Repent or else I will...

Satan would steal any blessing we may receive, this is truth. Ever hard at work, Satan tries to undermine God at every opportunity. You may believe that growing closer to God is without danger, but Satan does NOT like when we grow closer to our Savior.  The spiritual war we are in much like physical wars are more intense for those on the front lines. You can be a part of a war and be safe at home just directing things. You can be a part of a war effort while doing little more than collecting comfort of home supplies for those far away engaged in the battle. I'm not saying each role in the war isn't important and doesn't have a very real part in how things go, but we know factually that those who are active soldiers in the thick of the actual fighting are the ones who are most in danger and most likely to be wounded or killed in the line of duty. You don't expect much of an enemy attack if you are nowhere near enemy territory. In this spiritual warfare the closer we are to Christ the closer the enemy is to us warring against us. The closer we are to Christ the more chance of receiving battle wounds. As we seek a blessing promised to us if we read the prophecies and keep the things in the book of Revelation we are gaining the attention of Satan. He doesn't want us to be blessed!  Prayerfully we have to seek the protection of the Holy Spirit, protection that won't keep all bad things from happening to us, but will keep us safe in our Savior while they do happen.  Please, Heavenly Father, bless us!

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Daniel and Revelation By Uriah Smith

Revelation Chapter 2

Verse 12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write;

These things saith He which hath the sharp sword with two edges;

 13 I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is:

and thou holdest fast My name,

and hast not denied My faith,

even in those days wherein Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.

14 But I have a few things against thee,

because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam,

who taught Balak to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel,

to eat things sacrificed unto idols,

and to commit fornication.

15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes,

which thing I hate.

16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.

17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches;

 To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna,

and will give him a white stone,

and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

The Church of Pergamos.--

Against the preceding church there was no word of condemnation uttered. Persecution is ever calculated to keep the church pure, and incite its members to piety and godliness. But we now reach the period of the Pergamos church, when influences began to work which brought errors and evils unto the church.

The word "Pergamos" signifies "height, elevation."

It was a period in which the true servants of God had to struggle against a spirit of worldly policy, pride, and popularity among the professed followers of Christ, and against the virulent workings of the mystery of iniquity, which finally resulted in

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the full development of the papal "man of sin." 2 Thessalonians 2: 3.

The Commendation.--

"Where Satan's seat is." Christ takes cognizance of the unfavorable situation of his people during this period.

The language is probably not designed to denote location. As to place, Satan works wherever Christians dwell.

But surely there are times and seasons when he works with special power, and the period covered by the church of Pergamos was one of these.

During this period, the doctrine of Christ was being corrupted, the mystery of iniquity was working, and Satan was laying the foundation of a stupendous system of apostasy, the papacy.

Here was the falling away foretold by Paul in 2 Thessalonians 2: 3, cited already.

It is interesting to note that the city of Pergamos became the seat of ancient Babylonian sun worship. "The Chaldean Magi enjoyed a long period of prosperity at Babylon. A pontiff appointed by the sovereign ruled over a college of seventy-two hierophants. . . . [After the Medo-Persian occupation], the defeated Chaldeans fled to Asia Minor, and fixed their central college at Pergamos, and took the Palladium of Babylon, the cubic stone, with them.

Here, independent of state control, they carried on the rites of their religion, and plotted against the peace of the Persian Empire, caballing with the Greeks for that purpose."

Antipas.--That a class of persons is referred to by this name, and not an individual, there is good reason to believe; for no authentic information respecting such an individual is now to be found. On this point William Miller says:

"It is supposed that Antipas was not an individual, but a class of men who opposed the power of the bishops, or popes, in that day, being a combination of two words, 'Anti,' opposed, and 'Papas,' father, or pope; and many of them suffered martyrdom at that time in Constantinople and Rome, where the bishops and popes began to exercise the power which soon after brought into subjection the kings of the earth, and

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trampled on the rights of the church of Christ.

And for myself, I see no reason to reject this explanation of the word 'Antipas' in this text, as the history of those times are [is] perfectly silent respecting such an individual as is here named." Watson's Biblical Dictionary says, "Ancient ecclesiastical history furnishes no account of this Antipas." Adam Clarke mentions a work as extant called the "Acts of Antipas," but gives us to understand that it is entitled to no credit.

The Cause of Complaint.--

Disadvantages in situation are no excuse for wrongs in the church. Although this church existed at a time when Satan was making strong delusions, it was the duty of its members to keep themselves free from his evil doctrines. Hence they were censured for harboring among them those who held the doctrines of Balaam and the Nicolaitanes. (See comments on the Nicolaitanes, verse 6.)

The doctrine of Balaam is here partly revealed. He taught Balak to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel. (See a full account of his work and its results in Numbers 22: 25; 31: 13-16.)

