I'm sorry I haven't updated the site today, but apart from the Jewish Feast of Rosh HaShanah, there has been absolutely nothing happening in the world today. I scanned the news before work, during lunch and tonight, nothing... And some days there are so many things happening, it's hard to choose which article to comment on! Even some Jewish sites such as Arutz 7 have shut down over the holiday period.

Rosh HaShanah, the civil New Year, commences a 10 day period of reflection and repentance for Jews. The Jewish people believe that during this period three books are opened in heaven, and that God judges every man according to his works.  If repentance is forthcoming before Yom Kippur - the Day of Atonement, a person's name is written in the book of the living. If a person's deeds are evil, their name is written in the book of the dead. A third book contains the names of the people who's deeds are neither righteous nor wicked. They are given 10 days to repent, and if repentance is not forthcoming, their names are written in the book of the dead.

The Scriptures teach us that there are at least three books in heaven. One contains the deeds of all those who haven't trusted in Christ for salvation. Another, called the Book of Life, contains the names of every living person on earth. As far as I know, it was this book that Moses requested the Lord blot his name out of, for the sake of the children of Israel. A third book, a Book of Remembrance, is also mentioned in the Bible (Malachi 3:16).

Exodus 32:31-33
And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written. And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.

The Psalmist David also prayed that the names of the wicked would be blotted out of the Book of Life (Psalm 69:28). And according to Revelation, those who have trusted in Christ for salvation have a special promise from God, that their names will not be blotted out of the Book of Life...

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, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

Jesus Christ told His disciples to rejoice that their names were written in heaven (Luke 10:2). There is another book in heaven, which contains a record of every sin ever committed by every person that has ever lived. For those who have trusted in Jesus Christ for salvation, their sins are blotted out of this book forever, never to be remembered again. As a result of Christ's work on the cross, God is just and able to forgive those who believe in Him and accept His offer of salvation.

Isaiah 44:22
I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.

But for those who have not trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, they will be judged according to the contents of this book. Many people believe that after they die, God will weigh up their good deeds and their bad deeds, and if the good outweigh the bad then He will let them into heaven. I always bring this false teaching up in my Sunday School class, for sadly it is so prevalent in my country today. The Bible states that "by grace we are saved through faith, and that not of ourselves: it is the gift of God", Ephesians 2:8. But in a way, there is some truth in this false teaching, for the wicked will be judged "according to their works"... but they won't be justified by them (Galatians 2:16). Those that have spurned God's offer of salvation will be left completely without excuse. Everything they have ever done will be read out before them, and will show them to be utterly condemned. As the Lord said, in the day of judgement men shall give an account for every idle word (Matthew 12:36). A final search will be made to see if their names are recorded in the Book of Life. Those whose names have been blotted out will be cast into the lake of fire.

Revelation 20:15
And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

So as we can see, Rosh HaShanah, the Days of Awe and Yom Kippur all foreshadow a coming day, when Christ shall return to judge this world in righteousness. Have you trusted in Him for salvation? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved (Acts 16:31).

Source Bible Prophecy Research