The Book of Life or WHAT’S IN A NAME?

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First, let’s take a look at the Scripture references that bring out where the word NAME is used, with respect to a NAME being found in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

In Philippians 4:3 we read where the Apostle Paul, when writing to the saints at Philippi said, “And I entreat you also, true yokefellow, help those women which labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellow laborers, whose names are in the book of life.”

Again, in Revelations 3:5 we find, “He that overcomes, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.”

And once more, in Revelations 13:8 we discover, “And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”

Therefore, that being the case, lets see if we can discover what is in a name? What does it mean when the Lord Jesus talks about not blotting out a name from the book of life, but will rather confess that name before his Father and before his angels?

We find the Lord Jesus speaking to the Jews and saying, “I come in my Father’s name, and you receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him you will receive” (John 5:43). The question then is, “Does the Lord ever, at any time, call his Father a particular NAME?” And the answer is, “No, he does not.” Therefore, what does the Lord mean by the statement of his coming in his Father’s name?

In Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary we read, QUOTE, “for all that a name implies, of authority, character, rank, majesty, power, excellence, etc., of everything that the “name” covers; of the “Name” of God as expressing His attributes, etc.” UNQUOTE.

Therefore, we discover, that when the Lord Jesus said, “I come in my Father’s name” what he was revealing was that he, the Lord, is “the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his (God the Father’s) person” (Hebrew 1:3). This is the Father’s name the complete expression of the Father’s character, his attributes, his personality; his NAME. As a second witness we discover where the Apostle Paul wrote of the Lord Jesus Christ that he (the Lord Jesus) “is the image (the profile, the attributes, the NAME) of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15).

Then, going forward in Revelation 2:13, we read, “and you hold fast my Name” as the Lord commends the third manifestation of the Church, the Church in Pergamos, in that they still hold fast the fact of the Lord Jesus’ Person. For, as we have discovered the person is the reality of the name.

And we also see, in Revelation 2:17, where it is written, “He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches; to him that overcomes will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knows saving he that receives it.”

The portion of the verse that reads “and in the stone a new name written, which no man knows saving he that receives it” we will simplify and amplify it for clarity. And, in so doing, we read, “and superimposed on the stone (which is a precious gift [ref: Proverbs 17:8]) a fresh personality, a fresh character is being engraved, which no one knows except the one receiving it.”

There is much, much more in Scripture that sheds light on what’s in a name. But, having come to understand that a name is what defines a persons attributes, his character, we must, saints of God, strive to enter in at strait and narrow gate (Luke 13:24) so that we will, with the prophet Daniel, “stand in your (our) lot (receive your portion) at the end of the days” (Daniel 12:13). Amen!

Then, on the other hand, all things are not equal in the kingdom of heaven, so we would do well to discover what is meant when we read in Revelation 17:8 “The beast that you saw was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.”

The beast that John saw, as described in this verse, isn’t what we are trying to discover here, though we will address it briefly, as is necessary, the complete answer to this and many other questions are available in the book “The Revelation OF Jesus Christ” which can be found at the link listed in the description section of this YouTube video. In this unveiling, with respect to what’s in a name, we particularly want to address the portion of this verse that reads:

“and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is”

Before we see this portion of verse in its true light let us come to understand that, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2Peter 3:9). And once more we read, “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; who desires all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (1Timothy 2:3-4).

Now, that we see there were not any who were doomed, had no chance, could never be saved, from the foundation of the world, let us see what this portion of verse really says. And, as we read again with amplification, we find, “and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, be taken aback, who have not written a name, that is inscribed a character, no not a personality upon the pages of Book of Life from the foundation of the world (that is from the establishing of this order of things). The Greek word cosmos, here interpreted world, means the make up of things.” And the remainder of the verse reads, “Behold, beware, perceive the beast that was, and is not, and yet is” (Revelation 17:8d). Brothers and sisters it would behoove us to KNOW who, or what, this beast is.

Therefore, we will briefly explain, as this beast is right before our very eyes. It is the three, of the earth/earthy, manifestations of the Church, inclusive of catholicism, eastern orthodoxism, protestantism and all the various permutations there of: there is NO GOOD THING in Babylon. Come out of her my people.

Throughout the centuries, even unto today, myriads of saints have been deceived into thinking they were doing something for God in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. However, when the truth is revealed, they will discover what is meant by “other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he has built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: (to wit: lose his NAME, his attributes, his personality, his best self for eternity future) but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire” (1Corinthians 3:11-15). Wake up children of God, all things are not as they seem.

These one’s will indeed be taken aback when they hear the Lord say, “I tell you, I know you not whence you are; depart from me, all workers of iniquity” (Luke 13:27). The devil would have us believe that we don’t have to worry about this verse for we are, after all, saved. And, Babylon would also say not to worry as these are lost one’s. However, these ones declare that they are saved, as they profess to have been in the Lord’s presence and dined with him, and we know doomed ones would never make such a claim. So, that being the case, what the Lord Jesus has said here is, “I tell you, I am not aware of you, nor where you are coming from; I never, at any time, approved of you, go from my presence all workers of unrighteousness.” These ones shall certainly wonder, be amazed, be taken aback that have allowed the Dragon, through the three, of the earth/earthy manifestations of the Church (Babylon the Great, that is the beast and its image) to steal their identity, their reward, their personality from before the Lord.

As we have discovered, name points to the essence, the attributes, the very character of someone, and these one’s will discover there is nothing recorded in the Book of Life which can be classified gold, silver, or precious stones. Therefore, we see it written, “Behold, beware, perceive the beast that was, and is not, and yet is” This beast, in all its permutations, can cause us to suffer eternal loss.

The brother’s and sister’s just mentioned are not the “cursed ones” of Matthew 25:41, neither are they of them that have “overcome” of the Book of Revelation. They are the ones who’s works are burned and they suffer loss, but they themselves shall be saved; yet so as by fire (1Corinthians 3:15).

Then there are those who never accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior:

“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. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:12-15). Notice no mention of NAME just “not written in the book of life.”

For “there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defiles, neither whatsoever works abomination, or makes a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life (Revelation 20:27). The good news is this is inclusive of all who are born again whether they have inscribed for themselves a NAME in the Lamb’s book of life or not. The bad news is that multitudes have allowed the three of the earth/earthy manifestations of Babylon the Great to steal their gold, their silver and their precious stones. Once again, come out of her my people.

And the admonition from the Lord is: “For I testify unto every man that hears the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part (his name) out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book” (Revelation 22:18-19). Still saved just no rewards.

THIS IS THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, PREPARE YOU THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE STRAIGHT HIS PATHS. Amen.