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.
8. whose names ] Read, whose name, the pronoun as well as the noun being singular.
the book of life of the Lamb ] Rev 21:27: see note on Rev 5:1.
from the foundation of the world ] Perhaps in Greek, as in English, it is most natural to connect these words with “slain:” and 1Pe 1:19-20 works out what, on this view, would be the sense. But the similar clause Rev 17:8 seems to prove that the words are to be taken with “written:” it is God’s purpose of individual election, not of universal redemption, that is here dated “from the foundation of the world.”
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
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 notes on Rev 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 notes on Phi 4:3. Compare the notes on Joh 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 notes on Rev 5:6. Compare the notes on Rev 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. See Rom 4:17. 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. Prof. Stuart, however (Com. in loco), 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 what is found in our common version is the most simple and natural.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
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] The earth here is the Latin world, as has been observed before in similar cases. The meaning therefore is, that all the corrupt part of mankind who are inhabitants of the Latin world shall submit to the religion of the empire, except, as Bishop Newton expresses it, “those faithful few whose names, as citizens of heaven, were enrolled in the registers of life.”
Slain from the foundation of the world.] That is, of the Christian world; for this has been shown to be the meaning of all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. The year of the crucifixion is properly the commencement of Christianity, as the apostles then first began to promulgate the religion of Christ with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven. But as Jesus Christ was in the Divine purpose appointed from the foundation of the world to redeem man by his blood, he therefore is, in a very eminent sense, the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, i.e., from the creation.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
God here showed his prophet the general subjection that would be of all people to the papacy, except some few, whom he had chosen to eternal life and salvation, whom Christ had redeemed with his blood, and would preserve from this pollution.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
8. all that dwell upon theearthbeing of earth earthy; in contrast to “them thatdwell in heaven.”
whose names are notwrittenA, B, C, Syriac, Coptic, and ANDREASread singular, “(every one) whose (Greek, ‘hou‘;but B, Greek, ‘hon,‘ plural) name is not written.”
Lamb slain from thefoundation of the worldThe Greek order of words favorsthis translation. He was slain in the Father’s eternalcounsels: compare 1Pe 1:19;1Pe 1:20, virtually parallel. Theother way of connecting the words is, “Written from thefoundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb slain.”So in Re 17:8. The elect. Theformer is in the Greek more obvious and simple. “Whatsoevervirtue was in the sacrifices, did operate through Messiah’s deathalone. As He was “the Lamb slain from the foundation of theworld,” so all atonements ever made were only effectual by Hisblood” [BISHOPPEARSON, Exposition ofthe Creed].
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him,…. The inhabitants of the Roman empire, the idolatrous part of it, the men of the world, earthly minded men; who are as they came into the world, and are of the earth, earthly, and seek only after earthly honours, pleasures, and profits; these are the admirers and adorers of the beast:
whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world; by which book is meant God’s predestination of men to eternal life, or his decree of election; why this is called the “book of life”, [See comments on Re 3:5]; and their “names [being] written [therein] from the foundation of the world”,
Re 17:8, for such a construction the words will bear, denotes that election is eternal, and is not an act of time, nor dependent upon anything done in time; and that it is of particular persons, and not of bodies of men, of nations and churches, and still less of propositions, or of persons so and so qualified, or under such conditions and circumstances; and that it is perfectly well known to God, and is sure and certain in its effects, and is unchangeable and irrevocable; for what is written in it, is written, and will always stand, not upon the foot of works, but of the sovereign grace of God; and this is called the Lamb’s book; that is, Christ, who is compared to a Lamb for its harmlessness, meekness, and patience, and was typified by the lambs in the legal sacrifices; and this book is called his, because he was present at the making of it, and was concerned in putting down the names in it, Joh 