Revelation 13:8
And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Study Note
Study Note
The identification of the beast's worshipers as those 'whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain' contains one of the densest theological statements in Revelation. The ambiguity of the Greek allows two readings: either the names were written before the foundation of the world, or the Lamb was slain before the foundation of the world — both truths attested elsewhere (election: Ephesians 1:4; pre-temporal sacrifice: 1 Peter 1:19-20). The 'book of life' (biblon tēs zōēs) is an ancient metaphor for the civic register of the living (Exodus 32:32-33; Psalm 69:28), eschatologized in Daniel 12:1 and appearing throughout Revelation (17:8; 20:12, 15; 21:27). The verse anchors divine sovereignty over history in pre-temporal election, providing the ground of hope against the beast's apparently irresistible power.
Other Translations
And all that dwell on the earth shall worship him, every one whose name hath not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb that hath been slain.
And bow before it shall all who are dwelling upon the land, whose names have not been written in the scroll of the life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world;
And all who are on the earth will give him worship, everyone whose name has not been from the first in the book of life of the Lamb who was put to death.
Cross References
And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall …
Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a …
The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into …
And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should …
And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do …
And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like …
And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and …
And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her …