The Compendium
Book of Life
51-0508
WILL I FIND FAITH WHEN I RETURN?
The love of God is like a Notary Public, who takes a seal and presses it until the inscription of that seal is pressed in the paper, over the signature. Oh, my! And when Christ signs your name on the Book of Life, and the Holy Spirit presses it in there until the Life of Christ is formed in you, (Hallelujah!) you become deity. Men and women are sons and daughters of God. It does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know we will be like Him, for we shall see Rim as He is, and have a body like His own glorious Body. And we’re waiting for our perfect redemption. Amen. You believe it?
53-1205
THE RESURRECTION
You know that famous book they got out, Who’s Who, of the four hundred millionaires, and so forth, all the dignitaries of the world. Let this world have theirs. Our name’s written in Heaven, on the Lamb’s Book of Life, and that’s who’s God’s Who’s Who is. Might be silly to the world, but their name’s on the Lamb’s Book of Life.
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BEGINNING AND ENDING OF THE GENTILE DISPENSATION
Just as sure as there’s an everlasting Life, there’s an everlasting departure. It’s determined on how you treat Jesus Christ in your life. If you love Him, and are born-again and got His Spirit, you’ve got everlasting Life. If you don’t, you have not everlasting Life. If your name is written on the Lamb’s Book of Life, you have immortal Life. If it’s not written there, you’ll not be recognized.
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WHAT IS A VISION?
When you raise your hand, God writes it down on the Book of Life. The very minute you believe, you pass from death to Life, when you raise your hand. How did you raise your hand? “No man can come to Me except My Father draws him first.” That is it. God is here, drawing. You’re raising your hand. An Angel is writing your name on the Book of Life; that settles it. Now, you’ll receive the Holy Spirit, if you’ll just only believe.
56-0429
JEHOVAH-JIREH
The Bible said that Jambres and Jannes would raise up in the last days and almost deceive the very Elect. Be careful brethren, and keep it right on the Word of God. Don’t leave there. A whole lot of things today that’s going on, that’s not coming from that Word. And, you leave it alone. Stay with the Bible, because the Bible said it would deceive the very Elect, if possible. But when your name’s wrote on the Lamb’s Book of Life from the foundation of the world, you’ll know His Voice. A stranger you’ll not follow. I don’t care if oil is pouring out of hands, feet, and everything else. You’ll know that don’t come from the Bible, and you’ll stay with God.
56-0603
THE LAMB’S BOOK OF LIFE
Now, are you ready? Here it is. It’s a double barrel, and a heavy load. Listen at it. Now, he deceived all whose names were not written in the Lamb’s Book of Life… from the time they joined the church? From the time of the revival? Their names were written in the Lamb’s Book of Life when they came into the church? No. Names were written in the Lamb’s Book of life, from the foundation of the world. Amen. That does it. You get it?
That’s been looked over for hundreds of years, amongst teachers. But look, the Christian’s name was not written in the Lamb’s Book of Life when he came to the altar. The Bible said his name was written in the Lamb’s Book of Life all the way from the foundation of the world. “No man can come to Me except My Father draws Him. And all that comes, I will give him everlasting Life, and will raise him up at the last day.” [John 6:44]
57-0324
WHY SOME PEOPLE CAN’T KEEP THE VICTORY
Just think of everyone of you in here, today, that’s got your name on the Lamb’s Book of Life. You never put it there, and your preacher never put it there; neither did your church put it there. But, God put it there. And when did God do it? It’s written in the Blood of the Lamb. How many believes that? There isn’t enough ink remover, or whatever it is, in the world to get it out of there. Look: God put your name on the Book of Life at the foundation of the world, the Bible said. We’re just nothing. You never had nothing to do with it; I never had nothing to do with it. God, Himself, did it at the foundation of the world, when He slew the Lamb. By foreknowledge, He knew that Christ would be here, and He was called the Lamb of God, slain from the foundation of the world. And the beast will deceive all that dwells upon the earth whose names were not written in the Lamb’s Book of Life from the foundation of the world.
58-0927
WHY ARE WE NOT A DENOMINATION?
Can’t you see how that mothers back yonder, and daddies, how they lived, and grandpa and grandma? Can’t you see how papa and mama has lived? No wonder we’re in the corruption today. No wonder you could preach your head off; they’ll wear shorts, just the same, and spit in your face. They’ll smoke cigarettes and blow it right at you, and say, “Tend to your own business.” Why? Because that’s the tribe they come out of. (I’m going to get to that directly: the seed of the serpent.)
We will find out where she moves in; see why they act like that. They’re the Devil’s children since the foundation of the world. That’s right. And we’re… Nothing left for it, just judgment is the only thing that is left. Can’t have nothing else but judgment. God will just wipe the whole thing out, and men has done it to themselves. God didn’t intend it to be that way, but He knew it would be that way. That’s the reason He said he would deceive all that lived upon the face of the earth, except those whose names were put in the Lamb’s Book of Life before the foundation of the world.
