"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." Notice 'the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.’ Jesus was on the cross six hours and in the tomb for three days, and the events that occurred at that time are the focal point of salvation. Everyone who was accounted righteous before and since that time are accounted righteous because of that one perfect sacrifice. Because Jesus is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, God has had the plan of salvation since the foundation of the world and when God has a plan it is finalized before it comes to pass because it WILL happen. The cross has always been and will always be the thing that had to be done to effect our salvation. Some say that the supreme sacrifice paid for us indicates our value in the eyes of God, but I think that human depravity is such that only the supreme sacrifice could save us.

In Rev 17:8 we see another statement about this book of Life: "and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world.." We see that not only was Jesus the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, but that the book of Life has existed since that time, and also that the names of every saved person down through time was recorded in that book at that time. These names were recorded based on God's foreknowledge of who would receive the gospel. We see here the sequence in Rom 8:29-30: foreknowledge, predestination, call, justification, glorification. Again, the names were recorded because of God's foreknowledge first. Those people would be saved because they would receive the message. God has not shared with us his foreknowledge of who would be saved when they heard the message (and probably for good reason - if I knew who they were I would probably begin reading phone books instead of the Bible).  The commission of the church is to preach the gospel to every creature, not just those who would respond. God is justified in this because man will not be able to claim "I didn't know." In this verse we see step number four on the road to destruction: ALL whose names are not written in the book of Life will worship the antichrist.

"If any man have an ear, let him hear." This statement indicates that great importance should be placed on what was just said. The statement is of general interest but only those who have ears, the discernment brought by the Holy Spirit, will be able to hear it. It is as though Jesus were shouting: DO NOT WORSHIP THIS MAN!

"He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and faith of the saints." Going into captivity and being killed with the sword will require patience and faith. Those Christians who experience this will need to rely on the fact that God himself will avenge them. Christians who die during the tribulation are promised resurrection at the second advent and their persecutors are promised eternal damnation. Rev. 14:12 speaks of Christians refusing to worship the beast and his image and refusing his mark as being "the patience of the saints." Many of those who refuse to participate will die, death to be followed by resurrection to life, but ALL of those who do participate will die, death to be followed by resurrection to the second, or eternal, death. Every person who has ever lived will continue to live through all eternity: the difference is where they will live and what condition they will live in. Jesus said (Matt 10:28) "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."