Revelation 20:15 kjv
And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Revelation 20:15 nkjv
And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
Revelation 20:15 niv
Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.
Revelation 20:15 esv
And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
Revelation 20:15 nlt
And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.
Revelation 20 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Rev 3:5 | "He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments... I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life." | Assurance of inclusion for the faithful |
| Phil 4:3 | "...those women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life." | Believers' names recorded |
| Rev 13:8 | "All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." | Predetermined inclusion/exclusion |
| Rev 17:8 | "...those whose names were not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world..." | Echoes predetermined status |
| Psa 69:28 | "Let them be blotted out of the book of the living; And not be written with the righteous." | Request for exclusion from God's register |
| Exo 32:32-33 | "Yet now, if You will forgive their sin—but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book... whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book." | Early mention of a divine book of names |
| Dan 12:1 | "...everyone who is found written in the book will be delivered." | Deliverance linked to names in the book |
| Luk 10:20 | "Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven." | Heavenly registry for disciples |
| Heb 12:23 | "...to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven..." | Congregation of the redeemed registered |
| Mat 25:41 | "Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.’" | Eternal fire for the condemned |
| Rev 21:8 | "But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable... their part will be in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone..." | Listing those consigned to the lake of fire |
| Rev 19:20 | "Then the beast and the false prophet were captured... These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone." | First inhabitants of the lake of fire |
| Mat 13:42 | "...and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth." | Parable of weeds, similar imagery of judgment |
| Mat 13:50 | "...and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth." | Parable of the net, similar imagery of judgment |
| 2 Thes 1:9 | "These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power." | Eternal separation from God |
| Jude 1:7 | "...Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality... are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire." | Example of eternal punishment by fire |
| Isa 30:33 | "For Tophet was established of old... He has made its pyre deep and large; A fire and much wood are in it... the breath of the Lord, like a stream of brimstone, kindles it." | Prophetic imagery of intense fiery judgment |
| Mat 12:36 | "But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment." | Basis of judgment: words and deeds |
| 2 Cor 5:10 | "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad." | Universal accountability before God |
| Jn 3:16 | "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." | The way to eternal life, avoiding perishing |
| Act 4:12 | "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." | Exclusivity of salvation through Christ |
| Rom 10:9-10 | "...that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved... For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." | The means of having one's name in the Book |
| Rom 14:10-12 | "For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ... So then each of us shall give account of himself to God." | Inevitability of individual judgment |
Revelation 20 verses
Revelation 20 15 Meaning
Revelation 20:15 conveys the definitive outcome for any individual whose name is not recorded in the book of life during the Great White Throne Judgment. It signifies eternal separation from God, specifically through being cast into the lake of fire, a final place of ultimate, inescapable punishment for the unrighteous.
Revelation 20 15 Context
Revelation 20:15 provides the final and decisive outcome of the Great White Throne Judgment described in Rev 20:11-14. Following the millennium and the last revolt of Satan (Rev 20:7-10), all the unrighteous dead, small and great, are resurrected to stand before God's throne. Two types of "books" are mentioned in the preceding verses: books containing the deeds of individuals, and the "Book of Life." While individuals are judged according to their works recorded in the former, their ultimate eternal destiny is determined by their presence (or absence) in the latter. Rev 20:15 presents the conclusion for those whose names are found not written in the Book of Life, leading directly into the description of the new heavens and new earth in Chapter 21, by showing what becomes of all who are excluded from eternal blessedness. The broader context of Revelation details God's complete triumph over evil, sin, and death, culminating in this ultimate segregation of humanity into two eternal destinies: life with Him or eternal separation from Him.
Historically and culturally, the concept of registers or books listing citizens, inhabitants, or those loyal to a king was common in the ancient world. Such records determined one's status, rights, and privileges. The "Book of Life" thus resonates with ancient understanding of being officially recognized as belonging to a community, in this case, God's eternal community.
Revelation 20 15 Word Analysis
And (Καί - Kai): A simple conjunction connecting this verse to the preceding description of the Great White Throne Judgment (Rev 20:11-14). It emphasizes that this is the final, climactic result of the judgment process.
whosoever (εἴ τις - ei tis): Means "if anyone" or "whoever." It conveys a universal scope and personal accountability, emphasizing that the judgment applies to every individual without exception or favoritism.
