The Book of Revelation — Unveiling Christ Written Within the Hearts of His Sons
By Carl Timothy Wray
Book of Revelation: Author
Carl Timothy Wray is the founder of The Finished Work of Christ and a prolific author dedicated to unveiling the full counsel of God from Genesis to Revelation. Through hundreds of books, teachings, and videos, he explores the Finished Work of Christ, the Revelation of Jesus Christ, the Kingdom of God, sonship, reconciliation, and the unfolding purpose of the ages. His passion is to reveal Christ as God’s answer to every question and to help believers discover the life of the Lamb written within their hearts.
The Book of Revelation — The Lamb’s Book of Life explores one of the most misunderstood themes in Scripture. Most believers have been taught that the Lamb’s Book of Life is merely a heavenly registry of names, yet the Book of Revelation unveils a far deeper mystery. Through a Genesis-to-Revelation study, this book reveals how God writes the life, nature, and character of Christ within His people until they become living epistles known and read of all men. By connecting Revelation, Hebrews, Jeremiah, Romans, and the teachings of Christ, readers will discover the New Covenant reality of Christ formed within and the glorious purpose of the sons of God in the earth.
Book of Revelation: Introduction
The Lamb’s Book of Life is one of the most recognized phrases in all of Scripture. It appears in sermons, commentaries, hymns, prophetic teachings, and countless conversations about eternity. For generations, believers have imagined the Lamb’s Book of Life as a heavenly record containing the names of those who belong to God.
Yet the Book of Revelation invites us to look deeper.
The Revelation of Jesus Christ is a book of symbols, signs, and spiritual realities. The Lamb is not a four-legged lamb. Babylon is not merely an earthly city. The Beast is more than a political figure. The New Jerusalem is more than stone walls and golden streets. Revelation speaks in Kingdom language, unveiling spiritual truths hidden beneath natural imagery.
What if the Lamb’s Book of Life is also far greater than many have imagined?
What if God is not merely keeping a record in heaven, but is writing something within a people?
From Genesis to Revelation, God reveals His desire to manifest His own nature in humanity. Through Christ, the invisible God became visible. Through the New Covenant, that same life is written upon the hearts of His people. Through the Spirit, believers become living epistles, known and read of all men.
This book explores the mystery of the Lamb’s Book of Life through the lens of the Revelation of Jesus Christ. It traces the divine pattern from Moses to the prophets, from Christ to the apostles, and from the New Covenant to the manifestation of the sons of God.
As these pages unfold, we will discover that the greatest book God has ever written is not written on stone tablets, parchment scrolls, or printed pages. It is written by the Spirit upon human hearts.
The Lamb’s Book of Life is not merely something to be read.
It is a life to be revealed.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 — The Mystery of the Lamb’s Book of Life
Chapter 2 — The Book of Revelation and the Language of Symbols
Chapter 3 — The Book of the Life of the Lamb
Chapter 4 — Jesus Christ: The First Chapter of the Book
Chapter 5 — Written Not With Ink but With the Spirit
Chapter 6 — The Book Written Within
Chapter 7 — The New Covenant Written in the Heart
Chapter 8 — The Sons of God as Living Epistles
Chapter 9 — The Opening of the Book
Chapter 10 — Known and Read of All Men
CHAPTER 1
THE MYSTERY OF THE LAMB’S BOOK OF LIFE
For centuries believers have spoken about the Lamb’s Book of Life. Songs have been written about it. Sermons have been preached concerning it. Entire doctrines have been built around it. Most Christians, when they hear the phrase, immediately picture a heavenly ledger containing the names of those who belong to God.
The image is familiar.
Some imagine angels recording names in heaven. Others picture a divine registry that determines who enters eternal life and who does not. Entire theological systems have been built around the question of whether a name can be added, removed, or blotted out.
Yet there is a question that must be asked.
What if the Book of Revelation is revealing something greater than a heavenly list of names?
What if the Lamb’s Book of Life is far more glorious than many have imagined?
The purpose of this book is not to diminish the reality of the Book of Life. Rather, it is to enlarge our understanding of it. The Revelation of Jesus Christ was not given merely to satisfy human curiosity. It was given to unveil heavenly realities hidden within earthly language.
The first key to understanding the Lamb’s Book of Life is understanding the nature of the Book of Revelation itself.
A BOOK OF REVELATION
The opening verse of Revelation declares:
“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him… and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John.”
The word signified means communicated by signs, symbols, and spiritual imagery.
This is important.
The Lamb is a symbol.
The Beast is a symbol.
Babylon is a symbol.
The New Jerusalem is a symbol.
The seven heads, ten horns, seals, trumpets, vials, dragons, and crowns all speak in symbolic language.
The Book of Revelation is not primarily a book of newspaper headlines. It is a spiritual unveiling of Christ and His purpose throughout the ages.
If the Lamb is symbolic, should we not also consider that the Book connected to the Lamb may reveal something deeper than a literal volume stored somewhere in heaven?
The Revelation invites us to look beyond the surface.
The Spirit calls us beneath the symbol to discover the reality.
MOSES AND THE BOOK
Long before John stood upon Patmos, Moses spoke of a mysterious book.
After Israel sinned with the golden calf, Moses interceded before God and prayed:
“Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin—and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.”
Moses clearly understood that God possessed a book.
But what was this book?
Was Moses speaking of a heavenly registry?
Or was he perceiving something much deeper concerning God’s purpose in humanity?
The Lord answered:
“Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.”
The mystery remained hidden.
The book was mentioned.
The book was acknowledged.
Yet its deeper meaning remained veiled.
Throughout the centuries the prophets would continue to speak of this mystery.
THE PROPHETS LOOKED AHEAD
David spoke of names being written.
Daniel spoke of a people found written in the book.
The prophets continually pointed toward a divine record known only to God.
Yet they never fully explained its meaning.
Like many mysteries of Scripture, the revelation awaited a greater unveiling.
That unveiling would come through Christ.
For every mystery in Scripture ultimately finds its interpretation in Him.
He is the key that unlocks every sealed chamber.
He is the light that illuminates every shadow.
He is the fulfillment of every prophecy.
And nowhere is this more evident than in the mystery of the Lamb’s Book of Life.
THE LAMB APPEARS
When John reaches the throne room in Revelation, he beholds one of the most powerful scenes in all of Scripture.
A book is seen in the right hand of Him who sits upon the throne.
The book is sealed.
No man in heaven or earth is found worthy to open it.
John weeps.
Then the announcement comes:
“Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah hath prevailed.”
But when John turns to see the Lion, he beholds a Lamb.
The Lion is revealed as a Lamb.
Strength appears as sacrifice.
Power appears as love.
Victory appears as surrender.
The Lamb becomes the central figure of the entire Revelation.
Everything revolves around Him.
The throne.
The kingdom.
The judgments.
The redemption.
The New Jerusalem.
The ages to come.
Everything centers in the Lamb.
It should therefore not surprise us that the Book of Life is called the Lamb’s Book of Life.
The question is not merely whose book it is.
The question is what kind of book belongs to the Lamb.
THE GREATEST QUESTION
Most discussions concerning the Book of Life focus upon names.
God’s focus is life.
The phrase itself directs our attention toward life.
Not merely life received.
Not merely life promised.
But the very life of the Lamb.
This life was manifested in Jesus Christ.
This life overcame death.
This life conquered sin.
This life revealed the Father.
This life transformed fishermen into apostles.
This life turned persecutors into preachers.
This life continues working throughout every generation.
