Revelation 13:8

13:8 and all those who live on the earth will worship the beast, everyone whose name has not been written since the foundation of the world in the book of life belonging to the Lamb who was killed.

Revelation 20:12

20:12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne. Then books were opened, and another book was opened – the book of life. So the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to their deeds.

Revelation 20:15

20:15 If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, that person 10  was thrown into the lake of fire.


tn Grk “it”; the referent (the beast) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

tn The prepositional phrase “since the foundation of the world” is traditionally translated as a modifier of the immediately preceding phrase in the Greek text, “the Lamb who was killed” (so also G. B. Caird, Revelation [HNTC], 168), but it is more likely that the phrase “since the foundation of the world” modifies the verb “written” (as translated above). Confirmation of this can be found in Rev 17:8 where the phrase “written in the book of life since the foundation of the world” occurs with no ambiguity.

tn Or “slaughtered”; traditionally, “slain.”

tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.

tn Grk “another book was opened, which is of life.”

tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the books being opened.

tn Grk “from the things written in the books according to their works.”

tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

tn The word “name” is not in the Greek text, but is implied.

10 tn Grk “he”; the pronoun has been intensified by translating as “that person.”