13:18, and he himself stands first in it as the elect of God, and the head of all the elect, who, as members, were chosen in him: the act of election was made in him, and stands sure in him; and he is the author and giver of that life, which men are chosen unto both here and hereafter: and he may be said to be “slain from the foundation of the world”; in the decree and purpose of God, by which he was set forth, or foreappointed to be the propitiation for sin, and was foreordained, before the foundation of the world, to redeem his people by his blood, and in the promise of God immediately after the fall of man, that the seed of the woman should have his heel bruised, and he himself should bruise the serpent’s head, which made it as sure as if it was then done; and in the sacrifices, which were immediately upon this offered up, and were types of the death and sacrifice of Christ; and in the faith of the saints, which brings distant things near, and considers them as if present; and also in his members, in Abel, and others, in whom he suffered, as he still does in his people; to which may be added, that such is the efficacy of the bloodshed and death of Christ, that it reached to all the saints from the beginning of the world, for the justification of their persons, the atonement of their sins, and cleansing from them; for the remission of sins, that are past, and for the redemption of transgressions under the first testament; for Old Testament saints from the beginning are saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus, as New Testament ones are. Something like this the Jews say e of the Messiah upon Ge 49:11,
“he washed , “from the day that the world was created”; who is he? this is the King Messiah.–It is written Ge 1:2; “and the Spirit of God”, c. This is the Spirit of the King Messiah and from the day that the world was created; he washed his garments in wine;”
which the Jewish writers f understand of blood, which for its redness is like to wine; though they interpret it of the blood of the slain, with which the garments of the Messiah will be stained. Now such whose names are not written in this book of the Lamb, who have no interest in electing grace, nor in redemption by Christ, the slain Lamb of God, nor any right unto eternal life, who are reprobate persons, vessels of wrath fitted for destruction, who are foreordained to condemnation, and are given up to believe a lie, that they might be damned, these are the followers and worshippers of antichrist.
e Zohar in Gen. fol. 128. 2, 3. f Targum Jon. & Jerus. & Aben Ezra in Gen. xlix. 11.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Shall worship him ( ). Future active of with the accusative here as some MSS. in 13:4 ( ), both constructions in this book.
Whose (—). Redundant use of genitive (his) with (whose) as common in this book, and singular instead of plural with antecedent (all, plural), thus calling attention to the responsibility of the individual in emperor-worship.
Hath not been written ( ). Perfect passive indicative of , permanent state, stands written.
In the book of life of the Lamb ( ). See 3:5 for this phrase and the O.T. references. It occurs again in Rev 17:8; Rev 20:12; Rev 20:15; Rev 21:27. “Here and in 21:27, the Divine Register is represented as belonging to ‘the Lamb that was slain'” (Swete).
That hath been slain from the foundation of the world ( (for which see 5:6) ). For the phrase (not in the LXX) there are six other N.T. uses (Mt 13:35 without ; Rev 25:34; Luke 11:50; Heb 4:3; Heb 9:26; Rev 17:8), and for three (John 17:24; Eph 1:4; 1Pet 1:20). It is doubtful here whether it is to be taken with (cf. 1Pe 1:20) or with as in Re 17:8. Either makes sense, and here the most natural use is with . At any rate the death of Christ lies in the purpose of God, as in Joh 3:16.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
From the foundation of the world. These words may be construed with slain or with written. In favor of the latter is ch. 18 8; of the former, 1Pe 1:19, 20. Alford, pertinently as I think, urges the position of the words in favor of the connection with slain, and says that had it not been for the apparent difficulty of the sense thus conveyed, no one would have thought of going so far back as to hath been written for a connection. Render, as Rev., the lamb that hath been slain from the foundation of the world. Katabolh foundation is literally a throwing or laying down, from kataballw to throw down; hence a laying down of a foundation.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And all that devil upon the earth shall worship him,” (kai prosksenesousin auton pontes hoi katoikountes epi tes ges) “And all those who dwell upon the earth will worship him,” bow down to him as if he were God, an object or person of worship.
2) “Whose names are not written,” (hou ou gegroptai to onoma autou en to biblio zoes tou arniou) “Whose name has not been written (by that time) in the Lamb’s scroll (book) of life; That none shall be redeemed after the appearance of the beast; is here made clear, Rev 21:27.
