Clothed in the Righteousness of Christ- We Must Watch!

******* Continuing our prophecy study--  Please GO back and READ the study from the beginning to gain full understanding of where we are if you haven't been following this study daily.  Thank you :)  We are on lesson number 69. God bless you! ******

Rev 3:1  And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.

Rev 3:2  Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.

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Watch. Be watchful. We have to watch don't we? Time and time again our Savior has admonished us to watch. There has to be a reason for this, a good reason. Isn't it true that if you're being watchful there is a sense of expectation in your life?  A life spent watching for our Savior.  A life spent in expectation of our Savior. A life whose sole endeavor is to live watching for Jesus Christ. Waking up in the morning with the expectation of Jesus. Going to sleep at night with the expectation of Jesus. Watching for Jesus, watching our lives - watching whether or not our own actions are those that our Savior would commend and not condemn. Watching and recognizing the need of repentance in our lives.  Yes, we need to be watchful and if we don't watch, if we aren't watchful we have only ourselves to blame when we are taken unawares.

We have to strengthen the remaining things- things that are ready to die- die without intervention? Isn't it often the way that weak things are known to die?

If God's people don't hold fast through the adversity surrounding them it's easy to grow weak. Imperfection in actions are unacceptable. So much admonition and this isn't something that can be taken lightly.  Strengthening something that is ready to die means what? Keeping it from dying, right? If a person who is sick and near death is given strength it usually means they are recovering, no longer dying. When something not someone, but something is dying don't we do all we can usually to try and keep it from dying? We don't want things to lose life.  If something good within us is alive we have to keep that strong, not let it weaken. If we let our faith grow weak then we are in danger of it dying. Is it any wonder we are told to be watching, to strengthen the things that we do have that can be strengthened, things that can so easily die if we neglect them?

No, the works aren't perfect, and we can't believe God will ever accept anything less than perfection in Christ.

Rev 3:3  Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

Remember! Hold fast! Repent! Watch!

These are things that throughout history God's people have to adhere to. There will never be a time we should no longer remember all that we've been taught and have received of God. There will never be a time we should loosen our grasp on the faith we need in Jesus. There will never be a time we shouldn't repent, and there will never be a time we shouldn't watch for the coming of our Lord and Savior- never. Foolishness some will say, but it's true. We watch and we keep the hope alive, the faith strong in Christ. If we stop watching for Christ we will not be prepared and like a thief sneaking in and stealing away all that is yours without your ever being alerted to their visitation until it's too late and all your goods are gone- Christ will come and salvation will be lost to those who aren't watching for Him.

Remember! Hold fast! Repent! Watch!

Rev 3:4  Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.

Rev 3:5  He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

Rev 3:6  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Defiled garments are unsuitable, if we're not clothed in the pure white of Christ's righteousness then we are stained by unforgiven sin, unrepentant sin and we will not walk with Christ. There are few that remain clothed in Christ's righteousness among God's people, few that are trusting solely in Him and not relying on their own filthy righteousness. Only those who are clothed in white will be worthy in Christ.

God's people who overcome with have white raiment, pure undefiled garments and they will have their names in the book of life- Christ will confess our names before God, before God's angels! We want our names confessed by Christ. We want Him knowing our names, knowing us, knowing that we rely on Him and wait for Him, watching, seeking Him and the gift of His salvation.

May the Lord bless us with His mercy. May we be among those clothed in the pure white of His righteousness and have our names confessed by Jesus to God and the angels. In His name!

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More tomorrow on this, there is so much to study. We can't leave out the historical aspect to all this either.  By the grace of God may we only grow closer and closer to Him! In His love so amazing, so wondrous!  Forever in HIM and HIS righteousness!

Amen!

Whatever you do, don't let go.

Rev 2:25  But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.

Hold fast.

Hang on tight.

Don't let go!

Hold fast till Jesus return.

By His GRACE!


******* Continuing our prophecy study--  Please GO back and READ the study from the beginning to gain full understanding of where we are if you haven't been following this study daily.  Thank you :)  We are on lesson number 68. God bless you! ******

Hold fast till I come

Rev 2:18  And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass

Jesus! His eyes like unto a flame of fire! Feet like fine brass! Our Savior garbed majestically. His eyes burning,, the intensity beyond all we can fully understand. I know most of us have seen movies with the special effects of a person having fire in their eyes. Whenever this is depicted  isn't it done as a show of power in that person, especially if the person is talking and otherwise mostly normal as in NOT dying, not being killed.  Fire in the eyes is something extraordinary and even as a prophecy, and symbolic in prophecy it's an amazing image- Jesus with His eyes filled with intensity- Jesus with His feet firmly set, His royal standing.

Jesus- talking to another church- talking to His people then, later, and now.

Rev 2:19  I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.

