Bible, NT-27, Revelation 1
Part 1
LESSON 27
BOOK OF REVELATION 1
Part 1
By Rev. G. Evan Newmyer
INTRODUCTION TO REVELATION
In these last two lessons we will find what John “saw”, what he was “told” regarding heaven, the earth, the Body, and the Church. This Vision is based on some other things John believed in, the words of the Prophets of Old brought into the realm of understanding and Remembrance. This information is Hope, giving us incentive in those times when it seems as if the gates of hell have not only prevailed, but are on top of us. On the same note we find there are those who use the information of the End Times to frighten people, it was not the purpose of the Vision. The purpose is to show us hope, the Day will end, we are not appointed the wrath of God, yet the wrath of God will come to pass.
Knowing John will tell us things “seen” in heaven, how does it fit with Paul’s comments to the Corinthians saying it’s unlawful to speak of the things one sees in heaven? (II Cor 12:4). The key to Paul’s statement is found in the wording, “to speak”, which is the Greek word Laleo, in his context it means To talk at random, thus John is not telling us these things to engage in some social conversation, or show his importance, rather he is giving us a prophetic word regarding what the Lord told him. Paul never said the Lord told him to speak of the Third heaven, thus for him to speak of it randomly would be doing heaven an injustice. On the other hand John is told to write down what he sees and hears.
We will see the word “Seen” more times in this lesson, than we have prior. Have we “seen” these things come to pass? Yes, by faith, but many are yet to come to pass for the physical eye of man. We have the advantage of “seeing” something before it comes to pass, many of these same things were seen in the words of the Prophets of Old, as well as seen in the words of the New Testament saints. The events in the Night begin as Peace and Safety, but end as Sudden Destruction, thus the reason for telling us these things is to keep us from the deception of thinking the Night is “heaven on earth”.
We will see things which could frighten us, if we were going to be subject to them. On the other hand they are Hope, knowing we have the opportunity to be Partakers in the First Resurrection. The famed “mark of the beast” has been used to scare us, but warnings are not to scare us, rather they are given to prepare us. As soon as some new terror, or political adversary shows up we hear, “The Mark of the Beast, run!!!!”. Years ago movies were the mark of the beast, but those who told us it ended making movies. Then it was television, but those who told us it ended up on television. Then it was credit cards, but now those who told us now take our credit cards. Then it was computers, but those who said it are now using computers. Then it was the Internet, but those who told us it, have web pages. In this lesson we will find the “mark, name and number of the beast” are all relative to the world, connecting to the saying, “the love of money is the root of all evil”. It’s simply doing business, or working in the world by using the lusts of the world. The Mark relates to money and business, in the world if is seems right, they use whatever is legal, or what they can get away with, calling it “it’s only business”. The Mark lacks mercy, it centers itself on the love of money, regardless of who gets hurt in the process. It’s evident when we find it’s connected to buying and selling, as we see in the world today.
John by the Holy Ghost gives us a view of events past, events present, and events yet to come, in those we find there is a very good reason to walk in the Love of God by the Spirit of God, as we endure the trying of our faith. The throne of Jesus is found in Revelation 3:21, yet the verse prior talks about the Door. Jesus said when it’s the Time of Doors the end will be near; however, He didn’t say it would be in hand, only “near”. Jesus also said those who were prepared and ready went with Him into the Marriage, then the Door was shut (Matt 25:10). Which Door? Whose Door? And when is the Door shut? If it’s the time of Doors, yet we go through A Door, what other Doors could there be? The five foolish virgins with the lamps lacked oil, finding the door closing before they could make entry, but those with both the lamp and oil were allowed through the Door. Jesus talks about the talents, one with Five, one with Two and one with One (Matt 25:20-22). There are Seven churches, but there is also the famed Eighth who came from the Seven, this Eighth is comprised of the bad fish we just read about in James, Peter, John and Jude, thus the danger is within, not without. The enemies of Jesus are in the Courtyard, the Tabernacle is on the dry land of the Earth, not the Sand of the Sea, or the Sea; therefore, we will find a Beast of the Sea, and a Beast of the Earth.
Why does John use the title Antichrist in two of his letters, yet never uses the title in the Book of Revelation? How can we meet Jesus in the Air if He is on earth at the Judgment? How can we reign with Christ on the earth, yet be in heaven? Why are we told we are free of the Law, yet Jesus said pray the day not be on the Sabbath? What is the phrase “like the days of Noah” mean? How many groups of people were on the earth in the days of Noah? Where there any Christ Like people on the earth during the Days of Noah? How many sons did he have, how many immediate nations came from those sons? How was Noah able to keep all those animals in peace on the ark? What happens to those who deny both the Father and Son in this Season? Why does Acts 1:6-8 give us a separation of Seasons? Will people be saved in the next Season? These and many more questions will be answered in our study on the Book of Revelation.
It boils down to this, the Seven churches are asked to make a Choice, the rest are asked to make a Decision. The Wicked make a Decision going against the Glory of God, yet claim to be the Glory, thus for them it’s not a matter of Choice, but Decision. This Book above all others shows Justification is a process, the churches for the most part are in the process, they are told to repent, yet they are “churches”. If they were innocent to begin with, why do they have to repent? If they are innocent, why does Jesus say, “I have this against you”? The declaration proclaimed them innocent, but the process was working out the declaration.
THE BOOK OF REVELATION – 1
There are some interesting things in the Book of Revelation, all of them must be taken in conjunction with other Scriptures, or we will devise our own end time thinking, forgetting to rightly divide the Word. For instance, Jesus told His disciples not to speak of Him being the Christ until He was Glorified, when was He Glorified? Where is the Glory? Paul said the Glory was in us (Rom 8:18), the Glorified Jesus is a result of the Resurrection. The only time anyone can speak of the Christ of Grace, is when there is someone with the power of the Resurrection on this earth. Jesus also said there will come those who say they are Christ, yet we are not to believe them. This doesn’t mean they will say the are The Christ, or they are of the Anointed, or better they will use the term we use, “Christian”. Most of us have used, or said, “Christ in me the hope of glory”, even Paul used the term, so are we not to believe him? There will be a time when the ability to walk in the Spirit of Christ will no longer be on this earth, at the time the Mercy of God will still endure, but the Grace of God will be gone. In our Season there will be some who say they are Christian, they may have the appearance of righteousness, but inside Satan will still reign (I Cor 15:15, II Cor 11:13 & Gal 2:4).
On the same note, prior to the Cross Peter said Jesus was the Christ, yet Jesus said, “blessed are you Simon”. What gives? Don’t say it, but if you do you’re blessed? No, it means the ability to be Christian came with the birth of the Church on Pentecost, in the case of Peter it came from the Father, not Peter. Peter didn’t say he was the Christ, or Christian, rather the revelation pointed to Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the Living God, yet we also read how Jesus warned them not to go about telling people the information until Jesus was glorified. Jesus as the Son of man or the Christ of Mercy was the basis of the earthly ministry, the disciples understood it, but Jesus as the Son of God, the Christ of Grace they did not understand. The Power and Ability to speak of Jesus the Resurrected Son of God stems around the Resurrection, the Book of Revelation will speak of two Resurrections, the time when the First Resurrection is complete, then the time when the Last Resurrection will come to pass. There are those who reject the concept of the Rapture, mainly because the word itself doesn’t appear in the Bible; however, we found it does. The Book of Revelation is a Book on the Rapture, telling us why it must come to pass.
Jesus also said the end times would be as the days of Noah, and the days of Lot. There were some connections between the two, in the days of Noah they refused to believe God would bring judgment, the same was true for the days of Lot. The people were under the impression they could do as they please, eat, sleep and be merry, yet sudden destruction came.
With respect to the days of Noah we also find the phrase, “given in marriage”, but is given in marriage a sin? Can’t be, it’s the very first Commandment of all. This shows they consider any judgment a hoax, they will laugh and scorn at the words of the prophets who warned of God’s judgment, they marry to plan for the future.
We must add all the evidence together, not just one piece here or there. Jesus said as long as we see the wars, rumors of wars, pestilence and famine we are not to be terrified, is not the end (Luke 21:8-9). We may see Peace in one place, but we also see war, or a rumor of war somewhere else. So, why even fear? The purpose for the Book of Revelation shows divided times and seasons. We are in the Day, this is the time of the Salvation of the Lord, let us rejoice and glad in it.
So does it mean there are no enemies of Jesus? Not at all, the time of their preparation is now, the time of their activity is the Night, they are the drunken who go into the Night. What makes them the drunken? Their own deception coupled with their hunger for power. The position and concept of the “enemies of Jesus” was not opened until Judas started the position of the son of perdition. The world is not the enemy of Jesus, God so loved the world He sent Jesus. The enemies of Jesus are in the House, they are those who entered by God’s Mercy, but refuse to pay the vow. The kingdom of heaven is a place containing people, the Kingdom of God is within, two different concepts. The enemies of Jesus are in the kingdom of heaven, they remain self-willed. They wanted Salvation, but wanted to control it, make gain from it, or use the power for their own lustful nature. They wanted to appear as “holy” for their own glory, so they associated with the Body of Christ, in the Night they will associate with the Sixth church. They still love the feeling they get from the works of darkness, yet they want to associate with religion, they love the feeling of moral superiority. They could have obtained the Wisdom of God, but they wanted to hold to the wisdom of man. They “fail” in the end, yet failure in the kingdom of heaven is a matter of choice. All of us have failed at something, but we lacked the wherewithal to complete the task, not so in the kingdom; Jesus has given us everything we need to complete the race, thus failure and mistakes are much different. Failure is a rejection of the means to accomplish the task, mistakes are learning tools the Lord places in the Plan. The workers of iniquity work at their failure, they would rather glory in their self-absorbed deception of being superior over others in the Body. Tough? The very premise will be found in the warnings to the Seven churches, Jesus didn’t say, “I have this against you, but hey, you’re doing okay, forget it”. On the same note He doesn’t tell the churches, “I have this against you, so it’s over, you’re done for”. Jesus tells us there may be “somewhat” against us, the term “Somewhat against you” means there is something Jesus is not pleased with, but it is correctable. Only one of the seven churches is seen without some element of “good” (the seventh), yet it’s also given the opportunity to repent. Compromise comes when we cast out the Hagars, but keep the Ishmaels, or reject the Jezebels; but keep the Balaams. We can reject the doctrine of Balaam, but use the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes to do it, ending none the better. The Book of Revelation is the Book of Discernment, it shows Jesus as the Son of man judging the kingdom of heaven first, then the world. Judgment begins in the House of God; it will end there as well.
There were differences between the Tabernacle and the Temple, to the Jew the most important aspect of their religion today is to rebuild the temple, but Why? We know from our studies the word “temple” in many of Paul’s letters actually refers to the holy of holies, it doesn’t define either the temple or tabernacle. However we also know God desired the Tabernacle, David desired the Temple, the plans for the Tabernacle came during the Day, but the permission to build the Temple came in the Night. We also know there will be “Peace in Jerusalem” when the Night begins, so is there Peace there now? Not hardly, everyday is a battle in some regard, or some “peace plan” is in constant jeopardy. How about the Temple itself? As long as the Dome of the Rock Mosque stands, the Temple cannot, since they are both on the same spot. What do we think the Muslims would do if Israel torn down the Dome of the Rock Mosque? Sit back and watch? No, there would be a war and a half. Yet we know the Temple will be built in the very same spot were it was the day Jesus stood in it and cried, “Jerusalem, Jerusalem”. How will it come to pass? Does the Book of Revelation tell us? Could be, could very well be.
God said the Knowledge of the Lord will flow from Jerusalem in the latter days, what happened to the Understanding, or the Wisdom? What happened to the Spirit bringing spiritual understanding? Why not have the Knowledge flow from the Body? What knowledge? Is there a knowledge projected in the Old, another in the New? Yes, the knowledge of the Lord is different form the knowledge the Lord has. The knowledge of the Lord is man’s awareness of the Lord, but there is also the Knowledge the Lord has. Paul said there was a knowledge of man, and a Knowledge from above. The Old Testament people were not privy to the Knowledge from above, it only comes with the Mind of Christ, but they did have a knowledge of the Lord. It’s the Knowledge coming forth in the Night. Since it’s Jerusalem based, it means religions like the Muslims or Hindus will either no longer be around, or so ineffective they will still come to Jerusalem to worship at the feet of the Sixth church. Not only don’t we find the Church or Body mentioned in the Book of Revelation in the very latter days, neither do we find any other religions, just the one world religion out of Jerusalem. The religion will begin one way, yet end another, but it will still be the only noted viable religion on earth at the time. Of course it’s the Night, the circumstances bringing about the Night will show it’s very possible, but Today it’s seems very impossible.
The Dome of the Rock Mosque is a perfect example of the “city being trodden under foot”. It’s a by-product of Ishmael, since it’s on the “Rock” (Zion) it tells a story in and of itself. The 144,000 are surely not going to be marked in the Dome of the Rock Mosque; therefore, something must happen to remove the Dome, something outside of the hand of man, something so great the Muslim will be too concerned about other things to even care. One thing becomes clearer and clearer, there will only be one place where the Knowledge of God will come from, the place will be the rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem of the earth.
The Book of Revelation will tell us about the “small flock” who number 144,000, taken from the tribes of Israel, which means when their time comes, the Age of the Gentile will have come to an end, or as we know it, the Day will end, as the Night begins. The 144,000 are on Zion, not in Jerusalem. We know Jerusalem is built on Zion, but we will also see the Greater Flock in heaven when this small flock are numbered. These two groups are seen as ten thousand times ten thousand, showing an increase, but the other small flock is thousands of thousands, showing they were taken from thousands, thus a decrease. There are no others added to the 144,000, they will be no Net tossed in their case, thus no man can work in the Night.
Why even have a Judgment? Isn’t God’s Love more powerful than man’s evil? Yes, but it doesn’t mean God’s Love will accept evil, nor does it mean God will force change on man. God will do what God will do to get man to repent, but the act of repenting is still in the hands of man. The Wicked are under the false premise; regardless of what they do, God’s Love will allow it. God deals with us through His Love, but it doesn’t mean He ignores the evil. God deals with evil in His timing, but He is nonetheless Love. Peter reminds us of how the Lord is longsuffering, but longsuffering has an end, the time for the Judgment of the Lord has a time and timing, it will happen.
Thinking God loves us so much, He will accept the spirit of man as the Spirit of God is foolishness, leading to the “great lie”. God has all power, but man also has the power to resist God, proven at the Fall, later by Cain, as well as others throughout the years: even the Pharisees had power to resist Jesus. The spirit of man assumes God doesn’t know all things, or man can change what God has ordained, but God saw the end before there was a beginning. God isn’t writing the plan as time goes on, time goes on according to the plan. Neither did God make a plan, then go to the end of the plan to wait, rather God saw the end, then He began a plan reaching to the finished end, while being in all times at the same time; therefore, the Book of Revelation is not something God is guessing at, it contains things seen before God said “let there be Light”.
Although John uses many metaphors, we have the rest of the Bible to assist us in defining them, so we can keep them within the realm of the definition. The Book of Revelation is also divided, not only does it answer a three part question posed by the disciples, but we find the letters to the Body (churches), and the Record in heaven. The Book shows how the Record of Judgment will be manifested, and why. We will find it was not God just saying, “you know, I’ve had it, let’s judge them”, rather we find man will cause his own destruction, the truth of “it’s appointed unto all men to die once, then comes the judgment” shows there is an end to the longsuffering of the Lord. The Lord will cause the time to be drawn short, not for His sake, but for the sake of the elect, but when Judgment comes, all physical life on earth will have come to an end. Therefore, we find Amos warning us how the Day of the Lord is darkness, not Light, woe to the person who seeks to see the Judgment of God.
Some of the problems people have with the End Time events falls into the false assumption of God not knowing the Jewish religious leaders would reject Jesus, which leads to the assumption of God rejecting the Jew. Paul proved it wasn’t the case, he joined the Faith long after Pentecost, yet he had a desire to see his Jewish brothers come to the Faith before the Day ended. The Law of Moses isn’t at issue with the 144,000, but the Commandments are. They were blinded by God to the Gospel of Peace, but given the Everlasting Gospel, they are subject to spirit of slumber, but they are not forgotten.
All this shows why the Day comes before the Night, since the Day does come before the Night it proves how God presents the escape before judgment falls. Is it true in the latter days? Will God present deliverance? Yes and no, God will present the escape, but the people will blaspheme God. Why? God’s correction is not something they want, so they adhere to the spirit of man, as they blame others for their own wicked ways. James tells us we are draw away by our own lust, blaming someone else is merely an excuse to avoid facing the lust in us. If we did something, it was the lust in us drawing us. Adam’s excuse of “it was the woman you gave me” didn’t make it then, won’t make it now. The same will be true in the latter days, they will blame the Woman, thinking if they can kill the 144,000 they can live on the “good earth” again; in the end they will find it’s not so. Those who love the Lord will be killed, by the Wicked, thus there will be no more people of God on the earth, then comes the end. Indicating God will not destroy the Righteous with the Wicked, since the Wicked would have killed all the Righteous. Salvation will not be an issue, Judgment will be.
When the Jewish leaders rejected Jesus, their temple was destroyed, but the Tabernacle was never destroyed, it simply was no more. The Tabernacle is a type and shadow of the Rapture, the Temple the place from where judgment comes. It has to show us Today is the Time of Salvation, thus the Temple will not be rebuilt until the Time of Judgment is opened. However, in the end there is no Temple in heaven, but God will Tabernacle with His Tabernacles. Each one of us entered the kingdom of heaven as Temples, then we moved to the spiritual nature to become Tabernacles, thus we war to remain a Tabernacle.
God’s prophets of Old were moved by the Holy Ghost, they had something to say about the End Times, as well as something to say about the Gentile Age, these times and seasons may have been a mystery to man, but not to God. From our studies one might think there is nothing left in the Book of Revelation which hasn’t been covered, not so, there is much left to cover, yet it will confirm the words of the prophets.
When the disciples asked Jesus, if He was going to restore the kingdom to Israel, Jesus didn’t say “forget it, those jerks rejected Me”, rather He pointed out there will be times and seasons for the restoration of Israel, but they are in the Father’s timing, but as for us, we are told to receive the Power from on High, to become Witnesses for Jesus, not witnesses for Israel (Acts 1:6-8). A division? Yes, one between the Day and Night, the “restoration of Israel” is a Night thing, the Witness of Jesus a Day thing.
Why are those times in the Father’s hand? I thought the Father told the Son “Your throne, Of God, is forever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom” (Heb 1:8)? Within the same book we also read “Sit on My Right Hand until I make Your enemies Your footstool” (Heb 1:13). There is a clear cut separation between Day and Night, between the Greater Light of Salvation, and the Lesser Light of Judgment. Why the Father? Because the Night is based on Mercy, not Grace. The 144,000 will do the two main Commandments based on a Phileo love centered in Mercy. They will love the Lord, they will love all mankind.
Paul said Christ was the Seed of Abraham, yet we find the Remnant are the Seed of the Woman. Wasn’t the promise of the Seed of the Woman projecting in the Virgin Birth? Yes, it explains why we find the term Man Child, yet we know Jesus was an Adult Male at the Cross. Jesus will not make His enemies His Footstool, yet the Father will not take the Cup, each has a position in this. The Father’s Mercy will be present, yet the Wicked will again reject it, yet in the end Jesus will pour the Cup of the wrath of God out, as He judges all mankind as the Son of Man.
