Live 4 The LORD

Revelation 17:8 speaks of a beast that "was, and is not, and is about to ascend from the bottomless pit and go to destruction. And the inhabitants of the earth, whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, will be amazed when they see the beast, because it was and is not and is to come." This verse touches on the concept of predestination and God's foreknowledge.

#### The Book of Life

The "book of life" is a symbolic representation of those chosen for eternal life with God [^4]. Thomas Aquinas explains that the "book of life" is a metaphor for the representation of those who are to attain eternal life [^4]. He clarifies that this representation is not a created thing that guides God, but rather an uncreated aspect of God's knowledge [^4].

#### Interpretation

The passage indicates that some people's names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world. This can be interpreted in light of God's eternal knowledge and predestination. It suggests that God, from eternity, knows who will ultimately accept His grace and persevere in faith, and who will not. Those whose names are not in the book of life are those who ultimately reject God's grace [^1] [^2] [^3].

#### Predestination and Free Will

Catholic theology addresses the relationship between God's predestination and human free will. The *Catechism of the Catholic Church* states that God's predestination does not negate human freedom: "To God, all moments of time are present in their immediacy. When therefore he establishes his eternal plan of 'predestination', he includes in it each person's free response to his grace" (CCC, 600). This means God's knowledge of who will be saved does not eliminate the individual's free choice to accept or reject salvation.

[^1] [Disputed Questions on Truth Q. 7, A. 1, C.](https://www.magisterium.com/docs/6d54f8cd-a225-4b49-9bb1-a74163743fe0/ref/Q.%207,%20A.%201,%20C.)

[^2] [The Holy Bible Revelation 22](https://www.magisterium.com/docs/7ab6e175-afab-4262-915a-0e98ce0d133d/ref/Revelation%2022)

[^3] [The Holy Bible Revelation 1](https://www.magisterium.com/docs/7ab6e175-afab-4262-915a-0e98ce0d133d/ref/Revelation%201)

[^4] [The Holy Bible Revelation 2](https://www.magisterium.com/docs/7ab6e175-afab-4262-915a-0e98ce0d133d/ref/Revelation%202)