The Book of Life Mystery That Will Change Your Faith FOREVER

Is the Book of Life doctrine a control tactic?

Hello and welcome back to finding the alternative. Today we are going to talk about the Book of Life. If you prefer to watch the video (27 min) instead click here.

I really hope that these blogs are helping lead your soul to the true God who’s love is from everlasting to everlasting and His peace is beyond understanding. I want to please encourage you to look into these things yourself, pray to God and ask Him to reveal Himself through the Word of God. That way you will be able to understand what God truly wants from you and that you will be free from this nightmare.

Let’s go.

I am going to keep this subject relatively short as there is not too much to get into and I am a believer of just getting to the main point.

As always we break this into 4 parts if we can.

1. What is the teaching of the Wimscog as far as the Book of Life is Concerned?

2. What is the origin of this teaching, if any?

3. What does this really say about the Book of Life?

4. Our conclusion. I believe that it is nonsensical to think that there is a literal physical book of life that your name is written in on earth. I will explain why towards the end of the article so stick around. 

Now let's see what the teaching Wimscog believes in regarding the Book of Life.

Basically, it is something like this. When you are born here on earth your name is documented in the census or a registry. This is the same spiritually. When you are born again spiritually through baptism to receive a new life in Christ your name is written in the book of life that is only in the WMSCOG. Essentially the physical book your name is written in the WMSCOG is considered as a spiritual census or registry.

Essentially unless your name is written in the actual physical book of life in the physical WMSCOG Church, your name will not be written in the Lamb’s book of life in Heaven. They also believe that just because your name was written in the book of life it does not mean it remains forever. If you leave the church or commit sin that the church deems unforgivable your name will be literally blotted in the physical book in the church, thus blotting your name out of the heavenly book of life. 

When I was baptized I had my name written in an actual book as well as other personal information. It is important to note that each main church has their own book of life that new members have their name written down in.

I'm sure they have some sort of database that the names are plugged into as well for organization purposes. But the church believes that the act of writing your name in a physical book that is named the book of life is a matter of salvation.

Even so much so that if a church does not have a literal physical book of life it can not be the true church. Since the WMSCOG does have a literal physical book called the book of life that they physically write their members' names in, the WMSCOG considers that the factor of why the true church.

In fact, they believe that Ahnsahnghong restored the teaching in regard to having a physical book of life in the church that contains the name of baptized members. There is no evidence to support the abolishment of the book of life provided by the Wimscog but we include that point for clarity.

The verses they use to draw these conclusions are as follows. Keep in mind as you are reading they believe everything applies to the physical book on earth.

Luke 10 verses 17-20 “names written in heaven”

Romans 6 verses 1-4 “reborn into a new life”

Isaiah 4 verses 2-4 “recorded among the living”

Daniel 12 verses 1-3 “Names in the book = leading many to righteousness”

Philippians 4 verses 2-3 “Names in the book = Gospel Workers”

Revelation 20 verses 12-15 “Names not in the book = you worship the devil”

Revelation 13 verses 18 “Names not in the book = you worship the beast”

Psalm 69 verses 26-28 “Names can be blotted”

Revelation 3 verse 5 “If you betray Wimscog truth you will be blotted”

Mathew 16 verse 19 “Proves that your name should be written in the book of life on earth in order for it be written in heaven”

In regards to the origin of the Book of Life as far as the WMSCOG. According to my research I believe that it was the original teaching of Ahnsahnghong. As a matter of fact you can actually see Mother’s name and General Pastors name in the book of life that Ahnsahnghong had in the original church. Link is in the description. It is important to note that Shincheonji also has the same teaching of writing your name in a physical registry in order to receive salvation.

Now what does the bible teach about the book of life? Let's not study it to prove anything. But let's just try to understand the pure context of the scriptures instead. I am not trying to prove anyone wrong or write. I am merely trying to understand what the bible is trying to portray.

If the bible testifies about a physical book of life on earth as the WMSCOG insists, then so be it. If it doesn’t will you be willing to accept correction and instruction from the word of God? 

I believe that you run into problems when you try to get the scriptures to match your doctrine. That is where a lot of Churches especially the Wimscog fall into critical error. Why not just have your doctrine simply match the scriptures.

Anyways let's get into it.

Let's first look into the old testament to understand the context building up to the Lamb’s book of life in Revelation. 

Exodus 17 verse 14

“Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the name of Amalek from under heaven.”

Here we see God commanded Moses to write down on the scroll to remember the enmity between Israel and the Amalekites. However does it mean that Amalek was written in an actual book of life and that his name was once written in Heaven? I dont think so. God is saying that He is going to destory Amalek, that's all. As far as the scroll of remembrance is concerned.

Let's see another verse. 

Malachi 3 verse 16

“Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored his name.”

Again we see a scroll of remembrance for those who fear God and honor his name. Personally I think that the scroll of remembrance is of the recorded history of Israel and does not seem to resemble or indicate the book of Life that WMSCOG claims exists.

Let's continue our study.

Exodus 32 verses 30-35

“The next day Moses said to the people, “You have committed a great sin. But now I will go up to the Lord; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.”

So Moses went back to the Lord and said, “Oh, what a great sin these people have committed! They have made themselves gods of gold. But now, please forgive their sin—but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written.”

The Lord replied to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out of my book. Now go, lead the people to the place I spoke of, and my angel will go before you. However, when the time comes for me to punish, I will punish them for their sin.”

And the Lord struck the people with a plague because of what they did with the calf Aaron had made.”

Here we see Israel sinned against God, Moses wanted to make atonement for Israel’s sin and said to God to forgive them or blot his own name out of that book. But God said now I will blot out those who sinned. Then how were they blotted? They were destroyed.

God doesn't grab His book, lick His pen and strike off their names one by one, of course it is metaphorical. 

In fact we see this same expression in the following verse.

Deuteronomy 29 verse 20-21

“The Lord will never be willing to forgive them; his wrath and zeal will burn against them. All the curses written in this book will fall on them, and the Lord will blot out their names from under heaven. The Lord will single them out from all the tribes of Israel for disaster, according to all the curses of the covenant written in this Book of the Law.”

It appears that when the bible mentions that the Lord will blot out their names from Heaven, it means God will destroy them. When it mentions the “curses of this book” referenced in verse 20, it is clearly the Book of the Law as seen in verse 21. 

Let's continue with 

Psalms 69 verses 27-28

Charge them with crime upon crime;

do not let them share in your salvation.

May they be blotted out of the book of life

and not be listed with the righteous.

Here we see David pleading with God to not let his enemies share in God’s salvation and that they’re names not be blotted out from the Book of Life. In Hebrew it is translated as “book of the living”.  Again we see the same phrases “being blotted out” considering what we have studied so far and if you read the whole context of Psa 69. David is asking God to destroy his enemies. Now does this mean a literal physical book of life?

Let's see another Psalm of David and confirm.

Psalms 56 verse 8

Record my misery;

list my tears on your scroll—

are they not in your record?

Here we see that there is a scroll and record that contains a list of every single one of David’s tears. Are we going to assume this is a literal scroll? Of course not. It is poetic language describing the anguish of King David.

Nehemiah 13 verse 14

“Remember me for this, my God, and do not blot out what I have so faithfully done for the house of my God and its services.”

Here we see Nehemiah asking God to not blot out his Good deeds. Does it mean his deeds are physically being recorded? Of course not.

Isaiah 43 verse 25

“I, even I, am he who blots out

your transgressions, for my own sake,

and remembers your sins no more.

God blots out transgression and remembers sins no more.

We can also see God keeps a record of all things.

Ecclesiastes 12 verse 14

For God will bring every deed into judgment,

including every hidden thing,

whether it is good or evil.

Here we see that God will bring every deed into Judgement whether Good or Evil. God keeps records of everything. But of course it doesn't mean on actual pen and paper, it appears to be a spiritual record. 

We can also see this hinted at in Daniel 7 verses 9-10.

“As I looked, “thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him. Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was seated, and the books were opened.

Let's see another verse. 

Isaiah 4 verses 2-6

Isaiah 4:2-6 NIV

In that day the Branch of the Lord will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of the survivors in Israel. Those who are left in Zion, who remain in Jerusalem, will be called holy, all who are recorded among the living in Jerusalem. The Lord will wash away the filth of the women of Zion; he will cleanse the bloodstains from Jerusalem by a spirit of judgment and a spirit of fire. Then the Lord will create over all of Mount Zion and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; over everything the glory will be a canopy. It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain.

Here we see the expression “in that day”. What day is it referring to? Well if you read Isaiah chapter 3 it is talking about God’s wrath against Jerusalem. Those who survive the judgement of God who are left in Zion will be called Holy and will be recorded amont the living. Why because they are literally still alive due to God’s grace. Because as we have seen before, to be blotted out typically means to be destroyed in the context of the Old Testament. 

This is very similar to Daniel. Let's see.

Daniel 12 verses 1-4

“At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered. Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. But you, Daniel, roll up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge.”

Now the WMSCOG loves to teach that those who do their gospel work the most, who attend all their services, tithe and serve the church are the ones whose names are shining like the stars. Not only that but those who are saved according to WMSCOG will receive planets, stars and galaxies. If you don't do the WMSCOG gospel work your name becomes blurry and flickering, then eventually goes dark.

Then what does the Bible say here?

