TABLE OF CONTENTS

IN ORDER TO SEE THE TRUTH’S CONTAINED IN THIS POST ONE MUST READ ALL THE POSTS IN ORDER, FROM THE FIRST ONE TO THE LAST.  TO READ IN ANY OTHER MANNER WILL ONLY CAUSE GREAT CONFUSION.

Our prayer is, “…That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him:  the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:  and has put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the Head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fulness of Him that fills all in all…”  (Eph 1:17-23)

The Book of Revelation Unveiled

A Vision and Three Prophecies

What TEMPLE you say?

SEEING the BODY of CHRIST: read BEFORE reading The Revelation

Chapter 1 – The Revelation OF Jesus Christ

Chapter 2 – The Seven Churches (part one)

Chapter 3 – The Seven Churches (part two)

Chapter 4 – Accompanying Things

Chapter 5 – The Lion of the tribe of Juda

Chapter 6 – Four Horsemen

Chapter 7 – Four Angels

Chapter 8 – Seventh Seal

Chapter 9 – Fallen Star

Chapter 10 – Another Mighty Messenger

Chapter 11 – Measuring the Temple, the Alter, AND them that worship therein

Chapter 12 – The Beautiful Woman

Chapter 13 – Resurrected Head Beast/Mark of the Beast

Chapter 14 – 144,000 with the Lamb

Chapter 15 – Victorious song of praise

Chapter 16 – Seven Vials

Chapter 17 – The Great Harlot: her judgment and the mystery of her

Chapter 18 – Merchant’s of the earth/earthy

Chapter 19 – The Lamb’s Wife (The Overcomer)

Chapter 20 – Kingdom Age

Chapter 21 – A New Heavens and A New Earth

Chapter 22 – Surely I come quickly

The Book of Revelation Unveiled

The most shocking truth’s ever seen concerning the Book of Revelation. It is nothing like you have ever read before.

A Vision and Three Prophecies

Approximately 20 years ago I was in prayer when I found myself standing in a gray hazy place where I could not see anything. The perception I had of the place in which I was standing was like an amphitheater or something of the sort where many people could be in attendance and, though I could not see if there was anyone present or not, it seemed as if there were a great many.

Then, from within my spirit, came forth a Voice as a great trumpet saying …

YOU BETTER WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE!!!

This voice was, of course, for my admonition and as an admonition to those in the vision whom I could not see. The Voice was of such magnitude that it physically knocked me off my knee’s and onto my side on the floor leaving me quite shaken for several minutes. After regaining my composure I related this vision to my wife and neither of us had any idea what was meant by this occurrence.

On the evening of 2/10/11 I was relating some of my experiences on the world wide web to my wife, which I had only recently began to participate in because I believed of the Lord that I should, and my wife said, “THIS IS THAT gray hazy place where you cannot SEE anyone.” When she said that the Spirit bore witness with my spirit that this is true.

THREE PROPHECIES and the INTERPRETATIONS THEREOF

The FIRST prophecy:  I was in prayer on January 24, 1993 and the Word of the Lord came unto me in this manner…

Revelation 22:10 – 1John 2:8 – 1John 3:3 – Revelation 18:2 – 2Corinthians 6:17-18 – 1Peter 4:17 – Hebrews 12:25-27 – Romans 13:12 – Mark 7:10-13 – Matthew 5:44 – Luke 6:28-30 – James 4:8-10 – Revelation 22:17.

I did not know what these Scriptures said but I wrote down the Books, the chapters and the verses just as I had been given them of the Lord and then I went to the Word to discover what, if anything, they meant.  That is not to say that Scripture, in and of itself, could have no meaning for we know that “Every Word of God is pure.” (Pro 30:5a) I just did not know if what I had received would make any sense as I had never before had this occur in such manner.  I will share with you what the Lord had me write, with respect to these references.  But first there are two other prophetic words to be set forth.

The SECOND prophecy was given by a sister in the Lord on September 19, 1993.   Her prophecy is as such: “I saw, in the spirit, a huge black pot such as my Grandmother used to do her laundry.  In this pot I saw the Word of God being boiled and stirred, just as I saw my Grandmother do.  Then the Word of the Lord came unto me saying, Set the pot to boil, skim off the scum and the pure ingredient will come forth.”  (Ref: Eze 24)

The THIRD prophecy came forth by the same sister on September 26, 1993. “The Word of the Lord came unto me saying, There has been wild gourds, or poison, thrown in the pot through wrong teachings and there is death in the pot, but I am sending the prophet, the prophetic ministry, to throw in the meal and heal the pottage.” (Ref: 1Kings 4:38)

This is the sister’s filling up or interpretation of these two prophecies:  “What I hear the Lord to be saying here is that the Word of God has been either taught wrong or not taught at all, and what the people have been fed is killing them spiritually.  But, the Lord is sending the prophetic gift into the Church to feed the people the Truth, “the meal that healed the pottage.”

The interpretation of the FIRST prophecy is on this wise:

Thus says the Lord, the time is at hand, the darkness is past, the light has come.  What time you say?  It is the time for the purification of My saints.

Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. Wherefore come out from among them, and be you separate, says the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty. For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God. See that you refuse not Him that speaks. For if they escaped not who refused Him that spoke on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from Him that speaks from heaven: Whose Voice then shook the earth: but now He has promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. And this Word, Yet once more, signifies the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

For Moses said, Honor your father and your mother; and, Whoso curses father or mother, let him die the death: but you say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever you might be profited by me; he shall be free. And you suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which you have delivered: and many such like things do you.

For it is written, I SAY, “Love your enemies,” but you say, “Lofty ideals.” I SAY, “do good to them which hate you,” but you say, “I’ll just stay as far away from them as I can.” I SAY, “bless them that curse you,” but you say, “I don’t appreciate that, they had no right to speak to me like that.” I SAY, “pray for them who mistreat or take advantage of you,” but you say, “That’s rude or inconsiderate of them.” I SAY, “give to everyone who asks of you,” but you say, “If they’re deserving, or if it’s convenient for me.” I SAY, “and of him who takes away your goods ask them not again,” but you say, “Hey, that’s mine give it back.”

Repent therefore and, “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up.”

“And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that hears say, Come. And let him that is athirst come.  And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”

I SAY, “the time is at hand.” I SAY, “the time is at hand.” I SAY, “the time is at hand.”

What TEMPLE you say?

The Apostle Peter spoke on this wise with respect to where God dwells, “Howbeit the most High dwells not in temples made with hands; as says the prophet, Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool: what house will you build Me? says the Lord:  or what is the place of My rest?” (Acts 7:48-49)

First, we SEE before the crucifixion…

John 2:19-21 – “Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this Temple, and in three days I will raise it up.  Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and will you rear it up in three days? But He spoke of the temple of His body.”

Then we SEE after the resurrection…

1Corinthians 3:16-17 – “Know you not that you ARE the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?  If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple you ARE.”

1Corinthians 6:19 – “What?  know you not that your body IS the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which you have of God, and you are not your own?”

2Corinthians 6:16 – “And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? for you ARE the temple of the living God; as God has said, I will dwell IN them, and walk IN them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”

Ephesians 2:19-22 – “Now therefore you are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone; in whom all the building fitly framed together grows unto an holy temple in the Lord: in whom you also ARE built together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”

1Peter 2:5 – “You also, as lively stones, ARE built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.”

1Peter 2:9-10 – “But you ARE a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light: which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.”

By the Scripture’s the saint’s ARE the Temple the Lord is building in these last days and, that being the case, shouldn’t this be THE ONE WE ARE focusing our attention on?

SEEING the BODY of CHRIST: read BEFORE reading The Revelation

In order to properly SEE and understand the position of a Christian with respect to the Lord Jesus Christ it is essential to SEE what God has to say about such matters.  So, we have listed the Scriptures that bring out God thought concerning the Body of Christ in order that we may SEE things from His perspective, as it is the only way to properly enter into the things of God.

THE BODY OF CHRIST REVEALED…

Ephesians 3:4-6 – “Whereby, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the MYSTERY OF CHRIST which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is NOW revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; that the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel.”

Colossians 1:24-27 – “Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for His body’s sake, which is the Church: whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God; eventhe mystery which has been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to His saints:  to whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

Colossians 1:18 – “And He is the Head of the body, the church:  who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence.”

Ephesians 5:29-30 – “For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord the church: for WE ARE members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones.”

Romans 12:4-5 – “For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:  so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.”

Ephesians 4:11-16 – “And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: till WE all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in ALL things, which is the Head Christ: from Whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplies, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, making increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”

Ephesians 4:4-6 – “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as you are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, Who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”

Ephesians 2:10-21 – “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them. Wherefore remember, that you being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: but now in Christ Jesus you who sometimes were far off are made close by the blood of Christ. For He is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of partition between us; having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in Himself of two ONE NEW MAN, so making peace; and that He might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: and came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were close. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore you are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the Chief Corner Stone; in Whom all the building fitly framed together grows unto an HOLY TEMPLE in the Lord.”

1Corinthians 12:12-27 – “For as the body is one, and has many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is CHRIST. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Gentiles, whether bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing?  If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now has God set the members every one of them in the body, as it has pleased Him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body.  And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of you:  nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. No, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: and those members of the body, which we think to be less honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no need: but God has tempered the body together, having given more abundant honor to that part which lacked: that there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now YOU ARE THE BODY of CHRIST, and members in particular.”

1Corinthians 10:16-17 – “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ?  The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that One Bread.”

1Corinthians 6:15-20 – “Know you not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot?  God forbid. What?  know you not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body?  for two, says He, shall be one flesh. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. Flee fornication.  Every sin that a man does is without the body; but he that commits fornication sins against his own body. What?  know you not that YOUR BODY is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which you have of God, and you are not your own? For you are bought with a price:   therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

Colossians 3:9-11 – “Lie not one to another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his deeds; and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created Him: where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free:  but Christ is all, and in all.”

Ephesians 1:22-23 – “And has put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the Head over all to the church, WHICH IS HIS BODY, the fulness of Him that fills all in all.”

Colossians 3:15 – “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also YOU are called in one body; and be you thankful.”

Colossians 2:18-19 – “Let no man beguile you of your reward…And not holding the Head, from which ALL the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increases with the increase of God.”

Colossians 2:16-17 – “Let no man therefore judge you in…Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body IS of Christ.”

Colossians 2:8-11 – “BEWARE lest any man spoil you through Jewish sophistry and empty deceit, after the precepts of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in Him dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And YOU are complete in Him, which is the Head of all principality and power: in whom also you are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ.”

A D M O N I T I O N: The Revelation OF Jesus Christ must be read in order.  If you chose to jump from one place to another out of curiosity you will not SEE the message to the Churches.  The different Chapter’s will make no sense to you, as The Book of Revelation is an unfolding of symbol’s from beginning to end, and without following the unveiling in proper order it will indeed become GREAT CONFUSION.

May the love of God and the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.  Amen.

Chapter 1 – The Revelation OF Jesus Christ

Verse 1 – The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him, to show unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass; and He sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant John

The Revelation – The Greek word for revelation is, apokalupsis, which means, an uncovering, an unveiling. This is the same Greek word used by the Apostle Paul when he wrote to the Christians at Ephesus saying, “…How that by revelation (apokalupsis) He (the Lord Jesus) made known unto me (the Apostle Paul) the mystery…” (Eph 3:3)

This is not a Revelation, an uncovering, an unveiling by Jesus Christ, but an uncovering, unveiling OF Jesus Christ. What is the distinction? The Book of Revelation IS NOT, as some would suppose, a revealed truth BY the Lord Jesus Christ concerning future world events. It is an uncovering of the Truth OF the Lord Jesus Christ in His completeness; BOTH of the Head and the body. It is an uncovering of truths concerning the Church, the body OF Christ; her life before the Lord, and her spiritual condition because of her position before Him. It is an unveiling of events, that take place concerning the Church throughout the centuries; from the birth of the Church, to the final disposition of all things in respect to the Church age. It also takes us through the millennium and then, “…He that sat upon the throne says, Behold, I make all things new…” (Rev 21:5)

“…Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yes, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we Him no more…” (2Cor 5:16) WHAT IS THIS SAYING ? Our Lord Jesus was, and is, an individual Man until He was resurrected from the dead: but since that event He is no longer only the Head, He also has a many membered body, which is the Church, the bride of Christ.

We see this clearly with the Apostle Paul’s Damascus Road experience in that the Lord Jesus, the Head, and the Church, the body of Christ, are indeed one. “…And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, and desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: and he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? And he said, Who are you, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom you persecute: it is hard for you to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what will You have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told you what you must do. And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man…” (Acts 9:1-7)

This inseparability is also seen where some particular doomed one’s asked the Lord questions, and what His response was to them. Here are the questions and the answer, “…Then shall they also answer Him, saying, Lord, when saw we You an hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto You? Then shall He answer them, saying, Truly I say unto you, Inasmuch as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to Me…” (Mat 25:44, 45)

To understand better the inseparable relationship between the Lord, “…the Last Adam…” (1Cor 14:45) and His bride, His body, let us look at the picture of the “…first man Adam…” (1Cor 14:45) and his bride. “…And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; and the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made He a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh:she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leavehis father and his mother,and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh…” (Gen 2:21-24)

Much could be said about this picture of Christ and His bride, however, in this instance, only one thing needs to be pointed out. We see that it was Adam that said, “…she shall be called woman…” (Gen 2:23) And, once more, “…Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living…” (Gen 3:20) But, if we pay attention to how God named them we shall see NO separation or distinction. “…Male and female created He them (plural;) and blessed them, and called their name Adam (singular,) in the day when they were created…” (Gen 5:2) God acknowledges plurality on the one hand, but, insofar as how He sees them, He sees them as Adam: He see’s them as ONE. Let us look at one further witness to this.

“…For the perfecting of the saints (plural,) for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body (singular) of Christ: till we (plural) all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man (singular,) unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the Head Christ: from whom the whole body (singular) fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplies, according to the effective working in the measure of every part, makes increase of the body (singular) unto the edifying of itself (singular) in love…” (Eph 4:13-16)

In conclusion of this matter: a revelation OF Jesus (Head) Christ (the body) IS an unveiling of what was, and is, and is to come with respect to, “…what (is) the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe…” (Eph 1:18, 19) The entire Book of Revelation is an uncovering of things and events that pertain to the life, walk and state of being of the Church, the body, and its relationship and standing with respect to the Lord Jesus, The Head. It is, from beginning to end, prophetic symbolism that must be interpreted by the answers (keys) that are found IN THE BIBLE, for the Lord Jesus Himself said, “…I will give unto you the keys of the kingdom of heaven…” (Mat 16:19)

FROM: “…and I HEARD behind me…and I turned TO SEE the voice that spoke with me. And being turned I SAW…” (Rev 1:10, 12)

TO: “…He which testifies these things says, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus…” (Rev 22:20)

And our prayer is with the Apostle Paul that, “…the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him: the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenlies, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and has put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the Head over all things to THE CHURCH HIS BODY , THE FULLNESS OF HIM THAT FILLS ALL IN ALL …” (Eph 1:17-23)

“…to show unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass…”

Again: “…to show to the slaves of Him things which must occur with speed…” This is a strange saying, if, here we are, almost two thousand years away from the resurrection and ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ and we are still waiting for something that is recorded in the Book of Revelation to come to pass. Do you suppose the Lord Jesus made a bad choice of words here? Yes, we know, “…that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day…” (2Pet 3:8) But, we do not think the Lord Jesus said, “…must occur with speed…” just to throw us off. Maybe WE just haven’t understood the Book of Revelation correctly. For, as it is written, “…God is not the Author of confusion…” (1Cor 14:33)

“…and He sent and signified it (by the use of symbols) by His angel…” An angel, a messenger, can be either a created being or a human being. We see, in Revelation 1:20, “…The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches…” It is accepted that the angels represent the spiritual leaders, the human beings over the Church. This messenger that is sent to explain, by the use of symbols, is indeed a resurrected and glorified human being. For, we see it written, “…And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which showed me these things. Then he said unto me, See you do it not: for I am your fellowservant, and of your brothers the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this Book: worship God…” (Rev 22:8, 9) A created being does not keep the sayings of this Book.

Verse 2 – Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw

“…Who bare record of the word of God…” John testifies to the fact of, “…the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us…” (Jn 1:14) And, again, the statement made by John where he said, “…That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of Life…” (1Jn 1:1)

“… and of the testimony of Jesus Christ…” Testimony, witness, evidence here points to the fact of John having witnessed the Man Jesus in His humanity, and John is also attesting to the evidence of His being the Christ, the Anointed One. We note that it does not say here the Lord Jesus Christ, this proclamation is not of His Lordship, but, of His humanity and His anointing as the Christ.

We are exhorted by the Lord to hear, “…Who has ears to hear, let him hear…” (Mat 13:9) We need to be certain that we do hear. Our Lord also instructed us to, “…Take heed what you hear…” (Mar 4:24) We are also required to “…prove all things..,” thereby verifying for ourselves that what we are hearing is the Truth. And one further instruction from the Lord is that we need to, “…Take heed therefore how you hear…” (Luk 8:18) It is extremely important to hear correctly.

“…and of all things that he saw…”  With respect to seeing we can see, in the Scriptures, that NOT SEEING can be a major problem. At the time of the Lord Jesus’ visitation we find Him saying, “…and seeing you shall see, and shall not perceive…” (Mat 13:14) We would say to ourselves, “Well, if we had been there at the time the Lord Jesus was present in Jerusalem we certainly would have recognized The Truth.” Are we sure we would have? That is a question which we can answer positively only if we are sure that we see the real Jesus now. It has been nearly two thousand years since our Lord ascended and we find, early on in Church history, the Apostle Paul warning the Corinthians to beware of anyone preaching, “…another Jesus, whom we have not preached…” (2Cor 11:4) Have we been taught another Jesus? Do we know for sure that we are continuing, “…steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine..?” (Acts 2:42) These are questions that we each have to answer for ourselves. For, “…If any man teaches otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing…” (1Tim 6:3) The question remains, are we being taught the wholesome words of our Lord Jesus Christ?

“…For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous…” (1Jn 5:3) What are His commandments? If we look at Matthew chapters 5, 6, and 7 and Luke chapter 6 we begin to understand: for these are the first teachings, the wholesome words of the Lord Jesus to the disciples. When the Lord said, “…But I say unto you, That you resist not evil: but whosoever shall strike you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue you at the law, and take away your coat, let him have your cloke also. And whosoever shall compel you to go a mile, go with him two. Give to him that asks you, and from him that would borrow of you turn not you away. You have heard that it has been said, You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that you may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for He makes His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust…” (Mat 5:39-45) The Lord Jesus always says what He means and means what He says. But, we say these sayings are impossible to attain. However, that is not what God says, “…For with God nothing shall be impossible…” (Luk 1:37)

Our Lord Jesus ended these teachings of His thus: “…Enter you in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and few there be that find it. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. You shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree brings forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that brings not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits you shall know them…” (Mat 7:13-20)

Good fruit is from the Tree of Life. And we have just read that it is these teachings, these wholesome words, of the Lord Jesus which leads unto Life: The Tree of. Therefore, if these teachings, these fruits, are not manifest in the life of whomever is the prophet beware. We must remember the words of the Lord in that, “…Not every one that says unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of My Father which is in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name? and in Your name have cast out devils? and in Your name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never, at any time, approved of you: go from My presence, you that were lawless (disregarded the perfect law of liberty.) Therefore whosoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that hears these sayings of Mine, and does them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it…” (Mat 7:21-27) For, as it is written, “…whosoever looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed (approved) in his deed…” (Jas 1:25)

The one’s to whom the Lord Jesus says, “…I did not at anytime recognize or approve of you: go from My presence you lawless ones..,” is not saying to them that they aren’t saved. He is simply stating that the ministries they had, or participated in, were not approved of Him because, “…if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully…” (2Tim 2:5) These one’s, to whom the Lord is speaking, are false prophets and misguided sheep; nothing more, nothing less.

Verse 3 – Blessed is he that reads, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand

For the most part this verse speaks for itself. We need to read and hear the words of this prophecy, and to keep our eye on, watch, the things which are written therein: for the occasion for them to begin to take place was at hand, even as they were being written. Also, we most certainly cannot overlook the blessing that is available to those who do read, hear and obey the words of this prophecy.

We also cannot overlook the fact that this Book of the Revelation was written and available in the first century Church. And they were instructed to pay attention to these writings, as some things had already begun, and other things would begin in short order.

Verse 4 – John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from Him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before His throne

Seven, in Scripture, is the number of perfection, though it is today’s temporary perfection rather than the permanent perfection of eternity. We see this principle clearly: seven days in a week, seven parables of Matthew chapter thirteen, the seven churches, seven candlesticks, seven angels, seven seals, seven trumpets, seven bowls, etc.. All these sevens speak of temporary perfection, they point to temporal completion not eternal perfection.

Asia is where the seven churches of the Revelation, the unveiling, are located. As we are looking at a symbolic prophetic utterance we will need to see and understand what every word in this revealing means and symbolizes. The word Asia means, muddy, boggy. And, as we can clearly see from Scripture, it most assuredly did not take long for the Church to be in such a place.

1. Judaizers – “…Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, You must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment…” (Acts 15:24)

2. False Apostles – “…For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light…” (2Cor 11:13, 14) The word transformed in this verse is more aptly interpreted masquerades or disguised as. When do we see Satan disguised as a messenger of light? We see him preaching (misquoting) God’s Word in the Garden, and we see him misusing Scripture with the Lord Jesus in trying to get Him to fail. So, also, do the false Apostles, false teachers, false prophets, misuse Scripture, whether knowingly or unknowingly, to cause the Church to err.

3. False Teachers – “…But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction…” (2Pet 2:1)

4. Envy; Strife; Divisions – “…For you are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are you not carnal, and walk as men..?” (1Cor 3:3)

5. Heresies – “…For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you…” ((1Cor 11:19) Heresies means, an opinion, especially a self-willed opinion, which is substituted for submission to Truth, and leads to division and the formation of sects.

6. Wolves in sheep’s clothing – “…For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock…” (Acts 20:29, 30)

7. Church leaders who desire the preeminence – “…I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, receives us not. Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither does he himself receive the brethren, and forbids them that would, and casts them out of the church…” (3Jn 1:9, 10) As we can see, in these assemblies, it is not, “…Let the prophets speak two or three and let the others judge…” (1Cor 14:29) It is, “I’ve got the message, here it is, and if you do not agree with the teaching you will find yourself cast out.

As we can clearly see, by the above listed references, the Church was and still is in Asia; a boggy, muddy, unclear place.

“… Grace be unto you, and peace, from Him which is, and which was, and which is to come…” Even in the face of our being in Asia the eternal, everlasting God, in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ, speaks unmerited favor towards us.

“…and from the seven Spirits which are before His throne…” In essence, and existence, God’s Spirit is One; in the intensified function and work of God’s operation, God’s Spirit is sevenfold. This is pictured in the lampstand of Zechariah 4:2. “…And said (the angel) unto me, What do you see? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof…” One candlestick, seven lamps.

Verse 5 – And from Jesus Christ, who is the Faithful Witness, and the First Begotten of the dead, and the Prince of the kings of the earth. Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood

“… And from Jesus Christ…” Here, we see again the Man Jesus (which speaks of His humanity) Christ (pointing to His being the Anointed of God) who was, “…in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin…” (Heb 4:15) Therefore, HE IS the Faithful, the Trustworthy Witness (Martyr,) the First Begotten of the dead, and the Chief Ruler of the kings, the foundations of power, of the earth. Unto Him that has loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood…

Verse 6 – And has made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. AMEN

Verse 7 – Behold, He comes with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen.

“…Behold, He comes with clouds…” Clouds, as a symbol, has to be understood so we will start with, “…I (Daniel) saw in the night vision, 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 7:13) The Hebrew word, im, here interpreted with, means, together with or in conjunction with. HOLD THAT THOUGHT.

It says here the, “…Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him, the Lord Jesus, near before Him…” WHO ARE THEY? The only things that we see in the scene which we have before us other than the Ancient of Days and the Son of man are the clouds. Are there literal clouds, like the ones we see in the sky, in the heavenly realm where the Ancient of Days is? Have we ever seen a cloud bring anyone anywhere? Let us look and see if the Lord, by the Spirit, has at anytime used the word cloud or clouds symbolically in Scripture.

“…A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness…” (Joel 2:2) We see clouds here used symbolically as that which blocks out or obscures light and causes darkness. (Ref: Zep 1:15)

“…These men are those…who are clouds without water…” (Jud 12 NASB) And, “…those (men) that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government…these are wells without water, clouds…” (2Pet 2:17) Here we have individual ungodly men, tares, who are spoken of symbolically by the Spirit as clouds. If false brethren are classified by the Lord as, “…clouds without water..,” we can rest assured that the true children of God are seen by the Lord as, “…clouds with water…”

“…Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses…” (Heb 12:1) The saints that have gone on before are said to encircle us in a grouping that is classified by the Lord as a cloud. Therefore, we can clearly see, by these referenced verses, that the word cloud or clouds, in Scripture, does not always have to be a puffy white thing. Also, we need to take a more detailed look at the ascension of the Lord Jesus to see what we see.

“…You have ascended on high, You have led captivity captive: You have received gifts for men…” (Psa 68:18) Rather than take us through a boring word study here let us just restate this Scripture after having done the study. “…You have ascended on high, You have led forth the prisoners that were taken (into captivity) leading them captive: You have received gifts for men…” This is again brought out by the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 4:8. “…Therefore He says, “When He ascended on high He led captive a host of captives, and gave gifts unto men…” (NASB) Vines Expository Dictionary says, “(margin reading, ‘…led a multitude of captives…’) seems to allude to a triumphal procession by which a victory was celebrated, the ‘captives’ taken forming part of the procession.” So, seeing these things, we ask the questions, “who are these prisoners, these captives, how did they get to be prisoners or captives, and where were they being held captive?”

“…Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (for until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of Him that was to come. But not as the offense, so also is the free gift. For if through the offense of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one Man, Jesus Christ, has abounded unto many. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offenses unto justification. For if by one man’s offense death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by One, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offense of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of One the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of One shall many be made righteous. Moreover the law entered, that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord…” (Rom 5:12-21)

There were Old Testament saints who became prisoners, as had we all, due to Adam’s transgression.  However, having been, “…justified by faith…” (Rom 3:28) they had right standing (righteousness) before God, and when they died they were held in a place of comfort. This place of holding was a place called Paradise. “…And Jesus said unto him (one of the thieves beside Him on the cross) “…Truly, I say unto you, To day shall you be with Me in paradise…” (Luk 23:43) This one, and all those who had died in faith, went to Paradise, but they were still prisoners none the less as they were still separated from God. They were unable to go into the presence of God until after the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ for, “…without the shedding of blood there is no remission (of sins)…” (Heb 9:22) But, we see, “…the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after His resurrection…” (Mat 27:52, 53)

What is being revealed to us in Psalms 68 and Ephesians 4 is that a host, a multitude of resurrected saints, ascended with our Lord “…when He ascended…” (Eph 4:8) This statement of “…WHEN He ascended…” tells us that this multitude of resurrected captives, these resurrected saints, went with the Lord Jesus when, at the same time as, He ascended from His place of ascension, which was the Mount of Olives, as the disciples looked on.

Can we discover the appearance of these resurrected saints and can we see them on the day of ascension? “…And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were frighted…” (Mar 16:5) The term used here, young man is, in the Greek, neaniskos, which means a youth under forty; no angel (Greek, angelos) here. And we see that the young man is clothed in a long white garment. “…And while they (the disciples) looked steadfastly toward heaven as He (Jesus) went up, behold, two men (Greek, aner, not angels, angelos) stood by them in white apparel…” (Acts 1:10) You can also see two men (aner) in Luke 24:4.

Therefore, with Scriptural certainty, we conclude that the saints, which were resurrected at the time of the Lord Jesus’ resurrection, were clothed in long white apparel, and we have discovered so far that at least two of them were on the Mount of Olives at the very moment our Lord ascended. There still remains some unanswered questions though. And those questions are, “what happened to all the host of resurrected saints, and where did they go?”

The Scriptures says that, “…When He ascended on high He led captive a host of captives…” (Eph 4:8) Let us therefore take a look at Acts 1:9. “…And when He (Jesus) had spoken these things, while they ( the disciples) beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight…” We need to define two items here.

1. Taken up – in the Greek epairō, meaning to lift, to raise (Vine’s Expository Dictionary.)

2. Received – in the Greek is, hupolambanō, meaning to take from below, that is, carry upward (Strong’s Concordance.) To take or bear up (hupo, “under.”) Vine’s Expository Dictionary.

Here, in Acts 1:9, is the only place in the New Testament where the Greek word hupolambanō is translated received. Walter Bauer’s A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Christian Literature translates thus: “…a cloud took Him up, out of their sight…” Now, using the proper definitions, let us look at this verse again and see if we can see what it really says.

“…While they beheld, He was lifted, He was raised up, and a cloud carried Him, a cloud took Him upward from beneath out of their sight…” (Acts 1:9) All right, lets put this together with the things we have just learned from Psalms and Ephesians and see what we have.

We see the Old Testament saints being resurrected and set free from the place in which they were held in captivity (Paradise) by the sacrifice of the Lord. We see them appearing all over the place clothed in long white apparel. On the day of ascension we see this cloud of white robed saints, for they were most certainly there in accordance with the Scriptures, carry the Lord Jesus upward from beneath and out of the disciples sight.

Remember, we asked you to hold the thought of the meaning of the word WITH in, “…came with the clouds of heaven…” (Dan 7:13) We just saw a cloud of white robed saints carrying the Lord Jesus “…upward from beneath…” And now we see the Lord Jesus, “…One like unto the Son of man coming with, together with, in conjunction with, at the same time as the clouds of heaven, the resurrected white robed saints, and they, the saints, brought Him, the Lord Jesus, in a triumphal procession near before Him (the Ancient of Days)…” (Dan 7:13 amplified)

We return to the Mount of Olives, the disciples, and the two men who stood by them in white apparel, “…Which also said, You men of Galilee, why stand you gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as you have seen Him go into heaven…” (Acts 1:10, 11) Let us now return to the verse which we have before us and see if we can discover what is in like manner.

“…Behold, He comes with clouds…” When the trump of God (1Thes 4:16,) the last trump (1Cor 15:52) shall sound, “…Behold, He comes with clouds, the resurrected, glorified saints of the Most High God; and every eye shall see Him; and they also which pierced Him; and all kindred of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen…” This is in like manner, as He left with clouds and He comes with clouds.

For it is written, “…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: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord…” (1Thes 4:16, 17) In the Greek text there is no “the” before the word clouds and we have removed it.

There is a distinction that needs to be brought out here with respect to the terms, with clouds (Rev 1:7,) and upon the cloud (Rev 14:14.) Here, in Revelation 1:7, where it says with clouds, the Greek word metah, interpreted with, means literally, to accompany, with. And, as we have discovered, each of us individually is a cloud.

In Revelation 14:13, John heard something, which we will discuss when we get to Revelation chapter fourteen. What we need to see at this point is what John beheld after he heard, in Revelation 14:14, and what John beheld was, “…a white cloud and upon the cloud sat one like unto the Son of man…” Here we see John say, like unto, and also we note that the word one, in the text, is an added word and we will take it out. The Greek word epi, here interpreted upon, is a primary preposition properly meaning superimposition. Also, the Greek word kathēmai, here interpreted sat, means sitting, residing. Further, the Greek word homoios, does mean like unto, that is similar in appearance or character.

A white cloud points to the Church, the body of Christ, as a singular entity. As it is written, “…For as the body is one, and has many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ…” (1Cor 12:12) Understanding these matters more clearly let us now see what we find.

Properly Revelation 14:14 reads as follows, “…And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and superimposed upon the cloud resided a similarity to the Son of man…” Now, that we can SEE it clearly, we discover that what John sees is a white cloud, THE BODY OF CHRIST , and superimposed, imprinted upon this cloud is the character, the attributes, the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ, The Head. We do know that if John were seeing the actual Person of the Lord Jesus he would not have used a descriptive word that means similar. John, of all people, would certainly have recognized the Lord Jesus if he saw Him. We point these things out now, as we will see much that requires us to understand clouds and cloud as we proceed on through the Book of Revelation.

Verse 8 – I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, says the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty

“…I AM…” “…And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and He said, This shall you say unto the children of Israel, I AM has sent me unto you…” (Exo 3:14) “…Jesus said unto them, Truly, truly, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I Am. Then took they (the Jews) up stones to cast at Him…” (Jn 8:58, 59) Here we find the proclamation by the Lord that He is indeed THAT I AM who sent Moses down into Egypt; and it was for this proclamation that the Jews sought to kill Him. “…The Jews sought the more to kill Him, because He not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God…” (Jn 5:18)

“…Alpha and Omega…” We all know that Alpha and Omega simply speaks to the fact that the Lord Jesus is from forever to forever.

“…the beginning and the ending…” This points to the fact that the Lord Jesus is, “…the beginning of the creation of God…” (Rev 3:14) And, to the fact that He has, “…made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He has purposed in Himself: that in the dispensation of the fulness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him…” (Eph 1:9, 10)  Therefore, He is “…the ending…” of this temporal creation of God as we know it.

“…which is, and which was and which is to come, the Almighty…” This is a statement made by the messenger who was speaking with John. And this resurrected, glorified saint who has been, since the ascension, in the very presence of the Lord Jesus in heaven assures John that the Lord Jesus is, that the Lord Jesus has always been and that the Lord Jesus will most certainly come again. He also declares to John that Jesus is, in fact, the LORD God Almighty!

Verse 9 – I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ

“…who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation…” The declaration your brother simply points to the fact that our relationship one with another is immediate family; now and forevermore. Tribulation, is the Greek word thlipsis, and means, more properly, affliction. This is the same word interpreted affliction in 1Thessalonians 1:6, “…and you became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction (thlipsis,) with joy of the Holy Spirit…” (Additional ref: Jas 1:27; 1Thes 3:7)

“…and in the kingdom…” John sees himself in the kingdom. Do we? As it is written, we should be giving thanks unto the Father, “…Who has delivered (past tense) us from the power of darkness, and has transferred us into the kingdom of his dear Son…” (Col 1:13) We need to exercise our faith and see ourselves in the proper place.

“…and the patience of Jesus Christ…” Patience – cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy: – enduring, patience, patient continuance (waiting.) “…Behold, we count them fortunate which have fortitude. You have heard of the patience (endurance) of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy…” (Jas 5:11) “…Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations (afflictions) also: knowing that affliction works patience (endurance;) and patience, experience; and experience, hope: and hope makes not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given unto us…” (Rom 5:1-5) Let us also participate in the, “…patience of Christ…”

“…for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ…” In verse two of this chapter we saw John as the one, “…who bare record OF the Word of God, and OF the testimony of Jesus Christ…” There, we understood that John was telling us of his experience regarding his. “…handling of the Word of Life..,” and his observing the Man Jesus in His humanity. Here, he is, “…on the isle that is called Patmos…” because of his witness FOR “…the word of God..,” and FOR “…the testimony of Jesus Christ…” John is exiled FOR speaking of WHAT HE SAW.

Verse 10 – I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet

There is a spiritual principal being set in this verse as John writes, “…I…HEARD…” In verse twelve John wrote, “…I TURNED…and being turned I SAW…” As we go through the Book of Revelation we have to use care in distinguishing what John heard from what John saw. For, what you HEAR does not always match up exactly with what you SEE.

“…in the Spirit…” There is no capitalization in the Greek text, the language in which the New Testament was originally written. So, to be in the spirit simply points to the fact that, “…God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth…” (Jn 4:24) For, “…The hour comes, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeks such to worship Him…” (Jn 4:23) Simply put, God desires us to worship Him with the heart, that is, the essence of our being. Not with our mind (intellectual assent) nor with our mouth (lip service.) As it is written, “…This people draws near unto Me with their mouth, and honors Me with their lips; but their heart is far from Me…” (Mat 15:8)

“…on the Lord’s day…” “…Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ…” (Col 2:16) As we can see it does us no good to squabble over shadows as, “…the body is of Christ…” The Lord was resurrected on the day after the sabbath, the first day of the week, or the eighth day. We will, though, take a moment to look at the symbolic nature of the number eight, as it does become important to us in our being able to understand some certain things as we continue on through the Book of Revelation.

EIGHT – It is the number which speaks symbolically of resurrection. The number seven denotes a specific period, or span of time (seven days in a week,) while eight is the first number after seven and speaks of a new beginning. Our Lord Jesus was resurrected on the eighth day, pointing to a new beginning, consequently eight is the number of resurrection. In Revelation 17:8-11 it is written, “…even he is the eighth…” And, as we get to Revelation 17: 8-11, we will more clearly see the significance of the number eight.

“…Great/mighty/mega voice…” This voice will be discussed in detail in Revelation 1:15.

“…Trumpet…” In this case it speaks of announcement. Which we see is true because the One speaking in verse eleven makes a proclamation.

Verse 11 – Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What you see, 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. For explanation of the number seven refer back to verse four.

“…What you see, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches...” The entire Book of Revelation (what you see) was to be sent unto each of the seven churches. There will be more discussion regarding this as we get to Revelation 2:1.

There is a spiritual principal set forth here in that one church for one city. Some would say, “in a city of some large number of people how could this possibly happen?” “…And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church (singular) daily such as should be saved…” (Acts 2:46, 47) “…And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ…” (Acts 5:42) The city of Jerusalem was quite large but, as we see, one church for one city.

We also discover there was a problem from the beginning in the early Church (body,) for we see the term in the temple in both of these verses here in Acts chapter two. “…Jesus, when He had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in two from the top to the bottom…” (Mat 27:50, 51) And again, “…And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost. And the veil of the temple was rent in two from the top to the bottom…” (Mark 15:38) The Lord Jesus had, “…taken away the first (covenant,) that He may establish the second (covenant)…” (Heb 10:9) The first Christians had been raised all their lives to go up to the temple, and when we have been raised in a system it is hard to let go of it.

If we, as Christians, “…enter in at the strait gate…” (Mat 7:13; Luk 13:24) we should be able to fellowship from house to house (place of worship to place of worship) without difficulty through out any given city. However, when I take unto myself any name, other than the Name of Jesus, we find that we have missed the strait gate. “…For you are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are you not carnal, and walk as men? For while one says, I am of____; and another, I am of_____; are you not carnal..?” (1Cor 3:3,4) No strait gate here.

“…Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name (that is the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ) under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved…” (Acts 4:12) Brothers and sisters we have to get rid of the names. I know, we have been raised in a system and we see no harm in it; but, “…no man can serve two masters…” (Mat 6:24; Luk 16:13) Therefore, for those who have ears to hear one city, one church (body.) If we will cleanse ourselves from the other name, and discover for ourselves how to enter in at the strait gate, the Lord will bless us and lead us to one another.

Verse 12 – And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks

In verse eleven of this chapter John heard. He was in the right position (right standing with God) to hear the Word, but even John needed to turn to see the vision of the Churches. It is the same with many of us Christians today, we need to be adjusted in our position and turned from what we think we see, with respect to the Church, to what God’s true vision is for the Church.

