THE BOOK OF THE LIFE

 [Rightly Dividing the Great White Throne Judgment]                     

REVELATION 20:12-15

Pastor Rick Jackson

I. WHAT WE KNOW FOR A CERTAINTY

1. At Some Point All Names of All People are in the Book Of Life [Daniel 12:1-2, Ex. 32: 30-33, Revelation 3:5]

And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

2. At Some Point Some Names are Removed from the Book of Life [Ex. 32: 30-33]

And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses said unto the people, Ye have sinned a great sin: and now I will go up unto the LORD; peradventure I shall make an atonement for your sin. And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written. And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.

3. At Some Point Some Names are Permanently Retained in the Book of Life [Revelation 3:5]

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.

II. THOSE PERMANENTLY RETAINED ARE OVERCOMERS [Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21]

1. Christ is the Great Overcomer [John 16:33, Revelation 3:5, 5:5]

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

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.

And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

2. Believers are Overcomers because they have a Relationship with God [1 John 2:13]

I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.

3. Believers are Overcomers because they Believe the Bible [1 John 2:14, Philippians 4:3]

I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

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.

4. Believers are Overcomers because they have the Indwelling Holy Spirit [1 John 4:4]

Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

5. Believers are Overcomers because they have been Born-again by Trusting Christ [1 John 5:4-5,  Revelation 12:11]

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

III. THOSE REMOVED ARE UNBELIEVERS

1. They Have Made a Clear Decision Against Christ [Revelation 13:8, 17:8]

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.

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.

2. They Have Made a Clear Decision Against God & His Word [Ex. 32:33, Rev. 22:19]

And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.

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.

3. Those Removed are Treated Fairly and Judged according to Their Works [Revelation 20:12, 15]

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.