Hi truth96130,
Also people are not in the BOL from (the foundation of the world) because they had yet to accept Jesus and most Christian believe you must first accept Jesus to be saved/in BOL.
Yes this is what the church teaches, that you must accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and then your name will be written in the Book of Life. But what does the Scriptures say?
John 6:44
No one can come to Me unless the Father who has sent Me draw him, and I will raise him up at the last day.
This Scripture shows that we do not have the freedom of will to accept Christ, but it is only when God has determined and "draws" us that we will have our eyes opened. That's when those who were predetermined from the foundation of the world come to know Christ, who is the Book of Life, can come to Christ. Those who are chosen and who will be in the first resurrection were determined when God worked out His plan, and that plan was set from the foundation of the world.
2Tim 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God stands sure, having this seal: "
The Lord knew those who are His." And, "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity!"
John 10:27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
v. 28 And I give to them eternal life, and they shall never ever perish, and not anyone shall pluck them out of My hand.
v. 29 My Father who gave them to Me is greater than all, and no one is able to pluck them out of My Father's hand.
v. 30 I and the Father are one!
God already knows every single human being that will ever be born, as He determines all things.
Eph 1:11 In Him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,
So those chosen to be in the Book of Life and the first resurrection are pre-determined. They are born and prepared throughtout their lives to serve a particular place in the kingdom, just as all of the chosen are being brought about to build/prepare the kingdom into just what God has determined it would be from the foundation of the world.
John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in Me.
v. 2 In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you.
I go to prepare a place for you.
v. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, so that where I am, you may be also.
Mat 25:34 Then the King shall say to those on His right hand, Come, blessed of My Father,
inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
Rev 21:2 And I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of Heaven,
prepared as a bride adorned for her Husband.
v. 3 And I heard a great voice out of Heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God.
mercy, peace and love
Kat