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THE SERPENT’S SEED
I want to ask you something. Is there an eternal security? The Bible says so. The Bible said that our names were put on the Lamb’s Book of Life before the world ever began. As I said this morning (I say it again), the man who wrote the song, “There Was a New Name Written Down In Glory Tonight And It’s Mine,” his idea was all right, but he was wrong scripturally. Your name wasn’t put on the night you got saved. Your name, according to the Bible, according to Revelations 13, 17, and so forth, was put on there before the world ever began; and Jesus Christ was slain before the foundation of the world.
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Revelation 13:8, (listen at this just quickly). And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, wh6se names are not written in the book of Life of the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world
That’s when it was, all right Were we spirits then? No, we were not even nothing then. But, in God’s mind we were, and He spoke it, and it materialized.
Jesus was slain before… How many knows that the Bible teaches that Jesus Christ was the Lamb, slain before the foundation of the world? Why? God spoke it, and when He spoke it, it was as good as finished.
And when He saw me, Re saw you, before the foundation of the world, we were only figurative - in His mind. Then, when we came to the world, we were both man and woman, male and female. He separated the feminish spirit from the man and made a woman out of it, and left the masculine spirit in a man.
* * *
But before the foundation of the world (when the Lamb was slain), our names were put on the Book, when in God’s own mind He foresaw us and predestinated us by His foreknowledge before the foundation of the world. Oh, brother, if that wouldn’t make the church get up and run through the aisles. Think of it. You, who are born-again, before the foundation of the world, God put your name on the Lamb’s Book of Life. Christ died and sent the Holy Ghost here to call you to Eternal Life. You have received It; He sealed you. You’re there till the day of your redemption. Hallelujah!
59-0823
PALMERWORM, LOCUST, CANKERWORM, CATERPILLAR
There was one time, before the foundation of the world, I was Eternal. When God thought of me… I was thought of before the foundation of the world, my name was put in the Lamb’s Book of Life, and so was yours, before there was even one grain of sand. How many knows that’s the Bible? How many know that God put your name in the Lamb’s Book of Life before the foundation of the world? Then, in God’s thinking, we were born right then into His Kingdom.
59-1220m
CONFERENCE WITH GOD
If you have ever noticed, at the Tabernacle I do not permit people to go and pull people to an altar. I don’t believe in that. If God don’t bring you, it won’t do no good for somebody else to. “No man can come except My Father draws him. And all that the Father…” (and the Father draws you because your name’s on the Lamb’s Book of Life) “…and all that He has given Me will come to Me.” Whether you’re in your seat, at the altar, wherever you’re at, you’ll come. That’s exactly truth. Jesus said so.
60-0302
FROM THAT TIME
Abraham, he was different from the time God met him. And look, sometimes, when God meets a man… It looked like Abraham could’ve had the world in his hand. The apostles, with great powers, could’ve had the world in their hands - as it was to say - could’ve spread fame everywhere. But, that kind of fame soon dies. The only lasting fame is when your name is wrote on the Lamb’s Book of Life. That’s when fame is real fame. This earthly fame soon decays.
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EPHESIANS PARALLELS JOSHUA
By foreknowledge, the infinite God, who knew all things, saw the Lamb. And He slayed the Lamb before the foundation of the world, and He put your name on the Lamb’s Book of Life. And He seen the deceitfulness of Satan, what he would do, so He put your name on there. And He said that the antichrist would be so religious, so good, such a fine fellow, such a smart man, such a religious man, that he would deceive the very Elected if it was possible. But it isn’t. It’s impossible, because their names were foreordained, before the foundation of the world. By election, He chose them; and by predestination, they knew where they are going. There you are.
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POSITION IN CHRIST
Inheritance by predestination. I inherited something. What inheritance? There had to be somebody to leave me an inheritance. Why, you say, “Jesus left you an inheritance.” I beg your pardon? Jesus never left me an inheritance; Jesus never left you an inheritance. He only came down and paid for your inheritance, brought you to your inheritance. But your name was put on the Lamb’s Book of Life before the foundation of the world. God gave you your inheritance.
60-0911e
FIVE DEFINITE IDENTIFICATIONS OF THE TRUE CHURCH
Now, can we get into Heaven without being in the Church? You can’t be in the Church until you’re born-again. You can’t go to Heaven until you’re born-again. If you’re born-again, you’re in the Church. So you can’t go to Heaven until you’re a member of this Church, and you can’t be a member until you’re born into it. (And now let me smother you a little.) And, you can’t be a member unless God has called you to be a member.
Now, how happy you ought to be for that, for you were predestinated before the foundation of the world. And your name was written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, the Church Book, before the foundation of the world. That’s the Bible. The Bible said that the antichrist - the organizations, the Catholic church with the rest of organizations - will deceive all upon the face of the earth whose names were not written in the Lamb’s Book of Life before the foundation of the world. Jesus said, “All that the Father hath given Me will come to Me.” That’s His own Word. Not what you done, but what He done.
