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Grace Bible Church
Robert R. McLaughlin Bible Ministries
GRACE BIBLE CHURCH
Robert R. McLaughlin Bible Ministries
The Tree of Life is a weekly teaching summary.
The Tree of Life from the week ending 01/29/06
The Arizona Conference.
The Church at Sardis
The Boobk of Life.
We have three more verses to cover with our study of the Church of Sardis, before we get to the Church of Philadelphia. REV 3:1, "And to the messengers, [future pastors in the church of Sardis], write, he who has the seven spirits, [a reference to God the Holy Spirit as the power system of the PPOG], and the seven stars, [orthodox pastors], communicates these things. I have known your works or accomplishments, namely that you have a reputation that you are alive, [or allegedly living in the PPOG], but you are dead [temporal death; they have no spiritual life]."
The word angel is the Greek noun angeloo, which means the messenger or the future pastor-teachers of the church of Sardis, or the Sardis type of believers. The Church at Sardis had a reputation that it was filled with life, but it was a carnal religious life, not a doctrinal life, so their Church was really dead spiritually. This is what happens when a person lives for pleasure and forgets about the calling of God upon their life; it's just like being dead. Whether you're a believer with PVTD or a local assembly communicating doctrine, there are always some demonic influences that try to stop believers from going forward.
In REV 3:2, TLJC goes on to say to those pastors who had members of their congregations who were still positive and still appreciated doctrinal teaching, "Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God." This means to be alert, and to be able to read the historical trends or the society in the time in which you live. REV 3:3, "Recall to mind therefore what you have received [application of doctrine] and heard [perception of doctrine]; And keep it [guard it, maintain or keep it by living in the PPOG] and repent [or change your mind]. If therefore you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, suddenly, and you will not know at what hour I will come upon you."
The Greek word for heard is akouo used for positive volition toward doctrine, which includes recognizing the authority of one's right pastor, and concentration on the message. In the spiritual realm, recognizing the authority of the pastor doesn't mean liking or loving him; it means recognition and acceptance of the content of his message which is Bible doctrine. So doctrine is the issue, not the one who communicates it; it's not the man, it's the message. This same respect for authority is to be applied to all areas of our life. Coming like a thief does not imply coming secretly as in modern times; it implies suddenness and surprise. Part of divine discipline is that you are surprised by it, you wake up one day and all of a sudden your life has totally changed. Divine discipline comes suddenly and when least expected.
REV 3:4-6, "But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white; for they are worthy. He who overcomes shall thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."
There are two uniforms noted here: First, the uniform of honor which is worn by the mature believer today. Secondly, the uniform of glory, which is a translucent light worn over the resurrection body of those believers who receive the highest of all decorations at the judgment seat of Christ, the order of the morning star. The uniform of honor is the life of the mature believer living in the PPOG, attaining spiritual maturity, glorifying Christ, and having maximum impact on history by being a part of the pivot. This type of believer is not found in the pages of our history, but the influence is real. These are the anonymous heroes of history, and will not be revealed until the judgment seat of Christ where believers wearing the uniform of honor will become known to a select group, the elect angels and the Royal Family of God. During the Millennium, these believers will be famous as they rule nations under our Lord Jesus Christ. At the Second Advent of Christ, the entire population of the world will recognize the winner believers by the uniform of glory, and by the fact that they wear the highest of all decorations, the order of the morning star. When the invisible Christ, now seated at the right hand of the Father, becomes visible at the Second Advent, the invisible mature believers of the Church-age will become visible to the entire world with Him.
REV 3:4, "But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white; for they are worthy." Clothing in natural life represents thinking, motivation, organization, and judgment of the individual. Clothing in the spiritual life represents the Christian way of life or the carnal way of life for the Royal Family, whichever you happen to be. So, there is a uniform of honor worn by believers in the PPOG, which will be exchanged for the uniform of glory. Soiled clothing refers to the believer living in the cosmic system, so there is also a uniform of dishonor, noting carnality, evil, and reversionism. The Greek verb peripateo, translated walk, means to walk, to live, to progress, to conduct oneself. It's one thing to walk; it's another thing to march. We are privileged when we are able to march with others who think the same, maintain the same virtue-love, are united in soul, and concentrating on the same objective (PHI 2:2; 2CO 12:15; 2TI 4:16). There are times that require we walk, not march, because we are to bear our own burdens, GAL 6:5, For each one shall bear his own load.
There are times when you will face sorrows and hardships, but we learn from the Bible that life must go on, and you are to continue walking. God has a purpose for you being alive, and that purpose includes growing in grace, spiritual momentum, using the ten problem solving devices, executing the PPOG, and glorifying God. Inevitability, your comfort in time of sorrow must come from the Lord; you cannot be people dependent. It is from the inventory of Bible doctrine in your soul that comes the realization, and the application of the word of God. We all have to admit, the best lessons, and the most permanent lessons, learned in life are learned when it is the end of the road, no place to turn, crushing and brutal. At that point that we can really enter into the sufferings of Christ and learn to walk with Him. In the Christian life, there are certain things that are learned only through the hardship and disappointment of life. We find ourselves constantly running from them, rather than thanking the Lord for them. PSA 23:4, Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.
Back to REV 3:4, "But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; In fact, they will walk with Me in white"
The Greek word for in white is the plural of leukos, so it is translated in whites. It describes the uniform of glory, which is a transparent garment, probably made of light, worn over the resurrection body as an unparalleled honor. Few resurrection bodies have it, only those who advance to maturity in any given generation. The uniform of glory, worn over the resurrection body, and the decoration of the order of the morning star, are given at the judgment seat of Christ. Our Lord Jesus Christ wears the uniform of glory right now, at the right hand of God the Father. He first showed it to Peter, James, and John. Even before He had received the resurrection body, the uniform of glory was modeled at the mount of transfiguration. While on the mount of transfiguration, Peter, James, and John could not see our Lord in His resurrection body, but they could see the uniform of glory, which He would wear over His resurrection body in the future. In MAT 17:2, the modeling of the uniform of glory, TLJC was transfigured before them. This is what leads us to believe the uniform of glory is transparent; it is light, worn over the resurrection body. It is the transparent garment of light awarded to the mature believer at the judgment seat of Christ. It is to be worn only with the highest decoration, the order of the morning star. You have to receive the order of the morning star, in order to wear the uniform of glory.
So the corrected translation of REV 3:4, "But you have a few persons in Sardis, the pivot of mature believers who have not soiled their clothes, in fact, they will walk with me in whites, because they are worthy." The reason for the special reward of the uniform of glory is given with the Greek adjective axzios, meaning worthy. Worthiness in time means glory in eternity. These believers are worthy because they have lived inside the PPOG, been positive toward doctrine on a consistent basis, and have not given in to the cosmic evangelism. They are worthy because they have advanced to maturity, passed all of the momentum tests, and have glorified our Lord Jesus Christ in time. They are worthy because they have maximum, yet anonymous, invisible impact in this dispensation. While all believers will have the resurrection body at the rapture of the church, only those believers who achieve maturity through life in the PPOG will have the uniform of glory covering their resurrection body. For mature believers with maximum historical impact in time, our Lord will decorate them at the judgment seat of Christ with the order of the morning star and the uniform of glory. This decoration, plus the uniform of glory, also gives the mature believer special privileges and special fellowship with our Lord Jesus Christ, both after the rapture in heaven, on the earth during the Millennium, and forever and ever in the eternal state. While heaven is a perfect place forever and ever, there is no equality among believers in heaven just as there is no equality among angels in heaven. There are archangels and there are angels; there are seraphim and cherubim. There are mature and immature believers; there are winners and losers. The losers have a resurrection body, period. The winners have a resurrection body, plus the uniform of glory, plus the order of the morning star, plus the crown of life. There are differences in heaven, a perfect place, represent the principle of freedom. It is always freedom that makes the difference, 1CO 15:41-42, There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead.
The differences between believers in eternity is not the resurrection body, but the rewards, decorations, and the privileges presented at the judgment seat of Christ. The elite of Christianity are not visible in time, for their uniform of glory is worn in the soul. Consistent PVTD, filling of the Spirit inside the PPOG, and glorification of the Lord Jesus Christ characterize the elite of Christianity who exploited to the maximum the divine provisions of logistical grace, and parlayed right decisions into spiritual maturity. MAT 25:21 will be theirs, "His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave; you were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things, enter into the joy of your master.'" What is invisible today are the anonymous heroes of the time in which we live, but in the future they will become well known; they will be the great people of history. The question is, are you going to be one of them? There's no reason why you shouldn't; it's a matter of parlaying logistical grace into supergrace. That is, of course, your daily decision. It's a matter of your privacy between you and the Lord.
We're ready for REV 5:5, where the uniform of glory is presented at court. REV 3:5, "He who overcomes shall thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels."
Before we go on in this passage, we need to note some principles concerning the book of life. REV 13:3-8, And I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain, and his fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast; and they worshiped the dragon, because he gave his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?" And there was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies; and authority to act for forty-two months was given to him. And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, that is, those who dwell in heaven. And it was given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them; and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him. And all who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain.
Notice the phrase: the book of life of the Lamb. In eternity, this book also contains the new title of royalty for each winner believer or overcomer. REV 17:8, "The beast that you saw was and is not, and is about to come up out of the abyss and to go to destruction. And those who dwell on the earth will wonder, whose name has not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they see the beast, that he was and is not and will come."
REV 20:12, And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.
REV 21:27, and nothing unclean and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.
So, a number of passages in the Bible refer to a book called the book of life, a figurative expression that originated in the ancient world. For example, an ancient custom was to keep the various kinds of genealogical records as in a book known as a book of life as in NEH 7:5. This was a natural book for all residents who were born. They would also have a book of life for registering citizens for numerous purposes, (JER 22:30; EZE 13:9). Therefore, when it comes to books, God is represented as having records of men, of their works, and of God's dealings with them, and one such record is called, the book of life. That's why we read in REV 20:12, And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.
In addition to the book of life, there are other categories of records or books mentioned in Scripture: a) Book of Wars (NUM 21:14), a collection of war songs celebrating the glorious acts of God on behalf of Israel. b) The Book of Jasher (JOS 10:13; 2SA 1:18), an early chronicle of the history of Israel. c) The Book of Remembrance (PSA 56:8),MAL 3:16-17, Then those who feared [respected or reverenced] the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord gave attention and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who respect the Lord and who esteem His name. "And they will be Mine," says the Lord of hosts, "on the day that I prepare {My} own possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him." This was a book of remembrance for special blessings and rewards for faithfulness. d) Book of Those Physically Alive (EXO 32:32-33), a register of the physically living; to be blotted out meant to experience physical death (DEU 29:20; PSA 9:5-6). e) The Book of Works (REV 20:12-13), a record of the deeds of unbelievers as a basis of their judgment proving they all fall short of the righteousness of Jesus Christ; Dan 7:9-10; ROM 3:19-24.
So, when the phrase the book of life is used in the N.T., everyone knew exactly the connotation of what was being said. In the city of Sardis, a person's name was sometimes removed from the city register before death if he had been convicted of a crime. This is undoubtedly behind the promise given to the winner believer in REV 3:5, which says that the Lord will not erase the winner believer's name from the book of life.
So, what is the meaning and significance of the various references to the book of life in relation to salvation, to the believer, and to the unbeliever? Is it a record of all who are saved, or could it be a record of all those for whom Christ died, which under the doctrine of the unlimited atonement, would include all the world?
Point 1. Definition. The book of life in eternity past it is a registry containing the names of every member of the human race who would ever be born. In time, the book of life has to do with members of the human race who are alive, as well as a registry of all believers, and also those rewarded as a winner believers or overcomers.
Point 2. Passages Referring to the Book of Life. One of the first passages that references the book of life is the Exodus passage when the Jews made the golden calf. Moses became very angry with them but still interceded on their behalf before the Lord. EXO 32:31-34, Then Moses returned to the Lord, and said, "Alas, this people has committed a great sin, and they have made a god of gold for themselves. But now, if Thou wilt, forgive their sin and if not, please blot me out from Thy book which Thou hast written! And the Lord said to Moses, "Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book." This was the rejection of TLJC and His word and the worshipping of golden calf. However, here the book is a reference to the registry of life on this earth. One of the responsibilities that Moses had was to develop a registry of the tribes and families of Israel, and to record their acts and different transactions and responsibilities in the desert and in the promised land. God told Moses that those who break the covenant which He had made with them should be blotted out of that list, and never enter into the promised land, but this has nothing to do with salvation. This is important for you to know because of such passages as 1Pe 3:15, but sanctify [set apart] Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you. This is what Moses has in view when he talks about being blotted out of the book. It is not a reference to his salvation but a reference to him enjoying life with God in time.
So, the blotting out of the book of life here refers to inheritance not salvation. EXO 32:32, "But now, if Thou wilt, forgive their sin and if not, please blot me out from Thy book which Thou hast written!"
What was their sin, not believing in Jehovah Elohim? No, they believed in Him according to EXO 14:31; their sin was a violation of EXO 20:3-5, "You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me,
So, back in EXO 32:32 Moses was saying in effect, "If You are going to blot their names from this register of the book of life in time and never allow them to enter the promised land of Canaan, blot me out also!" He was saying in effect, "I cannot bear the thought of enjoying the promised land while my people and their descendants shall be excluded forever." And God, in kindness to Moses, allowed their children to into the promised land of Canaan. So, the promise of God did not fail because although those who sinned were blotted out of the book of life in time, their families enjoyed the inheritance of the promised land. Being blotted out of the book of life is this particular realm does not refer to salvation but to life in time.