Once the Wicked entered, they were given the choice to give up the old authority, but they loved the feeling they obtained, thus they retained the authority of the Beast of the Sea, which authority came from the dragon. They liked the feeling of manipulation, mind games, being able to control people, and the feeling they acquired from attacking others. They liked the feeling of being able to use intellect to belittle others, they loved thinking they were superior. They feel it’s far better to destroy some of the people in the Body to preserve the Body, rather than bring healing to the Body. They think it’s their duty to run through the Body of Christ sifting and purging, yet they are the ones who cause the Broken Body. They have deceived, becoming more deceived, until their deception makes them presume they are the only ones doing the Lord’s work. The 144,000 are not known as “prophets”, since the Prophets are one of the Two Witnesses, those they were antichrist during the Day, but false prophets in the Night. It’s always the ways of a person define the person, not their acts. The 144,000 hold the Mercy of God, thus it will possible for all to hold the same Mercy. If the Wicked use deception, lie in wait to deceive, form slanderous lies, mock the members of the Body during the Day, they will do the same working of Satan in the Night. Yet, while it is yet Today, they can repent and be restored, thus we find the reason for the Book of Revelation to be in the New Testament. It’s a warning to the Wicked, the end is not what they think, it will not be heaven on earth forever and ever, there will be a Judgment.
The Father takes the responsibility of producing the Footstool, but the Son takes the Cup in reference to the Judgment, two areas, but each as a result of the iniquity of the Wicked. These areas are very important for us to grasp while it is yet Day, for the Night comes when no man can work. This Book will remove the urge to get even with some son of perdition, to attack some Whacko, it shows the truth of Judgment being in the hand of the Lord, not in the mouth of the saint.
To begin with, this is the Book of Revelation, not the Book of Revelations (plural), the word Revelation means Something unveiled, or Something uncovered, but how could the Revealing of Jesus effect those with the Spirit? Are not all things naked and open? Paul said, “But God has Revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of God” (I Cor 2:10). Ahh, “unto us”, there is another Revelation of Jesus yet to come. The Greek word used by Paul for “revealed” is the same one used here for Revelation, how then could this Revealing effect us? What is being Revealed? Or Who is being Revealed? If Jesus knows all things, does it mean the Father held back something? Does it mean Jesus dreamed up some New Revelation? Or is it simply as Paul puts it in Romans, Jesus being reveled to the masses. The revealing of the Judgment Jesus will be a surprise to those of the earth, since they claimed there is no judgment. John walked with Jesus, sat with Him at the table, was ordained by Him, yet John sees a different Jesus in the Book of Revelation. This “different Jesus” is not different as in personage, only purpose. We preach the Salvation Jesus, not the Judgment Jesus. Therefore, the Revelation, or better the Revealing of Jesus as the Son of Man concerning Judgment is outlined in the Book of Revelation. The Salvation Jesus is Revealed in us by the Spirit unto Salvation, the Judgment Jesus is Revealed to others at the time of the Judgment. We find Jesus speaking to the “churches”, not the “Church”. If the gates of hell shall not prevail, why even talk about the invasion of Balaam, Jezebel and the such? Because Jesus isn’t taking to the Church, rather He is speaking to churches in the Rock (Body). Jesus will build the Church, we build the Rock, thus the Rock needed instruction, not the Church. Jesus as the Head of the Body shows He is the Authority from which the Body operates, but the Body has a Power as well. When the Body uses the Power outside of the confines of the granted Authority, the Head of Authority will come with correction. However, what do we see? Does Jesus bring fire down on the Body? No, He gives instruction, thus the Authority instructs authority. If Jesus is building the Church, if the Church and Body are the same, how them did the Balaams and such make entry? Because the Body and Church are connected, but different. We cast the Net, Jesus builds the Church, the problems are not in the Church but in the Body.
There are five views concerning the Book of Revelation. The Preterist view places the events and visions in the past, or something which has happened; however, it’s obvious the Great Winepress hasn’t happened yet. It will be the error of those in the Night, they will think Judgment has come and gone. The Preterist View tends to put the persecution as the Judgment, but the Persecution was against Christians, not the world.
The second view is the Historical view, which takes a panoramic view of history from the first century; however, it doesn’t account for the Two Wonders in heaven in Chapter 12.
The third is the Symbolic (Allegorical) view which contends the Book of Revelation only displays the struggle between Good and Evil throughout the span of human history, showing how Good wins in the End; however, it negates the warning regarding the Wicked, or how “evil” will be punished, it also fails to take into consideration the time before the coming of Jesus.
The fourth view is a Futuristic view, meaning from Chapter Four forward the events concern a day yet to come; however, it negates wars, rumors of wars, and the such, which we clearly see in the second, third and fourth horsemen.
The Fifth view takes into consideration all the other views to a point, but uses the Old and New Testaments, viewing the Book of Revelation as a Vision Answer to the three part question asked of Jesus by the disciples. In Matthew 24:3 after the disciples heard how the Temple would be torn down they asked Jesus, “Tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of Your coming? And of the end of the world?. It’s a three part question, we find those three parts answered in the Book of Revelation in many areas. The seven angels appear at the seventh seal, they have a saying, a sound and a vial they pour out. This Fifth view tells us the Book of Revelation concerns things that are, things that were, and things that are to come, all of which were known by God long before they happen.
Rev 1:1-7.
The first verse uses the Greek Otheos for God, pointing to the Father. It would seem the Father gave the Revelation “to” Jesus, but wait, it’s not what it says. The Revelation Of Jesus, not To Jesus, ahh this is the Cup given to Jesus by the Father, the Cup of God’s wrath, the Great Winepress, the Judgment. Now we can see why Jesus didn’t want the Cup, neither did the Father, Judgment is not something God looks forward to, it’s not something God delights in, thus Amos tells us the Day is a day of darkness. This Revelation, or Jesus revealed is something only the servants of God know of. Paul understood it as well as the others, he told the Romans this would be the revealing of the wrath of God (Rom 1:18), but we also know God’s Salvation is revealed by faith (Rom 1:17).
Jesus will sit on the judgment seat, He will carry out the request of the Father. We can’t presume Jesus didn’t understand the End Times, after all He informed His disciples before the Cross of the things to come (Mark 13:24-37). Jesus even divided the times into the Day and Night, by telling us to work while it was yet Day, for the Night comes when no man can work. What work? Grace unto Salvation, thus the Night is for Judgment, the Judgment in and of itself really begins when the Day ends (Rom 2:5-6, 2:16, Matt 24:36, Jere 25:12-17, Luke 17:26 & 17:30 et al). This shows the Cup of God’s wrath was given to Jesus in the Garden, later in the Book of Revelation we will find the connection to “the cup”, as it’s poured out on the earth as the Judgment. Jesus gave us the Cup of Salvation, but He took the Cup of Judgment.
The word Servants in verse 1 could also read Bondmen (plural), meaning one as a messenger, or one with a commission from which the prophets spoke (Matt 10:1-4, Luke 7:3 et al). Although Jesus will carry out the Judgment, we find He granted His servants the authority to “show it”, but how? Do we show it by saying, “You’re all going to hell”? Or do we show it by walking in Grace? Walking in Grace of course, since Grace is the Good News, showing if Salvation has come unto man, then Judgment is not far behind. The word Signify is the Greek Apostello meaning To send off, or Something to avoid, indicating why we preach the Escape is by Grace.
The Day of the Lord is not Light, it’s Darkness, Woe unto them who Desire the Day of the Lord (Amos 5:18-19). The word Desire is the Hebrew Awah meaning A longing, or Wish, or Taking joy in something. It’s one thing to know about Judgment, another to take delight in seeing others judged. We wait for the Day to end, as we joy in the opportunity to see our Lord, but if we take Joy in the Judgment, we error greatly. Holding a joy over God having to judge the world is not a Christ like attitude, evidenced by the longsuffering of the Lord, desiring none should perish, but all would come to the saving knowledge of God.
The word Bondman really explains what a Bondman is, it’s from the Greek Doulos meaning A servant or Deacon, which points to helps, thus Jesus is the Bishop of our souls, but we are His deacons. The word also denotes one who has taken on the master’s will to the point the servant is considered “headless”, which explains Beheaded for Jesus. If the term “beheaded for Jesus” means only those who lost their physical heads could gain entry, it would mean several of the Apostles didn’t make it, since only two, James the brother of John, and Paul were beheaded. Most certainly John would be excluded, since he died a natural death; therefore, we know the Head of the Body is Jesus, if we are Headless, then Jesus is our Head. All this makes sense if we know the metaphor Head refers to Authority, thus those with Jesus as their Authority will not have the authority of the dragon in their lives. Since they are under the Authority of Jesus, they are known by Jesus.
The Testimony of Jesus, and the Witness of Jesus are different, the Testimony talks about Jesus, thus He said the Scriptures Testify of Him (Jn 5:39-41); however, to be a Witness one must be Christ Like by the Spirit. A testimony in legal language is what a person says about something, but in the Bible it means what other people say about us. A Witness is someone with some first hand knowledge regarding the matter at hand, one could be a Witness to the power of the Lord, yet not be a Witness for the Lord. In order to be a Witness for the Lord, one needs the same Spirit in order to have First Hand knowledge. Therefore, as much as the disciples were around Jesus, He nonetheless told them it would take the Pentecost experience for them to become witnesses (Acts 1:8). The “word of our testimony”, is what others say about us, not what we say about Jesus, or ourselves. We can give a Testimony regarding Jesus, but it isn’t the “word of our testimony”. The Scriptures didn’t Witness of Jesus, they didn’t give Life to the Pharisees, but they did Testify of Jesus. The Witness holds a three fold power in the Water, Blood and Spirit (New Man). The soul of man cannot Witness of Jesus, it can testify of Him (I Jn 5:7 et al).
The phrase “which is, and which was, and which is to come” is only used twice in the Bible, both times here in the first chapter of Revelation. The Greek for this phrase reads: ho own kahee ho ane kahee ho er-khom’-en-os, which could read in the Old English, “which are, and was, and shall be”. This phrase could be confusing in light of the omnipresence of God, but the key is found in the wording, “to come”, which is the Greek Erchomai meaning from one place to another. This isn’t talking about Jesus who was, but something about God which was, an it, and is to come. In Ephesians 1:21 and in First Timothy Paul used the phrase “to come”, but it’s a different Greek word (Mello) which holds the idea of expectation, it too is talking about a time in Ephesians, and about Life more abundantly in Timothy. The idea is there was something done in the “was”, but it “is”, yet will shortly come, it will come based on Jesus. Later in verse 8 we see where Jesus will identify Himself as “Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and End”, then John tells us this same personage is the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. Which makes no sense, considering the Almighty was a phrase used to identify the Father. Oh my, watch it now. Jesus is the Alpha and Omega showing the omnipresence, or division from the “was”, thus the “was”, “is” and “to come” are still subject matters. It also shows the division, as Jesus or any Christ Like people will not be on the earth during the Night, thus Jesus was the Son of man who went to the Cross, He is now the Son of God sitting on the right hand side of Majesty, but He will come as the Son of man for Judgment.
John will see the Record in heaven, but he will also see the events on earth, the Record and Testimony are types, not entities, they relate to “blessed is he who reads”, “hears the words of this prophecy”, plus “keep those things which are written therein”. It’s not only the reading, or the hearing, it’s the keeping making the difference. In our case it’s the Record in heaven, with the Witness on earth, in the Night it’s the Record in heaven, while the Testimony is on earth. There is a division between the Day and Night, but we also know the Sand of Sea still has the Law of Moses, yet the Law of Moses is one of the Two Witnesses, add the Prophets and you have the Testimony (Luke 24:44 et al) .
There is a Testimony, the Word of our Testimony, the Witness, and the Record. The Record is the recorded element showing the events, and in the Book of Revelation we will find the Record is in heaven, it centers around the Father, the Word and the Holy Ghost. This explains why chapters four and five appear to be events which have happened, yet from then on it seems they are events to happen. In the legal realm a Record is a written document stating words which have been spoken, regarding events which have happened. However, it’s not the case with God, with God the Record holds Words spoken of events yet to happen, or are happening: much different, yet related. The Record has declared many things, it has declared us Justified when we came to Jesus, but the Witness is carrying out the declaration. In the End the Testimony will say all God has to say on the subject, the work for the Night is done. Therefore any prophet in Night is a false prophet, since the Prophets have spoken.
The things John sees in heaven are “done” in heaven, they will be done on earth, thus we find God had the end in hand before there was a beginning. The Record also shows things cannot be changed, they will come to pass, they will happen.
The phrase “the time is at hand”, denotes it’s not In hand, but a time yet to come being very close, thus John will see Jesus like unto the Son of man, but not as the Son of man he knows, rather the Son of man John sees is the Judgment Jesus, the Son of man John knows is the Salvation Jesus. Jesus as the Son of man relates to Mercy, not Grace, Jesus as the Son of God relates to Grace, thus Jesus will return to judge based on Mercy, which is a Way. The word “time” could also read Season, pointing to the Night as the next Season, there is no time between Day and Night, the Night follows the Day as a Quickly. John, Paul, Peter, and many others knew all the events to bring about the Rapture were done, it was only a matter of the Lord waiting for the perfect moment in the time of man. If they felt so inclined, so should we. We don’t the know the second, but we can tell the Season.
John narrows the warning down to “the words of this prophecy”, yet in so doing, he also incorporates the many other prophecies as well. How? A great deal of the information found here is also found in the words of the prophets of old, in the Psalms, in the Law of Moses, the Gospel accounts, as well as the New Testament letters; any prophecy regarding the End Times is incorporated herein. However, why would we want to Keep the words regarding the Night? Wasn’t this the same John, who stood among those told by Jesus, “it is not for you to know the times or the seasons” (Acts 1:6)? Wow, the man went off the deep end. Too much sea food, does it every time. Wait, the warning was not knowing about those times, but knowing them from the experience of being in them, it’s the point here. We are told the things of the Night, so we can put our minds on being children of the Day. Knowledge of something, yet finding ourselves in the midst of it are much different. We have a knowledge of hell, but it doesn’t mean we need to be in the midst of it to know it exists.
Verse 4 relates to John, showing he is merely the scribe. In verse 5 we find, “And from Jesus Christ”, showing Jesus is the Author, John the scribe. The “angel” showed John something from Jesus: John is showing us what Jesus wanted us to see. This also gives us another view of the word “angel”, as it relates to the Message or Messenger, in this case it’s the Message from a Messenger, later we will find the same angel speaking to John (Rev 17:1 & 21:9) .
These seven churches are interesting, since all of them in one way or another were connected to John. It’s reported, John was buried in Ephesus, he also started the churches in Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. This is a general letter to all those known of John, he is not using “so saith the Lord” to point out their faults, rather it shows there is time to correct the error, the end is near, but there is yet time. This also shows there is the Church, yet there are churches in the Body.
The Greek word for Churches is Ekklesia from the Greek Ekkaleo meaning To call out, it referred to a body of free citizens, rather than those under bondage, or slaves. This is almost a contradiction of terms, on one hand John says, “servant”, on the other “called out free ones”. We are called out from the world by faith, yet we have the choice to make Jesus our Lord, which makes us servants unto Him, but free. The word used here is not the same word used in Hebrews 12:23, which means a mass meeting for the single purpose of festal rejoicing. In Hebrews it refers to the purpose of the meeting, rather than those in the meeting, which is to edify one another. There are some who neglect the purpose, whether they go every week or not.
The Jews gathered in a Synagogue, which is the Greek word Sunagoge, meaning a gathering of people, or a gathering of people with like concerns. Is it important? Yes, because there is the phrase, “Synagogue of Satan”, which doesn’t mean Jewish people, rather it means a gathering of people with a like concern, they rejected being “called out”, yet “gathered together”. We never find the term “church of Satan”, for good reason, Jesus said He would build The Church, thus we find churches many in the Body, with the one Church established on the Body (Rock). Here the concern is only for the “called out” ones so they can correct the error. At times we think we are error free, yet the Spirit sees things we are oblivious to. The Word is separating in us, the Spirit of God is separating through the Holy Ghost regarding the elements within the Body. This is another example of how much God cares for us, our ineffectiveness is not God’s fault, it never has been, yet if we ignore the warnings, we become our own problem.
One might ask the question, Why just these seven, why not the others? Surely the Corinthians needed some correcting, we know Paul spoke to the Romans, so why are they not included? Did God just forget of all the other churches? Why isn’t there a letter to the church in Jerusalem? Do you mean all those churches Paul started are for nothing? Hardly, the clue to this is found Acts 19:10, where we find the churches in Asia heard the Word of the Lord, yet the people hearing were both Jew and Gentile, thus the Seven churches have a message to both the Greek (Gentile) and Jew. Then we can add how the metaphor “Asia” points to the Old Persian Empire, linking all this to the Book of Daniel. Next we can see from the diagram how they make a Loop, beginning at Ephesus, up to Smyrna, to Pergamos, over to Thyatira, down to Sardis, further down to Philadelphia, then ending with the people known as the Laodiceans. All these clues show us these are not the only churches in the area, but those who represent the age of the Body of Christ as it grows into the Church. However, we also see there is no church of Laodicea in the letters, rather Jesus talks to the “Laodiceans”, as a people in a place they should not be.
We also have the addition of the word Peace, meaning, Rest, Peace and God’s Prosperity; therefore, there is a Peace to be found in this Prophecy, we always prosper as our souls prosper (v. 4). This letter speaks of Judgment, yet we also see we are Blessed. How can this be? The Seed of God makes us Holy, as it takes us through the Justification process unto the saving of our souls. There may be some rough tests, there may be times we just want to give up, but we have an Incentive written here for us to hold to the Faith, as we reach the end of the race in a lawful manner. The connection will be found later when John tells us Blessed and Holy are those who are partakers of the First Resurrection, they remain with the Lord during the 1,000 years, meaning they are free of the second death. This is our goal, the reason we endure the trying of our faith, why we fight the good fight to remain a Good Fish.
It’s important to know when Jesus returns, He comes as the Son of man, thus those who are sons of God are not judged at the Judgment, rather they face the Judgment Seat of God daily. The phrase Son of man means Jesus stands for man in the Mercy of the Father, yet it was the Father who gave Him the cup; therefore, at the Judgment Jesus will stand for the voices of the saints, “How long, O Lord, holy and true do You not Judge and avenge our Blood on them who dwell on earth” (Rev 6:10). This is not praying against people, it’s asking the Lord to stand for them. Later we see the Woman is drunken with the blood of the saints and martyrs, thus the Woman took revenge (Rev 17:6). This also helps us see why Paul said the Wicked were the drunken, they killed the Just with words, or slanderous actions as they aborted the Babes in Christ on the alter of natural reasoning during the Day, but in the Night they join to the Woman seducing Her to physically kill the saints. This gives us, Vengeance is mine says the Lord, I will repay. The enemies of Jesus are those who cast away Mercy in order to follow their envy as they come against the people of God. The same warning James gives, the double-minded bless God, yet curse man (James 3:9). Give and it shall be given, mercy for mercy, judgment for judgment.
If it were not for verse 8, plus other verses in the Letter, we might become confused, here we begin with, “from Him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before His throne” (vs. 4 & 5). We can see the throne belongs to the He, yet we can see the subject is He which is, which was, and which is to come, one might assume it points to the Father. After all the next wording shows, “and from Jesus Christ”, showing a conjunction. Then we find there are seven Spirits, how can this be? Later in verse 8 John defines the He which is, which was, and which is to come as the Lord. We covered the saying prior, but we can see there is a separation where there is no Christ on earth. What about the Seven Spirits, is there really a separate Spirit for each local church? Nay, it’s the self same Spirit, but looking at seven different situations. We can’t look at Ephesus thinking since we have our first love first, our second love second, we need be corrected. Each church gives much to look at, as we will see. We are also told each church is seen on the Menorah, each Light is representative of the spirit of the church in its progression.
