Revelation 17:8 Meaning and Explanation
“The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: 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, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The beast was and is not and will rise from the pit only to go to destruction, and the earth-dwellers whose names are not in the book of life marvel at it.
What Does Revelation 17:8 Mean?
The angel begins with the beast itself. Its existence is described as a hollow parody: it was, and is not, and will climb up out of the bottomless pit, yet its whole course leads only to perdition. Those who dwell on the earth, whose names are not found written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, are amazed when they see it appear again.
The beast is a counterfeit of the One who was and is and is to come. Its rising looks impressive, but its destiny is ruin from the start. The line between those who marvel and those who do not is the book of life. To belong to the Lamb is to be unimpressed by a power that is already condemned, while those who have given their hearts to the world are dazzled by the very thing that is dragging them down. Where a name is written settles how a soul sees.
Revelation 17:8 in the Original Language
apoleia (ἀπώλεια), 'perdition' -- ruin or destruction; the appointed end of what sets itself against God.
Frequently Asked Questions About Revelation 17:8
What does Revelation 17:8 mean?
The beast was and is not and will rise from the pit only to go to destruction, and the earth-dwellers whose names are not in the book of life marvel at it.