The central mystery is not merely who is written in the book.
The central mystery is what life is being written.
And whose life it is.
As we journey through this book, we will discover that the Lamb’s Book of Life reveals far more than a heavenly record.
It unveils the purpose of God to write the very life, nature, character, and image of Christ within His people.
The mystery is greater than names.
The mystery is Christ.
And the unveiling of that mystery begins now.
CHAPTER 2
THE BOOK OF REVELATION AND THE LANGUAGE OF SYMBOLS
The key that unlocks the entire Book of Revelation is found in its very first verse.
THE REVELATION WAS SIGNIFIED
“THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and SIGNIFIED it by his angel unto his servant John.” — Revelation 1:1
Before we attempt to interpret a single beast, trumpet, seal, vial, dragon, city, or throne, we must first understand how the book was given.
The Holy Spirit tells us that the Revelation was “signified.”
The Greek word means to communicate through signs, symbols, figures, and representative language.
This is God’s warning at the very beginning of the book.
The Revelation is not written primarily in the language of newspapers.
It is written in the language of the Spirit.
The Revelation is not merely predicting events.
The Revelation is unveiling Christ.
THE LAMB IS A SYMBOL
“And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne… stood A LAMB as it had been slain…” — Revelation 5:6
No believer imagines that a literal four-legged lamb stands in the midst of God’s throne.
The Lamb represents Jesus Christ.
The symbol points beyond itself to a spiritual reality.
The Lamb reveals:
- Sacrifice
- Redemption
- Meekness
- Victory through surrender
- The nature of Christ
The Lamb is not the reality.
The Lamb reveals the reality.
THE HORNS ARE SYMBOLS
“And I beheld… a Lamb as it had been slain, having SEVEN HORNS and seven eyes…” — Revelation 5:6
The seven horns are not literal horns.
Throughout Scripture horns symbolize power and authority.
The number seven represents completeness.
The seven horns reveal the fullness of divine power residing within Christ.
The seven eyes reveal the fullness of divine vision and understanding.
Again, the Spirit speaks through symbols.
THE DRAGON IS A SYMBOL
“And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon…” — Revelation 12:3
The dragon is not a giant reptile floating in outer space.
The symbol reveals opposition to God’s purpose.
The Spirit uses imagery to communicate spiritual realities.
BABYLON IS A SYMBOL
“And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.” — Revelation 17:18
Babylon represents far more than an ancient city.
Throughout Revelation Babylon becomes the symbol of confusion, mixture, spiritual corruption, and man’s independent systems apart from God.
Again, the symbol points beyond itself.
THE NEW JERUSALEM IS A SYMBOL
“And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven…” — Revelation 21:2
The New Jerusalem is described as a bride.
The city and the bride become one vision.
The imagery points beyond natural architecture.
It reveals God’s redeemed people united with Christ.
The Spirit continually uses symbols to reveal realities.
WHAT ABOUT THE BOOK?
“And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne A BOOK written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.” — Revelation 5:1
Here we arrive at a critical question.
If the Lamb is symbolic…
If the dragon is symbolic…
If Babylon is symbolic…
If the New Jerusalem is symbolic…
Why would the Book suddenly become literal?
The consistency of Scripture demands that we seek the spiritual reality hidden behind the symbol.
The Book must reveal something greater than paper.
The Book must reveal something greater than ink.
The Book must reveal something greater than a heavenly object.
NO MAN COULD OPEN THE BOOK
“And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book…” — Revelation 5:3
Notice what John does not say.
He does not say no man could read the book.
He says no man could OPEN the book.
The issue was not literacy.
The issue was revelation.
The mystery contained within the Book could not be unlocked by human wisdom.
Religion could not open it.
Tradition could not open it.
Scholarship could not open it.
The mystery required the Lamb.
THE LAMB ALONE IS WORTHY
“And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda… hath prevailed to open the book.” — Revelation 5:5
The One who opens the Book is Christ.
The One who reveals the mystery is Christ.
The One who unlocks the revelation is Christ.
And this should immediately cause us to ask:
What if Christ is not merely opening the Book?
What if Christ is revealing Himself as the content of the Book?
THE MYSTERY BEGINS TO OPEN
The traditional understanding of the Lamb’s Book of Life focuses almost entirely upon names.
But Revelation continually directs our attention toward the Lamb.
The focus is not merely the names.
The focus is the Life.
The focus is the Lamb.
The focus is Christ.
As we move into the next chapter, we will discover that the Lamb’s Book of Life may reveal far more than a registry of names.
It may reveal the very life, nature, character, and image of Christ being written into a people who become His living epistle in the earth.
CHAPTER 3
THE BOOK OF THE LIFE OF THE LAMB
Having established that Revelation is a book of signs and symbols, we now arrive at one of the most profound statements in all of Scripture.
THE LAMB’S BOOK OF LIFE
“And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the BOOK OF LIFE OF THE LAMB slain from the foundation of the world.” — Revelation 13:8
For centuries believers have focused almost exclusively upon the names written in the Book.
Yet the Spirit draws our attention to something deeper.
The Book belongs to the Lamb.
It is the Lamb’s Book.
The emphasis is not merely the names.
The emphasis is the Lamb.
The emphasis is His life.
The emphasis is His nature.
The emphasis is His revelation.
Throughout the Book of Revelation, everything centers in the Lamb.
The throne belongs to the Lamb.
The kingdom belongs to the Lamb.
The victory belongs to the Lamb.
The bride belongs to the Lamb.
The Book belongs to the Lamb.
If we are to understand the Book, we must first understand the Lamb.
THE LAMB SLAIN FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD
Notice the remarkable language.
“The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”
The sacrifice of Christ did not begin at Calvary.
Calvary revealed what had always existed within the heart of God.
Before Adam fell…
Before Moses lived…
Before David sang…
Before Isaiah prophesied…
Before John stood upon Patmos…
The Lamb already existed within the purpose of God.
Peter confirms this truth.
“Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.” — 1 Peter 1:20
The cross was not God’s emergency plan.
The Lamb was God’s eternal purpose.
The nature of self-giving love has always existed within God Himself.
The Lamb reveals the very heart of the Father.
THE WORD MADE FLESH
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” — John 1:1
“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.” — John 1:14
When Christ appeared in the earth, something extraordinary happened.
The invisible became visible.
The eternal entered time.
The heavenly stepped into the earthly.
The Word became flesh.
God was no longer speaking merely through prophets, shadows, ceremonies, sacrifices, and types.
God was now speaking through a life.
Jesus became the visible expression of the invisible God.
“He that hath seen me hath seen the Father.” — John 14:9
For the first time in human history, men could look upon a life and see the nature of God revealed.
CHRIST BECAME THE FIRST CHAPTER
“Who is the image of the invisible God.” — Colossians 1:15
“Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person.” — Hebrews 1:3
Jesus did not merely preach truth.
He embodied truth.
He did not merely teach love.
He revealed love.
He did not merely explain righteousness.
He demonstrated righteousness.
Everything God desired humanity to become was visible in Jesus Christ.
The life of the Lamb was revealed in human form.
Every miracle.
Every word.
Every act of compassion.
Every confrontation with darkness.
Every victory over temptation.
Every demonstration of mercy.
Every expression of wisdom.
All revealed the life of the Lamb.
Christ became the first visible chapter of God’s great revelation.
THE VOLUME OF THE BOOK
Then comes one of the most fascinating passages in Scripture.
“Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me.” — Psalm 40:7
The writer of Hebrews applies this directly to Christ.