“…seven golden candlesticks…” We have understood seven, in that it speaks of temporal perfection. Gold speaks of the divine nature of God. So, we see here that the churches are constituted with God’s own nature. In Scripture a candlestick/lampstand is always related to God’s building. The first mention of the lampstand is when the tabernacle was built. (Exo 25:31-40) The second is with respect to the building of the temple. (1 Ki 7:49) The third is in Zechariah 4:2-10, which points to the work of the Spirit (Zec 4:6,) in that the foundation of the house which is being built is laid and, the house shall be finished. (Zec 4:9) For these Churches (plural,) this body/temple (singular,) are being, “… built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the Chief Corner Stone; in whom all the building fitly framed together grows unto an holy temple in the Lord: in whom you also are built together for an habitation of God through the Spirit…” (Eph 2:20-22) Again, we say we need some turning in our position, and some adjusting in our seeing, that is, in our vision so that we may attain to a, “…single eye…” (Mat 6:22)

Verse 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

“…in the midst of…” This points to the fact that the Lord Jesus is always present in the churches. “…For where two or three are gathered together in MY name, there am I in the midst of them…” (Mat 18:20) Brothers and sisters the problem arises when we, as did the Corinthians, take to ourselves another name; “…I am of _____…” For, “…I am the LORD your God…you shall have no other gods (no other names) before Me…” (Exo 20:2, 3) We understand, yes, we know, “…we are not under the law, but under grace…” (Rom 6:15) But, what does this particular Scripture say? “…What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid…” It is, “…the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines…” (Son 2:15) One further observation is that because of the fact of the Lord being “…in the midst…” of the assembly, the Church, THIS IS, “…the holy place…” Where is the holy place? It is IN THE MIDST OF THE CHURCH(s).

“…Wherefore He says, Awake you that sleeps, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light. See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be you not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is…” (Eph 5:14-17) As it is written, “…The man that wanders out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead…” (Pro 21:16) These things do not imply that we can lose our salvation, they simply state that we can choose to be awake or asleep, to be wise or unwise. And if we choose to be asleep and unwise, as fools, we will find ourselves walking, “…as other people walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart…” (Eph 4:18) This is how the congregation of the dead walks: we do not want to walk there.

“…one like unto the Son of man…” Let us take note that John did not say he saw the Lord Jesus Christ. The Greek word homoios, interpreted like here, means like unto, that is similar (in appearance or character.) He sees One that is similar in appearance to the Lord Jesus. That is to say this one has all the characteristics of the Lord Jesus Christ, but John perceives that it is not the Lord Jesus: therefore the statement, similar to. We will see this term, similar in appearance, much clearer as we proceed on through the Book of Revelation. But, for now, we will see what the phrase the Son of man is symbolically pointing to. It points to the fact of His humanity in, “…that He Himself has suffered being tempted, He is able to succor them that are tempted…” (Heb 2:18) And He, in His humanity, can still be, “…touched with the feelings of our infirmities…” (Heb 4:15) In this we can have confidence, understanding that, even though He is the LORD God Almighty, He is still completely Human.

“…clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girded about the breast with a golden girdle…” This is Christ, in His office as High Priest, who ever lives to make intercession (Heb 7:25) for us. He is girded about the chest, rather than about the loins as the levitical priests were. About the chest points to love, a work of the heart. Whereas the loins speak of being strengthened for the work.

In Daniel 10:5, 6 we have a vision of Christ, “…clothed in fine linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz…” In these verses we see a vision, a picture 0f the Lord girded for the work that was to be accomplished at Calvary. Here, in Revelation, we see a vision, a picture of the Lord who has accomplished that work, established the Churches, and continues His care for them. Again, the gold points to the divine nature of God and to a work that is solely God’s doing.

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

White hairs signifies great age. “…With us are both the gray headed and very aged men, much elder than your father…” (Job 15:10) And, “…The Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head like the pure wool…” (Dan 7:9)

“…white like wool, as white as snow…” Wool comes from the nature of life and snow comes from the sky, which symbolizes coming from heaven. Wool tells us that He is ancient by His nature, not because of growing old; and snow lets us know that His ancientness is heavenly not earthly.

“…His eyes were as a flame of fire…” (See also Dan 10:6) Eyes are for seeing. As it is written, “…Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do…” (Heb 4:13) Fire points to judgment , as we see, “…Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is…” (1Cor 3:13) “…For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God..?” (1Pet 4:17) These eyes of His are the, “…seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God…” (Rev 4:5)

Verse 15 – And His feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and His voice as the sound of many waters

“…His feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace…” Feet points to walk. And brass speaks of divine judgment. Burned in a furnace typifies, “…Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered…” (Heb:5:9)

“…His feet…” Some further explanation of feet is necessary here. We must remember that here, in the Book of Revelation, what is being uncovered for us are things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ (Head) and the Church (His body;) you cannot separate the Head from the body: for, “…there should be no schism in the body…” (1Cor 12:25) As it is written, “…the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of you: nor again the Head to the feet, I have no need of you…” (1Cor 12:21) Also, the body has two feet and the number two, in Scripture, points to strength, unity and fellowship. We read, “…Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falls; for he has not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him…” Strength. (Ecc 4:9-12) In Amos 3:3 we find, “…Can two walk together, except they be agreed..?” Fellowship. Our Lord Jesus said, “…Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father which is in heaven…” Unity. (Mat 18:21)

Have we not read, “…What is man, that You are mindful of him? and the son of man, that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and have crowned him with glory and honor. You made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet..” (Psa 8:4-6) And again, “…For unto the angels has He not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that You are mindful of him? or the son of man, that You visit him? You made him a little lower than the angels; You crowned him (man) with glory and honor, and did set him over the works of Your hands: You have put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became Him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the Captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both He that sanctifies and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause He is not ashamed to call them brethren, Saying, I will declare Your name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto You…” (Heb 2:5-12) Who are His feet? We are.

“…like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace…” As we have noted brass speaks of Divine judgment; and we saw that the Lord Jesus, learned obedience by the things which He suffered. Wherefore we read, in the words of the Lord, “…the Father judges no man, but has committed all judgment unto the Son…” (Jn 5:22) If we see Jesus then we must understand, “…The disciple is not above his Master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his Master…” (Luk 6:40) It is written that, “…the disciples (body of Christ) must through much tribulation, affliction, persecution, trouble (things we suffer,) enter into the kingdom of God…” (Acts 14:22)

“…Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try YOU, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice inasmuch as you are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that when His glory shall be revealed (apokalupsis,) you may be glad also with exceeding joy…” (1Pet 4:12, 13) The Apostle Peter most assuredly had a clear understanding of this aspect of our walk for it was to him that the Lord said, “…Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for you, that your faith fail not: and when you are converted, strengthen your brethren…” (Lu 22:31, 32) It needs to be noted here that the sifting of wheat is not done by a gentle winnowing but by threshing: that is to beat with a machine to separate the grain from the chaff.

Again, if we see Jesus, we must not forget, “…the exhortation which speaks unto you (us) as unto children, My son, despise not you the disciplinary corrections of the Lord, nor faint when you are admonished of Him: for whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges (flogs) every son whom He receives. If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chastens not? But if you be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are you bastards, and not sons…” (Heb 12:5-8) We must all become, feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace. For, “…Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as He is, so are we in this world…” (1Jn 4:17)

Daniel wrote, “…Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried (tried, in Hebrew is a prime root; to fuse [metal,] that is, refine;) but the wicked, the morally wrong shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand, separate mentally, discern; but the wise shall understand, separate mentally; discern…” (Dan 12:10) The Lord Jesus said, “…Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins (all saved; virgins,) which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish…”  (Mat 25:1, 2) The Greek word mōros, here interpreted foolish, speaks to the heart and character; hence, morally wrong. We see that the five (the number five points to mans responsibility before God) wicked, morally wrong virgins did not understand, that is discern their responsibility to be ready at the proper time. As it is written, “…Therefore be you also ready: for in such an hour as you think not the Son of man comes…” (Mat 24:44)

The five foolish virgins did not, “…have their loins girt about with truth…” (Eph 6:14) And, for this cause, when the marriage; this pointing to the time when the Groom, the Lord Jesus, shall join together with His bride, the Church, and the two shall become one takes place, these Christians find themselves at midnight, outside the door. This place is called, by the Lord Jesus, “…outer darkness..,” and there shall be “…weeping and gnashing of teeth…” (Mat 25:30)

Let us not find ourselves in the company of the five foolish virgins, but rather in the company of those who say, “…Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife has made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints…” (Rev 19:7, 8) The word righteousness here is, in the Greek, dikaiōma, and is defined by Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary thus: “the character or quality of being right or just;” it was formerly spelled ‘rightwiseness,’ which clearly expresses the meaning.” So, brothers and sisters, we need to be wise for, “…strong meat belongs to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern, understand, mentally separate both good and evil…” (Heb 5:14)

What does all this have to do with brass (Divine Judgment) as concerning the saints (the body of Christ?) “…I (Daniel) beheld…Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom…” (Dan 7:22) As it is written, “…Do you not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know you not that we shall judge angels..?” (1Cor 6:2, 3) Because of the fact that we will judge the world, we will state once again we must become feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace.

How can this be? “…For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away (speaking of the different gifts of the Spirit for the work of the ministry and the perfecting of the saints.) When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known…” (1Cor 13:9-12) For it is written, “…Behold, I will send My messenger, and he shall prepare the way before Me: and the Lord, whom you seek, shall suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the Covenant, whom you delight in: behold, He shall come, says the LORD of hosts…” (Mal 3:1) What, “…Know you not that you are the temple (singularly and collectively) of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you..?” (1Cor 3:16) When shall He come? When, “…that which is perfect is come…” (the bride having made herself ready.) Where will He come? To His Temple (His body/His bride,) then that which is in part shall be done away! In the words of the Lord Jesus it will be, “…as the lightning comes out of the east, and shines even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be…” (Mat 24:27)

The Greek word parousia, interpreted coming, in the above quoted Matthew 24:27, means literally, a presence: para means, with and ousia means, being. This is not the physical second coming of the Lord. The physical second coming of the Lord is when, “…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…” (1Thes 4:16) This coming of the Lord, which we are looking at here, is the Lord coming, by the Spirit, to inhabit His temple, His bride; and it will not be a hidden event. (Ref: Mal 3:1-5) For, at this time, “… they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament (as the sun shines in its strength;) and they that turn many to rightwiseness as the stars for ever and ever…” (Dan 12:3) If we want to be of this company then we need to work out, “…our own salvation with fear and trembling…” (Php 2:12)

“…His voice as the sound of many waters…” Voice – “…Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment…”  (1Cor 1:10) We also see recorded in Acts 4:24 that, “…when they heard that, they lifted up their (plural) voice (singular) to God with one accord…” Many individual voices, one accord.

There is an unveiling we need to see. “…And he said unto me, The waters which you saw, where the whore sits, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues…” (Rev 17:15) Here we discover that waters, in the Book of Revelation, symbolically stand for, “…peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues…” As we come to grasp the fact that the Book of Revelation is an uncovering of both the Head and the body of Christ then we can certainly see that when, “…we all (plural) come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man (singular,) unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ…” (Eph 4:13) there will be, “…no schism in the body…” (1Cor 12:25) Therefore, when Christ (corporate – Head and body) speaks it will be with one voice and with one accord and it will certainly sound like the, “…sound of many waters…:” and the trumpet will not be giving and uncertain sound.

Verse 16 – And He had in His right hand seven stars: and out of His mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and His countenance as the sun shines in his strength

“…right hand…” This speaks of salvation, saving, securing, blessing or being blessed; it also points to glory, power and fellowship. But, in this application it points more to saving, to securing. King David wrote, “…You that saves by Your right hand them which put their trust in You…” (Psa 17:7) And, in the words of our Lord Jesus, “…I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand…” (Jn 10:28) Salvation and security.

“…seven stars…” they are, “…the angels of the seven churches…” (v.20) As we have previously discovered seven is the number of today’s temporary perfection. So, this points to the fact that the One like unto the Son of man shall always be available to minister to all the leaders, the stars of the Church throughout the entire Church age.

“…and out of His mouth went a sharp twoedged sword…” We all know what this represents, “…For the word of God is alive, 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…” (Heb 4:12) And we are encouraged to, “…take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God…” (Eph 6:17) We generally envision the sword of the Spirit, in the whole armor of God, as being in our hand. But, when we turned to see we saw this sharp twoedged sword in its proper place: proceeding out of our mouths. For, “…Death and life are in the power of the tongue…” (Pro 18:21)

“…and His countenance as the sun shines in his strength…” “…This then is the message which we have heard of Him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all…” (1Jn 1:5) Here we see the kingdom of God in the Face of this One. The Lord Jesus said, “…But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God. And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, He took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. And as He prayed, the fashion of His countenance was altered, and His raiment was white and glistering…” (Luk 9:27-29)  Again, “…And (Jesus) was transfigured before them:  and His face did shine as the sun, and His raiment was white as the light…”  (Mat 17:2)

The Apostle Peter speaks of this event and says, “…For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty…” (2Pet 1:16) “…when we were with Him in the holy mount…”  (2Pet 1:18)

Here we see Peter referring to the transfiguration and the coming, in the Greek parousia, meaning a presence with, not in the context of the Lord Jesus having came from someplace else. What he said is that they saw the kingdom of God being revealed from within to without in the Person of the Lord Jesus. We need to see that before the Lord physically returns, His Kingdom will come, His Will will be done in earth, that is in earthen vessels, as it is in heaven. Let us not be as the Pharisees, who demanded of Jesus when the kingdom of God should come. For, the Lord answered them and said, “…The kingdom of God comes not with observation: neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you…” (Luk 17:20, 21) We need to have our loins girt about with Truth and our lamps full of oil. For, the Lord, “…whom we seek shall suddenly come to His temple…but who shall abide the day of His coming..?”  (Mal 3:1, 2)

Verse 17 – And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. And He laid His right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last

“…He laid His right hand upon me…” The Hand of Blessing; the Hand of Fellowship; the Hand of Power; the Hand of Glory; the Hand of Salvation; the Hand of Safety; the Hand of Eternal Life; the Hand of LOVE: and said, “…Fear not…” Thank you, Lord Jesus!

“…I am the First and the Last…” This is not a picture of Alpha and Omega. This is a picture of, “…Jesus Christ, the Faithful Witness, the First Begotten of the dead..” (Rev 1:5) Also, the Last Begotten of the dead. For, “…God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, has made us alive together with Christ (by grace you are saved;) and has raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus…” (Eph 2:4-6) There will never be another to pay the price for the sins of the world and, because of His sacrifice, when He was raised from the dead we were raised with/in Him. Fear not.

Verse 18 – I am He that lives, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and death

I am is added words in the King James Version. If we take them out we see that this is a continuation of thought from verse seventeen in that, “…I am the First and the Last: He that lives, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen…” The Lord himself explains exactly what we just explained in verse seventeen.

“…and have the keys of hell and of death…” The Greek word hades, here interpreted hell, means, the region of departed spirits; the place where they are being held until the final judgment. This region, where departed spirits are being held now, only contains the spirits of the lost. Before the Lord’s resurrection it contained all departed spirits, both the lost and those who were justified by faith. The justified by faith were in a place called paradise by the Lord, as attested to in His conversation with the thief when He said, “…Truly I say unto you, To day you shall be with Me in paradise…” (Lu 23:43)

As we have previously discovered, in our studies of Revelation 1:7, the Lord Jesus took the justified by faith (saved) saints with Him when He ascended. As a note: The lost and the saved were not, positionally, in the same place. As there was, “…a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from here (paradise) to you cannot; neither can they (the lost) pass to us (those in paradise) that come from there (the place of torment)…” (Ref: Luk 16:21-26)

Death, here speaks of the separation of man from God. Because of Adam’s transgression, “…sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so that death passed upon all men…” (Rom 5:12) The LORD God said to Adam, “…of every tree of the garden you may eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat of it: for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die…” (Gen 2:16, 17) And, on the day in which Adam ate of that tree he surely did die, spiritually. From that moment forward Adam became forever separated from God: and death, that is spiritual separation, passed upon all mankind for, “…in Adam all die…” (1Cor 15:22) On the day Adam disobeyed, and chose to listen to the Serpent rather than God, he gave the key of spiritual death; that is eternal separation from the Life of God, inclusive of all mankind, to Satan.

But, thanks be unto God, because of the obedience of One; the Lord Jesus, “…the last Adam…” (1Cor 15:45,) He now has the keys and has opened The Door. As it is written, “…Truly, truly, I say unto you, I am The Door…” (Jn 10:7) The only thing necessary to receive this “…free gift…” (Rom 5:15) is an act of obedience. For, “…Whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved…” (Rom 10:13) THE DOOR IS OPEN: and God is, “…not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (a change of mind)…” (2Pet 3:9) “…But what does it say? The word is close to you, even in your mouth, and in your heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; that if you will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved, you shall be delivered from your lost estate. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness, unto right standing with God; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation, that is safety…” (Rom 10:8-10)

Verse 19 – Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter

“…the things which you have seen…” Here the Lord does not instruct John to write the things which you have heard and seen. John did of course write both, but the Lord placed the emphasis on seeing. As we previously stated it is important to hear, it is essential to see.

“…and the things which are…” This informs us that some of the things written in the Book of Revelation are present at the time of the writing.

“…and the things which shall be hereafter…” Again, from the Interlinear Bible, a literal translation out of the Hebrew and Greek, “…and what things are about to occur after these things…” The spirit of the text here is that, not only were some of the things recorded by John happening even as he was writing them, but that also what he was writing would be an unfolding of events from that point forward: as they, “…are about to occur…”

Verse 20 – The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which you saw are the seven churches

We understand, from our discussion in verse four of this chapter, that seven is God’s number for temporary perfection or completion. So here we have the seven stars, the seven messengers, which points to the completeness, that is, all of the shepherds, the leaders of God’s people until the perfection, the completion of the Church age. Along with the seven candlesticks, the seven churches which gives us a perfect, a complete picture of the Church, in all its conditions, until “…that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away…” (1Cor 13:10)

Chapter 2 – The Seven Churches (part one)

Verse 1 – Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things says He that holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks

In Revelation 1:11 the Apostle John heard an instruction from the Lord where He said, “…What you see, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia…:” IT being the entire Book of Revelation. Here, in chapter two, and continuing on through chapter three, we will see many descriptive symbols of the Lord’s Person and His administration. Also we will see the Lord’s accolades, admonitions and words of encouragement spoken to, “…the angel of the church…”

There has been, and is, a discussion as to whether these letters were meant for the actual physical seven churches that existed at the time of the writing, or whether they are symbolic and point to the church(es) throughout all the Church age. We state here that they were of course written to the original seven churches. We also state again that seven is God’s number for temporary perfection and we know God does everything, “…decently and in order…” (1Cor 14:40) So, recognizing these facts, along with the fact that the Book of Revelation is an unveiling of the Lord Jesus (Head) and His Church (body,) we will come to see and understand the pictures (symbolism) here in Revelation and recognize their import, from the first described Church (Ephesus) to the last (seventh) described Church (Laodicea:) as they are indeed an unfolding of the Church (body) in its relationship to the Lord Jesus (Head) throughout the ages until, “…that which is perfect is come…” (1Cor 13:10)

“…Unto the angel of the church…write…” As we have previously discovered the angel in this instance points to the elders of the church. “…And when they (the elders) were come to him (the Apostle Paul,) he said unto them…take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He has purchased with His own blood…” (Ref: Acts 20:17-28) Seeing these things we state, in accordance with the Spirit of the Scripture, that these letters were (are) clearly written to the elders, the overseers, the, “…ministers of Christ…the stewards of the mysteries of God…” (1Cor 4:1) That is not to say that these things are not for the churches, the saints, as we shall see in verse eleven of this chapter.

Again, in order to determine if these things written have any significance for us today we are required to discover, see, the symbolism in all that is recorded in these letters. We will come to understand that from the first to the last there is much to be learned.

“…church of Ephesus…” The word Ephesus, in the Greek, means desirable. Ephesus, being the first Church mentioned here in Revelation, we can most assuredly see how it was and is most desirable,in that the Lord Himself made the ultimate sacrifice to bring it into existence. “…Delight yourself also in the LORD; and He shall give you the desires of your heart…” (Psa 37:4) And we do know that the Lord Jesus desired, even unto death, the birth of the first Church.

