The Favored & Unfavored

REVELATION 22:14-15 “Blessed [favored for success] (are) those doing the commands of Him [maintaining righteousness through just judgment while safe guarding the civil rights and liberties of the alien], that will be the authority of them over the tree of life [having the responsibility to ensure justice and fair treatment to others], and by the gates they may enter into the city.”

Barnes Commentary.- “Blessed are they who do His commandments,” that they may be entitled to approach the tree of life; that this privilege may be granted to them. It is a right in the sense that they have merited it, in the sense the privilege was conferred on them as one of the rewards of God, and that, in virtue of the divine arrangements; they would be entitled to this honor.

Revelation 22 : 15 “But outside [those lacking social consciousness for the guilt of wrongdoing- wickedly enraged and unpitying malicious wretches who hound the god fearing righteous to their doom] and the sorcerer’s [the druggist or poisoner- preparing and giving drugs through the sleight of hand, through deceitful craftiness and stratagem to gain power and control over others], and the fornicators [those selling “lawful restraints” and “moral purity” for personal gain] and the murderers [who deliberately kill others through acts of crime], and the idolaters [paying homage to the self-deification of man], and everyone loving [delighting in that which is false] and making a lie [for a belief, with intent to deceive].”