Regarding the worship of the beast who is known as 666:
"All who dwell one the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been killed"
Revelation 13:8
A similar passage is found in Revelation 17:8...
"... Those who dwell on the earth and whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel when they see that the beast was, and is not, and shall be present."
The primary purpose of these passages is to let us know that those whose names are not written in the book of life will worship and marvel at the beast (666). But the passage also reveals that the names of some are written in the book of life and some are not. The issue is significant because everyone whose name is not found in the book of life will experience the second death in the lake of fire, with the devil and the beast, damnation (Revelation 20:14-15,10-11).
There is a third issue raised by these scriptures... when?
When were the names written in the book of life?
Both verses said...
"from the foundation of the world"
Does "from" mean before? Or, does "from" mean after?
If "from" means before, did God predetermine the eternal destiny of every person before the foundation of the world?
In other words, did God predetermine whether we will end up in heaven or hell before we were born?
Well, if God wrote my name in the book of life before He created the world, that would indicate that God foreknew or predetermined that I would have eternal life before I was born. So, do Revelation 13:8 and 17:8 mean that God foreknew or predetermined the eternal destiny of every person before the creation of the universe? Please prayerfully read on and you will see.
The phrases "from the foundation of the world" in both passages are translated from identical phrases in the Greek texts, "apo katabolas kosmou". So I will explain both passages in this page.
"written in the book of life from the foundation of the world"
My name is Jim Phillips. I was born again in 1972. Was my name written in the book of life before the foundation of the world or after the foundation of the world? Could it have been written at my conversion in 1972? And what name was written at that time? Jim Phillips... or one of the other names that will be written on me according to Revelation 2:17 and 3:12?
Two Questions
The purpose of this page is to answer two questions:
- What names are written?
- When are the names written?
Please prayerfully read on and you will see.
When Are the Names Written?
You may have heard the phrase "written before the foundation of the world". Well, that is not what these verses say. They do not say "before". They say "from". To work from 8 AM is not the same as working before 8 AM. The English word "from" is a translation of the Greek word "apo", which means "from". The following translations of Revelation 13:8 all translate apo in this verse as “from” or “since”: NIV, NASB, KJV, NKJV, ASV, NET, WEB, HCSB, LSB, NCB, Amplified, Geneva, Phillips, Wycliffe, Darby, Young, Mounce, Green, Rotherham, etc, etc, etc. Regarding Revelation 17:8 all of those translations plus also the ESV and RSV translate apo as "from" or "since". But many still think that these scriptures say that names were written "before" the foundation of the world, while the scriptures state that the names were written from or since the foundation of the world.
"Written before the foundation of the world" would mean written before the creation of the world in Genesis 1:1.
But, "written from the foundation of the world" means written in the period from Genesis 1:1 to the present and or beyond. So, the names "written from the foundation of the world" may have been written:
1) on day one of creation,
2) as people are born physically
3) at conversion of each individual
4) some other time.
Keep those in mind as you read.
But remember, these scriptures do not say "before". They say "from"... "written from the foundation of the world." To work from 8 AM is not the same as working before 8 AM. And to work from 8 AM is not the same as to work at 8 AM. To work from 8 AM requires work over a period of time, instead of work performed at a singular point in time. It is the same with "written from the foundation of the world". Names must be written over a period of time instead of written at a singular point in time. So the first possibility mentioned, written on day one of creation, does not appear to fit the meaning of "written from the foundation of the world".
So, "names written after the foundation of the world" would be a nearly accurate paraphrase of the scripture. But, "names written before the foundation of the world" is a completely inaccurate paraphrase... actually being the reverse of what the scripture actually says.
Keep this in mind as well as you continue to prayerfully consider the possibilities. Please pray as you read.
These passages clearly do not establish that God knew or predetermined the eternal destiny of every person before birth. For that to be true, God must have written the names on day one of creation, one of four possible interpretations of the passage... and the least likely interpretation of the passage.
What Names are Written?
