate that the list is of those who are saved. It is difficult to put these details together, but it may be that the names are established in the book from before the foundation of the world, but in the course of each person’s life, there may come a time when it becomes evident that they are not in the book, which is tantamount to being erased. Could it be that from God’s perspective, He began with all names in the book and then erased certain ones, before the foundation of the world? And from a temporal perspective, the absence of one’s name in the book (erasure) is at some point demonstrated.

Revelation 20 (WEB)

1I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. 2He seized the dragon, the old serpent, who is the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole inhabited earth, and bound him for a thousand years, 3and cast him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, that he should deceive the nations no more until the thousand years were finished. After this, he must be freed for a short time.

4I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and such as didn’t worship the beast nor his image, and didn’t receive the mark on their forehead and on their hand. They lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5The rest of the dead didn’t live until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over these, the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with him one thousand years.

7And after the thousand years, Satan will be released from his prison 8and he will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to the war, whose number is as the sand of the sea. 9They went up over the width of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. Fire came down out of heaven from God and devoured them. 10The devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet are also. They will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

11I saw a great white throne and him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the sky fled away. There was found no place for them. 12I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and they opened books. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13The sea gave up the dead who were in it. Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them. They were judged, each one according to his works. 14Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15If anyone was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire.

Book of Life