This sounds so amazing doesn't it? Charity, service, faith, patience and works. Something God's people truly hope to attain in a walk with Jesus Christ, in a life dedicated to God.  Having works that encompass love (charity), giving (service), belief (faith), dedication (patience), and deeds (works)- this is a life one can truly be found living in Christ- yes? But there is mention made of the last being more than the first- and not in a bad way- this is before Jesus offers His admonition.  Keeping ourselves in Christ isn't always easy. I read something recently and the person said that a sign of someone not being truly Christ's is their quickly losing their faith and going back to their old ways. In some ways this is very true, there is even a parable about it, but in other ways we know how hard Satan attacks those newly born in Christ. Sometimes attacks can set us back some but not destroy us, not pull us away completely so that we are able to hold fast. It's no wonder people are to be commended that do hold fast to their faith fully without ever wavering- such an amazing gift.  These people however amazing still had something against them…

Rev 2:20  Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
Rev 2:21  And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
Rev 2:22  Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.
Rev 2:23  And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

God's people...suffering one who claims to be something she's not? God's people allowing a people of false beliefs to teach and seduce those who would truly follow the one and only true God? God's people holding fast to the worships of idols living a life that is geared towards worshipping the false gods and not the true. We're not talking outright worship of Satan, but rather deception, seduction and you don't seduce with forcefulness. You seduce with subtle actions. You lure with seduction. A false people whose hearts do not belong to God but seem to belong, they could lure a true follower away. Those who seduce will be lost with the seductress, those she considers her children will die with her. God, the one and only true God knows the reins and the hearts of us all. We will be given as we work- and the work is a result of our choices. The choices we make determine our lives and the lives that are not given fully to God- reins and heart- will have no part in Him.  This is fact, all fact and so many don't want to believe it  because it's not easy to hear. Being seduced and feeling the ease of seduction, the sweetness of seduction is so much more pleasant and desired than to endure the pain and heartache, the abuse and trials that not succumbing to seduction can bring.

Rev 2:24  But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.
Rev 2:25  But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.
Rev 2:26  And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
Rev 2:27  And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
Rev 2:28  And I will give him the morning star.
Rev 2:29  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Hold fast till Christ comes. The heart fully consecrated to Christ in all- needs to hold fast, not give up. Admonished to hold fast it's something all God's people throughout time need to do, those then, those through all the years, those today.

To us who do overcome, to us who keep Christ's works up until the end- Christ will give us power through Him over the nations, we will rule through Him with a rod of iron and all the earthly, ungodly in the nations will be destroyed utterly- shattered to pieces. As the Father gave to Christ His Son, we too will receive from Christ all that He can give to us- even Himself.

May God bless and keep us in Him! May we not be deceived as the masses who have been, are, and will be seduce by the evil of Satan. Let us hold fast in Him! Now and forever by His mercy and His loving grace.

A bit about the historic time period--

A.D. 538 to A.D. 1798

This is the 1260 year period spoken of in Dan. 7 and throughout Revelation when applied to history it's quite understandable. We know all about the seeming special status of the Catholic church from the year it was set up 538AD and onward. It's history is quite amazing and not in a very good way. Today we see the church,  and like so many horrors of the past, we find it hard to imagine those horrors truly existed simply because we have our supposed humane treatment going on today. I say supposed because there are still many places upon earth that have atrocities occurring that boggle the mind entirely. The Catholic church holds a special distinction for being a huge organized religious body that instituted the inquisition. Tortures unspeakable thrust upon people because they opposed the church. Opposing the church was unthinkable. And until 1798 that church held a distinct power in religion and political aspects. Today we know the Catholic church to be mainly something of a good thing- the Pope a good man desiring peace, Catholic charities that help millions of people. Yes, it's had its fair share of scandal in the more recent years but even with that scandal the church and the power it wields is only growing. More and more world leaders of various countries are looking for an alliance with the Papacy, sending ambassadors, making very special visits to the 'Holy Father'. This force is truly astounding and we look at these verses here and how can we not agree that God's true people- His people- not those who are caught up in idolatry holding fast to beliefs and doctrines that aren't God's but so close to the true the counterfeit is accepted for the real thing; how can we not agree that God's people are few?

We must hold fast. We must not give in- no matter the cost. Compared to eternity what do things of earth- what do earthly gains, earthly treasures really mean? Anything that can be destroyed- riches of all kinds- are but dust compared to the treasure of eternity in Christ.

By His amazing grace may we be HIS now and always!


Amen.

God knows you.

Blessed- we are blessed if we read, hear, and keep.  So by the Grace and Mercy of God through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior- please read, hear, and keep.

God knows. He knows.  We are known whether we want to be known by God or not, we are known by Him. You may choose to not know God, not believe He even exists, that is your right given to you by God Himself. Nonetheless, God knows you, He's known you from the womb.  And before you jump in (if you haven't already) thinking if He knows then why does He allow you to have so much pain in your life (mentally, physically, emotionally- very few people exist without one or more of these pains), before you start down that road know that God granted us free will as a human race and our first parents took that free will and chose a path God was not upon which in turn led us all down that path. However, God immediately offered another path that would lead back to Him and that path is one we are all free to choose or not choose.  The choice is available to all and one day all who will choose that path will have chosen and then EVERYTHING changes.  There will once more be life as God initially intended for His creations, and those choosing that life will have had the experience of a life without God and wholeheartedly make the choice to forever choose life with God. 

God knows us.  God has given us prophecies to teach us.  We must read, hear, and keep. We must study His word and by the Holy Spirit -who is one in agreement with God, and with the Savior Jesus Christ, we will gain comprehension- all the comprehension we need to live according to His will and not our own, by HIS GRACE and MERCY through HIS LOVE.

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Rev 2:12  And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;

Rev 2:13  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.

Rev 2:14  But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

Rev 2:15  So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.

