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Yesterday while browsing I came across a post where someone questioned the different renderings of above verse in the various translations. The question was in relation to taking from or adding to the Book of Revelation, and thereby assuming the KJV translation was the original and that the others were in danger of disobeying this order. I could not find the post again hence this new thread. Anyway…lets look at a small study of this verse:
KJV – Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
NASB – Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city.
Now, before we go further and cross reference, lets look at the symbolism of the two renderings.
The KJV rendering is good, but do we really obtain access to the tree of life merely by keeping the commandments? As someone stated elsewhere, we don't keep the commandments to obtain salvation but we do so because we have salvation. The greatest of commandments are to love God and love people. Simplification, but the key is in them: if we can develop a love relationship with God — which is only possible by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, His Holy Spirit — then we can in turn truly love people. For who else loves all people but God Himself? Thus, if we share in His love, we can love people. Once we do these greatest of all commandments, the rest are a walk in the park because they are merely an extension of these.
Now we move on the the NASB rendering, which is basically shared by the NIV, HSCB, Darby, and several others. Do you understand the meaning of “wash their robes”? Look back to Revelation 7:13-15
KJV – And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.
NASB – Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “These who are clothed in the white robes, who are they, and where have they come from?” I said to him, “My lord, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. “For this reason, they are before the throne of God; and they serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne will spread His tabernacle over them.
What is it that grants us eternal life and salvation? Is it merely keeping the commandments? If so, why did Jesus even have to come and die? No, it is the blood of the Lamb which allows us to access the tree of life, not merely our actions. By keeping the commandments we show we love God, and I've covered how we are able to love Him
1 John 5:3 (NASB) – For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.
And finally, both Revelation 22:14 and 7:14 refer back to Zechariah 3:3-5 (NASB)
Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments and standing before the angel. He spoke and said to those who were standing before him, saying, “Remove the filthy garments from him” Again he said to him, “See, I have taken your iniquity away from you and will clothe you with festal robes. “Then I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments, while the angel of the LORD was standing by.
I hope this helps you see that while we cannot know which rendering is correct, we can see validity in both and that God's truth still comes forth. It is not we who should fear what has or has not been removed from or added to Revelation, but whether or not we obey His instructions given to us in the Bible. Not out of duty but out of love.
Quote (kejonn @ July 01 2007,02:36) Yesterday while browsing I came across a post where someone questioned the different renderings of above verse in the various translations. The question was in relation to taking from or adding to the Book of Revelation, and thereby assuming the KJV translation was the original and that the others were in danger of disobeying this order. I could not find the post again hence this new thread. Anyway…lets look at a small study of this verse: KJV – Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
NASB – Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city.
Now, before we go further and cross reference, lets look at the symbolism of the two renderings.
The KJV rendering is good, but do we really obtain access to the tree of life merely by keeping the commandments? As someone stated elsewhere, we don't keep the commandments to obtain salvation but we do so because we have salvation. The greatest of commandments are to love God and love people. Simplification, but the key is in them: if we can develop a love relationship with God — which is only possible by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, His Holy Spirit — then we can in turn truly love people. For who else loves all people but God Himself? Thus, if we share in His love, we can love people. Once we do these greatest of all commandments, the rest are a walk in the park because they are merely an extension of these.
Now we move on the the NASB rendering, which is basically shared by the NIV, HSCB, Darby, and several others. Do you understand the meaning of “wash their robes”? Look back to Revelation 7:13-15
KJV – And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.
NASB – Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “These who are clothed in the white robes, who are they, and where have they come from?” I said to him, “My lord, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. “For this reason, they are before the throne of God; and they serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne will spread His tabernacle over them.
What is it that grants us eternal life and salvation? Is it merely keeping the commandments? If so, why did Jesus even have to come and die? No, it is the blood of the Lamb which allows us to access the tree of life, not merely our actions. By keeping the commandments we show we love God, and I've covered how we are able to love Him
1 John 5:3 (NASB) – For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.
And finally, both Revelation 22:14 and 7:14 refer back to Zechariah 3:3-5 (NASB)
Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments and standing before the angel. He spoke and said to those who were standing before him, saying, “Remove the filthy garments from him” Again he said to him, “See, I have taken your iniquity away from you and will clothe you with festal robes. “Then I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments, while the angel of the LORD was standing by.
I hope this helps you see that while we cannot know which rendering is correct, we can see validity in both and that God's truth still comes forth. It is not we who should fear what has or has not been removed from or added to Revelation, but whether or not we obey His instructions given to us in the Bible. Not out of duty but out of love.
Hi KJ,
Does love still drive you?
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