Hi Paul,
The Book of Life is speaking of Jesus Christ and to have Christ's Spirit indwelling is to be written in the Lamb's Book of Life.
There are only a very few who are written in the Book of life in this age.
Rev 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.
This Scripture is a true statement. In the age to come during the Great White Throne Judgment all the rest of humanity, who are defiled, will have to go through this process of learning righteousness and being purged and cleansed and then they too will be in Christ the Book of Life.
Rev 21:22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
v. 23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
v. 24
And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it.
I believe these nations are those receiving salvation during the next age, when Christ reigns.
Here are a couple of emails about the Book of Life.
http://www.forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,1468.0.html -----
Dear Kemi:
When you are spiritually converted and have the Holy Spirit of God, you are then "IN Christ" you are IN "The Book of the Life of the Lamb." Jesus Christ IS THE BOOK OF LIFE! And there is henceforth "NO CONDEMNATION" toward you ever again (Rom. 8:1). That is the ultimate place we all want to be. Etc., etc., etc.
God be with you,
Ray
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,5085.0.html -------
Dear Dr. Smith: Too big a subject for an email, but I will make a few comments. Christian doctrine is built upon paganism, superstition, erroneous translations, and hideous doctrines of men. Of course, those persons who are not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will not be in the kingdom reign of Jesus Christ. But that fact has absolutely nothing to do with the rest of humanity's eternal destiny.
"Many are called but few as chosen" is a statement of fact, not a statement of eternal exclusion. God has predetermined to choose out a chosen elect FEW. These will enter into the Kingdom of God which will then bring about the salvation of the rest of humanity through Judgment. Judgment is upon the chosen few House of God NOW (I Pet. 4:17). When the knowledge of the Lord covers the earth like the waters cover the sea, then, not now but then, "Because He hath appointed a day, IN THE WHICH He will judge the world in RIGHTEOUSNESS..." (Acts 17:31). "WHEN [not now, but 'when'] Thy Judgments are in the earth the inhabitants of the world WILL LEARN RIGHTEOUSNESS" (Isa. 26:9).
Those who enter the straight and narrow (difficult) way will enter into the Kingdom of God, but those who go the broad way will go into DESTRUCTION. This is certainly true. However. What is the final destiny of those who go the broad way to destruction. Is there hope for the lost, the perish, the destroyed? Duh!! Jesus said, "The Son of Man is come to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10, Matt. 18:11).
The word translated "lost" is the Greek word "apollumi" which is translated "LOST," "PERISHED," and "DESTROYED." Jesus Christ said that He is come to SAVE all those who are "apollumi"--destroyed, perished, and lost.
But does anyone believe Jesus? NOT MANY. Like I said, too big a subject for an email.
God be with you,
Ray