Revelation 13:8 - Exposition

And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb ; [every one] whose name hath not been written, as in the Revised Version. "Him," αὐτόν , masculine, although referring to the neuter, θηρίον , because the personality of Satan under the figure of the beast is borne in mind. "Whose name," singular, referring to the individuals of whom the πάντες , "all," are composed. This verse states in another form what has been related in the latter part of the preceding verse. Those over whom the beast has authority are those who worship him, and whose names have not "been written in the book of life." The expression, "book of life," is found only in this book and Philippians 4:3 . In all the places where it occurs it seems to refer primarily to Christians (cf. Philippians 4:3 ; Revelation 3:5 ; Revelation 20:12 , Revelation 20:15 ; Revelation 21:27 ; Revelation 22:19 ). At baptism the Christian's name is written in the "book of life," from which there is always a possibility of it being blotted out ( Revelation 3:5 ). Those who are not Christians have not their name in the "book of life," but worship the beast, that is, pay allegiance to him. It is "the book of life of the Lamb," because it is through "the Lamb" that there exists a "book of life" for men. Slain from the foundation of the world; or, that hath been slain. It is natural to connect the words, "from the foundation of the world," with "slain," and not with "written." The latter course has been followed by Bengel, Dusterdieck, De Wette, Ewald, Hengstenberg, and others, and in the margin of the Revised Version, and is in accordance with Revelation 17:8 , "Whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world" (see also Matthew 25:34 ; Ephesians 1:4 ). "The Lamb hath been slain from the foundation of the world," because from "the foundation of the world" (cf. Hebrews 9:26 ) his death has been efficacious for the salvation of men; and because his death "was foreordained before the foundation of the world," although manifest only in the last times ( 1 Peter 1:20 ). What was foreknown to and ordained by God is spoken of as having taken place. This latter sense must be the meaning if we adopt the alternative reading.