Why does God have a BOOK OF LIFE?
What is in it?

Q. What is the BOOK OF LIFE mentioned in the book of Revelation?  WHY does God have it?  WHY does an all-powerful God need to have a book when he already knows EVERYTHING?

(Submitted by: Scott)

A. The first place the Book of Life is mentioned in the Bible is not in Revelation but in the Apostle Paul's letter to the Philippians:

"Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.  I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.  And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the BOOK OF LIFE." (Philippians 4:1-3, NKJV throughout)

The scripture you are likely referring to in Revelation is the one where the Book of Life is opened before God judges the vast majority of mankind:

"Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away.   And there was found no place for them.   And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened.   And another book was opened, which is the BOOK OF LIFE.   And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books . . .

"And anyone not found written in the BOOK OF LIFE was cast into the lake of fire." (Revelation 20:11-12, 15)

Another place the Book of Life is mentioned is where the apostle John, in vision, sees the new heaven and new earth God will create after all mankind is judged (Revelation 21). In this new heaven and earth he also sees the new Jerusalem coming down from heaven to the earth. Not everyone, however, will be allowed in the new city:

"But there shall by no means enter it (new Jerusalem) anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life." (Revelation 21:27)

The book of life can also found in Revelation 3:5, 13:8, 17:8 and 22:19.

The conclusion to be drawn from these Bible verses is that the Book of Life contains the names of those who are truly "saved." Those written in the book are NOT cast into a lake of fire but are allowed to enter the New Jerusalem. Clearly, the Book of Life contains the names of those who God has deemed worthy to receive the gift of eternal life.

But is the "Lamb's Book of Life" found in Revelation 21:27 the same book mentioned in Revelation 20? Yes! The Book of Life can also be rightly referred to as the Lamb's book for it is Jesus Christ, the "lamb of God," who will do the ultimate judging of man:

"For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father . . . " (John 5:22-23)

WHY does God have a Book of Life? The simple answer is because he wants one.