And all who dwell on the earth will worship the beastThis phrase indicates a global phenomenon where the inhabitants of the earth, symbolizing humanity at large, will give allegiance to the beast. The "beast" is often interpreted as a representation of a powerful, anti-Christian entity or system, possibly a political or religious leader, as described earlier in
Revelation 13. This worship signifies a deep-seated allegiance and submission, contrasting with the worship due to God alone. The phrase suggests a time of great deception and apostasy, aligning with prophecies in
2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 about a "man of lawlessness" who exalts himself.
all whose names have not been written from the foundation of the world
This part emphasizes the concept of divine election and predestination, suggesting that God, in His omniscience, has a predetermined plan for salvation. The "foundation of the world" indicates that God's plan and knowledge transcend time, aligning withEphesians 1:4, which speaks of believers being chosen before the world's creation. This phrase reassures believers of their secure place in God's eternal plan, contrasting with those who follow the beast.
in the Book of Life belonging to the Lamb
The "Book of Life" is a metaphorical record of those who have eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ, the Lamb. The Lamb imagery connects to the sacrificial system of the Old Testament, where a lamb was offered for atonement, pointing to Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice (John 1:29). This book is mentioned in other parts of Revelation (e.g., 20:12, 21:27), symbolizing the assurance of salvation and eternal life for believers.
who was slain
This phrase refers to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, whose sacrificial death provides redemption for humanity. The term "slain" highlights the violent nature of His death, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies such asIsaiah 53:7. It underscores the centrality of the cross in Christian theology, where Jesus' death and resurrection are pivotal for salvation, as echoed in1 Corinthians 15:3-4. This sacrificial act is the basis for the believer's inclusion in the Book of Life.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
The BeastA symbolic representation of a powerful, blasphemous entity or system that opposes God and demands worship from the inhabitants of the earth.
2.
The Earth DwellersRefers to those who live on the earth and are not aligned with God, often depicted as those who follow worldly systems and reject divine truth.
3.
The LambSymbolic of Jesus Christ, who is described as the sacrificial Lamb, emphasizing His role in redemption and His ultimate victory over evil.
4.
The Book of LifeA heavenly record that contains the names of those who belong to God, signifying eternal life and salvation.
5.
The Foundation of the WorldA phrase indicating God's eternal plan and foreknowledge, highlighting the divine sovereignty in the salvation process.
Teaching Points
The Reality of Spiritual WarfareRecognize that there is an ongoing spiritual battle between the forces of God and the forces of evil. Believers must be vigilant and discerning.
The Assurance of SalvationTake comfort in knowing that those whose names are written in the Book of Life are secure in their salvation, a decision made by God from the foundation of the world.
The Call to Worship the True GodUnderstand the importance of worshiping God alone, resisting the temptation to follow worldly systems that demand allegiance.
The Sovereignty of GodTrust in God's sovereign plan, knowing that He has foreseen and orchestrated the course of history, including the redemption of His people.
The Role of the LambEmbrace the sacrificial love of Jesus, the Lamb who was slain, as the foundation of our faith and the means of our salvation.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Revelation 13:8?
2.How does Revelation 13:8 emphasize the importance of the "Lamb's book of life"?
3.What does "slain from the foundation of the world" reveal about God's plan?
4.How can believers ensure their names are in the "book of life"?
5.Connect Revelation 13:8 with John 1:29 regarding Jesus as the Lamb.
6.How should Revelation 13:8 influence our daily worship and devotion to Christ?
7.What does Revelation 13:8 mean by "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world"?
8.How does Revelation 13:8 relate to predestination and free will?
9.Why is the Book of Life significant in Revelation 13:8?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Revelation 13?
11.What does "Slain Before the Foundation of the World" mean?
12.What is the Lamb's Book of Life?
13.What does 'Slain Before the Foundation of the World' mean?
14.What is the historicist perspective on historical events?What Does Revelation 13:8 Mean
And all who dwell on the earth will worship the beast• Scripture plainly states a future global deception under the “beast” (seeRevelation 13:3–4 for context).
• This worship is universal in scope—“all who dwell on the earth”—signaling that political, economic, and religious systems will unite under the beast’s authority (compareDaniel 7:23–25;2 Thessalonians 2:9–12).
• The passage warns believers today to expect growing pressure toward compromise, underscoring Jesus’ call to remain faithful even when the majority bows to falsehood (Matthew 24:24).
All whose names have not been written• The verse immediately narrows the “all.” There is a distinct exception: those whose names appear in a divine registry.
• The contrast highlights that what ultimately separates people is not culture, education, or personality but whether their names are recorded by God (John 10:27–29;Luke 10:20).
• This reassurance is meant to settle the hearts of believers—God knows His own and will keep them (2 Timothy 2:19).
From the foundation of the world• God’s saving purpose is not reactionary; it predates creation itself (Ephesians 1:4;1 Peter 1:20).