Here are the passages again:
- "everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been killed" (Revelation 13:8).
- "... names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world..." (Revelation 17:8).
Much was written earlier in the book of Revelation about names, in chapters two and three. In chapter two, believers are given a new secret name. In chapter three, we see that three names will be written on each believer: God's name, the name of the New Jerusalem and Jesus's new name. These names should be kept in mind as we contemplate the later chapters of the book of Revelation which refer to names written in the book of life.
In summary, Revelation mentions a total of four names that we will have. So there are four names in addition to the name given to us by our parents for a total of five names.
Which of the five names is the name that will be written in the book of life?
For example: My name is "Jim Phillips". I have eternal life as a child of God.
Is "Jim Phillips" the name that is in the Lamb's book of life?
If it is, then Jim Phillips was written "from the foundation of the world", meaning:
1) when I was born physically,
2) at conversion, or
3) some other time.
In the Jim Phillips scenario, conversion seems to be the more scriptural time for two reasons:
1) Eternal life is granted at conversion, after believing (John 3:16).
2) We come to know God and be known by God at conversion, not before birth or before the foundation of the world (Galatians 4:8-9).
"However at that time, not knowing God, you were in bondage to those who by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, why do you turn back again to the weak and miserable elemental principles, to which you desire to be in bondage all over again?" (Galatians 4:8-9).
They were idol worshipers before their conversion. They clearly came to know God and be known by God after their conversion.
Let's look at the four other possibilities from chapters 2 and 3 of the book of Revelation.
Please prayerfully consider the names presented below:
- "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him who overcomes, to him I will give of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written, which no one knows but he who receives it" (Revelation 2:17).
- "He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will go out from there no more. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God, and my own new name" (Revelation 3:12). (Jesus is speaking.)
In the first verse, the believer receives a new, secret name. No one knows it except the one who receives it and God. The conclusion of the book of Revelation and the conclusion of the story of mankind includes the betrothal of believers to Christ. This name is a private, secret, intimate name, only used between the believer and his Lord.
In the second verse, three names are written on the believer. The name of God (Yahweh), the name of the New Jerusalem and Jesus' new name. At a minimum, these names indicate whose family we are adopted into (Yahweh's), the name of He who lives in us (Jesus), and our citizenship (New Jerusalem).
For those men who are uncomfortable being characterized as the bride of Christ, I present the following as proof: Paul wrote to the church at Corinth in 2 Corinthians 11:2 "For I married you to one husband, that I might present you as a pure virgin to Christ." Tremendous intimacy is conveyed in these words. The New Jerusalem is the bride. We are citizens of the New Jerusalem.
What is meant by "he who overcomes" in Revelation 3:12?
- 1 John 5:5 defines "overcome" as one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God: "Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?" (1 John 5:5).
- Revelation 12:9-11 defines "overcame" as those who overcome Satan's accusations of sin by the blood of Christ and their testimony of Him: "They overcame him because of the Lamb's blood, and because of the word of their testimony. They didn't love their life, even to death" (Revelation 12:11). Those who are bought with His blood will testify of His blood. Click here to see that all Christians are supposed to make disciples. For a complete explanation of Revelation 12:9-11 above, click here.
- Both passages link overcoming with conversion. It is my belief that one who will not testify of the blood of Christ, is not a convert. Testimony is the observable evidence of and an irresistible, natural reflex of true conversion faith (Romans 10:9-10).
If those who overcome believe in Jesus, testify and are willing to die for that testimony... is it any surprise that the name of God, the New Jerusalem and Jesus will be written on them?
Here are the four names again:
- "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him who overcomes, to him I will give of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written, which no one knows but he who receives it" (Revelation 2:17).
- "He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will go out from there no more. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God, and my own new name" (Revelation 3:12). (Jesus is speaking.)
Writing the names on us takes place at a future time since the future tense is used. But lets keep our focus on which names are "written in the book of life from the foundation of the world".
So, which name is "written in the book of life from the foundation of the world"? Well, we have five to choose from. But scripture doesn't tell us which one is written in the book of life. Evidently we don't need to know.
Then when are the names written in the book of life?
I expect all of those names to be written in the book of life at conversion, since that is when we come to know God and God comes to know us (Galatians 4:8-9). We were dead before conversion but made alive after conversion (Colossians 2:13). That our names were written in the book of life at conversion also fits with the use of the word "from". Remember my illustration about working from 8 AM? From 8 AM means work performed over a period of time instead of work performed precisely at a singular point in time. So, "written from the foundation of the world", means written in the book of life as each person is converted over the period of time from Genesis 1:1 to the end of the age. It appears that some or all of those names will be written on us at a later time, possibly at our physical death, resurrection, beginning of the millennial kingdom or the beginning of the eternal state (Revelation 3:12). At the present, I don't know.
I raise the question again: which of the five names will be in the book of life? Is it Jim Phillips, God's name, the name of the New Jerusalem, Jesus's new name or my new secret name? I don't know the answer. If you know, please contact me on the discussion page and clue me in.
Revelation indicates that the presence of one's name in the book of life is of the utmost importance. The book of Revelation reveals names given to us and written on us. But it makes no mention of the name given us by our parents. So, it is very possible that the name written in the book of life is not "Jim Phillips", but one of the other names specifically mentioned in Revelation.
No matter which name is written in the book of life "from the foundation of the world", all of them communicate a deep sense of intimacy, acceptance and belonging.
By the way, it is not the work of testifying and dying for Christ that is the cause of eternal life. The cause of eternal life is grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). Faith is the only criteria for eternal life (John 3:16, Ephesians 2:8-9, A1 in the appendix). Testifying and dying for Christ is something that those who believe will do. Subchapter 2.3 titled, "The Easy Yoke of Christ" will show you how. It's easy. Christ said that it is and it is.
Christ's New Name Written on Us:
Galatians 2:20 speaks of who we are: "it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me". Galatians 4:19 speaks of our transformation "until Christ is formed in you". 1 John 3:2 speaks of what we will be: "we know that when he is revealed, we will be like him; for we will see him just as he is". Christ lives in us, is formed in us and in the eternal state; we will see Him; we will be like him; His names will be on us; and He will give us a secret name "which no one knows but he who receives it" (Rev 2:17). In light of these verses, it should not surprise us that the name of Christ will be written on us. Perhaps the name of Christ was written in the book of life on my behalf at my conversion, to be written on me after the resurrection when my old man is no longer a part of me and the new man passes into the next age. Click here for a commentary on the New Man Old Man doctrine.
Called by God's Name:
In Acts 15:17 it is written "that the rest of men may seek after the Lord; all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord".
We are called by His name! We belong to him. He has defined who we are, declaring whose we are, as He placed His name on us... His holy, almighty, perfect name. His name is Yahweh! Praise His holy name!
Perhaps the name of Yahweh was written in the book of life on my behalf at my conversion, to be written on me after the resurrection when my old man is no longer a part of me and the new man passes into the next age. Click here for a commentary on the New Man Old Man doctrine.
So, What do Revelation 13:8 and 17:8 Mean?
Revelation 13:8
"All who dwell one the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been killed"
Revelation 13:8
I will use myself as an example. I was born again in 1972. Lets suppose that the beast (666) comes in 2032. When he comes in 2032, I will not be one of those who will worship the beast because I am one whose name, through a name attributed to me, was written in the book of life at conversion, in 1972 (names of God, Christ, New Jerusalem, Christ's new name or the secret name).
Revelation 17:8...
"... Those who dwell on the earth and whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel when they see that the beast was, and is not, and shall be present."
I will use myself as an example again. I was born again in 1972. Lets suppose that the beast (666) comes in 2032. When he comes in 2032, I will not be one of those who will marvel at him because I am one whose name, through a name attributed to me, was written in the book of life at conversion, in 1972
(names of God, Christ, New Jerusalem, Christ's new name or the secret name).