What does the sentence in Revelation 13-8, the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, mean

What does the sentence in Revelation 13:8, the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, mean?
By Brother Mike (9-27-19; 10 minutes)

In this mini thought-provoker, we will first state what it means in Revelation 13:8 when it says, the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Then, we will see how Luke 11:50, which teaches that the blood of all the prophets was shed from the foundation of the world, validates our understanding of Revelation 13:8. And, finally, we will use our gained understanding of the phrase, from the foundation of the world to interpret Hebrews 4:3, which says, the works [necessary for our faith] were finished from the foundation of the world.

May the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, the 2nd person of the Godhead made flesh, our Lord Jesus Christ, guide us into all truth, amen.

We read in Revelation 13,

Re 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world .

Notice that it speaks of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Some have taken this verse to mean that Christ was slain for our sins at or before the foundation of the world, but is this really what Revelation 13:8 is teaching? Absolutely not! Notice that God does not say the Lamb slain at or before the foundation of the world, which He could have clearly said with the right choice of words, but He says, the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. And, God says, the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world because it was at the foundation of the world when it was first predestined that the Lamb would be slain. God does not say, the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world to mean that the Lamb was slain at or before the foundation of the world, but He says, the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world to mean that the Lamb was first predestined to be slain at the foundation of the world. Therefore, the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world does not mean that the Lamb was actually slain at the foundation of the world, but that it was then first predestined that it would be slain after the foundation of the world. And, in this sense of having been predestined to be slain at the foundation of the world, the Lamb was slain from the foundation of the world because that is when the slaying of the Lamb all began by the Lamb then having been predestined to be slain.

Now, we can further see that the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world does not mean that the Lamb was actually slain at or before the foundation of the world by how the phrase, from the foundation of the world is used in Luke 11:50 where we read,

Lu 11:50 That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation . . .

Notice how we are told that the blood of the prophets was shed from the foundation of the world. But, does this mean that the blood of the prophets was shed at or before the foundation of the world? Absolutely not! How could the blood of the prophets have been shed at or before the foundation of the world since the prophets did not even yet exist at or before the foundation of the world. No, rather, that the blood of all the prophets was shed from the foundation of the world means that at the foundation of the world it was first predestined that their blood would be shed after the foundation of the world. Likewise, following this clear example, when Revelation 13:8 says, the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, it does not mean that the Lamb was slain at or before the foundation of the world because the Lamb, the 2nd person of the Godhead made flesh, did not exist at or before the foundation of the world as the 2nd person of the Godhead was not yet made flesh until Mary had conceived by the Holy Spirit in what we now know to have been 7 BC (Matthew 1:18; Luke 1:27-35). No, rather, the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world means that at the foundation of the world it was first predestined that the Lamb would be slain after the foundation of the world.

Now, having learned the proper meaning to the phrase, from the foundation of the world, we can properly understand Hebrews 4:3, which states,

Heb 4:3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world .

Notice how it states that the works necessary for our faith were finished from the foundation of the world. Now, does this mean that the works necessary for our faith were finished at or before the foundation of the world? Absolutely not! For if we follow our previous example of how Luke 11:50 taught us to understand the phrase, from the foundation of the world, then we know that when our verse says that the works necessary for our faith were finished from the foundation of the world, it does not mean that the works necessary for our faith were finished at or before the foundation of the world, but it means that the works necessary for our faith were first predestined to be finished at or before the foundation of the world, but the actual works were not finished until after the foundation of the world, which we now know was in the spring of 33 AD when Christ was hanging on the cross and He said, it is finished (John 19:30).

Therefore, in conclusion, the sentence in Revelation 13:8 that says, the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world does not mean that the Lamb was slain at or before the foundation of the world, but it means that the Lamb was first predestined to be slain at the foundation of the world while the actual slaying of the Lamb would take place after the foundation of the world, which we now know to have been in 33 AD. We learned this about Revelation 13:8 by having seen how the phrase, from the foundation of the world must be understood when Luke 11:50 said that the blood of the prophets was shed from the foundation of the world. Indeed, just as Luke 11:50 could not possibly mean that the blood of the prophets was shed at or before the foundation of the world, as the prophets did not even exist at or before the foundation of the world, and that it meant that the blood of the prophets was first predestined to be shed at or before the foundation of the world while the actual shedding of their blood would take place after the foundation of the world, so also the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world could not possibly mean that the Lamb was slain at or before the foundation of the world, but it must mean that the Lamb was first predestined to be slain at the foundation of the world while the actual slaying of the Lamb would take place after the foundation of the world, which we now know to have been in 33 AD. So, the Lamb was slain from the foundation of the world because it was at the foundation of the world when the Lamb was first predestined to be slain. And, it is in this sense of having been predestined to be slain at the foundation of the world that the Lamb is said to be slain from the foundation of the world.

For more proof that the Lamb was not actually slain at or before the foundation of the world, but in 33 AD on the cross, click on each of the following links and carefully read:

The Lamb Slain from the Foundation of the World ,
Have you struck the Rock twice?
Christ died for sin in 33 AD; not before the world ,
When Did Christ Die For Sin? ,
The phrase, from the foundation of the world . . . ,
What does the sentence in Revelation 13:8, the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, mean?
Could you be going after strange flesh ,
The Final Test ,
Jude 1:7
Luke 11:50 exposes truth ,
Email Messages by Charles Brown that refute the false teaching that Christ atoned for sins at the foundation of the world.
God Cannot Lie! ,
Without shedding of blood is no remission of sin .

Now, with that, may the LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace .