Expositor's Bible Commentary 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)

John further identifies the worshipers of the beast as “all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb” (cf. 17:8; 20:12, 15; 21:27). This contrast further emphasizes the theological nature of the description of the beast. The beast from the earth represents the idolatrous system of worship instigated by the dragon to deceive humankind into breaking the first commandment. A debatable issue is whether the words “from the creation of the world” belong grammatically with “have not been written” or with “that was slain.” In other words, is it the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world, or is it the names that were not recorded in the book of life from the creation of the world? In Greek, either interpretation is grammatically acceptable. But 17:8 implies that the word order in the Greek favors the latter view and suggests that John is deliberately providing a complementary thought to 17:8. In the former instance, the emphasis rests on the decree in eternity to elect the Son as the redeeming agent for humanity’s salvation (13:8; 1 Peter 1:20); in the latter, stress lies on God’s eternal foreknowledge of a company of people who would participate in the elect Son’s redeeming work (17:8). In any event, these words cannot be pressed to prove eternal individual election to salvation or damnation, since 3:5 implies that failure of appropriate human response removes one’s name from the book of life. This verse distinguishes clearly between the followers of the beast and those of the slain Lamb. It also calls for faithful commitment and clear discernment of error on the part of the Lamb’s people.