The Book of Life
“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 KJV)
The book of life represents our state of salvation. In order to enter into heaven we must have our names written in the book of life. The fact that Jesus is promising to not blot out the name of those that overcome shows that we must live overcoming lives or we will have our name blotted out of the book of life. This is a guarantee of salvation if we overcome, but it also shows we can lose our salvation through disobedience and living a sinful life.
Those whose names are not written in the book of life will be left behind at the rapture.
“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.” (Rev 13:8 KJV)
God will use the book of life at the white throne judgment. Those whose names are not found there will be cast into the lake of fire:
“11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
12 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.
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
(Rev 20:11-15 KJV)
Hear
“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”
(Rev 3:6 KJV)
Again Jesus calls us to hear the warnings. The constant call to overcome shows that Jesus is not only calling us to hear but also to obey.