12 “Look! I’m coming soon. My reward is with me, to repay all people as their actions deserve. 13 I am the alpha and the omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. 14 Favored are those who wash their robes so that they may have the right of access to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates. 15 Outside are the dogs, the drug users and spell-casters, those who commit sexual immorality, the murderers, the idolaters, and all who love and practice deception. 16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to bear witness to all of you about these things for the churches. I’m the root and descendant of David, the bright morning star. (Revelation 22:12-16, CEB)
I have to say I am always taken aback when I read sexual immorality in a biblical passage and I wonder what it meant in the original language. And here there really isn’t anything. The word is pornos. But what is around it here in our text is interesting…
Outside are the dogs. The word here is a figurative word that means dog but is saying those who are perverted. And aren’t we all a little perverted? And perverted in what way?
Drug Users isn’t even in the original language and the word this is translated from is spell-caster or sorcerer. And that word has no connotation of drug use. And I take many drugs every day to help me, so does this mean I’ll be outside the gate?
Sorcerer is one who practices magic. So a spell caster is a magician. I know magicians who are pastors, so are they out because they perform magic?
Murderers mean none of us can kill, and does that mean humans or anything? SO if you hunt and are good at it, then you will be outside the gates.
Idolaters mean you can put nothing before God and I know we are all guilty of this from time to time so none of us can get past this one.
Those who love and practice deception. Don’t we all do things to get others to do what we want? We are guilty of trying to get people to do/buy things they don’t want to or need.
So by all of this above it doesn’t matter if we wash, we will all be outside the gates.
So live your life and share God’s love. Knowing that Jesus paid the price and Revelation is a vision of hope to those being held down.
Go in love and share as you go.
Loving People. Loving God.