Q. Would you please explain the meaning of the “book of life” as referred to in Revelation 20:11-15?
A. Thank you for the question. To put your question in context, it’s helpful to look at the background of the Book of Revelation as a whole, as the Bible is a collection of many books, written by many authors in a variety of genres, but it is inspired by the Holy Spirit.
The Book of Revelation was written during a time of persecution in the early Church. We only need to read the Book of the Acts of the Apostles to see that the persecutions of the early Christians began immediately. The account of condemnation of St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr, gives us a glimpse of the rejection that Christians faced from the very beginning.
The persecution continued as the faith spread throughout the Roman Empire. The Romans generally allowed for the people that they conquered to practice the faith that they desired, so long as it wasn’t a threat to the Pax Romana, or “the Roman peace.” What the Romans didn’t like was instability and infighting amidst religious groups, for they viewed this as a threat to the political and social order.
We catch of glimpse of this in the passion and death of Our Lord himself. Pontius Pilate knew that Jesus was a righteous and innocent man. He knew that he committed no crime. And yet, he allowed him to be tortured and crucified because it was the will of the mob before him. He was likely fearful of an insurrection, and that fear caused Our Savior’s death.
That persecution continued into the early Church, which, again, is the context of the writing of the Book of Revelation, a book attributed to the Apostle St. John the Evangelist. St. John is addressing the persecuted Church, and his intention is to instill in them hope and perseverance to offer encouragement amidst fear.
All literature, including the books of the Bible, is written under various genres: history, poetry, prophecy, parable, epistle, etc. An understanding of the genre is imperative in the understanding of the author’s intention. St. John employs the apocalyptic genre that makes use of a great deal of symbolism and images.
We see the use of the apocalyptic genre in a parallel way in the Old Testament Book of Daniel. Daniel, similarly, is writing to the Jewish people, who are far from their homeland, exiled in the foreign land of Babylon. Daniel’s purpose is to give them strength in this time of pain and persecution to hold fast to their faith.
Those whose names are written in “book of life” that you ask about in Revelation refers to those who will enjoy eternal happiness. And the genre of apocalyptic helps us to understand this in a better way. As Daniel encouraged the Jews in Babylon to stay faithful, St. John in speaking of the “book of life” is directing the early Christians to their ultimate end. The reference to “the book of life” and really the entire Book of Revelation is a reminder that we are pilgrims in this world and heaven is our true homeland.
While St. John wrote Revelation for the persecuted Church of his time, its message as the inspired Word of God is enduring and universal. We know the pressure to renounce one’s faith in Christ, especially given our world that is turning ever more contrary to the ways of the Lord and even persecute authentic discipleship. Let us long as our goal, in our every thought, word, and action to have our names written in the “book of life.”
This question was answered by a priest of the Diocese of Lincoln. Write to Ask the Register using our online form, or write to 3700 Sheridan Blvd., Suite 10, Lincoln NE 68506-6100. All questions are subject to editing. Editors decide which questions to publish. Personal questions cannot be answered. People with such questions are urged to take them to their nearest Catholic priest.