Rev 2:16  Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

Rev 2:17  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

******* Continuing our prophecy study--  Please GO back and READ the study from the beginning to gain full understanding of where we are if you haven't been following this study daily.  Thank you :)  We are on lesson number 67. God bless you! ******

I know thy works...

Rev 2:12  And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;

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Who has a sharp sword with two edges?

What is the two edged sword all about?

Psa 149:1  Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints.

Psa 149:2  Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.

Psa 149:3  Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.

Psa 149:4  For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.

Psa 149:5  Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds.

Psa 149:6  Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand;

Psa 149:7  To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people;

Psa 149:8  To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron;

Psa 149:9  To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD.

Hebrews

{4:12} For the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart

Revelation

{1:13} 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.

{1:14} His head and [his] hairs [were] white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes [were] as a flame of fire;

{1:15} And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.

{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.

He who has the two-edged sword is Jesus.

And from just noting a bit more about the two-edged sword it's easy to see that it's symbolic of God's quick and decisive manner. There is no deception, no guile, no toying when it comes to God, and all He does is precise. His word is more powerful and sharper than a two-edged sword. And the power and sharpness of such a sword is tremendous. Jesus speaks with such exacting vengeance in such a way that there leaves no doubt to the truth of his actions- none.

 Jesus speaks to us holding nothing back.

Rev 2:12  And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;

Rev 2:13  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.

He knows our works! He knew them back in the days of John, He knew them in the early years of God's people- His church historically, and He knows us even now. It's safe to say Jesus has known us through all time and there was never a time He didn't know His people. Even when His people have caused Him grief He has known and has tried to guide them down the right path of His righteousness.

He knows thy works, where thou dwellest- where we live. He knows. And He has  known where Satan's seat is and make no mistake about it- Satan has his foothold in this world he was cast out upon  at the birth of salvation realized in Jesus' entrance into our world as He took on the flesh of humanity. Satan cast to this earth was never more to call heaven (God's seat) his home. Yes, Satan has his powers and his influence and he's used them to form his own plans that include a place where he would dwell and rule from. Satan's seat. Living among the very place where the evil one, the one who opposes, the deceiver was in power and holding fast to the true faith of Christ- what wonder! Holding fast to Christ! Not denying Christ's faith!

People say that there are no more martyrs, I say they're wrong. There are many, many martyrs today. In fact just writing what I'm writing would be cause for my death in some countries. We don't want to believe it, but it's true.

Wherever we are living, in whatever situation we find ourselves even if it's the worst place imaginable- if we hold fast to Christ and remain faithful then we will have His blessing. I'm not just talking a life or death situation with a true sword ready to slice our head from our shoulders. I'm talking living in the world that Satan claims as His and holding fast. It's all too easy for us to give in and go along with the crowd. To laugh and smile, and seemingly agree with the goings on even when they bold-facedly ridicule all that is Godly. Inwardly we might condemn the actions going on about us and we cling to that inward man, but outwardly we seem to agree with the ungodliness and what does that mean? We're ashamed of our beliefs.

If we won't hold fast to Christ and our faith in Him now in the little things, how will we do so later on when our very lives may depend on seemingly agreeing with the ungodly? Will we align ourselves with the ungodly so that we can live? Or be martyrs to hold fast to Christ?

The historical message, the message for all time, we need to learn, to listen, to take to heart what is being said.

Rev 2:14  But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

Rev 2:15  So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.

Hold the doctrine of Balaam... idol worship in all its ugly forms.  The Nicolaitans are mentioned once more and we know these are all that about things, people and their actions, that Jesus hates.

Again, just because you don't live in a town where they have festivals to worship the sun god Baal, does not mean there is no idol worship today. Among God's people there are those who hold fast to the belief that worshipping the world rather than God means the most. We can't worship any other than God! Search our hearts and our lives and examine what lies within- is it worship to anything other than God? Is there a self-worship? The worship of any thing that would take us from God?

Rev 2:16  Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

Rev 2:17  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.

Repent.

We need to repent and not face the righteous wrath of Christ.

Listen! We are told to LISTEN!

If we overcome through Christ we will be given hidden manna- heavenly food so precious. We will be given a white stone- a stone of purity and innocence in Christ. In that stone we'll receive our new name, a new name only we know. God made a point to give Abram and Sari new names and He also gave Jacob a new name. We who overcome as they overcame by faith in God and His righteousness we too will receive a new name.

By His mercy, by His grace, by His love and by His righteousness alone may we cling to Him and be found in Him to be overcomers through Him and Him alone. Forgive us oh Lord, forgive us our many, many trespasses, our many failings and set us on Your path to Your righteousness- now and forever!

Amen

Note- here is an excerpt from a prophecy booklet called- 'These Times - The amazing prophecies of Daniel and Revelation.  A Special Issue.' pg. 24-25

'Verses 12-17. The city of Pergamos (or Pergamum) was the capital of the Roman province of Asia. A rich, important city, it served as a center of emperor worship and various pagan religions. Jesus perceptively described Pergamum as a city in bondage to the dictatorship of Satan, the leader of all evil forces (see Revelation 12:9;13:1,2). The great failure of the church at Pergamum was that it allowed pagan, unchristian influences into its midst, accepting the teaching of "Balaam" -- a reference to a man who influenced the Israelites shortly after they left Egypt to unite with pagans and become involved in idolatry and immorality (Numbers 22-25; 31:13-16).