“Lo, I come to do thy will, O God.” — Hebrews 10:7
Notice carefully.
Christ did not say a few verses were written about Him.
He did not say a few prophecies referred to Him.
He said:
“In the volume of the book it is written of me.”
The entire story points toward Him.
Genesis points toward Him.
The Law points toward Him.
The Prophets point toward Him.
The Psalms point toward Him.
The Gospels reveal Him.
The Epistles explain Him.
The Revelation unveils Him.
Christ is the central theme of Scripture.
He is the message hidden within the Book.
THE BOOK IS A REVELATION OF LIFE
Jesus declared:
“I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” — John 10:10
The purpose of Christ was not merely forgiveness.
The purpose of Christ was life.
Not merely future life.
Present life.
Not merely existence.
Divine life.
Not merely survival.
Abundant life.
The Book of the Life of the Lamb reveals that life.
The nature of the Lamb.
The character of the Lamb.
The wisdom of the Lamb.
The love of the Lamb.
The victory of the Lamb.
The power of the Lamb.
The glory of the Lamb.
The Book reveals a life that overcomes death.
THE LIFE WRITTEN INTO A PEOPLE
Paul makes a remarkable statement.
“Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men.” — 2 Corinthians 3:2
“Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ.” — 2 Corinthians 3:3
Notice the language.
An epistle is a written message.
A letter.
A communication.
Paul says believers themselves become the letter.
Not written with ink.
Not written on stone.
Written by the Spirit.
Written in human hearts.
This is where the mystery begins to unfold.
The life revealed in Jesus Christ was never intended to remain in Jesus Christ alone.
The same life is now being written into His people.
The same Spirit that formed Christ now forms Christ within His sons.
The same Lamb who walked in Galilee now walks by His Spirit within His body.
The same life is being reproduced.
The same image is being formed.
The same nature is being revealed.
THE BOOK IS STILL BEING WRITTEN
“My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you.” — Galatians 4:19
Paul understood something many believers miss.
Salvation is not merely accepting information about Christ.
Salvation is Christ being formed within.
The goal is not merely believing a message.
The goal is becoming the expression of that message.
The Book of the Life of the Lamb continues to unfold wherever Christ is formed within human hearts.
Every victory of His life.
Every manifestation of His character.
Every expression of His nature.
Every revelation of His love.
Another line is written.
Another sentence is formed.
Another page is completed.
The Book continues.
THE MYSTERY OF THE BOOK
The traditional view asks:
“Is my name written in the Book?”
The Revelation asks a deeper question:
“Is the life of the Lamb being written within me?”
For the ultimate purpose of God is not merely to place names in a heavenly registry.
His purpose is to conform a people into the image of His Son.
As we move forward, we will discover that the New Covenant itself is the process by which God writes the life of the Lamb into human hearts until Christ is revealed through His sons in the earth.
CHAPTER 4
JESUS CHRIST — THE FIRST CHAPTER OF THE BOOK
The Book of Revelation is the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
The Lamb’s Book of Life is the revelation of the life of the Lamb.
Therefore, if we are to understand the Lamb’s Book of Life, we must first understand Jesus Christ Himself.
Before there could be many sons, there was the Firstborn Son.
Before there could be living epistles, there was the Living Word.
Before there could be chapters written in the hearts of His people, there was the first chapter revealed in the earth.
Jesus Christ is the first chapter of the Lamb’s Book of Life.
Everything that follows finds its pattern in Him.
THE BOOK OF REVELATION REVEALS JESUS CHRIST
“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him…” — Revelation 1:1
The Book of Revelation is not primarily the revelation of future events.
The Book of Revelation is the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Every symbol ultimately reveals Him.
Every vision ultimately points to Him.
Every mystery ultimately unfolds Him.
The Lamb stands at the center of the throne.
The Lamb opens the seals.
The Lamb receives the kingdom.
The Lamb overcomes the Beast.
The Lamb receives the Bride.
The Lamb fills the New Jerusalem.
Everything in the Book of Revelation revolves around the Lamb.
Likewise, everything in the Lamb’s Book of Life revolves around the Lamb.
THE WORD WAS WITH GOD
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” — John 1:1
Before Bethlehem there was the Word.
Before the manger there was the Word.
Before the cross there was the Word.
Before creation itself there was the Word.
John does not begin with Christ’s birth.
John begins with Christ’s eternity.
The Word was not created.
The Word was with God.
The Word was God.
The life that would later be revealed in Jesus Christ already existed in the bosom of the Father before the foundation of the world.
The Lamb’s Book of Life did not begin on earth.
Its origin is in God Himself.
THE WORD BECAME FLESH
“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.” — John 1:14
Here is one of the greatest miracles in Scripture.
The invisible became visible.
The eternal entered time.
The heavenly entered the earthly realm.
The Word became flesh.
God did not merely send information.
God sent Himself.
God did not merely send doctrine.
God sent a life.
God did not merely send commandments.
God sent His Son.
The Book of Revelation reveals this same truth.
The Book of Revelation is not ultimately about events.
The Book of Revelation is about the unveiling of Christ.
The Lamb’s Book of Life is not ultimately about names.
It is about the revelation of the life of the Lamb.
THE IMAGE OF THE INVISIBLE GOD
“Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature.” — Colossians 1:15
No man has seen God at any time.
God is Spirit.
God is invisible.
God is eternal.
Yet Christ revealed Him.
When men saw Jesus, they saw the nature of God.
When they witnessed His compassion, they saw the compassion of God.
When they witnessed His mercy, they saw the mercy of God.
When they witnessed His wisdom, they saw the wisdom of God.
When they witnessed His authority, they saw the authority of God.
Jesus became the visible expression of the invisible God.
The first chapter of the Lamb’s Book of Life was opened before the eyes of men.
THE EXPRESS IMAGE OF HIS PERSON
“Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person.” — Hebrews 1:3
The phrase “express image” carries the thought of an exact representation.
Christ did not partially reveal the Father.
He perfectly revealed the Father.
Everything the Father desired mankind to see was manifested in His Son.
This is why Jesus declared:
“He that hath seen me hath seen the Father.” — John 14:9
The life of the Lamb was fully revealed in Christ.
The nature of the Father was fully revealed in Christ.
The Book of Revelation unveils Christ.
The Lamb’s Book of Life reveals Christ.
The revelation is always Christ.
THE LIFE OF THE LAMB ON DISPLAY
“I am the way, the truth, and the life.” — John 14:6
Notice that Jesus did not merely teach life.
He was life.
He did not merely preach truth.
He was truth.
He did not merely explain the way.
He was the way.
Everything about His life revealed the nature of the Lamb.
When He touched lepers, the Lamb was revealed.
When He forgave sinners, the Lamb was revealed.
When He calmed the storm, the Lamb was revealed.
When He fed the multitudes, the Lamb was revealed.
When He carried the cross, the Lamb was revealed.
When He rose from the dead, the Lamb was revealed.
Every chapter of His earthly life revealed another aspect of the Lamb’s Book of Life.
THE FIRSTBORN AMONG MANY BRETHREN
“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son.” — Romans 8:29
The story does not end with Jesus.
The Book continues.
The Lamb’s Book of Life continues.
The purpose of God is not merely that Christ be revealed.
The purpose of God is that Christ be reproduced.
The Firstborn came so that there might be many brethren.
The pattern appeared so that the pattern could be multiplied.
The image was revealed so the image could be formed within a people.
This is where the Book of Revelation begins moving toward sonship.