3) “In the book of life of the Lamb,” (entobiblioteszoes tou arniou) “in the book of Life of the Lamb,” that book inscribed with the names only of those who have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb; The book has existed from “the foundation of the world,” Rev 17:8.
4) “Slain from the foundation of the world,” (esphagmenou apokataboles kosmou)”Of the one having been slain from the foundation (laying of the foundation) of the created universe,” Dan 12:1; Php_4:3; 1Pe 1:18-21; Rev 21:27.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(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 Lambs 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 Rev. 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 (1Pe. 1:19-20, and Joh. 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 Gods 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.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
8. All shall worship him Millions on the earth are now paying that homage.
Names not written Who are not justified by faith in Christ.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Rev 13:8 . , . . . Notwithstanding ( ), undoubtedly the correct reading, , cannot be explained by the reference to the king, of the masc. in which the beast itself, Rev 17:11 , appears personified; [3319] for that entirely special idea must be definitely indicated within ch. 13 if without any thing further it is thus to be diverted. The pertains, however, to the chief subject . The worship of the dragon is here mentioned immediately after the description of the beast, for the same reason as Rev 13:4 in connection with Rev 13:3 ; the more mightily the instrument of the dragon is presented to the inhabitants of the earth, the more naturally they come to the adoration of that which itself only serves the beast. Corresponding with this is also the future form . [3320] As the activity of the beast, according to its decisive part, still impends, [3321] so also the adoration of the dragon occasioned thereby.
. . . The sing. of the relative, [3322] to which, according to the Hebraic way, the demonstr. is added, [3323] is explained [3324] by the presentation of the details which are comprised in the entire . . .
, . . . Without doubt, [3325] the concluding clause belongs to , [3326] not to the , as neither the explanation of the eternal predestination of the death of Christ, [3327] nor that of the sufferings of Christ in his people from Abel on, [3328] agrees with the expression and the connection of this passage. The characteristic of the inhabitants of the earth, in contrast with the saints refusing to worship the dragon, contains already, in the most pregnant manner, all the points upon which the patience of the saints expressly emphasized immediately afterwards, Rev 13:10 , depends. Those who worship the Lamb slain, of course, must suffer persecution; but just to the Lamb slain belongs the book of life, [3329] in which from eternity the names of believers are written: they, therefore, like the Lamb, conquer by their victory, [3330] and through all pass to the glory of eternal life, [3331] while the enemy, in spite of his temporary victory, [3332] incurs sure judgment. [See Note LXXII., p. 387.]
[3319] Hengstenb.
[3320] Cf., on the other hand, Rev 13:4 .
[3321] Cf. Rev 13:7 , where it is first given the beast, on God’s part, what it is to do.
[3322] See Critical Notes.
[3323] Rev 3:8 , Rev 12:6 ; Rev 12:14 .
[3324] De Wette.
[3325] Cf. Rev 17:8 .
[3326] Hammond, Beng., Heinr., Ewald, Zll., De Wette, Hengstenb.
[3327] 1Pe 1:20 ; Beda, Eichh.
[3328] Cf. C. a Lap.
[3329] Rev 3:5 .
[3330] Cf. Rev 3:21 .
[3331] Cf. Rev 7:14 .
[3332] Rev 13:7 .
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
DISCOURSE: 2514
THE LAMB SLAIN FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD
Rev 13:8. Whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
THE persons here spoken of are the saints, who have withstood, and are still withstanding, the corruptions of Popery, even unto martyrdom itself. There can be no doubt but that the Papal power is that which is here portrayed as exercising the most relentless tyranny over the Christian world, during the space of twelve hundred and sixty years. The multitudes that have been slain by that blaspheming and persecuting power are innumerable. For hundreds of years, that idolatrous Church, aided by the secular arm of its advocates and dependants, compelled all to worship her; those only excepted, whose names had been written in the Lambs book of life from the foundation of the world. Over these she could not prevail, because they loved not their lives unto the death: but over all others she exercised the most despotic sway; and reduced them to a state of vassalage, more cruel and debasing than could ever have been contemplated, or even credited, if the voice of inspiration had not declared it, and the history of ages borne witness to it.