Verse 5 also gives us Is, Was, Is to come in the three stages of Faithful Witness (Is), First begotten from the dead (Was), the Prince of the kings of the earth (Is to come). There are also many areas missing in this verse, we don’t see the Testimony, but we do see the Witness. We find the Resurrection, then the Prince of the kings of the earth, but where is the “King of kings”? Is it possible Jesus is our Prince, yet He has made us kings? Could it mean He is the ability, yet has given us the keys? Yes, showing the Power of God is greater than man, but God has granted the “keys” into the hand of man. God is greater than our unbelief, but our unbelief is greater than the will of God in our lives. Sound strange? Not really, Jesus could do no mighty work because of the unbelief of the people, the children died in the wilderness never entering the Rest of God because of their unbelief. The call for those of the Day is belief and faith, the keys are in our hands, we use them, or we don’t, yet the result is in the hand of the Lord.
A prince is known by the realm of his rule, here we find there are kings of the earth, yet the word Prince is the Greek Archon meaning Prince or Chief Ruler, thus the earth is a Principality, it is not all God is or has. Being a Principality it can easily be the footstool, but it’s also a warning to us, our Kingdom is based in heaven, thus we are to put our minds on heavenly things (Jn 3:12, Eph 2:6, II Tim 4:18 & Heb 9:23).
In the Greek the phrase First begotten from the dead, reads “First Born out of the dead”, this isn’t some Born Again condition for Jesus, rather it tells us in order for us to be Born Again there had to be a death plus a Resurrection experienced by one who would stand in our place, who had the power to overcome death, hell and the grave. If we presume this means Jesus was “Born Again”, how did He go into hell to destroy the devil? Especially since being Born Again means we are delivered from death into life. No, Jesus didn’t have to be “Born Again”, He produced the Power so we could be Born Again. This refers to the Resurrection, showing Jesus is the First Resurrected from the dead. Wait, what about those Jesus raised from the dead? They were not Resurrected, they came back to the same physical body, thus they continued on in the same form then died later, much different than being Resurrected.
We are kings by our position in the kingdom of heaven, we are priests by our position in the Kingdom of God. Why priests? Are there animals in heaven we have sacrifice? What does a priest do? They present a sacrifice, but do we have to present the Sacrifice of Jesus? Didn’t He do it once and for all? What Sacrifice could we possibly present? We present the elements of the Sacrifice, we give ourselves a living sacrifice, we present our sacrifice of praise. Other elements to our Order include being a Blessing, and receiving tithes. Perhaps the first act we do as a priest is giving our souls to our High Priest. Jesus as our High Priest takes our souls, then presents them by the Grace of God as useful elements to be saved. As strange as it may seem, the hardest thing we will do is give our souls to Jesus, yet it’s our reasonable service. Since we are made kings by our entry into the kingdom of heaven, it explains how some kings of the earth give their Glory to New Jerusalem, yet we also read how some of the kings of the earth barter their glory as their life to the Image of the Beast. However, those are the kings of the earth, we as kings in the kingdom are carrying out the will of the king. Of course in the end our will better fit the will of the King of kings.
Jesus is the only one who has defeated death, thus to enter His Resurrection, or better, to be a Partaker we must receive His Death as we impute our old nature dead on His Cross, then we must enter the Power of the Resurrection to obtain the Spirit, the same Spirit who raised Him from the dead. “Now wait, didn’t Jesus give His Spirit to the Father?”. Yes, yet we also find a mystery, Jesus gave His Spirit to the Father for security, then as the Son of Man he destroyed the devil through death, the proof is the Resurrection, thus His Faith blazed a trail so we can by-pass hell and the judgment, by going in the twinkling of an eye directly to the Lord above the clouds in the Air.
The word Firstborn is the Greek Prototopkos which is a compound word Protos (First) and Tikto (To bear, or Bring forth), showing Jesus as the First to bear Life after death, thereby opening the Door for us to have life now, thus when we were in the world we were dead, but His Faith has brought us life, to prove there is Life after physical death. The concept shows Death had no power over Jesus; therefore, by Death He defeated Death, when we are sealed with the Holy Spirit of Promise, the Second Death has no power over us. The first death is appointed to every human, Jesus faced it, so do we, it’s the Second death where the torment is found, by the Spirit we are free of the Second death.
The Greek word Prototopkos was used in five passages to show Jesus is the First of many things. In Romans 8:29 it’s the Firstborn among many brethren, thus God’s predestination is for us to be the Image of God’s Son, so Jesus can be among many brethren. In Colossians 1:15, Jesus is Above or First before creation. In Colossians 1:18 the reference is to the First Resurrection. In Hebrews 1:6 we find before Jesus is the First of the order of Praise, explaining the term Prince of Peace, since He gained us the ability to have Peace with God. The fifth is of course here in Revelation 1:5. Jesus was crucified openly, we are crucified inwardly, the purpose is to join into the sufferings to enjoy the Life.
John tells us Jesus has made us Both kings and priests, but we find the position of king is only for the earth (kingdom of heaven), thus one can be a king, yet reject the priestly call to be washed with the Blood, finding themselves with a lamp, but no Oil. In verse 6 the tense shows the appointing to kings and priests is a past tense issue, thus when John wrote he doesn’t say, “will make us kings and priests”, rather it’s “has made us kings and priests”; therefore, John shows we rule as Christ on this earth. The complexity comes when we attempt to define a king in the Kingdom, as compared to the world’s concept of ruling. We as kings must have subjects or we are not kings, we must be over elements or we are not kings. The world has no power over us, the authority of the world is subject to the authority we have. However, our subjects are things, if we give Mercy place, it rules in our kingdom, if we don’t it won’t. If we give uncontrolled anger a principality, it becomes a prince in our kingdom, we still have the keys. As kings we have power and authority, the serpents have no rule over us, the things of the world cannot rule over us, neither can the works of the devil (Luke 12:5).
The sign over the Cross didn’t say “a king of the Jews”, it didn’t say “a king of Israel”, it didn’t say “The king of Israel” it said, “The King of the Jews”, denoting only One King, showing how a true Jew is circumcised of heart. Jesus was declared the King of Israel by the people and the prophets, but the word “Jew” points to someone who has right to enter a God granted Covenant. The religious rulers understood the sign, so much so, they wanted Pilate to change the sign to read, “He said He was King of the Jews”, but Pilate refused, what was written, was written (Jn 19:21).
This is clearer when we see the word Kings is the Greek Basileus meaning A monarch in a place, thus Jesus as King of kings, is also the King over all kings, past, present and future. The use of title “Prince” doesn’t negate the importance of Jesus, rather it shows He is our Prince, making the earth a principality, thus the earth is not the center of the Kingdom of God, it’s not all of God’s possessions, it’s place in the overall Kingdom.
The word Glory is the Greek Doxa meaning To recognize God’s presence, it’s the same Glory which is in us waiting to be revealed (Rom 8:18). The word Age is the Greek Aion meaning a Time, it’s not the Greek KosmosAion could be any number of years, but nonetheless a Time; whereas Kosmos refers to a set time. This explains the Seven Year period as Aion, not Kosmos, thus John uses phrases such as, three and one-half days, or three and one-half months, or three and one-half years referring to the Aion, not the Kosmos. meaning People or Space of time, thus
Verse 7 shows the Clouds, these are not the clouds our physical eye sees in the sky, it refers to the two Clouds of Witnesses, when they return with Him. This explains the Rapture is a past tense issue when Jesus returns, but it doesn’t show the purpose of the Rapture, which we will get into. In the Book of Hebrews we found a Cloud of Witnesses from the Old Testament, now it’s Clouds, or more than one, which shows the captivity were taken captive as they were placed under the altar of God. Then the rest of the souls of the Dead in Christ joined them, yet there remains those of us who remain, then in a twinkling of an eye we will join them, giving us Clouds. When Jesus ascended we find A Cloud, not Clouds Received Him, yet here it’s clearly Clouds (Acts 1:9). Paul made this clear when he said we who are alive and remain meet the Dead in Christ in the Clouds, not Cloud (I Thess 4:17), then we all meet Jesus in the Air above the Clouds, not below them, then he added we will remain with Christ forever, thus when Jesus returns we return as the Clouds known as New Jerusalem.
The word “Comes” is the Greek Erchomai meaning To travel in both directions, not in one direction only. This shows Jesus was with the Father, came, went to the Father, came back, Ascended, then returns, then goes back to the Father for the last time, this last time will see Him take those who Sleep in Jesus, plus those who pass the Judgment. The First Coming included the manifested Love of God, the Light, and Life, the teaching, proof of who Jesus is, Cross, Resurrection, Sacrifice, Salvation, Kingdom of God with the Power of His Christ, Strength and Ascension, meaning we reign with Christ as the Body of Christ on this earth during our Season. The Second Coming is for Judgment, to finish the plan of the Father by receiving the Remnant, plus those who find their names in the Book of Life, thus the First Coming established Salvation in the Greater Light of Day for the “sons of God”, the Second Coming is a dark day after the Lesser Light of the Night to bring judgment, and to bring the “servants of God”, with the “servants of the Bride” home. It also shows the Clouds moved from the earth to heaven, then return, thus in order to get to the Clouds we have to be Taken Up. If we can separate the Seasons into the Day of Salvation, then comes the Night of Judgment we can understand why the First Coming is to establish Salvation, the Second is for Judgment, thus work while it is yet Day, for the Night comes when no man can work. We know we Work out our Salvation to avoid the Judgment, If God has delivered us from the wrath to come, then the deliverance must include being delivered off the planet before the Wrath falls on the Entire planet.
The word “Every” in verse 7 is the Greek Pas meaning Of the whole, or remaining, thus it includes all the souls remaining on the earth at the time, bringing to pass, It’s appointed unto all men to die once, then comes the judgment. The word “Eye” is the Greek Ophthalmos meaning To look upon, it doesn’t mean To perceive, neither is it limited to the physical eye, rather it merely means to look upon. John gives us two groups, first those who pierced Him, which are the Jews, next the kindreds of the earth who wail because of Him, which points to the Gentile, the Christian doesn’t fit either group, where are they? They are the clouds, as Jude reminded us, Enoch the seventh from Adam prophesied how the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints to execute Judgment, not Salvation, what was Enoch’s prophecy? He walked with God and was Translated before the Days of Noah (Jude 14-15 & Heb 11:5-7).
The word “Kindreds” is the Greek Phule meaning Race, Tribe or Class, it includes everyone of the Gentiles, plus those who pierced Him includes everyone of the Jews, thus every eye means every person who could not leave the earth at the Rapture will bow and confess Jesus is Lord, but for many it will be too late. Why would so many Gentiles wail? Included in the group are the bad kings of the earth, those who held to the self-transformation, as the Synagogue of Satan, they remained as the evil kings of the Earth at the Rapture, for the first time their self-deception will be upon them, they will be ashamed at His coming, yet they are the ones who turned their glory into their shame. This is explained in the word “Wail” which is the Greek Kopto meaning To lament, To strike one’s chest with Loud expressions of grief, it doesn’t have a thing to do with Joy or Gladness.
Rev 1:8-20.
We find several things pointing to the Tabernacle in these verses, the separation between the One who gives the message and the One who gave the Giver of the message, the message. Verse 8 begins by Jesus talking, thus before John sees or gives his message, Jesus speaks. The wording “I Am” in verse 8 is the Emphatic Personal Pronoun, it’s used in reference to Jesus being the I Am, it was used in John’s Gospel account several times to prove the point (Jn 4:26, 5:43, 6:35, 6:41, 6:48, 6:51, 8:12, 8:24, 8:58, 9:5, 9:39, 10:7, 10:11, 10:14, 10:36 & 11:25).
Two aspects of Jew and Gentile are found in the titles Alpha and Omega, plus the Beginning and Ending, first is the Greek concept, since the wording Alpha and Omega are Greek words, giving us one class as the Gentiles. Then comes the Jewish concept in the title Beginning and Ending, giving us the other aspect. Just prior John placed the Jew first as “those who pierced Him”, now it’s reversed. Which was first shall be last, which was last shall be first, giving us the two groups. The first group to be Judged are the Jews as they are compared to the Books (Law of Moses), second is the sea and hell giving up their dead, they are judged based on Mercy, “when I was a thirst you gave Me Water”, “when Lord”, “when you did to the Least, you became My brethren”, indicating how the Judgment is based on Mercy, not Grace.
This also opens up the Seven churches, and explains the last two churches, the wording Jesus uses toward them. The Fifth church is the only place in the entire Book of Revelation where we find Jesus confessing anyone before the Father. The Confession causes the Rapture, thus showing all seven churches cover the Day and Night, with the first Five of the Day, the last two of the Night.
Jesus said the Will of the Father is for us to Worship in Spirit and Truth, the Spirit in us is the Spirit of Truth, thus we find Spirit and Truth in the Spirit of Truth (I Jn 4:1-6). The word Worship is the Greek Proskuneo which is a Verb, a word of action, meaning Trust and Honor Towards a Master, it’s often used in the description of a dog licking his master’s hand, but it doesn’t do it justice; however, we also know, no man can call Jesus Lord but by the Holy Ghost. This shows in order to Worship God “correctly” one must be servant, in order to be servant they must have the Spirit, in order to have the Spirit, they must be Born Again.
Worship shows a devotion to another, a dog has little understanding of the master, yet it knows the affection the master has for the dog; whereas, we have been given the Spirit to make a connection with God, on God’s Holy Ground. A dog loves his master, the master loves the dog, but these are two different types of love; whereas, we are given the ability to Love God, as He loves us.
The key here shows it’s impossible to Worship God without having Fellowship with Him, we gain Fellowship by walking in the Light as He is the Light as we treat the people of God, as He does. We find different areas of worship: worship to God is found in Matthew 4:10, John 4:21-24, I Corinthians 14:25, Revelation 4:10, 5:14, 7:11, 11:16 & the second part of 19:10. To Jesus is found in Matthew 2:2, 2:8, 2:11, 8:2, 9:18, 14:33, 15:25, 20:20, 28:9, 28:17, John 9:38, and Heb 1:6 in a quotation from the Septuagint (Deut 32:43). There is a worship which is neither Spirit or Truth, it’s found in Matthew 18:26 as man giving worship to man; to the devil in Revelation 13:4; to the Beast in Revelation 13:4, 13:8, 13:12, 14:9 and 14:11; to the Image of the Beast in Revelation 13:15, 14:11, 16:2; to demons in Revelation 9:20; and then to Idols in Acts 7:43. We know there is a panic worship, one done in unbelief to hold to something, when faith says it must go (Matt 28:9). There is also the Greek Latreuo translated as Worship in Philippians 3:3 meaning To render service or homage, our reasonable service is to give what we owe. Since man can worship devils, we must know it’s true worship, it’s the counterfeit of being able to worship God in Spirit and Truth. When one worships the devil it’s by the spirit of man and deception.
With the addition of the word Almighty in verse 8 we add to the Is, Was and Is To Come, as the Alpha and Omega, Beginning and Ending, and Almighty. The title Almighty is the Greek Pantokrator a compound word meaning PanKratos (Any source or sort of Power), thus Almighty means One who holds all power, regardless of the power, this doesn’t mean the power of the devil is promoted by God, rather it shows God has Power over all powers, including the power of darkness. With this introduction it’s clear Jesus is speaking as God the Son, the Almighty, yet John sees Jesus as the Son of man about to return for Judgment, but Jesus speaks to John as God the Son, showing the sons of God are not subject to the wrath to come. However, when John sees the voice, he also sees on like unto the Son of man. The division changes when John sees the voice, but the Voice is giving John words for the sons of God. (Every), and
Verse 9 begins with John making sure we know it’s he who is now speaking. Jesus gave us His positions, now John gives us his. The word Brother is the Greek Adelphos meaning Unity from the same womb, the womb would be the kingdom of heaven. The word Companion is the Greek SugkoinonosThlipsis meaning Trouble or Affliction, it’s used in reference to a Woman in travail before giving birth (Jn 16:21), thus the Tribulation isn’t something to come, since John said he was a companion in Tribulation, yet we find the Great Tribulation later to come, thus we find two aspects to the Tribulation, or two halves to the Hour. Jesus said we would have Tribulation in the world, but be of Good Cheer, He has overcome the world (Jn 16:33). John said this is the victory overcoming the world, even our faith (I Jn 5:4). Yet the faith is based on “whatsoever is Born of God overcomes the world” (I Jn 5:4). meaning A partaker with others, pointing to Companions in the First Resurrection in the Unity of the Faith by the Spirit. The word Tribulation is the Greek
The Island of Patmos was nothing more than a Big Rock in the Aegean Sea, it was 28 miles south of Samos, today there is a small monastery with a library containing about 240 manuscripts, but why did Jesus wait until John was placed on this Island, why was John placed there to begin with? Metaphors show us the Sand of the Sea is next to the Sea, they are not the Sea, yet the Sand is made by the waves of the Sea, we will find there is the Earth, another metaphor John uses later, we will find the islands will all be gone in the Night, thus the Isle upon which John is found must have some importance in the overall picture as well.
We know John was imprisoned, John tells us his purpose for being on the Isle is for the Word of God (Logos) and for the Testimony of Jesus (The Bible). He didn’t say he was “framed”, nor did he say the devil put him there, he looked for the Precious, knowing God had a purpose. At the same time John told us he was a “king”, thus we can’t equate a king in the Kingdom with the world’s view of being a king. John was in prison because he was a king, yet mankind didn’t control John’s life, Jesus did. John knew the event may not seem good to some, but God purpose was paramount. John as a servant didn’t question the Master, he obeyed Him.
When John wrote this we know he was on the Isle of Patmos, yet his wording would almost appear as if he wasn’t with the phrase, “was in”, rather than “am in”; therefore, the aspect of the isle has a point to be made. John lists his position as Brother, Companion, in the Kingdom, Patience, Isle, Word of God, Testimony of Jesus: all relating to the Seven churches, the last two give us a great clue to the Rapture, as we will see. When the islands are gone, they must go somewhere, the islands are a metaphor to one who is above the Sea, yet separated from Sea, since they are over the Sea they are kings, able to cast the Net into the Sea. It’s important to distinguish the difference between the Sea and Earth, we Fish in the Sea, the Harvest is on the Earth, the entrance to the kingdom comes from the Sea, but the Harvest is to separate the Wheat from the Tares on the Earth. The woman at the well was part of the promise, the disciples were told about the Harvest, but they were also told they would be fishers of men, two different aspects to the Calling. When Jesus said the Fields were White, it showed the clarity of the Tares for the first time, the ability was at hand for the salvation of man’s soul, but He nonetheless said the disciples would be Fishers of men, not catchers of Tares.
Verse 10 begins to open the mystery to the Judgment, and where it begins. The phrase “I was in” in verse 10 could also read “came to be” which is the Greek Ginomai meaning To come into existence, yet it’s also translated as Was Done (Matt 1:22), Shall be done (Matt 18:19), Might have (Col 1:18), Behaved ourselves (I Thess 2:10), and Should be made (Titus 3:7), it holds something has come into existence to be completed, explaining John had to be In the Spirit in order to reach the Door, he also had to be in the Spirit for him to reach above “The Lord’s Day”. The Day of the Lord begins when the Door receives all those who follow the Spirit.
John hears a Voice behind him, yet we’re told to Follow Jesus, why wasn’t John facing Jesus? The word Voice is the Greek Phone meaning To shine, it’s the same word used when John the Baptist said “I’m a voice crying in the wilderness”. John heard a Voice Like a Trumpet, the word Trumpet is the Greek Salpigx meaning The announcing, or The approach of God, or the Presence of God. We know from Daniel we have two periods of Time, Times, Times and half a Times, separating the events, the First is a reference to Feast Days, one for Passover, the next for Pentecost, the Half a Time is the First and Last Trump, with the Great Trump held back until the end. The sound of the Trump depends on which Trump we’re talking about. Here John is in the Isle, thus the Trump he hears is the Last, it’s time for the Catching Away, but before the Sound, there is a warning to be given. The other time, times and half a time refer to the remaining days, the Time of Comfort begins with Atonement, then Purim, then the Great Trump announcing Judgment. The metaphoric content shows John was Watching, but the Voice came quickly.
