Be Watchful and Strengthen the Things Which Remain.

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. 

 

Jesus said to the angel of the church- that He- knows the works of those following Him. He know their works- He knows they have a name, He knows they are living, yet dead.

 

Truth. The living dead are all who live without hope of eternal life. They live now, yet they are living now only to eventually die and be no more.

 

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. 

 

These followers must watch. These followers must strengthen the things they have left, the things they haven't abandoned, the things that could die. The works of these followers are not perfect before God.

 

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. 

 

These followers need to remember HOW they received and heard the truth. They must hold fast and repent of the way they have gone, the straying they've done. If they AREN'T watching, they will be taken by surprise and not be prepared for the Savior's return.

 

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. 

 

There are a few followers that have not gone astray, their robes of righteousness remain spotless, they will walk with Christ, they are worthy in Christ.

 

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. 

 

These Christ followers that overcome the evil that will threaten to keep them from Christ, keep them from remembering, keep them from repenting, they will be clothed in purity, in white raiment. These followers will keep their names in in the book of life. These followers will have their names confessed before the heavenly Father, before all the heavenly angels.

 

We must hear what the Spirit is saying, we must.

 

*******

 

Whatever historical dates are represented by this church we know that the messages are applicable to us today as they have been applicable to all Christ followers. These are messages we dare NOT ignore. They may be shrouded in layer upon layer of Satan induced webbing meant to confuse us and keep us from holding fast as instructed, but we must not let that webbing keep us from truth! We must cling to what we can glean through the Holy Spirit shining the light in the darkness. We must watch, ever watch and be ready for our LORD at His appearing.

 

He Knows Our Works.

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; 

 

The Son of God- with eyes like a flame of fire, and feet like fine brass speaks to the angel of the next church, the fourth church.

 

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. 

 

Jesus knows His Christ followers and their -

 

-works

-charity

-service

-faith

-thy patience

-works

 

These followers work hard for Christ, they have love - the love God desires from us, their service is notable, and their faith strong, and they have patience- such amazing followers are to be commended for so much and yet…

 

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. 

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. 

 

With all their remarkable commendations they failed because they allowed the teaching of idol worshiping! How? Why? The two are so far from each other. God has forever hated idol worshiping and yet here are Christ followers who are allowing the teaching of idol worship, it's really shocking. Jesus gave these followers time to repent, to cease from what they were doing but they would not! How often in life are things we do that are blatantly against God's will, things we refuse to give up? What in our lives is worshiped above God? We may not offer food to idols, and eat that food, anedwe may not commit fornication as a part of our idol worshiping, but we have idols in our lives that will destroy us if we don't repent.

 

Jesus says- He will cast the idol worshiping teacher into a bed and all those that commit adultery into great tribulation- UNLESS they repent!

Jesus says-  I will kill this teacher's children with death. That ALL the churches will KNOW that Jesus searches us our hearts, and ways and HE will give to all according to their actions- their works.  We can't imagine what we do means nothing at all.

 

Those not caught up in the teachings and allowing the idol worshiper to teach her evil ways will not be considered guilty of them, Jesus will have nothing more to reprimand them with.

 

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

 

Jesus wants them to hold fast, to keep what they are doing until He comes- that they are not a part of those who accept the evil introduced into Christ's followers as being a part of the church, a part of Christ's followers.

 

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. 

 

We must READ, we must UNDERSTAND, we must KEEP these things we are being told! This is for Christ's followers throughout all time, we ignore these words of prophecy at our own eternal peril!

 

EXCERPT to follow from the book Daniel and Revelation by Uriah Smith-

(For those who have not read the book- this excerpt may seem very confusing. By all means read the book if you desire a more thorough comprehension of what is written.)

 

'If the period covered by the Pergamos church has been correctly located, terminating with the setting up of the papacy, A. D. 538, the most natural division to be assigned to the church of Thyatira would be the time of the continuance of this blasphemous power through the 1260 years of its supremacy, or from A. D. 538 to A. D. 1798.