It is not however of Popery that I am about to speak, nor of those who are delivered from it; but rather of that electing and redeeming love by which they have been delivered, their names having been written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Let us consider these remarkable expressions: and let us mark,
I.
The designation here given to our blessed Lord
He is called a Lamb, because he was destined to be a sacrifice for sin, like the lambs that were offered under the Mosaic law. And though he did not come into the world till the world had existed four thousand years, yet is he said to have been slain from the foundation of the world. And justly may he be spoken of under these terms: because, though not slain, in fact, till about thirty-four years after his incarnation, he was offered in sacrifice to God from the very beginning,
1.
In purpose
[From all eternity was he devoted to God; and set apart for an offering, just as the Paschal Lamb was four days before it was actually slain. In all the prophecies, this was clearly shewn. The very first promise that was given to man declared, that, in his conflicts with the powers of darkness, he himself should suffer, having his heel bruised, whilst he bruised the serpents head; and dying himself, whilst he overcame him that had the power of death, that is, the devil. In the Psalms of David, all the circumstances of his death were predicted with a minuteness that bore the resemblance of historic record, rather than of a prophecy of what was afterwards to be accomplished. The Prophet Isaiah also, eight hundred years before the Saviours advent, was equally particular in his predictions respecting him; so that it is not possible to read his prophecies with candour, and retain a doubt of whom he spake, or whose sufferings he foretold. At last the forerunner of our Lord pointed him out, as the very person so characterized and so predicted; saying, Behold the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sins of the world!
The types, also, bear the same testimony to Him from the beginning. There can be no doubt but that sacrifices were of divine appointment: for when Abel took of the firstlings of his flock to offer to the Lord, he did it by faith. Now faith must, of necessity, have respect to a divine ordinance. If God had not previously ordained the offering of sacrifices, it would have been an act of presumption, and not of faith, in Abel so to approach the Deity. We are not, indeed, told when God instituted the use of sacrifices; but we conceive it to have been immediately after the fall, when he clothed our first parents with the skins of beasts, which, I think there can be no doubt, had been offered in sacrifice to him, by his own express appointment. In every successive age, the same sacrifices were offered by Noah and the Patriarchs, till the time of Moses, when they were made the constant means of shadowing forth the Saviour, and of making known unto men the only way in which a sinner could find acceptance with God. They all shadowed forth the Lord Jesus Christ, as the Sacrifice that was in due time to be offered for the sins of the whole world.]
2.
In effect
[As God had ordained from all eternity the sacrifice of his dear Son, so he regarded it as if it had been actually offered; and imputed the merit of it to all who approached him in humility and faith. Doubtless our first parents, and Abel, and Enoch, and Noah, and the Patriarchs, and all the saints that were saved during the first four thousand years, were accepted in the Beloved,just as we are since his advent and crucifixion. They all died in the faith of Him who was to come, as we die in the faith of Him who is already come [Note: Heb 11:13.]. There has been but one way of salvation from the beginning. The Lord Jesus Christ ever was, and ever will be, the way unto the Father; and no man ever did, or ever will, come unto the Father but by Him [Note: Joh 14:6.]. It is in consequence of the reflex efficacy of his sacrifice, so to speak, that Gods righteousness appears in the remission of sins before his advent, no less than in the forgiveness of them since his advent. God having from the beginning set forth his Son to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, his righteousness in the remission of sins was, as St. Paul tells us, fully declared from the beginning, precisely as it is at this very hour [Note: Rom 3:25-26.].]
Whilst we look thus to the death of Christ as the meritorious ground of our acceptance with God, we must trace altogether to the electing love of God,
II.
The security of those who believe in him
There is a book, in which the names of all Gods people are registered, and have been registered from the foundation of the world [Note: The last clause of the text may, with equal propriety, be connected with The Book Written, or The Lamb Slain.]. This book is called The Lambs book of life [Note: Rev 21:27.]