60-1204e
THE PATMOS VISION
Now, if you’ll notice, there were five foolish and five wise virgins. All of them was virgins - made out of the same material - but, by election… God chose His Bride, by election, before the foundation of the world, and put their names on the Lamb’s Book of Life (slain before the foundation of the world) before the world ever began. God, in His mind, being infinite.
* * *
When was your name put on the Book of Life? Before we ever had a world, you were chosen to receive the Holy Ghost in this age.
61-0101
REVELATION
CHAPTER 4
Twenty-Four Elders
Who did Daniel see coming with tens of thousands times ten thousands? [Daniel 7:10] The Saints. The books were opened: sinners. Another Book was opened, which was the Book of Life: the sleeping virgin (oh, my, can’t they see that?), the sleeping church, them that went out to meet the Bridegroom. They let the Oil go out of the lamp; never entered into this, never let Christ take control so He could work miracles and speak with tongues and do wonders and things to prove that He lived in His Church.
61-0216
THE SEAL OF GOD
Remember, all the peoples on earth, in the last days, is either going to be sealed by the seal of God or marked by the mark of the beast. And he causes all - both poor, great, bond, free - all upon the earth to receive this mark, who did not have the seal, and whose names are not written in the Lamb’s Book of Life since the foundation of the world. [Revelation 13:16]
61-0317
ABRAHAM’S GRACE COVENANT
God chooses by election. Romans the 9th chapter… 8th chapter, said that the election of God might stand sure. [Romans 9:11) Esau and Jacob, before either child was born or had a way to even make a decision of what they were going to do, God said, “I hate Esau and love Jacob.” Because God knew what they were before the world was ever formed. God chose you in Christ before the world ever came into existence. The Bible said so. He put your name on the Lamb’s Book of Life - not when you came to the altar, but before the foundation of the world, He did it.
62-1111e
WHY I’M AGAINST ORGANIZED RELIGION
To be born of the Spirit is to believe, and behave yourself, in the Spirit. It’s to understand and believe with your heart that Jesus is Christ, and this is His Word; that no other words can be added to it or taken away from it without your name taken out of the Book of Life. (That was a strong one.) If you add one thing to it, in your tradition, or take one thing from it, well, Christ said, Himself, “Your name shall be rubbed off the Book of Life.” Now, find organization, denomination in the Bible. You’ll run from it! All right. Regardless of the flesh, denominational teaching is contrary to the Bible.
63-0317e
THE BREACH
“And I saw in the right hand of him that sat upon the throne (God)...” Who is that? The absolutely original Holder of the Book of Life. He holds it - God does. When Adam forfeited it, it went back to its original Owner. It belongs to Him. And John, in the vision, looked over and “...saw in the right hand of him that sat upon the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.” [Revelation 5:1] See? Inside.
* * *
When He had did this - when all creation was groaning, no one knew what to do, and John was weeping - here come the Lamb. Walked over… and this Book was in the hands of the original Owner, because man had fell and lost it. And no man was able to take it anymore, to redeem the earth - no priest, pope, nothing, as I said. But, the Lamb come up! No Mary, no saint this or saint that. The Lamb come up - bloody, slain - and took the Book out of the right hand of Him that sat upon the Throne.
63-0318
THE FIRST SEAL
Last evening (to background it just a little more) we found out that when John looked and seen that Book still in the hands of the original Owner - God. Do you remember how it was lost? By Adam. He forfeited the Book of Life for the knowledge of Satan, and lost his inheritance. Lost everything, and no way for redemption.
* * *
You see the Book, actually, was planned and written before the foundation of the world. This Book - the Bible - was really written before the foundation of the world. And Christ, being the Lamb, was slain before the foundation of the world. And the members of His Bride, their names were put in the Lamb’s Book of Life before the foundation of the world. But, it’s been sealed up! And now it’s being revealed, whose names were in there, all about it. What a great thing!
* * *
Now remember, when He comes, He comes with His Bride. The wife ministers to her husband. And ten thousands times ten thousands of thousands ministered to Him. Judgment was set, and the books were opened, and another Book was opened, which is the Book of Life. Not the Bride at all! She has done gone up, and come back, and is standing there in judgment of those generations that refused the Gospel Message.
63-0319
THE SECOND SEAL
Let’s bow our heads. Heavenly Father, oh I just, sometimes, Lord, stand here and I tremble. I think of that awful hour that is approaching, and there is no way to stop it. It is predicted that it would come. Now, I have thought of why don’t the people come and listen, and won’t they come and accept it? But, of course, I know that You said they wouldn’t, so they won’t. But, there is some that’s got their names written on the Lamb’s Book of Life, and when them Seals are thrown open there, they see their name there, and the Holy Spirit speaks to them. They come.
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON THE SEALS
Question: Brother Branham, is the Lamb’s Book of Life and the Book of Life the same Book?