The experience of the whole church following AD 313, when Emperor Constantine legalized Christianity, resembled that of Pergamum. Following this time the church increasingly accepted pagan ideas and practices into its midst and advanced steadily down the path of apostasy foretold by Paul in 2 Thessalonians 2:3. The church's only hope lay in its willingness to let the sharp "two-edged sword" of truth wielded by Jesus cut away their selfishness and pride (cf Hebrews 4:12). '

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The reason I wanted to insert this note is because we need to touch on the specific historically applied aspect to the prophecy as well as the time of John the prophet, and we most certainly can tell already how it's applied to us now and to all of God's people through history in a broad meaningful way.

The historical time period this covers- Constantine, or perhaps, rather, from his professed conversion to Christianity in A.D. 313 to the establishment of the papacy in A.D. 538.

In 313, Constantine proclaimed the Edict of Milan which legalized Christian worship.  Go to Wikipedia, look up Constantine and this is in there.  We've already gone over these dates when we studied the prophecy of Daniel. Daniel and Revelation both deal with prophecy in a huge way and go hand in hand in so much.  This all fits together and the placing of the puzzle pieces will mean we need to go back and forth between these two books and truly throughout the entire Bible.

By God's grace, through His will, now and forever!

Amen.

Second Death- no one wants to die this death!

Second death.

Tell me something, is that the first time you heard the term 'second death'?  Death, we know what death is, don't we? If someone dies they cease to have heartbeat and breath in their bodies, when this happens they are no longer conscious and their bodies begin immediately to decay, perhaps imperceptibly at first but it is happening. Their skin quickly grows cold, and they'll have a period of rigidity.  You cannot bring anyone back from a true death after their bodes begin the decaying process in earnest. I say that because people have temporarily stopped breathing or their hearts have stopped beating and others have been able to get them breathing again and their hearts pumping. Some have even been practically dead for a while and under such cold temperatures they've protected vital brain functions that otherwise would have died off leaving them brain damaged if brought back to life with their breathing and heart beating. Death, when all means and measures have been exhausted, and no machines are doing the work of your heart or lungs, if an ending of you consciously. You are as if you have been put into a sleep from which there is no waking until Christ returns and wakes you up. And Christ will wake all who are in death's sleep up, and some will rise up and be transformed meeting Him in the air to be with Him forever, others will rise up only to be rendered dead once more- the life breath taken from them and they will sleep once more.  And then this--

Rev 20:14  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Rev 20:15  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Death and the grave - dying and living in the state of death's sleep in a grave were destroyed. NO ONE will ever again be subjected to dying with the chance to live again.  Those who are NOT God's, those who have CHOSEN themselves not to belong to GOD will be case into the same lake of fire that destroys death and the grave. They will permanently be destroyed never to be again their existence completely blotted out. They won't be suffering endlessly in that lake of fire, they will burn up as stubble which burns to nothingness not endlessly burning stubble- such a thing does not exist. The wicked will be punished according to their wickedness and then be as if they never were.  Contrary to so many false beliefs out there, deceptions that Satan has perpetrated, people will never enter a purgatory - a place to work off their sins, that doesn't exist. In death we can no longer praise God. In death we know nothing.  Living we know we shall die, but the Bible tells us, the dead no nothing.

Ecc_9:5  For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing…

Death is a sleep. Even Jesus called death a sleep.

Joh 11:11  These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.
Joh 11:12  Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.
Joh 11:13  Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.
Joh 11:14  Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.

Death's sleep- an unconscious state of being. We don't go to heaven immediately upon dying, not even our Savior did that! Read it all in the Bible, don't take my word for it!

There is a permanent death and I pray to God that none of us ever partake in that second death!

All by the grace and mercy of God, may we be HIS now and forever through the love and mercy of our Savior Jesus Christ our Lord now and forever!


******* Continuing our prophecy study--  Please GO back and READ the study from the beginning to gain full understanding of where we are if you haven't been following this study daily.  Thank you :)  We are on lesson number 66. God bless you! ******

Rev 2:8  And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;
Rev 2:9  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.
Rev 2:10  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.
Rev 2:11  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.

 If, as we talked about already, the seven churches spoken of represent God's people throughout time- the period of time suggested by others who have studied Revelation for the first chruch- Ephesus is.. 'the period from the resurrection of Christ to the close of the first century, or to the death of the last of the apostles.' And the second church - Smyrna - 'the date of the Smyrna church would be A.D. 100-323.' The big question is….how did they come to this date?

Well first let's look at what's said.

'And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write...These things saith the first and the last which was dead and is alive'

John through the Spirit is writing to the angel of the people of God in Smyrna. The first, the last, which was dead and is alive- this could be none other than- Jesus.

'I know thy works and tribulation and poverty but thou art rich'

He knows the works- the actions of His people in Smyrna. He also knows their tribulation. He understands what they're going through. Tribulation. If I say I'm going through tribulation am I talking about a little bit of a hard time? No. I'm talking about a very hard time, a time of such suffering, of such affliction it doesn't compare to ordinary upsets. Jesus knows the actions, the works, and He knows of the intense suffering of those people. He also knows of their poverty- their deficiencies, unproductiveness, their lacking, but He also knows they are rich.

