“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. If any man have an ear, let him hear” (Revelation 13:8-9).

“And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him,” (vs 8)

A sweeping description of who those people are was just given (vs 7):

●   All kindred ●   All tongues ●   All nations

They are the wicked from the entire world.

This almost unbelievable prophecy reveals a universal loyalty to the pope/Vatican! In the way this “future tense” message is written, “This cannot … refer to any situation in the past or present but must refer to the eschatological future when the rule of the beast will include the entire known world.”[1]

Amazing is this dossier. The beast has nearly universal success in attracting worshipers. This will be the ultimate achievement of Satan. It will resonate as a new world order and religion! Ecumenism will have been perfected!

It is fascinating that the word “him” is auton. This confirms that the beast must be a person as well as a kingdom. The focus in chapter 17 on the heads and now the beast conveys these thoughts from the angel teacher.

“whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (vs 8)

The grammar is actually singular (“whose name is).” The world is worshiping the wrong “god,” resulting in its individuals being eliminated from that heavenly citizenship book. This book is noted five other times (3:5; 17:8; 20:12, 15; 21:27) and refers to a divine registry of those destined for the heavenly kingdom. Here, the way it is expressed suggests that a judicial decision has made their eternal destiny “permanent.”[2] The beast worshipers are inhabitants of the earth and will not be inhabitants of heaven.

This book is a coveted place to have one’s name recorded. In the Old Testament it was recognized as the place where the names of the righteous are kept (Psalm 69:28, Daniel 12:1). The latter is noted to be the record of all of “Daniel’s people,” which expands that designation to the universal church. Then Michael will deliver “every one whose name is found written in the book.”

That book is the “Lamb’s Book of Life.” It was His blood that won the victory over the dragon on behalf of the saints (12:11). They, in turn, washed their robes in that blood (7:14). Their names belong there!

When the beast comes to its end (16:19, 17:8), the world will then wonder in a different way. They are identified as those not written in the Book of Life but had been there at “the foundation of the world.” This unique message reveals a plan of redemption that encompasses everyone. Each individual was chosen by that restoration plan and written in the book. God has the authority to remove that name: “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you” (I Peter 1:18-20).

Moses understood that book. The very first Biblical account occurred after the golden calf incident. God’s wrath was about to explode and, in a beautiful rendition of devotion to wayward Israel, Moses offered his life if their lives could not be spared – “blot me out of the book you have written” (Exodus 32:32-33).[3] God also made it clear to the Sardis Church that only the “overcomers” will be clothed in white raiment and He will then not blot them out of the Book of Life (Revelation 3:5). That suggests that there is a period of probation and judgment.

Some have concluded that the names of the wicked were eliminated at creation based on: “and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is” (Revelation 17:8).[4] This does not agree with other insights regarding that book. This verse (because of 13:8 here) is believed to really mean “whose names have been recorded in the Book of Life since the creation of the world.”[5]

Peter did note that before the world was made the blood of the Lamb was anticipated (I Peter 1:19-20). Jesus speaks of a kingdom prepared from the creation of the world.

The heart-wrenching rendition of eternal loss is found in these prophecies by the simple statement, “not found written in.” Because it is called the “Lamb’s Book,” it is a pre-creation list of all who might identify with the blood of that Lamb!

Names can be blotted out of that record. The saints, in turn, have their sins blotted out and names retained!

“The sins of the overcomers will be blotted out of the books of record, but their names will be retained on the book of life. The True Witness says, ‘He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.’ [Revelation 3:5]. When the conflict of life is ended, when the armor is laid off at the feet of Jesus, when the saints of God are glorified, then and then only will it be safe to claim that we are saved and sinless. True sanctification will not lead any human being to pronounce himself holy, sinless, and perfect. Let the Lord proclaim the truth of your character.”[6]

“If any man have an ear, let him hear.” (vs 9)

Many scholars believe that this refers to the next verse. But in all the churches (Revelation 2–3) it is a summation thought to study and learn what the meaning of the message just presented was.