One of the reasons I became interested in The Berean Call was their bold, biblical stance against Calvinism. Dave Hunt and the gang were not willing to compromise truth for some extra lucre. They knew what the Bible said about the topic, wrote about it in their articles and books, and have never budged. This is one reason why it is a great ministry to support. They take biblical stands with a biblical backbone―rare but needed these days.
I was reading an answer they gave to a question that someone asked them about Calvinism, and I thought you might like to read it as well
Question: Why does Revelation 17:8 (and maybe Revelation 13:8, depending on the translation used) refer to those “whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world…”? Could that, coupled with Psalm 69:28, Revelation 3:5, and Revelation 22:19 mean that the names of all mankind are in the Book of Life, then later blotted out one by one as each Christ-rejecter crosses the line of final renunciation? I always thought that only after we believed the gospel were our names written in the Book of Life. If this were not the case, wouldn’t Calvinists say, “See! He has already chosen those whom He will save; their names are already written down before the foundation of the earth!”?
Answer: Several verses speak of God blotting or not blotting names out of the Book of Life: “I will not blot out his name out of the book of life…” (Revelation 3:5); “God shall take away his part out of the book of life…” (Revelation 22:19); “…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” (Exodus 32:32-33).
These references to blotting out of the Book of Life allow only two possibilities: 1) everyone’s name is written in the Book of Life from eternity past, indicating God’s desire for all to be saved, until they have irrevocably rejected Christ, when their name is blotted out; or 2) when a person gets saved, his name is placed in the Book of Life for the first time, and when He later turns against Christ, his name is blotted out. Neither of these fits Calvinism. The first denies that God only intends to save a select elect, and the second denies the eternal security of the redeemed.
References to those “whose names are in the book of life” (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 21:27) and those “whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8; 17:8; 20:15) offer no clue as to how or why names are written or are not written there. They only tell us that at the end of history, some names will be found and some names will not be found written therein. But the fact that names can be, and in fact are, blotted out of the Book of Life is clear.
Of the two alternatives above, since the second one, which allows for some of the redeemed to lose their salvation, contradicts Christ’s clear promise (“…shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life”—John 5:24), we must opt for the first. Comparing all of the verses, we can only conclude that, in keeping with God’s desire that all be saved, from eternity past every person’s name is written in the Book of Life of the Lamb, slain from before the foundation of the world. Whose names are blotted out? The names of those who refuse to yield to the wooing of the Holy Spirit. For this sin, there is no forgiveness (Mark 3:28; Luke 12:10).
Thus, there is nothing in what Scripture says about the “book of life” to give any comfort to Calvinists, but only discomfort.
https://www.thebereancall.org/content/question-does-book-life-support-calvinism
_____________
I highly recommend any of their materials on the topic of Calvinism:
https://store.thebereancall.org/shop?&search=calvinism
And don’t forget to check out The Berean Call’s conference that will be held later this month. You can find all the details you need at the following link:
https://www.thebereancall.org/conference
Remember to QEQE anything and everything from every ministry. That is the way a Berean is supposed to live!
Until the nets are full,
P.S. We have some Canadian friends who are basically trying to reach their entire country for Jesus! They have given out so many booklets that I would be shocked if everyone in that country hasn’t received one by now! Before they began their outreach, they prayed, set out a plan, got the booklets, and are now on a mission to reach people. Do you think the same way? You would be amazed at how God can work through you if you let Him.
P.P.S. The special is still on, so load up on materials and flood your area with eternal truth.