was not found (οὐχ εὑρέθη - ouch eurethē): "Ouch" (οὐχ) is a strong negation, "eurethē" (εὑρέθη) is the aorist passive indicative of
heuriskō(to find, discover). It denotes a completed action: a definitive search was made, and the name was decisively not present. It doesn't imply erasure but a conclusive absence or non-existence in the record at the time of inspection.written (γεγραμμένον - gegrammenon): The perfect passive participle of
graphō(to write). The perfect tense indicates an action completed in the past with enduring results. This signifies that the names were recorded (or not recorded) prior to the judgment, highlighting divine foreknowledge or predetermined inclusion for salvation. It implies the immutability and finality of the names in the book.in the book of life (ἐν τῷ βιβλίῳ τῆς ζωῆς - en tō bibliō tēs zōēs):
bibliō(βιβλίῳ): book, scroll, record. Refers to a written compilation, often for administrative or census purposes.zōēs(ζωῆς): life, often signifying spiritual or eternal life.- This "book" is God's eternal register of those who are heirs of eternal life through faith in Christ. Its origins can be seen in OT concepts (Exo 32:32, Psa 69:28, Dan 12:1). It signifies God's personal knowledge and covenant relationship with His people, marking them as belonging to Him. Its absence means eternal death and exclusion from His kingdom.
was cast (ἐβλήθη - eblēthē): The aorist passive indicative of
ballō(to throw, cast, or hurl). This verb implies a decisive, forceful, and unappealable act performed by a higher authority (God). There is no escape or recourse.into the lake of fire (εἰς τὴν λίμνην τοῦ πυρός - eis tēn limnēn tou pyros):
limnēn(λίμνην): lake, pond, pool. This distinguishes it from temporary "hell" (Hades) or a simple burning pit. It suggests vastness and depth.pyros(πυρός): fire. In biblical context, fire often symbolizes judgment, purification, or divine presence. Here, combined with "lake," it refers to eternal, conscious punishment and destruction (not annihilation of being, but ruin and separation from God). It is associated with brimstone (sulphur) elsewhere (Rev 21:8), enhancing its horror and suggesting an utterly consuming and repugnant nature. This "lake of fire" is the ultimate destiny for Satan, the Beast, the False Prophet, Death, Hades, and all who reject Christ, representing final, inescapable divine retribution.
Words-group analysis:
- "whosoever was not found written in the book of life": This entire phrase encapsulates the sole condition for eternal condemnation at this final judgment. It is not primarily about good or bad deeds (though those are judged too, to reveal character and justify sentence), but about one's inclusion or exclusion from God's chosen and redeemed. It highlights grace as the ultimate determinant of destiny, without which all fall under condemnation.
- "was cast into the lake of fire": This describes the consequence as an absolute, forceful, and irreversible act of divine judgment. The "lake of fire" symbolizes the eternal reality of complete separation from God and enduring conscious torment. It is the antithesis of the New Jerusalem, representing the ultimate, permanent destiny of the lost.
Revelation 20 15 Bonus section
The "book of life" mentioned in Revelation 20:15 is often understood as the "Lamb's Book of Life" (e.g., Rev 13:8, 21:27), signifying that entry into this divine register is exclusively through Christ and His redemptive work. The names are written from the "foundation of the world" (Rev 13:8), pointing to God's sovereign plan and election. The concept challenges any reliance on human merit, rituals, or lineage for salvation; instead, it underscores that eternal life is a gift granted through divine prerogative. This verse stands in stark contrast to the subsequent chapter's description of the New Jerusalem, where only those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life are permitted entry (Rev 21:27). The final judgment highlights that being "found not written" is equivalent to being "rejected" by the divine King and thus having no part in His eternal kingdom. It addresses the common misconception that judgment is based solely on a scale of good deeds versus bad deeds, by emphasizing the paramount importance of belonging to God's redeemed community.
Revelation 20 15 Commentary
Revelation 20:15 delivers a profound and chilling verdict: for any human being, regardless of their past deeds, if their name is not recorded in God's eternal register—the book of life—their fate is an irreversible consignment to the lake of fire. This verse is the ultimate culmination of divine judgment, signaling the permanent division of humanity. While previous verses indicate judgment "according to their works," this verse clarifies that the absence from the Book of Life is the ultimate criteria for eternal condemnation. Works serve as evidence for the justness of the judgment but do not grant access to eternal life. Salvation, and thus one's name in this book, is based on God's grace and humanity's response of faith in Christ, making it utterly vital. The lake of fire represents a horrifying, conscious, and eternal existence cut off from God's presence and goodness. This destiny underscores the immense spiritual urgency and the absolute finality of the choice made during one's earthly life.
For practical application, this verse is a sobering reminder:
- The seriousness of salvation: There is a true, eternal consequence for not having a relationship with God through Christ.
- The preciousness of grace: Inclusion in the Book of Life is not earned but gifted by God's foreknowledge and redemption in Christ.
- The certainty of judgment: A day of ultimate accountability awaits everyone, where one's eternal destiny is irrevocably sealed.