[There is, and ever has been, a remnant according to the election of grace [Note: Rom 11:5.]. These were given by the Father to the Lord Jesus Christ [Note: This is again, and again, and again mentioned in Christs intercessory prayer: John 17.], that they might be a peculiar people to him, and that in them he might see of the travail of his soul, and be satisfied. They were chosen by the Father, and predestinated unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, that they might be to the praise of the glory of his grace, who has made them accepted in the Beloved [Note: Eph 1:4-6.]. In due time they are called by God with an holy calling; but still, not according to their works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given them in Christ Jesus before the world began [Note: 2Ti 1:9.].]
All who are inscribed in this book shall surely attain eternal life
[This is clearly intimated in my text, as the source of steadfastness to those who had not worshipped the beast: but in many other places it is directly affirmed; yea, and the veracity of God is pledged for the performance of the promise which such an inscription implies. Remarkable is that expression of St. Paul to Titus, when, speaking of himself, he says, In hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before the world began [Note: Tit 1:2.]. Here he not only traces up the promise of life altogether to the sovereign grace of God, but represents the veracity of God as pledged for the accomplishment of it. In another place he sets forth the promise of God as confirmed by an oath, in order to shew to the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, and to give the stronger consolation to those who have fled for refuge to the hope set before them [Note: Heb 6:17-18.]. In fact, there is a golden chain of Divine purposes, reaching from eternity to eternity: for whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son: and whom he did predestinate, them he also called; and whom he called, them he also justified; and whom he justified, them he also glorified [Note: Rom 8:29-30.]. In fact, God upholds all his people in his arms, and suffers none to pluck them out of his hands [Note: Joh 10:28-29.], and keeps them, by his own power, through faith unto salvation [Note: 1Pe 1:5.]. The same hand that has laid the foundation of grace in their souls, will also finish the structure [Note: Zec 4:9.]; and He who has been the author of good to them, will also be the finisher [Note: Heb 12:2.].]
Learn then, from hence,
How greatly we are indebted to our God
[If we are saints indeed, our names are written in the book of life [Note: Php 4:3.], and have been written in it from the foundation of the world [Note: Rev 17:8.]. What ground, then, is there to any one for self-applause? We acknowledge that there is a difference between you and others; and you are not serving the world, and the flesh, and the devil, as millions of your fellow-creatures are. But who made you to differ? What had you done, to deserve the distinction of having your names written in the book of life? The change that has taken place in you was not the source, but the fruit and consequence of that mercy which God, of his own sovereign grace, conferred upon you. Rejoice, then, in that inestimable benefit, and in that God who so freely bestowed it on you. There is nothing under heaven that calls for so much gratitude at your hands [Note: Luk 10:20.]: and therefore I call upon you to bless and magnify your God with your whole hearts.]
2.
What reason we all have for humiliation and contrition
[I will not speak of any gross sin as committed by us: I will notice only our ingratitude to God for his electing and redeeming love. Think of the Saviour setting himself apart from all eternity to be slain for you. Think of God the Father setting his love upon you from all eternity, and writing your unworthy name in the book of life. And then think what provocation you have given him to blot it out again [Note: Rev 3:5.]: and yet he has borne with you to the present moment, in order that you might not come short of the glory reserved for you. Say, whether, in the review of these things, you ought not to stand amazed; yea, and to blush and be confounded in the presence of your God? Verily, it is not possible for us ever to lie too low before our God: and to all eternity must we fall on our faces before the throne, whilst, with all the glorified saints and angels, we unite in singing praises to God and to the Lamb.]
Fuente: Charles Simeon’s Horae Homileticae (Old and New Testaments)
8 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.
Ver. 8. Whose names are not written ] He then that lives and dies a Papist cannot be saved.