It appears that Balaam desired to curse Israel for the sake of the rich reward which Balak offered him. But not being permitted by the Lord to curse them, he resolved to accomplish essentially the same thing in another way. He therefore counseled Balak to seduce them, by means of the women of Moab, to participate in the celebration of the rites of idolatry and all its licentious accompaniments. The plan succeeded. The abominations of idolatry spread through the camp of Israel, the curse of God was called down upon them by their sins, and twenty-four thousand persons died.

The doctrines complained of in the church of Pergamos were of course similar in their tendency, leading to spiritual idolatry and an unlawful connection between the church and

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the world. Out of this spirit was finally produced the union of civil and ecclesiastical powers which culminated in the formation of the papacy.

The Admonition.--

Christ declared that if they did not repent, He would take the matter into His own hands, and come unto them (in judgment), and fight against them (those who held these evil doctrines); and the whole church would be held responsible for the wrongs of those heretical ones whom they harbored in their midst.

Promise to the Overcomer.--

The overcomer is promised that he shall eat of the hidden manna, and receive from his approving Lord a white stone, with a new and precious name engraved on it. Most commentators apply the manna, white stone, and the new name, to spiritual blessings to be enjoyed in this life; but like all the other promises to the overcomer, this doubtless refers to the future, and is to be given when the time comes for the saints to be rewarded. Perhaps the following comment is as satisfactory as anything that has ever been written upon these several particulars:

"It is generally supposed by commentators that this refers to an ancient judicial custom of dropping a black stone into an urn when it is intended to condemn, and a white stone when the prisoner was acquitted. But this is an act so distinct from that described in the scripture before us, 'I will give him a white stone,' that we we are disposed to agree with those who think it refers to a custom of a very different kind, and not unknown to the classical reader, according with beautiful propriety to the case before us. In primitive times, when traveling was rendered difficult from want of places of public entertainment, hospitality was exercised by private individuals to a very great extent, of which indeed we find frequent traces in all history, and in none more than the Old Testament. Persons who partook of this hospitality, and those who practiced it, frequently contracted habits of friendship and regard for each other; and it became well-established custom both among the Greeks and Romans, to provide their guests with some particular mark, which was handed down from father to

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son, and ensured hospitality and kind treatment whenever it was presented. This mark was usually a small stone or pebble, cut in half, upon the halves of which the host and guest mutually inscribed their names, and then interchanged with each other. The production of this tessera was quite sufficient to insure friendship for themselves or their descendants whenever they traveled again in the same direction; while it is evident that these stones required to be privately kept, and the names written upon them carefully concealed, lest others should obtain the privileges instead of the persons for whom they were intended.

"How natural, then, is the allusion to this custom in the words of the text, 'I will give him to eat of the hidden manna;' and having done so, having made him partaker of my hospitality, having recognized him as my guest, my friend, I will present him with the 'white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth, save he who receiveth it.' I will give him a pledge of my friendship, sacred and inviolable, known only to himself."

In the new name, John Wesley very appropriately says:

"Jacob, after his victory, gained the new name of Israel. Wouldst thou know what thy new name will be? The way to this is plain--overcome.

Till then all they inquires are vain. Thou wilt then read it on the white stone."

The Time of the Church.--

The period covered by this church extends from the days of Constantine, or perhaps, rather, from his professed conversion to Christianity in A.D. 323, to the establishment of the papacy in A.D. 538.

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Revelation Chapter 2:12-17

 12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith He which hath the sharp sword with two edges

Rev_1:16  And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.

Our Savior was the One that 'hath the sharp sword with two edges'.

 13 I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast My name, and hast not denied My faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.

Satan's dwelling, if we are to take just this and stop reading here we truly would be able to say Satan's seat(throne) was located in Pergamos, but we don't stop reading, we don't stop studying we include everything. And yes, in this TIME period this representation is speaking of those who hold fast to God's truth even while living among the father of lies, the worst place possible for a follower of God. In the above explanation by Uriah Smith seemingly out of nowhere he begins to talk of the papacy, but truthfully, if we'd studied the Book of Daniel before this Book of Revelation- in the book we are quoting from (Daniel and Revelation- by Uriah Smith) we'd have all the background we need to comprehend what is being said about the papacy. Rather than back track and begin at the beginning with Daniel in this particular study, because we've gone over in times past, I'm going to keep on with this and hope you'll on your own feel incline to study to find the truth of what is being said, rather than give up simply because you read something you don't quite understand. If you are reading this in my blog you can do a search for Daniel and find the study you need.

14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.

During this time many are caused to stumble- we too can be caused to stumble if we allow ourselves to fall into the trap of following blindly those we think have our best interest at heart. We need to STUDY for ourselves. We need to SEEK God for ourselves. We already know beyond doubt that the way of the broad path is the way to destruction, that the popular way is not the way of the Lord.

16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.

17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches;

 To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna,

and will give him a white stone,

and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

More tomorrow by the grace of God!

All through Jesus Christ our Lord, our Savior!