• Knowing this strengthens confidence: the chaos of the last days does not derail a plan God set in motion before time began.
• It also humbles us—our rescue was conceived long before we drew breath (Psalm 139:16).
In the Book of Life• Revelation mentions this “book” several times (Revelation 3:5; 20:12). It represents God’s unchangeable record of all who are redeemed.
• Only those listed escape the beast’s deception and the final judgment (Revelation 20:15).
• The imagery of a written book conveys permanence and certainty—believers are secure (Philippians 4:3).
Belonging to the Lamb who was slain• The Lamb is Jesus Christ, whose sacrificial death is central to history (John 1:29;Revelation 5:6).
• Salvation rests entirely on His atoning work, not on human merit (Romans 5:8–9).
• The phrase “who was slain” keeps the cross front-and-center; the Lamb’s triumph came through suffering, and His followers may share that path (1 Peter 2:21).
summaryRevelation 13:8 paints a sobering yet hope-filled picture: a world largely captivated by the beast, contrasted with a people eternally safeguarded in the Lamb’s Book of Life. God’s redemptive plan, set “from the foundation of the world,” guarantees that those secured by Christ’s sacrifice will not be swept away by end-time deception.
(8)
And all that dwell . . .--Better,
And all they that dwell on the earth shall worship him(
every one)
whose name has not been written in the book of life of the Lamb that has been slain from the foundation of the world. This is the climax of his triumph: he, or it, is worshipped; but the saints, though conquered, conquer; they do not worship after the fashion of the deluded or self-seeking. A stronger tie binds them to a better allegiance; their names are in the Lamb's Book of Life. There is some doubt about the connection of the words "from the foundation of the world." Some connect them with the word "written": this would express that the names were written "from the foundation of the world" in the book. Others connect them with the word "slain": this expresses that the Lamb was slain from the foundation of the world. For the former view, the similar passage in
Revelation 17:8 is cited; but, on the other hand, the phrase "from the foundation of the world" is connected in other parts of the Bible with certain aspects of the work of Christ (
1Peter 1:19-20, and
John 17:24), and it seems more natural to take the words in their simple order. Whatever view we take, the verse proclaims that the security of God's saints is based on the eternal love of God. "An eternal deliverer is the only refuge from this great world-tyranny; "the strength of the tempted is in Him who is the same in love and righteousness through all the ages.
Verse 8. -
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, 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.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek
Andκαὶ(kai)Conjunction
Strong's 2532:And, even, also, namely.allπάντες(pantes)Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3956:All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.whoοἱ(hoi)Article - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.dwellκατοικοῦντες(katoikountes)Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 2730:To dwell in, settle in, be established in (permanently), inhabit. From kata and oikeo; to house permanently, i.e. Reside.onἐπὶ(epi)Preposition
Strong's 1909:On, to, against, on the basis of, at.theτῆς(tēs)Article - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.earthγῆς(gēs)Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 1093:Contracted from a primary word; soil; by extension a region, or the solid part or the whole of the terrene globe.will worshipπροσκυνήσουσιν(proskynēsousin)Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 4352:From pros and a probable derivative of kuon; to fawn or crouch to, i.e. prostrate oneself in homage.[the beast]—αὐτὸν(auton)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846:He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.[all] whoseοὗ(hou)Personal / Relative Pronoun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3739:Who, which, what, that.namesὄνομα(onoma)Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3686:Name, character, fame, reputation. From a presumed derivative of the base of ginosko; a 'name'.have not been writtenγέγραπται(gegraptai)Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1125:A primary verb; to 'grave', especially to write; figuratively, to describe.fromἀπὸ(apo)Preposition
Strong's 575:From, away from. A primary particle; 'off, ' i.e. Away, in various senses.[the] foundationκαταβολῆς(katabolēs)Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 2602:From kataballo; a deposition, i.e. Founding; figuratively, conception.of [the] worldκόσμου(kosmou)Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2889:Probably from the base of komizo; orderly arrangement, i.e. Decoration; by implication, the world (morally).inἐν(en)Preposition
Strong's 1722:In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.theτῷ(tō)Article - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.bookβιβλίῳ(bibliō)Noun - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 975:A papyrus roll. A diminutive of biblos; a roll.of lifeζωῆς(zōēs)Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 2222:Life, both of physical (present) and of spiritual (particularly future) existence. From zao; life.of theτοῦ(tou)Article - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.LambἈρνίου(Arniou)Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 721:(originally: a little lamb, but diminutive force was lost), a lamb. Diminutive from aren; a lambkin.whoτοῦ(tou)Article - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.was slain.ἐσφαγμένου(esphagmenou)Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 4969:To slay, kill by violence, slaughter, wound mortally. A primary verb; to butcher or to slaughter, or, to maim.
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NT Prophecy: Revelation 13:8 All who dwell on the earth will (Rev. Re Apocalypse) 