Slain from the foundation ] sc. 1. In God’s purpose; 2. In his promise; 3. In the faith of his people; 4. In the sacrifices; 5. In the martyrs; the first that ever died, died for religion. Christ undertook to pay our debt in the fulness of time; and hence we were enlarged. A man may let a prisoner loose, upon a promise to pay the debt a year after.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Rev 13:8 . Standing on the verge of this crisis (note the change to the future tense), the prophet anticipates the almost universal success of the Csar-cult ( cf. Rev 3:10 ). Only the elect will be able to resist its appeal ( cf. Mat 24:25 ). As in the O.T., the consciousness of predestination is made a moral lever ( cf. Rev 17:8 ). The rest of mankind who succumb to the cult are plainly not on the celestial burgessroll or register. cf. the instructive second-century gloss on Act 5:39 . As a rule the faithless in life are deceived (2Th 2:2-10 ; Asc. Isa. iv. 7, 8), but here the Imperial cultus occupies the place of the false prophet in Mar 13:12 , etc, . , which transfers to Christ the possession of the divine register of citizens in the heavenly state, is usually taken as a scribe s gloss (after Rev 21:27 where the position of is less difficult). Elsewhere the book of life appears by itself. In any case, . . goes with , not .
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
earth. Same as “world”, Rev 13:3.
him. The ellipsis follows, (every one).
names. All the texts read “name”.
are not = hath not (App-105) been.
life = the life. App-170.
foundation, &c. See App-146.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Rev 13:8. , shall worship) The verb in ordinary use, when the ceremonies about the Pope are treated of, is adoration (worship); and connected with this by derivation is a kiss, that is, of his feet, just as , , , is to kiss; whence , LXX. 1Ki 19:18, and Symmachus, Psa 2:12, .-) is here equivalent to before, as Mat 25:34, note, and is plainly construed with [not as Engl. With ], and that so easily, that it is not even to be called an instance of Hyperbaton (See Append.). All doubt is removed by a passage strictly parallel, ch. Rev 17:8. The Apocalypse often makes mention of the Lamb slain: it never adds, from the foundation of the world; nor indeed was He slain from the foundation of the world: Heb 9:26. They who allege that He was thus slain in the Divine decree, in a like sense will say that He was born, raised from the dead, and ascended into heaven, from the foundation of the world.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
world
Kosmos, Summary: In the sense of the present world-system, the ethically bad sense of the word, refers to the “order,” “arrangement,” under which Satan has organized the world of unbelieving mankind upon his cosmic principle of force, greed, selfishness, ambition, and pleasure. Mat 4:8; Mat 4:9; Joh 12:31; Joh 14:30; Joh 18:36; Eph 2:2; Eph 6:12; 1Jn 2:15-17. This world- system is imposing and powerful with armies and fleets; is often outwardly religious, scientific, cultured, and elegant; but, seething with national and commercial rivalries and ambitions, is upheld in any real crisis only by armed force, and is dominated by Satanic principles.
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
all: Rev 13:3, Rev 13:4, Rev 13:14, Rev 13:15
whose: Rev 3:5, Rev 3:20, Rev 12:15, Rev 21:27, Exo 32:32, Isa 4:3, Dan 12:1, Luk 10:20, Phi 4:3
Lamb: Rev 5:6-9, Rev 5:12, Joh 1:29
from: Rev 17:8, Eph 1:4, Tit 1:2, 1Pe 1:19, 1Pe 1:20
Reciprocal: Gen 4:4 – the firstlings Gen 22:8 – General Exo 12:3 – take to Exo 32:33 – my book Num 28:3 – two lambs Psa 69:28 – be written Psa 87:6 – when Psa 97:10 – delivereth Jer 27:15 – that I Eze 13:9 – neither shall they be Eze 13:23 – for I Eze 46:13 – Thou shalt daily Dan 3:7 – all the people Dan 7:21 – General Zec 13:7 – smite Mat 7:13 – for Mat 12:44 – he findeth Mat 13:9 – General Mat 13:35 – from Mat 24:5 – in Mat 24:24 – insomuch Mat 25:34 – from Mar 13:22 – if it Joh 14:6 – no Joh 17:5 – before Joh 17:9 – pray for Joh 17:25 – the world Act 2:23 – being Act 3:23 – that every Act 10:26 – Stand Act 15:18 – General Act 19:27 – whom Rom 3:25 – set forth Rom 8:9 – he is Rom 8:29 – whom Rom 12:2 – be not Rom 12:16 – Mind 1Co 2:7 – even 1Co 10:14 – flee 1Co 15:33 – Be 2Co 2:11 – General Gal 3:13 – redeemed Eph 2:2 – the prince Eph 3:9 – beginning Col 2:4 – lest Col 2:18 – no 2Ti 1:9 – before Heb 9:26 – the foundation Heb 12:23 – which 2Pe 2:2 – many 1Jo 5:19 – in wickedness Rev 5:9 – for Rev 11:10 – dwell Rev 17:15 – are Rev 20:12 – and another Rev 22:19 – God
