To Be Least

In the last chapter of the Bible, in Rev. 22:14-15, it says this.

"Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. "

What does it mean when it says wash their robes? Previously in Revelations it mentioned "those who wash their robes." "And he said, 'These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.'" (Rev. 7:15) There it is, "They have washed their robes." It continues to say "and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." The "Lamb" is Jesus. He died an innocent death as he had not done anything to deserve it, however there was reason for it. What was the reason? He had to shed his blood so that our sins would be paid for, would be forgiven so that we could live with him in his Fathers house. In the Old Testament, God commanded Moses when the Israelites were in Egypt to sprinkle Lambs blood over the door way and thus be saved from the angel of death.

So now we begin to see what exactly is going on here. Jesus, the "Lamb" shed his blood so that we can be saved from an eternity in hell. So "blessed" are those who's sins are washed away by Jesus's (Lamb's) blood.

What do these people who have been washed receive? They enter through the gates into the city, so they enter heaven. They also "have right to the tree of life." In Genesis it says, 'And the LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground-trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil." (Gen 2:9) They were forbidden to take from the "tree of life," which they did not although they took from the other tree. Why were they not allowed to? "And the LORD God said, 'The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.'" (Gen 3:22) So the tree of life gives you eternal life. Thus, they will have eternal life.

Does it stop there? No. It goes on to say who exactly won't enter heaven, or those who are "Outside." These are "those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood." I don't believe I need to explain any of that to you as it is obviously stated. However, who else "practices falsehood?" "But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars–their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death." (Rev. 21:8) So the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, and all liars were added to this ongoing list. There are many more of these verses that talk of those who practice false hood, but you get the idea.

When it says the "cowardly," who is talking off? Is it possible that God is talking of those who are "ashamed of the gospel?" (Rom. 1:16) I think it is quite possible, love to hear what you think.

So there it states who exactly enters, and who doesn't. Notice it does not say those who do good deeds will enter heaven, no it says those that are washed in the blood of the Lamb will enter through the gates and have right to the tree of life.