How do preachers or teachers explain this?

[DavidLamb]

If the book of life in Revelation meant the Bible, how would the names of every Christian appear in the Bible? And as the book of life will only be opened at the white throne judgement, how do we have the Bible to read now?

Because your understanding of God’s Word is based only on its literal meaning.
And you yourself have said that what is written in the Holy Scriptures is already complete.
Therefore, no matter what you do, you will not actually be able to read the names of those who truly follow the Lord Jesus.

But we who have come to know the one true God have received God’s revelation that what is written in the Holy Scriptures is not yet truth by itself.
The words written in the Holy Scriptures must first be revealed by God before they can be regarded as truth.

Therefore, God has revealed this to us, and we can clearly see our names written in the Holy Scriptures as the Book of Life.

You keep telling the reast of us that you have only read less than a quarter of the Bible. Maybe there are things about the book of life revealed in the three quarters that you haven't yet read. As for your comment that what is written in the Scriptures is "not yet truth by itself", that goes against so much of what God reveals in His word. The Bereans were praised, because the checked that what they heard from Paul was correct by reading the Scriptures. Jesus prayed to His heavenly Father:

NKJV Jhn 17:17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.

He didn't say, "Your word is not yet truth by itself." Nor did He say, "Your word must first be revealed before it becomes truth."

Jesus also taught the two on the road to Emmaus from the Bible, obviously only the Old Testament at that time:

NKJV Luk 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.

You say you can see your names written in the Holy Scriptures. Where in the Bible is your name to be found? Give me the reference.

 

[DavidLamb]

May I hear your comment or you don't want to?

Comment about what? You asked, "If you were the man whom the Lord commanded here, what exactly would you do according to your clear understanding of the command?" I replied to that question.

You were the one who said that this is not a parable or a dark saying. Don’t you want to know whether what you said about the topic you brought up is actually true or not?

I know that what God says in His word is true.

It’s different when someone else answers on your behalf. Have you forgotten the words, “work out your own salvation”? That’s why you can’t have a spokesperson speaking for you.

If you are going to follow the Lord Jesus’ command exactly, and you say that it is not a dark saying, then you should show the great things the Lord Jesus has done for you only to those who are in your own household.
This would include your parents and siblings. If you have your own family, it would include your wife and children.

Yes, if I were that man. Jesus commanded the man from whom He had cast the demons to go home and tell others. Certainly there are other places in Scripture where Christians are told to tell others what Jesus has done for them. I do seek to do that.

To follow the Lord’s command exactly, you should show it only to them, because they are the ones who are in “thine own house.”
LUKE 8:39
39 Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.

But I am not that man. Anyway, that man didn't tell only those in his family. Hew "published throughout the whole city how greath things Jesus had done unto him."

 

[Godsgood]

Those words were spoken to that man. They were not spoken to us and are not a command to us.

Because I gave that man as an example of how David Lamb would follow the Lord’s exact command if he were in that man’s situation. However, based on my understanding of what you are saying, that command was given only to that particular man; it was not a command for you, nor was it a command for David Lamb, because that man is neither you nor David Lamb.
Am I correct?

 

[Godsgood]

Comment about what? You asked, "If you were the man whom the Lord commanded here, what exactly would you do according to your clear understanding of the command?" I replied to that question.

I know that what God says in His word is true.

Yes, if I were that man. Jesus commanded the man from whom He had cast the demons to go home and tell others. Certainly there are other places in Scripture where Christians are told to tell others what Jesus has done for them. I do seek to do that.

But I am not that man. Anyway, that man didn't tell only those in his family. Hew "published throughout the whole city how greath things Jesus had done unto him."

But I am not that man. Anyway, that man didn't tell only those in his family. Hew "published throughout the whole city how greath things Jesus had done unto him."

Aren’t you wondering why the Lord’s command was for him to go home and tell those in his household about the good thing God had done for him?
When he followed the command, however, he did not testify to those in his household but to the people throughout the whole city. What would you say, did he obey the command or disobey it? According to what you are saying, this situation seems clear.



But I am not that man.
Just remember what you said: you are not that man.

 

[Godsgood]

But the book of life will only be opened at the judgement at the great white throne, so you cannot see inside it.

It is enough for me that I have shared with you that we now have the Book of Life.
There is no doubt that this is the Holy Book that gives life. As before,

I am not forcing you, and I will leave you to your own beliefs.

You already know my purpose in sharing the truth from the Word of God: it is for God’s lost sheep.
When they hear or read it, they will know that it comes from God.
JOHN 10:27
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

And for those who are not God’s lost sheep, they are free to continue in their own beliefs.

