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A | 3: 5. Promise to the overcomer "I will not blot his name out of the book of life".
B | 13: 8. These shall worship the beast.
17: 8. These shall wonder at the beast.
20: 12. The book of life opened.
20: 15. Those not in the book of life.
A | 22: 19. Threat to take the name out of the book of life.
To this list we might add Rev. 22: 18 where the plagues recorded in this book will
be added to any who add to the things written, thus rounding off the intimate connection
that exists with the earlier and closing sections of this prophecy.
A List of Evils Related to Apostacy
Another challenging passage is Rev. 21: 7, 8. Over against the overcomer, who is to
inherit all things, is placed a list of evils, that at first glance belongs only to the wicked,
the ungodly and the unsaved. Yet remembering what we have already seen, and
observing once more that it is in contrast with the OVERCOMER, not with the average
believer, that this list is presented, perhaps the reader will hesitate to pronounce judgment
until the Scriptures are permitted to speak for themselves. Here is the list:
"The fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and
whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake
which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death" (Rev. 21: 8).
Can such a list have any relation with a professed believer? Before this study we
might have pronounced an unhesitating "no" but perhaps we are not quite so sure now.
Let us "search and see".
"The fearful" Greek deilos. This word occurs only three times in the New Testament.
"Why are ye so fearful, O ye of little faith?" (Matt. 8: 26; see also Mark 4: 40).
These words are addressed to the DISCIPLES. Deilia occurs but once, and it is used
by Paul in his letter to Timothy in view of the perilous position Timothy was about to
step into:
"God hath not given us the spirit of FEAR . . . . . be not ashamed" (II Tim. 1: 7, 8).
Deiliao occurs but once, namely in John 14: 27:
"Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid".
The LXX uses deilos of Rehoboam who was young and "tender hearted" and so
understood not "the children of Belial" (II Chron. 13: 7). In like manner, and connected
with the overcoming character, Deut. 20: 8 uses deiliao for the soldier who is "fearful
and faint-hearted". Here therefore is proof, that the "fearful" can and does include many
of those who are nevertheless saved, disciples or servants of the Lord.
"The Unbelieving" apistos. That it is possible for a believer to have "an evil heart of
unbelief in departing from the living God", Heb. 3: 12 makes clear, and the context