We have previously discovered the mysteries of the seven stars, His right hand, walks in the midst of, and the truth concerning the seven golden candlesticks: so let us go forward.

Verse 2 – I know your works, and your labor, and your patience, and how you can not bear them which are evil: and you have tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and have found them liars

“…I know your works, your acts…” Immediately, with the coming of the Day of Pentecost and the baptism of the Holy Spirit, we see these works, these acts, these deeds taking place in the first Church. As recorded in the beginning of the Book of Acts, the Apostles and the disciples, “…worked, were engaged in, the works of Him (Jesus) that sent them…” (Ref: Jn 9:4) This first statement, “…your works, your acts..,” made by the Lord points to what they were doing with respect to working the works of the Lord.

“…and your labor…” The Greek word, kopiao, here interpreted labor, means (a) growing weary, (b) toiling. We are exhorted to, “…be not weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not…” (Gal 6:9) This application of your labor does not express growing weary so much, but there was a toiling beginning to take place early on in the first Church. We see the Apostle’s having to inform the disciples that, “…it is not reasonable that we should leave the Word of God to serve tables…” (Acts 6:2) Toiling causes sweat and therefore is not blessed, as sweat is part of the curse.

“…and your patience…” Simply, “your cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy: – enduring, patience, patient continuance, patient waiting.”

“…and how you can not bear them which are evil…” Bear, in the Greek, bastazo, means, endure, declare, sustain, receive, etc.. Evil, in the Greek, kakos, a primary word meaning, worthless (intrinsically such.) Intrinsic means, of or relating to the essential nature of a thing. We have, early on in the first Church, an incident concerning Ananias and Sapphira. At the time of this incident we see the Apostle Peter not enduring their actions as he states, “…why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit…” (Ref: Acts 5:1-10) At Peter’s word both Ananias and Sapphira, “…gave up the spirit…” The first Church did not receive or bear those of a worthless or an evil nature. “…And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things…” ( Acts 5:11)

“…and you have tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and have found them liars…” There are several instances in the first Church where we find those claiming to be Apostles, Apostle meaning one that is sent; but, for our purposes here we will use only one. The Apostle Paul, in his second epistle to the Corinthians, concerning some which were commending themselves states, “…For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming (no real transformation just a masquerade, a facade) themselves into the apostles of Christ…” (2Cor 11:13) In the first Church we see those who were masquerading as apostles but were found to be liars.

Verse 3 – And has borne, and has patience, and for My name’s sake have labored, and have not fainted

A little clearer picture of this verse is to be had from the Interlinear Bible, which is a literal translation of the Hebrew and Greek. Thus: “…And you have bore up, and have patience, even due to the Name of Me, you have labored and have not wearied...” All of these commendations are given because of the first church’s allegiance to the name of Jesus and none other.

“…And has borne…” Borne as bear is, bastazo, meaning, to endure, declare, sustain, receive, etc.. And in the Bible we can certainly see many instances of the first Church declaring the Name of Jesus. They also were to be commended on things such as they, “…that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves (themselves)…” (Rom 15:1) And bearing, “…one anothers burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ…” (Gal 6:2)

“…and has patience…” Simply: “…and possess (has) cheerful endurance (patience) on behalf of the Name of Jesus…”

“…and for My name’s sake has labored, and has not fainted…” We find in the first Church an instance where Peter and John went up to the temple and Peter had, in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, caused a lame man to walk.

The people that were present at the temple saw this and gathered about and Peter, from the Scriptures, preached JESUS. “…As they spoke unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide. Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand. And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes, and Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have you done this? Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said unto them, You rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by Him does this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle has been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it. But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name. And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge you. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard…” (Acts 4:1-19) So, we see here, in the first church, they indeed, “…for My name’s sake have labored, and have not fainted…”

Verse 4 – Nevertheless I have somewhat against you, because you have left you first love

“…you have left your first love…” To the first Church the Lord Jesus lays only this one thing to their charge: “…your first, your best love…” The best love we ever have for the Lord Jesus is at that moment of salvation. We all need to pray the Lord to help us to return to our first love. We need to plea, as did David, that the Lord, “…Restore unto me (us) the joy of Your salvation; and uphold me (us) with Your free Spirit…” (Psa 51:12)

Verse 5 – Remember therefore from where you are fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto you quickly, and will remove your candlestick out of his place, except you repent

“…Remember therefore from where you are fallen…” Here, in this first manifestation of the Church, we see where the Lord is giving them an exhortation to, “…Remember…from where you are fallen (past tense)…” This is the first sign of a falling away (2Thes 2:3) that will continue on in the Church until, “…that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition, of ruin, of loss; who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God…” (2Thes 2:3, 4) We will unveil this one as we continue on through The Book of Revelation.

“…Remember…and do the first works…” Do we remember when we first got saved. The joy, the fellowship of the Lord, the desire to tell what wonderful things He had done for us, and especially our desire to know Him. We ourselves need to, “…Remember…and repent…” Here we see the first Church being encouraged by the Lord to recognize, “…from where you are fallen…:” that place where the first works, the first acts were a joy and rejoicing. We see also, in Acts 11:23, where Barnabas, “…when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord…” Purpose here is the Greek word, prothesis, which means, a setting forth, as exposed before God. So these in the first Church were being encouraged to, with an exposed heart cleave, adhere unto the Lord. This is the first sign of the Church becoming faithful ritualistically but not having a relationship of love with the Lord.

“…or else I will come unto you quickly, and will remove your candlestick out of his place…” If the first Church did not remember their first love, and return to cleaving to the Lord with an exposed heart they, individually and collectively, would find that they were no longer, “…the light of the world…” (Mat 5:14) The candlestick is that which sheds light when the oil is in good supply. If our candlestick is removed we, as a Church, do not give off light (the Lord Jesus.) Our Lord said, “…As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world…” (Jn 8:12) But He is not physically here any longer and the responsibility falls to the Church to lift up the real Jesus. For, He said, “…And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me…” (Jn 12:32) Is the Church at large lifting up Jesus from out of the earth/soil/earthy, or when the lost see the Church is all that they see is that which looks earthy. We all, collectively and individually as the body of Christ, in accordance with the word of the Lord Jesus need to, “…Take heed therefore that the light which is in you be not darkness/obscurity…” (Lu 11:35)

Verse 6 – But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate

“…deeds of the Nicolaitans…” The Greek word, ergon, interpreted deeds, is a primary but obsolete word; to work; toil (as an effort or occupation;) by implication an act. Therefore the, “…works, toils, ACTS of the Nicolaitans…”

“…Nicolaitans…” This is a compound of two Greek words, nico, meaning to conquer or be victorious over; and laitan, which means lay or common people. Here we see in the first Church those messengers of God’s people who are working towards having the preeminence over, to conquer the assembly, the common people. We have previously pointed this out from the Third Epistle of the Apostle John where he stated, “…I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, receives us (purveyors of the truth) not. Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither does he himself receive the (true) brethren, and forbids them that would, and casts them out of the church…” (3Jn 1:9, 10)

“…you hate the deeds/works/acts…which I also hate…” The good news here, in the first Church, is that they understood, “…the body is not one member, but many…” (1Cor 12:14) They hated, they detested the spirit which was working to give one member, whether it be a single individual or a collective hierarchy, dominance.

Verse 7 – He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches; To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God

“…He that has an ear, let him hear…” This is literally translated, “…The one having an ear, hear…” Since this is the Spirit speaking to the leaders, the churches, the assemblies the implications are that we can be saved and still be unable to hear: here the emphasis is on hearing. In order for us to be properly turned to see we must first be able to hear. This principle was discovered in our study of Revelation 1:2.

“…what the Spirit says unto the churches…” In Revelation 1:17-20 we saw, “…one like unto, similar in appearance to, the Son of man…” speaking. Here we discover that, “…the Lord is that Spirit…” (2Cor 3:17:) ONE. So also should it be, and it will be, between the Head and the body: One voice. We also see here, that even though this letter was written unto the church of Ephesus, that it is directed to all the churches. These letters are therefore most certainly for all the assemblies throughout all the Church age. “…The one having an ear, hear…”

“…To him that overcomes…” At the very instance of our salvation we have been (past tense) “…made alive with Christ…and He has raised us up together (at the time of Christ’s resurrection,) and made us sit together (with Christ) in heavenly places in Christ Jesus…” (Eph 2:5, 6) Also, we discover that we have been (past tense) “…blessed…with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ…” (Eph 1:3) Positionally, from the moment of salvation, everything the Lord Jesus is and has is ours; the problem lies in our experience. As we can see the victory is ours to lose.

Throughout both the Old and New Testament the Church is encouraged to take its proper place. As it is written, “…Awake, awake; put on your strength (whole armor of God,) O Zion (Zion means raised up [one];) put on your beautiful garments (“…the garments, the fine linen is the rightwiseness of the saints…” [Rev 19:8]) O Jerusalem, the holy city (dwelling place of God:) for henceforth there shall no more come into you the uncircumcised (of heart) and the unclean (saved but wicked; ref: Acts 8:13-23.) Shake yourself from the dust (our adamic nature;) arise (into heavenly places in our experience,) sit down (together with Christ,) O Jerusalem: loose thyself (we have to know, we have to see the truth and the Truth will make us free) from the bands (yoke) of your neck, O captive (we have allowed ourselves to be taken captive through our not knowing the Truth) daughter (female/bride) of Zion…” (Isa 52:1, 2)

If that particular Old Testament reference is difficult to see, let us look at a few New Testament exhortations that are easier to be seen. The Apostle Paul, in writing to Timothy states, “…And if a man strives for masteries, yet is he not crowned except he strive lawfully…” (2Tim 2:5) And, “…Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and sin which does so easily beset us, and run with patience the race that is set before us…” (Heb 12:1) What? “…Know you not that they which run in a race run all, but one receives the prize? So run, that you may obtain. And every man that strives for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beats the air: but I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway…” (1Cor 9:24-27) We see in Paul’s statement here he voiced concern about being a castaway. Paul was not talking about loosing his eternal salvation, he’s referring to, “…If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire…” (1Cor 3:15) There are many references to see in the Bible which point to these things. So, as we can see, the victory is ours to lose.

The instruction to “…overcome…” here points directly to the churches returning to their first love and hating the deeds, the works of those shepherds who would desire to have the preeminence over God’s people.

We would also point out that the overcomer is called a HE. This speaks to the fact that when the bride has made herself ready she, the Church, shall be perfectly joined together with the Lord Jesus, the Groom, and the two shall become One, and God shall call their name, “…Adam (Man)…” As the “…last Adam (the Lord Jesus Christ) was made a quickening Spirit…” (1Cor 15:45)

“…To him…will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God…” The Greek word, xulon, here interpreted tree, is not the word that is usually used for tree which is, in the Greek, dendron. What we have before us is the same word used by the Apostle Peter when he states, “…Who His Ownself bore our sins in His body on the tree…” (1Pet 2:24) The use of the word xulon, meaning a piece of wood, here points to the crucifixion. Life, speaks of the resurrection. In the New Jerusalem the crucified and resurrected Christ is the nourishment of all God’s redeemed people, now and throughout eternity. The good news here is that all of God’s redeemed attain to this level of overcomer. Our Lord Jesus Himself said, “…My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand…” (Jn 10:28)

“…paradise…” Paradise, in this instance, would be best interpreted Eden: as the Son of man, “…is come to seek and to save/deliver that which was lost…” (Luk 19:10) And, as it is written, “…the creature, the creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God…” (Rom 8:21)

Verse 8 – And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things says the First and the Last, which was dead, and is alive

“…church in Smyrna…” Smyrna, in the Greek means, myrrh; myrrh means bitter, and typifies suffering. Therefore, this progression of the Church, this second Church of the Book of Revelation should point to a Church in suffering. Can we find any event in the Scriptures that would let us see the Church going into such a state of suffering? After the martyrdom of Stephen ( ref: Acts 6:8-7:60) we find, “…at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles…” (Acts 8:1) Can we determine when at that time was? From the resurrection of Jesus, in the spring (March or April) of 31 A.D., until the time we have before us, the fall (September or October) of 34 A.D., a period of three and one half years, we find the Church, “…having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved…” ( Acts 2:47) (Note: The dates set forth here will not be discussed in great detail as they are not essential to our seeing The Book of Revelation. However, we assure you they can be completely validated with much proof.) With these things now in our vision we can clearly see the second Church, the Church in Smyrna, as it truly is, the Church in suffering. This second Church, in suffering, continued under great persecution by the Roman Empire from 34 A.D. until 313 A.D.

If indeed the Churches, here in The Book of Revelation, are symbolic representations of the Church throughout the ages we should be able to continue to find conformation of this, as this second Church, the Church in suffering, came into existence in 34 A.D.

“…These things says the First and the Last, which was dead, and is alive…” Because of the fact of this great persecution the Lord gives the Church assurances the He is, “…The Beginning and The Ending…” of all things: even this persecution. They need to see clearly that He, “…was dead, and is alive…” in that death could not hold Him. And because of the fact that He lives they can trust His words when He said, “…whosoever lives and believes in Me shall never die…” (Jn 11:26)

Verse 9 – I know your works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but you are rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan

“…I know your works, and your tribulation…” Here, as to the Ephesians, the Lord commends the overseer(s) and the Church for their labor of love, tells them that He is aware of their affliction, and gives them assurance that He, “…will never leave them, nor forsake them…” (Heb 13:5) Because, He “…is alive…”

“…I know your…poverty, (but you are rich)…” There had been a prophecy given by a brother named Agabus that there should be, “…a great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar…” (Acts 11:28) Dearth – destitution; scarcity of food. This dearth began during the reign of Claudius Caesar (Nero) who ruled from 54 A.D. to 68 A.D. Though the Church was suffering persecution and scarcity of food they were rich in good works in that they had distributed freely to the necessity of the saints.

“…(but you are rich)…” In addition to being willing to distribute the Lord reminds them that, “…Has not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which He has promised to them that love Him…” (Jas 2:5)

“…I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are of the synagogue of Satan…” Blasphemy is practically confined to speech defamatory of the Divine Majesty. There is much evidence in the Book of Acts and the Epistles of such speech. What is being addressed here specifically by the Lord is the Judiazers. The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Galatians, stated, “…Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if you be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; you are fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision avails any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which works by love. You did run well; who did hinder you that you should not obey the truth? This persuasion comes not of Him that calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump. I have confidence in you through the Lord, that you will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubles you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be. And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased. I would they were even cut off which trouble you. For, brethren, you have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another…” (Gal 5:1-13) There is much light in the Scriptures that could be shed on this blasphemy. But we see clearly here, in this instance, the Lord speaking to the second Church with regard to the Judiazers.

“…which say they are Jews, and are not…” These ones speaking evil are claiming that they are Jews. What is meant by this?

In accordance to the way we have been taught by the Church today to see things either you are a Jew because you are a descendant of Abraham or you are not. Although, if we would learn to see in accordance to God thought, we find it written, “…he is not a Jew which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: but he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God…” (Rom 2:28, 29) We also see, “…Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He did not say, And to seeds, as of many; but as of One, And to your Seed, which is Christ…” (Gal 3:16) As it is written, “…you are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then are you Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise…” (Gal 3:26-29) These one’s that were troubling the Church were Jews in outward appearance only. Therefore, in accordance with the Lord, we see they, “…say they are Jews, and are not…”

“…but are the synagogue of Satan…” This is a devastating proclamation by the Lord in that they, “…ARE the synagogue of Satan…” This points to the fact that in their rejection of Christ and stubbornly clinging to their traditional religious concepts they had become one with Satan in opposing God’s divine plan. Under the manipulation of Satan their synagogues had opposed the Lord Jesus Himself (ref: Mat 12:9-14; Luk 4:28, 29; Jn 9:22,) then the Apostles (ref: Acts 13:43, 45-46, 50; 14:1, 2, 19; 17:1, 5, 6,) and then the churches. Our Lord Jesus Himself stated emphatically to the Jewish leaders who opposed Him, “…You do the deeds of your father. Then said they to Him, we be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, you would love Me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of Myself, but He sent Me. Why do you not understand My speech? even because you cannot hear My word. You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you will do…” (Jn 8:41-44) It does not get any clearer than that: “…synagogue of Satan…”

Verse 10 – Fear none of those things which you shall suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that you may be tried; and you shall have tribulation ten days: be you faithful unto death, and I will give you a crown of life

“…Fear none of those things which you shall suffer…” Here we see the Lord reminding the second Church, the Church in suffering, not to be afraid for we (they) must, “…through much affliction enter into the Kingdom of God…” (Acts 14:22)

“…the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that you may be tried…” We see, from the martyrdom of Stephen and the beginning of the great persecution against the Church, the Apostle Peter (Acts 12:1-19) and the Apostle Paul, along with Silas (Acts 16:20-40) cast into prison for their testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is always the devil inciting men to oppose the Gospel, “…for we wrestle not against flesh and blood…” (Eph 6:12) We see these brothers in the Lord cast into prison by the devil as a trial of their faith. But their faith has been found, “…much more precious than of gold…” (1Pet 1:7) We see that what the devil meant for evil, “…God meant it unto good, to bring to pass…to save much people alive…” (Gen 50:20)

“…and you shall have tribulation ten days…” This statement by the Lord would seem to be of no relevance here, as ten days of affliction is of no consequence, considering all the things which are recorded in the New Testament concerning the afflictions of the saints. However, because The Book of Revelation is a symbolic prophetic utterance unveiling the Lord (Head) and the Church (body) we need to see the significance of the number ten as a symbol. Also, days.

“…ten…” Simply put, the number ten in Scripture points to complete or completion. We see this exemplified in that there were ten plagues in Egypt and the plagues were completed. Moses was given Ten Commandments and the Law was complete. Our Lord Jesus gave the parable of the ten virgins. If we see that this parable of the ten virgins points to all the Christians that will ever be then we understand ten symbolically means: brought to the full, to completion.

“…days…” In a prophecy that is symbolic it is widely understood, “…forty days: I have appointed you each day for a year…” (Eze 4:6) These ten days are pointing to a completed number of years: which years were completed in 313 A.D. In this year the Roman emperor Constantine issued the Edict of Milan which made Christianity the state religion. From this point forward the Roman Empire did not persecute Christians.

“…be you faithful unto death and I will give you a crown of life…” One could think that the Lord is referring to the physical death which would be experienced by many during this Church in suffering period. But, He’s not, for they understood, “…Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do…” (Luk 12:4) What then? It is an exhortation by the Lord that, “…If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his (soul) life for My sake, the same shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul, or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul..?” (Mat 16:24-26) It is a reminder from the Lord Jesus that, “…strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and few there be that find it…” (Mat 7:14) The good news is, “…Blessed is the man that endures temptation, trial, trouble, affliction: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to them that love Him…” (Jas 1:12) This Life that is being spoken of here is zoe: God Life. Also, a crown, with respect to the things of God, is always a reward in addition to salvation.

