DECEMBER 29TH, 1944

DECEMBER 29TH, 1944

MY DEAR BROTHER, — ... So far as I can see Scripture speaks of the book of life in two different connections. Certain passages (as Revelation 13: 8; 20: 12, 15) speak of it as containing the names of persons marked out by God’s election and purpose for eternal blessedness. We know that there is a registry in heaven of the assembly of the firstborn ones (Hebrews 12: 23), and that the Lord told His disciples to rejoice because their names were written in the heavens (Luke 10: 20). Names will never be blotted out that are written there.

But it is evident that when Paul speaks of certain persons as having their names written in the book of life (Philippians 4: 3) he has some reference to the character of the persons. And it was in the way of commendation and reward that the Lord said of the overcomer in Sardis that He would not blot his name out of the book of life (Revelation 3: 5).

It seems to me to be important to distinguish these two aspects of the book of life, and to give each its due place. I must not weaken the thought of divine sovereignty in connection with that book, neither must I weaken the thought of moral suitability. I once had contact with a man who boasted loudly that his name was in the book of life, but he was a notoriously bad man, and therefore nobody believed what he said.

In a coming day “he who remaineth in Zion, and he that is left in Jerusalem, shall be called holy — every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem”, Isaiah 4: 3. In that divine census roll everyone gets his place according to the moral conditions which characterise him. And when we read in the New Testament that certain persons’ names are in the book of life we may be sure that their character and service were such as to entitle them to be there. By the grace and work of God those persons were really living in relation to Him. The assembly in Sardis could not be said to have this ^[p. 339] character, for the Lord said to it, “Thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead”, Revelation 3: 1. This gives peculiar force to the Lord’s word to the overcomer that He would not blot his name out of the book of life. The very fact that he was an overcomer showed that the energy of life was in him. When Paul told the Philippians that the names of certain persons among them were in the book of life, I think he meant them to consider the moral force of the statement that they might get an impression of the kind of persons who were suitable to be enrolled in the book of life. I think their moral suitability was before him rather than their place by sovereignty. Both, of course, being true.

To be blotted out of the book of life is one of the most solemn things of which Scripture speaks. I believe it always has reference to the judgment of apostasy, as set forth in a terrible way in Judas. The Christian profession will be spued out of Christ’s mouth as nauseous to Him. Christendom is drifting rapidly in the direction of giving up everything that can be regarded as life. The deadness of Sardis is preparing the way for this, but while this looms in the near future faithful overcomers are encouraged by the Lord’s words, “I will not blot his name out of the book of life”. Overcomers will be kept, amidst surrounding death, in the features and qualities which entitled them to a place in the book of life. They will be held in life by the gracious power of the Lord.

In your letter you quote two sentences from page 48 of the “Outline of Revelation”. But you omit the sentence which comes between which states that the working out of divine purpose must be through suitable moral conditions, which really puts the whole matter in its proper setting. We believe that the saints will be raised in glory according to divine purpose, but we are definitely told by the Lord that it is those who have practised good who will go forth to resurrection of life, John 5: 29. The moral conditions which are suitable to God have been secured in them. In like manner we do not think of anyone having his name in the book of life now without being characterised by the moral conditions of life.

I write with some difficulty, having been unwell for more than two months, but I hope these few words may be of help. With love in the Lord,

Yours affectionately in Him,