Amen.

I know thy works

Please Heavenly Father, bless us right now as we seek to read, and keep the prophecies in this book of Revelation, given to us by Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior through His servant, John. 

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Daniel and Revelation - by Uriah Smith-

Rev. 2-

Verse

8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write;

These things saith the First and the Last, which was dead, and is alive;

9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich)

 and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not,

 but are the synagogue of Satan.

10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer:

behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison,

that ye may be tried;

and ye shall have tribulation ten days:

be thou faithful unto death,

and I will give thee a crown of life.

11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches;

He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

The Church of Smyrna.--

It will be noticed that the Lord introduces Himself to each church by mentioning some of His characteristics which show Him to be peculiarly fitted to bear to them the testimony which He utters.

To the Smyrna church, about to pass through the fiery ordeal of persecution, He reveals Himself as one who was dead, but is now alive.

If they should be called to seal their testimony with their blood, they were to remember that the eyes of One were upon them who had shared the same fate, but had triumphed over death, and was able to bring them up from a martyr's grave.

Poverty and Riches.--

"I know thy . . . poverty," says Christ to them, "but thou art rich."

Strange paradox this may seem at first. But who are the truly rich in this world?--Those who are "rich in faith" and "heirs of the kingdom."

 The wealth of this world, for which men so eagerly strive, and so often barter away present happiness and future endless life,

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is "coin not current in heaven." One writer has well said, "There is many a rich poor man, and many a poor rich man."

"Say They Are Jews, and Are Not."--That the term Jew is not here used in a literal sense, is very evident.

It denotes some character which was approved by the gospel standard. Paul's language will make this point plain. He says: "He is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter, whose praise is not of men, but of God." Romans 2: 28, 29.

Again he says: "For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel; neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children." Romans 9: 6, 7

In Galatians 3: 28, 29, Paul further tells us that in Christ there are no such outward distinctions as Jew or Greek; but if we are Christ's, then are we "Abraham's seed" (in the true sense), and heirs according to the promise.

To say, as some do, that the term Jews is never applied to Christians, is to contradict all these inspired declarations of Paul, and the testimony of the faithful and true Witness to the Smyrna church. Some were hypocritically pretending to be Jews in this Christian sense, when they possessed none of the necessary characteristics. Such were of the synagogue of Satan.

Tribulation Ten Days.--As this message is prophetic, the time mentioned in it must also be regarded as prophetic. Since a prophetic day stands for a literal years, the ten days would denote ten years. It is a noticeable fact that the last and most bloody of the ten great persecutions of the Christian church continued just ten years, from A.D. 303 to 313, beginning under Diocletian.

It would be difficult to make an application of this language on the ground that these messages are not prophetic; for in that case only ten literal days could be meant. It would not seem improbable that a persecution of only ten days, or only a single church, would be made a matter of prophecy; and no mention of any such case of limited persecution can be found.

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Again, apply this persecution to any of the notable ones of that period, and how could it be spoken of as the fate of one church alone? All the churches suffered in them. Where, then, would be the propriety of singling out one particular group, to the exclusion of the others, as being the only one involved in such a calamity?

The Admonition.--"Be thou faithful unto death." Some have endeavored to base a criticism on the use of the word "unto," instead of "until," as though the idea of time was not involved. But the original word, achri, here rendered "unto," signifies primarily "until." NO argument, however, can be drawn from this for consciousness in death. The vital point for that argument is still lacking, for it is not affirmed that the crown of life is bestowed immediately at death. We must consequently look to other scriptures to learn when the crown of life is given; and other scriptures inform us fully.

Paul declares that this crown is to be given at the day of Christ's appearing (2 Timothy 4: 8); at the last trump (1 Corinthians 15: 51-54); when the Lord shall Himself descend from heaven (1 Thessalonians 4: 16, 17); when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, says Peter (1 Peter 5: 4); at the resurrection of the just, says Christ (Luke 14: 14); and when He shall return to take His people to the mansions prepared for them, that they may ever be with Him (John 14: 3). "Be thou faithful until death," and having been thus faithful, when the time comes that the saints of God are rewarded, you shall received a crown of life.

The Promise to the Overcomer.--"He shall not be hurt of the second death." Is not the language Christ here uses a good comment upon what He taught His disciples when He said, "Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell"? Matthew 10: 28. The Smyrna church members might be put to death here, but the future life which was to be given them, man could not take away, and God would not. Hence they were to fear not those who could kill the body, fear

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none of the things which they should suffer, for their eternal existence was assured.

The Meaning and the Time of the Church.--Smyrna signifies "myrrh," fit appellation for the church of God while passing through the fiery furnace of persecution, and proving herself a "sweet-smelling savor" unto Him. But we soon reach the days of Constantine, when the church presents a new phase, rendering a different name and another message applicable to her history.

According to the foregoing application, the date of the Smyrna church would be A.D. 100-323.