The Lamb’s Book of Life is not merely about one Son.
It is about many sons brought into conformity with the Firstborn.
CHRIST IN YOU
“My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you.” — Galatians 4:19
The Apostle Paul understood the goal.
The goal was not religious activity.
The goal was not external conformity.
The goal was not mere doctrinal agreement.
The goal was Christ formed within.
The same life revealed in Jesus Christ must be formed within His people.
The same Lamb revealed in the Firstborn Son must be revealed in many sons.
This is the mystery hidden throughout the Book of Revelation.
This is the mystery hidden within the Lamb’s Book of Life.
Christ in you.
The hope of glory.
THE BOOK CONTINUES
“Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men.” — 2 Corinthians 3:2
Jesus Christ was the first chapter.
The sons become the continuing chapters.
The life revealed in Christ continues to be written by the Spirit.
The Lamb’s Book of Life continues to unfold.
The Book of Revelation continues to unveil Christ.
The same Christ who walked the shores of Galilee now walks by His Spirit within His people.
The same Lamb who stood before Pilate now stands within His sons.
The same life that conquered death now works within those being conformed to His image.
The first chapter has already been written.
The remaining chapters are still being revealed.
And that revelation is Christ written within the hearts of His sons.
CHAPTER 5
WRITTEN NOT WITH INK BUT WITH THE SPIRIT
The Book of Revelation unveils the Lamb.
The Lamb’s Book of Life unveils the life of the Lamb.
But a great question now confronts us.
How does the life of the Lamb move from Christ into His people?
How does God’s revelation move from a written page into a living man?
How does the Word become flesh again in a corporate body?
The answer is found in one of the most powerful passages ever written by the Apostle Paul.
YE ARE THE EPISTLE OF CHRIST
“Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men.” — 2 Corinthians 3:2
“Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, WRITTEN NOT WITH INK, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.” — 2 Corinthians 3:3
Notice what Paul does not say.
He does not say believers merely read the epistle.
He does not say believers merely study the epistle.
He says believers become the epistle.
The Book of Revelation reveals Christ.
The Lamb’s Book of Life reveals Christ.
Now Paul declares that Christ is being written into His people until they become the revelation.
The believer is no longer merely reading the message.
The believer becomes the message.
GOD HAS ALWAYS WRITTEN
Throughout Scripture God reveals Himself as a writer.
God wrote upon the tables of stone.
“And he gave unto Moses… tables of stone, written with the finger of God.” — Exodus 31:18
The finger of God wrote the Law.
The finger of God revealed His nature.
The finger of God established His covenant.
Yet the Law written on stone could never fully transform the heart.
The commandments could reveal righteousness.
They could not create righteousness.
They could reveal the problem.
They could not become the solution.
The Law was holy.
The Law was just.
The Law was good.
But man lacked the life necessary to fulfill it.
THE FAILURE OF THE OUTWARD LAW
“For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son…” — Romans 8:3
The weakness was never God’s Law.
The weakness was human flesh.
The Law could command.
The Law could condemn.
The Law could expose.
The Law could diagnose.
But the Law could not impart life.
The Law could reveal God’s standard.
But it could not produce God’s nature.
This is why the Book of Revelation does not end with stone tablets.
It ends with the Lamb.
The Lamb possesses the life that the Law could never impart.
A NEW COVENANT
“Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant…” — Jeremiah 31:31
The prophet Jeremiah saw something glorious approaching.
A new covenant.
A better covenant.
A covenant not based upon external commandments.
A covenant based upon internal transformation.
Notice the promise.
“I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts.” — Jeremiah 31:33
God did not say He would write it on new stone tablets.
God did not say He would write it on larger tablets.
God did not say He would write it on better tablets.
God said He would write it in people.
This is the foundation of the Lamb’s Book of Life.
God writes His life into human hearts.
THE BOOK WRITTEN WITHIN
“And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within…” — Revelation 5:1
Notice those words carefully.
Written within.
The Book of Revelation is filled with symbols.
Yet this symbol reveals a profound reality.
The purpose of God has always been something written within.
Not merely information written without.
Not merely commandments written without.
Not merely religion written without.
Written within.
The Lamb’s Book of Life is an inward work before it becomes an outward manifestation.
God always works from the inside outward.
Religion works from the outside inward.
The Spirit works from the inside outward.
CHRIST WRITTEN IN THE HEART
“My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you.” — Galatians 4:19
Paul understood the objective.
Not church membership.
Not religious activity.
Not external conformity.
Christ formed in you.
The Book of Revelation points to Christ.
The Lamb’s Book of Life reveals Christ.
The New Covenant forms Christ within.
Everything converges at this point.
The entire purpose of God is Christ revealed in a people.
THE SPIRIT IS THE WRITER
“…written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God.” — 2 Corinthians 3:3
Who writes the Book?
The Spirit writes the Book.
The Spirit wrote the Scriptures.
The Spirit inspired the prophets.
The Spirit overshadowed Mary.
The Spirit descended upon Christ.
The Spirit raised Him from the dead.
The Spirit formed the Church.
The Spirit now writes Christ into human hearts.
The same Spirit who authored the written Word now authors the living epistle.
The same Spirit who inspired Revelation now writes the revelation into His people.
THE LAMB’S BOOK OF LIFE IS A LIVING BOOK
The books of men grow old.
Paper fades.
Ink disappears.
Libraries decay.
But the Lamb’s Book of Life lives.
The Book of Revelation unveils a living Christ.
The Lamb’s Book of Life reveals a living Christ.
The Spirit writes a living Christ into living sons.
This Book breathes.
This Book walks.
This Book speaks.
This Book ministers.
This Book reveals the Father.
This Book heals.
This Book restores.
This Book carries the life of the Lamb into the earth.
KNOWN AND READ OF ALL MEN
“Ye are our epistle… known and read of all men.” — 2 Corinthians 3:2
Most people will never study theology.
Many will never read commentaries.
Many will never enter a Bible school.
But they will read lives.
They will read character.
They will read love.
They will read patience.
They will read mercy.
They will read kindness.
They will read Christ manifested through His people.
This is why God writes with the Spirit.
This is why the Lamb’s Book of Life is so powerful.
The Book is not hidden on a shelf.
The Book walks among men.
The Book is read every day.
The Book is Christ revealed through transformed lives.
THE REVELATION CONTINUES
The Book of Revelation is not merely revealing future events.
The Book of Revelation is revealing Jesus Christ.
The Lamb’s Book of Life is not merely recording names.
The Lamb’s Book of Life is revealing the life of the Lamb.
The Spirit continues writing.
The Spirit continues forming.
The Spirit continues revealing.
Line upon line.
Precept upon precept.
Glory upon glory.
Until Christ is fully formed within His people and the Lamb’s Book of Life stands open before the nations as a living revelation of the Son of God.
CHAPTER 6
THE BOOK WRITTEN WITHIN
As we journey deeper into the Book of Revelation and the mystery of the Lamb’s Book of Life, we begin to discover that God’s purpose has never been merely external.
Religion is concerned with what is written outside of man.
God is concerned with what is written within man.
The great mystery of Scripture is not simply a book in heaven.
The great mystery is God writing His life within His people.
This truth appears throughout the Word of God, reaching from the Psalms to Hebrews and finding its fulfillment in Christ and His sons.
THE BOOK WRITTEN WITHIN
“And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a BOOK written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.” — Revelation 5:1
Most readers immediately focus upon the seals.
Others focus upon who can open the Book.
But notice the description.
