Heaven's Registry

"And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life." (Philippians 4: 3)

"Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven." (Luke 10: 20)

No one is going to be saved from eternal wrath and hell fire whose name is not written in what is called the "book of life."

The saved and redeemed, the elect, the children of God, are they who have their names written (recorded) in the "book of life" from "before the world began."

To know that one's name is "written in heaven," inscribed in the "book of life," is cause for great rejoicing of heart!

"To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you..." (I Peter 1: 4)

It is only to those who are "disciples" of the Lord Jesus Christ who have any assurance that their names are written in the "book of life." They are those who are "yokefellows" of the apostles, those who have entered into the service of Christ, who have become his bondslaves. They are the ones who have received the gospel message and who support its proclamation. They are such who "follow" Christ, as Christ said all his "sheep" would surely do. (John 10)

"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 whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." (20: 12, 15)

"And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life." (21: 27)

To have one's name excluded from the "book of life," to have one's name not recorded in the registry of the living, heaven's "guest list," means that one will not gain entry into heaven's kingdom, and will not receive the gift of immortality and eternal life.

"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." (Revelation 13: 8)

"The beast that thou sawest 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." (17: 8)

Those who have had their names recorded in the "Lamb's book of life," by the decree of sovereign election (Ephesians 1: 4 & II Thessalonians 2: 12,13), are they who remain faithful to the Lord, who do not "fall away" into the religion of Anti-Christ and the religion of demons and pagans.

"And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book." (22: 19)

"He that overcometh, 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." (Revelation 3: 5)

All these verses give us the measuring rod for determining who are the elect, who are they who had their names written in the book of life "from before the foundation of the world."

They are not hypocrites, but genuine believers, those who have had a genuine conversion, and who thus remain steadfast and unmoveable in their faith and allegiance to the Lord.

The faith and faithfulness of believers is not the cause of their names being written in heaven, but is the sure proof or evidence of that fact. Our names are not "written in heaven" because it is a reward for some deed we have done. Rather, it is a matter of pure grace and mercy.

Friend, is your name to be found in heaven's registry? When the "books are opened," will your name be found in the "book of life"? If you believe in your heart that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and Savior of sinners, and if you do come to him humbly and meekly, you can be assured and greatly rejoice in knowing, in advance, that your name has been "written in heaven."