Jesus as God the Son sits on the Right hand side of Majesty on High, as the Son of God He ministers in the Holiest Place as our Advocate. As the Son of man, He brought the Cross, gave us the Bread and Cup, yet He also took the fourth cup of the wrath of God. John will see a Figure Like unto the Son of man, why not The Son of God? This same John told us about the Son of God, why then does he see the Son of man? And why does Jesus appear Like Unto the Son of man, doesn’t John know Him? Isn’t this the disciple Jesus loved? Wasn’t this the disciple Jesus gave the care of His mother to? Seems strange for John not to say “This is my Jesus”; unless of course John doesn’t know the Judgment Jesus, rather he knows the Salvation Jesus from the Mount of Transfiguration.
Verse 11 shows The Voice said “I Am Alpha and Omega” which we saw in verse 8, but then we read “First and Last” rather than “Beginning and Ending”. Is this a different person? Hardly, we find Jesus as the Son of God speaking in verse 8 from the Holy of Holies, as the Son of man in verse 11 from the Holy Place, but His feet will be in the Courtyard, the difference is the use of the phrases. On the Mount of Transfiguration we see the Head and Body of Jesus, but not His feet, why not? His enemies are His Footstool, the Transfiguration is for the Head and Body, not the feet. John hears many titles in the two incidents, yet in both cases the Greek language was used first, then the Jewish titles for Jehovah God. Jesus is the Prince of Peace, He is over all Principalities, He is before the Beginning, yet will be at the Ending; however, with the use of the phrase First and Last, we find the Last shall be First, with the First shall be Last. We are the Last to receive, but the First to go, the Remnant are promised First, but the Last to receive, giving us the inclusion of the Seven churches, as well as the subject matter is the Book unto the Seven churches, yet it’s clear both Gentile and Jew are noted in the Titles given, thus we must keep in mind from this point on both are included in some manner in reference to the Seven churches. In this we can’t assume God has forsaken the Remnant who are the Remnant of the Seed of the Woman, in verse 4 we found the “Seven Spirits” are before the Throne, thus they are The Record of the Seven churches, the Record is being given so we may know the Night will come as a Quickly. “Well, do you mean God won’t warn us?”, the warning is here, the event is coming.
Without the Remnant there is nothing remaining, the prophecy regarding the enemies of Jesus being made His footstool would not come to pass, thus we find the word Remnant means the Remaining element, which would be Judgment, we will also find they are of the “Remnant of the Seed of the Woman”, not the “Seed of Abraham”, or the “Seed of God”. Purpose and timing bring clarity to the cause and effect.
Some might say “well God divorced the Woman in Jeremiah”, true, but the Woman had a daughter, the daughter give birth to Jesus. Making the City the issue, not the nation, thus God divorced the nation, not the adopted daughter. Therefore, we find the Woman in the latter days is City as the Daughter of the Woman, but since She is a Daughter, She is still a Woman. Therefore, when we see the Woman in Revelation 17 as the City, She has the Moon under Her feet, the Sun about Her, with Her crown of twelve stars for the twelve tribes. Since She has the Moon, Sun and Twelve Stars She can’t be the Nation (Sun), nor can She be Zion (Moon), nor can She be the Tribes (Crown), rather She is something specifically regarding those elements, as the “Great City”. We can’t make this Woman the Church, it doesn’t fit, since Her crown consists of the twelve tribes, not The Crown of Life.
Isaiah says “and it shall come to pass in That Day, the Lord shall set His hand again the second time to recover the Remnant of His people”. This shows the Day of the Lord begins when at the second time, but it’s still the Lord’s Day, in order to do complete the prophecy something must happen, something to give us Hope. The word Book or Roll in verse 11 is the Greek Biblion, it’s the same word used for the Book of Life, from this word we get the English word Bible. The word Send is the Greek Pempo meaning To cause to go; how shall they call on Him in Whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in Him of Whom they have not heard? and shall they Hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach except they be sent? So then Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word (Rhema) of God (Rom 10:13-17). The purpose of the Book of Revelation is to give us the incentive to stand in Mercy and Grace, the two elements separate those in the Light, from those in darkness.
Verses 12 through 15 connect to Daniel 7:9 and Daniel 10:6 to a degree, all have close descriptions of the same Figure, but not close enough. Since they are a like in nature, there must be something in them relating one to the other. As we said, Why would John say “like unto the Son of man” why not “the Son of God” or “I saw my Jesus”; after all this same John saw Jesus before the Cross, after the Resurrection, then at the Ascension, but this John also knew he was a son of God, he knew Jesus as the Son of God; whereas, the Son of man returns to judge the earth. Both Daniel and John see a like figure, but there are some important differences, differences explaining how Christ can be on the earth, yet Jesus Himself is not. If we are the “Body of Christ”, then we reign as Christ now, if we can’t see the Christ Nature is the Overcoming Power we missed the entire concept of Grace unto Salvation. Daniel sees the White Garment first, then the Head, then the Throne as a fiery furnace, then the feet as burning fire, all of which show a combination of Salvation and Judgment, thus Daniel doesn’t see the division between Day and Night, he sees Jesus in both aspects of the Son of man. Whereas John sees the Garment (without color), then the golden girdle about the breasts, which Daniel didn’t see, then the Head, then the Eyes as flames of fire, which explains “The eyes of the Lord go about the earth”. The Golden Girdle is Truth, the other elements point to Judgment, not Salvation, thus John sees the second aspect of the Son of man, he was already a part of the first. Daniel sees Jesus as the Son of man for two positions, Salvation and Judgment, John only sees the Judgment aspect, thus when John sees Jesus the time of Salvation (Day) has passed, it’s at the end of the Night, it came Suddenly.
Every time we see the Throne of God in the Book of Revelation, it’s in heaven, not earth. Heaven is His Throne, the Earth His footstool. Why would Jesus make His Throne His footstool? It makes no sense whatsoever, thus when Jesus stands it will be time for the Remnant to make the enemies the Footstool of Jesus, after the Judgment Jesus goes back to the Father, proving One God all and all. Attempting to make the Earth God’s Throne turns the Cross upside down, ahh, something the Wicked do, they are under His feet, but presume they are the Head. It’s for this reason we find the synagogue of Satan in two places. We will see the synagogue placing many victims into prison during the Day, then we see them “at the feet” of the Sixth church in the beginning of the Night. Same gathering of those who fit to the “he of the world”, but in two different Seasons.
John had to Turn to see the figure, this Holy Figure was in the midst of the Golden Candlestick, the Figure was not the Golden Candlestick, but in the Midst. John turned, where did he turn from? And what is the Midst? The Midst means Middle, Jesus is the Light supplying the light for the seven churches, thus He is in the Midst, but it doesn’t mean He is one of the lights. The seven stars are the seven churches as the seven candles, found in the right hand of Jesus. If they are in the right hand of Jesus, then He is not one of the lights, but The Light. The seven churches are the Rock, or Body, Jesus as the Head represents the Church, thus the correction is form the Church to the Rock.
From prior lessons we remember the Tabernacle, if one was standing in the holy place near the entrance looking toward the courtyard then the Golden Candlestick would be behind them, if John turns and sees the Face of Jesus, with the Stars are in the Right Hand of Jesus, then Jesus would be facing the courtyard, thus John was at the entrance to the Holy Place, but facing the courtyard as a Watchman, as he turned he saw Jesus facing him, thus as the Son of God Jesus remains in the Holy of Holies, but when He steps into the Holy Place His feet are at the Brazen Altar as He stands as the Son of man, meaning it’s time for judgment. This shows when we Meet Him in the Air we are translated to the Holy of Holies as sons of God to be with the Son of God, the place where the Throne of God remains.
Since the House of God must first be judged, we find the warning to the Seven churches comes first, if we read and Judge ourselves, we will not be judged with the world.
Inside the Tent of the Tabernacle we find the sign of Passover as a symbol to the Cross, but to those in the courtyard those elements are Hidden, until they are Revealed. Once one enters the Holy Place they see the Shewbread Table on their left side, but we can take of the Bread, rejecting the Light, losing in the end, thus John sees Jesus in the Midst of the Golden Candlestick, not the Table of Shewbread. The Cross represents Jesus as the Son of man, but it doesn’t extend into the Holy of Holies, thus John sees Jesus at the Menorah, the place of Light, as The Light is exposing the lights, it has to be Holy Place separating it from the Courtyard, nonetheless Jesus will move into the Courtyard, the place of Sacrifice. We are the Bread, we can’t reject it, but the Light is the focus here, we know there is the Light as Jesus, five of the lights are the Greater Light of the Day, two are the lesser lights for the Night.
The first thing John sees is the Body, then the Head, then the Feet, then the Golden Girdle covering the Heart of the Lord, the place where the spear pierced Him, but the importance of this is seeing how the Body was the first thing seen, then the Head, then the Feet; this gives us the separation between the Body and Feet as well as the Head of the Body, yet the Head of the Body is at the Holy of Holies, where the Body is the Holy Place, and the Feet the courtyard. Nonetheless the place is still the at the golden candlestick, as each of the seven candles represent one of the seven churches, they are stars, meaning they have a place waiting in the heavens, they are Spirits, or hold a place in the overall Report. Yet, it’s still the Holy Place, we also find there are some who walk in darkness, hiding in the corners of the courtyard, always refusing to enter the Holy Place. The Courtyard was the place where the Sacrifices were slaughtered, the blood was on the ground, thus when the Tent is taken in the Rapture, all that is left is the Earth and the Blood calling from the Ground. We also know the Holy Ghost and Spirit are gone at the Rapture, thus while it is yet Day, the Blood testifies for us, it is combined in the Witness of the Water, Blood and Spirit, but when the Spirit is taken the same Blood on the Ground becomes a Witness against the people, not for them.
Clearly this Jesus is “different” from the Jesus John saw on the Mount of Transfiguration. This Jesus is “another” Jesus, yet the same. This connects to Paul’s teaching, there are some who teach “another Jesus”. During the Day it’s Jesus on the Mount of Olives and Transfiguration, the Jesus of Salvation, not the Jesus of Judgment. Teaching on the End Times is one thing, using the End Times to scare the people half to death is another. It’s the same Jesus, but with two purposes, we present the First Coming Jesus, yet teach about the Second Coming Jesus.
This brings us to the Garment, which reflects to the Mount of Transfiguration, to a degree. When John sees Jesus here, he does see the Garment, but he doesn’t see a color, yet later Jesus will say there will be those who will walk with Him in “white”. John was on the mount, we know Peter used the Mount when he told us how he heard the Voice of the Father, but he also said we have a Better word of prophecy, the Interpretation of the prophecy by the Holy Ghost. Who interpreted the Mount experience to Peter after Pentecost? The Holy Ghost, thus we find Peter on the Mount wanting to make three tabernacles, but after Pentecost he had clarity of the event by the Spirit.
The Holy Ghost brought the truth of the matter to Peter after the Spirit was given. However, on the Mount the Face of Jesus did shine as the Sun, His raiment Was as the Light, it wasn’t the Light, it was as the Light, thus His garment is a type and shadow of the Skins around the Tent of the Tabernacle, or the Unction protecting us in the Body, but we also see the promised White Robes for those of the Body are Partakers of the First Resurrection, the same promise made to the Fifth church. However, on the Mount there was no mention of His Feet, but here we see His Feet are as Brass, which is Judgment. The Mount of Transfiguration was a sign unto Salvation, void of Judgment. Neither does the Mount experience show the Golden Girdle, or Eyes as fire, both of which show us the Truth in Judgment. We are given the Spirit of Truth to avoid the Judgment, judge yourself, lest you be judged.
Daniel 10:5-6 shows “a man” as the Son of man, with a “certain linen”, Whose loins were girded with fine gold, Whose Body was like the beryl, Whose Face as the appearance of Lighting, Whose Arms and Feet were like unto polished Brass, Whose Voice was like the Voice of a multitude, after Daniel saw the vision there was a quaking falling all around him (Dan 10:7). Daniel sees Arms and Feet as Brass, not just the feet alone, this displays Jesus at the Judgment. Both Daniel and John note the Voice, Daniel as a multitude, John as Many Waters, but who are those who are suppose to have the Living Water? We are, the Voice of the Lord is the Voice of the multitude who stood in Love, Life and Faith refusing to use the wiles of the devil. Jesus will not judge based on His opinions or even His views, it will be based on those voices of blood crying out.
The word Right in verse 20 is the Greek Dexios meaning An opposite to the left, or Opposite from the left, explaining the separation of the sheep and goats, and how close James and John came to destruction, and why Jesus refused to answer their request of one being on the left, and one on the right. This shows us Judgment is a matter of Godly division, the Diamerismos Jesus said He came for.
Later we will see an angel who puts his right foot on the Sea, with his left foot on the Earth, the two places of Woe, but with Jesus we find those on His Right pass by, those on His left must answer to the Father, Jesus said “I say unto you, Every idle word (Rhema) men shall speak, they shall give account (Logos) thereof in the day of judgment”. Idle rhema is Rhema void of faith, life or love. It talks of God, but lacks faith, love and hope, rather it promotes unbelief, doubt and vengeance. It talks of the Glory, but figures some way to use it for self-gain. It talks of life, but uses the ways of death. “For by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned” (Matt 12:36-37). This statement was directed to those of the religious order within the House, not the world. The bad fish speak of the Rhema, but twist to envy, strife and division, which is a failure to confess Jesus.
The Right is also referred to as the First, with the Left as the last (v. 10:2 & Matt 5:29-39), thus the First are found in His Right hand, but what is found in His Left? Jesus being on the Right hand side of Majesty, means His left side is toward the Majesty, but His Right hand is toward us. This sign shows the Father to the left of Jesus, does it mean the Father is opposite the Church? Hardly, for Jesus also took the cup of the wrath of God, which is found in His Left hand: those who miss the Right hand, must face the wrath of God.
There are those who, for one reason or another, not their fault, have been robbed of the Christ nature by the Spirit, yet they love God, they walk in Mercy, they do the law of faith without knowing it pertains to the Law of the Spirit, they will sleep in Jesus through the Night, to be raised as the Sea, then judged by their acts, to be blessed of the Father in the end; however, there are those who knew the truth, yet rejected it for the self nature, they will also face the Wrath of God, but they won’t be blessed, Jesus called it the separation between the sheep and the goats (Matt 25:31-46).
The Word in us is Sharper than any two-edged sword, but at the Judgment Jesus uses the Sharp Two-edged Sword coming out of His mouth as the means of Judgment. Therefore the Word in us is greater than the Judgment (James 1:21). This Sword was called by Paul as the “Spirit of His mouth” (II Thess 2:8), which shows it’s clearly the means of Judgment. The Feet of Jesus being Brass point directly to Judgment, we find they appear as if they are “burned in a furnace”. Isaiah 31:9 says the furnace is in Jerusalem, Ezekiel 22:22 says they shall melt in the furnace. This defines the world as the lake of fire, the time when it turns inside out, or as Peter defined it, “shall melt with fervent heat” (II Pet 3:10-12). The word Strength in verse 16 is the Greek Dunamis, His Strength is His heavenly Light, thus God is Light, God is Love, in Him we have Life, taking us right back to First John as he taught us to seek the fullness of the Love of God; however, we will find the devil also has Dunamis, but it’s limited to place, source, usage and destruction.
Verses 17 and 18 give us the First and Last, notice the First is First place, the Last is Last place. The Greek word for First is Protos meaning Foremost or Forward, it never means Backward, the word Last is the Greek Eschatos meaning Most remote, or Further out, metaphorically implying a lower rank. Here the metaphoric connection points to the Greater Light and Lesser Light. The Lesser Light is closer to the earth, but further from heaven; whereas the Greater Light is further from earth, but closer to heaven, the Greater Light brings the words of Salvation, the Lesser unto Judgment.
Jesus has the keys of hell and death, we don’t, we are given the keys to the kingdom, thus strife and envy assume the keys of death are the keys of life. We also find two areas, Hell and Death, they are different. Paul showed us there are those who Sleep in Jesus, and the Dead in Christ, two different groups, those who Sleep in Jesus, sleep through the Night, but the Dead in Christ are raised with those of us who are alive and remain at the close of the Day. The Dead in Christ are not the same as the Dead seen here, the Dead seen here are those who sleep. However, the assumption saying All sleep is not correct, only some sleep in Jesus, there are those in hell, as well as the souls under the altar of God.
The metaphor keys means something to open something else, the one with the Key(s) has authority to use those keys. If Jesus has the keys to death and hell, then the prophecy of the gates of hell not prevailing against the Church shows Jesus has the authority to keep prophecy, we don’t.
Verses 17 and 18 give us a clue pointing to the Rapture, John falls, but is raised, then Jesus says, “I am He who lives”, His Life is found in the New Man. John was Raised by the power of Christ, as we all will be. This is interesting since later John will fall before an angel, yet be told it’s error, John making an error? Oh my. Yes, but Jesus didn’t step in and say, “John, bowing to angels is so wrong, you will now be removed, cast down, your papers will be taken away”. Even a man like John can get carried away with events, making a wrong move. However, John being correction was enough to correct the event immediately.
In verse 19 we find Was, Is and Is to come, how Jesus answered the disciples question regarding the end times with When these things shall be, then What shall be the sign of His coming, lastly The sign of the end of the world. John is told to write the things he has Seen, the things Which are, the things Which shall be Hereafter, he was not told to write the Could Be, but the Shall Be.
Verse 20 explains the Mystery, all Mysteries are explained in the Bible, we don’t have to make up our own solutions. The word Angel is the Greek Agelos meaning A messenger, or the message of One who is sent in order to announce, teach, perform or explain anything; the Angels of God speak of the things pertaining to God, the messengers of Satan speak of the things pertaining to darkness. Here the reference is limited to the Message to the Body from the Head of the Body. Since there are Seven, we can see each is separated, but joined by being of the Menorah. One message may pertain to a time, or a person in an event, or it may not pertain to an even yet to come.
Here are Seven Candlesticks, later we find the Two Witnesses are assigned to only Two of the Candlesticks, not all Seven; therefore, there will be something to separate the First Five churches from the remaining Two churches (v. 11:3-4, Matt 17:3 & Zech 4:14). We know the use of these Seven churches points to Jew and Gentile (Acts 19:10), denoting there churches in the Body, but One Church on the Rock.
Some say the Seven churches cover time spans, some say one can find the attitudes at any time, other’s show a progression of growth, all these hold a truth, the view of all the events having passed lacks Scriptural support, although we will find historically some of the times for the churches have passed. The Seven churches can be found a movement, a growth of the Body itself, any local church, any body of believers, or an individual believer, as points of the growth until the end, thus showing the building process of the churches, pointing to the ability to be of The Church.
In verse 20 we find a series of Seven’s all leading to the completeness of the Last Seven of Daniel. Seven Golden Candlesticks, Seven Stars, who are the Angels to the Seven Candlesticks, making the Seven Candlesticks the Seven churches, thus the word Seven is mentioned Six times in this verse moving to the Sixth Seal. When we see these Seven’s we also recall they are the Seven Spirits, wait a minute how many Holy Spirit’s are there? The Spirit in this case is what the Spirit of God is saying in the Proceeding word. However there are seven aspects to the Holy Ghost, 1) He is the Interpreter, 2) Teacher, 3) The Guide into All Truth, 4) He Testifies of Jesus, 5) He plants the Seed of God, 6) He shows us things to Come 7), He is the provider of Light, Life and Love, all these are noted in the attitudes of the Seven churches in one way or another. The use of “Seven Spirits” doesn’t mean there are seven Holy Spirits, rather it’s a division of time and events. The last two churches will not have the Holy Spirit, but they will have the Two Witnesses.
