SOME>> Wait! Some are not written in the Book of Life from the creation of the world!
ME>> Good point. Consider Revelation's mention of the Book of Life.
He who overcomes will be arrayed in white garments, and I will in no way blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
Revelation 3:5 (WEB)
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 killed.
Revelation 13:8 (WEB)
The beast that you saw was, and is not; and is about to come up out of the abyss and to go into destruction. Those who dwell on the earth and whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel when they see that the beast was, and is not, and shall be present.
Revelation 17:8 (WEB)
I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and they opened books. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Revelation 20:12 (WEB)
If anyone was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire.
Revelation 20:15 (WEB)
There will in no way enter into it anything profane, or one who causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life.
Revelation 21:27 (WEB)
If anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, may God take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book.
Revelation 22:19 (WEB)
These Scriptures could lead one to believe that one's name could be blotted out of the Book of Life and thus eternally damned... that is if one does not consider grace and Christ's strategies with the hardhearted.
Consider one of the earliest mentions of the Book of Life with Moses.
31) Moses returned to Yahweh, and said, "Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made themselves gods of gold. 32) Yet now, if you will, forgive their sin—and if not, please blot me out of your book which you have written."
33) Yahweh said to Moses, "Whoever has sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.
Exodus 32:31-33 (WEB)
King David also sang about the Book of Life in Psalm 69:28 (WEB),
Let them be blotted out of the book of life, and not be written with the righteous.
Daniel likewise was taught about The Book in Daniel 12:1 (WEB),
At that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince who stands for the children of your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who shall be found written in the book.
What do we observe about the Book of Life?
First, we observe that names must be written from the foundation of the world or you cannot be saved. Thus faith does not add one's name to the Book of Life, but instead simply trusts that it is so.
Second, it initially appears like one's name can be blotted out from the Book of Life because of sin. So can a name written in The Book from the Earth's foundation then be removed? If so then no hope remains!
Third, Moses expressed a willingness to be removed from the Book of Life himself, if God would not forgive his fellow Israelites. In this way Moses expresses a Christ-like heart and passion for the forgiveness of others or at least a frustrated fidelity to his fellow Israelites.
Fourth, only those named in the Book of Life at the Great White Throne judgment will be saved from the Lake of Fire.
What interpretive models are possible?
Model A: Every human being is listed in the Book of Life initially, but sinning can permanently remove your name. Everyone starts a winner, but most will still lose, A.K.A. pure works salvation, but reverse.
Model B: Only a sub-set of human beings are listed in the Book of Life initially and sinning can permanently remove your name. Not everyone starts a winner and even most of the winners will still lose, A.K.A. uncertain works salvation.
Model C: Only a sub-set of human beings are listed in the Book of Life, and sinning can never blot your name (the elect cannot be blotted out, but are only threatened). Not everyone starts a winner, but the subset chosen to win, will win, A.K.A. Calvinism.
Model D: The Bible never makes one mention of names being added to the Book of Life, but, predestination aside, one can still hope to add your name by trusting Christ. No one starts a winner, but a few will defeat the odds and win, A.K.A. Arminianism.
Model E: The Bible never makes one mention of names being added to the Book of Life, but, predestination aside, everyone will add their name eventually by trusting Christ. No one starts a winner, but time is the recipe to win everyone, A.K.A. Arminian Universalism.
Model F: Every human being is listed in the Book of Life initially, but sinning can remove your name to suffer temporarily in the Lake of Fire. Everyone starts a winner, but most will still lose, but only temporarily, A.K.A. Traditional Universalism.
Model G: Every human being is listed in the Book of Life initially and nothing will ever remove your name from the Book of Life. However, Christ is willing to preach fear to the rebellious elect even labeling them, "not my sheep," (John 10:26 WEB) or threatening to "blot" sinners from The Book. Furthermore, Christ will punish even the redeemed in Hades, albeit temporarily, 2 Peter 2:1. Thus, the Lake of Fire is prepared only for the Devil and his angels who are not listed in the Book of Life, but unbelievers also fear this destiny. All humanity starts and finishes a winner, but most do not act like winners and suffer like losers due to their rejection of grace until the glory of God's grace is finally and irresistibly revealed to all mankind at the Great White Throne judgment, A.K.A. the thesis of Optimism Out of Control.
Thus Model G is my choice for the best interpretive model. Further, defense can be found in my article, Special Strategies and Interpretations?
Thankfully the heart of Moses was a taste of the greater heart of Christ our Savior! Jesus does not blot our names from the Book of Life, but instead blots out our sins!
I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake; and I will not remember your sins.
Isaiah 43:25 (WEB)
Moses boldly confronted God, appealing for Israel's forgiveness, but Christ even more boldly confronted all sin and sacrificed himself for all!
For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
2 Corinthians 5:21 (WEB)
The point is that the heart of Christ is poured out for the salvation of all mankind and he has and will accomplish his goal. Even Moses understood these things under the dim light of the Old Covenant. Christ was formed in Moses enough that he had great boldness to appeal to the God of Heaven with the facts, "You cannot forgive me, if you do not forgive them!"
So how can we enlightened 20th century Christians under the glorious New Covenant settle for a mere "evangelical" fire insurance policy? Do we have Moses' and Christ's broken heart for our fellowman? Consider Paul's rebuke to the Galatian church.
My little children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ is formed in you— but I could wish to be present with you now, and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.
Galatians 4:19-20 (WEB)
