Question about being prepared

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Why does it say in Revelation 15: Blessed is the one who watches and keeps his clothes ready, so that he may not go naked and people see him exposed? Yet in the gospels one of the messages of Jesus is to bring nothing extra, because God will provide for you.

It seems to me that in Revelation you yourself should be prepared, but in the Gospels you should trust in God to prepare for you.

Any insight on this would be great. I’m not any scholar or anything, this is just something that I noticed and would appreciate any light to be shed on it.
 
The book of Revelations contains a lot of figurative language. In Eph 6 Paul tells us to put on the armor of God. Speaking of the Bride of Christ, Rev 19:8 says, “it was granted her to be clothed with fine linen, bright and pure” – for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints." (RSV emphasis added). Here we see that we can be clothed in righteousness.

On the other hand, when Jesus tells His disciples to “take nothing extra with them”, He is sending them out on a special assignment (later on he told them to take whatever they could - see Luke 22:35-36).

Hope this helps.
 
Revelations is talking about keeping your soul prepared and constantly in a state of grace. This ties in to the idea that no one knows when the end will be so you should always be ready.

The Gospel has more to do with the teaching that we shouldn’t worry so much about our earthly possessions. Many of the things that we believe we need in the world aren’t needs, but wants and desires. If you always have your heart centered on God (as I alluded to previously) then God will provide what you need to enter into His kingdom of Heaven.
 
Carmelite101 said:
Why does it say in Revelation 15: Blessed is the one who watches and keeps his clothes ready, so that he may not go naked and people see him exposed? Yet in the gospels one of the messages of Jesus is to bring nothing extra, because God will provide for you.

It seems to me that in Revelation you yourself should be prepared, but in the Gospels you should trust in God to prepare for you.

Any insight on this would be great. I’m not any scholar or anything, this is just something that I noticed and would appreciate any light to be shed on it.
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Are you truly a Carmelite? If you are, congratulations on your personal humility, no joke!

Sometimes we teach the most by teaching least.

Frequently, Scripture makes seemingly contradictory points by speaking with exaggerated language when making a point.

I know what each verse means, and I believe that the contradiction is only apparent, but not substantive.

In the Bible, clothing = religious beliefs; the contents (or “fabric,” so to speak) of one’s “faith.” If one is “naked,” one is unregulated by faith.

So, in Revelation we are being advised to always have our faith “donned” – to be always regulated by our faith.

Earlier, in the Synoptics, Christ tells us to not bring extra things, including extra clothing, because God will provide. Mark’s gospel is even clearer, in the eschatalogical homily: Don’t worry about what we are to say. The Holy Spirit will tell us.

I think that that’s the point: In your preaching, follow the KISS rule: Keep it short and simple. If more is needed, the Holy Spirit will solve the problem.

So, I don’t think that they conflict. One is really saying, “Be regulated by your faith!” The other is saying, “Keep your teaching about the Faith simple. The Holy Spirit will do the rest!”
 
Thank you for your responses everyone. I believe this has become clearer to me.

Peter, I am not a Carmelite right now but I will be enrolled tomorrow I believe (or next week, depending on if the priest will be in town this week).
 
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