From our lesson on the Major Prophets we also found the Spirit is Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Might, Knowledge, and the Fear of the Lord, yet these are Six items not Seven. However we also found a change in Seasons between Isaiah 11:5 and 11:6, thus these Six elements brings us to close of the fifth church as the sixth church opens. Isaiah 13:1 brings in the Seventh position of the “Burden of Babylon”, pointing to the Laodiceans. We find Ephesus needed the attitude of God’s Wisdom, Smyrna Understanding by experience in the area of temptation, Pergamos the Counsel of determining the doctrines they allow to invade, Thyatira the Might to overcome the Jezebel’s, Sardis the Knowledge to be Watchful, as they refuse to allow the high things to come against the Knowledge of God, Philadelphia will open the Fear of the Lord by bringing the Knowledge of God, the loss of the Fear of the Lord leads to the Burden of Babylon introduced by the lukewarm Laodiceans.
The Seven churches are all told “hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (plural), each message is important and stands alone, thus we find seven angels (messages) produced by the Spirit of God. The use of the Spirit of God shows the spirit of man will exist in the Night, the false prophet will do the working of Satan while the devil is still bound. Each message shows “judgment first begins in the House of God”, each shows Jesus is still the Lord of the Day and Night. Jesus is not manipulating the will of man, He is laying out the reward or consequences for the decisions man makes. Therefore, it’s not Seven separate Spirits, rather it shows a Separation of Dispensationalism (v 1:5).
We’re going to find the word “Amen” used 10 times in Book of Revelation, Amen means “So be it in the faithfulness of God”, much different from “Not so Lord, Let it not be, change this thing”. The number ten is the Bible number referring to testing, the context shows we must receive the Amen to know the warning.
Rev 2:1-7.
The Book of Revelation is obviously a Word from the Lord, not only in the introduction, but in the many evidences of “he who has an ear, hear what the Spirit says to the churches”. In this we find a very important Truth, we may not always find a Scripture to fit every Word we get from the Lord, but we will never get a Word opposed to the Bible. The Book of Revelation conforms with the words of Jesus, the words of the Prophets, and the words of the Apostles. The Book of Revelation is not a mystic void in never, never land, it’s a simple view of Salvation and Judgment, telling us why we must seek to have the fullness of the Righteousness of God, the remission of sins, the Cleaning of the Blood, as we walk in the Spirit. There is a Hope for us, as well as a warning if we ignore the Hope.
The first thing we think about are the Seven Angels yet to come, relating to the Seven Angels for the Seven churches, but they are not the same, the Seven Angels for the churches are the messages, the seven angels appear based on those who ignore the messages.
Ephesus was a fishing community, correlating to the Net we cast into the Sea. Why did the early church use the Fish? The Greek letters forming the word Fish (Ichthys) are the initial letters of the five Greek words meaning “Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior”, but the symbol only affirms we were fish in the sea, but harvest in the field. The harvest is between Wheat and Tares, not the good fish and bad fish, yet the Net brings in both good and bad, which is explored in these letters to the churches.
Although Paul didn’t say In the Beginning Was the Word, we find in John 1:1 the Word (Logos) is used three times showing the Word was in fact God, although Jesus returns as the Son of man, does it mean He is no longer God the Son? W. E. Vine, Robertson and others point out the article (the) is usually used with a proper name when mentioned a second time; however, there are of course exceptions. When the absence of the article serves to lay stress upon, or give position to the character or nature of what is expressed in the noun. A notable instance of this is John 1:1, “and the Word was God”, here a double stress is on Theos (God), by the absence of the article and by the emphatic position. To translate it literally, “a god was the Word” is entirely misleading. Moreover the Word is the subject of the sentence, this exemplified the rule as the subject is to be determined by having the article when the predicate is anarthous (without the article). Accordingly the rule shows when two nouns are united by the genitive case, either both have the article or both are without. In Romans 7:22 in the phrase “the law of God” both nouns have the article (the and of), but in verse 25 neither has the article. Another example is Titus 2:13 which is correctly translated as “our great God and Savior Jesus Christ”. Multon (Prol., p. 84) from the papyri and other writings from the very early church or among Greek speaking Christians was a current formula, in essence Jesus didn’t give up any position, He merely operates in the correct position for the correct event. This is seen in the first chapter, Jesus is seen as the Son of man, but speaks as the Son of God, and God the Son, He will refer to Himself as the Son of God as well.
What other evidence could show John 1:1 shows the Word is God? The Record for one, the Father, Word and Holy Ghost (I Jn 5:7). Also the words Irenaeus (120-202 AD) , who was a pupil under Polycarp, as Polycarp was a pupil of John the Apostle. Irenaeus in addressing heresies quoted John 1:1 several times, he also explained the gifts from the Magi by saying, “by these gifts which they offered, who it was that was worshipped: myrrh, because it was He who should die and be buried for the mortal human race; gold, because He was a king, of whose kingdom is no end; and frankincense, because He was God, who also was made known in Judea and was declared to those who sought Him”. In reference to the doctrine of baptisms; Irenaeus said, “and again, giving to the disciples the power of regeneration into God, He said to them, Go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost”; clearly Irenaeus saw it was One Name, yet as three aspects of the One God. Ignatius (30-107 AD) a disciple of John who was reported to be among the children brought to Jesus in Matthew 18:2 said the Father told the Son, “Arise, O God and judge the earth; for You shall receive all the heathen as Your inheritance”. Ignatius also quoted John 1:1 as “in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”. Ignatius wrote in Latin, thus the article was not at question, showing the correct concept is “The Word was God”; therefore, Jesus was equal to God, yet thought it not robbery. Before one can use the overzealous scribe as an excuse, one must determine if the very early church used phrases found in Scripture. They must also determine if a premise and example match, before they introduce a premise lacking an example. We have said this to explain the term Nicolaitanes, and how the church of Ephesus is warned concerning the Deeds or Works of the Nicolaitanes, but Pergamos is being told about the Doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, thus Ephesus judged the Ways, Pergamos failed to, the result was the wrong doctrine taking hold. This issue is important for Ephesus, they did many things right, but only one thing wrong, yet it made them unequal, so much so Jesus found this against them.
Did the Ephesians Hear, some perhaps, but many years later Ignatius would call the Ephesians a wicked mob of followers, lovers of pleasure, in reference to their doctrine he said, “Whosoever, therefore, declares there is but one God”, only so as to take away the divinity of Jesus, is a devil, and an enemy of all righteousness”, we can see this as a quote from James. The warning to Ephesus is in reference to their First Love, which is classed as a Work. What happens when we leave our First Love? We enter darkness, then deception, producing all sorts of carnal activity. Ephesus did works in reference to man, but not in reference to God, the result is a prideful attitude, with the deception of works somehow saving us, when we are clearly told, time and again we are saved by Grace through Faith, not of our own.
However, if it’s the case why do we see people judged according to their works? The last judgment is based on works, a person’s works are their Ways, but those who are Partakers in the First Resurrection have entered the Rest (Sabbath) of God, as they cease from their works, thus they are taken before the 1,000 years, rather than judged after. The Judgment is still based on the Son of man, thus it’s based on Mercy, as a way producing works (Matt 25:31-46).
The control of the Seven Stars and the Seven Golden Candlesticks are in the Right Hand of Jesus, whether they remain there is in the hands of those accounted to the positions. The word Control really means The final say in the matter, thus when we use our control, we are saying we have the final word, here we find Jesus has the final word. Jesus will not leave us “even unto the end of the world (Aion, or Age)” (Matt 28:20); therefore, everything happening is ordained by Jesus in order to bring us into the perfect image of Christ, until the End of the earth, after we are either with Him, or on the earth as it turns into the Lake of Fire.
The letter is to The church Of Ephesus, is not to “the members of the church of Ephesus”: thus bringing in the concept of Growth. The Seed and Root have a tendency to do works, but seem to drift from their First Love. The historical view indicates Ephesus was the place where Timothy was pastor, the place where John was buried, thus they feel Ephesus is the Apostolic period of the church (30 to 100 AD); however, it holds some problems considering how they left their First Love; how could an early church lose it’s first love so fast? Ephesus has another point correlating to the phrase The Sower sows the Word. Ephesus relates to the Seed being sown unto the growth, yet there is a danger of becoming so involved in works, one ignores the Love they have for God. If one falls from The Love, they fall from The Faith as well, for Godly Faith works by Love.
We will also see the phrase “for His name’s sake”, this goes much further than saying the Name, it means one has the Sake of the Name. The phrase reads in the Greek, “even due to the name of Me”, showing something in reference to what the Name means, not merely using the Name.
Jesus lists five items: Works, Labor, Patience, cannot bear those who are evil, ability to try the false apostles (II Cor 11:13-16); then repeats the endeavors by saying, (1) has borne, (2) has patience, (3) for His name’s sake has labored, and (4) have not fainted, thus the first five relate to the present tense, the four to past tense (has), it’s the four they let slip. The Patience was still there indicating their desire to finish the course without moving from side to side, but the Name’s sake was lost in the endeavors to keep the evil out. It can happen, but it makes us unequal, we fight the wiles so hard, we forget why.
The Two Loves are based on the Two Commandments to sustain our walk. To Love the Lord our God is our first love; to love our neighbor as our self is the second; therefore, we find they loved the Body of Christ, but forgot the Head of the Body. They fought to protect the Body, but in the process they forgot about their Love for the Lord.
The word Remember in verse 5 links the first church with the fifth (v. 3:3). It’s clear they tested the spirit, they hated the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, this is important as well. They didn’t hate the Nicolaitanes, which is a key point in their favor, rather they hated the deeds to the point they won’t allow them to enter in. The title Nicolaitanes tells us more about the Deed and Doctrine then the people, the name Nicolaitanes means Victory over the people; whereas the name Nicodemus means Victory for the people; therefore, the Doctrine of the Nicolaitanes is a form of control over the people, using methods and teachings to hold the people under one’s thumb, which is a form of manipulation. The Doctrine of the Nicolaitanes goes to “he who leads in to captivity shall go into captivity” (v. 13:10). To combat the Doctrine of the Nicolaitanes we feed the Flock of God, knowing they are God’s Heritage. The Nicolaitanes reversed I Peter 5:1-3, instead of following the Truth, they feed the flock of God with self-based heresy, taking the oversight thereof with constraint, for filthy lucre’s sake. They reverse the Liberty to bondage, which is a mark of a cult, or whacko.
At the third general council in Ephesus in 431 AD this issue was raised, the rulers of Ephesus at the time were following the ways of the Nicolaitanes, not coming against them. The word Nicolaitanes is the opposite of the teaching of Nicolas, who was one of the Seven appointed by the Apostles (Acts 6:5). One can’t assume the Nicolaitian doctrine came from Nicolas, since he taught the same Gospel as Peter, John, Paul and the others, as an example to the flock, not a lord over them (I Pet 5:2-3). The use of the term Nicolaitanes does relate to the Seven Deacons (Acts 6:5, 8:6, 8:40 & 21:8); however, it shows the opposite approach. The Nicolaitanes use the spirit of fear as their means of Evangelism, whereas the Seven deacons were appointed because one could see the Holy Ghost in their lives. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians shows we should be holy and without blame, we can’t do it without the Spirit. If one looked at the many verses in the Letter to the Ephesians they would see this same warning, the truth of this is found in ones spiritual warfare (Eph 1:4, 1:7, 1:11, 1:13, 1:17, 2:1, 2:8, 2:12, 2:15, 2:18, 3:12, 3:16, 4:24, 4:30, 5:1-2, 5:17-20, 5:26-27, 6:10-18 and 6:24). We remain Spiritual by walking in the Spirit, if we are walking in the Spirit, we are also walking in our First Love.
The warning of removing the candlestick is seen again in v. 18:23, thus without a candlestick we have no Light, yet God is Light, as well as being Love, without His Love we have no Light, without Light, we have no Love, thus if we leave our First Love, we also leave the Light, yet if we leave the Light, we have left Life. Repentance is part of the Preparation for the Gospel of Peace, linking this warning and escape back to Ephesians 6:13-18. We apply Mercy to people, yet we are saved by Grace through faith, thus the Ephesians were walking in Mercy, but not Grace. They had a Light on the Menorah, in this case we find our Light is Grace based, it keeps our Light from being removed.
We are given two warnings in the First church. Never neglect our first love for the second, and never neglect the second for the first, they must run hand in hand, with the priority being our First Love. If we make the mistake of holding our love for the Body over our Love for God, we will follow the dictates of the Body, and not the Word of the Lord.
Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and the temptation to use manipulation to control the flock, rather than support them in their Faith Walk toward Jesus.
Verse 7 opens the phrase “One like unto the Son of man”, explaining how the Holy Ghost, “shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, shall He speak”. This is very important, as we find Jesus has attributes of the Father, then the Image of the Son of man, but the Holy Ghost is speaking on behalf of the Spirit of God, One God all in all. This is a perfect example of the Record and Witness operating together. Jesus as the Son of Man is still the Word, thus we find the Mercy of the Father is found in the Water, the Grace of the Word in the Blood, the Spirit by the Holy Ghost. Here it’s the Spirit of God by the Holy Ghost speaking to the churches about things seen in the Report. This show us how the soul is the treasure, it’s not the Record, or the Witness, but it does have a testimony, it loves not itself unto the death of the Cross.
Verse 7 is to the “churches” not merely this church, relating to those who overcome, they will eat of the Tree of Life which is in the midst of the Paradise of God. This same Tree of Life is seen later on either side of the River of Life, but how can it be? It shows the Tree of Life has two locations, connecting one side to the other with the River of Life making the connection. If we have Life, we have the Tree of Life within, yet our home is in heaven.
Rev 2:8-11.
Jesus now uses the title First and Last, as He who was Dead and is now Alive, thus the First and Last is also He who was dead and now lives (Isa 48:12). Historically the actual church in Smyrna was 35 miles from Ephesus, it was the most splendid of the seven areas mentioned; known as the Pride of Asia, but it was also a place where Emperor worship was developed, it was also where Christians suffered for their refusal to worship Caesar. Polycarp was the bishop of the church in Smyrna who was martyred there in 156 AD. Those who look at the seven churches as time periods consider this church the counterpart to the age of martyrs in the third century; however, as a lesson for the individual it shows those who Live in Christ will suffer persecution.
This church really did nothing wrong, but suffered because of the “synagogue of Satan”, which we found points to the Wicked. This group had works, tribulation and poverty, but they were rich. Verse 10 speaks of a testing, the devil didn’t cast some of them into prison, rather it was he shall, yet it’s also obvious Jesus is going to allow it. However, if they are faithful unto death, they will receive the crown of life. It’s this area connecting to the persecution, but metaphorically it also shows some will be under ungodly authority, yet the purpose is good, it’s to make our faith strong and firm.
The church of Ephesus fell from their first love, now we find those who hold their first love. The Greek word for Prison is Phulake, meaning The act of watching, or Guarding, or Keeping one bound. The early church was bound, they could not speak openly, they had to meet in secret. There were also spies among them, those who would report to the authorities of their activity, pointing to the Synagogue of Satan.
Here we find two points, first Jesus shows He will allow us to be placed under ungodly authority to show us the Power of God, both in the deliverance, as well as proving, “vengeance is Mine saith the Lord”. The next is “watch and pray”, if we are not victims, do we Watch and Pray for those who are? We better be. The word Phulake also refers to the bottomless pit, the abyss or Tartarus, showing some (not all) will be victims of the sons of perdition, but God judges the person’s heart. If their intent was to find God, then Jesus will remember them, they will Sleep in Jesus, or they may be locked in hell, but they will be judged according to their Mercy, thus we find some of the Synagogue of Satan as the antichrist steal away a person’s ability to have the Spirit, but the measure of faith remains as they do works of Mercy by the Law of Faith, they will not lose their reward.
Prophetically the ten days points to a testing to make ourselves ready. In Genesis 24:55 we read, “let the damsel abide with us a few days, at the least ten”; thereby showing a time of waiting, and testing. The ten days also gives us some clues to these victims; one clue shows the Ten Persecutions by Rome against the Christians. First was Nero 54-68 AD; then Domition 81-96 AD; 3rd Trajan 98-117 AD; 4th Marcus Aurelius 161-180 AD; 5th Septimius Sererns 180-235 AD; 6th Maximus Thraxi 235-238 AD; 7th Decius 238-251 AD; 8th Valerian 253-260 AD; 9th Aurelian 260-284 AD and 10th was Dsocletian 284-305 AD. Another clue points to Daniel, as the ten days he fasted from the king’s meat, showing this group is in Tribulation under the hand of those who sit in the seat of Satan, but these victims are not defeated, their reward waits.
The victims under the persecution were all part of the plan, cause and purpose. The Church began in blood, it will end in the Rapture, the Time of Comfort begins in Peace, ends in blood. The deaths of the many who held the Faith are always a Witness against the sons of perdition, just as the blood of the prophets is a witness against the Woman.
Many of us wonder “what happens to the deceived, who truly love God?”. The answer is here, Jesus says He will give them a Crown of Life, thus they won’t face the Second death. Just as Paul said we won’t rob those who sleep in Jesus, John shows us there are victims, they will not be robbed of their reward either.
Verse 11 is to the “churches”, not merely this church, showing this time period is before the Rapture by the phrase, “shall not be hurt by the second death”. This pertains to anyone who walked in Mercy, whether they are Dead in Christ, Sleep in Jesus, in Death or Hell, Jesus has the keys. The connection for the Dead in Christ is found in Revelation 20:6 as those who are partakers of the First Resurrection find, “on such the second death has no power”.
Rev 2:12-17.
Historically Pergamos (or Pergamus) was fifteen miles from the Aegean Coast, and 70 miles north of Smyrna. Pergamos had an immense altar to Zeus, the chief of Greek mythological gods, which explains the phrase “seat of Satan” as a place of idol worship. This helps us see the Mark of the Beast is ownership by association, the Seat of Satan is the abomination being placed in the Temple, the Authority of the dragon is what the false prophet uses.
Those who view the seven churches as time periods look at Pergamos as the period from Constantine until the first pope was recognized to have authority over the catholic church. This third church is different in many regards, Jesus used the title “sharp two edged sword”, but Hebrews 4:12 says the Word is sharper than any two edged Sword, thus this church lacks the Word or the ability to discern. If we have the Word in us, we won’t face the two-edged sword. They have works, but they dwell where Satan’s seat is, referring to idol worship. The word Seat is the Greek Thronos meaning a throne having a footstool, metaphorically it refers to the place of rule, indicating where idol worship is conducted so are many forms of witchcraft.
They lived in the days of the “faithful martyr” Antipas, the title Antipas is a compound word meaning “anti father”; however, it doesn’t mean this element is anti the Father, rather the Greek shows these faithful martyrs stood for the Father (Mercy), against those who were Anti the Father’s Will. They didn’t deny the Faith of Christ, they sought it, as they held to Mercy, but nonetheless they were unequal, as Jesus has a few things against them.
Ephesus left its first love, Smyrna was under tribulation, here we find an invasion, yet they welcomed it. They had those who hold the Doctrine of Balaam, who Taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children. A stumblingblock would be akin to placing a gate before the children, forcing them to go in a different direction. Balaam was termed a prophet, but here we find it was not his role as a prophet, but his teaching. He was not a teacher, not ordained to be one, thus he usurped the authority of a position he had no right to, just to impress and win the favor of Balac. The word Doctrine is the Greek Didache meaning Instruction, the Greek word Didasko means To teach the instruction, clearly this points to false teachings. They didn’t have the “spirit of Balaam”, they had the Doctrine.
What did Balaam Teach Balac? The end times relating to idol worship, which caused the children to fall into idol worship. Does it mean we should not teach the about the End Times? It means we should not teach the End Times in the wrong manner, nor should we entice the children of God in a direction contrary to the Day.
Balac would react to the teaching of Balaam, the evidence is found in Numbers 25 as the women of Moab introduced the children of God to idols, the children did eat, and bow to the idols of Moab, namely the idol of Baal-poer (Numb 25:1-3). Linking all this together, showing the Seat of Satan is idol worship, when the Seat of Satan ends in the place where the Ark of the Covenant should be, the wrath of God will be poured out.