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Rev 13:8. All . . . shall worship him except those whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb. In this passage the effect is named before the cause. These names were written in the book because they refused to worship the beast. It is another way of saying that the faithful servants of God refused to worship the Beast. Slain from the foundation of the world. The last word is from a Greek term that means the inhabitants of the earth, especially when they became a fixed order of intelligent beings composing a social world. Before that state of affairs came into existence, God saw the necessity for a plan of human redemption. Accordingly He devised one that was to be made effective through the sacrifice of his Son.
Comments by Foy E. Wallace
Verse 8.
5. And all that dwell upon the face of the earth shall worship him–Rev. 13:8. In all the places of the nations (the symbolic meaning of the earth) within the empire the worship of the emperor prevailed under imperial edict–except, the faithful saints. It is declared that all “whose names are not written in the book of life” worshipped the emperor. But the saints who were “faithful unto death” (Revelation 2:10) did have their “names written in the book of life of the Lamb”; and they resisted the imperial decree, but suffered tribulation rather than worship the beast.
The reference made to the names not written in the book of the Lamb “slain from the foundation of the world,” has been misused to support the doctrine of election and reprobation– the elect and non-elect. But the contextual meaning is twofold:
first, that God’s plan from the beginning included the slain Lamb, as all of the altars and types of the old dispensation symbolized;
second, that from the beginning God has cataloged in heaven a registry of the faithful names from the first patriarchal servant of the old dispensations to the last suffering saint in the church of the Lamb.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Rev 13:8. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him. These dwellers upon the earth are in contrast with those who tabernacle in heaven. They are the ungodly as distinguished from the godly; and again they are not confined to the Roman Empire, but include all who anywhere worship the beast.
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. The plural of the first clause of the verse, all, passes into the singular of the second clause, those referred to being now looked at individually (comp. Joh 17:2; Joh 6:37).The connection of the last clause is doubtful. It may be joined, as in the Authorised Version, with the Lamb that hath been slain; but chap. Rev 17:8 seems to determine in favour of connecting it with the word written. Besides which, the clause is less appropriate to the slaying of the Lamb, an act which took place in time, than to those counsels of the Almighty which are from eternity.
Rev 13:9 contains a solemn call to listen, and is best connected with what follows.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Everyone, but Christians, worships the beast. God planned form the very beginning to send Jesus to die and redeem lost mankind. ( Eph 1:4-11 ; 1Pe 1:20 ; Act 2:23 ; Act 4:24 ) Those not written in his book would be those not redeemed.
Fuente: Gary Hampton Commentary on Selected Books
13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, {13} whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
(13) That is, such as are not from everlasting elected in Christ Jesus. For this is that Lamb slain; Rev 5:6 . These words I do with Aretas, distinguish in this manner: whose names are not written from the laying of the foundation of the world, in the book of Life, of the Lamb slain. This distinction is confirmed by a similar verse in Rev 17:8 .
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Unbelievers around the world will not only serve Antichrist but also worship him. The "book of life of the Lamb" contains the names of God’s elect (cf. Dan 12:1-2; Eph 1:4). Most if not all true believers will refrain from worshipping Antichrist (cf. Mat 24:24). The long and unusual description of unbelievers in this verse has the effect of assuring believers during this time that they are indeed secure.