Theology from the armchair.

So I’m doing this study right now on Revelation. For some reason I’ve always been a bit intimidated by that book. I don’t know if it’s the imagery or the whole chronological debate or perhaps it’s the varying interpretations of Revelation and how they impact one’s eschatology. Anyway… I figured it was time to take the plunge and begin to make sense out of this book and stop avoiding a good study of it. It’s been quite refreshing thus far… but I’m still finding myself getting wrapped up in the varying opposing prophetic camps, which tends to slow me down in my study. But I don’t have a timeline or a deadline, so why should I rush? 

So just the other day I realized that studying Revelation from certain versions of the Bible, like the NIV or the KJV, could potentially cause some different understandings. For instance, there are 4 places where the NIV and the KJV conflict in the information that John records. Essentially, 3 of the 4 contrasts don’t really affect or influence one’s eschatology in the slightest, however in Revelation 5 the contrast can be significant. In Revelation 5:9-10 there is a song that is being sung by the 24 Elders. Well… in the NIV, the song is sung by the Elders but it’s about others. "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth."

So in the NIV, the Elders are rejoicing over what has been accomplished for “men” and the pronouns are “them” and “they.”

But, when reading these same verses in the KJV, it reads quite different. “ And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.”

Notice, that the pronouns are now “us” and “we,” meaning that these Elders are rejoicing over what God has done for them personally. 

This is only problematic when you are trying to determine the significance and the identification of the 24 Elders. Are they merely Angels? Are they representatives of the Church?  Are they the 12 OT patriarchs + 12 NT Apostles? I’m inclined to believe they are representatives of the Church for several reasons but I can see where some of the Mid-trib and Post-trib camps can see this as indicating that the Church is still on the earth during the tribulation. 

Anyway… enough of me theologizing. I just found it interesting that by studying in different Bible versions, you may be influenced, however slightly, to read different things than someone studying a different version.