I come quickly.

B

Regarding B 22:14,15 the Authorized Version reads, 'do His

commandments' but the Revised Version reads, 'washed their robes'.  The

Received Text reads, poiountes tas entolas autou, but the Critical Texts

(endorsed by Lachmann, Tischendorf, Tregelles, and Alford) read plunontes tas

stolas auton, which superficially looks very like the text used by the

Authorized Version, and is the probable cause of the rejected reading.

Certain features are brought into prominence by the disposition of

these seven blessings which we must observe, but before doing so, let us note

that there are two Greek words translated 'blessed', (1) eulogeo, (2)

makarios.  No. 1 is used in Ephesians 1:3 and No. 2 is used in Romans 4:7.

Eulogeo in the form eulogia is the word translated 'blessings' in Ephesians

1:3 and occurs three times in the book of the Revelation, but only in

ascriptions of praise to the Lamb (Rev. 5:12,13), and to God and the Lamb

(Rev. 7:12).

Makarios in classical Greek was strictly an epithet of the gods, who

are constantly called makares Theoi as opposed to mortal men.  Hence when

spoken of men, it indicated a high state of blessedness, and as it was

thought that the gods granted no perfect happiness in this life, the term was

applied especially to the dead who went to the islands of the blest.

(Condensed from Liddell and Scott).

Ewing says in his Lexicon:

Makarios/ia happy, blessed, opulent, rich.  The gods: the departed

residing in Elysium, the abode of the happy after death.

We do not incorporate pagan doctrine into the Scriptures when we use

the language spoken by pagans, but we cannot entirely disassociate usage from

words, without destroying them altogether.  We cannot avoid seeing a

reference to this conception in the words of Revelation 14:13, 'blessed are

the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that

they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them'.  These

words have been incorporated in the Burial Service, but the pronouncement

here refers to those who withstood all pressure to receive the mark of the

beast or to render him worship.  Here is the patience of the saints: here are

they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.  The words,

'from henceforth', aparti, prevent us from using this blessing of all

believers who have fallen asleep, this blessing is dated as so much else is

in the Apocalypse.  It refers to the particular time of trouble envisaged in

Revelation 14:9 -12.  These, we shall meet again, as overcomers, in

Revelation 20:4.  Aparti is translated 'henceforth' and 'hereafter' in

Matthew 26:29,64.

Akoloutheo, 'to follow' in most of its occurrences, simply means to

follow as one man follows another, but in one other occurrence in the

Revelation it agrees with the usage in Revelation 14:13,

'Their works do follow them' (Rev. 14:13).

'Her sins have reached unto heaven' (Rev. 18:5).