The unrighteousness of Balaam was simply seeking to curse what God has blessed to get some self-benefit. There are those who say they are in the Light, but they come as Balaam, attempting to get members of the Body into the act of mental idol worship, using faith to enhance the self, rather than deny it. The motivation of Balaam also has a part here, the man sought personal gain at the expense of the children of God, a character flaw, a very serious character flaw (Numb 23:23-24, 24:14-15, 25:1 & 31:15).
They also allowed the Doctrine of the Nicolaitanes to enter in, placing it with the Doctrine of Balaam we have a real mess. The word Nicolaitanes means Victory over the people, the name Balaam means Devourer of the people, the two together tell the story.
All this shows we can keep the Faith, yet allow controlling, manipulative teachers enter in twisting our belief from “God Is” to the self. What to do? Repent, change course, get our belief back to God Is thinking. The same remedy Paul gave Timothy, we do it Quickly. The Sword out of the mouth of Jesus means they will face the Judgment, thereby showing they will also miss the Rapture.
Verse 17 is to the “churches”, For those who reject the leaven, there is the Hidden Manna, the Hidden Manna is found in the Ark of the Covenant. This is not the manna in the field, rather this is Hidden, yet Manna is not a sign of Jesus, but a sign of the Mercy of the Father. This reward shows Jesus will not forget the acts of Mercy they did, the manna was the provision of God in the wilderness, it’s only for the child of God. The word Hidden is the Greek Parerchomai meaning Near at hand, showing the blessing was near at hand, but not in hand.
The reward is for those who Overcome, the White Stone is not The Rock, rather it’s the Greek Psephos meaning a Vote of acquittal, or a Vote of innocence, indicating they were tricked, deceived into doctrines not conducive to Grace. The word Know in the phrase “no man knows it” in verse 17 is the Greek Ginosko which we know as the basis for Knowledge, the word Receive is the Greek Lambano, which we talked about prior, thus this goes to “hearing and receiving”, or “be not a hearer only, but a doer of the Word”. The premise is no man knows the Authority of Jesus until they have it, the key is to receive it, in this case we find they were using all sorts of authority, but they didn’t know the truth of the Authority of Jesus.
Rev 2:18-29
In the process of Growth, Thyatira becomes the Ear, they are the first to see Jesus as the Son of God, showing they have the Spirit, thus Thyatira is the place where we find the result of the Seed planted by the Holy Ghost. It would be interesting, since Thyatira was the least important of the seven cities mentioned, not the church in Thyatira, but the city itself, It was about Half Way between Pergamum and Sardis, some refer to this church as the age between Gregory the Great and the Protestant Reformation, they equate it to the “Jezebel” era as the time of saint worship. However, the Jezebel attitude is being self-appointed, one who joins to the power, but is not called to be of the power.
There is also a very interesting pattern, fall from your first love, finding yourself in the hands of the devil, failing to repent causing one to follow the Balaams and Nicolaitanes doctrines, still failing to repent allowing the Jezebels to enter, still failing to repent, finding ones name removed from the Book of Life.
Thyatira not only sees Jesus as the Son of God, but we find Jesus how has the Eyes like unto a flame of fire, with Feet are like fine brass (vs. 18). Clearly the Judgment Jesus, or the Son of Man coming for Judgment, yet He is speaking as the Son of God, referring to the power of the Resurrection. This is a clear warning, they have the Spirit, but they are in danger. However, they do have Agape love, service, faith, patience, works, with their last “to be more” than the first, this is based on the potential of repentance. The phrase “to be more” is based on the tenses used, showing they will repent to better the situation, which in turn generates better Christ like abilities.
In the warnings we find many attributes, but things out of order as well, which means they are unequal, we know being unequal is Iniquity. The cure was to become equal. They “suffered” (to allow, let alone) Jezebel, who called herself a prophetess, but then we read, “to teach and seduce My servants”. Here it’s not idols, but false teachings, by someone who is self-promoted. Jezebel never called herself a prophetess of God, but the context points to the self-appointed. This church never challenged the self-appointed, they allowed, which means they knew something was not right.
Jezebel was a queen who married into the nation seems to point metaphorically to the Wicked, her “space to repent” is the Day (vs. 21). However, if they do not, they will enter the Great Tribulation, or go into the Night, meaning her children will die the second death (vs. 23). The phase, “give unto every man according to their works” refers to the Judgment thus Jezebel lacks Mercy, she was the one who sent the note to Elijah, with the treat of death.
The word End in verse 26 doesn’t mean the End of the world, rather it’s the Greek Telos meaning A particular limit, or A point where previous activities end. It was used in Hebrews 7:3 to show the end of the Law of Moses, as it relates to the Beginning of the Law of the Spirit, pointing to a time when certain events come to a close, allowing other events to open.
To the rest who have not fallen for the words of Jezebel, or have fallen victim, yet know what is happened is wrong, they are to hold fast until Jesus comes. The word “works” in verse 26 again points to Ways, they shall have power over the nations, it doesn’t mean they will be kings over people, it shows the nations of the world have no authority over them, they will receive Life. This is confirmed by the Greek word Exousia meaning Authority, showing the nations do not have authority over them, they can repent. The phrase Broken to shivers in verse 27 is the Greek Suntomos meaning To crush completely, thus the nations shall be broken as vessels, showing the nations connected to the vessels of dishonor (vs. 27).
The Morning Star is Jesus in fullness, Jesus calls Himself the Bright and Morning Star in Revelation 22:16. In this case we find the phrase “He who has an ear” (vs. 29), again the reward is to the overcomer. This goes back to Jesus speaking as the Son of God, which shows He is speaking to those who have the Spirit, yet they will receive the Morning Star? Ahh, like the Corinthians, they had the Spirit, but were not Spiritual. This explains the power over the nations means they will receive their reward, as they are separated from the nations at the Judgment.
Up to this point certain things become evident, if the same John who wrote I, II and III John wrote this, why don’t we find the title “antichrist”? If the gates of hell are not to prevail against the Church, why does it appear as if they have? We didn’t find the title “antichrist” but we found those who teach the Doctrines of Balaam, Jezebel, as well as the Nicolaitanes, plus the synagogue of Satan. Those are all elements of being antichrist, in this Season. The gates of hell shall not prevail against the Church, there was nothing said about the Rock, in fact the Rock will be broken as a result of the gates of hell. We can’t confuse the Rock as the Church, but we can be of the Rock and Church.
Rev 3:1-6.
The Fifth church is the only one church, really here is the only place in the Book of Revelation where we see Jesus confessing anyone to the Father, thus this church gives us information regarding the Rapture. The separation is about to take place, some of the clues are in the wording to the Fifth and Sixth churches, the Sixth church is promised the Temple, yet later we find there is no Temple in heaven, rather the Tabernacle is in heaven. The Fifth church is promised White Robes, at the breaking of the Fifth Seal those under the altar of God are given White Robes. The manner in which Jesus speaks to the first Five churches is much different from the manner in which He speaks to the Sixth and Seventh churches. If these premises are true, there must be other evidence within the Book of Revelation to support the concept.
Not withstanding the only place we find Jesus confessing anyone before the Father is with the Fifth church (v. 5), we also see Few will walk with Him in white, yet at the breaking of the Fifth Seal we find the Souls under the altar of God given White Robes just before the breaking of the Sixth Seal (vs. 6:11-12). The seven angels are not sent until the breaking of the Seventh Seal, thus each Seal correlates to a church, the first four seals were broken at the same time, with the other seals breaking thereafter, with the Fifth Seal marking a change as the Sixth Seal is broken at the same time as the Fifth showing the change taking place.
There are two groups in heaven, the Ten thousand times ten thousand is an increase, but thousands from thousands points to 12,000 from each tribe, or the 144,000. These two groups are represented before the Throne by the twenty-four elders, twelve for the Day, twelve for the Night. This Fifth church will see the end of one Season, having a promise in hand.
Verse 1 says “we have a name”, it’s not saying we are known by The Name, this Name says we have Life or we Live, yet we are Dead, thus this refers to having Life, but being Dead, giving us the Dead in Christ. The Greek word for Dead is Nekros meaning “breathed his last”, it’s the same word used in the phrase, “Dead in Christ”. This is not a bad “death”, it’s good, this church is at the very last of the Season, they shall see the End, but as a matter of growth they have entered the place to be caught up. They are not only covered by the Name (authority), they have it. The word Livest (live) is the Greek Zao which is not used often, it pertains to one’s existence, or the manner of one’s life. The Greek wording for “you have” is Echo implying continued possession, or Something given which is suppose to remain until a certain time, giving us a time period, the Name was given back in Matthew 28:18-20, it remains in full force and effect until the Season ends.
Further evidence is how this group is to be Watchful, or Watch as they continue to Strengthen the things which remain. They were not to decrease, rather they were to gain Strength (vs. 2). The word for Strength in reference to the Sixth church is the Greek Dunamoo meaning A power given to enable one to do something, but the Strength we have is the Greek Endunamoo meaning A Greater Strength from within, thus Endunamoo is a product of the New Birth, whereas Dunamoo is a product of being able to bring the knowledge of God. The decreasing will not come until the Rock is broken, as the Rapture takes place. However, as close to perfect as they should be, there was something amiss. The word Watchful in verse 2 is the Greek Grapho pertaining to receiving a specific writing, this Greek word goes further than merely hearing the writing, it goes to receiving it. We can’t receive it if we keep changing it. Time passed on, they needed to Receive the writings, not question them, doubt them, or fail to believe them. The word Strengthen in verse 2 is the Greek Sterizo meaning To stand, as When you have done all to stand, stand therefore. However, we also find the opposite of the premise, when you have done all to come against the brethren, write a book about them, the latter is death.
If they are Dead, why are there things “ready to die”? (vs. 2). The word Die in the phrase “Ready to die” is the Greek Apothnesko meaning To die off, it was used in reference to the concept of dying to sin, thus it does connect, there were some things needing to die off in order for us to truly be the Dead in Christ, relating to a process.
The correction is to Repent, then Remember how we Received, the Greek word for Received in verse 3 is Lambano. We take Communion to Remember, coupled with the Writings shows how easy it is to slip into unbelief. Usually we would read how we Heard, then Received, but this is different, we Received then Heard, showing we must continue to believe. The Holy Ghost teaches by comparing spiritual to spiritual, here we find the spotted garment is still flesh, still trusting in the natural intellect of man. There are many who use the “words of scholars” to test the Bible, rather than use the Bible to test the words of the scholars. The warning is simple enough, we repent as we Watch, we must be ready, at any moment the Rapture could come faster than the speed of sound. If not, Jesus will come as thief in the Night, meaning if they fail to repent, watch and remember they will either go into the Night, or sleep in Jesus.
The word Hold in verse 3 is the Greek Tereo meaning To watch as a watchman, it was used in Revelation 1:3 in reference to Keeping the things which are written in the Book of Revelation, showing John was acting as a Watchman when he heard the Voice behind him. The word Fast is the Greek Gregoreud meaning To refrain from sleep, it goes to the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus told Peter “Watch and pray, so you enter not into temptation” (Matt 26:41). This church is given the same warning, Watch and Pray so they don’t miss the Rapture, finding themselves in a time of Peace and Safety believing a Lie, yet ending with Destruction (Perdition).
Verse 4 shows Few, but the word Few is only relative to the overall number from which the Few came. If the Few are compared to all who entered the Body from the Cross until the Rapture, then it would total ten thousand times ten thousand. The wording “have not” is the Aorist tense, which means a simple undefined action, in this case it means they have allowed it to happen. The word defiled is the Greek Moluno meaning, it was only used three times, it means one who has not kept themselves pure, after being pure, connecting to believing after they believed. Isaiah tells us, “all you beasts of the field, come to devour, yea, all you beasts in the forest. His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, they are shepherds who cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter” (Isa 56:9-12). Some things need to die, yet those who have washed their robes in the Blood of the Lamb, shall walk with Jesus in white. This is another clue, when the Season changes we find the saints in heaven with their white robes, at the same time the 144,000 are marked on earth (Rev 6:11-12 & 7:9-10). This is the connection of the confession before the Father, this group are equal, they didn’t deny the Father’s Mercy, or the Son’s Grace (I Jn 2:23-24). The word Before in the phrase “before the Father” is the Greek Enopion meaning In the very presence, or face to face in order to bring us face to face, it’s the Confession of Jesus translated into the sound of the Last Trump (v. 4:1).
The word Garments (vs. 4), as well as the words Raiment and Robes come from the Greek word Himation which includes the inner garment as well as the outer; however, it has nothing to do with secret undergarments. It goes to the concept of the soul, mind and heart. Wearing a “white shirt” doesn’t mean we have the Robe of Christ, having the New Man does.
Again, like with Thyatira, we find the phrase, “He who has an ear”. This links back to Thyatira, this group moved from having the Spirit, to being Spiritual.
He who overcomes will walk with Jesus in white, showing they will be partakers of the First Resurrection (Rev 7:9-10). The most interesting phrase is “I will not blot out his name out of the book of life” (vs. 5). Surely if it was not possible, why even mention it? If we need incentive, there it is. However, one must know it’s harder to fail in the Kingdom, then win. Therefore, those who fear the exposure have to work at avoiding it, just as the workers of iniquity have to work at their iniquity. If we hold fast, watch, pray, face the exposures with the excitement of the Spirit bringing us into perfection, we will make it.
The word Overcome is also used in First John 5:4, it’s translated as Overcome, Victory or Conquer, giving us a clue to the First Horseman (v. 6:2). We look at the word Bow as a Bow and Arrow, but it’s not the meaning of the word “Bow” used in reference to the First Horseman, rather it means An instrument to plant seed, this Horse is Like unto the one Jesus is on, it’s not a counterfeit, rather it’s the same. The verse doesn’t say, “Like unto a white horse”, it says it is a White Horse. The devil goes about As a roaring lion, thus a counterfeit is Like unto something, it’s not the case with this White Horse, it is clearly a White Horse.
Jesus returns with the Clouds formed of the Witnesses, the Ones in White, thus the First Horse relates to the Saints, the Body of Christ who also hold the New Testament, making the First Horseman the Holy Ghost who goes about planting the Seed as He gives Victory to the Victors. This Horseman and Horse run until the Fifth Seal is broken, then He who now lets takes us out of here, opening the time for the Sixth church. “Wait, isn’t this horse a beast?”, no the beasts in heaven show John what is going on, thus we will see these four horses go back to our Season pointing to the phrase, “wars, rumors of wars, famine and pestilence, but it’s not the end”.
Later we will see there will be a great earthquake to mark the opening of the Night, at the closing of the Day, this would be the point where the earthquake takes place. The next church starts a new thing, one none of us what to experience. The Night is for the Night, the Day for the Day, thus there is the Greater Light for Salvation, the Lesser Light for the Night, the Greater Light is ten thousand times ten thousand, the Lesser is thousands from thousands.
Rev 3:7-13.
The actual city of Philadelphia was built in a dangerous volcanic area just southeast of Sardis, it was completely destroyed by an earthquake in 17 AD, this Sixth church with its historical background points to the Time of Doors, as well as the Earthquake opening the Night. This is not the last Earthquake turning the earth inside out, this earthquake changes many things, bringing the earth back as it was in the days of Noah. The Sixth church is the 144,000, as the Remnant who finish the course, they are part of our brethren in the world, the protected ones who will join New Jerusalem at the end.
This church needs Bridesmaids, the 144,000 make us our Bridesmaids, yet if we come against our own Bridesmaids, or if we think we are our own Bridesmaids we err. The word Philadelphia means brotherly love, not AgapeAgape will be taken with the Rapture. This church has neither Agape or Grace, but they will operate in Mercy. When the devil is bound the entire world will receive “forgiveness of sins”, but it’s connected to, “sin no more”, it’s the key to why the Wrath of God falls on the entire earth, the seventh church becomes lukewarm, allowing the false prophet a position in the religious order of Israel. love, this shows the ability to
It’s difficult for us to see “go and sin no more” on one hand with “remission of sin” on the other. They simply do not mean the same, yet both are used in the New Testament. When the Rapture comes the sins of man will be forgiven, evidenced by the devil and Satan being bound for the 1,000 years, yet the heart of man is wicked above all things who can know it? The Wicked surface while the devil and Satan are bound, they come with all the working of Satan, causing the Woman to enter an adulterous affair with the Beast of the Sea, which causes the devil to be loosed. The devil will not be “bound” until the fifth seal, which is the end of the fifth church, then he will be loosed by the fifth angel to open “Jacob’s Trouble”, the end of the end. All this shows how the devil will be bound, or “cast out of the house”, yet when the devil is loosed he finds the “house” garnished.
This atonement is like a “little strength”, because it’s dependent on “go and sin no more”, which is connected to Mercy, not Grace. This church will do the Commandments of God, as they keep the meaning of the Name of Jesus as it relates to Mercy. As long as they sit on the mountains of the world in Mercy, the Time of Comfort continues, but if they sit on the mountains of the world lacking Mercy, the end comes.
The time will be Peace and Safety, it will be as the days of Noah, it will appear as “heaven on earth”, but none of those on the earth at the time have the slightest idea what heaven is like. The Wicked will presume whatever they do is condoned of God, the same error they make now. They will use witchcraft or tricks causing the Woman to sin with the same Beast She has tamed. The Woman will think Her wealth is the product of Her own hand, as She becomes lukewarm. However, before Jacob’s trouble the time of the Sixth church must take place.
Jesus is referred to as “He who is Holy and True”, this moves us to the opening of the Fifth Seal, which is the closing of the Fifth church (v. 6:10). The reference draws a picture of time; when the Dead in Christ join those under the altar of God they say, “Holy and True”, then the Door to the House of David is opened after the Door into heaven for the Raptured Church is closed, giving us the Time of Doors (plural).
The Key to David is the Key to the House of David, no man can open or close the Door or House, except Jesus, why then do we assume we can usher in the Kingdom? We should be ready to be ushered out, not waiting for something we already have to be ushered in. The warning to the Fifth church points right to this area, watch and pray to be ready to go. Take it to the other Door Jesus will talk about in a few verses; this door Jesus will not open, we must, yet here we find no man can open or close the House of David. There are Doors, not simply the time of Door.
This is the time Isaiah talked about, the Lord will put His hand a Second Time to recover the remnant of Israel; all Israel will be saved; however, not all who call themselves Israel are of Israel (Isa 11:11 & Rom 11:26). The Lord will have Mercy on Jacob, but the purpose is to save Israel (Isa 14:1). In the day the House of David shall be opened (Zech 13:1). The Lord will remove the idols out of the land (Zech 13:2), those run by the spirit of antichrist will no longer have Christ to come against, they will begin by worshipping at Jerusalem of the earth, at the feet of the Sixth church, but they will also hold idols in the mind. The same evil competition to dominate invades, they claim to be prophets, in a time when the only prophets are written in the Prophets.
During the Laodicea era they will raise up as the Second Beast out of the Earth, they remained Earthly, Sensual and Devilish, the Beast who was (our Season) is not (during the Time of Comfort), but will be (opens Jacob’s trouble). The House of the Lord will be established on the mountains (nations – Isa 2:2, Hosea 7:1 & Micah 4:1).
We see it’s the Sixth church opening the Restoration of Israel, the Time of Comfort, but at the Time we will be with the Lord in heaven. The Sixth church is the Lesser Light, their purpose is not to spread Salvation, but establish the foundation for the Judgment. They will give the Knowledge, all the people will be forgiven of their sins on earth by Mercy they grant, meaning there will be no other religious groups. Then the Seventh church with the help of the False Ones, the Wicked children who are the Tares and Bad Fish causing the Woman to be polluted. The Woman receives the children of Jezebel, She then compromises with the Beast of the Sea, then She is found in the bed of adultery, talking about Jehovah, but holding Her wicked lovers, closing the Time of Comfort by opening Jacob’s Trouble.