As an example of this aspect of the book of life, our birth certificates are similar to what the Old Testament would refer to as being registered in the book of life in time. Our death certificates would represent being blotted out of the book of life in time. So, the first passage that refers to the book of life is the Exodus passage.
The second passage is PSA 69:28, May they be blotted out of the book of life, And may they not be recorded with the righteous. This points to another aspect of the book of life; you can be in the book of life and be blotted out from the righteous.
A third passage is DAN 12:1, Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands {guard} over the sons of your people [Israel], will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued. Though the wordlife or living is not used here, it is part of the same concept. For example, in the gospels TLJC says, Luk 10:20,"Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven." The phrase are recorded is a perfect tense and looks at an abiding condition. This is evidently another reference to the book of life.
Then of course the next reference is in PHI 4:3, when Paul speaks of the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. There is also REV 3:5, The winner, I will not erase his name from the book of life,
REV 13:8, And all who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain.
REV 17:8, The beast that you saw was and is not, and is about to come up out of the abyss and to go to destruction. And those who dwell on the earth will wonder, whose name has not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world,
REV 20:12, And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is {the book} of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.
REV 20:15, And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
Point 3. The Book of Life In Relation to Believers.
First, believers are told their names stand permanently written (recorded) in the book of life. The tenses used in Luk 10:20, Heb 12:23 suggest an abiding state. Both Luk 10:20 and Heb 12:23 use the perfect tense which carries the idea of a position of perfect standing recorded or enrolled. LUK 10:19, "Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall injure you. Luk 10:20,"Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven." The phrase are recorded is the Greek verb eggraphao which means to be permanently inscribed, engraved or written; here it refers to heaven. When these passages were written, Christians were under the constant threat of being branded as social rebels and stripped of their citizenship if they refused to deny or denounce their faith in Christ; in other words, they were branded as criminals. Therefore, as a source of motivation and encouragement, the Lord personally reminds the overcomer not only of the safety of his heavenly citizenship, but of the special acknowledgment the Lord Himself will give him before the Father and before His angels. In Heb 12:22-23, But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the general assembly and church of the first-born who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, The phrase who are enrolled is the Greek verb apografoo meaning to be written, to be entered into a register or book, to be enrolled. So in relationship to believers, the book of life is the guarantee of eternal salvation (REV 13:8; 17:8; 21:27). Their names have been written before the foundation of the world.
As a part of the book of life we must study this controversial passage concerning the book of life and the believer having his name erased from the book of life. REV 3:5, "He who overcomes shall thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels." In this passage we are talking about believers. We know that because the church at Sardis had a few people who had not soiled their garments in REV 3:4. What are their garments? The phrase wash their robes is used only two times in the book of Revelation. REV 7:13-15, And one of the elders answered, saying to me, "These who are clothed in the white robes, who are they, and from where have they come? And I said to him, "My lord, you know." And he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. For this reason, they are before the throne of God; and they serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne shall spread His tabernacle over them." In REV 22:14,Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city.
So, because these people cleaned their own robes, by confession and appropriation of the blood of the Lamb and living in the perception, metabolization, and application of Bible doctrine, their garments are not soiled. They have lived faithful and persevering lives. This is why it is important to understand REV 3:1-5 as it relates to the book of life concerning you, because these individuals had so-called good deeds, they had a reputation of being a good church, but they were spiritually dead. Therefore, the washing of the robes does not refer to regeneration and justification, which depends upon God, but to progressive sanctification, which depends upon God and us. Because it depends upon them, they are being rewarded for their obedience. The garments refer not to the imputed righteousness of Christ but to the righteous acts of the saints, Rev 19:8, And it was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
So back in REV 3:5, the Lord says, He who overcomes [the winner believer] shall thus be clothed in white garments[uniform of glory]; and I will not erase his name [title or godly reputation] from the book of life, and I will confess[acknowledge] his title before My Father, and before His angels. Now, this statement has been the source of controversy for generations. Can a believer lose his salvation? Could one of God's children be blotted out of the book of life? Many erroneous answers have been given to these questions. Some say that those who have been saved by Christ's redemption, can fall away and be lost forever; this is the classical Arminian position, which scripture absolutely and categorically denies. The nature of the salvation provided by Christ is eternal. Our justification in God's sight is not based on our works but on the perfect, finished righteousness and substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ. (JOH 3:16; JOH 10:27-30, ROM 8:29-30). JOH 10:27-30, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given {them} to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch {them} out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one."
