This book is given considerable attention in the Bible. As we will see, this book contains the names of every soul who will be saved for “the kingdom of heaven” by their holding sacred in their hearts the Presence of “the Spirit of the LORD” as it is written: "But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you." Rom.8:11.

     The first time the Book of Life is mentioned is when Moses interceded on behalf of the Israelites when they sinned by turning to the golden calf to be their saviour in place of the GOD Who had just delivered them from slavery and pharaoh’s chariots. “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.” Ex.32:30-33. The only hyphen in the Bible is when Moses interceded for the rebellious Hebrews, even to the eternal loss of his own soul.

     The next time the Book of Life is mentioned is found in the words of David’s prayer when he fled from king Saul whose death decree against David forced David to turn to the Philistines for safety: “In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me. Every day they wrest my words: all their thoughts are against me for evil. They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul. Shall they escape by iniquity? in thine anger cast down the people, O God. Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book? When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me. In God will I praise his word: in the LORD will I praise his word.” Ps.56:4-10.

     In the next passage from Psalm 69, several prophecies of the coming of Christ and His rejection by the Jews are included. This passage also gives an insight as to whose names are written in the Book of Life. Those who have opened their hearts to GOD and received His Spirit, these are the ones whose names are recorded. “For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten; and they talk to the grief of those whom thou hast wounded. Add iniquity unto their iniquity: and let them not come into thy righteousness. Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous. But I am poor and sorrowful: let thy salvation, O God, set me up on high. I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving. This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs. The humble shall see this, and be glad: and your heart shall live that seek God.” Ps.69:26-32.

Psalm 139 also reveals a precious insight into the Book of Life. It addresses GOD’S foreknowledge of who would be written in His Book, even before the births of the righteous. “Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee. For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. 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. How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!” Ps.139:12-17.

     Another precious example of GOD’S foreknowledge of whose names are written in the Book of Life are seen in the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah: “Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, which will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen.” “And now, saith the LORD that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, and my God shall be my strength.” “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” Isa.44:2; 49:5; Jer.1:5.

     Now, the closing chapter from the prophet Daniel gives the prophecy of a cataclysmic event that is yet to come. This event is linked with the last battle of Earth’s war against GOD and His Christ: the battle of Armageddon that ushers the 2nd Advent of Jesus Christ to save His Chosen. It once again points the believing Christian to the precious nature of the Book of Life: “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.”

     The last times the Book of Life is mentioned, an appeal is made for GOD’S children to turn to the GOD of heaven and live. “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. And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.” Mal.3:16,17. And Paul admonished: “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.” Phil.4:3. Said the LORD Jesus in calm assurance: “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.” Rev.3:5.

     But there are warning verses assigned to those proud hearts whose hearts of stone refused to fall on the Rock and be broken: those in the church who refuse to repent from their sins and think that living in sin is acceptable service to Jesus Christ. GOD’S Law demands perfection, and only the Indwelling Christ can live out the righteousness of His Law in the penitent believer judging every man in accordance with the light he has received (I Sam.16:7). The Apostle Paul encourages us to remain steadfast in our faith that Christ will live out His Victory through us: “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” Eph.4:30.

     But as the world divides into the two classes of men that make up the final condition of the human race, whether to receive “the mark of the beast” (Rev.16:2) or “the seal of God” (Rev.9:4), those “which keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus (Rev.14:12) will retain their names in the Book of Life while all others look to another savior, as it is written of the apostate church: “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.” Rev.13:8. Of the New Jerusalem it is written: “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.” Rev.21:27. And those who have taken liberties with the book of Revelation to pervert the intended lessons from its prophecies by removing their close association with the book of Daniel have forfeit their names from the Book of Life: “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.” Rev.22:19. In these words of warning the Apostle Paul counsels: “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” Phil.2:12. The Enemy of Souls is far too sophisticated in his snares to lead Christians to remain bound to their sins and thus forfeit eternal life (I Pet.4:18). Therefore "the pure in heart" (Matt.5:8) will keep their eyes fastened on Him, for they have proven Him by His Word: "O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him." "And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee." Ps.34:8; 9:10.

     But those who have a deep abiding love for heavenly truth “as the truth is in Jesus” (Eph.4:21) will receive the promise of eternal life. When Jesus prayed to His Father He acknowledged those whom GOD had sealed for His kingdom: “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.” The LORD encourages us to remain steadfast in faithful communion with the Father that one day all of the saints will be united in one victorious family “out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation” (Rev.5:9), to live forever, to develop communities that will never be threatened or taken away ever again. And to see the grand fulfillment of the closing words of childhood fables: And they lived happily ever after.