A conflict? Can one be in poverty and be rich at the same time? They sure can be if we are thinking along the lines of being poor in one thing while rich in another. You can have a person poor in finances and rich in optimism. Jesus knows it all- the suffering the poverty and the riches. We are told in the Bible this--

Matthew {19:24} And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

With this in mind it's easy to imagine the riches  spoken of here  as something other than monetary riches.

These are  riches of God- heavenly treasure, not an earthly treasure.

Matthew {6:20} But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth
corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. Heavenly riches.

A person can be rich in heavenly treasures and in extreme poverty upon the earth.

Yes, you can be rich in one thing and lacking in another. You can have a richness of love and a poverty of kindness. Jesus knows all of us, the good and the bad in us - His people throughout time.

'and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews and are not but are the synagogue of Satan. 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'

Blasphemy- 1. a. A contemptuous or profane act, utterance, or writing concerning God or a sacred entity. b. The act of claiming for oneself the attributes and rights of God.
2. An irreverent or impious act, attitude, or utterance in regard to something considered inviolable or sacrosanct.
Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary

There are those who claim to be God's but are really from where?
The 'synagogue of Satan.'
Devil worshippers who claim to be God's people.
God knows who those people are, and truly there are those in all ages who are guilty of this- of claiming to be God's people while their lives, their hearts, the truth says otherwise.

God doesn't want His people to fear things that will be suffered by them. Again in all ages we face suffering for our faith and yet we are to fear not.

The devil will put some of God's people in prison- those people will be tried and have tribulation ten days. Now this is where we have to ask ourselves a question- ten days? In prophecy days can stand for years. Is there any notable ten year period of tribulation for God's people?

There is...
'The Diocletianic Persecution (or Great Persecution) was the last and most severe persecution of Christians in the Roman empire.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diocletianic_Persecution

In 303, Emperor Diocletian and his colleagues Maximian, Galerius, and Constantius issued a series of edicts rescinding Christians' legal rights and demanding they comply with traditional religious practices. Later edicts targeted the clergy and demanded universal sacrifice, ordering all inhabitants to sacrifice to the gods. 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. Persecutionary 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.'

303 to 313 - ten years!

The revelation was-
'the devil shall cast some of you into prison- that ye may be tried and ye shall have tribulation ten days'

Ten days- Ten years of GREAT tribulation, great suffering, great persecution.

The prophecy goes on to say-

'be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life. 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'

Be faithful unto death. Telling them what? They would die! God's people, His church, would be persecuted to the death.

Faithful unto death. In truth we all throughout time must be faithful unto death, we must be determined to be God's until we die no matter what the cost might be. Faithful unto death.

The reward for such faithfulness is a crown of life! The crown of life given for those who receive life eternal in Jesus. The price is well worth the sacrifice to obtain such a priceless gift.

We are told once more--

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

LISTEN!

And the promise-

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

Meaning the death that is eternal- the death that comes when the 1000 years in heaven with Jesus are over and evil and sin are wiped out of existence the death of all those who are evil and are destroyed forever- that death will not hurt those who are God's faithful.

Rev 20:6  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years

Rev 20:14  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

Rev 21:8  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

May God bless and keep us through the tribulations we have and will have, may we remain faithful unto Him forever. May the second death not hurt any of us as we seek life in Jesus, our Lord and Savior now and forever!

Amen

Hating Sin.

Sin exist all around us, everywhere. No one lives in a world without sins affects. Our very lives are a testament to sin's existence.  We can watch ourselves age, watch ourselves as sickness takes its toll on us, we are witness to the very devastations of sins results on our humanity.

To ignore the existence of sin is to believe that we were never intended for eternal existence. To believe we are born for a finite amount of time and nothing more. There are many who do believe this very thing. We are all entitled to believe what we want to believe, but there is only one truth and that truth is… we were created, we were brought into existence by God the Father, God the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We didn't just haphazardly come into existence that's not possible, it just isn't. Every bit of us is miraculous. I recently watched a tiny white dot turn into a teeny tiny caterpillar, and that teeny tiny barely visible caterpillar turn into a much larger caterpillar and then form a chrysalis and a mere 8 days later emerge from that chrysalis in the form of a beautiful Monarch butterfly - all in 22 days! That is a miracle! A miracle in the form of an insect and how much more miraculous are we who are reproduced from a teeny tiny egg and a teeny tiny seed joining to grow a baby that emerges in only 9 months! We are miracles! MIRACLES!

Our existence is a miracle and I refuse to believe that we were brought into existence as disposables. Disposables that have no hope for anything more than this sin sick world has to offer us.

Sin exists and sin must be hated.

May God bless us as we continue our prophecy study, may we find only His truth with eyes, with hearts open to our Lord's understanding!  All through Jesus Christ our LORD, our SAVIOR ALWAYS!

******* Continuing our prophecy study--  Please GO back and READ the study from the beginning to gain full understanding of where we are if you haven't been following this study daily.  Thank you :)  We are on lesson number 65. God bless you! ******

 To him that overcometh

Rev 2:6  But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

Jesus commends His people in Ephesus for yet another thing - Hating the deeds of the Nicolaitanes. It didn't say hating the Nicolaitanes, but hating the deeds of the Nicolaitanes; deeds that Jesus himself hates. What are some things Jesus hates?

Heb. {1:9} Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, [even] thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

Deut.  {16:22} Neither shalt thou set thee up [any] image; which the LORD thy God hateth.

Ps. {5:5} The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.

Ps. {45:7} Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows

It's easy to see what God hates- sin, graven images, worship to other gods, wickedness, workers of sin.

What is sin?

1 John {3:4} Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

Transgressing the law.

What is the law?

Matthew {22:36} Master, which is the great commandment in the law? {22:37} Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. {22:38} This is the first and great commandment. {22:39} And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. {22:40} On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

So Jesus hates the actions of those who hate God and those who hate others treating them as they would not want to be treated.

Any actions that hurt others are sinful.

There is a lot to hate in our world, a lot of sinful acts. The fact God's people hated those who were wicked -committing wicked deeds- was a good thing, because Jesus hates sin.

The trouble people run into a lot of times is hating what God hates and believing God would have them act on that hate in ways that Jesus condemned over and over . While we are to hate sin, while we are to hate what God hates whether it's Nicolaitane deeds or any who love what is sin to God, we are NOT to judge them, but judge their deeds.  Hating the DEEDS that God hates is what we need to focus on, not on the individual who commits those deeds. God will judge them, we cannot. We can't cast that first stone because we are NOT without sin. We are not to strike out- physically, verbally, mentally, or emotionally - Jesus would not have us do this-- not even to save His life.  When Peter went to defend Jesus as the soldiers were taking Him away to be tried Jesus stopped Him.  We are NOT to judge people, we are to judge actions and if their actions are against God's will as we know it from His word to us, then we are to  hate those actions they commit just as those of Ephesus hated the deeds of the Nicolaitanes.

Rev 2:7  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.

'He that hath an ear'

Don't we all?

'let him hear'

Can we choose not to hear? Yes. We can choose not to hear, we don't have to listen, we aren't forced to listen. We who have ears need to hear, we need to choose to listen.

What are we to listen to? 'let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches' We have to listen to what we are being told! What the Spirit is relating to us through His prophets. And a promise is given...

'To him that overcometh...'

Overcomes what? Overcomes that which would bring us down- losing our first love.

'To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life which is in the midst of the paradise of God.'

If we keep to our first love, if our first love is Christ we will eat of the tree of life, a tree that is in the midst of God's paradise!

If we eat of the tree of life we will have life forever in Christ. How beautiful is that promise? How wondrous is that knowledge!

Let us ALL overcome! Let us all hear! Let us all keep our first love in Christ! By His amazing grace, by His mercy unlike any other mercy.

Amen.

We must not leave our first love.

First love.

If Christ is our first love then all other love comes from Him, through Him.  If your love comes from Christ it is a love like no others. If your love comes from any other place then it is flawed.  Flawed love can simulate what people imagine true love to be, and that deception has many fooled.

Our first love of Christ is something we can never fall away from, by the grace and mercy of God.

Let us read more of prophecy, more of truth.  All through Christ's love!


******* Continuing our prophecy study--  Please GO back and READ the study from the beginning to gain full understanding of where we are if you haven't been following this study daily.  Thank you :)  We are on lesson number 64. God bless you! ******

Remember from whence thou art fallen

Rev 1:19  Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;
Rev 1:20  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.

John is being told to write the things he had just seen. The things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter.

Amazing isn't it? Told to write the things which are- something we all could do. I could sit here and write about the things I'm seeing right now without a problem- what I can't do is write about how things will be in the future because I don't know the future. John is being asked to write about things which shall be hereafter - that's the future - that's prophecy.

John is told the mystery of the seven stars which he saw in Jesus' right hand and the seven golden candlesticks.

The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches.

The seven candlesticks are the seven churches.

God's people make up God's church. The perfect church. The true church. God's people throughout all time. God's people from then and hereafter- future.

God's people will one day be before Him. There is no wonder that the seven candlesticks represent the perfectness of God's people before Him.

The mystery was revealed. John saw a vision and the vision was interpreted.


Rev 2:1  Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;

Unto the angel write- the seven stars in Jesus' hand were the seven angels of the churches. John was to write to the first of those angels - the angel of the church of Ephesus.

Jesus who was and is, who died and lives, the alpha and omega; Jesus who holds the seven stars, the seven angels, who walks among the seven churches- Jesus who lives among His people. This message was being sent to them by Jesus' and the message was...

Rev 2:2  I know thy works, and thy labour, 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:
Rev 2:3  And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted

God's people working- their laboring, their patience, their abhorrence of those who do evil and claim to follow God, their patience all for Jesus and without fainting- Jesus recognizes it all! The work does not go unnoticed and yet there is more He notices.

Rev 2:4  Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

Jesus has somewhat against the first church, against His people, those who lived when the apostles lived and this message is for all time because we learn from mistakes of the past don't we? Shouldn't we? If we don't learn from mistakes then we are guilty of being negligent aren't we? Of not learning when we had everything available to us to learn.

Jesus has somewhat against His people of Ephesus, He says- Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee because thou hast left thy first love.

Thy first love.

How easy it is to leave our first love in all things. Think about it. How many things have you once love and no longer love? How many things do you love but not in the same way? Most people who have experienced love understand how easy it is to lose that newness of first love. When we lose our first love with Jesus what are we losing? Our first love - losing it is losing what it's all truly about. If we lose Jesus as first and foremost in our lives then we've lost it all. Anything that comes before Jesus will only get in the way of Jesus. We can't lose our first love of Jesus. The love is everlasting and if we find ourselves putting anything before the love of Jesus we need to repent. We have to keep Jesus as our first love.

