Is My Name in the Book of Life?
Brother Bob Pellien: Many people have heard of the Book of Life. What is the Book of Life? The Bible describes it as a list of names of those who will be brought up to heaven on the Day of Judgment. What are you doing today to make sure your name is on that list?
[Show open]
Brother Bob: The Bible. The basis of our faith in the Church Of Christ, which answers questions about proper worship, the right relationship with God, and most importantly, salvation. That’s in the Bible!
[On-screen logo graphic]
[On-screen text graphic]
Brother Bob Pellien
Minister of the Gospel
Brother Bob: I’m Bob Pellien, and welcome to the program, That’s in the Bible! We received a couple of important questions, and the first one is from Athena. Let’s listen to her question:
[On-screen text graphic]
Athena
How do you know if you’re going to go to heaven or not?
Brother Bob: And Michael also wrote to the program and asked this question:
[On-screen text graphic]
Michael
How do we know our names are truly written in the Book of Life in heaven?
Brother Bob: Thank you, Athena and Michael, for your questions about getting to heaven and the Book of Life. In order to tackle this topic, let’s set out to answer these important related questions, like:
- How will we be judged whether or not we’re going to heaven?
- How is the Book of Life relevant to our judgment?
- Whose names are in the Book of Life?
- What if our name isn’t in the Book of Life?
Dear friends, to start, let’s first find out how will all of us be judged, how will it be determined whether or not we’ll be worthy to enter the Kingdom of heaven. Let’s turn to the pages of the Holy Bible for the answer. We turn to Revelation chapter 20, verse 12 and 13 where this is recorded:
And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, And Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.
[Revelation 20:12-13 New King James Version]
Brother Bob: What we just read here, dear friends, is part of the vision that God showed to Apostle John. And based on what he saw, books were opened, and one of which was the Book of Life. And why were such books opened? Because people on that day will be judged and will be rewarded by God according to what they have done. But how can people be judged if they are already dead? Well, the verses here did also mention that, “The sea gave up the dead who were in it, And death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.” So people will be resurrected to receive either judgment or reward from the Lord God.
Well, how is the Book of Life relevant to our judgment? Does the Bible teach us that having our name written in the Book of Life has a connection to attaining eternal life, or rewards, on the upcoming Day of Judgment? And, dear friends, have you asked, “Is my name in the Book of Life? Does it matter?” Again, we turn to the Holy Bible. This time the writings of the prophet Daniel. He wrote the following in Daniel 12, I will read here in verse 1:
…There will be a time of terrible suffering. Things will be worse than at any time since nations began. But at that time of suffering your people will be saved. Their names are written in the book of life.
[Daniel 12:1 New International Reader’s Version]
Brother Bob: Dear friends, it does matter! Why? Because those who are God’s people, and have their names listed in the Book of Life will be saved on Judgment Day. And that matters!
And who are these people of God that have their names written in that Book of Life? Are you one of them? Have you ever asked, “Am I going to heaven?” Based on the Bible verses we have just read, dear friends, that’s the same as asking, “Am I among the people of God who have their names listed in the Book of Life?” So, who are they? We continue posing the questions and turning to the Bible for answers. Hebrews 12:22-23 reads this way:
But you have come right up into Mount Zion, to the city of the living God the heavenly Jerusalem, and to the gathering of countless happy angels; and to the church, composed of all those registered in heaven; and to God who is Judge of all; and to the spirits of the redeemed in heaven, already made perfect;
[Hebrews 12:22-23 The Living Bible]
Brother Bob: The gathering being mentioned in these verses, dear friends, will also happen in the future, the gathering that will take place there in heaven. But who will surely be in that gathering in heaven? Will you be there? Well, the Bible says, “and to the church, composed of all those registered in heaven.” So those whose names are in the Book of Life, those mentioned in the book of Daniel that we read from a moment ago are God’s people. They are God’s people, and they are the one particular Church. That’s who will be saved, they are God’s people according to the Bible, and they are registered in heaven.
What is the consequence if we are not among them, with not having our name listed in that Book of Life? We learned that to be sure and make it to the kingdom of heaven, we need our name written there in the Book of Life. It’s the book where God’s people who will be saved are listed. But again the question is, “What if your name is not listed there?” Can we think that, well, maybe there is another way to be saved? We turn again to the Holy Scriptures, the book of Revelation chapter 20, verse 15. It gives a very direct, straightforward answer:
And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
[Revelation 20:15 New King James Version]
Brother Bob: Very, very direct response, isn’t it, dear friends? The Bible’s very direct. If you’re not listed there in the Book of Life, you’ll be cast into the lake of fire and, of course, nobody wants that, right? So we need, therefore, to become part of those whom God considers His people. Only then can we be sure that our name is listed in the Book of Life mentioned here in the Holy Bible. And God considers as His people, as we also read, He considers His people the Church that is registered in heaven.
Which Church is referred to as the people of God whose identities are stored or registered in heaven? Hebrews chapter 12, let’s read together verses 22-23:
But you have come into the reality (of which the symbols only pointed to), to Mount Zion, the new Jerusalem— the heavenly city of the living God—and you are part of that city. You have come to join millions upon millions of angels rejoicing in God’s presence, into the heavenly sanctuary—the true church of Christ—whose identities are stored in heaven…
[Hebrews 12:22-23 The Remedy New Testament]
Brother Bob: So, dear friends, the people of God whose names are listed in the Book of Life in heaven and who will be rejoicing with millions upon millions of angels are the members of the true Church Of Christ and their identities are stored in heaven. We all must be among them.
We started this discussion by breaking down the topic into a series of questions. Let’s review them and what the Bible taught us today:
- How will we be judged to determine whether or not we’re going to heaven?
We will be judged according to what is written in the books in heaven.
- How is the Book of Life relevant to our judgment?
We learned, the Book of Life is a list of names of God’s people who will be saved.
- Whose names are in the Book of Life?
Names in the Book of Life consist of those who are registered in the true Church Of Christ. We also asked then:
- What if our name is not in the Book of Life?
And the Bible was very clear. Dear friends, if your name is not included in the Book of Life, you’ll be sent to the lake of fire for eternal suffering on the Day of Judgment.
Brother Bob: So to you, Athena and Michael, who posed these questions, we thank you. It seems clear to us that you want to be among those who will join the angels in that heavenly sanctuary, and you’re asking the right questions. So let’s make sure we do what all we can do to make it to that place on the Day of Judgment. So join with us inside the true Church Of Christ.
We’d like you to continue learning about God’s teachings found here in the Holy Bible, and are taught always here in the Iglesia Ni Cristo, Church Of Christ.
[On-screen text graphics]
Visit incmedia.org
Brother Bob: So, visit us online, browse the different topics or set up an appointment to meet with a minister of the Gospel. We are here to help you. And if you have any questions about the Bible or salvation, please email them to us.
[On-screen text graphics]
[On-screen text graphic]
Brother Bob Pellien
Minister of the Gospel
Brother Bob: I’m Bob Pellien. Thanks for watching. See you next time on That’s in the Bible!
[Show close]