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Revelation Chapter 2

Verses

8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write;

These things saith the First and the Last, which was dead, and is alive;

9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich)

 and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not,

 but are the synagogue of Satan.

10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer:

behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison,

that ye may be tried;

and ye shall have tribulation ten days:

be thou faithful unto death,

and I will give thee a crown of life.

11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches;

He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

Most of us use wikipedia nowadays, and on wikipedia I was able to find this-

'The Diocletianic or Great Persecution was the last and most severe persecution of Christians in the Roman empire.[1] In 303, the Emperors Diocletian, Maximian, Galerius, and Constantius issued a series of edicts rescinding the legal rights of Christians and demanding that they comply with traditional Roman religious practices. Later edicts targeted the clergy and ordered all inhabitants to sacrifice to the Roman gods (a policy known as universal sacrifice). The persecution varied in intensity across the empire—weakest in Gaul and Britain, where only the first edict was applied, and strongest in the Eastern provinces. Persecutory laws were nullified by different emperors at different times, but Constantine and Licinius's Edict of Milan (313) has traditionally marked the end of the persecution.[2]

Christians had always been subject to local discrimination in the empire, but early emperors were either too reluctant to issue general laws against them or, at least in the 3rd century (see Crisis of the Third Century), too caught up with more immediate issues to do so. It was not until the 250s, under the reigns of Decius and Valerian, that such laws were passed. Under this legislation, Christians were compelled to sacrifice to Roman gods or face imprisonment and execution.[3] When Gallienusacceded in 260, he issued the first imperial edict regarding tolerance toward Christians,[4] leading to nearly 40 years of peaceful coexistence. Diocletian's accession in 284 did not mark an immediate reversal of disregard to Christianity, but it did herald a gradual shift in official attitudes toward religious minorities. In the first fifteen years of his rule, Diocletian purged the army of Christians, condemned Manicheans to death, and surrounded himself with public opponents of Christianity. Diocletian's preference for autocratic government, combined with his self-image as a restorer of past Roman glory, presaged the most pervasive persecution in Roman history. In the winter of 302, Galerius urged Diocletian to begin a general persecution of the Christians. Diocletian was wary, and asked the oracle of Apollo for guidance. The oracle's reply was read as an endorsement of Galerius's position, and a general persecution was called on February 24, 303.

Persecutory policies varied in intensity across the empire. Where Galerius and Diocletian were avid persecutors, Constantius was unenthusiastic. Later persecutory edicts, including the calls for universal sacrifice, were not applied in his domain. His son, Constantine, on taking the imperial office in 306, restored Christians to full legal equality and returned property that had been confiscated during the persecution. In Italy in 306, the usurper Maxentius ousted Maximian's successor Severus, promising full religious toleration. Galerius ended the persecution in the East in 311, but it was resumed in Egypt, Palestine, and Asia Minor by his successor, Maximinus. Constantine and Licinius, Severus's successor, signed the Edict of Milan in 313, which offered a more comprehensive acceptance of Christianity than Galerius's edict had provided. Licinius ousted Maximinus in 313, bringing an end to persecution in the East.

From <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diocletianic_Persecution> '

303AD to 313AD -  Ten years and this is HISTORY!

Can we rightly divide the word of truth as we use HISTORICAL FACT to comprehend?

10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer:

behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison,

that ye may be tried;

and ye shall have tribulation ten days:

be thou faithful unto death,

and I will give thee a crown of life.

What an amazing prophecy! The single greatest period of the most intense killing of Christians - anywhere from 10,000 to 100,000 murdered, martyred while remaining FAITHFUL unto death!

John wrote this BEFORE it happened. John was LONG dead by this time, but the words of this prophecy were not dead, but alive with truth!

And to have the prophecy to the second church applicable today, we know that our Savior knows our works, our every action, He knows our every tribulation, our every bit of poverty. Our Savior comprehends the life we live in the flesh with all its hardships and He knows how incredibly RICH we can be in the SPIRIT, in HIM even when we are extremely poor in the ways of the world. This is truth.  Our Savior also knows every single person who claims to be His but aren't. He knows who we truly follow in our heart of hearts He knows.   No, we aren't to fear all we are called to suffer because we KNOW a crown of life awaits us! That second death which brings final everlasting destruction upon the wicked will NOT be felt by those who are HIS and this is our HOPE today, the SAME hope they had in the past.

May we be found HIS and not satan's!  May we all receive a crown of life when our Savior returns for us! May we all realize every single pain we suffer now is truly temporary to eternity with our LORD JESUS CHRIST!

All in HIM, always!

Amen.

Leaving their first love

Please Lord, bless us as we continue our study. We are reading, help us to hear, teach us to hear, to understand all You would have us understand. By Your will!

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From the book - Daniel and Revelation - by Uriah Smith

The Angel of the Church.--

The angel of a church must denote a messenger, or minister, of that church.