Some confuse the Three Trumps of the Lord with the Seven Trumps of the angels, the last angel will blow the Great Trump, but the first two Trumps, known as the First and Last are not the Great, none of the six angels blow the First or Last. The First Trump was sounded when God wanted to be among His people, the Sound stopped when the Holy Ghost brought the Seed on the Day of Pentecost as a Rushing mighty Wind (Ex 19:11-16 & Acts 2:1-2). The Last Trump is the last of the two, it opens the Jewish New Year, the Day of Restoration, thus Paul said we go (Raptured) on the Last Trump, not the Great Trump (I Cor 15:52). The Great Trump will be blown in Zion when the people rush on the city to destroy it (Joel 2:1 & Isa 27:13).
To the Jew the Last Trump opens up the Jewish New Year bringing in the Messianic Age of Mercy, a time when all sins are forgiven, as they reign over the world from Jerusalem. According to Agenda at the time the devil will be removed, as Israel will rule the world as the good king in the Kingdom. The Resurrection to the Jew is T’chiat Ha-metim, coming with a great movement of the land. They also think there will be a Resurrection, but we see it as the finish of the First Resurrection. All this shows the earthquake bringing the Rapture will be misunderstood, they will assume the Wrath of God has passed, then comes the great lie of, “we can’t sin, the wrath has passed”. However, we know the prophet said a child shall die at a 100, but a man shall die in his sins (Isa 65:20).
With the introduction of the disillusion, we can see when the plagues are poured out the people will assume it’s the fault of their supposed covering, being run by the spirit of man they will assume if they can kill all those who preach the Everlasting Gospel they will stop the plagues, but in truth, they will bring about the sudden destruction. Whether it’s this season or the next, the Wicked still lack a fear of God.
At the Great Trump the Darkness will spread on the mountains, the word Spread is the same root word used for Lucifer. The fifth angel opens the pit causing the darkness to fall on the House of Jacob (Sun), but the people cause it as they blaspheme God before the devil is loosed (vs. 9:1, 14:17, 16:10, Isa 14:14 & Joel 2:2). Truly it begins with Peace and Safety, all weapons are beat into tools of planting (Micah 4:3), but they end beating the tools into weapons (Joel 3:10).
It will be as it was in the days of Noah, not the days of Adam, yet the planet will be as the Garden. In the days of Noah, there was no sickness, war, government need, disease, famine, bad water, weapons of mass destruction, but there was violence (unrighteousness) toward God (Gen 6:11). In the days of Noah they assumed God would not destroy the people or the earth, they mocked Noah through their self-deception. The people didn’t fear destruction so they were given in marriage, assuming they had a future.
There are two aspects one must consider, first in the days of Noah there were no Christ like people, it was a time of darkness, not Light: second when Jesus ascended the Spirit had not yet been given, as Jesus left, so shall He come, showing when He returns the Spirit will not on the earth. These two aspects keep the events in line, showing why there is silence in heaven during the last half of the Hour, and why some assume they can be saved in the last half, when in fact no one will enter Salvation after the Rapture, the Day of Salvation will end, as the Night of Judgment begins. The Jewish sabbath begins at Night, not the Day, but Jesus said work while it is yet Day, for the Night comes when no man can work. We recall from history the Jews didn’t fight at night, neither did they work during the Night. This may not seem like a big deal, but God divided the Day from the Night, not the Night from the Day. We are of the Day, we are not of the Night, or the Darkness, thus we find three areas, Day, Night and Darkness, the Darkness was talked about in First John, the Night is when those of the Day take their Sabbath (rest) with the Lord, the work of Salvation stops, the work of Judgment begins.
Verse 10 points to the entire world as those who dwell on the earth, thus the Hour of Temptation is on the world, but the trying is only in the Earth, showing the Trying will be on the synagogue of Satan, will they remain at the feet of the Sixth church, or attempt the biggest takeover of all time?
Even today many look at the time for the Sixth church (Time of Comfort) assuming it’s so great, so nice, so much to have, yet we are told it’s a delusion ending in destruction. The works of this church are different from the prior churches (Mal 3:10-12). The concept of Jesus returning so people can see “the light”, then receive Him leaves much to be desired. Where is faith? Or Belief in Jesus? Blessed is he who believes who has not seen. The assumption is removed by the language Jesus uses with the Sixth church, since it’s completely third person removed, they will look for Jehovah, they will not see Jesus until it’s appointed unto all men to die once, then every eye will see Him.
The reference to a Little Strength is found in Daniel 11:34, as Helped with a little help, this explains another reason for the devil being bound. The devil isn’t bound now, the reason is there are Christians on the earth, the Spirit of Christ reigns, whether we know it or not, thus anyone who enters the kingdom of heaven has power over devils, thus as long as there is one Christian on the this earth, the devil is bound under darkness. However, when the Spirit is taken then the devil must be bound to prove the point, man’s heart is evil above all things, who can know it? The 144,000 saints will be overcome, but not until the very end of the Time of Comfort.
This gives us the Menorah, the Menorah has the seven bowls, the arms holding the bowls move from the center stem to the top, the longer arms are on the bottom, with the second row upward being slightly smaller, with the smallest holding the top two arms. if we take five from the top or one side, it will fall. If we take the bowl from the top with the lower four, the Menorah will still stand with two bowls opposed on opposite sides. However, if we place the Two Witnesses on either side of the two bowls, they will keep them upright, but if the people remove the Two Witnesses, the light will fall. We see Jesus in the Midst, the last two churches see the Two Witnesses as their support, thus the Two Witnesses are assigned to the last two candlesticks, they are not assigned to all seven (Rev 11:4). The Two Witnesses are not the two candlesticks, they are next to them (Zech 12:12-14). Just as Jesus is not the candlestick, He is seen in the Midst of it.
The Two Witnesses call for repentance, they will provide the opening of the Time of Comfort to bring about, “If you will return, O Israel, saith the Lord, return unto Me: and if you will put away your abominations out of My sight, then Shall you not remove (be removed)” (Jere 4:1). This is after the bill of divorce (Jere 3:8), in the Bill of Divorce is found the wicked sister of Israel, named Judah, yet Jesus is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. To assume God is done with Israel, also assumes Jesus is the lion of the wicked sister, not hardly. The Remnant are of the Seed of the Woman, not the seed of God, thus they have a connection to the City on the earth, but we have a connection to the heavenly City.
This church Keeps the Word of Patience, but it’s not the same as the Witness, or Faith, rather it refers to them continuing the course, they will not run to idols, they will stand. They will have the Testimony of Jesus (Jn 5:39); therefore, they will keep the Commandments of God, as Paul said, “for they are not all Israel, which are of Israel”, with “they are all children; but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. They which are children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the Promise are counted for the seed” (Rom 9:1-8). This church is the House of David, not the Son of David. We are the Firstfruits of the Spirit, they are the Firstfruits Unto God (v. 14:4).
The phrase “Has not denied His name” is different from “Not denying His Name Sake”, and different from “has not denied His Faith”. To the Jew His name is Jehovah pertaining to Mercy and doing Justice by caring for the people as Psalm 82 dictates (v. 3:8-10).
The synagogue of Satan is the same group noted prior indicating they entered the Night as Paul says, The enter as the rocks, they will still worship at the feet of the Sixth church. However, the Sixth church will be the recipient of the Blessing being poured out of the windows, Jerusalem will the only place where the knowledge of the Lord will go forth. As long as the synagogue of Satan is cared for, they will remain dormant, but when they see an opening they raise up out of the Earth as the Eighth (II Tim 3:4-5).
The synagogue of Satan are the drunken who go into the Night, thus the Body is divided into three groups, those who are Dead in Christ, those who will Sleep in Jesus, and the drunken who go into the Night (II Thess 4:13-5:8). The division shows those who Sleep will Sleep through the Night, but the Dead in Christ are raised before the 1,000 years of the Night begin (Rev 20:6). However, the Dead in Christ will not rob those who Sleep of their reward, each to their own. Neither the Dead in Christ or those who Sleep are the Drunken, it’s the Drunken who become the Beast of the Earth.
The word Loved in 3:9 is Agapao, but it doesn’t mean they held Agape, Agapao is a love based in a joy of some type, the Joy can be based in either a good or evil. God so loved (Agapao) the world, but there were those in the world who Agapao the darkness. Therefore one doesn’t have to have to Spirit in order to Agapao, but they do in order to Agape.
This church will see the saying, “The meek shall inherit the earth”, come to pass in reference to the physical earth. Whether the promise remains or not, is up to the Seventh church, we already know the end of the story before they play it out.
The phrase “Behold I Come Quickly”, takes us to verse 22:12, but prior, we find another “Behold, I come quickly” (v. 22:7). We are given two areas of “Coming Quickly”, the first is for the Blessed who keep the sayings of the Prophecy, the second is when Jesus comes as a Thief in the Night at the Judgment. The First is the Rapture for those who ceased from their works, the second is when Jesus comes to earth to finish the Day of the Lord.
The reference to the Crown in verse 3:11 is the Crown of Victory, this doesn’t say they have it, rather it’s promised. The Crown is the same one found as the Crown of Life in verse 2:10, Paul called it the Crown of Righteousness (II Tim 4:8), the Crown of Rejoicing (I Thess 2:19), Peter called it the Crown of Glory (I Pet 5:4), James called it the Crown of Life (James 1:12), the reference is the promised Crown we have, but promised to the remnant as well, they receive theirs in the end.
Verse 12 goes back to the Remnant, showing the separation between Jehovah the Mediator and the Father (Job 1:9). In Job we saw Satan came to the face of Jehovah, then at the time of the Cross something else happened casting the devil to the earth, then the Time of Comfort binds the devil for the 1,000 years, then he is loosed with all the works of hell, there is a vast difference between the experience of Job, and the experiences we face, as well as the experiences yet to come.
When we find Jesus talking to this church, and the Seventh, He speaks as if He is speaking through something about Himself, thus showing the Two Witnesses who are the Law and Prophets, who are anointed in and of themselves. The Two Witnesses of the Law and Prophets speak of Jesus through the Testimony they have, we speak of Jesus through the Witness of the Water, Blood and Spirit in us. Confusion in these verses comes when we forget Jesus is speaking to a Jewish group as the Son of man, or Jehovah, the many references to “My God”, go back to just before the Sacrifice was given when Jesus told Mary “I ascend unto My Father, and your Father, and to My God, and your God”. This changed when the Sacrifice was given, thus we see the reference “as a Lamb slain and raised”, the Remnant see Him as “Root of David”, which is a reference to the Son of man, or Mercy. The “Lamb slain” is a metaphor showing the Sacrifice presented, but it doesn’t mean accepted, thus we find the Lamb of God came to take away the sins of the world, when we receive the Lamb, He becomes the Logos in us forming us into sons of God (James 1:21 et al).
At the end they shall look upon Him they have pierced asking, Where did you get those marks in Your hands, and He will say, In the house of My friends, and the House is the House of David before our Season (Zech 13:6), then they will call on the Name of the Lord. If Jesus is on the earth, it would seem a stupid question at best, but if Jesus is not on the earth, and the Spirit is not on the earth to bring the Wisdom of the Lord, then it would make sense.
Later we will see the Everlasting Gospel which speaks of Judgment, not Salvation. No where in the Everlasting Gospel do we find Grace, the Cross, the Resurrection or the Name of Jesus (v. 14:6-7). So why call it Everlasting? Ahh, the Gospel of Peace goes in the Rapture, it’s not Everlasting, but for a Season. The Everlasting Gospel is for those who don’t have the Gospel of Peace.
New Jerusalem is not a physical city, but the Bride (v. 21:9-10). The wall has gates, the gates are the Remnant, but the wall must be built before the gates are established (v. 21:12-14). This separation of the Wall and Gates gives us two groups, when we mix them together in the same Season we end seeking something not appointed to us, causing us to rejecting our Promise, the very warning by Jesus in Acts 1:6-8. Here Jesus is promising them the Gates, but the Gates cannot be established until the Wall is complete. We as the Bride, or New Jerusalem return to receive the Remnant at the Judgment. It all fits.
Prior Jesus said He would write the name of God on them, here He says He will write His Name, thus the separation between Jehovah the promise of salvation yet to come and Jesus as Jehovah’s Salvation in hand is the difference between the names, yet it’s One Name. Salvation will be stayed after the Rapture, the first use shows Jehovah of Judgment, the second for those who hear Come up hither after the judgment. Jehovah is the Authority to wait for salvation, Jesus is the Authority to exercise Salvation. We found the Mark of God is the Joy of the Lord, making it different from the Seal of the Spirit.
We also find a reference to the Temple and Pillar (not Pillars – v. 3:12). The word for Pillar is the Greek Stulos, meaning One standing by itself. This group will end standing by itself, they will not have the Spirit, but they will have a faith like unto the saints of old. This word was also used in reference to leaders in the Church as Pillars (not Pillar), thus the Pillars are like unto the Stars, the Pillar like unto the Sand. Later John measures the Temple with a rod of iron, but when he measures the Tabernacle he uses A Golden Reed (vs. 11:1 & 21:15).
Again the phrase, “He who has an ear” comes after the reward, dividing it from the one prior, and the one to come.
Rev 3:14-18.
This is to the Laodiceans, not the church at Laodicea, thus this is the only one of the seven where the people are found in a place they should not be. The actual city of Laodicea was located about 40 miles southeast of Philadelphia, and 100 miles east of Ephesus, bringing this to a full circle; the beginning and ending; Laodicea was known as The Banking Center of the area, with a famous medical school, but today the city is in complete ruins. However, it was a place of material wealth, where the people lived in peace and safety, they appeared blessed from all the intellectual centers, until it was destroyed.
Just before the very end God calls out “Come out of Her, My people, so you be not partakers of Her sins, that you receive not of Her plagues (v. 18:4). This is not a call to Salvation, but deliverance, since the Her is the City, this is a call to leave the City. By then it will be controlled by the Synagogue of Satan who invade the Sixth church changing events from Peace and Safety to Sudden Destruction.
Jesus begins by saying He is the Amen, thus this points to the finish of the Seven. The phrase Faithful and True Witness, takes us to “and I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse: and He who sat upon him was called Faithful and True, in Righteousness He does Judge and make war”. This points to the Day of Judgment, the end of time as man knows it, thus this Seventh church will be among those who are appointed once to die, then comes the Judgment (v. 19:11). Paul said, if we judge ourselves, we shall not be judged (I Cor 11:31); therefore, the table of the Lord is the judgment seat of the Lord for the Christian. However, we do not judge ourselves by the tares, or natural conclusions, only producing frustrations, rather we five ourselves by the Spirit to the potential in us.
The phrase The beginning of the Creation of God, doesn’t mean Jesus is created, rather we find the Greek word Arche for Beginning (principality), showing Jesus is the Originator or Cause of creation, defining Beginning and Ending. The creation account was based on the Night, the works are done, this reference points to the premise. Jesus has the Cup to bring about the End, which is explained when the phrase Beginning and Endings changes to Beginning and End (v. 22:13). The word Endings is plural, referring to endings of times, but the word End refers to the End of all Endings. We are given these two phrases to show an End to one Age, to open another Age, which brings the End to all Ages.
This church assumes the Blessing is a result of their well doing, as they equate the material blessing in hand as proof they have not sinned again. They assume the wealth is a product of their hand, yet in the Law (one of the Two Witnesses) it says, “When you are in Tribulation, and all these things are come upon you, even in the Latter Days, If you turn to the Lord your God, and shall be Obedient unto His Voice; (for the Lord your God is a merciful God;) He will not forsake you, neither destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which He swore unto them” (Deut 4:30-31), and “And you say in your heart, My power and the might of my hand has gotten me this wealth. But you shall remember the Lord your God; for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, so He may establish His covenant which He swore unto your fathers, as it is this day” (Deut 8:16-18). Here we find the Little Strength began as Mercy, but as the Windows of heaven opened the next generation assumed the material in hand was their holiness. The Purpose is to complete the covenant made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, what they do with it determines the result.
This brings an interesting question, the prophets say there would be an end to the earth, yet the world is without end (Isa 42:10 & 45:17). Peter said the earth would melt with a fervent heat (II Pet 3:10), indicating the world and the earth are different. The earth is the physical element, the world pertains to those within the system run by the spirit of disobedience (unbelief). Peter’s description shows the physical earth turning inside out to become the burning lake of fire, yet the world or evil on the earth will continue forever. Therefore, before the judgment the devil, beast and false prophet are already seen in the burning lake of fire, showing It’s appointed unto all men once to die then comes the Judgment. It also shows why every knee will bow, they suffer for a short time in the Lake until Jesus steps on the earth again, thus they will bow and confess Jesus as the Lord, but for many they will not hear “Come up Hither”, rather they will hear, “I never knew you, depart from Me, you who work iniquity”.
This also shows why Every Eye will see Him, those who pierced Him, with those who wail because of Him, unless they are among those who Sleep. They are in the lake of fire when Jesus returns, then the Sea gives up her dead (v. 20:10-15); therefore, the prophets see the end of the earth as like unto Sodom, but without end, thus the New means New in purpose (Amos 4:11 & v. 11:8). We can understand the various places giving up their dead, the Sea (Gentile world), Death (those who sleep in Jesus), and Hell (those who rejected Jesus).
With all this we find the Laodiceans are found in the wrong place, with the wrong attitude, yet they have the blessing in hand. The Laodiceans have works, but so did Jezebel. The prophet says, “but you have borne the tabernacle of Moloch and Chiun as your images, the star of your god, which you made to yourselves” (Amos 5:26). The use of the word Tabernacle shows their illusion of Salvation being based in their use of idols and images, yet it was the time of Judgment; therefore, they said Look here is Christ, or Look there is Christ, but they were pointing to the Image of Jealousy. How can they make a star? They don’t, they traded their promised position of becoming a Star for the star of idols, causing their Star to fall from the heavens as wormwood.
The Laodiceans are the example of self-deception, they think one thing, but God sees another, their deception came when they received the deception of the Eighth. During our season they came as a roaring lion, full of words of Judgment, in the next they proclaim Salvation, attempting to crucify the Son of God, which is impossible. Jesus went to the Cross as the Son of man, not the Son of God.
Zephaniah says the people will worship the host of heaven on the housetops; then worship the Lord in the temple (Zeph 1:5). Jesus said, “Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house” (Matt 24:17). They equated material wealth with holiness, assuming they could worship God and idols. Lukewarm is holding the name of God in one hand, with the world in the other. It in no way means prosperity is evil, since God gave, but it shows the nature of the person receiving can make the blessing a blessing, or turn the blessing into evil (Jude 4). The wealth is also seen connected to the Woman, as the center of all the world’s wealth (vs. 18:10-14).
In verse 16 we find Jesus will spew (spue KJV) them out of His mouth, the same mouth where the Sword comes from. The word Spew is the Greek Emeo it’s only used here, although it’s of unknown origin, the trace shows it means Vomit, or the cleaning of ones nose.
Naked is a direct reference to the Woman, the Lord says to the Remnant, “Plead with your mother, plead: for she is not My wife, neither am I her husband: let her therefore put away her whoredoms out of her sight, and her adulteries from between her breasts; lest I strip her naked” (Hosea 2:2-3).
The Remnant are the Seed of the Woman, which Seed was seen at the fall when God said, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed” (Gen 3:15). Here we find two elements, the Woman, not women, and Her Seed, not God’s Seed, the purpose is, “it shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel” (Gen 3:15). Notice the change in gender, first it’s “it shall bruise”, then “He shall bruise”, the “It” refers to the Seed of the Woman, or the Remnant who are noted as “the Remnant of Her Seed”, or what remains (v. 12:17). Then we find “you shall bruise His heel”, clearly this is Judgment, not Salvation. So, if the Woman falls to the Wicked, they the prophecy didn’t come to pass. Wrong, the prophecy was not the Woman, but the Seed of the Woman. The Woman will fall, but not the Seed, as the Remnant of they will be overcome, yet win in the end, the prophecy will come to pass.