The Book was written within.
The Holy Spirit could have simply said there was a book.
Instead, He specifically tells us it was written within.
This is not accidental language.
Throughout Scripture God continually points us toward an inward work.
The kingdom is within.
The law is written within.
Christ is formed within.
The Spirit dwells within.
The Book is written within.
The entire movement of God is inward before it becomes outward.
IN THE VOLUME OF THE BOOK
“Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me.” — Psalm 40:7
The writer of Hebrews quotes this passage and applies it directly to Christ.
“Then said I, Lo, I come… in the volume of the book it is written of me.” — Hebrews 10:7
This statement is astonishing.
The volume of the Book was written before Christ appeared in Bethlehem.
The volume of the Book existed before His earthly ministry.
The volume of the Book existed before Calvary.
The volume of the Book existed before the foundation of the world.
Everything concerning Christ was already contained within the purpose of God.
The Book of Revelation unveils this reality.
The Lamb’s Book of Life reveals this reality.
The life of the Lamb existed in God’s heart before it was manifested in human history.
THE BOOK IS ABOUT CHRIST
“And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” — Luke 24:27
Jesus did not teach the disciples that portions of Scripture referred to Him.
He revealed that all Scripture ultimately pointed toward Him.
Moses pointed toward Christ.
The sacrifices pointed toward Christ.
The tabernacle pointed toward Christ.
The priesthood pointed toward Christ.
The prophets pointed toward Christ.
The Psalms pointed toward Christ.
The Book of Revelation points toward Christ.
The Lamb’s Book of Life reveals Christ.
The entire volume of the Book centers in Him.
BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD
“According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world.” — Ephesians 1:4
The Book was written before it was manifested.
The purpose existed before the process.
The design existed before the construction.
The revelation existed before the unveiling.
God does not create randomly.
God works according to an eternal purpose.
The Book of Revelation reveals the unfolding of that purpose.
The Lamb’s Book of Life reveals the unfolding of that purpose.
What God conceived in eternity He reveals in time.
What God planned in the Spirit He manifests in creation.
THE LAW WRITTEN WITHIN
“This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them.” — Hebrews 10:16
Notice the progression.
The Book written within.
The law written within.
Christ formed within.
The Spirit dwelling within.
The New Covenant is an inward covenant.
God is not merely improving behavior.
God is transforming nature.
God is not merely modifying conduct.
God is reproducing Christ.
The Book of Revelation ultimately reveals this transformation.
The Lamb’s Book of Life is the record of that transformation.
THE FINGER OF GOD
“And he gave unto Moses… tables of stone, written with the finger of God.” — Exodus 31:18
The same God who wrote upon stone now writes upon hearts.
The same finger that engraved commandments now engraves Christ.
The difference is not the Author.
The difference is the tablet.
Under the old covenant, God wrote on stone.
Under the new covenant, God writes on people.
The Book of Revelation reveals the completion of this process.
The Lamb’s Book of Life reveals the finished product.
A people fully inscribed with the life of the Lamb.
CHRIST FORMED WITHIN
“My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you.” — Galatians 4:19
Paul did not labor merely to teach doctrine.
He labored until Christ was formed.
He understood God’s objective.
The goal was not information.
The goal was transformation.
The goal was not education.
The goal was manifestation.
The Book of Revelation is the unveiling of Jesus Christ.
The Lamb’s Book of Life is the unveiling of Jesus Christ within His people.
The Book written within becomes Christ revealed without.
THE BOOK OPENS
“And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda… hath prevailed to open the book.” — Revelation 5:5
The Book could not remain sealed forever.
The mystery had to be revealed.
The purpose had to be manifested.
The life had to be unveiled.
Christ opens the Book because Christ is the revelation hidden within the Book.
The Lamb opens the Book because the life of the Lamb is the message of the Book.
The Book of Revelation unveils Christ.
The Lamb’s Book of Life unveils Christ.
And as Christ is revealed, the seals begin to fall away.
THE WRITING BECOMES VISIBLE
“Ye are our epistle… known and read of all men.” — 2 Corinthians 3:2
What is written within eventually becomes visible without.
The inward life becomes outward character.
The inward Christ becomes outward expression.
The inward revelation becomes outward manifestation.
The inward Book becomes an open Book.
This is the goal of the Lamb’s Book of Life.
Not merely hidden truth.
Manifested truth.
Not merely concealed glory.
Revealed glory.
Not merely Christ in heaven.
Christ revealed through His people in the earth.
THE MYSTERY OF THE LAMB’S BOOK OF LIFE
The Book of Revelation continually points us to Christ.
The Lamb’s Book of Life continually points us to Christ.
The Book written within continually points us to Christ.
Everything converges upon one reality.
God is writing His Son into a people.
The life of the Lamb.
The nature of the Lamb.
The character of the Lamb.
The wisdom of the Lamb.
The love of the Lamb.
The authority of the Lamb.
The glory of the Lamb.
All being written within.
And when the writing is complete, the Book will stand open before creation as a living revelation of Jesus Christ.
The Book of Revelation calls this mystery the Lamb’s Book of Life.
And the writing is still taking place.
CHAPTER 7
THE NEW COVENANT WRITTEN IN THE HEART
As we have seen throughout the Book of Revelation, God is not merely interested in outward religion.
The Lamb’s Book of Life reveals an inward work.
The Book written within reveals an inward work.
Christ formed within reveals an inward work.
Now we come to the very foundation of that work:
The New Covenant.
The New Covenant is not merely a change of doctrine.
The New Covenant is not merely a change of administration.
The New Covenant is the transformation of human nature through the life of Christ.
This is why the Book of Revelation continually directs our attention to the Lamb.
The Lamb possesses the life that makes the New Covenant possible.
The Lamb’s Book of Life reveals the outworking of that covenant.
A BETTER COVENANT
“But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a BETTER COVENANT, which was established upon better promises.” — Hebrews 8:6
The old covenant was good.
The problem was not the covenant.
The problem was man.
The Law revealed God’s righteousness.
The Law revealed God’s holiness.
The Law revealed God’s nature.
Yet it could not impart the power to become what it revealed.
The Law could expose darkness.
It could not create light.
The Law could expose weakness.
It could not impart strength.
The Law could reveal the problem.
It could not become the solution.
Therefore God established a better covenant.
Not because His first purpose failed.
But because His ultimate purpose was always Christ.
The Book of Revelation reveals Christ.
The Lamb’s Book of Life reveals Christ.
The New Covenant reveals Christ formed within.
I WILL WRITE MY LAWS IN THEIR HEARTS
“For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts.” — Hebrews 8:10
Notice what God does not say.
He does not say:
I will give them more laws.
He does not say:
I will give them stricter laws.
He does not say:
I will give them better laws.
He says:
“I will write.”
The issue is no longer information.
The issue is inscription.
The issue is not education.
The issue is transformation.
The issue is not merely knowing the truth.
The issue is becoming the truth.
This is the mystery of the Lamb’s Book of Life.
God writes the life of the Lamb into human hearts.
FROM STONE TO HEART
“And I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.” — Ezekiel 36:26
The old covenant was written upon stone.
The new covenant is written upon hearts.
Stone cannot respond.
Stone cannot love.
Stone cannot grow.
Stone cannot be transformed.
But a living heart can receive.
A living heart can respond.
A living heart can be changed.
This is why the Book of Revelation continually presents living symbols.
A living Lamb.
A living throne.
A living city.
A living river.
A living people.
The Lamb’s Book of Life is not a dead record.