As each church covers a period of time, the angel of each church must denote the ministry, or all the true ministers of Christ during the period covered by that church. The different messages, though addressed to the ministers, cannot be understood to be applicable to them alone, but are appropriately addressed to the church through them.

The Cause of Complaint.--

"I have somewhat against thee," says Christ, "because thou hast left thy first love." "Not less worthy of warning than departure from fundamental doctrine or from Scriptural morality, is the leaving of first love.

The charge here is not that of falling from grace, nor that love is extinguished, but diminished. No zeal, no suffering, can atone

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for the want of first love." The time never should come in a Christian's experience, when, if he were asked to mention the period of his greatest love to Christ, he would NOT say, The present moment.

But if such a time does come, then he should remember whence he has fallen, meditate upon it, carefully call up the state of former acceptance with God, and hasten to repent and retrace his steps to that desirable position. Love, like faith, is manifested by works; and first love, when it is attained, will always bring forth corresponding works.

The Admonition.--

"I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent."

The coming here mentioned must be a figurative coming, signifying a visitation of judgment, inasmuch as it is conditional.

The removal of the candlestick would denote the taking away from the church of light and privileges of the gospel, and the committing of these advantages to other hands, unless the church should better fulfill the responsibilities of the trust committed to it.

It would be the rejection of them by Christ as His representatives, to bear the light of His truth and gospel before the world. This threatening would be just as applicable to individuals as to the church as a body. How many who professed Christianity during that period came short and were rejected, we do now know, but doubtless many. Thus things would go on, some remaining steadfast, some backsliding and becoming no longer light-bearers in the world, new converts meanwhile filling up the vacancies made by death and apostasy, until the church reached a new era in her experience, marked off as another period in her history, and covered by another message.

The Nicolaitanes.--

How ready is Christ to commend His people for whatever good qualities they may possess! If there is anything of which He approves, He mentions first. In this message to the church of Ephesus, after first mentioning their commendable traits and then their failures, as if unwilling

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to pass by any of their good qualities, He says that they hated the deed of the Nicolaitanes, which He also hated.

In verse 15 the doctrines of the same characters are condemned. It appears that they were a class of people whose deeds and doctrines were both abominable in the sight of Heaven. Their origin is involved in some doubt. Some say that they sprang from Nicholas of Antioch, one of the seven deacons (Acts 6: 5); some, that they only attribute their origin to him to gain the prestige of his name; and others, that the sect took its name from one Nicholas of later date. The latter theory is probably more nearly correct. Concerning their doctrines and practices, there seems to be a general agreement that they held to a community of wives, regarded adultery and fornication as matters of indifference, and permitted the eating of things offered to idols. (See Clarke, Kitto, and other commentators.)

The Summons to Attention.--

"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." This is a solemn manner of calling universal attention to that which is of general and most momentous importance. The same language is used to each of the seven churches.

Christ, when upon earth, made use of the same form of speech in calling the attention of the people to the most important of His teachings. He used it in reference to the mission of John (Matthew 11: 15), the parable of the sower (Matthew 13: 9), and the parable of the tares, setting forth the end of the world (Matthew 13: 43). It is also used in relation to an important prophetic fulfillment in Revelation 13: 9.

The Promise to the Overcomer.--

To the victor it is promised that he shall eat of the tree of life that grows in the midst of Paradise, or in the garden, of god. Where is this Paradise? It is in the third heaven. Paul writes, in 2 Corinthians 12: 2, that he knew a man (referring to himself) caught up to the third heaven. In verse 4 he says that he was caught up into "Paradise," leaving only one conclusion to be drawn, which is that Paradise is in the third heaven. In this Paradise, it seems, is the tree of life. There is but one tree of life brought to view in

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the Bible. It is mentioned six times, three times in Genesis, and three times in the Revelation; but it is used every time with the definite article "the." It is the tree of life in the first book of the Bible, the tree of life in the last; the tree of life in the "Paradise" (the term used for "garden" in the Greek translation of Genesis) in Eden at the beginning, and the tree of life in the Paradise of which John now speaks, in heaven above.

If there is but one tree, and that was at first upon earth, it may be asked how it has now come to be in heaven. The answer would be that it must have been taken up to the Paradise above. There is no possible way that the identical body which is situated in one place can be located in another but by being transported there bodily. That the tree of life and Paradise have been removed from earth to heaven there is a very good reason to believe.

On commentator remarks on this point:

"The act of God in appointing the cherubim 'to keep the way of the tree of life' (Genesis 3: 24) in the garden of Eden, likewise appears not only in an aspect indicating judicial severity, but also in one which conveys a promise full of consolation. The blessed abode from which man is expelled, is neither annihilated nor even abandoned to desolation and ruin, but withdrawn from the earth and from man, and consigned to the care of the most perfect creatures of God, in order that it may be ultimately restored to man when he is redeemed. (Revelation 22: 2.)