 

[Godsgood]

I don't know, and frankly, I don't care. You aren't speaking truth, therefore you are either deceived or lying.


Obviously not, because given our interaction over the past year, it is clear to me that you don't.


Wrong! The Bible is NOT the Book of Life written of in Revelation and elsewhere. Your name is not written in the Bible, nor is mine. Nor are the names of the vast majority of believers.


Your claim is laughably irrelevant on two counts:

Firstly, you cannot read it because it is closed until the judgment.

Secondly, and rather obviously, you don't know my name!

Your claim is laughably irrelevant on two counts:

You may laugh at the truth because you have been given free will to do so for as long as you wish.
The Jews also laughed at the truth that the Lord shared with them in those days.
This is supported by Ecclesiastes 1:9 and Matthew 24:35.


Firstly, you cannot read it because it is closed until the judgment.

You are also free to stand by this belief if that is what you believe.
However, I assure you that it is not in accordance with the truth.

Secondly, and rather obviously, you don't know my name!

I will repeat this to you. We who have come to know the one true God have been taught by Him that there is a division between physical life and spiritual life. Physical life is different from spiritual life.


The name you say is your name, which I do not know, is a name given to you by people, and it pertains to physical life. Yes, I do not know it. However, what we are discussing here is spiritual life.


In spiritual life, the Lord God is the One who gives people their names.
For example, Jacob was called Israel by God, and Saul of Tarsus was called Paul by God.
GENESIS 32:28
28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.

Therefore, the name given by God is revealed by Him, and this is how I came to understand that your name is not written in the Book of Life.

 

[DavidLamb]

It is enough for me that I have shared with you that we now have the Book of Life.
There is no doubt that this is the Holy Book that gives life. As before,

The Bible is God's word, His revelation of Himself to us. You say there is no doubt that the Holy book (I assume you mean the Bible) gives us life. You seem to be trying to prove that the book of life and the Bible are the same book. But that cannot be right. The book of life is closed until its opening at the timed of the great white throne judgement. Another thing is, Paul writes about the Book of Life in his letter to the Philippians, written before the Bible was complete:

NKJV Php 4:3 And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.

Revelation is part of the Bible, but John distinguishes Revelation from the book of life:


NKJV Rev 22:18 For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book;
Rev 22:19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

I am not forcing you, and I will leave you to your own beliefs.

You already know my purpose in sharing the truth from the Word of God: it is for God’s lost sheep.
When they hear or read it, they will know that it comes from God.
JOHN 10:27
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

And for those who are not God’s lost sheep, they are free to continue in their own beliefs.

Praise God, I have been found by the Saviour. I am a found sheep.

 

[Dino246]

Because I gave that man as an example of how David Lamb would follow the Lord’s exact command if he were in that man’s situation. However, based on my understanding of what you are saying, that command was given only to that particular man; it was not a command for you, nor was it a command for David Lamb, because that man is neither you nor David Lamb.
Am I correct?

Yes, you are correct in this one small thing.

 

[Dino246]

It is enough for me that I have shared with you that we now have the Book of Life.
There is no doubt that this is the Holy Book that gives life.

You are wrong. The Bible by itself does not give life; the Spirit gives life. The Bible gives information and because it is the living word of God, He can speak to our hearts through it. However, the Bible IS NOT the Book of Life referenced IN the Bible.

Holding to an error after being told that you are wrong and given the evidence proving your error is foolish. Are you a fool?

 

[Dino246]

I will repeat this to you. We who have come to know the one true God have been taught by Him that there is a division between physical life and spiritual life. Physical life is different from spiritual life.

Yada yada yada blah blah blah. It is impossible to take seriously any such claims from you.

The name you say is your name, which I do not know, is a name given to you by people, and it pertains to physical life. Yes, I do not know it. However, what we are discussing here is spiritual life.

Therefore, the name given by God is revealed by Him, and this is how I came to understand that your name is not written in the Book of Life.

God has not given you my name. Perhaps the unclean spirit that speaks lies to you has told you something and you have swallowed it.

 

[Godsgood]

Yes, you are correct in this one small thing.

Do not forget what you said: that you are not the person, and that what was commanded to that person was not commanded by the Lord for you

 

[Godsgood]

Yada yada yada blah blah blah. It is impossible to take seriously any such claims from you.


God has not given you my name. Perhaps the unclean spirit that speaks lies to you has told you something and you have swallowed it.

That is enough for me that I have conveyed to you the truth that your name is not written in the Book of Life. The decision is now yours to make.