It is a living revelation.
A NEW HEART AND A NEW SPIRIT
“A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you.” — Ezekiel 36:26
The New Covenant does not begin with behavior.
It begins with identity.
God changes the source before He changes the expression.
He changes the root before He changes the fruit.
He changes the nature before He changes the conduct.
Religion often attempts to force transformation from the outside.
God produces transformation from the inside.
The Book of Revelation reveals this divine order.
The Lamb’s Book of Life reveals this divine order.
The life of the Lamb is written within before it is manifested without.
I WILL PUT MY SPIRIT WITHIN YOU
“And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes.” — Ezekiel 36:27
This verse reveals one of the greatest secrets in Scripture.
Notice the order.
God does not say:
Walk in my statutes and I will give you my Spirit.
He says:
I will give you my Spirit and then cause you to walk in my statutes.
The Spirit becomes the power of obedience.
The Spirit becomes the source of transformation.
The Spirit becomes the writer of the Lamb’s Book of Life.
The Book of Revelation reveals the Spirit speaking to the churches.
The Lamb’s Book of Life reveals the Spirit writing Christ into His people.
CHRIST THE MEDIATOR
“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” — 1 Timothy 2:5
Everything in the New Covenant flows through Christ.
He is the mediator.
He is the Lamb.
He is the sacrifice.
He is the priest.
He is the king.
He is the life.
The Book of Revelation continually exalts the Lamb.
The Lamb’s Book of Life continually exalts the Lamb.
For without the Lamb there is no covenant.
Without the Lamb there is no life.
Without the Lamb there is no transformation.
Without the Lamb there is no Book.
CHRIST IN YOU
“To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is CHRIST IN YOU, the hope of glory.” — Colossians 1:27
This may be the simplest definition of the New Covenant.
Christ in you.
Not merely Christ for you.
Not merely Christ beside you.
Not merely Christ above you.
Christ in you.
The Book of Revelation unveils Christ.
The New Covenant forms Christ.
The Lamb’s Book of Life reveals Christ written within.
Everything converges at this point.
Christ in you.
The hope of glory.
THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE
“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” — Romans 8:2
The old covenant operated through commandments.
The new covenant operates through life.
The old covenant said:
Thou shalt.
The new covenant says:
Christ lives.
The old covenant depended upon human effort.
The new covenant depends upon divine life.
The old covenant revealed what man should be.
The new covenant produces what Christ is.
This is the power of the Lamb’s Book of Life.
It is not merely instruction.
It is impartation.
THE BOOK OF REVELATION AND THE NEW COVENANT
The Book of Revelation does not end with laws.
It ends with life.
“And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.” — Revelation 22:1
The final picture is not commandments flowing.
It is life flowing.
The final picture is not regulation.
It is impartation.
The final picture is not external control.
It is divine life filling creation.
This is the fulfillment of the New Covenant.
This is the fulfillment of the Lamb’s Book of Life.
This is the fulfillment of the Book of Revelation.
THE HEART OF THE MATTER
The New Covenant is God’s promise to write Christ within His people.
The New Covenant is God’s promise to place His Spirit within His people.
The New Covenant is God’s promise to reproduce His nature within His people.
The New Covenant is God’s promise to reveal the life of the Lamb within His people.
The Book of Revelation unveils this mystery.
The Lamb’s Book of Life reveals this mystery.
The writing continues.
The transformation continues.
The unveiling continues.
Until Christ fills His people, His people fill the earth, and the knowledge of the Lord covers creation as the waters cover the sea.
CHAPTER 8
THE SONS OF GOD AS LIVING EPISTLES
The Book of Revelation is not merely the revelation of events.
The Book of Revelation is the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
The Lamb’s Book of Life is not merely a registry of names.
The Lamb’s Book of Life is the revelation of the life of the Lamb.
The New Covenant reveals how that life is written within.
Now we arrive at another glorious truth.
The life written within must eventually be revealed without.
The Christ revealed in the Firstborn Son must be manifested in many sons.
The Lamb’s Book of Life must become visible.
The Book must be opened.
The writing must be read.
THE MANIFESTATION OF THE SONS OF GOD
“For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.” — Romans 8:19
Notice what creation is waiting for.
Creation is not waiting for another law.
Creation is not waiting for another religion.
Creation is not waiting for another denomination.
Creation is waiting for sons.
The Book of Revelation points toward this unveiling.
The Lamb’s Book of Life points toward this unveiling.
The life of the Lamb written within His people must ultimately become visible.
Creation waits for the unveiling of what God has written.
CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF HIS SON
“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son.” — Romans 8:29
The goal of God has never changed.
The objective is Christ.
The pattern is Christ.
The image is Christ.
The life is Christ.
The Book of Revelation unveils Christ.
The Lamb’s Book of Life reveals Christ.
The New Covenant forms Christ.
The sons of God manifest Christ.
Everything moves toward conformity to the image of His Son.
YE ARE THE EPISTLE OF CHRIST
“Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ…” — 2 Corinthians 3:3
Paul does not say believers merely possess an epistle.
He says believers are the epistle.
An epistle is a message.
An epistle is a communication.
An epistle is something written.
The Spirit writes Christ within.
The Spirit forms Christ within.
The Spirit reveals Christ within.
Then the believer becomes the message.
The Lamb’s Book of Life becomes visible.
The Book is no longer hidden.
The Book is read.
KNOWN AND READ OF ALL MEN
“Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men.” — 2 Corinthians 3:2
Many people will never read a commentary.
Many people will never read a theological textbook.
Many people will never study Greek or Hebrew.
But everyone reads lives.
They read character.
They read conduct.
They read attitudes.
They read responses.
They read the fruit of the Spirit.
The Book of Revelation reveals Jesus Christ.
The Lamb’s Book of Life reveals Jesus Christ.
The world reads Jesus Christ through transformed lives.
This is why God writes upon hearts.
CHRIST FORMED IN YOU
“My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you.” — Galatians 4:19
Paul understood the objective.
Not church attendance.
Not religious performance.
Not external conformity.
Christ formed in you.
The Lamb’s life formed in you.
The Lamb’s nature formed in you.
The Lamb’s character formed in you.
The Lamb’s wisdom formed in you.
The Lamb’s love formed in you.
The Book of Revelation unveils Christ.
The Lamb’s Book of Life reveals Christ written within.
FROM GLORY TO GLORY
“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory.” — 2 Corinthians 3:18
The writing is progressive.
The transformation is progressive.
The unveiling is progressive.
God writes line upon line.
Experience upon experience.
Trial upon trial.
Victory upon victory.
Glory upon glory.
The Lamb’s Book of Life is not written in a day.
The Spirit patiently forms Christ within His people.
The Book of Revelation reveals the completed vision.
The Spirit works daily toward its fulfillment.
THE FIRSTBORN AND MANY BRETHREN
“For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one.” — Hebrews 2:11
Jesus Christ is not ashamed to call them brethren.
The Firstborn is bringing many sons unto glory.
The pattern is being multiplied.
The image is being reproduced.
The life of the Lamb is being shared.
The Book of Revelation begins with one glorified Son standing among the candlesticks.
The Lamb’s Book of Life ends with a corporate people bearing His image.
The Book expands.
The revelation grows.
The family increases.
THE LAW SHALL GO FORTH FROM ZION
“And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD… and he will teach us of his ways.” — Micah 4:2
The day comes when creation will seek the wisdom of God revealed through His sons.
Why?
Because the Book has been opened.
