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Revelation 20:15

New Testament Apocalyptic ASV (1901)

What does Revelation 20:15 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And if any was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And if any was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire.
Revelation 20:15 — American Standard Version

Context — Revelation 20

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
12And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne; and books were opened: and another book was opened, which is [the book] of life: and the dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works.
13And the sea gave up the dead that were in it; and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
14And death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death, [even] the lake of fire.
15And if any was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire.
← Revelation 20:14Revelation 21:1 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And whosoever was not found written in the book of life, etc.] Upon the opening of it, (<662012>Revelation 20:12) as all that worship the beast, and wonder after him, (<661308>Revelation 13:8 17:8) and all wicked men, everyone of them: was cast into the lake of fire; where are the devil, beast, and false prophet, (<661920>Revelation 19:20 20:10). It is a saying of R. Isaac f447, “woe to the wicked, who are not written aqtpb, “in the book”, for they shall perish in hell for ever and ever:” and in the Targum on (<261309>Ezekiel 13:9) it is said of the false prophets, “that aml[ yyj btkb, “in the writing of eternal life” (or in the book of eternal life), which is written for the righteous of…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The blissful lot of the righteous is not here specially mentioned as their bliss had commenced before the final judgment. Compare, however, Mat 25:34, Mat 25:41, Mat 25:46. Next: Revelation Chapter 21”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“And whosoever - All persons, of all ranks, ages, and conditions. No word could be more comprehensive than this. The single condition here stated, as being what would save any from being cast into the lake of fire, is, that they are “found written in the book of life.” All besides these, princes, kings, nobles, philosophers, statesmen, conquerors; rich men and poor men; the bond and the free; the young and the aged; the frivolous, the vain, the proud, and the sober; the modest and the humble, will be doomed to the lake of fire. Unlike in all other things, they will be alike in the only thing on which their eternal destiny will depend - that they have not so lived that their names have become…”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“whosoever: Mar 16:16; Joh 3:18, Joh 3:19, Joh 3:36, Joh 14:6; Act 4:12; Heb 2:3, Heb 12:25; Jo1 5:11, Jo1 5:12 was cast: Rev 19:20; Mat 25:41; Mar 9:43-48 Next: Revelation Chapter 21”
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Related study paths

Read Revelation 20 in contextBrowse Greek word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification