“Rejoice because your names are written in heaven”

Jesus said this to his 70 disciples after they had returned from their preaching ministry in the Jewish cities about the kingdom of God.  The disciples were amazed that the demons were subject to them.  Demon activity of oppression and possession was occasionally (if not frequently) encountered at that time among the Jewish people, and these disciples discovered that they could exercise authority over them:  “Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, ‘Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.’"  Luke 10:17

 

Jesus responded this way: "Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.  Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you,

but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven." Luke 10:19-20

 

Having one’s name written in heaven is presented as something greater than having authority over demons.  One should rejoice in that over the other.  The disciples could see their authority over demons, but how did they know their names were written in heaven?  It must be knowable, if Jesus said it was the preferable thing to rejoice over.

 

I believe having your name written in heaven is the same as having eternal life.  The opposite of eternal life is being separated from God in the “Lake of fire.” We are told in Revelation 20.15, that "anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire."  The "Lake of Fire" is called the "second death," Rev 20.14.

 

When the Apostle Paul wrote the Church in Philippi, he said, "help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life." (Phil 4.3)

Paul states that the names of his companions in ministry were in the Book of Life.  How did he know this?  Did he get special revelation from God just for these folks, so he could say such a thing?  I really doubt it.

 

To have your name written in heaven or the Book of Life, I believe, are the same thing.  How did Paul know his companions’ names were written there, and how were the disciples to know their names were written in heaven?  I believe it is as simple as believing the provision and the promise of God in Jesus for salvation from sin or for eternal life.  God promises eternal life to those who believe in Jesus as Savior from sin and its consequences.

 

John 3.14-16 states the provision (God “gave” his Son: Jesus died for you, bearing the penalty of all sins) and the promise ("whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life”).   If you believe this, then you have eternal life, and if you have eternal life, then your name is written in heaven, written in the book.   If you don't believe this, then you will perish, meaning you will be cast into the Lake of Fire, which is the "second death" because it is the final separation from God and that Life with him which is eternal life.  

 

Paul knew his companions believed this, and Jesus told his disciples that this knowledge should be the cause of their rejoicing.  The certainty of having your name written in the Book/ Heaven is in the assurance of the promise of God.  God, who cannot lie, promises eternal life to all those who believe in Jesus as their Savior from sin.

 

Eternal life is the ultimate thing to rejoice about, to give thanks about.