The Lamb’s Book of Life has become visible.
The life of Christ has become manifest.
The nations are not merely looking for information.
They are looking for life.
The Book of Revelation points toward this day.
The Lamb’s Book of Life points toward this day.
THE OPEN BOOK
“And he had in his hand a little book open.” — Revelation 10:2
The Book that was once sealed becomes open.
The mystery becomes revelation.
The hidden becomes manifest.
The inward becomes outward.
The life written within becomes visible without.
This is the purpose of God.
The Book of Revelation unveils this purpose.
The Lamb’s Book of Life reveals this purpose.
The sons of God become living epistles.
THE LAMB’S BOOK OF LIFE ON DISPLAY
The final purpose of God is not merely that Christ dwell within His people.
The final purpose of God is that Christ be revealed through His people.
The Book of Revelation unveils Jesus Christ.
The Lamb’s Book of Life reveals the life of Jesus Christ.
The New Covenant writes Jesus Christ within.
The sons of God manifest Jesus Christ without.
Thus the Lamb’s Book of Life becomes a living revelation.
A people transformed.
A people conformed.
A people filled with the life of the Lamb.
A people known and read of all men.
A people through whom creation encounters the revelation of Jesus Christ.
And when that day comes, the Book will no longer be hidden.
The Book will stand open before the nations as the living testimony of the Lamb.
CHAPTER 9
THE OPENING OF THE BOOK
Throughout the Book of Revelation one question dominates the heavenly scene.
Who is worthy to open the Book?
The Book is present.
The throne is present.
The elders are present.
The living creatures are present.
The angels are present.
Yet the Book remains sealed.
The mystery remains hidden.
The revelation remains concealed.
The purpose remains locked away.
Then the Lamb appears.
And everything changes.
THE SEALED BOOK
“And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.” — Revelation 5:1
Notice again the description.
The Book was written within.
The Book contained a revelation.
The Book contained a purpose.
The Book contained a mystery.
Yet the seals prevented its unveiling.
The Book of Revelation continually reveals this principle.
God conceals before He reveals.
God hides before He manifests.
God plants before He harvests.
God writes before He opens.
The Lamb’s Book of Life follows the same pattern.
The life of Christ is written within before it is manifested without.
NO MAN WAS FOUND WORTHY
“And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.” — Revelation 5:3
This is one of the most sobering statements in the Book of Revelation.
No prophet could open it.
No apostle could open it.
No king could open it.
No priest could open it.
No angel could open it.
No created being possessed the authority to unveil the mystery.
Human wisdom could not open it.
Religious tradition could not open it.
Natural understanding could not open it.
The mystery required the Lamb.
JOHN WEPT
“And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book.” — Revelation 5:4
John understood the importance of the Book.
Without the opening of the Book, the purpose remains hidden.
Without the opening of the Book, creation remains in darkness.
Without the opening of the Book, the mystery remains concealed.
John’s tears reveal the importance of revelation.
The Book of Revelation is not about information.
It is about unveiling.
The Lamb’s Book of Life is not about information.
It is about unveiling.
The opening of the Book is the unveiling of Christ.
THE LION AND THE LAMB
“And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book.” — Revelation 5:5
John hears about a Lion.
But when he turns, he sees a Lamb.
“And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne… stood a Lamb as it had been slain.” — Revelation 5:6
The victory belongs to the Lamb.
The authority belongs to the Lamb.
The revelation belongs to the Lamb.
The Book of Revelation continually points to the Lamb.
The Lamb’s Book of Life continually points to the Lamb.
The mystery can only be unveiled through Him.
THE LAMB TAKES THE BOOK
“And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.” — Revelation 5:7
This is one of the greatest moments in Scripture.
The Lamb takes the Book.
The worthy One receives the mystery.
The worthy One receives the inheritance.
The worthy One receives the revelation.
The Book belongs to Him because the Book reveals Him.
The Lamb opens the Book because the life of the Lamb is the message of the Book.
The Book of Revelation unveils Jesus Christ.
The Lamb’s Book of Life unveils Jesus Christ.
Everything centers in Him.
THE SEALS BEGIN TO BREAK
“And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals…” — Revelation 6:1
The opening of the Book is progressive.
One seal.
Then another.
Then another.
The revelation unfolds step by step.
The same principle operates in the life of every son of God.
God does not reveal everything at once.
The Spirit removes the seals progressively.
The Spirit unveils Christ progressively.
The Spirit reveals the life of the Lamb progressively.
The Book of Revelation reveals Christ line upon line.
The Lamb’s Book of Life is written line upon line.
THE OPEN BOOK
“And he had in his hand a little book open.” — Revelation 10:2
What was once sealed now stands open.
What was once hidden now stands revealed.
What was once concealed now stands manifested.
The progression is unmistakable.
Sealed Book.
Opening Book.
Open Book.
This is the divine pattern.
The same pattern operates in every life.
The mystery hidden within becomes revelation.
The Christ hidden within becomes manifestation.
The Lamb’s Book of Life hidden within becomes visible without.
THE OPENING OF THE SONS
“For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.” — Romans 8:19
Creation is waiting for an unveiling.
Creation is waiting for an opening.
Creation is waiting for a manifestation.
The opening of the Book in Revelation points beyond a heavenly vision.
It points toward the unveiling of Christ through His people.
The Book of Revelation reveals Jesus Christ.
The Lamb’s Book of Life reveals Jesus Christ.
The sons of God become the visible expression of that revelation.
As the seals fall away, Christ becomes increasingly visible.
As Christ becomes visible, the Book stands open.
THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST
“The Revelation of Jesus Christ…” — Revelation 1:1
We now arrive back where the Book began.
The Book of Revelation is the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
The opening of the Book reveals Jesus Christ.
The breaking of the seals reveals Jesus Christ.
The unveiling of the mystery reveals Jesus Christ.
The Lamb’s Book of Life reveals Jesus Christ.
Everything in the Revelation moves toward this one glorious purpose.
Christ revealed.
Christ manifested.
Christ unveiled.
Christ filling all things.
THE BOOK STANDS OPEN
The Book begins sealed.
The Book ends open.
The mystery begins hidden.
The mystery ends revealed.
The life begins written within.
The life ends manifested without.
The Book of Revelation is the story of that unveiling.
The Lamb’s Book of Life is the story of that unveiling.
The seals fall away.
The Book opens.
The sons arise.
The Lamb is revealed.
And creation beholds the revelation of Jesus Christ through a people transformed into His image.
The Book is open.
The Lamb is revealed.
The mystery stands unveiled before heaven and earth.
CHAPTER 10
KNOWN AND READ OF ALL MEN
The Book of Revelation begins with a revelation.
The Lamb’s Book of Life begins with a revelation.
The New Covenant begins with a revelation.
Everything God has done throughout the ages has moved toward one glorious purpose:
The revelation of Jesus Christ.
Not merely Christ revealed in heaven.
Not merely Christ revealed in history.
Not merely Christ revealed in doctrine.
But Christ revealed in a people.
The Lamb’s Book of Life reaches its culmination when the life of the Lamb is fully manifested through His sons.
The Book is no longer hidden.
The Book is no longer sealed.
The Book stands open before creation.
YE ARE OUR EPISTLE
“Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men.” — 2 Corinthians 3:2
Notice Paul’s language.
Not read by a few men.
Not read by theologians.
Not read by scholars.
Known and read of all men.
The purpose of God has always been visibility.
The invisible God desires to reveal Himself.
The hidden Christ desires to manifest Himself.