Here we see this time frame is in regards to the end times. Here the “your people” are the same people that survive the time of distress. Just like in the verse we saw they have not been blotted out or destroyed. They have been recorded among the living hence they are delivered. After that there are the 2 groups of people that are sleeping that wake up, some to life and others to everlasting contempt. This mirrors what happens in Revelation on judgment day.

So again we can see that it doesnt mean a literal book, but that God keeps records of everything we say and do.

All these verses that we have studied thus far are very similar to what Jesus and the Apostles taught as well.

Let's see a few.

Luke 13 verse 28

 “There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out.

Here we see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and All the prophets are in the Kingdom of God. Then do you think they are considered to have their names written in Heaven? Is their name in the Book of Life? Of course. Then where is their physical book of life to confirm?

Luke 10 verse 20

However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

Here we see a similar expression. The 72 had their names written in Heaven. Then it means their names were in the Book of Life.

Then does it mean a literal book? If so where is the physical book? We should probably find it and preserve it to make sure that their names don't get blotted out.

Mt 12 verses 36-37

But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Why would Jesus say we have to give an account for every careless word we have spoken if the words we have said are not recorded? Is Jesus then referring to an actual physical book that contains every careless word that everyone has spoken since time began? Of course not. 

Hebrews 8 verse 12

For I will forgive their wickedness

and will remember their sins no more.”

Here we see God says that He will forgive our wickedness and will remember our sin no more. The writer of Hebrews is literally quoting Jeremiah 31:31-34. For God to forget our sins would imply that God is recording our sins somewhere and in some way right? Do you think it is in a physical book on earth that contains all of our sins, then when God feels like forgiving us He has somebody go in and erase our sins manually? Of course not.

To drive this point home even further lets see Revelation.

Revelation 20 verses 11-15

Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.

Now I was told that these books that were opened are the WMSCOG church records, like attendance, tithe, fruits borne, preaching attendance and everything else done for the church. These physical records apparently are key to you standing with God. So you better make sure you are in good standing with their record keeping. Otherwise God won't consider it on the last day if it is not physically written down apparently.

According to the actual context of the chapter, those who are sent to the lake of fire are judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. Are they physical books? Of course not. Obviously this event is taking place in the spiritual world. Then is the book of life here a physical book? Of course not. 

Then why does the WMSCOG teach that you need your name written on earth in a physical book?

Mathew 16 verses 16-19

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Here we see that Peter was given the keys of the kingdom of Heaven and that whatever Peter binds on earth will be bound in Heaven and vice versa. We can see this same expression again 2 chapters later.

Mathew 18 verses 17-18

 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

 “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

Here it talks about Church discipline of a believer. It uses the same expression: bind, bound and loose, loosed.

Then what do those words mean? Let's look into the words.

First the words “bind” and “bound” have the root Greek word “deo" meaning bind. In context of Mathew chapters 16 and 18 "whatever you bind on earth has been bound in heaven" is understood as a Chaldean and rabbinical idiom to forbid, prohibit, declare to be illicit. 

Tthe word for “loose” or “loosed” contain the root Greek word “luo" which means to release. In the context of Mt 16 and 18 whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven the meaning is understood as a Chaldean and Talmudic usage to declare lawful.

Understanding the meaning Jesus is giving the church authority to declare what is good and bad according to God’s will essentially.

But how does this work? Well in the Greek text it reads like this. “How many if you shall bind on the earth shall have been bound in heaven; and how many if you shall loose on the earth shall have been loosed in heaven.

Notice how what is done on the earth is described as “bind” or “loose” in the present tense. But when the subject changes to what is going on in Heaven the words are “bind” or “have been bound”, “loosed” or “loosed” which is past tense.

Then what can we make of this? It simply means that whatever was done in Heaven has already been done, the apostles are just carrying it out. Not that the Apostles can do whatever they want and it's done in heaven. Since God is omnipotent, all knowing and omnipresent, He has already had His plan laid out since before creation. Mankind is simply catching up to it.

Again it does not mean that the apostles can do whatever they want or change what God has already planned. Nor does the verse contain the meaning of something being physically written down.

Now for argument sake. What if it does mean a literal physical book?

Here is my argument against a physical book.

1. Where does it say in the bible that your name needs to be physically written in a literal book called the book of life? Or where is the mention of this physical book that the names are contained?

2. What if the book gets lost, or there is a fire, or someone spills their coffee on your name. Why would God make something so fragile related to our salvation? If there is a fire and that physical book is burned up. By Wimscog logic those peoples names would be removed from the book of life in Heaven, thus making efforts of those who had their name written in that book null and void. If someone by accident spilled something on it or there was a flood, storm etc that damaged the book and smeared the ink that would mean your name would be blotted out of Heaven. 