Verse 11 – He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches; he that overcomes shall not be hurt of the second death

“…he that overcomes…” The Lord Jesus said, “…Truly, truly, I say unto you, He that hears My Word, and believes on Him that sent Me, has everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life…” (Jn 5:24) And, “…We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loves not his brother abides in death…” (1Jn 3:14) The only thing we need to do is, “…Examine ourselves, whether we be in the faith; prove our own selves. Know you not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except we be reprobates..?” (2Cor 13:5)

The thing that needs to be overcome, in this message to the Churches, is to not be of those who, “…receives the Seed into stony places, the same is he that hears the Word, and immediately with joy receives it; yet he has not root in himself, but endures for a while: forthwith when affliction or persecution arises because of the Word, by and by he is offended/tripped up…” (Mat 13:20, 21) Nor, of those who, “…receives Seed among the thorns is he that hears the Word; and the care of this age, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the Word, and he becomes unfruitful…” (Mat 13:22, 23) Both of these ones receives the Seed, they are born again, but are, “…of them who draw back unto perdition, ruin, loss, destruction…” (Heb 10:39) Let us therefore overcome and be of those who, “…believe to the saving of the soul…” (Heb 10:39)

“…shall not be hurt of the second death…” The first death is as such: “…For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive…” (1Cor 15:22) If we have received Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior we have passed from death unto life and we, “…shall not be hurt of the second death…” If we have not received Jesus as our Lord and Savior then, “…Whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death…” (Rev 20:14, 15)

Verse 12 – And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things says He which has the sharp sword with two edges

“…church in Pergamos…” Perga, in the Greek, means very earthy. Mos, means majority. Pergamos, means height, elevation, marriage. The believer’s in this third Church have, for the majority, become very earthy, and because of Emperor Constantine’s ‘Edict of Milan’ in 313 A.D. it has been elevated to a height of secular, earthly prominence. A marriage, a union, is taking place between the Church, the bride of Christ, and the State that precipitates a fall from grace which has devastating effects upon the Church, the body of Christ. And, the results of this fall we will see, as we continue on through this unveiling of The Book of Revelation.

The Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “…Be you not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what concord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has he that believes with an infidel? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? for you are the Temple of the Living God; as God has said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be you separate, says the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty…” (2Cor 6:14-18) Paul explains this further in that, “…I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one Husband, that I may present you a chaste virgin to Christ…” (2Cor 11:2) We need to see what the Lord has to say about an unholy union. For, “…neither shall any woman (Church) stand before a beast (secular government) to lie down thereto (have union with:) it is confusion…” (Lev 18:23) The Hebrew word, teh’-bel, here interpreted confusion and the Hebrew word, baw-bel,’ interpreted Babylon, BOTH mean confusion. Beware, Babylon (confusion) the great.

“…These things says He which has the sharp sword with two edges…” Because of what is happening here in this third manifestation of the Church the Lord reminds them that there is nothing hid as, “…the word of God is alive, 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 thought and intents of the heart…” (Heb 4;12) As it is written, “…all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do…” (Heb 4:13)

Verse 13 – I know your works, and where you dwell, even where Satan’s seat is: and you hold fast My Name, and have not denied My faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwells

“…I know your works…” This a continuation of the thought of the Lord, from verse twelve, stating He knows their works because nothing is hid from Him.

“…I know…where you dwell, even where Satan’s seat is…” And, even though you dwell where Satan’s seat is, that is not an excuse to become very earthy. “…Satan’s seat…” is in this world, as the Greek word aiōn, most often interpreted world, means age. For, Satan is, “…the god of this world, that is THIS AGE…” (2Cor 4:4) By this we can see where Satan sits, his seat is on top of this present age. And, the Lord Jesus, “…gave Himself for our sins that He might deliver us from this present evil age according to the will of God and our Father…” (Gal 1:4)

“…and you hold fast My Name…” Admonition complete, the Lord commends this third manifestation of the Church in that they still hold fast the fact of the Lord Jesus’ Person. The Person is the reality of the Name.

“…and have not denied My faith…” This does not point to their personal faith. Here the Lord is commending them for the fact that they still believe in the Lord’s faith (My faith,) to wit: the Lord’s Person and the Lord’s work of faith, that is to say, how He walked.

“…even in those days wherein Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwells…”

“…even in those days…” We are not looking at the martyrdom of a single individual Christian here, for it is in those days (days being plural.) And as the Book of Revelation is a symbolic prophetic utterance we again have to understand a day for a year and this is days, pointing to some period of time. This time period ran from 34 A.D. to 313 A.D., or 279 years of days.

“…wherein Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was slain among you…” The definition of the name Antipas is, anti, meaning against, and pas, meaning all: therefore, Antipas means, against all. This points to all the faithful witnesses/martyrs (the Greek word, martus, means martyr, record, witness) that were slain during this time period for not adhering to the Roman law concerning the worshiping of Caesar and held fast to the Lord’s Name and the Lord’s Faith. This one was slain in the midst of this second manifestation of the Church for a period of 279 years.

“…where Satan dwells…” Where is this place in which Satan dwells? “…In that day the LORD with His severe and great and strong sword shall visit leviathan, the crooked serpent, even the serpent, that crooked serpent; and He shall slay the dragon that is in the sea…” (Isa 27:1) In prophetic symbolism we have discovered that the sea points to lost humanity. We also see the four beasts, the four kingdoms, in the Book of Daniel, rising up out of the sea. So, where does Satan dwell? The Apostle Paul tells us where. In his letter to the Ephesians he states, “…Wherein in time past you walked according to the course of this order of things, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit, the serpent, that now works in the children of disobedience, the sea…” (Eph 2:2) Therefore, “…you (we) were sometimes darkness, but now light in the Lord: walk as children of light…” (Eph 5:8)

Verse 14 – But I have a few things against you, because you have 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

“…the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel…”  The name Balaam means, the destruction of the people. Balaam was a Gentile prophet who, for wages, taught Balac, which means, who lays waste or destroys, to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel. (Ref: Num 25:1-3; Acts 15:29) In this third Church era there had began to be messengers, shepherds, who were, “…unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, especially they of the circumcision: whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of filthy wages…” (Tit 1:10, 11) This is easy to see for overseers are to, “…feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for the sake of filthy wages, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock…” (1Pet 5:2, 3)

“…to eat things sacrificed unto idols…” Eat, speaks of consuming, ingesting. Things sacrificed points to that which is offered. An idol is, primarily, a phantom or likeness, OR an idea or fancy. We see these Christians being enticed by the overseers to consume, to eat, what these ministers offered up, what they sacrificed, no matter how unscriptural their idea or fancy. These things are the things offered up, these things are the idols.

“…and to commit fornication…” The Greek word, porneuō, here interpreted fornication, means literally, to indulge in unlawful lust. As it is written, “…walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust (indulge in unlawful lust, fornication) of the flesh…” (Gal 5:16)

Whenever things are not taught properly in the Church, when we are not taught, “…the right ways of the Lord…” (Acts 13:10,) then only one thing can happen, and that is we commit fornication, we indulge in unlawful lust. And even though we may have the will to stay pure before the Lord we find ourselves with Paul saying, “…that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I…” (Rom 7:15) The good news is that Paul escaped his wretched man estate, as he discovered the right ways of the Lord. There is much that could be said in regards to Paul’s discovery, but let us look to the Lord and, for ourselves, discover how to enter in at the strait gate.

Verse 15 – So have you also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate

“…doctrine of the Nicolaitans…” Here, once more, we have reference to the Nicolaitans. In Revelation 2:6, the first Church of Ephesus, the Church which is desirable, was commended for hating the deeds of the Nicolaitans. In this third Church we see these deeds are being embraced. To put us in remembrance, here again is the explanation of who the Nicloaitans are, and what are their deeds. The word, Nicolaitan, is a compound of two Greek words, nico, meaning to conquer or be victorious over, and laitan, which means lay or common people. We saw in the first Church those shepherds of God’s people who were working towards having the preeminence, to conquer, rule over the assembly, the common people. We have previously pointed out from the Third Epistle of the Apostle John where he stated, “…I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, receives us not. Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither does he himself receive the (true) brethren, but forbids them that would, and casts them out of the church…” (3Jn 1:9, 10) This is not, “…the right ways of the Lord…”

Here, in this Church, we see, in accordance with the Lord’s admonitions in verses fourteen and fifteen, the beginnings of a worldly Church. We discover that it is allowing itself to be spoiled, “…through philosophy (sophistry – that is, charging money to present a specious argument used for deceiving someone [a Nicolaitan]) and vain, empty deceit, delusion after the tradition, after the precepts of men, after the rudiments, the principles of this order of things, and not after Christ…” (Col 2:8)

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

“…Repent…” Repent simply means to change your mind or to think differently. Who is the Lord speaking to here? He is speaking to the angel, the minster(s) in this third manifestation of the Church, as the majority of the Church have become very earthy. Also, because of Emperor Constantine’s ‘Edict of Milan’ in 313 A.D., the Church has been elevated to a height of secular, that is, earthly prominence. We have to see that the messenger being spoken to is not a specific one individually, but one, as in all collectively. “…Repent…”

“…or else I will come unto you quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth…” Here the Lord makes it very clear that He’s not speaking just to some one person as He says, “…or else I will come unto you (singular) quickly, and will fight against them (plural) with the sword of My mouth…” As we know the sword of His mouth is the Truth. And, “…the wrath/anger of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold THE TRUTH in unrighteousness…” (Rom 1:18)

In this third Church we see the planting of the mustard seed, as spoken of by the Lord, in the third parable of Matthew chapter thirteen, and also in Mark. This seed grows into an aberration of nature, “…so that the fowls (demons) of the air may lodge under the shadow of it…” (Mar 4:32)

Verse 17 – He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches; To him that overcomes 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 knows saving he that receives it

“…to him that overcomes…” We see where Satan’s seat is and where Satan dwells, so understanding these facts we need to recognize that, “…while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat…” (Mat 13:25) In order to overcome we have to wake up and discern those who have, “…a form of godliness, but denying the power (of a resurrected, overcoming life) thereof: from such turn away…” (2Tim 3:5) We must recognize those that prophesy or preach for wages and those that desire the preeminence over God’s people, whether those one’s do it knowingly or unknowingly are not true shepherds, as they have not understood the power of a resurrected life. “…He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the Churches…”

“…will I give to eat of the hidden manna…” The Lord Jesus had hidden manna. He said, “…I have meat to eat that you know not of. Therefore said the disciples one to another, has any man brought Him ought to eat? Jesus said unto them, My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me, and to finish His work…” (Jn 4:32-34) “…I am that Bread/Loaf/Manna of Life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the Bread which comes down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the Living Bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this Bread, he shall live for ever…” (Jn 6:48-51)

If we would but see the power of the crucified, resurrected life and enter in at the Strait Gate the Lord would say to us, “…Behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And he that reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit unto life eternal: that both he that sows and he that reaps may rejoice together. And herein is that saying true, One sows, and another reaps. I sent (am sending) you to reap that whereon you bestowed no labor: other men labored, and you are entered (are entering) into their labors…” (Jn 4:35-38)

“…and will give him a white stone…” White speaks of righteousness in Scripture. Much can be said about a stone throughout the Bible. Here we see that the Lord will give this righteous stone to the one who overcomes. It is written, “…A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that has it: wheresoever it turns, it prospers…” (Pro 17:8) The Greek word psēphos, here interpreted stone, is pebble, as worn smooth by handling. In order to acquire this righteous smooth stone gift, “…we must, through much affliction (wearing smooth,) enter into the kingdom of God…” (Acts 14:22)

“…and in the stone a new name written, which no man knows saving he that receives it…”

Again: “…and superimposed on the precious gift a fresh personality, a fresh character is being engraved, which no one knows except the one receiving it…”

What do these two promises of the Lord say to him that overcomes? In his overcomer, resurrected, worn smooth, newness of life state he will be receiving a gift of renewal, “…by His Spirit in the inner man…” (Eph 3:16) And superimposed on this gift is a new fresh character, another Person, which is being engraved in the overcomer. But no one else can really know, except the one that is receiving it. For, “…if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation: old things are passed, and are passing away; behold, all things are become, and are becoming new…” (2Cor 5:17) And, “…no one knows, except the one receiving it…”

In the first three manifestations of the Church the Lord said, “…He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches…” before His promises to the overcomer. In the last four manifestations of the Church the Lord states His promises before He says, “…He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches…” What is the significance of this? In the first three Churches there were those that could yet hear, therefore the admonitions that were given to those Churches could still fall on hearing ears. As we are about to go into a dark transition in these last four manifestations of the Church, the Lord states the promises to the overcomer first so as to encourage them to strive to obtain a hearing ear.

Verse 18 – And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things says the Son of God, who has His eyes like unto a flame of fire, and His feet are like fine brass

“…Church in Thyatira…” Thyatira is a difficult name to define, for it seems to have many names, many definitions. The other six named Churches, here in Revelation, are pretty straight forward insofar as understanding what their names signify. We will list the varying definitions of Thyatira here and, as we come to see who or what this fourth manifestation of the Church is, it becomes much clearer.

Thyatira, means: that which goes on continually, AND continual sacrifice, AND castle, AND fortress, AND odor of affliction, AND high tower.

In our revealing of the three previous Churches we see them only being in existence for short periods of time. When we say short periods of time we do not mean that they were only around for a few years. We can see, in the Seventy Weeks allocation of the Book of Daniel, where it is written, “…Seventy weeks are determined upon your people and upon your holy city…” (Dan 9:24,) that the Lord is speaking of a four hundred ninety year period. Which, to the Lord, is a short span of time, considering eternity past and eternity future.

Here, in this fourth manifestation of the Church, the Lord says to it, “…But that which you have hold fast till I come…” (v. 25) As this Church began to come into being in the fifth century A.D., and is still around sixteen centuries later, we can certainly come to terms with the fact that, due to its changing appearance throughout the centuries, its name has many and varied meanings: though it does seem a bit confusing. However it is absolutely fitting, with the unveiling here in the Book of Revelation, for as we shall discover, this fourth manifestation of the Church is indeed, “…the great whore…and upon her forehead a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH…” (Rev 17:1; 15) The meaning of the word Babylon is mixture; confusion. So, as we can see, the name of this fourth Church can indeed be somewhat confusing. Rest assured though that all of the aforementioned meanings of Thyatira does, of a certainty, hold true. Just so we can see how all the different definitions of the name Thyatira are, in fact, pointing to her nature, we will go through a brief synopsis showing how this is so:

1. That which goes on continually – We have already pointed out that this one continues, “…till I (the Lord Jesus) come…” Has He come back yet? We know the answer is no. So, this fourth Church is continuing in the earth even until now.

2. Continual sacrifice – The practice of Mass, as a ceremonial ritual is, “again and again the same sacrifice of Calvary offered in an unbloody manner:” a continual sacrifice of Christ on the Cross. There is no need for this continual sacrifice, “…for this He (Jesus) did once, when He offered up Himself…” (Heb 7:27) Abomination and confusion.

3. Castle, fortress, high tower – This one is, “…the woman which you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth…” (Rev 17:18) Therefore, a high tower, a castle, a fortress.

4. Odor of affliction – This one, through the use of her fleshy arm, that is secular government, had, over the centuries, millions of heretics (martyrs) put to death. This is an Odor of affliction.

Much could be said on these matters but all we want to see is that all the definitions of the name of this fourth Church are applicable in every way.

“…These things says the Son of God…” In this Church the doctrine of Jesus, the Son of Mary is born and the Lord, in no uncertain terms, is encouraging them to remember, HE IS, “…THE Son of God..,” not Mary.

“…Who has His eyes like unto a flame of fire…” In Revelation 1:14 we understood the meaning of this term. And here we see the Lord reminding this Church that there is nothing hidden from, “…the eyes of Him with whom we have to do…” (Heb 4:13)

“…and His feet are like fine brass…” In Revelation 1:14 we also understood His feet. The Lord is placing emphasis on the fact, “…that judgment must begin at the house of God…” (1Pet 4:17)

Verse 19 - I know your works, and charity, and service, and faith, and your patience, and your works; and the last to be more than the first

This statement is highlighting the proclamation made by the Lord that His, “…eyes (are) like unto a flame of fire…” Therefore, “…I KNOW…”

“…your works…” I know your acts, your deeds.

“…and charity…” I know your affection or benevolence.

“…and service…” I know your service, your administration, especially of the messenger(s) of you.

“…and faith…” I know your credence, moral conviction of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God.

“…and your patience…” I know your endurance, your constancy.

“…and your works; and the last to be more than the first…” I know your acts and your deeds continue to increase in quantity, not necessarily quality, the further you go in your existence. This points to their greatly increased religious activity.

We must remember that the Lord is speaking to the angels, the messengers, the leaders of the Church first in these letters to the angels. What is the Lord saying to the angel, the leaders of this fourth manifestation of the Church? He had said to them that He knows exactly what they are doing for His “…eyes (are) like unto a flame of fire…” And what does He see them doing? He sees them moving ever closer to a state of apostasy.

Verse 20 – Notwithstanding I have a few things against you, because you suffer that woman Jezebel, which calls herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce My servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols

Verse nineteen is not a commendation, as some would have us believe, but a calling to account. For this verse is a continuation of the thought of verse nineteen, and the Lord does indeed have somewhat against this angel(s,) this messenger(s,) of the Church, the body of Christ.

“…because you suffer that woman…” Suffer means to permit or leave alone. There is one here that is being permitted, being left alone, being allowed to teach who the Lord is against. A woman, in prophetic symbolism, always points to the Church: whether she be pure or impure. So, we see here the beginnings of an assembly, a body, a Church that the Lord does not approve of.

“…Jezebel…” The name Jezebel originally meant, the lord Baal exists. In Hebrew it means, there is no nobility. In the Old Testament Jezebel is a foreign Queen who married Ahab, the King of northern Israel, and seduces him to cease from worshiping the One and Only True God and begin to worship Baal. Upon Ahab’s death she tried to have her sons installed as rulers of Israel to no avail. In her death, under the hands of the rightful King of Israel, Jehu, she decked herself in all her finery and portrayed herself as a prostitute. (Ref: 1st and 2nd Kings) She, on several occasions, tried to kill the prophet Elijah, but to no avail. Elijah means, a.) God the Lord; or b.) the strong Lord. In the end Elijah, that is God the Lord, the strong Lord won out. This is a beautiful picture of Christ and an apostate Church.

“…which calls herself a prophetess…” Prophetess: a female foreteller or an inspired woman. This perverted manifestation of the Church says she is a purveyor of God’s Truth and speaks by God’s authority. When, in fact, she is leading in a direction where they will eventually, “…honor the God of forces: and a god whom his/her fathers (founders of the True Church) knew not…” (Dan 11:38)

“…allowed…to teach and to seduce My servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols…” See verse fourteen of this chapter for a refresher on this. Here in this fourth manifestation of the Church there is also beginning to be a mixture of pagan beliefs, evil speakings and many more heretical teachings.

This woman, which has come upon the stage here in the fourth Church, is the woman of the fourth parable of Matthew chapter thirteen. The Lord Jesus said, “…The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened…” (Mat 13:33) This is the woman that is about to hide the kingdom of heaven in three measures.

Verse 21 – And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not

Again: “…I gave her a space of time to repent…” From the “Edict of Milan,” the marriage of Church and state in 313 A.D., until the placing of, “…the abomination that makes desolate…” (Dan 11:31) in 538 A.D. she had a space of time to repent, “…and she repented not…”

Verse 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

“…Behold, See, I will cast her into a bed…” Symbolically, a bed points to a place of sorrow, sickness, disease, slothfulness, death and a place where prostitutes ply their trade.

“…and them that commit adultery with her…” We are, “…espoused to one husband…” (2Cor 11:2,) and those who chose to lie with this one are commiters of adultery. The question would be how could they be committing adultery with a her as she cannot be the Churches husband. The Lord is addressing the feminine side of this one in His letter, but, she has another side. With the issuing of the Edict of Milan by the Roman Emperor Constantine in 313 A.D. the Church, the bride, this woman has lain down with a beast: to wit, secular government. And when the woman joins together with a beast (a he) the two become one and God, “…called their (plural) name (singular) Adam, that is Man…” (Gen5:2) Here though we see the Lord only referring to the woman, for that Man of sin has not yet been revealed.

“…into great tribulation…” The Greek word here, thlipsis, being interpreted tribulation, means pressure (literally or figuratively:) – afflicted, (-tion), anguish, burdened, tribulation, trouble. This is not tribulation in the sense that we have been led to believe today. This is a place of affliction, anguish, burden, trouble, pressure that will cause great distress on these adherents of this Jezebel.

