Answer
In Revelation 13:8, the apostle John writes, “All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (NKJV). Here, there is a contrast between those who worship the beast (see Revelation 13:1–7) and those who are in the book of life. Before the foundation of the world, God chose certain individuals to be redeemed by the blood of Christ. These individuals will not worship the beast because their names have been written “in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”
The term book of life occurs several times in the New Testament (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:5; 20:12, 15; 21:27; 22:19). In each instance, the book of life is a list of names of those who have been redeemed by the blood of Christ. Life, in this context, refers to eternal life in heaven. This is the reward for those who persevere to the end: “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12, ESV; cf. Revelation 2:10). Believers will persevere to the end because God will preserve them (Philippians 1:6).
The phrase from the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8) refers either to those who are in the book of life or to the Lamb who was slain. For the former view, Revelation 17:8 is often cited: “The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pit and go to destruction. And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast, because it was and is not and is to come” (ESV). Before God created the world, he knew the names of everyone in the book of life. How could He not? After all, He is omniscient (Isaiah 46:10).
For the latter view, 1 Peter 1:18–20 is sometimes cited. Peter says, “You were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you” (ESV). Before God created the world, the Father and Son established an eternal covenant of redemption. This means that the sacrificial death of the Lamb was not an afterthought but was a part of God’s perfect plan of redemption: “Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given because you loved me before the foundation of the world” (John 17:24, ESV).
Whether we adopt the former or latter view, we can be certain of God’s everlasting love. We need not fear the tyrannical reign of the beast. Believers in this age as well as the tribulation saints have this assurance: “I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38–39, ESV).
