Devine Scripture

Revelation 13:8

What does Revelation 13:8 mean?

A plain-English look at Revelation 13:8 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Revelation 13:8 means

Universal worship of the beast is not truly universal. Those whose names are not written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb that hath been slain will worship; but those written in that book will not. The “Lamb that hath been slain” plainly points to Jesus Christ, whose sacrificial death secures a people. Their names being recorded signifies divine election and security. This verse explains why deception does not sweep away all: saving grace preserves allegiance. The contrast is stark—earth-dwellers enthralled by power, and those kept for the Lamb. True worship of Christ immunizes against idolatry. The dividing line in the last days is not cleverness but belonging to the Lamb’s life-book.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And all that dwell on the earth shall worship him, 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.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And all that dwell on the earth shall worship him, 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.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And all who are on the earth will give him worship, everyone whose name has not been from the first in the book of life of the Lamb who was put to death.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And bow before it shall all who are dwelling upon the land, whose names have not been written in the scroll of the life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And all that dwell upon the earth adored him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb which was slain from the beginning of the world.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

and all that dwell on the earth shall do it homage, [every one] whose name had not been written from [the] founding of [the] world in the book of life of the slain Lamb.

Context

After stating the beast’s global authority and successful war on the saints, John clarifies the limits of its worship empire. Verse 8 introduces the decisive exception: the Lamb’s book of life. This prepares the reader for a pause of exhortation in verse 9 and a sober call to endurance in verse 10. The flow ensures that believers see both the danger (widespread worship of the beast) and the anchor (the Lamb’s securing grace) before they are summoned to patient faith under suffering.

v.7And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and there was given to him authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation.

v.8This passage

v.9If any man hath an ear, let him hear.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Ephesians 1:4

    even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blemish before him in love:

  • Revelation 21:27

    and there shall in no wise enter into it anything unclean, or he that maketh an abomination and a lie: but only they that are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

  • Exodus 32:32

    Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin—; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.

  • Titus 1:2

    in hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before times eternal;

  • Revelation 3:5

    He that overcometh shall thus be arrayed in white garments; and I will in no wise blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

  • Isaiah 4:3

    And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem;

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