Verses referenced are
listed at the end of the observations and conclusion.
Books/records
referenced in scripture:
GodÕs book Exodus
32:32-33
A set of books re
judgment Daniel
7:10, Revelation 20:12
Book of tears
(wanderings) Psalm
56:8
Book of the living Psalm
69:28
Book where all our
members are
written Psalm
139:16
Book of remembrance Malachai
3:16
Book of life Philippians
4:3, Revelation 3:5, 13:8, 20:12, 20:15, 21:27
The book Daniel
12:1
A book for purpose of
reminder Exodus
17:14
A book of curses Numbers
5:23
A book of wars of the
Lord Numbers
21:14
A book of the law Deuteronomy
17:18, 28:58, 28:61, 29:21, 31:24, 31:26, Joshua 1:8, 24:26, 2Kings 22:8,
22:10, 22:11, 22:13, 22:16, Nehemiah 8:8, 8:18, 9:3, Galatians 3:10
A book of records of thy fathers -
genealogy Ezra
4:15
Book of Moses Ezra
6:18
The book (canon of scripture) Psalm
40:7, Isaiah 34:16, Hebrews 10:7
Books of prophets as commanded
by God Jeremiah
25:13, 30:2, Daniel 9:2, 12:4
Books given to prophets to consume Ezekiel
2:9, Revelation 10:8-11
Records in heaven Deuteronomy
30:19, 31:28, Job 16:19, 2Corinthians 1:23, Philippians 1:8
LambÕs book of life Revelation
21:27
Observations:
Moses understood that God had a book from which
those who
were unforgiven would have their name blotted
out.
God was clear that the individual was accountable
regarding the status of his
name in GodÕs book.
OneÕs name can be blotted
out Òunder heaven.Ó
A set of books are opened
at the time of judgment.
People of Israel whose
names are found written in THE BOOK will be delivered during/after(?) the time
of tribulation.
There is a book where our
tears are recorded. (Are our ÒwanderingsÓ
included?)
The book of the living is
associated with Òthe righteous.Ó
There is a book where Òall
our membersÓ are written before they are ever created.
There is a book of
remembrance re those who 1) feared the Lord and 2) thought upon His name.
Overcomers will be in the
book of life. Jesus can erase
names from the book of life.
Those on the earth during
the tribulation whose names are not in the book of life will worship the beast.
OneÕs name is either in
or out of the book of life from the foundation of the world.
The dead (spiritual) are
judged at the great white throne according to their deeds which are written in
a set of book for this purpose.
Again, this indicates GodÕs foreknowledge in that the personÕs deeds are
in this set of books for this judgment.
By the time of the great white throne judgment, only the dead who have
rejected Jesus are being judged. This judgment is specifically for the spiritually dead.
The book of life belongs
to the Lamb.
Compare Exodus 17:14 with
Deuteronomy 29:20. It appears to
connect blotting out and putting out of remembrance under heaven to physical
destruction.
(cf Psalm 109:13)
Deuteronomy 30:19,
31:28
We already saw that Moses
knew about ÒGodÕs book,Ó so it is not surprising that he would expect records
of IsraelÕs actions before God.
Job knew that there was a record of his life on high.
Thought – How did Moses and Job know about Òthe
bookÓ and Òhis recordÓ?
Paul had faith that God could provide Òa recordÓ
concerning him.
Those who follow Jesus
have their names Òwritten in heaven.Ó
I would assume this to reference the Òbook of life.Ó
Several verses talk about
sin/transgression being blotted out.
Neh 4:5, Ps 109:14 and Jer
18:23 are prayers asking God not to blot out the sins of IsraelÕs enemies, the
sins of her enemiesÕ mother, and disobedient Israel respectively.
The verse in Psalms is
very thought provoking. We know
that God deals with each person individually regarding their sin. I think DavidÕs prayer (which also
includes father and progeny) reflects the importance of the influence of
parents. In his mind, evil
children were the result of evil parents.
(That would be an indictment against his own family.)
The verse in Acts
indicates a connection with the blotting out of sin and repentance/conversion.
Obviously, to be able to
blot something out infers the existence of a record/book from which to
blot. This fits in with the
purposes of the books already discussed.
These verses on blotting out are just another affirmation of the records
being kept in heaven.
Conclusions:
There are several
books/records kept in heaven.
The only books that
appear to apply to those who reject Jesus are the ones used at the great white
throne judgment regarding their deeds on earth.
There is a book of life
which seems to equate to GodÕs book and the LambÕs book regarding those who are
overcomers—those with faith in God.
It is possible to have your name Òblotted outÓ of this book. This blotting out is equated to
rejecting God/Jesus. The name Òbook
of life/livingÓ indicates that every individual ever born is recorded there,
but only the names of men and women of faith remain there. The names of unbelievers are blotted
out.
I canÕt help but wonder
if the book of life is the same book that contains the details of who we are before
we are even formed in the womb.
Obviously, God knew the contents of every record kept in heaven
before creation. (I can say it,
but I canÕt really comprehend it.)
As a mom/parent, I
especially relate to the book that records and the bottle that stores the tears
of His children.
ItÕs thought provoking to
know that you can be in the book of life and not be included in the book of
remembrance. God wants our thoughts
toward Him to be as precious to us as His thoughts of us are to Him.