Another important thing to note is that the Papacy loves to proclaim that it has existed from the time of the Apostles.  We know for a fact that deception infiltrated the new church from the get go.

1Jn 2:18  Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

Antichrists- those in place of Christ.  Right then in the new church, those who claim to believe in all Jesus brought to them, the gospel of the kingdom, salvation, were infiltrated by those who would take the place of Christ. So when the Papacy holds up its proud head it really has no reason to because we know what prophecy has shown us to be true. The counterfeit  which is close to the truth, the deception which is so close to the truth is alive and well. Jesus knew it would enter the church quickly, Jesus had warnings.   The first love would be lost- the pure love of Jesus would be lost and in its place a false love.

Rev 2:5  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.

Remember! Remember from whence thou art fallen and repent! Repent! Do the first works. Works brought on by having the first love- Jesus. Jesus first! Or else Jesus will come quickly and take away the fact you are God's people. You will no longer be God's people, because the candlestick is the church, the church is God's people, and if the candlestick is taken away then the consequence is the people that were once making up the church are no longer the same people making up the church. Repent.

Repent- ask for forgiveness and return to the first love, to putting Jesus first above all else. Amazing advice, amazing encouragement, loving guidance from the source of Love. May we all heed the advice given to us by our Lord and Savior! By His mercy and grace may we repent and keep Him our first love, forever!

Amen.

John, the Prophet, the Apostle, Seeing the Savior in Vision After Many, Many, Years!

******* Continuing our prophecy study--  Please GO back and READ the study from the beginning to gain full understanding of where we are if you haven't been following this study daily.  Thank you :)  God bless you! ******

Such a Vision!

Rev 1:12  And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
Rev 1:13  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.
Rev 1:14  His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
Rev 1:15  And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.
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.
...
John turned- the voice was coming from behind him as noted earlier, but tell me, did John turn right away upon first hearing the booming trumpet-like voice behind him? No. The voice had time to tell John --

Rev 1:11  … 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.

If you read that aloud you realize that's quite a bit of talking to someone's back. A knee-jerk reaction you'd think would have been to turn upon the first few words. But John isn't himself here is he? What I mean is, John is being guided by the Spirit. If he's in the Spirit then he has to be guided by the Spirit and obviously he wasn't guided to jerk about, but able to listen and then turn to see the voice that had spoken with him. It's just interesting to imagine the situation, isn't it? John is on an island, he's in the Spirit. I'm picturing him sitting outside in some nice spot, and yes, I imagine there are nice spots there- I've seen pictures of the Island of Patmos and while they are modern pictures I can't believe the island was some desolate rock unable to sustain life. Anyway, I imagine John sitting outside and while he's praying the Spirit fills him fully and he hears the great voice behind him. Taking a moment to listen to the voice, John I imagine is amazed and turns to see from whom this voice is coming because clearly it's behind him and not just generally surrounding him on all sides. He turns and what does he see...

Rev 1:12 '.... And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks'

Candlesticks--

Exo 25:31  And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same.
Exo 25:32  And six branches shall come out of the sides of it; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side:
Exo 25:33  Three bowls made like unto almonds, with a knop and a flower in one branch; and three bowls made like almonds in the other branch, with a knop and a flower: so in the six branches that come out of the candlestick.
Exo 25:34  And in the candlestick shall be four bowls made like unto almonds, with their knops and their flowers.
Exo 25:35  And there shall be a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, according to the six branches that proceed out of the candlestick.
Exo 25:36  Their knops and their branches shall be of the same: all it shall be one beaten work of pure gold.
Exo 25:37  And thou shalt make the seven lamps thereof: and they shall light the lamps thereof, that they may give light over against it.
Exo 25:38  And the tongs thereof, and the snuff dishes thereof, shall be of pure gold.
Exo 25:39  Of a talent of pure gold shall he make it, with all these vessels.
Exo 25:40  And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount.

Exo 39:32  Thus was all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation finished: and the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did they.
Exo 39:33  And they brought the tabernacle unto Moses, the tent, and all his furniture, his taches, his boards, his bars, and his pillars, and his sockets,
Exo 39:34  And the covering of rams' skins dyed red, and the covering of badgers' skins, and the vail of the covering,
Exo 39:35  The ark of the testimony, and the staves thereof, and the mercy seat,
Exo 39:36  The table, and all the vessels thereof, and the shewbread,
Exo 39:37  The pure candlestick, with the lamps thereof, even with the lamps to be set in order, and all the vessels thereof, and the oil for light,
Exo 39:38  And the golden altar, and the anointing oil, and the sweet incense, and the hanging for the tabernacle door,
Exo 39:39  The brasen altar, and his grate of brass, his staves, and all his vessels, the laver and his foot,
Exo 39:40  The hangings of the court, his pillars, and his sockets, and the hanging for the court gate, his cords, and his pins, and all the vessels of the service of the tabernacle, for the tent of the congregation,
Exo 39:41  The cloths of service to do service in the holy place, and the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and his sons' garments, to minister in the priest's office.
Exo 39:42  According to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so the children of Israel made all the work.
Exo 39:43  And Moses did look upon all the work, and, behold, they had done it as the LORD had commanded, even so had they done it: and Moses blessed them.