Sure, because that’s where all redemption’s wrote - in this Book, see? Their names are in… You say, “Well, our name’s put on the Lamb’s Book of Life, Brother Branham. I got it put on the other night.” No, you didn’t. No, you didn’t. You just found out it was on there the other night, see, because their names were written before the foundation of the world, see? That’s… It’s all the same Book, see?
Question: Brother Branham, is it true that every Jew born since Christ came will be saved, and who are the 144,000? Are they the predestinated ones to be sealed with the Holy Ghost, and what is their mission?
There’s about three questions in one there. But here, the first one is: Is it true that every Jew born since Christ came into the world is to be saved?
No. Nothing will be saved, only those whose names were put on the Lamb’s Book of Life before the foundation of the world -Jew or Gentile. That’s all. The Book holds that mystery, and the Book is only unfolding it now, not each one’s name, but what the mystery of the Book is while it’s calling those names. Do you understand that now? See?
The Book doesn’t say, “Now, Lee Vayle is to be saved in the time of this church age,” or, “Orman Neville-“ or whoever. No, it don’t say that. It just shows the mystery, unfolds the mystery of what the thing is. But we, ourselves, by faith believe it.
63-1110m
SOULS THAT ARE IN PRISON NOW
“And He came forth and took the Book out of the right hand of Him that sat upon the Throne...” [Revelation 5:7] and time was no more. And immediately an Angel appeared in the 10th chapter and 7th verse, saying… this Angel came down and swore that time was no longer. But, you see, in this Book was what was redeemed; it was the Book of Redemption, and everything that He had redeemed was written in that Book. All that He died for was written in the Book, and He could not leave His mediatorial seat until He had thoroughly redeemed… and He couldn’t redeem it at the cross, because they were predestinated in the Lamb’s Book of Life, and He had to stay on there to make intercessions until that last person was finished. Glory!
* * *
There’s no more mercy. When the Lamb takes the Book, that’s it. That’s all of it, and it looks a whole lot like it could be now. Maybe we have another day. Maybe today is that day. Maybe tomorrow is the last, maybe tonight is the last night. Maybe this is the last year. I don’t know, friends. I’m telling you. I don’t know. It’ll never be told me. But, when God takes that last name, and redeems it from that Book of Life, that’s all of it.
63-1110e
HE THAT IS IN YOU
See, all in the Lutheran age, He pulled them out. All in the Wesley age, He pulled them out. All in the different ages… the Pentecostal age, He pulls them out. They’re over here, and won’t be judged with them, they’re rapturing. And then, when the last name comes out that was put on the Lamb’s Book of Life - that was slain before the foundation of the world - when that last name has been redeemed, His work is finished. He comes forth to claim what He has redeemed.
That makes our heart bleed, but if it went on a thousand years later, there would not be one redeemed. And no one can be redeemed unless they were put on the Lamb’s Book of Life before the foundation of the world. Who are they? I don’t know. Nobody else knows. See? Just God alone. I’m trusting that every one of us, our names are on that Book. If mine was on there, I’m sure to be there. If it wasn’t, I won’t be there, that’s all. See, that’s just up to God. “It’s not of him that willeth, him that runneth, but God that showeth mercy.” [Romans 9:16]
63-1124e
THREE KINDS OF BELIEVERS
That’s the reason I do believe that when that Bride is called out, and elected, and set in the Book of Life, there’ll come a sound from Heaven that’ll take such a baptism of the Holy Spirit into that Bride, that it will take Her from the earth, in a rapturing grace. God promised it.
* * *
Notice, Jesus said they would deceive the very Elected… Now, that wouldn’t be Methodist; that wouldn’t be Baptist. We know they’re unbelievers to begin with. But, it’s Pentecostal organizations that took into that denomination, drew their lines without the Word, and drew a line and put up their own organization, and fenced out the Word. They would deceive the very Elected. So perfectly alike! Say, “They cry; they shout; they jump up and down; they claim healing services!” So did Judas, and so did all the rest of them. When they went out, come back rejoicing and everything, and even had their names written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. But remember, the Bride don’t come up in that group. She goes in the Rapture.
* * *
At the Judgment, the Judgment was set, and the books were opened (the wicked) and another Book, which is the Book of Life, it was open. And there was the Bride there to judge it. See? Another Book was open, which was the Book of Life. That’s the sheep on one side and the goats on the other. See, the people that died back yonder never had the opportunity. They will be the ones that’ 11 be separated.
64-0415
CHRIST IS IDENTIFIED THE SAME IN ALL GENERATIONS
He [Jesus] is sitting at the right hand of God tonight, doing His mediatorial work And, when that last soul is saved that was redeemed, and seen, and knew by God before the foundation of the world… when that last soul’s saved, that closes the Book. Then, the Lamb comes out and takes the Book out of the right hand of Him that sits upon the throne. Then, He’s coming then. He’s coming to the earth.
