The Book of Life
This is the first mention of the book of God in which the names of the righteous are written. It is referred to in Scripture under various terms: “Thy book” and “My book” (Exodus 32:32-33); “the book of the living” (Psalm 69:28); “the book” (Daniel 12:1); “the book of life” (Phil. 4:3; Rev. 3:5; Rev. 13:8; Rev. 17:8; Rev. 20:11-15; Rev. 22:18-19); and “the Lamb’s book of life” (Rev. 21:27). Just because “book of life” does not appear in all of these passages does not mean the reference in any one instance is to something else. Just as we have several names for the Bible-“the holy scriptures” (Romans 1:2; 2 Tim. 3:15); “the oracles of God” (Romans 3:2; Hebrews 5:12; 1 Peter 4:11); “the law and the prophets” (Luke 24:25-44); “the word of God” (Mark 7:13; Romans 10:17; Hebrews 4:12); “the sword of the Spirit” (Ephes. 6:17); and others-so we have several names for the book of life.
Here God confirmed Moses’ belief that names can and will be blotted out of the book of life when men incur the eternal death penalty (Exodus 32:33). The psalmist predicted it in the case of Judas (Psalm 69:20-28). Christ warned of it regarding all who would not overcome sin (Rev. 3:5; Rev. 22:18-19). This-God’s word, not man’s-is definite, not doubtful; it is universal and eternal in application, not local and limited.