A Book of Remembrance: The Lamb’s Book of Life (Malachi 3:16)

2022-08-03

There is a book that the Lord records the names of His people. It is alluded to throughout the Scriptures. It is called the Lamb’s Book of Life, or a book of remembrance. Consider the following:

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. (Malachi 3:16)

This book of remembrance is written for “them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.” The Lord says of them, “they shall be mine,” and, “I will spare them.” (Malachi 3:17). In subsequent verses, the Day of the LORD is mentioned, and for those in the book, the Sun of righteousness, or the Lord Jesus Christ, will “arise with healing in his wings” (Malachi 4:2). They shall be spared from the coming judgment.

Moses spoke of this book in the day after Israel sinned with the golden calf: “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” (Exodus 32:32-33). Those who had rejected the Lord in this rebellion were blotted out of this book.

Regarding the enemies of the Lord, we read, “Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous” (Psalm 69:28). This is a few verses after a significant prophecy concerning Christ being given gall and vinegar to drink (Psalm 69:21).

In the end times, everyone found in this book shall be delivered, just as we saw in Malachi 4:2: “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” (Daniel 12:1).

Those who are written in this book should rejoice: “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. Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice” (Philippians 4:3-4)

Those who have overcome by faith shall never be blotted out of the book: “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” (Revelation 3:5).

Those who are not found in this book shall worship the Antichrist: “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” (Revelation 13:8). They shall also be condemned to the lake of fire: “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:15).

The book belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ: “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” (Revelation 21:27).

Those that intentionally tamper with God’s word have their place removed from the book altogether. “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” (Revelation 22:19). This is reprobation.