The life of the Lamb desires expression.
The Book of Revelation unveils this purpose.
The Lamb’s Book of Life reveals this purpose.
The writing becomes visible.
The revelation becomes readable.
The life becomes manifest.
THE REVELATION OF THE SONS
“For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.” — Romans 8:19
All creation waits.
The nations wait.
The earth waits.
The heavens wait.
Why?
Because creation is waiting to read the Book.
The Book of Revelation reveals Jesus Christ.
The Lamb’s Book of Life reveals Jesus Christ.
The manifestation of the sons reveals Jesus Christ.
The longing of creation is not ultimately for information.
It is for revelation.
Creation waits to behold the life of the Lamb manifested through a transformed people.
THE CITY OF GOD
“And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” — Revelation 21:2
The Book of Revelation ends with a city.
Yet the city is also a bride.
The city is a people.
The city is a corporate expression.
The city is the final manifestation of God’s purpose.
The Lamb’s Book of Life reaches its maturity in this city.
The life of the Lamb has now been written into a people.
The nature of the Lamb has now been written into a people.
The glory of the Lamb has now been written into a people.
The Book stands open.
The city shines.
The Bride appears.
The revelation is complete.
THE GLORY OF GOD LIGHTENS IT
“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.” — Revelation 21:23
The Lamb remains the center.
The Lamb remains the light.
The Lamb remains the revelation.
The Book of Revelation never moves away from the Lamb.
The Lamb’s Book of Life never moves away from the Lamb.
The sons reveal the Lamb.
The Bride reveals the Lamb.
The city reveals the Lamb.
The nations behold the Lamb.
Everything points to Christ.
Everything reveals Christ.
Everything glorifies Christ.
THE NATIONS SHALL WALK IN THE LIGHT
“And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it.” — Revelation 21:24
What an incredible picture.
The nations walk in the light.
The nations receive illumination.
The nations receive understanding.
The nations receive life.
The nations encounter the revelation of God.
The Book of Revelation ends with light spreading outward.
The Lamb’s Book of Life ends with life spreading outward.
The revelation is no longer confined.
The light reaches creation.
The life reaches creation.
The glory reaches creation.
THE RIVER OF LIFE
“And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.” — Revelation 22:1
The final picture is not judgment.
The final picture is life.
The final picture is not death.
The final picture is life.
The final picture is not darkness.
The final picture is life.
Everything flows from the throne.
Everything flows from the Lamb.
Everything flows from the life of God.
The Book of Revelation concludes with life flowing outward.
The Lamb’s Book of Life concludes with life flowing outward.
The writing within becomes blessing without.
THE TREE OF LIFE
“And the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.” — Revelation 22:2
The purpose of the Lamb’s Book of Life is not merely personal salvation.
The purpose is restoration.
The purpose is healing.
The purpose is life.
The purpose is the revelation of God filling creation.
The life written within becomes life released without.
The Christ formed within becomes Christ revealed without.
The Lamb manifested within becomes the blessing of the nations.
THE FACE OF THE LAMB
“And they shall see his face.” — Revelation 22:4
Throughout Scripture men longed to see God.
Moses desired to see His glory.
Prophets longed for His appearing.
Saints cried out for His presence.
In the Revelation the desire is fulfilled.
They see His face.
The Lamb is fully revealed.
The purpose of God is complete.
The Book of Revelation reaches its climax.
The Lamb’s Book of Life reaches its climax.
The revelation of Jesus Christ stands unveiled.
THE BOOK STANDS OPEN FOREVER
The Book began sealed.
The Book ends open.
The mystery began hidden.
The mystery ends revealed.
The life began written within.
The life ends manifested without.
The Book of Revelation reveals the journey.
The Lamb’s Book of Life reveals the journey.
The New Covenant empowers the journey.
The Spirit writes the journey.
The sons manifest the journey.
The Bride displays the journey.
The city embodies the journey.
The nations benefit from the journey.
And at the center of it all stands the Lamb.
THE LAMB’S BOOK OF LIFE REVEALED
The Lamb’s Book of Life is more than a registry.
It is more than a list.
It is more than a record.
It is the revelation of Jesus Christ written within the hearts of His people.
It is Christ formed.
Christ manifested.
Christ revealed.
The Book of Revelation unveils this mystery from beginning to end.
The Lamb’s Book of Life reveals this mystery from beginning to end.
The Lamb who was slain from the foundation of the world now fills His people with His life.
His nature.
His character.
His wisdom.
His glory.
His love.
His victory.
And through that people He reveals Himself to creation.
The Book is open.
The Lamb is revealed.
The sons are manifested.
The city shines.
The river flows.
The nations are blessed.
And the revelation of Jesus Christ fills the earth as the waters cover the sea.
Amen.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES BY CHAPTER
Chapter 1 — The Mystery of the Lamb’s Book of Life
- Exodus 32:31-33
- Psalm 69:28
- Daniel 12:1
- Philippians 4:3
- Revelation 3:5
- Revelation 13:8
- Revelation 20:12
- Revelation 21:27
Chapter 2 — The Book of Revelation and the Language of Symbols
- Revelation 1:1
- Revelation 5:1-6
- Revelation 12:3
- Revelation 13:1-2
- Revelation 17:1-18
- Revelation 21:2
- Revelation 22:1-2
- Luke 24:27
- 2 Corinthians 3:6
Chapter 3 — The Book of the Life of the Lamb
- Revelation 13:8
- 1 Peter 1:18-20
- John 1:1-14
- John 10:10
- John 14:6
- Hebrews 10:7
- Psalm 40:7
- Colossians 1:15
- Hebrews 1:3
- 2 Corinthians 3:2-3
- Galatians 4:19
Chapter 4 — Jesus Christ: The First Chapter of the Book
- Revelation 1:1
- John 1:1-14
- John 14:9
- Colossians 1:15
- Hebrews 1:3
- Romans 8:29
- Galatians 4:19
- 2 Corinthians 3:2-3
Chapter 5 — Written Not With Ink but With the Spirit
- Exodus 31:18
- Jeremiah 31:31-33
- Romans 8:3
- Revelation 5:1
- Galatians 4:19
- 2 Corinthians 3:2-6
- Hebrews 8:10
Chapter 6 — The Book Written Within
- Revelation 5:1-7
- Psalm 40:7
- Hebrews 10:7
- Luke 24:27
- Ephesians 1:4
- Hebrews 10:16
- Exodus 31:18
- Galatians 4:19
- 2 Corinthians 3:2-3
Chapter 7 — The New Covenant Written in the Heart
- Jeremiah 31:31-33
- Ezekiel 36:26-27
- Hebrews 8:6-10
- Hebrews 10:16
- Colossians 1:27
- Romans 8:2
- Revelation 22:1-2
Chapter 8 — The Sons of God as Living Epistles
- Romans 8:19
- Romans 8:29
- 2 Corinthians 3:2-3
- 2 Corinthians 3:18
- Galatians 4:19
- Hebrews 2:11
- Micah 4:2
- Revelation 10:2
Chapter 9 — The Opening of the Book
- Revelation 5:1-7
- Revelation 6:1
- Revelation 10:2
- Romans 8:19
- Revelation 1:1
- Revelation 5:5-6
Chapter 10 — Known and Read of All Men
- 2 Corinthians 3:2-3
- Romans 8:19
- Revelation 21:2
- Revelation 21:23-24
- Revelation 22:1-2
- Revelation 22:4
- Isaiah 11:9
- Habakkuk 2:14
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