'If Paul did not feel sure that he had attained the prize and so had

become an overcomer, with his name in the Book of Life, how did he know

that "Clement" and other fellowlabourers had their names there?'

Suppose for argument's sake the Book of Life refers to the saved, the

record of the elect.  How would Paul know that Clement's name was there?

Only by the evidence of his faith and works (see 1 Thess. 1:4 -10).  So he

would see the self -sacrificing service of such as Epaphroditus and others,

who for the work of Christ were nigh unto death, that their names were in the

Book of Life even if it referred to the overcomer.  Moreover, the problem

goes further.  Names must be 'in' a book before they can be expunged.  These

names could be 'blotted out'.  Now the name of Demas may have been in that

book, for he is mentioned with a group of faithful workers who stood by the

apostle even during his imprisonment.  But, in the last epistle Paul has to

write in contrast with the crown with which he was assured, that 'Demas hath

forsaken me' and so Demas, failing to stand the strain, his name would be

blotted out of the Book of Life.

If this interpretation is rejected, then we have but one alternative.

We have to believe and teach that in spite of all the witness of the epistle

to the Romans, a believer who had been redeemed, saved, justified, freed from

condemnation, assured that nothing could either accuse or separate him, that

in spite of all that grace had wrought, that such an one could be blotted out

of the Book of Life, and so lost for ever!  That we most certainly and

entirely repudiate, but the reader should not evade the issue, one or other

of these explanations must be accepted.

Now the promise is made to the overcomer, that his name would not be

blotted out of the Book of Life (Rev. 3:5) which links it with the promise

concerning exemption from the second death and with the overcomer in every

The accompanying chart may help to impress upon the reader the oneness

of this book, and the important place the seven churches have in its entire