2Ch 4:19  And Solomon made all the vessels that were for the house of God, the golden altar also, and the tables whereon the shewbread was set;
2Ch 4:20  Moreover the candlesticks with their lamps, that they should burn after the manner before the oracle, of pure gold;
2Ch 4:21  And the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs, made he of gold, and that perfect gold

Seven candlesticks- were placed in the tabernacle erected in the wilderness by Moses, and by Solomon for the permanent temple- the house of God.

And John turns to look at who spoke to him and saw seven golden candlesticks. There's that number again- seven. And we know for a fact that God placed importance upon having seven lamps in His temple, so what is John seeing? No longer is the terrain behind him the same as it was when he walked to where he was. Everything had been changed. The Spirit had altered things and in this vision he was seeing seven golden candlesticks a sure sign of the temple of God, only not the temple John knew on earth in Jerusalem. He didn't say he'd been taken to the Jerusalem temple, but here he was seeing a very amazing sight, seven golden candlesticks but not only that…

Rev 1:13 'And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man…'

One like unto the Son of Man- where have we read this already?

Dan 7:13  I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.
Dan 7:14  And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

Jesus!

Mat 8:18  Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side.
Mat 8:19  And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.
Mat 8:20  And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

Jesus!

Mat 11:16  But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows,
Mat 11:17  And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.
Mat 11:18  For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.
Mat 11:19  The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.

Jesus!

Mat 12:8  For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.

Jesus!

Mat 13:41  The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity

Is it safe to say that the Son of man John was seeing was Jesus?   Yes!

Rev 1:13  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.
Rev 1:14  His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
Rev 1:15  And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.
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.

What a vision! What a sight to behold! Clearly John is describing something very magnificent! What did John do upon seeing such a wonder?
...
Rev 1:17  'And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead…'

He fell down! And not only did he fall down, he fell as one DEAD. What's that mean? He lost all ability to remain standing. His very strength was gone. The shock of what he was seeing completely floored him. We hear about people being frightened into fainting, frightened into falling down in fact we may have done it ourselves a time or two, but it would be a very amazing fright to cause us to just fall down as dead, yes? John fell at the feet of the Son of man as dead and no wonder by how he's described Him. Fear coursed through John, such a fear that it had him all but fainting.

Was John the only prophet who fell down like that?  No. Remember this...

Dan 10:7  And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves.
Dan 10:8  Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength.
Dan 10:9  Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground.

In a deep sleep on his face.   A deep sleep- as one dead, yes? Death is a very deep sleep.

What happened next…

Rev 1:17  '…And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
Rev 1:18  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. '

And for Daniel was it similar?

Dan 10:10  And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands.
Dan 10:11  And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling.
Dan 10:12  Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.

Fear not!

Now John had JESUS touching Him once more, after being gone so long from Him.  How amazing it had to be for John to see Jesus again and not only see Him, but see Him in all His glory as one who hadn't aged. Yes, that's a factor here too because John was an old man by now. Time had surely shown its ravages upon John's features.  Yet time had not altered the Savior save to have Him appear more glorious than ever.

The Son of man laid his right hand - the hand that held seven stars- upon John and spoke. What's the first thing He says to John after being seen by him? 'Fear not'

Fear not! John was filled with fear! We like to imagine that the only encounter one could have with the Spirit and such would be peaceful and calm, we envision an otherworldly tranquility associated with God. It's not altogether wrong to believe in such because Jesus was a peaceful man upon earth and He advocated peace and love. He admonished His disciples for their fear when they were in the stormy seas. But it's understandable that fear isn't altogether unexpected when we deal with the Spirit. Is it a crippling fear? Well, it was a fear that knocked John off his feet as if he were dead, falling to the ground. Obviously it wasn't a fear that sent him running for the hills. This fear took total control of John and then the Son of man said to him...'Fear not'

He didn't stop there did he? He went on to explain why John should not fear.

He says... 'I am the first and the last' Again the association of God! The ever was and the ever will be.

He says... 'I am he that liveth and was dead.' John knows who died and rose- the Son of God, the Son of man.

He continues... 'And, behold, I am alive for evermore, amen!'   Never will death touch Him again. Death took the Son of man, the man who was the Son of God and pulled Him down to the grave. Released from death He would live forever!

And He says... 'And have the keys of hell and death.' The keys! What do keys do? They unlock and when you unlock something you're opening it, you're freeing what was locked within. The keys of hell and death are whose? Jesus! Jesus the Son of God, the Son of man, who died and rose from death- defeating death -has the keys that can free everyone from death and the grave! Everyone!

Jesus!

Jesus in the heavenly temple of God surrounded by the seven golden candlesticks! Jesus reaching to touch John to revive him from his stupor over the very sight of all he was being shown. What wonder! What amazing, miraculous sights to be seeing! To be in the presence of Jesus in all His glory, so unlike Jesus when He walked the earth so unassuming. This is Jesus in all His power, His heavenly garb, His transformed self. No wonder John needed reviving.

Amazing the setting for this message to us, and make no mistake-- it is for us. For God's people throughout time and we are God's people. We need to study this thoroughly, we need the blessings offered to us. May we truly be blessed and guided by the Spirit as we endeavor to understand more fully all that was given to John and in what manner it was given to Him. Such an amazing description of the setting deserves a true recognition for the importance placed upon what message is being told to John for us.

By His mercy and His grace, His everlasting love, now and forever! Amen!

All praise to our God and King!