64-0719e
GOING BEYOND THE CAMP
What if you come up there, baptized in some other way, and the same Jesus who said, “Who will take one word or add one word, the same will be taken out of his part of the Book of Life!” [Revelation 22:19]
64-0726m
RECOGNIZING YOUR DAY AND ITS MESSAGE
You’d be daresome to try to add to that, or take from it. For if you do try to put the interpretation on it yourself, your part is taken from the Book of Life. Are you trying to say something that the Spirit hasn’t said? Are you trying to make it sound like it said something, or are you just taking exactly what it said and leaving it like that? Are you splicing, cutting, taping, doing things that’s not right?
64-0830m
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Question: Brother Branham, on one of the tapes of the “Seven Church Ages, “you mentioned that Judas had been justified, sanctified. Were these genuine (there’s a good one!) genuine experiences of grace that he received? You also mentioned that Judas had his name on the Book of Life, and yet, we know he went to Hades and was lost. How can a person have their name on the Book of Life and still be lost? Or why does God put persons names on the Book of Life when He knows that they will be lost at the end?
Now, that’s a good one, isn’t it? Now, this will be good. Now, I will just have to depend on the Lord to answer this, because I’m just prowling out… probing out, rather. Look! First, in our churches, I mentioned that Judas had his name on the Book of Life. That’s true. Now, we know that, because Jesus told them when all of them was sent out (Matthew 10), to cast out devils, to preach the Gospel… freely received, freely give. And they returned back, rejoicing because the devils was subject to them. Is that right? And Jesus told them… and He called their names (which ones they was, how many was sent out). And they come back… and Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed Him… See? They come back rejoicing, because the devils was subject unto them.
Now, see, the attitude was wrong there. See? You mustn’t rejoice, “… because I got power to make a devil move.” See? You mustn’t do that, you must rejoice because you’ve even received enough grace to be saved.
* * *
Because your name is on the Book of Life (because it is in Heaven, your name has been recognized), that still doesn’t mean that you are saved. See? You’re not converted until you receive the Holy Ghost. Remember that. You’re only potentially converted. See?
* * *
Jesus told Peter, who had been both saved and sanctified… He believed on Jesus, was sanctified. St. John 17:17, Jesus said, “’Sanctify them, Father, through the Truth; Thy Word is the Truth.”
And He and the Word is the same. They were sanctified, potentially, through the Truth - the Word, the Truth. And then, Jesus told Peter, the night of the betrayal, He said, “After you are converted, then strengthen your brethren.”
“After you’re converted...!” The man had followed Him for three years, and had his name on the Lamb’s Book of Life, and had cast out devils, and done great works, and healed, and done all kind of… preached the Word, and everything, and still wasn’t converted. See, you’re leading to conversion. See?
The baby that… When the act is taken place between the egg and the sperm… or the gene… But when they… Potentially, the baby’s there, when the act is done. Then, the body is developed (second stage). But, the baby has to be born here, and then it receives the breath of life. It is not yet the breath of life. You say, “Oh, it’s alive!” No, it isn’t! That’s little nerves jerking, muscles. See? The baby hasn’t received life till it’s born. And you may jump and jerk, but you’re not… See, see? You’ve got to be born. You know what I mean?
* * *
Judas Iscariot professed to be a believer, and he had his name written among them on the Book of Life. Is that right? He claimed to have Eternal Life, and his name was put on the Book of Life. So he has to… Why? He has to be judged then, to see why did he condemn the Word of Life then, sell out for thirty pieces of silver. Some sells out to be a Methodist, Baptist or what-more. Sold out his position from the Book of Life. And he will have to be… stand there and be judged by that, by the Word. See? That’s why Judas had to do it. See? Judas has to come to the Judgment. His name was on the Book of Life, but that don’t mean he’s saved. He has to stand the Judgment.
* * *
So Judas had his name there on the Book of Life (that’s exactly right), but he was condemned, because what did he do? He sold out his birthrights.
Esau was born in a family with the promise of God. The oldest son had the birthright. How many knows that? By a promise of God, Esau’s name was on the Book for the birthright (is that right?), but he swapped it for a mess of wild gourds, or peas - hungry - to fill his belly. His meal ticket, he swapped his birthrights for a meal ticket, and could find no place to repent.
* * *
And here (Paul speaking), if a man ever comes to a spot that he’s been saved, and sanctified - the Blood sanctifies; Hebrews 13:12 and 13 says the Blood sanctifies - and then comes right up to the gate of the baptism of the Holy Ghost, and because of prestige or denomination refuses to walk in it, said, “That person is lost and can never be saved.” See? For he’s done it despite… even to the very works of grace that’s called him up to that place, and shown it to him; and then turn around, walk away from it. He counts the Blood of the covenant wherewith He was crucified (Christ), was crucified as an unholy thing. Because the Blood that saved him, and justified him, and sanctified him, brings him up to the baptism of the Holy Ghost. And then walks away and leaves it...
