Does Revelation 22:14 And 15 Prove That The Second Death Is Figurative?
In Revelation 22:14,15 we read:
Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and enter through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers, the fornicators, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and does the lie.
In these verses, grammatically, from the original text, there are two tenses involved: the present tense (blue) and the future tense (red). In most translations this distinction does not come through properly, and therefore it seems as though John suggests that outside the city godless practices are being practiced, from which one can cleanse himself. But that is not what the text says. If we make the tenses explicit, then it says:
Blessed are those who are washing their robes (now), that they WILL have the right to the tree of life and WILL enter through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers, the fornicators, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who is (now) loving and doing the lie.
In other words, in these verses John addresses those who in the present time are practicing godless practices — or are cleansing themselves from them — and speaks of their future lot.
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