3. What if some leader or a person in the church is evil and does not like you. Let's say that person blots your name out and you have no idea until the last day when books are opened and your name is not found written anywhere. 

4. If the actual physical book of life is of the utmost importance and that is a salvation issue. Then where is the physical book of life that contains the apostles' names 2,000 years ago. If that book does exist, is it destroyed? If it's destroyed does that mean that the Apostles can't go to Heaven then even though it wasn’t their fault? Also wouldn’t that imply that all the Old Testaments prophets and forefathers of faith also have their names written in the book of life? Then where is that book? Are they out of luck just like the apostles?

5. Kim Joo-Cheol and Zhang-Gil-Jah have their names written in the book of life by Ahnsahnghong. Now the WMSCOG does not have possession of that original book of life. But it definitely exists as it is allegedly in the COGJW. If someone in the COGJW decided to remove Zang-Gil-Jah and Kim Joo Choel names from Ahn’s original book of life does that mean that they won't go to Heaven?

6. If they spell your name wrong in the book of life or have a name change and on the last day you get called up by the wrong name, would you be condemned to hell at that point because of a simple spelling error? Why would God make something so trivial related to our salvation?

7. Timing. Following the logic of this doctrine regarding the book of life, In the book of Rev 3:5 we see the book of life. Here we see the Book of Life appears in the Church of Sardis. Now according to the 7 Churches prophecy the time frame is 1798-1834. We know this in the Wimscog to be the age of reformers. Then did the reformers bring back or restore the teaching of the physical book of life being needed for salvation and write the names of baptized members in the book? I find no historical evidence for that. Nor does the Wimscog even teach it that way. Then why does the Book of Life appear in the Church of Sardis?

Considering all things that we have learned and discussed. It does not make sense to have a physical book of life. Your salvation between you and God. Not a book that you dont have access to or control of that someone could possibly use against you or threaten you with. That is not God’s will. 

Then you may be asking yourself. If it is not a physical book that you literally need to have your name written in it, how do you know if your name is in the book of life? Let’s see a few verses.

Revelation 3 verse 5 “overcome”

Revelation 15 verse 2 “victorious of the beast”

Revelation 20 verse 4 “Don’t worship the beast or it’s image”

Revelation 21 verse 7 “victories, dont do the things that throw you into the lake of fire”

Philippians 4 verse 3 “work for the gospel”

Romans 8 verses 9-13 “live by the Spirit”

Matthew 25 verses 34-40 “being a sheep, serving brothers and sisters in Christ”

Hebrews 6 verse 10 “help God’s people and continue to help them”

Here we see a bunch of characteristics of those who have their names written in the book of life. Of course there are many more verses that could be added that also apply equally to the ones I just saw. If we went over all the verses then we would be here for quite some time.

But I just added these because I liked them a lot. Now I know some members or leaders will be screaming about Passover, Sabbath Day, Mark of the Beast, The Beast, Feasts and other things that the WMSCOG teaches at this point. I promise we will get there but in time, I promise.

Then what is the conclusion? 

Indeed there is a book of Life in Heaven and those who overcome everything in Christ and follow Him to the end will not be blotted out of it. In fact God records everything we do on earth, not actual physical books on earth, but rather keeps record in Heaven. Those who do the will of God will be considered the living, written in the Lamb’s book of life and enter life and those who do not do the will of God will be blotted out and thrown into the lake of fire. 

We can see this principle in the Old testament as well, as we have seen in the verses at the beginning of the blog post. When the Israelites obeyed God they received blessings and were spared by God, when they did bad and sin against God, He blotted them out and destroyed them from among the living.

The book of life is not a physically perishable book here on earth or some secret sign of the true Church. God’s work is much more infallible than that. You dont have to take my word for it. Look into yourself and be convinced from what the scriptures are telling you, not me, not a church but the word of the living God.

My opinion of the WMSCOG teaching regarding the Book of Life being a physical book held in the Churches for the WMSCOG to do as they please, is just scare and manipulation tactic. Nothing more, nothing less.

But it’s up to you to come to your own conclusion. I can’t make it for you. If you want to continue to be controlled by the fear of your name being dimmed or blotted out due to the impossible standards the WMSCOG sets for you and the constant moving of the goal posts.

Just know I understand that fear, I understand that paralyzing horrendous feeling of fear that they have beaten into you. The hopelessness, the feeling of your purpose being gone and your life being turned upside down, again even if in some cases. 

I wish I could say it is easy to beat and overcome all this but it is not. If you are scared, beaten and broken right now, can I ask you something? Will you just let go? The WMSCOG is nothing and their threats are empty. Just walk away and find peace.

That is all I have for this article. If you have any questions or concerns please reach out. Be sure to like, share and I will see you on the next one. God bless you and your family.