Revelation Now :
Daily Devotional Bible Studies in Revelation
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Free Will or Pre Ordained Fate? : Day 49 
All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast, all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world. He who has an ear, let him hear. If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity he will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword he will be killed. This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints. (Revelation 13:8-10)
The Book of Life
"All whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world." This is undoubtedly the translation in the parallel passage (1) A close parallel would also be where Paul says that God has chosen us in Jesus Christ before the foundation of the world (2). The meaning would then be that God has chosen his own from before the beginning of time, and nothing in life or in death, nothing in time or eternity, nothing that the Devil or the Roman Empire can ever do can pluck them from his hand.
It was given to the beast to overcome those whose names were not written in "the Book of Life". The Book of Life is mentioned frequently in the Revelation (3). In the ancient world rulers kept registers of those who were citizens of their realms; only when a man died or lost his rights as a citizen, was his name removed. "The Book of Life" is the register of those who belong to God.
This also speaks of Jesus Christ as the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. A close parallel to this would be where Peter speaks of Jesus and his sacrifice as being foreordained before the foundation of the world (4) The Jews held the belief that Michael, the archangel, was created before the foundation of the world to be the mediator between Israel and God; and that Moses was created before the foundation of the world to be the mediator of the covenant between God and Israel. There would, therefore, be nothing unfamiliar to Jewish thought in saying that Jesus was created before the beginning of the world to be the Redeemer of mankind.
Free Will or Preordained?
Is what we do predetermined by God or can we genuinely choose between one action and another? This is a controversy which engaged the church particularly in Reformation times led by Calvin and Armenian. In fact, each argument is only part of the truth, for while we talk and read about free will we also believe as Christians in the preordained will of God.
The relationship between God and humans has been described in terms of a child holding a balloon on a string. If God is the child and we are within the balloon it is true to say that we have some choices within that confined space. The direction and speed of the balloon however is determined completely by the one who holds the string.
Unholy Trinity
The dragon's two evil accomplices are introduced as the beast out of the sea and the beast out of the earth. Together, the three evil beings form an unholy trinity in direct opposition to the Holy Trinity of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. The power given to the beast will be limited to a short time by God and even then God will still be in control.
The times of great persecution that John saw will provide an opportunity for believers to exercise patient endurance and faithfulness. The tough times we face right now are also opportunities for spiritual growth. The beast has a fatal wound which some early Christians believed indicated that this was Nero who had come back to life. (5)
Captivity
"If anyone is to sent into captivity, into captivity he will go." This suggests that there is a certain inevitability about what will happen to anyone captured.
Even death cannot be changed if that is in the will of God. "If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword he will be killed."The Christian is reminded that because we know that God's will shall be done in the end, then all we have to do is be patient and to keep the faith. This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints. This is not a passive but a very active reaction. We do not become fatalists but we are filled with hope that no matter what comes, God will overrule in the end.
Words to meditate on
Are you pro-choice or pro-free will?
Words to pray
When we all get to Heaven, Who shall we see? (6)
Notes
(1) Revelation 17:8 (2) Ephesians 1:4 (3) 3:5; 13:8; 17:8; 20:12; 20:15; 21:27 (4) 1 Peter 1:19,20 (5) Nero died from a self-inflicted stab wound in the throat in AD. 68. (6) Unknown
"The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place."