The garden, as it existed before God 'planted' or adorned it, came under the curse, like the remainder of the earth, but the celestial and paradisaical addition was exempted, and entrusted to the cherubim. The true (ideal) Paradise is now translated to the invisible world. At least a symbolical copy of it, established in the holy of holies in the tabernacle, is already granted to the people of Israel, after the pattern which Moses saw in the mount (Exodus 25: 9, 40); and the original itself, as the renewed habitation of redeemed man, will hereafter descend to the earth. (Revelation 21: 10.)" [6]

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To the overcomer, then, is promised a restoration that will include more than Adam lost. Not to the overcomers of that state of the church merely, but to all overcomers of every age is the promise made, for in the great rewards of heaven there are no restrictions. Reader, strive to be an overcomer, for he who gains access to the tree of life in the midst of the Paradise of God, shall die no more.

The Time of the Church.--

The time covered by this

first church may be considered the period from the resurrection of Christ to the close of the first century, or to the death of the last of the apostles.

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We can but imagine the tree of life in all its glory given to it by God. By the grace of our LORD and SAVIOR alone will be partake of that tree! We must not LEAVE our FIRST LOVE of CHRIST.

First human love we know doesn't always mean forever love. Not many people find a first human love and remain with that first love throughout their lives.  Human love is so incredibly different from the love of Christ. Human love has placed upon it condition after condition after condition even as we might say there are none. There is so much in the human frail, sinful flesh that is not loving. The spiritual war of flesh and spirit interferes with our ability to love as we should. Only through Christ can we love even remotely as He would have us love.

Please….save us.

All through Jesus Christ our Lord, now and forever!!!!!!!

Amen.

The first church of Revelation 2

We continue… we seek a blessing, we seek knowledge, we seek comprehension, we seek the Holy Spirit's power in us all through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior!

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Daniel and the Revelation by Uriah Smith

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Revelation Chapter II

The Letters of Jesus to the Churches

In the first chapter, the prophet outlined the subject of the seven churches, represented by the seven candlesticks, and the ministry of the churches, represented by the seven stars.

He now takes up each church particularly, and writes the message designed for it, addressing the epistle in every case to the ANGEL, or the MINISTRY, of the church. (((God's people))))

Revelation 2:1-7

Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write;

1 These things saith He  that holdeth the seven stars in His right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; 2 I know thy works, and thy labor, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: 3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. 4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. 6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate. 7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

The Church of Ephesus.--Some reasons why the messages to the seven churches should be regarded as prophetic, having their application to seven distinct periods covering the Christian age, have been given in the remarks on Revelation 1: 4. It may be added here that this view is not new. Thomas Newton says, "Many contend, and among them such learned men as More and Vitringa, that the seven epistles are prophetical of so many successive periods and states of the church from the beginning to the conclusion of all."

Thomas Scott says: "Many expositors have imagined that these epistles to the seven churches were mystical prophecies

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of seven distinct periods, into which the whole term, from the apostles' days to the end of the world, would be divided."

Although Newton and Scott do not themselves hold this view, their testimony is good as showing that such has been the view of many expositors.

Two of them say:

"The earliest commentator on the Apocalypse, whose work has come down to us, was Victorinus, Bishop of Pettau, or Petavium, who died a martyr in the year 303. He was the contemporary of Irenaeus, and a man of piety, diligence in setting forth the teachings of the Scriptures, and vigorous in his perceptions of the meaning of the sacred writers. Most of his writings have been lost, except some fragments. His comments on the Apocalypse survive, in a text less pure than we could wish, but sufficiently giving the substance of his views. In his Scholia in Apocalypsin, he says that what John addresses to one Church he addresses to all; that Paul was the first to teach that there are seven Churches in whole world, and that the seven Churches named mean the Church Catholic; and that John, to observe the same method, has not exceeded the number seven.

"What Victorinus means, is that Paul, in writing to seven Churches, and to seven only, intended to have it understood that all the Churches of all time are comprehended in seven; and that, in the same way, the seven Churches in the Apocalypse are meant to comprise all the Churches in the world: that is, the Church Catholic of all ages. This was also the view of Tichaenius, of the fourth century; Arethas of Cappadocia, and Primasius of Adrumetum, in the sixth; and Vitringa, Mede, More, Girdlestone, and a large body of divines, of later periods."

"Mede expounded the Seven Epistles as prophetic of the Seven Ages of the Church, so that all good should there be prophesied of themselves and all evil of Rome (see Trench, l.c., p. 228). Later will Vitringa expounded the Epistles on

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the same principle; and he writes (pp. 32-36): 'Existimo Spiritum S. sub typo et emblemate Septem Ecclesiarum Asiae nobis . . . voluisse depingere septem variantes status Ecclesiae Christianae . . . usque ad Adventum Domini'; adding--'demonstratur illas Prophetice non Dogmatice esse exponendas.'

"Mede ('Works,' Advert., ch. x, p. 905) states his opinion more fully as follows:  'If we consider their number being Seven, which is a number of revolution of times, or if we consider the choice of the Holy Ghost in that he taketh neither all, no nor the most famous Churches in the world, as Antioch, Alexandria, Rome. . . . If these things be well considered, may it not seem that these Seven churches, besides their literal respect, were intended to be as patterns and types of the several Ages of the Catholic Church a principio ad finem? that so these Seven Churches should prophetically sample unto us a Sevenfold successive temper and condition of the whole visible Church according to the several Ages thereof. . . . And if this were granted . . . then surely the First Church (viz., the Ephesian state) must be the first, and the Last be the last. . . . The mention of false Jews and the synagogue of Satan, &c. (Apoc. ii) in the Five middle ones, will argue that they belong to the times of the Beast and Babylon. And for the Sixth in special was have a good character where to place it, viz., partly about the time the Beast is falling, and partly after his destruction, when the New Jerusalem cometh.' "

It appears from the authors above cited, that what has led commentators of more modern times to discard the view of the prophetical nature of the messages to the seven churches, is the comparatively recent and unscriptural doctrine of the temporal millennium. The last stage of the church, as described in Revelation 3: 15-17, was deemed to be incompatible with the glorious state of things which would exist here on this earth for a thousand years, with all the world converted to God.

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Hence in this case, as in many others, the Scriptural view is made to yield to the more pleasing. The hearts of men, as in ancient times, still love smooth things, and their ears are ever favorably open to those who will prophesy peace.

The first church named is Ephesus. According to the application here made, this would cover the first, or apostolic, age of the church. The definition of the word "Ephesus" is "desirable," which may well be taken as a good descriptive term of the character and condition of the church in its first state. Those early Christians had received the doctrine of Christ in its purity.

They enjoyed the benefits and blessings of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. They were noted for their works, labor, and patience. In faithfulness to the pure principles taught by Christ, they could not bear those that were evil, and they tested false apostles, searched out their true characters, and found them liars. That this work was done by the literal and particular church at Ephesus more than by other churches of that time, we have no evidence. But this work was carried on by the Christian church as a whole, in that age, and was a most appropriate work at that time. (See Acts 15; 2 Corinthians 11: 13.)

Act 15:1  And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.

Act 15:2  When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.

Act 15:3  And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.

Act 15:4  And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.

Act 15:5  But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.

Act 15:6  And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.

Act 15:7  And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.

Act 15:8  And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;

Act 15:9  And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

Act 15:10  Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

Act 15:11  But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

Act 15:12  Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.

Act 15:13  And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:

Act 15:14  Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.

Act 15:15  And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,

Act 15:16  After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:

Act 15:17  That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.

Act 15:18  Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.

Act 15:19  Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:

Act 15:20  But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

Act 15:21  For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

Act 15:22  Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:

Act 15:23  And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:

Act 15:24  Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:

Act 15:25  It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

Act 15:26  Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Act 15:27  We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.

Act 15:28  For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;

Act 15:29  That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

Act 15:30  So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:

Act 15:31  Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.

Act 15:32  And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.

Act 15:33  And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles.

Act 15:34  Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.

Act 15:35  Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

Act 15:36  And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do.

Act 15:37  And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.

Act 15:38  But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.

Act 15:39  And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;

Act 15:40  And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.

Act 15:41  And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.

2Co 11:13  For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

Revelation 2 :

1 These things saith He  that holdeth the seven stars in His right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; 2 I know thy works, and thy labor, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: 3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. 4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. 6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate. 7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

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There are thousands of years of history between the birth of Christ's church and now. Throughout these thousands of years many have come up with their thoughts on this prophecy. We are now among them. We will continue to read what the various scholars have had to say, and while we are doing that we must pray for the Holy Spirit to open our hearts to the TRUTH as it is found in our Savior.

So far comprehending that the first church, the first people of Christ, were had been cautioned to keep to their first love. They were commended for hating those who were deceitful.  I don't want to get into this too much just yet because we aren't finished reading what Uriah Smith wrote on it all. 

Hoping not to overload us too much I will pause here and by the grace of GOD continue more on this tomorrow!

Please Father, please bless us! We need Your blessing like never before!

All through the GRACE and MERCY of our Savior, Jesus Christ!

Amen!

Seven Stars-Seven Angels, Seven Candlesticks-Seven Churches

Read and be BLESSED.

Amazing isn't it? We have learned that those who read this book of Revelation and the prophecies within are blessed.  We may not comprehend the whole of the blessing but we are blessed. Being blessed doesn't mean you become invincible in this world. Being blessed doesn't mean your life will be one of ease with limited heartache and hardship. Being blessed isn't something materialistic.  Let me correct myself, being blessed isn't all those things but they can be a part of a blessing.  Some of the people who have suffered the most are also the most blessed. We who don't suffer as they have, might not consider them blessed, but our idea of being blessed is what is skewed. The blessing we long for is the blessing our Savior came to give to us, the gospel message, the good news that we can be one with God through His sacrifice. We can have eternal life through His redeeming grace! This is the blessing we need more than any other blessing. This is the blessing those who suffered the most horrific of tortures, understood they would receive.

