"rising of the sun"? That is a rather interesting way to refer to the term "east" when used in an apocalyptic sense. Why not just say "east" like the Scriptures do, and how do we know that in this case it even has anything to do with physical direction of the "rising of the sun". This could be symbolic, as much of Revelation is. Is this unwarranted modification enhancing, or detracting from, what God meant?
Notice also how the SDA Clear Word Bible "marked" a seal in the foreheads, which may be interpreted as the same, or not the same, "sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads", or "put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God." I think uninspired man needs to exercise caution in changing the Word of God. Is th Clear Word a direct translation from the Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek. I don't believe so. All evidence is that it is an attempt to legitimatize what Ellen White wrote without saying so.
"spiritual Israel as firstfruits of the final harvest"? While this may, or may not be correct, the original text does not permit the author the liberty of making this unwarranted enhancement to the original text. Once again, what does the original Greek say?
While on the surface the changes might appear benign, the more times I read this the more I thought to myself, "That is an odd translation, to say the least." What is the hidden agenda here?
Once certainly has to wonder why the Seventh-day Adventist Church is promoting this corruption of God's Word. |
Revelation 7:2-4 (King James Version)
2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,
3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.
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Revelation 7:2-4 (New International Version)
2 Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea:
3 "Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God."
4 Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. |
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Revelation 7:2-4 (SDA Clear Word Bible)
2 I also saw another angel who came flying from the rising of the sun carrying the Seal of God. When he arrived, he called loudly to the four angels to whom God had given power to hold back the destroying winds, saying,
3. "Hold back the winds of destruction and don't let them blow full force on the earth, on the sea, or on any vegetation so people might live until we have marked a seal in the foreheads of those who are God's servants."
4. I was told that one hundred and forty-four thousand would be chosen from the twelve tribes of spiritual Israel as firstfruits of the final harvest.
Texts credited to Clear Word are from The Clear Word, copyright © 1994, 2000, 2003, 2004 by Review and Herald Publishing Association. All rights reserved.
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