Revelation 20:15; And Whosoever Was Not Found Written in the Book of Life

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Revelation 20:15 (KJV)  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. 

The short statement v15 foretells the doom of all who are outside Christ – And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. 

They follow the Devil, the beast, and the false prophet into the lake of fire. Language like this leaves no room for any form of universalism, soul, sleep, an intermediate state, a second chance, or annihilation of the wicked. (Robertson, Word Pictures, 6:465; Ladd, Revelation, p.258; Berkouwer, The Return of Christ (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1975), pp. 387-423)

Assuming that some will not find their names written in the Book of Life, this verse predicts their being cast into the lake of fire. The statement is simple and does not belabour the point by assigning the saints a role in inflicting this punishment or witnessing it (Moffatt).

This is the negation of eternal life which the lost could have received (Swete). But it is more than that. It is a “torturous existence in the society of evil in opposition to life in the society of God” (Beasley-Murray), but it is more than that. It is the direct infliction of misery, both physical and mental, through the eternal fire spoken of by Jesus (Matthew 25:41, 46).

Matthew 25:41 (KJV)  Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

Matthew 25:46 (KJV)  And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Because of the presence of the lost in this lake, “the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night,” (Revelation 14:11).

Revelation 14:11 (KJV)  And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

[Robert L. Thomas, Revelation 8-22 – An Exegetical Commentary, Moody, 1995, 434-435]