 

[Godsgood]

You are wrong. The Bible by itself does not give life; the Spirit gives life. The Bible gives information and because it is the living word of God, He can speak to our hearts through it. However, the Bible IS NOT the Book of Life referenced IN the Bible.

Holding to an error after being told that you are wrong and given the evidence proving your error is foolish. Are you a fool?

The Lord Jesus who said and not me that His words are spiritual and life.
If you are now saying that this truth is foolish, isn’t it clear that the one you are calling a fool is the Lord Jesus Himself?
JOHN 6:63
63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

 

[DavidLamb]

The Lord Jesus who said and not me that His words are spiritual and life.
If you are now saying that this truth is foolish, isn’t it clear that the one you are calling a fool is the Lord Jesus Himself?
JOHN 6:63
63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

But the Lord Jesus did not say that the book of life mentioned in Revelation is the Bible.

 

[Godsgood]

That is not evidence for your assertion regarding context.


Your loss.

The ones who truly lose out are those who read the Word of God and interpret it literally.
As a result, they fail to recognize the one true God.”

 

[Godsgood]

But the Lord Jesus did not say that the book of life mentioned in Revelation is the Bible.

I understand you. What you are looking for is something that is stated directly in the Scriptures. However, to those of us who have come to know the one true God, its meaning is clear.


The Book of Life is the Holy Book in which God reveals the truth through His words, and His words give life. Therefore, it is clear to us that the Holy Book containing God’s revelation of truth in His words is the Book of Life.


But for those who have not come to know the one true God, they will be content with a literal understanding of God’s words. That is why they will never see what we have seen.
MATTHEW 13:14
14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:

 

[DavidLamb]

The ones who truly lose out are those who read the Word of God and interpret it literally.
As a result, they fail to recognize the one true God.”

So when the Bible tells us that God is almighty, or that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life, or that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, we are not to take such things literally, according to you. Certainly parts of the bible are in figurative language, as for instance when Jesus said, "I am the door." He didn't mean that He was a literal door with handles, hinges, and a knocker or doorbell. But that doesn't mean that nothing in the Bible is literally true.

 

[Godsgood]

Because it is in heaven, and it is closed, until it will be opened when the judgement at the great white throne takes place. That is in no way contrary to Matthew 24:35:

Mat 24:35 The heaven and the earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

That says nothing about where the book of life is, or whether anybody can read it now.

If the book of life in Revelation meant the Bible, how would the names of every Christian appear in the Bible? And as the book of life will only be opened at the white throne judgement, how do we have the Bible to read now?

Because your understanding of God’s Word is based on its literal meaning, you are referring to the literal names of people in their physical lives.
Yet the truth is that God is not merely referring to the names that people have been given by others.

Your literal name, David Lamb, is not the name that pertains to your spiritual life.

 

[Godsgood]

So when the Bible tells us that God is almighty, or that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life, or that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, we are not to take such things literally, according to you. Certainly parts of the bible are in figurative language, as for instance when Jesus said, "I am the door." He didn't mean that He was a literal door with handles, hinges, and a knocker or doorbell. But that doesn't mean that nothing in the Bible is literally true.

The Lord Jesus Himself said that He spoke in parables (Mark 4:34 and Matthew 13:13).
Therefore, it is the Lord who will reveal why He said these things.
It is not for you to decide and say that not everything is a parable

 

[DavidLamb]

I understand you. What you are looking for is something that is stated directly in the Scriptures. However, to those of us who have come to know the one true God, its meaning is clear.

You keep talking about "o those of us who have come to know the one true God." It sounds as though you are telling the rest of us that we don't know God. If it is not written in God's word, how do you know?

The Book of Life is the Holy Book in which God reveals the truth through His words, and His words give life. Therefore, it is clear to us that the Holy Book containing God’s revelation of truth in His words is the Book of Life.

So do you really believe that believers' names are written in the Bible? Where?

But for those who have not come to know the one true God, they will be content with a literal understanding of God’s words. That is why they will never see what we have seen.
MATTHEW 13:14
14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:

But if as you seem to believe, the Bible cannot be taken literally, Then the very words you have just quote (Matthew 13:14) cannot, according to you, be literal either, so (again according to your idea that none of the Bible is literal, ) Jesus did not really mean that Isaiah's prophecy was fulfilled, and anyway, the prophecy itself would not be literal. You get into a dreadful muddle by saying that none of the Bible is literal. Anyway, you keep telling us that you have read less than a quarter of it, so how do you know?