CAN YOUR NAME BE BLOTTED OUT FROM THE BOOK OF LIFE?

by Doug
(Florida)

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 the verse under our consideration.

This verse appears to be saying, that as believers, we must consider that our actions can cause us to be stricken from the book of life.

First let's look at verses about the book of life:

And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. Rev 20:12

And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. Rev 20:15

Unbelievers are under the wrath of God and will be cast into the lake of fire.

Who will God blot out of his book?

And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book. Exod 32:33

Who will God NOT blot out:

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. Rev 3:5

Who is he that overcometh?

Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? 1 John 5:5

You must believe that you are a sinner and under the wrath of God. You can do nothing to save yourself. Christ died and rose again. All you must do is receive Jesus and believe the promise of God that Jesus died to take the penalty for our sins and he gives us his righteousness so we can be reconciled to God and go to heaven.


After we are saved we seek to please God and work to make sure our inheritance.

My understanding of Revelation 22:19 is that as a believer, God will not blot our name from the book of life, but he will take away our portion of the inheritance.

What is meant is God will take away our part from the book of life in that we will not receive a full portion of inheritance.

Let us now look at some verses that uphold my contention that the use of part in Revelation 22:19 is equated with the portion of our inheritance:

And the LORD spake unto Aaron, Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any part among them: I am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel. Numbers 18:20

See how part is a variation of the word inheritance.

Wherefore Levi hath no part nor inheritance with his brethren; the LORD is his inheritance, according as the LORD thy God promised him. Deut 10:9

Part is used to express inheritance again.

Out of the portion of the children of Judah was the inheritance of the children of Simeon: for the part of the children of Judah was too much for them: therefore the children of Simeon had their inheritance within the inheritance of them.
Jos 19:9

Here in this one verse we see that portion and part and inheritance are all used interchangeably.

And Rachel and Leah answered and said unto him, Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father's house? Gen 31:14

Part and Portion are the same Hebrew words and they both correspond to the idea of inheritance.

Believers have the anticipation of reward based on obedience.

We are not saved by good works and obedience to His commands, but after we are saved we are exhorted that they should follow.

And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. Acts 20:32

In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: Eph 1:11


Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. Col 3:24

When The Lord Jesus returns he will judge and reward his people.

Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: Mat 25:34

There is an inherent notion that we will be rewarded with authority to participate in ruling His Kingdom.

Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance? 1 Sam 10:1

And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: Rev 2:26

To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. Rev 3:21

The unfruitful servant will lose his full reward.

The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. Luke 12:46

Here we see that the unprofitable servant's portion is with the unbelievers. He has lost a full portion of inheritance.

For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Eph 5:5


Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 1 Cor 6:9
Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Cor 6:10

Believers will not lose salvation, but will lose rewards. The unbeliever will not inherit the Kingdom; they are under the wrath of God. The believer who is unrighteous will face the terror of God's judgment and loss.

Backing up to our main passage in Revelation 22 we see that the context of this admonition is the Lord's return and the rewarding of the inheritance.

And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. Rev 22:12


We are admonished to be worthy of our salvation and be overcomers by obeying our Great God and Saviour that we may have full reward.

He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. Rev 21:7