We are BLESSED when we read this book of Revelation and we cannot let ourselves forget this as we study. We might not comprehend the full extent of the hows and whys of the blessing but God speaks only the truth and it is truth that those who read, those who hear, and those who keep the things in this book are BLESSED. May we be blessed!

Rev 1:3  Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

Revelation 1:11-18

Verse 11

Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last:

and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia;

unto Ephesus,

and unto Smyrna,

and unto Pergamos,

and unto Thyatira,

and unto Sardis,

and unto Philadelphia,

and unto Laodicea.

12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me.

And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;

13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

14 His head and His hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and His eyes were as a flame of fire;

15 And His feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and His voice as the sound of many waters. 16 And He had in His right hand seven

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stars: and out of His mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and His countenance was as the sun shineth in His strength.

17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead.

And He laid His right hand upon me, saying unto me,

Fear not; I am the first and the last: 18 I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

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The expression, "I turned to see the voice," refers to the person from whom the voice came.

Seven Golden Candlesticks.--These cannot be the antitype of the golden candlestick of the ancient typical temple service, for that was but one candlestick with seven branches.

That is ever spoken of in the singular number.

But here are seven, and these are more properly "lamp stands" than simply candlesticks, stands upon which lamps are set to give light in the room. They bear no resemblance to the candlestick of the ancient tabernacle.

On the contrary the stands are so distinct, and so far separated one from another, that the Son of man is seen walking about in the midst of them.

The Son of Man.--

The central and all-attractive figure of the scene now opened before John's vision is the majestic form of the Son of man, Jesus Christ.

The description here given of Him, with His flowing robe, His hair white, not with age, but with the brightness of heavenly glory, His flaming eyes, His feet glowing like molten brass, and His voice as the sound of many waters, cannot be excelled for grandeur and sublimity.

Overcome by the presence of this august Being, and perhaps under a keen sense of all human unworthiness, John fell at His feet as dead, but a comforting hand is laid upon him, and a voice of sweet assurance tells him not to fear.

It is equally the privilege of Christians today to feel the same hand laid upon them to strengthen and comfort them in hours of trial and affliction, and to hear the same voice saying to them, "Fear not."

But the most cheering assurance in all these words of consolation is the declaration of this exalted one who is alive forevermore, that He is the arbiter of death and grave.

I have, He says, "the keys of hell, hades, the grave and of death."

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Death is a conquered tyrant. He may gather to the grave the precious of earth, and gloat for a season over his apparent triumph. But he is performing a fruitless task, for the key to his dark prison house has been wrenched from his grasp, and is now held in the hands of a mightier than he. He is compelled to deposit his trophies in a region over which another has absolute control; and this one is the unchanging Friend and the pledged Redeemer of His people. Then grieve not for the righteous dead; they are in safekeeping. An enemy takes them away for a while, but a friend holds the key to the place of their temporary confinement.

Revelation 1:19-

Verse 19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter

A more definite command is given in this verse to John to write the entire Revelation, which would relate chiefly to things which were then in the future.

In some few instances, events then in the past or then taking place were referred to; but these references were simply for the purpose of introducing events to be fulfilled after that time, so that no link in the chain might be lacking.

Revelation 1:20-

Verse 20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in My right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks.

The seven stars are the ANGELS of the seven churches

and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the SEVEN CHURCHES.

To represent the Son of man as holding in His hand only the ministers of seven literal churches in Asia Minor, and walking in the midst of only those seven churches, would be to reduce the sublime representations and declarations of this and following chapters to comparative insignificance.

The providential care and presence of the Lord are not with a specified number of churches only, but with all His people; not in the days of John merely, but through all time. "Lo, I am with you alway," said He to His disciples, "even unto the end of the world."

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Prophecy.

Seven Stars- ANGELS of the Seven Churches.

Seven Golden Candlesticks- the SEVEN CHURCHES.

Symbolism. 

This is the introduction of the symbolism. We are SHOWN the symbolism.  Symbolism is necessary and the full comprehension of it is allowed as God reveals, as the Holy Spirit bring understanding.

Stars-Angels

Candlesticks-Seven Churches.

Seven- a number of perfection, of wholeness.

The seven angels, the seven churches- a representation of all God's angels, a representation of God's perfect church, His perfect people made perfect through Christ and Christ alone.

Please Lord, please help us to continue reading, to continue hearing, to continue keeping all the truth You entrust us with, all through the power of our Savior, our Lord, Jesus Christ now and forever!

Amen!