This is another in a series of excerpts from The Book of Life: What the Bible Says about God’s Registry of the Redeemed from High Street Press and available at Amazon. This except comes from Chapter 16: I Will Never Erase His Name: Revelation 3:5.

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In the same way, the one who conquers will be dressed in white clothes, and I will never erase his name from the book of life but will acknowledge his name before my Father and before his angels (Rev. 3:5 CSB).

While the words of Jesus to the faithful in Sardis are comforting reminders of God’s preservation of the saints, we must acknowledge that many passages of Scripture speak of names being erased, or blotted out, of certain books, including the book of life. Following is a sampling of such verses; brief commentary follows.

Exodus 32:32-33 – “‘Now if you would only forgive their sin. But if not, please erase me from the book you have written.’ The LORD replied to Moses, ‘Whoever has sinned against me I will erase from my book.’”

This conversation between Moses and Yahweh occurs after the golden calf incident at the base of Mount Sinai. Sensing God’s wrath against the idolatrous Israelites, Moses offers to perish with his fellow countrymen – an offer the Lord refuses.

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