There seem to be records
of events on earth (Ezek 2:9 & Rev 10:8-11) as well as deeds/attitudes of
individuals (Job 16:19, 2Cor 1:23, Phil 1:8, Rev 20:12). I would assume these records re
overcomers would be used at the judgment seat of Christ.
I donÕt think there is enough
information given to be dogmatic about the number of books and the contents of
each. I think the important points
are:
1) God is intimately interested in every detail
concerning us.
2) GodÕs judgments are/will be just and
righteous. The books are for our
benefit/understanding re the area of judgment or rewards.
3) It is important to God that we fear/revere Him and
that He occupies our thoughts.
(This will, of course, result in action/deeds/fruit.)
Ex. 32:32 Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if
not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.
Ex. 32:33 And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath
sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.
Deut. 29:20 The LORD will not spare him, but then the anger
of the LORD and his jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses
that are written in this book
shall lie upon him, and the LORD shall blot out his name from under heaven.
Dan. 7:10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before
him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten
thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.
Dan. 12:1 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.
Psa. 56:8 Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears
into thy bottle: are they not
in thy book?
Psa. 69:28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the
righteous.
Psa. 139:16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being
unperfect; and in thy book all
my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet
there was none of them.
Mal. 3:16 Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to
another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the
LORD, and that thought upon his name.
Phil. 4:3 Indeed, true companion, I ask you also to help
these women who have shared my struggle in the cause of the gospel, together with Clement also and the
rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
Rev. 3:5 ÔHe who overcomes will thus be clothed in white
garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and
before His angels.
Rev. 13:8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone
whose name has not been written
from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain.
Rev. 17:8 ¦ ÒThe beast that you saw was, and is not, and is
about to come up out of the abyss and go to destruction. And those who dwell on
the earth, whose name has not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, will wonder when
they see the beast, that he was and is not and will come.
Rev. 20:12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small,
standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the
books, according to their deeds.
Rev. 20:15 And if anyoneÕs name was not found written in the
book of life, he was thrown
into the lake of fire.
Rev. 21:27 and nothing unclean, and no one who practices
abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are
written in the LambÕs book of life.
Rev. 22:19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book
of this prophecy, God will take
away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written
in this book.
Ex. 17:14 And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out
the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.
Num. 5:23 And the priest shall write these curses in a book, and he shall blot them out with the bitter water:
Num. 21:14 Wherefore it is said in the book of the wars of the LORD, What he did in the Red
sea, and in the brooks of Arnon,
Deut. 17:18 And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne
of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites:
Deut. 28:58 If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of
this law that are written in this book, that thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful name, THE LORD THY
GOD;
Deut. 28:61 Also every sickness, and every plague, which is not written in the book of this law, them will the LORD bring upon thee,
until thou be destroyed.
Deut. 29:21 And the LORD shall separate him unto evil out of
all the tribes of Israel, according to all the curses of the covenant that are
written in this book of the
law:
Deut. 31:24 And it came to pass, when Moses had made an end
of writing the words of this law in a book, until they were finished,
Deut. 31:26 Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of
the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness against
thee.
Josh. 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt
meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all
that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then
thou shalt have good success.
Josh. 24:26 And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God, and took a great stone, and
set it up there under an oak, that was by the sanctuary of the LORD.
2Kings 22:8 And Hilkiah the high priest said unto Shaphan the
scribe, I have found the book
of the law in the house of the LORD. And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it.
2Kings 22:10 And Shaphan the scribe shewed the king, saying,
Hilkiah the priest hath delivered me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king.
2Kings 22:11 And it came to pass, when the king had heard the
words of the book of the law,
that he rent his clothes.
2Kings 22:13 Go ye, enquire of the LORD for me, and for the
people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found: for great is the wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us,
because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according unto all that which is written
concerning us.
2Kings 22:16 Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil
upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the words of the book which the king of Judah hath read:
Ezra 4:15 That search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers: so shalt thou find
in the book of the records,
and know that this city is a
rebellious city, and hurtful unto kings and provinces, and that they have moved
sedition within the same of old time: for which cause was this city destroyed.
Ezra 6:18 And they set the priests in their divisions, and
the Levites in their courses, for the service of God, which is at Jerusalem; as it is written in the book of Moses.
Neh. 8:8 So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense,
and caused them to understand
the reading.
Neh. 8:18 Also day by day, from the first day unto the last
day, he read in the book of
the law of God. And they kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day
was a solemn assembly, according
unto the manner.
Neh. 9:3 And they stood up in their place, and read in the
book of the law of the LORD
their God one fourth part of
the day; and another fourth
part they confessed, and worshipped the LORD their God.
Job 19:23 Oh that my words were now written! oh that they
were printed in a book!
Job 31:35 Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire
is, that the Almighty would
answer me, and that mine
adversary had written a book.
Psa. 40:7 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is
written of me,
Eccl. 12:12 And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of
making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
Is. 34:16 Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read: no one of these shall
fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit
it hath gathered them.
Jer. 25:13 And I will bring upon that land all my words
which I have pronounced against it, even all that is written in this book, which Jeremiah hath prophesied against all the
nations.
Jer. 30:2 Thus speaketh the LORD God of Israel, saying,
Write thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book.
Ezek. 2:9 And when I looked, behold, an hand was sent unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book was
therein;
Dan. 9:2 In the first year of his reign I Daniel
understood by books the number
of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that
he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.
Dan. 12:4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal
the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and
fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
Gal. 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are
under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which
are written in the book of the
law to do them.
Heb. 10:7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.