Albert Barnes Commentary Revelation 13:8

"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." — Revelation 13:8 (ASV)

And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him. That is, as immediately stated, all whose names are not in the book of life. On the word worship, see the commentary on Revelation 13:4.

Whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb. That is, of the Lord Jesus—the Lamb of God. See the commentary on Philippians 4:3.

Compare with the commentary on John 1:29.

The representation here is that the Lord Jesus keeps a book or register, in which are recorded the names of all who shall obtain everlasting life.

Slain from the foundation of the world. See the commentary on Revelation 5:6.

Compare with the commentary on Revelation 3:5.

The meaning here is not that he was actually put to death "from the foundation of the world," but that the intention to give him for a sacrifice was formed then, and that it was so certain that it might be spoken of as actually then occurring . The purpose was so certain; it was so constantly represented by bloody sacrifices from the earliest ages, all typifying the future Saviour, that it might be said that he was "slain from the foundation of the world."

Professor Stuart, however, (in his commentary on this passage,) supposes that this phrase should be connected with the former member of the sentence: "whose names are not written, from the foundation of the world, in the life-book of the Lamb which was slain." Either construction makes good sense, but it seems to me that the construction found in our common version is the most simple and natural.