Share this Page |  Back To Main Page | Email Us 

 

Scripture-Twisting in the Tim LaHaye Prophecy Study Bible

Tim LaHaye Attempts to "Explain Away" the Bible's Solemn Warning About Being Blotted Out!

The article, "The Book of Life," found on page 104 of the Tim LaHaye Prophecy Study Bible: King James is manipulatively written. I had to re-read the article and examine the scriptures in context to unravel Tim LaHaye's twisted half-truths.

"The Book of Life" essay is an example of how a teacher can maneuver the scriptures to fit his agenda rather than teaching the Word of God straightforwardly. Upon the faulty premise that "the book of the living" contains the names of all the souls of men, the anti-biblical doctrine of two books of life was born. Incidentally, this is how Tim LaHaye and other well-known preachers launch much of their false teaching: through  a faulty premise.

Tim LaHaye wrote:

The psalmist speaks of "the book of the living" (Ps. 69:28), so we perceive that it is a book that contains the names of all the souls of men.

Notice his habit of deriving doctrines from scripture via a subjective, private interpretive manner. He is also sending the message that the Bible is to be understood subjectively, or in a way that is influenced by one's personal opinions or prejudices.  If you don't believe me on this statement, please see the article, Tim LaHaye's False Teachings About Taking the Mark of the Beast..

According to Tim LaHaye, the "book of the living" lists the names of all the souls of men: 

Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous."--Psalm 69:28  It is obvious the righteous are the ones written in the book of the living.

The book of the living is not a book that names those who are dead in their trespasses and sins. The word living in book of the living communicates the idea of being spiritually alive. The book of the living actually lists the names of those who are spiritually alive (the righteous), not spiritually dead as Tim LaHaye asserts.

Dr. LaHaye's teaching that the "book of the living" names the souls of both lost and saved when the context lends no support for this interpretation paved the way for him to introduce the "two books of life" doctrine.  (Note: Dr. LaHaye is not the only preacher to teach the "two books of life" false doctrine.)

Purpose For Two Books of Life False Doctrine

Now that there are suddenly two books of life (one book of life for everybody and one book for the saved) Dr. LaHaye can teach that being "blotted out of the book of life" is something that only happens to people who were never saved in the first place. 

Dr. LaHaye identified the reason a person might have his name blotted out of the book (of the living):

Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book. Exodus 32:33

Unbelievers sin as a rule so it follows that if they are recorded in the book of the living --as asserted by Dr. Lahaye but not by scripture-- they would of course be blotted out. But what about believers? The Bible says that "he that overcometh" shall not be blotted out. Dr. Lahaye redefined overcometh so that the reality of a Christian being blotted out of the book of life could never occur. In doing so, Dr. Lahaye usurped authority over the words of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Note: By no means is he the only preacher to do this. Take heed that you are not paying any preacher to usurp authority over the scriptures because if you do, God will hold you responsible for bidding God speed to his evil deeds.

Next he went on to quote Revelation 3:5:

He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life.  

This "he that overcometh" conditional Bible verse is a serious obstacle to the unconditional eternal security premise. If a Christian is not an overcomer, Jesus said he would blot his name out of the book of life. Dr. LaHaye attempted to nullify Jesus' sober promise by giving a false definition for the word, "overcomer." Tim LaHaye wrote:

"An 'overcomer' here is one who is clothed in the white garments of Christ through His substitutionary atonement, guaranteeing that his name will not be blotted out of the book of life."

Tim Lahaye's Deceptive Re-definition of Overcomer

Tim Lahaye's definition of overcomer is extremely deceptive because he re-arranged the words of Jesus Christ to make them say something totally different than what he said! Let us examine how he re-arranged the words of Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ said:

"he that overcometh (which includes "keepeth my works unto the end") shall be clothed in white raiment and I will not blot out his name.

Jesus placed a condition to being clothed in white raiment and not being blotted out of the book of life. This condition is "he that overcometh." Overcoming includes keeping Jesus' works unto the end.

Tim Lahaye said:

"An 'overcomer' here is one who is clothed in the white garments of Christ through His substitutionary atonement, guaranteeing that his name will not be blotted out of the book of life."

Tim Lahaye contradicted the words of Jesus Christ by REDEFINING overcomer to mean: "one who is clothed in the white garments of Christ through His substitutionary atonement." In Tim Lahaye's words (pg. 1369), an overcomer is simply a believer in Christ."

The Holy Bible says an overcomer is a believer who keeps the works of Jesus unto the end. Read the Lord Jesus Christ's definition of overcomer:

And he that overcometh and keepeth my works unto the end" (Rev. 2:26) 

Overcoming means we must keep Jesus' works and repent of our own works! Tim LaHaye's study note on page 1369, states that an overcomer is a believer in Christ. Note: Many people who love this world "believe in Christ" and attend church services every time the doors are open. They "believe in Christ" on their church's denominational terms but they are not overcomers. They do not keep the works of Jesus) and, if they fail to repent, will be blotted out of the book of life.)

In conclusion, if we believe Dr. LaHaye's definition instead of the definition given by the Lord Jesus Christ, then Jesus' warning that he who overcomes will not be blotted out of the book of life makes no sense!  Jesus was speaking to the church at Sardis.  Why would he tell them that if they did not overcome they would be blotted out if they already were incapable of being blotted out?  In order to believe Dr. LaHaye's definition of "overcomer," you must assume that the Lord Jesus Christ warned the church of a "blotting out of the book of life" that he has no intention of fulfilling. You must reject the words of the Lord Jesus Christ in order to accept Dr. LaHaye's words.

Please go back to Revelation and study the verses regarding the Lord Jesus' promises to overcomers and let no man beguile you with enticing words via study notes or study bibles. (See Col. 2:4)

Continued in the article: Tim LaHaye's "Book of Life" For the Lost (and Saved) and "Book of Life" For the Saved?

 

must read: CAN OUR NAMES BE BLOTTED OUT? by Dr. Cathy Burns

Return to: False Doctrines in Tim LaHaye's Writings

Share this Page |  Back To Main Page | Email Us  

Liberty To The Captives Established in June 2001