“…whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” (Revelation 13:8)

This verse is often misconstrued to mean that Christ was already slain before the world began. However, He did not yet have a body, and therefore, had no blood to shed then. A closer look at this verse reveals one of two possible meanings. It may be a reference to the Book of Life of the Lamb Slain, as a description as to Whose book it is, and, “from the foundation of the world,” referring back to when the names were written, in other words, already written from the foundation of the world, in the now Slain Lamb’s Book. The alternative meaning may be that “from the foundation of the world,” means ‘since the foundation (creation) of the world, He is the Lamb slain’, with reference to type, picture and promise, but ultimately fulfilled since the world’s foundation at Calvary. One thing is certain; the verse does not say that He was slain BEFORE the world’s foundation.

Perhaps one of the clearest passages of Scripture showing the relationship between God’s purpose in eternity to save by Christ, and the outworking of salvation in time, is found in Psalm 40:6-8withHebrews 10:5-10. In the volume of the Book (either God’s eternal will or the inspired Word) it is written and therefore purposed, but then ”…a body hast thou prepared me,”v. 5. It was absolutely necessary that Christ should place Himself under the law to pay the penalty that we deserved and to merit eternal life for the elect, which they could never merit for themselves, Psalms 40:8;John 10:11;Galatians 1:4;4:4-5. On behalf of the elect, He assumed and fully discharged all violated conditions and incurred liabilities of the covenant of works, Matthew 5:17-18. He accomplished this by rendering a perfect obedience to the precept of the law Psalm 40:8; Isaiah 42:21;John 9:4-5;8:29;Matthew 19:17, and thereby once for all, justified His people, having suffered the full penalty incurred by the sins of His people, Isaiah 53; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:13; Ephesians 5:2.