Extracts and comments from Revelation Chps. 2:7(b), 22:14 & 22:19(b)
2.7
(c)He that hath an ear, let him hear what the (d)Spirit says to the (Ecclesia) Churches; to him that (a)Overcometh will I give to eat of the (b)Tree of Life, which is in the Paradise of God".
(b) "Tree of life"; this first mentioned in Gen. 3:22, and is to be the reward of the "Overcomers", (see Rev. 22:14). At the present time "life", is only obtainable through Christ (Acts 4:12) no matter what religious teachers on Earth say.
This is proof positive that the "Grace" period is over at the time of these events described; and that "overcoming", and "works", are the new pre-requisites. As we know these events described are for Jewish groupings, they may probably apply only to that nation. It is considered by many teachers that the Age of Grace ends at the start of the events of Revelation; this may or may not be the case, and other teachers consider a possible over-lapping of this Jewish period with the Age of Grace.
This opinion may hold veracity as many consider that Christians (The Lord's Body) do not leave the Earth until the Lord returns for the remnant Israel. What is certain is that as well as the special Holy Spirit enabling for these Jewish groups "Ecclesia", many of them and others are salvaged at that time by their witness to the blood of Christ (Rev. 5:9, 7:14 and 12:11).
(a)Blessed are they that do (b)(His commandments), (wash their robes) that they may have right to the Tree of Life, and may enter in by the gates of the city.
(a) This clearly refers to at least the "Overcomers", see Rev. 7:14.
(b) The words in the A.V., "His commandments", is disputed, and vary in the translations. The 1611 is shown. The R.S.V., "those who wash their robes". Interlinear, "doing His commandments". Strongs no. 1785, "authoritative prescription", "commandment", "precepts". J.N. Darby, "wash their robes". Dr. Bullinger, Comp., comments; "the text reads (wash their robes), but it is probable that the reading of the Received Text (Interlinear) is correct (above)". Moffat, (Martin Kiddle, Revelation), "wash their robes". Revised Authorised Version, "do his commandments", the word "his", is underlined, because the R.S.V. does not give a capital H to the pronoun! The recent translation from the PshittA by Victor Alexander, shows "His Commandments". This is particularly interesting as it is the first Translation directly from that ancient "A" document by an ancient languages scholar using the ancient Aramaic. All the previous had used modern Aramaic. The NKJV has “wash their robes”.
And if anyone shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the (b)Tree of Life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book.
(b) Interlinear states "scroll" (i.e. book), Darby "tree", Bullinger "tree," R.S.V. "tree", Dr. Bullinger's comments based on manuscript copies. The context of this verse shows to be the" Great Tribulation Age". (See Rev. 2:7).
The "Tree of Life", is in the Paradise of God, and is the reward for the "Overcomers”, which is the opposite to that of Adam and Eve! There are many of them as shown in Rev. 7: 14. The reasoning is that as above in V.14, "the Tree of Life" is available to the "Overcomers".
The "Body of Christ" has been removed at the " Rapture", and therefore the warning is for the people in the context of the "Great Tribulation", and almost certainly those included in the period of the "Book of Life", i.e. from the "foundation" (overthrow) of the world, but not including "The Body of Christ", which was "known" before the (overthrow), Eph. 1:4 & 1Peter 1:20.
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