Written in the Lamb’s Book of Life

From the Pastor: Dr. M. J. Seymour, Sr.

One of the seven angels said: “Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,” … “And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it and the Lamb is the light thereof.” … “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. 21:9b-10, 23, 27)

There will be no “illegal aliens” in the eternal New Jerusalem. Every single inhabitant and sojourner will be freeborn citizens, joint heirs, and the sons of God. It will be the perfect gated community, for not one individual that is not clothed upon by the blood and righteousness of the Lamb will be able to enter the Holy Jerusalem, not even by hook or crook. The ledgers of citizenship were written and sealed in eternity past; not a single individual has ever been or ever will be added to its rolls. But, has God given to us the knowledge of when and where the citizens’ names were written?

It is written: “…and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.” (Rev.17:8; see also 13:8) Whose Book of Life is it? It is the Lamb’s Book of Life. If they are not in it then they are the lost, the condemned; “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast in the lake of fire.” (Rev. 20:15) But, when were the redeemed written in the Lamb’s Book of Life? It was “from the foundation of the world.” The words “from the foundation” have the idea of being before the conception of the world. Paul referenced this truth when he wrote: “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, …” (Eph. 1:4) Only the eternal citizens in the Lamb’s Book will walk the streets of gold forever.