 

Thyatira signifies "sweet savor of labor," or "sacrifice of contrition." This would well describe the state of the church

 

p 388 -- of Jesus Christ during the long period of papal triumph and persecution. This age of such dreadful tribulation upon the church as never was (Matt. 24:21), improved the religious condition of believers. Hence they receive for their works, charity, service, faith, and patience, the commendation of Him whose eyes are as a flame of fire. And works are then again mentioned, as if worthy of double commendation. And the last were more than the first. There had been an improvement in their condition, a growth of grace, an increase in all these elements of Christianity. This church is the only one that is commended for an improvement in spiritual things. But as in the church of Pergamos unfavorable circumstances were no apology for false doctrines in the church, so in this church, no amount of labor, charity, service, faith, or patience could compensate for a like sin. A rebuke is therefore given them for suffering in their midst -

 

That Woman Jezebel. - As in the preceding church Antipas denoted, not an individual, but a class of persons, so, doubtless, Jezebel is here to be understood in the same sense. Watson's Bible Dictionary says, "The name of Jezebel is used proverbially. Rev. 2:20." William Miller, Lectures, p. 142, speaks as follows:      "Jezebel is a figurative name, alluding to Ahab's wife, who slew the prophets of the Lord, led her husband into idolatry, and fed the prophets of Baal at her own table. A more striking figure could not have been used to denote the papal abominations. (See I Kings, chapters 18, 19, and 21). It is very evident from history, as well as from this verse, that the church of Christ did suffer some of the papal monks to preach and teach among them. (See the History of the Waldenses.')"

 

The Comprehensive Commentary has the following remark upon verse 23:       "Children are spoken of, which confirms the idea that a sect and its proselytes are meant."   The judgments here threatened against this woman are in harmony with the threatening's in other parts of this book against the Romish Church under the symbol of a corrupt woman, the mother of harlots and abominations of the earth. (See chapters 17-19.)

 

p 389 -- The death which is threatened is doubtless the second death, at the end of the one thousand years of Revelation 20, when the righteous retribution from the Searcher of "the reins and hearts" of all men will be given. And further, the declaration, "I will give unto every one of you according to your works," is proof that the address to this church looks forward prophetically to the final reward or punishment of all accountable beings.

 

And All the Churches Shall Know. - It has been argued from this expression that these churches could not denote seven successive periods of the gospel age, but must exist contemporaneously, as otherwise all the churches could not know that Christ was the searcher of the reins and hearts from seeing his judgments upon Jezebel and her children. But when is it that all the churches are to know this?  -  It is when these children are punished with death. And if this is at the time when the second death is inflicted upon all the wicked, then indeed will "all the churches," as they behold the infliction of the judgment, know that no secret thing, no evil thought or purpose of the heart, has escaped the knowledge of Him, who, with eyes like flames of fire, searches the hearts and reins of men.

 

I Will Lay Upon You None Other Burden. - A respite promised the church, if we rightly apprehend, from the burden, so long her portion, -  the weight of papal oppression. It cannot be applied to the reception of new truths; for truth is not a burden to any accountable being. But the days of tribulation that came upon that church were to be shortened for the elect's sake. Matt. 24:22. "They shall be holpen," says the prophet, "with a little help." Dan. 11:34. "And the earth helped the woman," says John. Rev. 12:16.

 

Hold Fast Till I Come. - These are the words of the "Son of God," and bring to our view an unconditional coming. To the churches of Ephesus and Pergamos, certain comings were threatened on conditions:   "Repent, or else I will come unto thee," etc., implying visitations of judgment. But here a coming of a different nature altogether is brought to view. It is not a threatening of punishment. It is suspended upon no

 

p 390 -- conditions. It is set before the believer as a matter of hope, and can refer to no other event but the future second advent of the Lord in glory, when the Christian's trials will cease, and his efforts in the race for life, and his warfare for a crown of righteousness, will be rewarded with everlasting success.

 

This church brings us down to the time when the more immediate signs of the soon-coming advent began to be fulfilled. In 1780, eighteen years before the close of this period, the predicted signs in the sun and moon were fulfilled. (See chapter 6:12.) And in reference to these signs the Saviour said:   "And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh."   In the history of this church we reach a point when the end is drawing so near that the attention of the people could properly be called more particularly to that event. All along Christ has said to his followers, "Occupy till I come." Luke 19:13. Now he says, "Hold fast till I come."

 

Till the End.- The end of the Christian age. "He that shall endure unto the end," says Christ, "the same shall be saved." Matt. 24:13. Is not here a like promise to those who keep Christ's works, do the things he has enjoined, keep the faith of Jesus? Chapter 14:12.

 

Power Over the Nations. - In this world the wicked bear rule, and the servants of Christ are of no esteem. But the time is coming when righteousness will be in the ascendency; when all ungodliness will be seen in its true light, and be at a heavy discount; and when the scepter of power will be in the hands of the people of God. This promise will be explained by the following facts and scriptures:    (1)    The nations are to be given by the Father into the hands of Christ, to be ruled with a rod of iron, and dashed in pieces like a potter's vessel (Ps. 2:8, 9);    (2)    Associated with Christ when he thus enters upon his own work of power and judgment, are to be his saints (Rev. 3:21);    (3)    They are to reign with him in this capacity for one thousand years (chapter 20:4);    (4)    During this period, the degree of judgment upon wicked men and evil angels is determined (1 Cor. 6:2, 3);    (5)    At the end of the one

 

p 391 -- thousand years, they have the honor of sharing with Christ in the execution of the sentence written. (Ps. 149: 9).

 

The Morning Star. -  Christ says, in chapter 22:16, that he is himself the morning star. The morning star is the immediate forerunner of the day. What is here called the morning star, is called the day star in 2 Peter 1:19, where it is associated with the dawn of the day:   "Until the day dawn, and the day star arise."   During the saints' weary night of watching, they have the word of God to shed its needful light upon their path. But when the day star shall arise in their hearts, or the morning star be given to the overcomers, they will be taken into so close a relationship to Christ that their hearts will be fully illuminated with his Spirit, and they will walk in his light. Then they will no longer need the sure word of prophecy, which now shines as a light in a dark place. Hasten on, O glorious hour, when the light of heaven's bright day shall rise upon the pathway of the little flock, and beams of glory from the eternal world shall gild their banners!'   

He Knows - Repent

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

 

Jesus speaks to the third church. A church that heard the message when John's writing circulated. A church that heard the message in the historical time period intended, and a church that has heard the message throughout the many years since it was given. All God's people that make us His church hear, understand, and keep these words, these truths given. May we discern right now as He would have us discern all that he'd have us know.

 

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 know us.

He knows where we live.

He knows.

He knows where Satan's seat is.

He knows that even in such a place His people hold fast to the name of Jesus Christ. He knows they have not denied their faith even when one of their own was killed for his faith right there where Satan dwells.

 

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. 

 

Holding fast is important, it is also very important that was do not allow any idols in our lives. Idol worshiping comes in many forms make no mistake about that. You may not know of any food offerings given to idols but we serve our idols in various ways just as evil. We can't hold on to idols, we just can't. We mustn't serve anything or anyone in worship other than God. Committing fornication is equivalent to idol serving because we leave the purity of having a husband in exchange for living outside the marriage relation as if we were married but are not it's living a lie. Surely the -them that hold- these doctrines must change their ways.

 

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

 

Our Lord and Savior hates all that has anything to do with serving other gods, false gods, all of which are part of Satan's work.

 

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

 

Repent- TURN FROM the evil- if we don't turn away from the evil and choose Christ over the evil, Christ will destroy us along with the evil.

 

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. 

 

The hidden manna- the hidden heavenly food- the words that come out of our Savior's mouth- the bread of life. The white stone with a new name. You've heard the saying- written in stone and when that's said it's meant that it is something irrevocable, something permanent. Given a white stone, a pure stone with a new name- a name given to us by Christ - how amazing that will be! We know that a few times in the Bible those chosen by God were given new names - Abram became Abraham, Jacob became Israel… new names, new names with new meanings. May we be among those who are given a white stone with a new name written.

 

*******

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). '

 

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.

 

 

He Was Dead and He Is Alive.

Jesus tells John to write- 

 

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; 

 

He is the FIRST and He is the LAST. He was DEAD and He is ALIVE.

 

I have to take a moment here to include this bit of insight. Why is it important that Jesus is alive after death? Seriously, why? I ask this because most people seem to believe we are ALL alive after we die, right? Ask several people you know if they believe their dead loved ones are in heaven right now? What kind of response do you think you'll get? Yes, yes…yes… it's a common belief now. So again, why is Jesus being alive after dying important? Supposedly all people live after death so Jesus living after dying is no great feat. You may interject that it's important because Jesus lived after dying with His flesh body where others who die are not in their flesh bodies any longer. Jesus could interact with others in their flesh bodies, others can't. These are important truths, but is that all it means to have eternal life and salvation? You get to put your floating self that has been alive since you died back into your body?  If this is what it means WHY aren't we told this part at all? Why doesn't God's word go into great detail on this aspect? Why are we left to wonder about it all? Where are we told in God's word that we get to float out of our bodies after death and are able to visit earth and our loved ones whenever we want, but they won't know it? That we get to watch all their heartache and sorrow, tortures and agonies, dying because we can see it all- oh, and the part about no more tears or sorrow in heaven- that isn't really true, right? Because what person in any form- spirit or body could watch a loved one in pure agony and not feel their heart break? Do you understand what I'm saying? God's word does NOT support our continuing to live on with our ability to think, reason, know, praise after we die. God's word supports death being a sleep. Death is a sleep because it is temporary, just like sleep that isn't death's sleep is temporary. Death is a sleep because we aren't conscious of any thoughts we are having while we sleep. We may dream but dreams are not under our control in any way at all whatsoever, we are not conscious in our dreams. Death is a sleep because the next thing we know after we fall asleep is waking up again. And God's word tells us this…

 

1Th 4:13  But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 

1Th 4:14  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 

1Th 4:15  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 

1Th 4:16  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 

1Th 4:17  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 

1Th 4:18  Wherefore comfort one another with these words. 

 

Do you see it? Do you understand? Those that die in Christ, will wake up at the last trump when the Lord descends with a shout. If you are already awake - conscious in spirit form after you've died, then why would you need to be woken up? You KNOW what it means to wake up- you have to be sleeping in order to be woken up. IF you were already conscious why isn't the word of God telling us that the spirit bodies are reunited with their flesh bodies? Why not? WHY NOT?

 

Yes, it may seem I'm caught up on this point because I speak of it so often, but it's truth that so many are BLIND to and want to remain BLIND to so they can placate themselves with the comforting belief that death isn't nothingness, that loved ones are still around them and know things- like they love them and miss them. They want this lie to be truth because it makes them feel good somehow. Instead of finding the greatest comfort in knowing their loved ones DO NOT see them and all their struggles and pains, and the agonies of the entire world, but are sleeping and have no pain - emotional, mental, physical to witness, they focus on their self and the own emotional need for the comfort of still believing the loved one lives on in a better place. They deny completely the reality of death.  They ignore the Bible truth in favor of lies.

 

When I read Jesus saying to John that He is the FIRST and the LAST, that He was DEAD but is ALIVE- it truly is miraculous because He woke from death's sleep and came forth from the grave, His body had seen no corruption, His body had not begun any sort of decay. However, He didn't want to be touched at all until He'd gone to the Father.

 

Joh_20:17  Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

 

He hadn't gone out of His body, His spirit hadn't left His dead body the moment He breathed His last and gone to heaven like people believe happens. He stayed in death's sleep until God raised Him from the grave, waking Him from death's sleep. Jesus interacted with others after waking from death, but it wasn't until He'd gone to heaven to see His Father and returned that He allowed others to touch Him.

 

Truly, Jesus' being DEAD and ALIVE is incredibly miraculous and this death and living after death has only been allotted to a few compared to the many, many, many millions, trillions of people that have lived and died.

 

Continuing on with the vision John was receiving from Jesus-

 

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. 

 

To the second of the seven churches Jesus was leaving messages for-

 

He knows their works, He knows their tribulations, He knows their poverty… yet He knows they are rich. HE knows their blasphemy- those who call themselves Jews but are not, but are of the church of Satan himself!

 

They aren't to fear any of the things they suffer.

 

The devil would put some of them in prison, trying them for ten days (prophecy ten days- ten years?) but they would still be faithful until they died. If they died faithful they would get a crown of life from Jesus.

 

We have to listen, we have to hear what the Spirit is saying to God's people. God's people will not be hurt in the second death- they will not be a part of the second death- the death from which there is no life after.

 

*******

 

Now, I want to take something from a previous study and copy it here- please take the time to read it.

 

'seIf, 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 church- 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'

 

First Love - Jesus

Jesus in this miraculous vision given to John is telling John what to write down.

 

In the vision, Jesus is has seven stars in His right hand and is standing in the middle of seven candlesticks. We are told by Jesus that the stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven candlesticks are the seven churches.

 

Jesus is at the center of the perfect church, of this there can be no doubt whatsoever. These followers of Christ- for that is what a church is made up of- Christ followers- they need the messages Christ has for them. The angel of the church is a messenger, angels are messengers, and they are to take messages of Christ written to them, and give them to their churches. Christ did not give these messages for private use- all are to read, to understand, and to keep the things written in this book. These messengers have an obligation to give the message to those in need of it. To the very first of the churches in this seven church structure they need the following message and in turn- WE NEED THIS MESSAGE, and throughout time this message would be needed and pertinent. The multi-use of the message is not something strange at all. So much of God's entire written word to us has messages for the present when they were written and throughout the future. God's word is something powerful and as such we don't dare try to constrain it by our limited comprehension.

 

*

 

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; 

 

Jesus tells them that HE knows their works, their labor, their patience. Jesus knows they hate evil. Jesus knows that they try those who claim to be important Christ followers and because they try(test) them they realize they are not true important followers of Christ, but liars.  Jesus tells them that He knows of their patience and their work they do for Him, and their not fainting as they work.  Jesus knows all the good things they do for Him as being His followers. Recognizing the good from this church Jesus is giving them praise for their efforts but He can't stop there at the praise to do so would be to risk the church failing by not recognizing its own peril.

 

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. 

 

Jesus has some issue with His followers, they have left their first love. They have lost sight of their first love. Their first love being- Christ crucified and risen, the salvation offered by grace through Christ's sacrifice- this is the first love of all Christ followers.

 

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

 

Jesus wants these followers to remember where they were in their relationship with Him and He wants them to repent. He wants them to comprehend their wrong path and give that up. He wants them to do as they did in the beginning of their following Him.  If they don't do this, if they don't repent and return to their origins then He will have no choice but to quickly go to them and keep this church as being His, it would no longer be a church of Christ's unless they repent.

 

Yes, they hate the actions of those who are known to be hated by true Christ followers, and this is a good thing, but it doesn't mean they don't need to repent. Christ hates the deeds of the ones called Nicolaitans and from what can be garnered through the Bible and historical writings, the Nicolaitans were a false Christ following group that held pagan practices that God has forever despised.

 

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. 

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

 

Jesus wants these that follow Him to remember Him as they first came to Him, and to repent of their turning from their beginning ways, their first love of Him. If they listen, if they repent and return to their first love of Him they will overcome and in overcoming they will be allowed to eat of the tree of life which is in the middle of God's paradise.

 

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. 

 

Truly this message is applicable for all who come to Christ.

 

Even now so many people start out following Christ only to start to follow the paths of others makings, not Christ's. So many leave their first love of Christ and fall in love with the ways of man. So many hate the deeds of those who are known Christ haters, God despisers, and even hate the deeds if they are known as blatantly contradictory to God's words though the professors of these deeds are supposed Christ followers. Yet, so many refuse to overcome, refuse to repent of their ways and return to Christ, and Christ only.

 

May we who read this message to the church, today, repent of all that would keep us from our first love, Christ. Let Him be first, before all others in all things in our lives, let Him be first. Don't let a single other human being, don't let a single other practice instituted by man and not fully sanctioned by Christ to keep us from Him, repent, turn away from all things that would keep us from Christ, all things! Please, Lord Jesus, we repent! We need You as our first love, not and forever!!!!!!! Please forgive our wandering ways, forgive our arrogance, forgive our trying to substitute Your ways with ours, forgive us for being seduced away to love others that are mere imitations of You and Your love! Save us, Lord Jesus, save us!  Thank you!!!!!!! Thank you!

 

All glory, honor and praise to You, Lord now and always!!!!!!! 

Write What Was, What Is, What Will Be.

John saw Jesus when he turned around. The vision before him was something quite spectacular. Try to picture it as you read…

 

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

 

SON OF MAN - JESUS

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.

Mat_9:6  But that ye may know that the SON OF MAN hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.

 

Son of Man- Jesus- standing in the middle of seven candlesticks.

Jesus - dressed completely- a robe and a golden girdle about His person.

Jesus - His hair white like wool, white as snow.

Jesus - His eyes like fire.

Jesus - His feet like burning brass.

Jesus - His voice loud, reverberating.

Jesus - Seven stars in His right hand.

Jesus - Out of his mouth- a sharp, TWO-EDGED SWORD.

 

Eph 6:17  … the SWORD of the Spirit, which is the word of God

Heb 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. 

 

At this glorious sight John fainted.

 

Rev 1:17  And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead.

 

Jesus then touched John with His right hand, the hand holding seven stars, and He spoke to John.

 

Rev 1:17… And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me,

 

Jesus said-

Rev 1:17… 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. 

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

 

Jesus didn't want John frightened, He told John that He was the first and the last, the one that lived and died, and lives now forever. Jesus told John that He held the keys of the grave and death. What amazing truths. Surely John was comforted upon hearing that this miraculous being before Him was none other than His Savior! And His Savior had come to him now after all these years and wanted him to write down what he had seen, things that were right then and things that would be at another time- prophecy- the future.

 

Having comforted John and reiterating the reason for the vision- Jesus wasted no time but began to tell John more of what he would need to write.

 

Those seven stars that John had seen in Jesus hand, and the seven golden candlesticks Jesus had been standing in the middle of were both symbols of something else.

 

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. 

 

Seven stars- seven angels of the seven churches.  What seven churches- the ones mentioned just a few verses ago. The churches of perfect symbolism - the perfect church.

 

Prophecy. Stars-Angels. Candlesticks-Churches.  Jesus surrounded by the churches symbolizing the church He would have perfected, with angels to be with the church as it perfected.

 

More tomorrow by the grace and will of our LORD!

 

 

Heavenly Vision.

Rev 1:12  And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks

 

John hadn't turned when he heard the voice like a trumpet behind him, but after the message was given- Rev 1:11  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. 

 

John turned around to look.  Had he been too scared to turn instantly? Startled? It wouldn't be surprising if he was scared. He did turn though and this is what he saw…

 

…And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks

 

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. 

 

There are seven lamps in the temple God told Moses to make from the example of the heavenly temple. There are seven lamps (candlesticks) in the heavenly temple. John in the Spirit is seeing a vision of the heavenly temple.

 

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. 

 

Jesus ascended to heaven to do what….

 

Mar 16:19  So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. 

 

Heb 1:3  Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high

 

Heb 4:14  Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 

 

Heb 9:23  It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 

 

Zec_6:13  Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.

 

Jesus ascended to heaven where our heavenly Father resides. There in heaven is a temple, a temple that was the example for the earthly temple. Jesus as our High Priest ministers in the heavenly temple.

 

That John was given a vision of Jesus in the heavenly temple is not surprising.

 

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

 

Jesus, the Son of man. What a wondrous vision of our Savior. Such wonder, such majesty, so incredibly amazing. Can we imagine John seeing this miraculous sight, this vision.

 

More on all this tomorrow by the GRACE of our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST!