Revelation 22:18-19, “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”
When considering a verse of scripture in the book of The Revelation, it is very important to search the other 65 books of God’s Holy Word for answers and help for questions. It is equally important when studying a verse such as our study verse to remember that the Bible declares plainly and clearly that a child of grace cannot lose their eternal salvation (John 10:27-30; Jude vs 1; Romans 8:35-39). It is impossible for any of God’s children to have their name removed from the eternal book. Isaiah 49:15 teaches us that those names are engraved in God’s hands.
With these two principles in mind, and thinking on our study verse, let us look at Deuteronomy 9:14, “Let me alone, That I may destroy them, and blot out their name from under heaven: and I will make of thee a nation mightier and greater than they.” In Exodus 32:33 we learn that the “name from under heaven” in Deuteronomy 9:14 is to be “blot out of my book.” Because the children of Israel were disobedient and rebellious, the Lord was going to “blot” out their names from the “book.” This is referring to the children of Israel dying and not being able to enter into the rich blessings of God in Canaan’s Land. Because the children of Israel rebelled against God’s commands, they lost the opportunity to enter Canaan and enjoy the Lord’s bountiful temporal blessings. This does not mean that those people went to hell and torment. Moses was one of those who did not enter Canaan, and we find him in the New Testament with the Lord on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matt 17; Mark 9; Luke 9). The names of those disobedient people were removed from God’s book “under heaven.”
The New Testament Church and God’s rich blessings therein is very similar to us as the Land of Canaan was to them. If the children of God obey the Lord and keep His commands, they can enjoy His rich temporal blessings in the New Testament Promised Land, the Church. But as they missed on those blessings, if we fail to obey God, we will miss those in the Church.
This is not to be interpreted that all those who disobey God will lose their natural life because of a particular disobedience, but it means that they will lose a time of fellowship with God while living in this world. God will “take away” their part “out of the book of life.” Just as the Prodigal son was separated (“dead”) to the blessings of his father when he was away from home, we can be separated from our Father’s rich temporal blessings. And just as the Prodigal son returned home and was restored, we in our repentance can do the same. When we consider such a thing, it should cause us to fear and do everything required of us as His children to not experience such a tragedy. But to live our lives in this world doing what He has commanded us to do. Amen!