It is anticipated that the antichrist will become so powerful and arrogant as to accept worship from the earth's inhabitants. The beast is almost universally worshipped. Obviously, the Lamb is Jesus Christ, who freely offered Himself on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins. This verse illustrates the truth by the fact that believers refuse to be a part of the age of evil, which will be ruled by the beast.
The inhabitants of the earth will wonder after the beast and worship him. Many will be lured away from the only hope they have for salvation, which is in the shed blood of Jesus Christ. In the end, all will discover they are among the lost, deceiving, unbelieving humanity and will face eternal separation from God, except those whose names are recorded in the Lamb's Book of Life by faith.
By grace through faith in the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ, the righteous, God knew in advance that mankind would fall into sin. Thanks be to God that on Calvary's cross, the Lamb, who was slain from the foundation of the world, fulfilled God's redemptive act. The Lamb's Book of Life already contains our names. Let us accept this basic, biblical truth with trusting, childlike faith.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for making the gospel of grace so simple and for dying for me so that my sins could be atoned for. Each day, may You open my eyes to the deeper truths in Your Word so that I may come to know You more deeply. In the time of evil age when the beast rules, I pray that many who have been deceived by Satan's lies will come to faith in Jesus and that their hearts will be opened to His mercy. 
In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.