“…except they repent of their deeds…” If they were to repent, that is, change their minds with regards to their deeds, their actions, the Lord always makes, “…a way to escape…” (1Cor 10:13)

Verse 23 – And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am He which searches the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works

“…And I will kill her children with death…” What is the Lord saying here? This would seem to be a very extreme statement if this Jezebel is indeed a literal woman. If these are literally her children, in the sense of a natural child, we would be appalled, for the Lord is not a murderer. However, as we are correct in that this woman is indeed, “…the great harlot…” (Rev 17:1,) “…BABYLON THE GREAT…” then she is, “…THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH…” (Rev 17:5) So, as we can see, her children are women. And, it says she is the mother of harlots (plural) pointing to more than one.

If we but look at history we see the only woman, church, that came from the beginnings of the Church established by the Lord Jesus is the Church Catholic. Did she have any daughters, that is, churches birthed out of her? Yes, we see two. The first daughter is what is known as the Eastern Orthodox Church, and the second daughter is Protestantism. The Eastern Orthodox Church was born in 1057 A.D. and Protestantism was born in 1517 A.D. The Great Harlot had two daughters, and only two, no more.

What then is meant by, “…kill her children with death..?” This is spiritual death in the context of the one who, “…wanders out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead…” (Pro 21:16) Greek Orthodoxy was born dead, in that its practices are almost a mirror image of her mother, it never had life. Protestantism was, as a move of the Spirit, alive for a short period of time but, in accordance to the Lord, it also died. Protestantism is the Church in Sardis which, “…has a name that you live, and are dead…” (Rev 3:1) We will be coming to this fifth manifestation of the Church, the Church in Sardis, next in Scripture. However, as we see, Jezebel has two harlot daughters and they both are dead.

Please do understand we are not against any believer at any time. But we agree with the Lord, in that these man made systems are dead and are an abomination unto God. For again, “…neither shall any WOMAN stand before a beast to lie down thereto it is confusion…” (Lev 18:23) All these systems are in bed with, married to, committing adultery with a beast, secular government in some manner. Business license, incorporation papers, tax exempt numbers, etc. etc. It is BABYLON THE GREAT. It is, by the Word of the Lord, CONFUSION.

“…and all the churches shall know that I am He which searches the reins and hearts…” Even though we might close our eyes rather than see this Truth there is a time coming when, “…Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour (a very short space of time) is your judgment come…”  (Rev 18:10) And, again, “…they (merchants) cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate. Rejoice over her, you heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets; for God has avenged you on her. And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all…” (Rev 18:19-21)

We could adhere to the fables that are prevalent saying, “we likely will not be here, as this is an event which happens in a period that is called The Seven Year Tribulation Period.” However, the Lord has said that there is a time coming when, “…all the churches shall know that I am He which searches the reins and hearts…” Looks like the churches will still be here when this event that is to happen to Jezebel and her daughters takes place and they will, without a doubt, know. As confirmation of this fact we are exhorted to, “…Come out of her My people, that you be not partakers of her sins, and that you receive not of her plagues…” (Rev 18:4)

Verse 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

“…But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira…” Unto you, being those that have been present in this system in centuries past. And unto the rest, being those who are present in this system even now.

“…as many as have not this doctrine/teaching…” “…For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that you should abstain from fornication…” (1Th 4:13) “…Little children, keep yourselves from idols…” (1Jn 5:21) There are many idols, and enticements to commit fornication (both physical and spiritual) in this Jezebel manifestation of the fourth Church.

“…and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak…” This Church has in it those of “…the synagogue of Satan...” (v.9) who say they are Jews (saved) but are not. She is joined, she is married to this worlds system where “…Satan dwells…” (v.13) And here we see she also has many dark teachings which the Lord calls, “…the depths of Satan…” The believers who are in this Church can keep themselves in God’s grace, if they will refuse to know, that is accept these depths.

“…I will put upon you none other burden…” For those who have found themselves in this fourth Church the Lord tells them that the trial of their faith in the midst of this assembly is sufficient, and He will not allow the Devil to place any further affliction on them.

Verse 25 – But that which you have already hold fast till I come

As we have previously stated this Church will still be present until, “…I (the Lord) come…” There are approximately thirty nine different Greek words in the New Testament that deal with some aspect of come, coming, etc. The Greek word hayko, here interpreted come, has its emphasis on, to be present.

In Revelation 1:15 we touched on this event in that, “…the Lord, whom you seek, shall suddenly be present in His temple, even the Messenger of the Covenant, whom you delight in: behold, He shall come, says the LORD of hosts. But who may abide the day of His presence? and who shall stand when He is seen? for He is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap: and He shall sit (in His Temple) as a refiner and purifier of silver: and He shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness. Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years. And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift Witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not Me, says the LORD of hosts. For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore you sons of Jacob are not consumed…” (Mal 3:1-6)

We could say that this is a natural coming of the Lord Jesus to a natural temple in natural Jerusalem, but it is not. The Lord Jesus will never come to a natural Temple for, as it is written, “…if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor…” (Gal 2:18) And as it was God which caused, “…the veil of the temple to be torn in two from the top to the bottom…” (ref: Mat 27:51; Mar 15:38; Luk 23:45) He will never have a Hand in building again a natural temple, as He certainly will never make Himself to be a transgressor. At this presence of the Lord in His spiritual Temple, “…all the churches shall know that I am He which searches the reins and hearts…” (v. 23)

Verse 26 – And he that overcomes, and keeps My works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations

“…and keeps My works…” Keeps, in Greek, is tēreō, which means, to guard (from loss or injury, properly by keeping the eye upon.) Works, in Greek, is ergon, and means (a primary but obsolete word; to work); toil (as an effort or occupation); by implication and act: – deed, doing, labor, work.

We are instructed by the Lord Jesus here to, “…guard, by keeping our eye on, (seeing in truth) My (the Lord Jesus’) completed work…” This is not just speaking of the Cross, for on the Cross the Lord Jesus said, “…It is finished…” What was finished? All the work that He had done in His Ministry, how He had walked to become The Overcomer. We are required of Him to, “…Prove all things; hold fast that which is good…” (1Thes 5:21) And, we are exhorted to, “…give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard (they heard the Truth, are we certain we have?,) lest at any time we should let slip…” (Heb 2:1) For, “…He that says he abides in Him (the Lord Jesus Christ) ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked…” (1Jn 2:6)

“…unto the end…” Unto the end of what? The Greek word telos, here interpreted end, means, the conclusion of an act. This is not the end of the world, this is the end of the Church age, a particular act in the eternal scheme of things. There are, “…ages to come…” (Eph 2:7) The next age, after the Church age, is what is called the millennium age for lack of a better term. This coming age, after the Church age is the age where:

“…he that overcomes…to him will I give power…” The Greek word exousia, here interpreted power, means – authority, jurisdiction, liberty, power, right, strength. This exousia, this authority, is not the same as, dunamis, meaning force; which, “…the Lamb that was slain…” (Rev 5:12) was worthy to receive. The first, exousia, is privilege, the second, dunamis, is absolute power.

“…power over the nations…” It appears that the overcomer shall be given the authority, jurisdiction, liberty, power, right, strength to rule the world. And this concept, on the surface, seems somewhat strange. This power is the same as when the Lord told the disciples, “…Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you…” (Luk 10:19) What the Lord Jesus did in fact was give the disciples, the overcomers, authority. Here, once again, the Lord is saying the overcomer will be given, “…authority over the nations…” We still need to understand the word nations somewhat better though. So, let us take a look to see what we discover.

We find in Psalms 2:8, 9 where the Father said unto the Son, “…Ask of Me and I shall give You the heathen for Your inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel…” The Hebrew word in this passage interpreted heathen is the exact equivalent to the Greek work interpreted nations in our text. This word can just as easily be rendered people. And we in fact see that the promise the Lord is making to the overcomer is exactly the same as the one the Father made to Him. Therefore, we see the promise to the overcomer is that he will have, “…authority over the people…” Does this hold true to the Spirit of the Word? Yes, it does, as we shall see as we go on to the next verse.

Verse 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

“…he shall rule them…” The Greek word poimainō, here interpreted rule, means to tend as a shepherd. Therefore, “…he shall shepherd them…” Easy enough.

“…with a rod of iron…” Rod speaks of that which the shepherd uses to direct the sheep in the right direction. “…Your rod, the Scriptures, and Your staff, the Holy Spirit, they comfort me…” (Psa 23:4) A rod is used to direct, and Iron points to that which breaks. As it is written, “…forasmuch as iron breaks in pieces and subdues all…” (Dan 2:40)

“…as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father…”

Again: “…as the vessels made of clay shall they break in pieces: even as I received of My Father…” As it is written, “…The Stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the Head of the Corner. Whosoever shall fall upon that Stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever It shall fall, It will grind him to powder…” (Luk 20:17, 18)

This corporate overcomer, this mature, complete man, this Bride of Christ, who is now married to, thereby becoming one with the Groom, has become the son of Man and will be given, “…authority over the people and he shall shepherd them with a rod of iron; as the vessels made of clay shall they break in pieces…” How can this be? The next verse is the key.

Verse 28 – And I will give him the morning star

In the promises of verses twenty six and twenty seven which are given to “…he that overcomes…” we see a coming event that has never before been on this earth: and will not ever be again.

“…give him the Morning Star…” In the words of the Apostle Peter we see, “…We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto you do well that you take heed, as unto a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the Day Star arise in your hearts…” (2Pet 1:19) And the Apostle Paul’s prayer is that we, “…might be filled with all the fullness of God…” (Eph 3:19) Can this be possible? The Lord Jesus Himself said, “…Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My Words shall not pass away…” (Mat 24:35) Is it not written, “…Yes, I have spoken it. I will bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it…” (Isa 46:11) What will this event look like?

“…Arise, shine; for your light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen UPON you. For, Behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon you, and His glory shall BE SEEN upon you. And the Gentiles (lost) shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Lift up your eyes round about, and SEE: all they gather themselves together, they come to you: your sons (spiritual babes) shall come from far, and your daughters (spiritual babes) shall be nursed, built up, supported at your side. Then you shall see (“face to face” [1Cor 13:12],) and flow together, be one, and your heart shall stand in awe, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea (lost humanity) shall be converted unto you, the force/strength of the tribes (earthy) shall come unto you…” (Isa 60:1-5)

In this we see the people, both the lost (sea) and the tribes (earthy,) being dealt with unto salvation and sanctification. As we proceed on through this unveiling we will better understand the tribes.

Verse 29 – He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches

Chapter 3 – The Seven Churches (part two)

Verse 1 – And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things says He that has the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know your works, that you have a name that you live, and are dead

“…church in Sardis…” Sardis means, the remains, the remainder, the restoration OR those which have escaped.

“…seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars…” As we have discussed seven points to temporal fullness, completeness, perfectness. This is a reminder that God is fully engaged in His Church and that all the shepherds should be aware of this fact.

“…I know your works…” This statement again points to the fact that the shepherds of this fifth manifestation of the Church need understand that the Lord knows what works they are doing.

“…I know…that you have a name that you live, and are dead…” Name speaks of identity or attributes. This one has an identity that is thought to be alive, spiritually, but is declared dead by the Lord.  And if the Lord declares you dead then your ARE indeed dead.

This fifth Church began to come into existence in 1517 A.D. when Martin Luther came out of the Catholic Church and posted his protest to a great many doctrines Church Catholic held at the time: this document of protest is called the “Ninety-Five Theses.” The persons that participated in this movement would be called, of the Lord, the Church in Sardis, as they are those which have escaped. Here we have the beginnings of what is today named Protestantism. There are a multitude of names that fall under the name Protestant but, no matter the sub-name, they are Protestant none the less. And the Lord says, “…you have a name that you live, and are dead…”

Verse 2 – Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found your works perfect before God

“…Be watchful…” Simply, stay awake and be vigilant. Why? In order that they may see to be able to:

“…strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die…” Strengthen means to steadfastly set. In this fifth Church there are some things which remain that had been lost in the Church in Thyatira. Things such as, “…For by grace are you saved, through faith…” (Eph 2:8,) and the availability of a Bible for everyone, etc.. Amazingly enough, in some Protestant aberrations of today, they do not even talk about, “…you must be born again…” (Jn 3:7)

“…for I have not found your works perfect before God…” Perfect, here in the Greek, is plēroō, meaning to make replete, level up, finish. This is the situation in the Protestant Church: nothing has ever been made replete, leveled up or finished.

Verse 3 – Remember therefore how you have received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore you shall not watch, I will come on you as a thief, and you shall not know what hour I will come upon you

“…Remember therefore how you have received and heard, and hold fast, and repent…” Remember, that is to reflect accordingly, in what way you got hold of and understood the truth, also the need to prevent those things from escaping. These one’s need to repent, they need to reconsider.

These one’s, the leaders of God people, are instructed that they should reconsider, and look back with clear vision, so that they would understand how they got hold of what they have, what it is that they, the shepherds, previously understood so as to prevent those things from slipping away. As the Apostle Paul said, “…Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard lest at any time we should let slip…” (Heb 2:1)

“…If therefore you shall not watch…” If accordingly, on the other hand, you will not stay awake…

“…I will come on you as a thief…” The term come on you, here again, is in the sense of something being superimposed upon something. If we are awake and have, “…put on our beautiful garments…” (Isa 52:1,) then when the Lord comes we will be ready. If not, the Lord Jesus said, “…The Lord of that servant will come in a day when he looks not for Him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to His will, shall be beaten with many stripes…” (Luk 12:46, 47)

The Lord will come “…as a thief…” to those stars, those shepherds, “…who hold the truth in unrighteousness…” (Rom 1:18) As we see those servants will be bisected, that is thoroughly examined by, “…Him with whom we have to do…” (Heb 4:13) And we see that the portion, the share, this one receives is whatever the Lord allots to unbelievers. The word unbelievers does not speak of the lost, for they get no portion, their final destination is, “…the lake of fire…” This points to the fact that, “…the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back (becomes an unbeliever,) my soul shall have no pleasure in him…” (Heb 10:38)

Brothers and sisters let us not be, “…of them who draw back unto perdition, unto ruin, unto loss; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul…” (Heb 10:39) Let us be of those, “…who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation which is ready to have the cover taken off in the latter end of the set or proper time…” (1Pet 1:5)

Verse 4 – You have a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white: for they are worthy

“…You have a few names even in Sardis…” Even in this fifth manifestation of the Church the Lord points to the fact that a few, meaning puny in number, have managed to escape the system, and therefore have a name, that is have an identity, before the Lord.

“…which have not defiled their garments…” Garments, in the Bible, signify what we are in our walk and living. To defile one’s garments here means to stain them with death, as this Church is dead in the eyes of the Lord. Death is more defiling before the Lord than is sin. (Ref: Lev 11:24, 25; Num 6:6, 7, 9) If we sin we can repent and, “…confess our sins and He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness…” (1Jn 1:9) However, if we fellowship with a dead thing it is almost impossible for us to see the need for cleansing.

The Lord Jesus, in speaking to the stars, the shepherds of God’s people during His visitation said, “…Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, you make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. Woe unto you blind guides…” (Mat 23:15) Once a person has become a proselyte of this dead Church system it is virtually impossible to bring them to the light. We need to determine if our garments are defiled. And, if so, we need to repent, that is change our minds, and, “…come out from among them and be you separate, says the Lord, and touch not the unclean (demonic) thing; and I will receive you…” (2Cor 6:17)

“…and they shall walk with Me…” “…This I say then, walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh…” (Gal 5:16)

“…in white: for they are worthy…” “…And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the rightwiseness of saints…” (Rev 19:8) These one’s have walked, “…worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God…” (Col 1:10) Let us walk worthy.

Verse 5 – He that overcomes, 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

“…the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the Book of Life…” We just saw the meaning of white raiment. But what is this about not blotting out of his name out of the Book of Life? Does this mean that we can lose our salvation?

“…For if by one man’s offense death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ. Therefore as by the offense of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of One the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life…” (Rom 5:17, 18) The Blood which the Lord Jesus shed was for all men; He purchased all men with His sacrifice. At that moment all the names of present and future mankind was written in the Book of Life. To overcome here means to accept the free gift: the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Those who refuse the free gift will find their names blotted out of the Book of Life.

“…but I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels…” Every name that is not blotted out but remains written in the Book of Life will be acknowledged in that day and all the redeemed will proclaim, “…YOU are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for YOU have created all things, and for YOUR pleasure they are and were created…” (Rev 4:11) For, “…he that glories, let him glory in the Lord…” (2Cor 10:17)

Verse 6 – He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches

Verse 7 – And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things says He that is Holy, He that is True, He that has the key of David, He that opens, and no man shuts; and shuts, and no man opens

“…the church in Philadelphia…” Philadelphia means love of a brother or brotherly love. This is phileo, to be a friend to, be fond of, that is, have affection for. This is not agapao (agape,) which speaks of God love or unconditional love.

The sixth Church came into existence in the mid 18th century. There was an awakening to the fact that the Church was, as in the Church in Thyatira, once again married to government. It had again become a state religion and if you weren’t a member of the church you had no social standing. For an understanding of this you can do a study of the Church in Europe, from around 1520 A.D. even unto this present day. This awakening is what prompted the pilgrims to come to the place that was to become America.

“…These things says He that is Holy, He that is True…” The Lord here assures this sixth Church that if they will but follow Him He will get them to the right place. For, He is Holy, that is totally separated from the world, the flesh, and the devil. That they can trust Him not to mislead them for He is True, that is Trustworthy. We can understand the need for these assurances as the fifth Church system, in which these Christians had been trusting, was separated for a moment in time. However, they have again found themselves in a dark place looking for The Way.

“…He that has the key of David…” The key of David (David meaning, well beloved) is that spiritual key that locks and unlocks the spiritual realm where God resides: the heavenlies. Where is this realm, this abode in which God dwells? We see Jesus, “…for in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily…” (Col 2:9)

When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “…Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that You are John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He said unto them, But whom say you that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, You are The Christ, The Son of the Living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed are you, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood has not revealed it unto you, but My Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto you, That you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto you the key of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven…” (Mat 16:13-19)

The Lord Jesus asked the disciples who did the general populace say He was. And then He asked who did they say He was. It was Simon who responded and said, “…You are The Christ, The Son of the Living God…” The Lord responded to Simon and told him that he indeed was Peter, Petros, a piece of rock. This meaning that in order for Simon to see Jesus for Who He really is Simon had to be a disciple indeed, he had to be a lively stone. For this revelation knowledge only comes to those who are in the way. And, it is upon this rock (petra) of revelatory seeing that the Lord Jesus’ Church would be built.

“…For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God IN THE FACE, IN THE PERSON, OF JESUS CHRIST…” (2Cor 4:6) Where can we see the Face, the Person of Jesus Christ? And how can we get on the rock of revelatory knowledge upon which the Church will be built?

We all know that Jesus is the, “…Word made Flesh…” (Jn 1:14.) So, in order to see His Face we must see His Word, for in truly seeing His Word we will see Jesus. As it is written, “…whosoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them (sees Me,) I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock (petra:) And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock (of revelatory knowledge)…” (Mat 7:24-26)

When we truly see Jesus and do His sayings then there is no shaking us because the Lord Jesus said, “…My doctrine is not Mine, but His that sent Me. If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of Myself…” (Jn 7:16, 17) HE is The Key of David.

“…He that opens, and no man shuts; and shuts, and no man opens…” When The Key opens, it is open and when The Key closes, it is closed. But the Gospel, the good news is that He has given The Key of The Beloved to us: which is HIMSELF.

Verse 8 – I know your works: behold, I have set before you an open door, and no man can shut it: for you have a little strength, and have kept My Word, and have not denied My Name

“…I know your works…” The is the Lord making this sixth manifestation of the Church understand that He is aware of their efforts to be free of the apostate fourth Church and the dead fifth Church, both of which are still in existence today. So…

“…behold, I have set before you an open door…” And this open Door is the Lord Jesus Christ, as He said, “…Truly, truly, I say unto you, I am the Door of the sheep…” (Jn 10:7) And, this Open Door will continue for, “…the path of the just is as the shining light that shines more and more unto the perfect day…” (Pro 4:18) We only need to pass through The Door to be on the right path.

