| Text | Observations |
| REV 2:4 `But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. [5] `Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you, and will remove your lampstand out of its place--unless you repent. | Though not directly addressing conversion, the Ephesians once had "first love" and a place they had fallen from (ref. Eph 2:6). |
| REV 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with Me. | This passage has nothing to do with conversion-- it is directed at the Christians of Laodicea who needed to repent. |
| REV 7:13 And one of the elders answered, saying to me, "These who are clothed in the white robes, who are they, and from where have they come?" [14] And 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. | John touches on the "white robe" symbolism. This seems
to be a reference to baptism, or possibly a reference to faithfulness in
tribulation.
"Washed" and "made white" are perfect tense verbs, wheareas "coming out" is a present tense verb. Thus, this washing/whitening of robes does not appear to come from surviving the tribulation but points to some specific past event. Believers contact the blood of Jesus in baptism by sharing in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus (Rom 6:3-6). They also receive forgiveness of sins, (Acts 2:38, 22:16), thus "washing their robe" in the blood of the Lamb. |
| REV 14:6 And I saw another angel flying in midheaven, having an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people; [7] and he said with a loud voice, "Fear God, and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters." | In the midst of all the visions in Revelation, it is
interesting that one would be about the gospel: "Fear God, give him glory,
worship him."
The theat threat of Roman emperor worship and Christians' refusal to comply is the background for much of what is said in Revelation. In context, this proclamation clearly indicates the God is truly due what the Roman emperor demanded. |
| REV 21:5 And He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." And He said, "Write, for these words are faithful and true." [6] And He said to me, "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. [7] "He who overcomes shall inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. [8] "But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." | In context, this passage is not a proclamation of the gospel to the lost but a statement of assurance to the saved. Yet, it also includes a reference to the free gift of life for those who turn to Jesus and condemnation for those "cowardly and unbelieving" who do not. |
| REV 22:10 And he said to me, "Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. [11] "Let the one who does wrong, still do wrong; and let the one who is filthy, still be filthy; and let the one who is righteous, still practice righteousness; and let the one who is holy, still keep himself holy." [12] "Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done. | This passage seems to indicate a time of persecution when evangelism was suspended, but it is more likely a testimony to God's gift of choice to mankind-- each has the freedom to choose how to live, but God will reward men based upon their deeds. |
| REV 22:13 "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." [14] Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city. [15] Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying. | A reiteration of the proclamation of 21:5ff, with a reference
to those who "wash their robes" and receive the reward of God.
The phrase "wash their robes" references back to 7:14, where the robes are washed in the blood of the Lamb. |
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