Revelation 21:27; And There Shall In No Wise Enter Into It … But They Which Are In the Lamb’s Book of Life

Revelation 21:27 (KJV)  And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life. 

Also barred from the city will be everyone “worth abomination or taketh a lie”. Abominations will characterise future Babylon (Revelation 17:4-5). God has already relegated those guilty of abominable behaviour to the lake of fire and brimstone as He has liars who are in new in this same phrase (cf. Revelation 21:8).

Revelation 17:4-5 (KJV)  And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. 

Revelation 21:8 (KJV)  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. 

The latter will have a fuller description in Revelation 22:15 where “whosoever liveth and maketh a lie” identifies such a person.

Revelation 22:15 (KJV)  For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. 

Earlier references to the “Lamb’s book of life” have come at Revelation 3:5; 13:8; 20:12, 15.

Revelation 3:5 (KJV)  He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

Revelation 13:8 (KJV)  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. 

Revelation 20:12 (KJV)  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 

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

The nations and the kings (v24, 26) are unquestionably among those whose names will be in the book at the Great White Throne judgment (Revelation 20:12, 15).

Revelation 20:12 (KJV)  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 

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

This raises interesting questions regarding their relationship to redeemed Israel, the church, and other citizens of the bride-city itself (Alford). The discussion of “the nations” at v24 above has explored some of these questions and has proposed that these are morals surviving to the end of the Millennium and then having their mortality transformed to a new state resembling that of Adam and Eve before the entrance of sin in Genesis 3.

Revelation 21:24 (KJV)  And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. 

The unmentioned transformation could occur in conjunction with God’s work in creating the new heaven and the new earth (Revelation 21:1, 5).

Revelation 21:1 (KJV)  And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 

Revelation 21:5 (KJV)  And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 

[Robert L. Thomas, Revelation 8-22 – An Exegetical Commentary, Moody 1995, 480]