“…and no man can shut it…” The apostate Church may stand against The Truth, the dead Church may stand against The Truth, the gates of hell, the abode of the dead, may stand against The Truth but they will not, in the end, be successful. For, The Key, The Beloved has said, “…not even one, (no man, woman or thing, that is, none, nobody, nothing, naught) can shut it…”

“…for you have a little strength…” It is not how hard you work but how you work. We may be weak in the faith, our light may be small, but if we will walk as best we can with what we have the Lord Jesus has said, “…My grace is sufficient for you: for My strength is made perfect in weakness…” (2Cor 12:9) It is not the quantity the Lord is interested in it is the quality.

“…and have kept My Word…” In the beginnings of this sixth Church revelation of the Word was small, as the Church was coming out of many centuries of total darkness. You can only keep as much of The Word as you have. This points to the statement of the Lord where He said, “…But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes…” (Luk 12:48) This is not saying the Lord is going to beat those who have no ability to know. What He is saying is that He will not allow Satan to, “…sift you as wheat…” (Luk 22:31) to any great degree. These have kept the Lord’s Word, insofar as the amount of Light they have.

“…and have not denied My Name…” These Christians do not hold up another Jesus. These one’s hold fast, they do not deny, Jesus’ Name. This pointing to the fact of His Person, His Identity, the Essence of Him, in that He said exactly what He meant and meant exactly what He said. As an example Jesus said, “…Give to every man that asks of you; and of him that takes away your goods ask them not again…” (Luk 6:30) If we do anything less than this we, “…do err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God…” (Mat 22:29) Anything less and we deny His Name, The Living Word of God, thereby lifting up another Jesus.

Verse 9 – Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you

“…them of the synagogue of Satan…” We have seen this before, in Revelation 2:9, where the Lord is speaking to the Church in Smyrna, the second Church, the Church in suffering. If what we are saying is true about these churches being a progression of the Church throughout the age then what is this doing here? We are approximately 1600 years removed from the second Church, and there are not a great lot of the Judaizers around at this time. So, what does this mean?

The synagogue of Satan was not just confined to the early Church. Satan has continued throughout the centuries to cause those religious systems, “…who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness; who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the fraud of the wicked; whose ways are crooked, and devious in their paths: to deliver you from the adulterous woman (church system,) even from the adulterer which flatters with her words; which forsakes the guide (Hebrew, alluph, meaning friend) of her youth, and forgets the covenant of her God. For her house (synagogue) inclines/sinks unto death/ruin, and her path/track unto the dead (Hebrew, rapha, meaning lax: not strict.) None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life…” (Pro 2:13-19)

Let us do the last part of this passage again, “…which relinquishes the Friend (this being Jesus as, “…You are My friends, if you do whatsoever I command you…” [Jn 15:14]) of her youth (points to the first Church,) and forgets the Covenant (New Covenant in His Blood) of her God. For her house (synagogue – degraded religious system, having union with government, no matter by what name it calls itself) sinks unto ruin (“…But we are not of them who draw back unto ruin; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul…” [Heb 10:39],) and her track unto laxness. None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of Life…” Laxness is as such, “Oh, that Scripture doesn’t really mean that.” Here we have a picture of where the synagogue of Satan continues to be, even unto today.

“…which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie…” “…Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world…” (1Jn 4:1) There are many false prophets, both individual and corporate, and this warning was issued 1900 years ago.

“…behold, I will make them to come and worship before your feet…” On the surface this would seem to be a very strange saying: for the Lord Jesus Himself said, “…You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve…” (Mat 4:10) And, again we find, “…And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the messenger (the resurrected glorified saint) which showed me these things. Then said he unto me, See you do it not: for I am your fellowservant, and of your brothers the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God…” (Rev 22:9)

Worship is an act of homage or reverence, a giving of allegiance OR loyalty. Feet points to that which touches, walks upon, the earth. Thus, “…Heaven is My throne, and earth is my footstool…” (Acts 7:49) The earth is where the Lord’s Feet rest, and earth is where our feet touch, though we are positionally in heaven with Him. These one’s that come will see the real Jesus manifest through this remnant of the Church, these one’s of the feet company, which is “…in heavenly places in Christ Jesus…” (Eph 2:6) And, just as in an alter call, they will prostrate themselves and repent of their earthly mindedness and worship God.

“…and to know that I have loved you…” This is the final result when, “…then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth (man made/earthy Christian systems and those who have given their allegiance to, worshiped them) mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other…” (Mat 24:30, 31) There is much that could be said in respect to this passage of Scripture but, for our purposes here, suffice it to say, “…I will make them…to know…”

Verse 10 – Because you have kept the word of My patience, I also will keep you from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth

“…you have kept the word of My patience…” Kept means, to guard (from loss or injury, properly by keeping the eye upon.) The word patience here would be more properly translated endurance. There are those in this sixth manifestation of the Church which have guarded/kept safe the Word of Jesus’ patience in that, “…Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God…” (Heb 12:2) The testimony of the Cross of Christ, this is the, “…word of My patience, My endurance…”

“…I also will keep you from the hour of temptation…” Hour, here speaks of a specific the hour period of time, which is of a limited duration. Temptation, is a putting to proof; by implication adversity. This temptation, Greek, peirasmos, is not tribulation, Greek, thipsis. Here we are looking at the Lord applying a trial of faith, a putting to proof and He is assuring those which have guarded the “…Word of His endurance…” that He will guard them. For, “…There has no temptation (peirasmos) taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear…” (1Cor 10:13) These one’s will be guarded by the Lord. Who then will go through this putting to proof then?

“…which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth…” We must remember that the Book of Revelation is an unveiling of the Lord Jesus (Head) and His Church (body.) Therefore, anything that we see is something in which the Lord is dealing with His body.

“…which shall come upon all the world…” This is indeed a global event of a putting to proof of the Church. The lost cannot be proven for they are indeed lost. Only those who have received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior can be proved or tried. As it is written, “…Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried…” (Dan 12:10a) And as a further witness that this proving is not for the unsaved we read, “…Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer…” (Pro 25:4) There is no proving or trying that can take away the dross from the lost. Only the silver, those who have been redeemed, can be purified.

“…to try, to prove them that dwell upon the earth…” Here, we discover again those who will be tried. “…For to be carnally, earthy minded is death; but to be spiritually, heavenly minded is life and peace…” (Rom 8:6) We are not called to “…mind earthly things…” (Php 3:19,) but rather to “…awake you that sleeps and arise (ascend into the heavenlies) from the dead (earthy) and Christ shall give you light…” (Eph 5:14) If we will attain to our proper place, “…in heavenly places in Christ Jesus…” (Eph 2:6,) we will indeed escape the proving of them that dwell, that is, have their habitation in the earthy realm. These one’s haven’t risen but remain upon the earth.

The Church, at this time upon the earth, sees things coming upon the earth which we have been taught deal with the lost. We have been taught there is a seven year tribulation period which will effect the lost. We have been taught there will be a horrible person, who has been labeled the anti-christ. We have been taught there will be plagues, destruction, earthquakes, asteroids, hail falling upon men in the weight of about an hundred pounds, etc. We have been taught there is something called the mark of the beast, which men will be required to take, else-wise they will be killed. But, praise God, we have been taught that these things are not relevant to the Church, only to the lost.

Children of God wake up! This is that which was spoken of by the Apostle Paul when he wrote, “…For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction comes upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape…” (1Thes 5:2, 3) The Church is in this place. And, the Lord Jesus Himself gives us fair warning as He says, “…Behold, I come quickly…”

Verse 11 – Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which you have, that no man take your crown

“…Behold, I come quickly…” One further aspect of this is, as we hear the Lord Jesus say, “…I must work the works of Him that sent Me, while it is day: the night comes, when no man can work…” (Jn 9:4) The night did come when no man could work . The Church was, for a period of about 980 years, in a place of total darkness: then light did again begin to shine. From the placing of, “…the abomination that makes desolate…” (Dan 11:31) in 538 A.D., until Martin Luther in 1517 A.D. the Church was pitch black. But, “…now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, THE DAY is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put you on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof…” (Rom 13:11-14) We see our brother Paul as an Apostle, though sometimes we fail to see him as a Prophet. We need to awake out of our sleep for, “…Behold, I come quickly, shortly, that is without delay, soon, or (by surprise) suddenly…” Yes, the Lord whom we seek, “…shall come suddenly to His Temple…Behold, He shall come…” (Mal 3:1)

“…hold that fast which you have…” Paul said, “…Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be mature, be thus minded: and if in any thing you be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as you have us for an example. (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the Cross of Christ…” (Php 3:13-18) “…hold fast that which we have already attained…”

“…that no man take your crown…” Who is this man who can take our crown? We just saw him in that, “…many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the Cross of Christ…” (Php 3:18)

These one’s walk and seem to be, “…ministers of righteousness…” (2Cor 11:15) but they are, in fact, the “…the enemies of the Cross of Christ …” Simply put they do not understand the strait gate, they have never denied themselves, that is their carnal, earthy nature, and taken up their cross and followed Jesus. Though they seem righteous, as they have the right look and say many of the right things their, “…end shall be according to their works…” (2Cor 11:15) This is the man (individual and corporate) that will misdirect you and steal your crown. For, “…Blessed is the man that endures temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to them that love Him…” (Jas 1:12) This crown of Life is Zoe, God Life, which comes on the other side of the Cross. “…Little children let no man deceive you: he that does righteousness is righteous, even as He is Righteous…” (1Jn 3:7)

Verse 12 – Him that overcomes will I make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the Name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, which is new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God: and I will write upon him My new Name

“…will I make a pillar in the Temple of My God, and he shall go no more out…” All Christians are lively stones. But, to the one that holds fast and does not allow his crown to be taken he will be transformed into an unmovable pillar when the Lord comes to inhabit His Temple. From that point forward he will never be moved.

“…and I will write upon him the Name of my God…” Write is, to engrave, with the emphasis pointing to that which is in the process of being done. We have previously discussed upon, in that it points to something being superimposed. Also, we have discovered that Name speaks of the identity and attributes of a person. So, this one that has overcome is to be in a continuing process of being overlaid with all the attributes of God. A process that began the instant we were saved.

This is something that takes place when, “…The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ…” (Rev 11:15) This is not when, “…Behold, I create a new heavens and a new earth: and the former (heaven and earth) shall not be remembered, nor come into mind…” (Isa 65:17) As we can see by these passages of Scripture the former is still present in Revelation 11:15, for it is, “…the kingdoms of this world…” that are being spoken of. But, in Isaiah 65:17 this creation, “…shall not be remembered, nor come to mind…”

“…and the Name of the City of My God, which is New Jerusalem, which comes down out of Heaven from My God…” This overcomer will also be in a continuing process of being overlaid with all the attributes of the City of God, New Jerusalem which is being, “…built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the Chief Corner…” (Eph 2:20) At the time that this process begins the New Jerusalem is not yet complete, for we are only at the beginning of the millennium.

Verse 13 – He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches

Verse 14 – And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the beginning of the creation of God

“…the church of the Laodiceans…” Laodicea means, opinion, judgment of the people or of the laymen. The first thing we see here is, unlike the second through the sixth manifestations of the Church, this Church is OF the Laodiceans rather than IN. The first Church was the Church of Ephesus (desirable; desire.) Ephesus was, in fact, desirable of the Lord or, in other words, His Desire, therefore, OF. This seventh Church is not IN any particular spiritual state because of circumstance, as were the second through the sixth manifestations of the Church. This Church has come into existence because of the particular judgment of the laymen; therefore OF. It is not OF the Lord, it is established upon the opinions OF the people.

This is the final, the seventh Church, the temporal completion of the Church which comes into being, and is a conglomerate of Sardis and Philadelphia. This Church is a picture of those Christian institutions who, by opinion and judgment of the people, have reached a place where they have all the answers insofar as doctrine, correct procedures, the mysteries of God, etc..

“…These things says the Amen…” As we have seen thus far in our unveiling the Lord always addresses the churches by referring to what He is and what He does, respectively, according to the situation and condition of each shepherd. He starts here by telling this overseer(s) He is, “…the Amen..,” which, in Hebrew, means firm, steadfast or trustworthy. So, His beginning statement to the leader(s) in this Church which has been established by the judgment of the people is, “…I am the LORD, I change not…” (Mal 3:6) No matter whose opinion a teaching is based on, the fact remains, “…Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever…” (Heb 13:8) Amen.

“…the Faithful and True Witness…” The Lord is the Trustworthy and Truthful Witness. The implication being that the angel(s) of this seventh Church have not been trustworthy in the things of God. Therefore, his/their witness before men is less than truthful. The Apostle Paul said to the elders of Ephesus that he had, “…not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God…” (Acts 20:27) However, this shepherd(s) of Laodicea has indeed shunned his/their responsibility before the Lord.

“…the Beginning of the Creation of God…” He reminds this one that He is the Origin and Source of God’s creation and he/they need to remember and return to the Source. Doctrine is not good enough, knowledge is not good enough, knowing the meaning of everything is not good enough, etc. etc. If he/they are to continue on he/they need to return to the Source.

Verse 15 – I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot: I would you were cold or hot

“…I know your works…” There are many works in this seventh manifestation of the Church they are not, however, the works that meet with the Lord’s approval. In order to do the works that are, “…pleasing in His sight…” (1Jn 3:22) we have to, “…strive lawfully…” (2Tim 2:5) As we can see these one’s are not doing that which is pleasing in His sight, or striving lawfully in accordance with what the Lord says next.

“…you are neither cold nor hot…” They are satisfied, complacent, ritualistic, ceremonial, doctrinal, believing they have it all: religious.

“…I would you were cold or hot…” One that is cold can be rekindled of the Lord, one that is hot is malleable before the Lord.

Verse 16 – So then because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of My mouth

“…because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot…” They being neither hot nor cold presents grave danger. The one that is lukewarm, satisfied, complacent does not see a need for change.

“…I will spew you out of My mouth…” When we are in such a state the Lord has no other option, for it is written, “…unto every one that has shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that has not shall be taken away even that which he has. And cast/eject you the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth…” (Mat 25:29, 30) To be spewed/ejected from the place where the True Word of the Lord is, which is in the Lord’s mouth, will in the end be a cause of great distress.

Verse 17 – Because you say, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and know not that you are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked

As we have just seen this seventh manifestation of the Church believes that it has it all. They think, just as the Scribes and Pharisee’s in the day of the Lord’s visitation, they are, “…perfect in every good work to do His will…” (Heb 13:21) In accordance to the Lord’s Word they have no idea that they are in need of, “…all things that pertain unto life and godliness…” (2Pet 1:3)

Verse 18 – I counsel you to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that you may be rich; and white raiment, that you may be clothed, and that the shame of your nakedness do not appear; and anoint your eyes with eyesalve, that you may see

“…I counsel you to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that you may be rich…” Buying indicates that there is a price which one must pay. What do we have in our hand that we can give to Lord for this gold tried in the fire? The obvious answer is, “…He says, God resists the proud, but gives grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw close to God, and He will draw close to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up…” (Jas 4:6-10) The price is the very life, the very Adamic nature of us.

The Gold IS Jesus, as He is, “…the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints…” (Eph 1:18) The fire is, “…the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ…” (1Pet 1:7) When the fiery furnace (ref: Dan 3) burned its hottest it only burned the bonds off Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and set them free. As it is written, “…Is not My (True) Word like as a fire…” (Jer 23:29) For, if we submit to the TRUTH He will, “…take away the dross from the silver (the redeemed) and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer…” (Pro 25:4)

“…and white raiment, that you may be clothed, and that the shame of your nakedness do not appear…” As we have already seen the white raiment is, “…the rightwiseness of saints…” (Rev 19:8)  They are naked for they have wrapped themselves in the commandments of men.

“…and anoint your eyes with eyesalve, that you may see…” The anointing which causes us to see the Truth is the Holy Spirit. To wit: “…the anointing which you have received of Him abides in you, and you need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teaches you of all things, and is Truth, and is no lie, and even as He has taught you, you shall abide in Him…” (1Jn 2:27) We can allow men to teach us, we can allow institutions to teach us, we can even allow Christian books to teach us. But we, just as these of Laodicea, will never SEE until we see Who the Real Teacher is.

Verse 19 – As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent

“…As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten…” The Lord loves ALL His children. So, the born again Christians which find themselves in this seventh and final manifestation of the Church age need to, “…despise not you the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when you are rebuked of Him: for whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives. If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chastens not? But if you be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are you bastards, and not sons…” (Heb 12:5-8)

“…be zealous therefore, and repent…” To be zealous means, to have warmth of feeling for or against. Have a warmth of feeling for/toward Me, says the Lord and change your mind (repent) in respect to your estate. Recognize My Hand in your life rather than the devil this or the devil that, or its just bad luck, or its life’s circumstance. See Jesus, warm up, repent.

Verse 20 – Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me

“…Behold, I stand at the door, and knock…” What door is this? As the Lord is speaking to the angel(s) of this seventh manifestation of the Church we can readily see that they have put the Living Word outside the Church door. He is LOVE and He is, “…meek/gentle and lowly/humble in heart…” (Mat 11:29) When you put Him out He does not, “…behave Himself unseemly…” (1Cor 13:5) but rather, “…suffers long…” (1Cor 13:4,) gently knocking at the door.

“…if any man hear My voice, and open the door…” He does not intrude, you have to want to hear His Voice. We find that the Prophet Elijah discovered this when the LORD instructed him to, “…Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: and after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. And it was so, when Elijah heard it…” (1Ki 19:11-13) These one’s, as do we, need to listen for that still small voice if they desire to hear the Voice of the Lord.

“…I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me…” Wait! Are these one’s not saved? When we are born again do we not receive the Holy Spirit? The answers are yes they are saved, and yes we are sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise. This is something altogether different. The Lord said, “…He that has My commandments, and keeps them, he it is that loves Me: and he that loves Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him…” (Jn 14:21) And again, “…If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him. He that loves Me not keeps not My sayings: and the Word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s which sent Me…” (Jn 14:23, 24) To dine with the Lord He has to be abiding with you. This is further explained by the Lord in that, “…If you abide in Me, and My Words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit; so shall you be My disciples…” (Jn 15:7, 8) If we want to sup with the Lord we must learn to abide in Him and let His True Word abide in us.

Verse 21 – To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne

Do we see what the Lord Has said to him that overcomes here? For, it is written, “…The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together…” (Rom 8:16, 17) A joint-heir is one who gets exactly the same thing as the Heir. If we will but see our way clear of the muddle we will come to understand: “…Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world (this order of things) knows us not, because it knew Him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. And every man that has this hope in Him purifies himself, even as He is pure…” (1Jn 3:1)

If we will but trust in Him to cause us to overcome the world, kosmos, meaning this order of things and, as we can see, there is much to overcome in the four, of the earth/earthy, manifestations of the Church: from Thyatira through Laodicea. If we will but trust Him to show us The Way to victory over the flesh, and cause us to put on the real armor of God so that we will be able to stand against the tricks of the devil: then we too can sit down on the right hand of God and give all glory and honor and praise to the Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the First Overcomer. For, it is “…not by might (natural,) nor by power (natural,) but by My Spirit (supernatural,) says the LORD of hosts…” (Zec 4:6)

Verse 22 – He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches

Chapter 4 – Accompanying Things

Verse 1 – After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up here, and I will show you things which must be hereafter

John had finished hearing the letters to the seven churches and then he looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven. The first voice that he heard sounded like a trumpet which told him to, “…come up here and I will show you, make you see, things which must be hereafter…” At this point we need to have a little clearer picture of, “…things which must be hereafter…”

“…things which…” The singular Greek word, hos, hay, ho, interpreted here things which, simply means, who, which, what, that. In the Greek text and in the King James Version there is no additional word that could be rendered things, it is an added word, so we will remove it.

“…must be…” Must, in Greek, is dei, and means it is (was, etc.) necessary (as binding.) Be, is ginomai, and most directly means, to become (come into being.)

“…hereafter…” This is a combination of two Greek words. Here, is meta, and properly denotes accompaniment; “amid.” After, is tauta and means these things.

Now, that we see more clearly, let us look at the end of the verse once again. “…Come up here, and I will show you what must come into being amid/accompanying these things…” We will state here, “…It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honor of kings is to search out a matter…” (Pro 25:2) And, as we are “…kings and priests…” (Rev 1:6,) and because we know that “…Every Word of God is pure…” (Pro 30:5,) it is therefore our honor to examine every Word thoroughly. For, “…in Your Light shall we see light…” (Psa 36:9)

This is not to say that anyone at anytime has set out to misconstrue the Scriptures. But, even when the Apostle Paul spoke to the Christians at Berea they were called, “…more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so…” (Acts 17:11) If those Christians made sure that what Paul said was correct, then we most assuredly need to search the Scriptures, with all the tools at our disposal, to see whether those things which are spoken to us through the translators are so or not.

Amid/accompanying what things? Up to this point in the Revelation the only things with which John has been involved is the letters to, “…the seven angels/shepherds and the seven Churches…”  Therefore, the things are the letters to the Churches, and the only place the events, which are about to be revealed, can take place is in the midst of the Church throughout the Church age.

John was instructed to come up here. Up where? To Heaven. Where is the Church? “…But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, has quickened us together with Christ, (by grace you are saved;) and has raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus…” (Eph 2:4-7) We need to see things as God sees things, and He sees us in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus. “…For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, says the Lord…” (Isa 55:8) The only way for a star or saint to get down from there is to be sent by the Lord or fall.

Verse 2 – And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and One sat on the throne

John here confirms what was just said in that he did not say, immediately I was in heaven. What he said was, “…immediately I was in the spirit…” We do not have to go anywhere physically to be in heaven spiritually, even in accordance with the Lord Jesus, for He said, “…Behold/see, the kingdom of God is within you…” (Luk 17:21)

“…and, behold, a throne was set in heaven and One sat on the throne…” This is a great mystery.  Before the atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ God spoke to men from without. His dwelling place was in an unseen realm called Heaven. After the Lord Jesus paid the price to, “…redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar, an unusual people, zealous of good works…” (Tit 2:14,) He now speaks to men from within to without. Our Lord Jesus said, “…If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and WE will come unto him, and MAKE OUR ABODE, Our dwelling place, amid him…” (Jn 14:23) “…Behold, the tabernacle, the abode of God, is amid men, and He will dwell amid them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be amid them, and be their God…” (Rev 21:3) In the words of the Apostle Paul, indeed, “…this is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the Church…” (Eph 5:32)

This is not to say that the Lord Jesus did not leave this earth physically and go to a place called by the Apostle Paul, “…third heaven…” (2Cor 12:2) For someday, “…this same Jesus, which was taken up from you into heaven, shall come in like manner as you have seen Him go into heaven…” (Acts 1:11) This is to say, in the words of our Lord Jesus, he “…Who has ears to hear, let him hear…because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given…” (Mat 13:9; 11)

Again, the Lord Jesus said, “…The kingdom of heaven is like to…seed…sowed/buried in his field…” (Mat 13:31) and, “…leaven…hid…” (v. 33) and, once more, “…treasure hid…” (v. 44.) One of the mysteries revealed in these three parables is, in accordance with the Lord, “…The kingdom of heaven is…hid…” Hid where? The Apostle Paul said, “…we have this treasure in earthen vessels…” (2Cor 4:7) “…Treasure hid…” What treasure? Simply put, “…The kingdom of heaven, the kingdom of God, IS…treasure hid in earthen vessels (us)…” And, the Treasure is CHRIST.

Verse 3 – And He that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald

“…He that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone…” A jasper stone is dark green in color. Green is the color which speaks of all life, and also the work of the Holy Spirit. DARK green points to God Life, or, the Life of God. A sardine/sardius stone is red, and is indicative of redemption. This One on the throne personifies both Life and redemption.

“…and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald…” We see a rainbow, which is God’s sign of, “…the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth…” (Gen 9:16) pointing to the fact He will never again, “…destroy all flesh…” (Gen 9:15) with a flood. This rainbow, first and foremost, speaks directly to the New Covenant in that we are now a, “…member of His body, of His flesh, and of His bone…” (Eph 5:30)  “…And, no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord the Church…” (Eph 5:39) God most assuredly will never again destroy all human life on this earth. An emerald is green. Which again speaks of the work of the Spirit, and this green points to the regenerated human life we now have in this flesh.

Verse 4 – And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold

“…round about the throne…” That is to say circling all around the throne.

“…four and twenty seats…” Literally, “…twenty four thrones…”

“…and upon the thrones…” Let us remember that we just saw, in the Lord’s promise to the overcomer, that He would grant that the overcomer should sit down in His throne, just as He overcame and was granted to sit down in His Father’s throne. We need not be put off by the idea of someone sitting on a throne.

“…I saw four and twenty elders sitting…” This is something that John saw. In the Revelation we must remember that what John is seeing are symbols standing for something. What do these twenty four elders stand for? As seven is the number for God’s temporal perfection, so is twelve the number for God’s eternal perfection. In the New Jerusalem there are, twelve gates, twelve angels at the gates, twelve foundations, the city is twelve thousand furlongs, twelve pearls, twelve fruits, etc.. There are no sevens in the New Jerusalem; temporal perfection is past, eternal perfection has come. What has this to do with twenty four?

There were twelve tribes of natural Israel and there are twelve tribes of spiritual Israel. Twelve plus twelve equals twenty four. On the one hand, what we see is a picture, a symbol, of all those overcomers of natural Israel who, as faithful Abraham, believed God and it was imputed unto them for righteousness. And, on the other hand, what we see is a picture, a symbol of all those overcomers throughout the Church age, spiritual Israel, who overcame, “…by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their (soul) lives unto the death…” (Rev 12:11) Again, twelve plus twelve equals twenty four.

“…clothed in white raiment…” We have previously seen that the white raiment is the rightwiseness of the saints.

“…and they had on their heads crowns of gold…” This is the crown of life, God Life, Zoe, and the symbol for God Life is gold, which is promised to all who overcome.

Verse 5 – And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God

“… And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices…” This is the same picture as in Exodus 19:16. “…And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled…” Lightnings and thunders point to the Voice, the power and righteous judgment of the Lord.

The only distinction is that in Exodus there was a thick cloud, so as to protect the people from the glory of God, as they could not have stood in His presence. Here, in Revelation, there isn’t a cloud of protection needed, for all the saints who are present are covered in the Blood of the Lamb. Also, “…upon the mount…the voice (singular)..of the (as a) trumpet…” and here in Revelation we see “…voices…” Before the Lord Jesus the LORD God was One (singular.) After the Lord Jesus The LORD God is One (plural,) Head and body. “…His voice as the sound of many waters…” (Rev 1:15)

“…and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God…” See our discussion of, “…the seven Spirits which are before the throne of God…” in Revelation 1:4.

Verse 6 – And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind

“…And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal…” A Sea points to all of lost humanity. In the Book of Daniel we see where Daniel spoke and said, “…I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea. And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another…” (Dan 7:2, 3) It is explained that these four great beasts are four empires. The place from which these beasts rose up out of was, the sea of lost humanity.

This sea of lost humanity, firstly, is transparent for, “…all things are naked and opened unto the Eyes of Him with whom we have to do…” (Heb 4:13) And, secondly, it is, “…like unto crystal…” Crystal here being most properly interpreted ice. There is no warmth, no fire in this sea. Unlike, “…and there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as fire, and sat upon each of them…” (Acts 2:3)

The Apostle John is seeing, from the Lord’s perspective, in that the Lord sees the twenty four elders, the fulness, the eternal perfection of all overcomers throughout the ages already in heaven. But, before His throne, upon the earth He sees an icy sea of lost humanity.

“…and round about the throne, were four…” Four is the number of the created. There are four corners of the earth, four seasons of the year, four points on the compass, four parts to the image in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, four beasts out of the sea, four heads of the river that flows from the garden of Eden, etc.. All that is related to created things is encompassed in the number four.

We know the number one is God’s number, “…Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God is one LORD…” (Deu 6:4,) and points to the unity of God. We also understand the number three is God’s number, pointing to the completion, perfection, or fullness of God. If we add the number one (God) to the number three (perfection/completion/fullness of God) what emerges is God plus His complete creation or, the number four.

“…four beasts…” The Greek word zōon, here interpreted beast, gives a wrong impression, as the beasts that rose up out of the sea in Daniel are unholy things. Zōon primarily denotes, a living being, which stresses the fact of life: four living creatures is the most appropriate translation. Thus, “…four living creatures…”

“…full of eyes before and behind…” The Lord said,  “…The light of the body is the eye: if therefore your eye be single, your whole body shall be full of light…” (Mat 6:22) These living creatures are full of eyes allowing them to receive all of God’s light throughout eternity future.

Verse 7 – And the first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face as a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle

“…the first creature was like a lion…” The lion is representative of all animals of God’s creation which are not domesticated.

“…the second creature like a calf…” The calf being representative of all animals which are domesticated.

“…the third creature had a face as a man…” The man represents all human kind.

“…the fourth creature was like a flying eagle…” The eagle is a symbol of all flying things in creation.

There are two things which are not represented here: (1) creeping things of the earth and (2) those things which inhabit the water. Creeping things of the earth have Satan as their head, therefore are part of the curse, and will not inhabit eternity future. The things which inhabit the water are under the judgment of God, as they are in the waters with which God judged the, “…world that then was…” (2Pet 3:6) Nothing that was not in the Ark will inhabit eternity future.

Verse 8 – And the four creatures had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come

“…And the four creatures had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within…”

The number six is man’s number, as he was created on the sixth day. Therefore, the number six speaks of the height of God’s creation, as man was created, “…in His (God’s) own image…” (Gen 1:27) Wings point to flight, in the sense of rising above. We see here, in this heavenly vision, a picture of the ultimate height of God’s creation, in that all which He created has been made to rise above its fallen state and is now in a state of eternal perfection for eternity future. These wings are not to cover anything, these wings are designed to gather light.

“…and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come…” The whole of God’s creation will never cease to give, “…thanks to God, which gives us the victory through or Lord Jesus Christ…” (1Cor 15:57) Their words of praise points three times to the triune nature of God.

Verse 9 – And when those creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him that sat on the throne, who lives for ever and ever

Here we have a picture of, “…Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise you the LORD…” (Psa 150:6) All of creation: redeemed humanity and every living creature giving the Lord all the glory and all the honor and all the thanks. For, it was only by His faithfulness and His obedience and His sacrifice that we are, the whole of creation, redeemed.

Verse 10 – The four and twenty elders fall down before Him that sat on the throne, and worship Him that lives for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying

In verse nine we saw all that is redeemed by the Lord, which certainly includes these twenty four elders, for they are a part of all that is redeemed. Why then are they then separated out? As we previously have pointed out, these ones are a picture of all the overcomers in this present creation, since the flood, and they have received a crown which they, with exceeding joy, do relinquish to Him that sat upon the throne declaring…

Verse 11 – You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for You have created all things, and for Your pleasure they are and were created

They declare the Lord “…worthy to receive..,” for these have a clear vision of the sacrifice which the Lord made. They go further still, in that these one’s declare that the Lord is also worthy to receive power. Because they see clearly the Lord’s having, “…humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross…” (Php 2:8) And it was for this obedience unto death that made Him worthy to receive, “…All power…in heaven and in earth…” (Mat 28:18)

It is by the Lord having received all power that these ones were/are able to overcome. By His grace they had received, “…the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him: the eyes of your/their understanding being enlightened; that you may know/see what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, which He worked in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and has put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the Head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him that fills all in all…” (Eph 1:17-23)

“…You have created all things…” They proclaim with clarity they understood, and understand the Majesty of the Lord, and that beside Him there is none Other.

“…and for Your pleasure they are and were created…” These one’s understand, they see, that we are called, “…according to His purpose…” (Rom 8:28) and have, by the grace of God, “…loved not their (self) lives unto the death…” (Rev 12:11) These one’s saw, they understood the Scripture where it is written you are, “…not your own. For you are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s…” (1Cor 6:19, 20) We, they, and all things were and are created for His good pleasure.

Chapter 5 – The Lion of the tribe of Juda

Verse 1 – And I saw in the right hand of Him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals

“…the right hand…” This points to blessing and authority and power.

“…a scroll written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals…” The scroll is sealed closely with seven seals. Seven being the number of God’s temporal perfection here informs us that all things pertaining to the Church, until eternal perfection comes, are contained herein.

Verse 2 – And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?

John saw a mighty messenger and he was proclaiming his message with an exceedingly great voice saying, Who is deserving to open up the scroll and to break the seals thereof?

Verse 3 – And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon

“…And no man in heaven…” Unveiling the fact that at the time of the Apostle John’s receiving the Revelation there were resurrected, glorified human beings in the heavenly realm.

“…nor upon earth…” Speaking of all humanity that was alive at the time of this heavenly event.

“…neither under the earth…” No one that had passed away heretofore possessed the ability to open the scroll. And, there was not one found, not anyone anywhere, who was even worthy to look at these things.

Verse 4 – And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the scroll, neither to look thereon

This was tragic to John and he wept much. It is an extremely sad event when the glory of God, “…a thing concealed…” (Pro 25:2,) cannot be opened, read or even looked upon.

Verse 5 – And one of the elders said unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof

John is instructed by an overcomer not to weep, for there is indeed Someone Who has overcome and is worthy to open the scroll and break the seven seals thereof.

“…Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda…” As it is written, “…A Lion which is strongest among beast, and turns not away for any…” (Pro 30:30) The Lord Jesus is the Lion, as He turned not away for any, and overcame even death and the grave. Juda means, the praise of the Lord, and the Lord Jesus certainly is of this tribe.

“…the Root of David…” The Lord Jesus is both, “…the root and the offspring of David…” (Rev 22:16) as, “…All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made…” (Jn 1:3)

“…has prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof…” Prevailed, to subdue: – conquer, overcome, prevail, get the victory. Amen, Lord Jesus, to all of that.

Verse 6 – And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as It had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth

We know about the throne, the four creatures and the elders. So let us go forward. John saw…

“…a Lamb as It had been slain…” We see the Lord Jesus Christ as Lord, Savior, Lion, Prince of Peace, Wonderful Counselor, Everlasting Father, Mighty God, ad infinum. But, we tend to forget, “…He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth: He is brought as a Lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He opens not his mouth….” (Isa 53:7) In order for the Lord to attain to all the aforementioned titles He had to first, “…be slain…”

We also have not seen the truth, in the fact that if we indeed follow Him, “…as it is written, For Your sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter…” (Rom 8:36) If we are on the right path then, in the words of the Lord Jesus, shall, “…the world (kosmos – this order of things) hate you, and you know that it hated Me before it hated you…” (Mat 15:19)  What order of things hated the Lord in His visitation? It was the religious order which was in place at the time. More will be seen in regards to this matter later on in this Book of Revelation, in this unveiling of things.

“…having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth…” Seven, as we know, signifies completion or perfection. Horns, symbolically, speak of power or authority. The seven horned Lamb that was slain therefore has complete, perfect power over all. Eyes, point to seeing and light. The seven eyed Lamb sees perfectly and is all Light.

Because of this victory by the Lamb, the Lord Jesus, the Seven Spirits, the complete all powerful, all seeing Spirit of Christ is being “…sent forth to all the earth…” We did not say into all the earth, for the Holy Spirit has not went into unrepentant humanity. But, for the first time since the creation of the world, the fullness of His Spirit is available to anyone who will call upon His Name.

Verse 7 – And He (the Lamb that was slain) came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him that sat upon the throne

Verse 8 – And when He had taken the scroll, the four creatures and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of saints

“…having every one of them harps…” A harp points to, “…the peace of God, which passes all understanding…” (Php 4:7) The shadow, the picture, of this is in 1Samuel in that David (the beloved, a shadow, a type of the Lord Jesus) would play his harp for King Saul, who was vexed with an evil spirit, and it would give Saul peace. We all, as Christians, have this harp available to us in that, “…Peace I leave with you, My peace (harp) I give unto you: not as the world gives, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid…” (Jn 14:27) The Lord Jesus is Himself the Harp. Every where we look we should see Jesus, as He is everything.

“…and golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of saints…” The golden vial(s) are, again, a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ, as He is the Golden Vial(s). He is our High Priest and He is the One Who presents the prayers of the saints to the Father. He, “…is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him (the Golden Vial,) seeing He ever lives to make intercession for them…” (Heb 7:25)

Verse 9 – And they sung a new song, saying, You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open the seals thereof: for You were slain, and has redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation

“…they sung a new song…” The song, in and of itself, is described right here in the verse. It is a song which is sung by all the saved, represented in the twenty four elders, declaring the worthiness of the Lamb that was slain, because it was by His Sacrifice that redemption came to spiritual Israel. These ones that sing this song are, “…out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation…”

Verse 10 – And has made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth

“…has made us…” Though this is a past, present and future unveiling the tense has made is as if it has all already been completed. And it has, in the Mind of God, for, “…You have (past tense) put all things in subjection under his (man) feet. For in that He put (past tense) all in subjection under him (man,) He (God) left nothing that is not put under him. But now (present tense) we see not yet all things put under him. But we see Jesus…” (Heb 2:8, 9a) So, in this heavenly vision, these twenty four redeemed ones are, “…calling those things which be not as though they were…” (Rom 4:17) and agreeing with the Lord Jesus that, “…It is finished…” (Jn 19:30)

“…has made us unto our God kings and priests…” A king is one who rules facing outwards toward the people, and a priest is one who offers supplication for the people, facing inwards toward God. This picture/unveiling is so that we may see that the Church will take its place, just as the Lord Jesus has, on the order of, “…Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God…” (Heb 7:1) Salem means, complete or perfect peace.

“…we shall reign…” We need to first see clearly the nature of this reigning so that we may find ourselves in the proper place. “…Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also has highly exalted Him…” (Php 2:5-9a)

And again, “…But Jesus called them to Him, and said unto them, You know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: and whosoever of you will be the chiefest (king,) shall be servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many…” (Mar 10:42-45) “…Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus…” (Php 2:5) If we cannot see this then, “…many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first…” (Mat 19:30) Where will these one’s rule and carry out their priestly functions?

“…on the earth…” This is not, “…a new earth…,” this is THE earth. Let us remember that the Book of Revelation is an unveiling of the Lord Jesus Christ (The Head) and His body (Church) throughout the Church age, the Kingdom age, and the setting up of eternal perfection. Therefore, this is a prophetic utterance pointing to the time when Christ Jesus, Who is, “…the Head of the body (the Church)…” (Col 1:18) shall, by His christ, rule on this earth during the millennium. We will see this more clearly as we proceed through the Revelation.

Verse 11 – And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the creatures and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands

John saw this heavenly collection, and heard the voice, a singular voice, which was in total harmony, of these, “…ten myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands…” Innumerable. The number ten, in Scripture, speaks of completion and responsibility. All these angelic beings, created beings, and redeemed human beings are totally responsible to God. We will explain the number one thousand a bit later on.

Verse 12 – Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing

The Lord Jesus Christ is certainly Worthy to receive for, “…the Father had given all things into His Hands…” (Jn 13:3)

Verse 13 – And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sits upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever

And we join in and say again, “…Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise you the LORD…” (Psa 150:6)

Verse 14 – And the four creatures said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshiped him that lives for ever and ever

And everything that has breath said, Amen. And all of the redeemed that ever was, and is, and shall be fell down and worshiped the Lord Jesus.