Now, watch that pattern. I’m taking a lot of time, but look! Judas Iscariot followed those same tracks. He was justified by believing on the Lord Jesus, and then accepted Him as his personal Saviour. He was sanctified, and given power to cast out spirits; put his name on the Lamb’s Book of Life. But, when it come to Pentecost and the baptism of the Holy Ghost, the fullness of the Word, he showed his colors. That’s exactly what the Canaan spies did; that’s exactly what Esau done.
* * *
Sanctification is when your name goes on the Book as a believer. Your name is wrote in His Blood. See? Sanctification does that.
64-1212
THE HARVEST TIME
God is sovereign. When He… Who could tell God how to make things, in the beginning, when there was just He alone? See? And if we have Eternal Life, there is only one form of Eternal Life, and that’s God. So if we have Eternal Life, we were with God right then, apart of God. We were His attribute. We are now His attribute. And, because, “In the beginning was the Word.” And a word is a thought expressed. So we were His thoughts, then expressed into word and became what we are. That’s the reason our names… maybe not what we have now, but our names were put on the Lamb’s Book of Life before the foundation of the world. See? And if it wasn’t there then, it’ll never be there. See? And Jesus came to redeem all those… that’s whose names were on that Book. See, He knew.
64-1221
WHY IT HAD TO BE SHEPHERDS
God is One. God is the only one that has Eternal Life, and He is Eternal Life. And anything that had a beginning has an end. And if you’re just a member of a church, it had a beginning. But the Word of God has no beginning, God has no… And when you are born of God, you’re born of the Word, then you become a son of God, and your name was put on the Lamb’s Book of Life before the foundation of the world. And you - the color of hair you have, the color eyes you have, the statue that you’re in - God seen you before the foundation of the world. And, He seen you, a human being, like you are. And though there come a million years yet, there’s nothing can keep you from coming back to that perfect image that God ordained for you in the beginning.
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THE EASTER SEAL
If there’s someone here that don’t know that they’d go in that resurrection, and not sure that they’ve got that resurrection power resting in them… Though the skin worms destroy it, though an atomic bomb burst right in the middle of you, it’ll never destroy that quickening resurrection power. No, no, sister, brother, your precious name is put on the Lamb’s Book of Life up yonder. No man can rub it out. There isn’t enough rubbing compound in the world to rub your name from the Book there, where His blood has bought it. If you’re not sure of that, don’t take a chance on it now. See?
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PROVING HIS WORD
Jesus came to redeem those that were in the Book. In the Bible, the Lamb came from behind the curtain, and taken the Book and opened the Seals that it was sealed with, for He came to claim all He had redeemed. He’s the Intercessor now, an Intercessor making intercessions for those who He has redeemed. All whose name was written on the Lamb’s Book of Life, is redeemed.
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THE ANOINTED ONES AT THE END TIME
Look at those people who came out under Moses’ prophecy, came out of that organization, and came out of everything under the prophecy. They saw the great works, and wonders, and things like that, and came up to the borderline of going in. (Now Lee, there comes your name on the Book. See? You’ve got it fixed out. You got it.) And to you that’s not here, and out in the hook-ups, Doctor Lee Vayle is sitting here; he’s grammarizing this book of The Seven Church Ages, and the problem came up, the question, about your name taken off the Lamb’s Book of Life. See, it’s puzzled a lot of ministers, but wait till you get the book. You’ll understand it if you just got any Light in you.
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CHRIST IS REVEALED IN HIS OWN WORD
Again we read in Revelations 22:18 and 19: “If any man will add one word to this or take one word from it, God will take his part out of the Book of Life.” That’s right. God will take his part, though he be a minister, whatever he may be and his name is wrote on the Book of Life, God said, “I will just rub it right off (that’s right) if he adds one thing to it or takes one word from it.” That’s how infallible God has made His Word. See? You can add to the church, or take from the church, but don’t you add to that Word or take from it, because God will take your name right off the Book of Life. And that’s… you’re finished then. See? You can’t add to it or take from it.
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INVISIBLE UNION OF THE BRIDE OF CHRIST
Life is a sacred thing to God, and it is recorded in a Book. God is the Author of Life. Do you believe that? Our natural life we have here is just a perversion. It really should be the right Life to begin with, but it is perverted by the natural birth.
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The first life, or your first union, you were joined in at birth by nature. A natural act, a natural human being, associated - man and woman together - associated together in sexual affair which brought your first life here, and that is associated with sin and death!
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Your name, of your first nature, was born and put in a Book of Life, and all your deeds was wrote in it, too. Everything you done under that nature, was put in a book called the Book of Life.
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Now, but when you were separated from that union by spiritual death, your natural desires to cut your hair, your natural desires to wear shorts, paint your face, your natural desires is to be intellectual, smart man; know something better than the other.
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Now, your old book is gone with your old union. Now, your name in your old… has been transferred. Now, you say, “Do you mean to tell me, that my old book...?” God put it in the sea of His forgetfulness. You stand perfectly before God.
Now, your name is now in the new Book: not in the Book of Life, but the Lamb’s Book of Life. What the Lamb redeemed. Not the old book of your natural union, but you are new Bride, hallelujah! Your new Life is in the Lamb’s Book of Life - your marriage certificate, hallelujah! - where your true Eternal Germ, from the beginning, takes hold.
Now, you are not only forgiven, but you are justified.
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Oh my, there are your two Books. One of them is the Lamb’s Book of Life. Your name on there is predestinated on there. It can’t go, because you can no more take that away than nothing, because it was foreordained to be on there. But, the regular Book of Life, you can take that off at any time. If you don’t repent, it is off anyhow, because you are going to stand in the Judgment. The Bride don’t even stand in the Judgment. It goes in the Rapture.
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WORKS IS FAITH EXPRESSED
When you get the book [An Exposition Of The Seven Church Ages] you’re going to see maybe a little confusion there, of what I said:
“The two Books of Life.” It’s the same Book, but one of them is your natural birth, the other one is your spiritual birth. One leads out to the other one, just like a stalk of wheat. Whenever you talk to me, you talk to me as a living person. But, there’s a part of me here, is that person that must perish. That’s the book that the name comes off of. But, the Eternal one, the predestinated one, the Elected one, the name never can come from there because it was always on it. It can never be taken off. You’ll notice it in the book, so we save your confusion.
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There’s only one real Book of Life - like there was one germ of the wheat that come up through the stalk, and went through the tassel, and out through the husk, and into the wheat. All the way along there, you say, “Now, that’s a wheat laying there.” It isn’t the wheat. It’s the stalk, but together it’s the wheat. See, it’s the wheat because it’s all one stalk, but the wheat is what you’re talking about - the grain at the end of it. The others was a carrier, it must perish. And that’s the one place that sounds like you can have your name taken off the Lamb’s Book of Life, and the other place you can’t do it. So, that’s where it is. It’s all in that great revelation there, which was made known during the time of the Seven Seals.
AN
EXPOSITION OF THE SEVEN CHURCH AGES,
Chapter 5, The Pergamean Church Age
And today, each one of us true believers has had a change in name. We are Christians. It is a name common to all of us. But one day we will have another change; we will, of a certainty, receive a new name. It could well be that name was our true and original name, written in the Lamb’s Book of Life from the foundation of the world. He knows the name, but we do not. One day, at His good pleasure, we will know also.
AN
EXPOSITION OF THE SEVEN CHURCH AGES,
Chapter 7, The Sardisean Church Age
The possibility of the removal of a name from the records of God deserves more than a casual study, for up until now most students have merely drawn a conclusion that God places the names of those born-again within the Lamb’s Book of Life at the time of their rebirth; and if, for any reason, that name must be removed, the space on the record will simply be a blank, as it was before a name had been placed there. This is one hundred percent opposite to what the Word actually teaches.
At the very start of our study, let it be known that there is not one Scripture that teaches that God is presently compiling a record of names. This was all done before the foundation of the world, as we will point out shortly. Also, it is not a question of simply involving ourselves with two groups of people, both of whom had opportunity to receive Eternal Life, wherein one group received it and had their names placed on record, while the others who refused did not have their names so placed. We will actually show by Scripture that multitudes who were not even born-again will go into Eternal Life.
As strange as this may sound, it is certainly true. We will also show that there is a group of people whose names, having been placed on that record before the foundation of the world, cannot under any circumstances, have those names removed. But, we’ll also show that another group, whose names were on that record before the foundation of the world, will have their names removed.
To begin with, there is no basis for the claims that the Lamb’s Book of Life is not the same as the Book of Life. The Book of Life might be called the Lamb’s Book of Life, or Christ’s Book of Life, or even Thy Book, and Book of the Living. Only names are written in it. [Revelation 13:8, Revelation 20:12-15]… You can see that though there are other books mentioned, there is always the reference to one Book containing names. In the Revelation, it is called the Lamb’s Book of Life, or the Book of Life.
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The Book of Life is definitely located in Heaven, and will appear at the great White Throne Judgment. In these verses Jesus said that their names were written in Heaven. They were written in the Book of Life, for that is where names are placed. Jesus was speaking to the seventy (verse 17), but He was also speaking to the twelve (verse 23). These had all been rejoicing that devils were subject to them in Jesus’ Name. Christ’s rejoinder was, “Rejoice not that spirits are subject to you, but rather that your names are written in heaven (Book of Life).” You will note here that Judas was one of those who were casting out devils in Jesus’ Name, but we know that he was a devil, the son of perdition, John 6:70-7 1. Judas, a devil, lost a God-given, Holy Ghost ministry, and killed himself and”… went to his own place.” His name was even in the Book of Life. But, his name was blotted out.
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See how Judas was chosen of God? He was instructed in Truth. He shared knowledge of the mysteries. He had a ministry of power granted unto him, and he healed the sick and cast out devils in Jesus’ Name. But, when the show-down came, he sold out for gold and political power. He did not go up to Pentecost to receive the Spirit of God. He was devoid of the Spirit. Make no mistake about it, a person that is truly baptized by the Holy Ghost into the Body of Christ, receiving the fullness of the Spirit, will be in the Word all the way. That is the evidence of being baptized with the Holy Ghost.
Judas failed. Multitudes fail right there. And when they fail to go on in that Word, their names are taken off the Book of Life.
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As Israel (chosen people of God) in majority forfeited their rights in the Book of Life by rejecting Jesus, so the majority of the Gentile church will also come into condemnation, with the resultant removal of their names from the Book of Life by rejecting the Word and thereby entering into the world ecumenical movement which is the image erected unto the beast.
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To further clarify, notice specifically the words of Matthew 25:31-46. It does not say that a shepherd is literally separating sheep from goats, but it is as a shepherd dividing sheep from goats. These are not sheep in this particular area of time (White Throne Judgment). The sheep are in His fold, they heard His Voice (Word) and they followed Him. They already have Eternal Life, and cannot come into the Judgment.
But, these do not have Eternal Life, and they are in the Judgment. They are allowed to go into Eternal Life, but upon what grounds do they enter into Life Eternal? Certainly not upon the fact that they already have His Life, as does the Bride. But, they receive it because they were kind to His brethren. They are not His brethren (that would make them joint-heirs with Jesus). They are not heirs to anything but Life. They share no throne, etc. with Him. Their names must have been in the Book of Life and not removed. Now, because of their love of the people of God, they are recognized and saved. No doubt these served and helped the children of God. Perhaps, like Nicodemus and Gamaliel, they stood for the children in a time of trouble.
If this seems to smack of “restoration,” watch carefully now, for the wicked are not restored, but turned into the Lake of Fire. The names of many of those destroyed were in the Book of Life also; but, they were blotted out because they failed to honor the people of God, who were the living, manifested Word (living epistles) for their day.
It is the second resurrection wherein the five foolish virgins come up. Notice that they were virgins. They did not have the Holy Spirit, so they missed being in the Bride, while the five wise who had Oil became a part of that Bride. But these people, being a separated, God-loving people, and trying to abide in the Word, according to what they knew of it, and being a help in the work of the Lord, will come up at the end of time. They will miss the millennium, which you can begin to see by these truths is much more important and wonderful than we have ever thought or believed.
All these people had their names in the Book of Life, and their names remained. But whose names did not remain? Those of the world-system churches who fought the Bride will be those whose names are removed. That is who will lose out. They will be cast into the Lake of Fire.
Now let us go another step, but before we do, let us review our case thus far: First of all, we know most assuredly that the purpose of God stands in election. It was purposed in Himself. It was God’s purpose to bring forth a people like unto Himself that would be a Word Bride. She was chosen before the foundation of the world in Him. She was fore-known and beloved before she was ever brought forth during the ages upon the earth. She was redeemed by His Blood, and can never come into condemnation. She can never be in the judgment, because sin cannot be imputed unto her. [Romans 4:8]… Her name (each of her members) was written in a section of the Lamb’s Book of Life before the foundation of the world.
Secondly, there is another class. Their names are also in the Book of Life; and they will come up in the second resurrection. Such are the foolish virgins, and the righteous, as are spoken of in Matthew 25. In this class also are those who do not worship the Beast, or become involved in the antichrist system, but die for their faith (even though they are not in the Bride, not having been born-again). But, they will come up in the second resurrection, and go into Eternal Life.
Thirdly, there are the borderline Christians, such as we saw in Israel coming out of Egypt. These had their names in the Book of Life, and their works written in the books. These, having failed to obey God and being void of the Spirit, though even the signs and wonders were amongst them, will have their names removed from the Book of Life. Amongst this group will be the ones, like Judas, who though entirely void of the Spirit, but are religious, will have manifestation in their lives, and though on the books, were not the elected in Him. Such also as Balaam will be in that group.
Fourth, and finally, are the ones whose names have never been, or will ever be, written on the books. Such are found in Revelation 13:8 and Revelation 17:8, “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. The beast that thou sawest was, and is not: and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: 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.”
Jesus said that a certain group would accept one who came in his own name. That one is the antichrist. And that is exactly what it says of them in Revelation 13:8, and 17:8. These were ordained of God, but not unto election. And with this group is such that are as Pharaoh. It says of him, “Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up. Vessels of wrath fitted for destruction.” Romans 9:17 and 22. None of these would be placed on the records of life. I am not saying that there is no record of them. No doubt there is some kind of a record of them, but not in the records of “Life.” [Proverbs 16:4 and Job 21:30]
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Names are going to be blotted out of the Book of Life. No names will be blotted out of the Book of Eternal Life for that is another record, though contained in the Book of Life.