Secondly, blotting names from the book of life is never applicable to a believer in Christ because believers are secure in Him, being kept by the power of God (1PE 1:5) and held secure in both the hand of the Son and of the Father (JOH 10:28-30). So, what does the phrase and I will not erase his name from the book of life mean? Well, first of all, we have to look at REV 3:5 and the phrase "He who overcomes" which is the Greek phrase ho nikon which should be translated the winner. Winners are described in Rev 2-3 by the Greek word nikao, as in Rev 2:7,11,17,26 and 3:5,12,21. It is translated overcomes because it is a participle used as a noun and it means to subdue, to conquer, to overcome, to get the victory. This Greek word, translated to overcome, nikao, was also found in a legal sense in the ancient world for winning one's case. It was commonly used of the victor in the games or of the Caesars. The noun nike means victory. Nike was the name of a Greek goddess who is often represented in art as a symbol of personal superiority. To be an overcomer was to be victorious in both military and legal combat, a perfect analogy to spiritual warfare and the appeal trial of Satan in the angelic conflict.
So, it is very clear that REV 3:5 is talking about the winner believer. It is the winner in REV 3:5 who does not have his name blotted out of the book of life. The loser believer does. REV 3:5 (corrected translation) The winner shall thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name [onoma] from the book of life,
The word for name is the neuter singular noun onoma which refers to a title, to fame, to a reputation, authority, character and integrity. So, the believers who will have their names blotted of the book of life really are having their inheritance blotted out. They did not receive the uniform of glory, so they will not inherit the promises to the winner believers only. Winner believers and those who receive the uniform of glory will be able to eat of the Tree of Life in the middle of the Paradise of God, Rev 2:7, He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the winner, I will give to him the privilege of eating from the tree of life which is in the paradise of God. Only the winner believer who has received the uniform of glory has the privilege of access to the Gazebo in the garden and the tree of life.
Another promise given to those who do not have their names blotted out of the book of life is found in REV 2:11, where the winner believer will not be hurt by the Second death, because of blessing by association. The second death evidently refers to the lake of fire (REV 20:14). Of course, no believer will be harmed by the second death, so how is this a reward for overcoming? Well, there's three different ways to answer that. The first one is obvious, he will not be hurt by the second death of REV 20:6,11. However, that is true for all believers and it doesn't seem to fall into the category of privilege. Secondly, even if they take your physical life, they can never touch your eternal destiny (1TI 6:12; 2TI 4:7). Thirdly, it has to do with understanding that God is the one who imputes soul-life to the body, and therefore because of the doctrine of blessing because of association, the winner believer experiences no hurt from the second death from his loved ones. This is a more complicated explanation because it has to do with the omniscience of God, the principle between the difference of biological life and soul life, and the fact that God does not violate anyone's free will.
In REV 2:17, the believer who does not have his name blotted out of the book of life shall eat of the hidden manna and receive a new name on a white stone. The new knighthood is given to the winner. In Rev 2:26, the winner believer who does not have his name blotted out of the book of life is given power and authority to rule nations. Rev 2:26, To the winner [who does not have his name blotted out of the book of life], even he who keeps My assignments[the fulfillment of the PPOG all the way to spiritual maturity] until the end [of his life], to him I will give authority over the nations."
In REV 3:12, the believer who does not have his name blotted out of the book of life has his title written in the historical record section of heaven and he has a coat of arms, REV 3:12, which allows him to enter the new Jerusalem. REV 3:12, "The winner, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God. Furthermore, he will never again vanish [or go outside] from history. Also I will emblazon on him the title of My God, and the name of the city of My God [this will be his pass to enter the eternal city, the New Jerusalem, a satellite city suspended above the earth in the atmosphere or in space], the new Jerusalem, which shall descend from heaven from My God; also My new title [King of kings, Lord of lords, bright morning star]."
Only the winner can enter the new Jerusalem when he desires. In REV 3:21, the believer who does not have his name blotted out of the book of life is granted the privilege to sit with Christ on His throne. Finally, in REV 21:7, the winner believer who does not have his name blotted out of the book of life will inherit fantastic blessings in the eternal state. REV 21:7, "The winner [the winner believer who does not have his name blotted out of the book of life] shall inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.
To inherit is to own or to possess. In REV 21:6, And He said to me, "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost.
Eternal life is free, a gift which comes solely by means of believing in Christ.