The wording Eye Salve is the Greek word Kollourion meaning a Coarse bread or Cake, it’s only used here, meaning to scrub with a hardness to remove the scales of deception. This is not a “cream” or “balm”, this is a very coarse bread then using it as a type of sandpaper, indicating the deception is like hard scales blinding them completely.
Correction doesn’t come because Jesus is mad, it’s because He Phileos those he chasens and rebukes. If they repent, and correct the error, they will find the Agape love of God in the Joy of their Salvation; the Peace passing understanding, the Fellowship with the Father, the enjoyment of being able to praise the Lord our God.
Rev 3:19-22.
These Door is different, the Door to David no man could open, clearly here Jesus is telling us to open this one. This is not for the Laodiceans, this is for us. The hearing pertains to those who Hear the words of this prophecy, meaning us. This is the place to Remember all Jesus has done for us. Being in the Body is a gift, our measure of faith is a gift, being able to love the Lord is a gift. Here Jesus won’t open the Door, rather we find His Knock is His Voice, if we let Him in, He will sup with us at the Table. The word Sup means To Break Bread, or sit at the same table, thus it’s a form of Communion, the place of Remembering.
Verse 21 is our promise, combining all the promises to the overcomers pointing to the Hope ahead, to be with Jesus in the Throne as His Bride.
One might forget all the warnings, or rewards, following are a series of charts that may help. The following chart shows the seven churches, and closes this part of the Vision.
CHART – THE SEVEN CHURCHES
Ephesus – Attributes: Works, labor, patience, cannot bear the false, has borne, has not fainted, hates the deeds of the Nicolaitanes.
Ephesus – Faults: Left first love.
Smyrna – Attributes:Works, tribulation
Smyrna – Faults: Will suffer, but this is not against them.
Pergamos – Attributes: Works, holds fast His Name, has not denied the Faith, evan in the time of martydom.
Pergamos – Faults: Holds the doctrine of Balaam, and the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes.
Thyatira – Attributes: Works, love (agape), service, faith, patience, last works.
Thyatira – Faults: Some have allowed Jezebel to teach & seduce.
Sardis – Attributes: Works
Sardis – Faults: Some have defiled garments
Philadelphia – Attributes: Works, kept the Word of patience.
Philadelphia – Faults: has a little strength.
Laodiceans: Faults: Lukewarm, self-based, self-deceived.
CHART – THE JUDGMENT ON THE CHURCHES:
Ephesus – Left their first love
Smyrna – Nothing
Pergamos – Held the doctrine of Balaam Held the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes
Thyatira – Allowed Jezebel to teach and seduce
Sardis – Some defiled their garments
Philadelphia – Nothing
Laodicea – Lukewarm
CHART SHOWING DESCRIPTION TO LAST TWO CHURCHES
Description of Jehovah to the Jew, given to the last churches:
Philadelphia:
(1) Holy.
(2) True.
(3) Has the Key to the House of David.
Laodiceans:
(4) Amen.
(5) Faithful witness.
(6) True Witness.
(7) Beginning of the creation of God.
CHART – DESCRIPTION OF JESUS TO THE CHURCHES
Ephesus:
(1) Holds the Seven Stars in His right hand.
(2) Walks among the Seven golden candlesticks.
Smyrna:
(3) Which was dead and is alive.
Pergamos:
(4) Has the Sharp Two-edged Sword.
Thyatira:
(5) Son of God.
(6) Eyes Like unto a flame of fire.
(7) Feet as brass.
Sardis:
(8) Has the Seven Spirits of God.
(9) Has the Seven Stars.
This ends the description noted in Revelation 1:12-16.
CHART – REWARDS TO THE OVERCOMERS
1) Eat of the Tree of Life in Paradise.
2) Crown of Life
3) Not hurt by Second Death.
4) Eat the hidden Manna, White Stone.
5) Power over the Nations, rule with rod of Iron.
6) Morning Star.
7) Walk with Jesus in White.
8) Keep our name in Book of Life.
9) Confessed before the Father.
10) Kept from the hour of temptation.
11) Made a Pillar (gate) in the Temple (Tabernacle).
12) Able to Sit on the Throne of Jesus.
CHART – DESCRIPTIONS BY DANIEL & JOHN – TRANSFIGURATION
Daniel 7:9
Hair white
Throne fire
Feet burning fire
Daniel 10:6
Clothed in Linen
Lions Gold
Body like Beryl
Face Lightning
Eyes Lamp of Fire
Arms & feet brass
Words Multitude
John (Rev)
Hair white
Feet brass
John (Rev)
Garment to Foot (no color)
Golden Girdle
Eyes as Flame
Voice Many Waters
Transfiguration:
Face Like Sun
Transfiguration:
Garment White
Differences show Transfiguration Salvation, the Body and Head, with the Head first place – Daniel sees both the Father and the Son – In Revelation John sees Jesus prepared for Judgment.
Rev 4:1-2.
The first thing we find is the Door, did Jesus knock? Did John open the Door? It would seem something happened, but what? The Spirit opened the Door, since John was “taken” we find this is a preview to the Rapture. The phrase “After this” is the clue, we will see a like phrase, After these things, but the two phrases are different. Here it’s a change in direction, but After these things refers to an addition to the things prior. In the phrases “After these things” and “After this” we find the word After as the Greek Meta meaning In the midst, it implies some form of companionship or fellowship, the word “This” is the Greek Tauta meaning This, but it also means the opposite of the phrase “those things”. This is not after things, but after a combined series of things pointing to one thing. The prior text gave us the Rebuking and Chastening of the Lord, thus the Lord found things wrong, but in each case where there was error, there was an escape, a means to correcting the situation to become overcomers.
John hears “Come up Hither”, the purpose is to show things which Must be hereafter. There two different words for Hither, showing two different methods. Revelation 4:1 and 11:12 means to come up from where the voice came; Revelation 17:1 and 21:9 means to move to a place where the voice is directing us. The difference is moving upward, or over, many us say “come over here”, which is the same as Come Hither, some say “come up here”, which is the same as Come Up Hither.
Were the days of John like the days of Noah? No, not in any regard, but we know the last days will be as the days of Noah, we also know the difference between the days of Salvation, and the Days of Noah. Did the days start before the Flood, or after? Noah’s ark had a Door and a Window, but the Door was for entry to avoid the danger, Peter said it was like unto our Baptism, not our Water Baptism, but a symbol of the deliverance we obtain by being in the Body and Born Again (I Pet 3:21). The widow was opened after the danger passed, it’s a type and shadow of the windows of heaven opening after the Door is closed. However, only a thief attempts to make entry by the Window, regardless of the Season.
Our Justification began as a declaration from heaven, the Witness completes the effort. We found in First John the Record is declared, yet the Witness carried out the Declaration. However, if there is a Record, what all does it say? Can we know? It’s true we won’t know everything, there are some things we are wasting our time on, just as “why did it happened?”. Often we must accept what was, then move on with the Witness to finish the Record. So, what are some of the things the Record says? Chapter 4 Begins the Record in Heaven; we will find many things happening before the Seals are broken, if we forget there is a Record in heaven, we will assume these events take place before Jesus takes the Book and Breaks the Seals.
John will use forty-two months, three and one-half years, three and one-half months, and three and one-half days, each has a meaning, when we see the word Months it refers to Festivals, which points to Passover, Pentecost and Trumps, but this last aspect is not Three, but a Half of One, thus it’s not all Three of the Trumps, rather we find after the three and one-half the Last Trump will sound. The Great Trump will be the last one blown, but the Last Trump marks the middle of the Feast of Trumpets, giving us the Half. The term “days” refers to Sabbaths, or short periods as compared to longer times in the time, thus the Woman is seen in the wilderness during our Season (42 months). Then comes the Time of Comfort during the last three and one-half, then the devil will be released for five months, not three and one-half, the five refers to the completion of Trumpets, with Atonement, Tabernacles, Dedication and Purim, all the Times will be complete when Jesus says, “It Is Done”.
The Law and Prophets will lay in the Street, or a place between places for three and one-half days, or a short time, also known as Jacob’s Trouble. The wilderness was a street between Egypt and the Promised Land, thus the Law and Prophets with those who held to them will be killed, they can’t go to Paradise, since the area was closed when Jesus took captivity captive, they can’t join us since they won’t have the Spirit, neither did they do anything to place them in hell, thus they will join those who soul sleep, becoming part of the “dead” who live not again until the 1,000 years are over. However, they will be raised on the last day, pass the Books (Law of Moses), then find their names in the Book of Life, when we will call them up by saying, “Come Hither”, then they will join New Jerusalem, showing the Gates and Wall will be complete. It’s for this reason we find both the Spirit and the Bride saying “Come”. For us it was the Spirit, for those who will join us after the Judgment it will be we as the Bride who say “Come”. All these things are seen in the Record in one form or another, leading to the completion of both Seasons.
When Jesus was talking to the disciples regarding the end times, He was talking to Jews who would be the Church, not the Church in total i.e.: M’Sader Kiddushin or the Quorum. Before the Cross the disciples represented the twelve tribes, after Pentecost the Spirit was given as the Church was born. Positions changed for the Apostles of the Church, thus Judas was not accounted among these 12 positions; therefore, the Judas position is one of the Earth, not Heaven, one before the Spirit was given, not after. We don’t find eleven positions in heaven, but we do find the twelve positional aspects of the Church Apostolic callings.
Jesus said He would build His Church on the Rock, the Rock actually began before Pentecost, yet the Church was birthed on Pentecost, thus the Church is not the Rock, nor the Rock the Church, the Church is built on the Rock, thus the Rock came First, the Church Second. It seems redundant, but we must make the separation, the Rock will be broken, not the Church. Since the Rock was being established before the Church, and before Pentecost we find the Wicked are at the base of the Rock, the place where the Rock joins the earth. When the Rock is broken, they end as independent rocks gathering together. There are many members of the Church in the Rock, as there are many churches in the Rock, but the Rock is not the Church. The same separation must be made between Zion known as the Rock, yet Zion as the mount on earth. Just as the separation between Jerusalem of the earth, and New Jerusalem of heaven. When the 144,000 are marked, they are on Zion of the earth, not Zion of heaven, or in New Jerusalem. They will cry over the abominations done in Jerusalem, thus they won’t be in New Jerusalem, since New Jerusalem has no abominations.
In Matthew the disciples asked Jesus a three part question regarding the end times, this three part question helps us understand the three part answer John sees. Jesus separated the answer into “When shall these things be”, “What shall be the sign of the coming of Jesus”, and “the Sign of the end of the world”. We will find the seven angels have a Sound, a Saying and Pour out a vial, each relates to these three questions and answers.
The Generation shall not pass until all is complete, is the Jewish Generation (vs. 12:1, 12:6 & 12:17); our generation is not of this world, it will not cease to pass, but it moves from earth to its home in heaven at the Last Trump (Jn 18:36). One generation will not cease Until all is complete, the other will not Cease at all. We already know the word Forever has various meanings, it can mean Forever to a point of completion of something, or Forever and ever, which shows the end of one Age (ever), then the beginning and end of another (ever). It’s the addition of “without end” it makes a difference, the first Ever is our Age, the second Ever is the Age to come, thus Jesus said “in the world (age) to come”. Paul said we war against the rulers of darkness in this present age, rather than against rulers of all ages, or against the rulers of the age to come. During our Season the world is run by the things of the world, but in the next the Sixth church sits on the mountains of the world, as the House of David it will rule in the Season to come, thus the knowledge of the Lord will come from them.
This premise is also true in the Hebrew, the differences are found in Daniel, an Age will be an Ever, leading to another Age making another Ever, then a Kingdom without end, yet another kingdom as an ever, without end. We can see the term “forever” depends on the usage, it can mean a time until a time, or a time without end.
At the Sixth seal breaking there will be a great earthquake, but the earth will not be destroyed, although the people will assume the wrath of God has come. After the quake they will assume they survived the wrath, but the purpose of the Sixth seal quake will bring the land masses back to a like manner as it was in the Days of Noah, this same earthquake will mark the Rapture.
Why would John see the events after he hears Come up Hither? These events are all heaven related found in the Report. John’s venture to heaven, although a vision shows , the only way any of us can enter heaven is by the Spirit. John sees things in the Record preparing the way to Open the Door at the Rapture for the Dead in Christ, but he will also see events after the time relating to the House of David. Although this book gives us hope, one can see how John being a Jew was showing the Jews what was ahead for them if they didn’t accept Jesus; being among the 144,000 was an “If” at best.
The first thing John sees in his vision is the Throne, He who sat on the Throne “was to look upon”, so what does it mean? It means a vision, it’s not saying John was saw Him who sat on the Throne as a “jasper”, but the lights coming from the Throne appeared as such. He also sees a rainbow, or the sign of a Covenant, a reminder the earth will not be destroyed with water, it will be fire, yet the earth will be without end.
Jasper represents the church (vs. 21:11, 21:18 & 21:19), as does Crystal. Sardine is the stone from which the city Sardis obtained its name, thus showing the Door through which John went is the Door for the Spirit Filled, Blood Bought Christian, who is in the time of Sardis, which gives us The Dead in Christ with those of us who are Alive (with Life) and remain.
Emerald points to the Jew’s Temple (Ex 28:18, 39:11), thus the Emerald refers to the Ephod, showing they will bring their tithes into The Storehouse, then God will open the Windows, but when the Windows are open, the Door to heaven is closed (Mal 3:10-12). There is only one Storehouse, the Temple in Jerusalem; however the Seventh church becomes lukewarm bringing in Malachi 3:13-14, they will think it’s Vain to serve God, meaning they have pleasure, peace and safety in hand, they see no need to seek God, thus becoming Lukewarm. The wording “in sight” is the same Greek word translated as “look upon”, meaning a vision. The figure is sitting on the Throne, not standing, this is a time of rest.
Rev 4:3.
Although we are given the first four seals for the Day, then the opening of the fifth, which will close the Day, as it opens the Night, we can also see the sixth seal opens the Time of Comfort for the Sixth church, but then comes the seventh seal at the end of the 1,000 years. The seals seem to relate to the churches in some degree; however, we must also keep the time elements in tack. The seven seals are broken first, then the seven angels appear after the seventh seal is broken. We must keep in mind how the first horseman causes a counter reaction, if we forget it, we will make the Holy Ghost the antichrist. How? By forgetting the first horseman is on a white horse, just like Jesus. This rider plants seed, not tares, He conquers, all attributes attributed to the Holy Ghost. The “seed” this horseman plants is the Word, or Seed of God bringing Grace as the New Man (Spirit of Truth, Another Comforter). The spirit of antichrist could not surface until someone became Christ like, thus First John told us they were to come, yet he also says they were around in his time.
The Holy Ghost plants the Seed, but He also reproves the world. Of their lack of Righteousness because Jesus went to the Father making it possible for us to have the Righteousness of God. Of sin because they fail to believe on Jesus, thus we continue to believe. On Judgment because the prince (not the god or king) of this world is judged, thus if Judgment has come to the world, then so has Salvation. This First Horsemen causes all sorts of things, the other three horses are the very means in which the Holy Ghost reproves the world. In First John we found the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye and the pride of life were of the world, now we find the second, third and fourth horse go into the world based on those very elements. Sin causes war, whether within a person or without, the second horseman takes away peace; based on the lack of Righteousness the third horseman goes forth to bring famine. This obviously connect to “wars, rumors of wars, pestilence and famine, yet it’s not the end”. However, for Jesus has overcome the world, by Him the first Horsemen started planting the Seed on Pentecost, continuing until He who not lets takes us our of here.
When the four horsemen are done, then it’s time to open the Fifth seal, at time there is a great earthquake, bringing about the Rapture and Time of Comfort. The time of Judgment will actually begin with the Test of Peace & Safety, but the actual Judgment will be “stayed” during the Time of Comfort, until the “short time” for the Seventh church who is found in their “lukewarm” condition; then come the seven angels.
The seals must all be opened before the angels come forth, thus the Seventh Seal activates the Seven Angels, the Seven Angels don’t activate the Seven Seals. Order and progression keeps us from “watching for the plagues” to come, when we should be Watching so we don’t enter the hour.
John will give us the events until Rev 11, then his prophecy until Revelation Chapter 12, then those things which were, leading to those which will be from Revelation Chapter 12 until Chapter 20, with Chapters 20 through 22 summing up the events. It’s a “nutshell” view, but nonetheless this a good time to view the seals, to see how the Seven Angels don’t appear until the seventh seal is opened.
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PROGRESSION OF EVENTS REGARDING THE SEALS
FIRST FOUR SEALS:
- HORSE WITH RIDER, AND IT’S THE RIDER WHO PLANTS THE SEED V 6:2
- WARS AND RUMORS OF WARS V 6:3-4
- FAMINE BUT CAN’T TOUCH THOSE WITH THE OIL (SPIRIT) AND WINE (BLOOD Of JESUS) V 6:4
- DEATH BY THE ANGEL OF DEATH AND THE BEASTS OF THE EARTH V 6:8.
FIFTH THROUGH SEVENTH SEALS:
- FIFTH SEAL AND SIXTH SEAL OPERATE AT SAME TIME. FIFTH SEAL – ENDS OUR SEASON – RAPTURE V 6:9.
- SIXTH SEAL – OPENS THE HOUSE OF DAVID AND BRINGS THE 144,000 INTO POWER ON THE EARTH V 6:12.
- SEVENTH SEAL – SILENCE IN HEAVEN – SEVENTH CHURCH BECOMES LUKEWARM, THINKS IT’S VAIN TO SERVE GOD, OPENS ITS ARMS TO THE EIGHTH V 17:10-11 & 8:1 – SEVENTH SEAL OPENS THE COMING OF THE SEVEN ANGELS V 8:1 WITH 8:7.
When the time of the seven seals ends, the time of the seven angels begins, each angel has a sound, saying, and a vial, each of those relate to locations, and people. Each of the three also relate to part of the three part question the disciples asked Jesus.
Each angel gives us a view of the events during the short time, as well as upon whom those events take place. The First angel shows how the false prophet Causes the fire to fall from heaven. The Second angel shows the Great Mountain of the Lord falling into the Sea, when the Woman takes the three nations, leaving Seven, instead of Mercy, She uses words of conceit, taking the three nations, not by force of arms, but by the table of flatteries, which will be termed a miracle by great power (Dan 11:21-22). At this point in time they still don’t know the ways of war, but they do know how to use manipulation to take people into captivity. The Third angel sees the Great Star (not stars) fall from its appointed position, becoming Wormwood (bitterness). The Fourth angel sees the great division take place, one third of the Jews remain with the Lord their God, the other two thirds follow their own image of jealousy (Zech 13:8), setting the time of Judgment in motion. Up to this point in time the devil is still bound. It’s the Fifth angel who opens pit, then the devil with his demons are released on the people who failed to have the Mark of God, whether male, female or child. At the Fifth Seal the devil was bound, thus it’s the Fifth Angel who releases him, but if it’s the case how is it the false prophet can come with the working of Satan before the devil is released? The fall nature remained on the Stained garments, the defiled ones who rejected the cleaning of the Blood activated those stains when they saw opportunity.
Although the old dragon, as the devil and Satan is bound, we find the false ones still do all the working (acts) of Satan (II Thess 2:9). The false prophet is the same old self-transformed, Satan thinking one using envy, strife through the self-nature for self-benefit in our time, the same old synagogue of Satan.
Rev 4:4-11.
The Twenty Four elders is another symbol of the two Seasons, if John is an Elder as he reported in his letters, why didn’t he see himself among these positions? Because these Elders are types and shadows, the Record is written in heaven, John is looking at the Record from his position as a Witness: there are 12 Elder positions for the 12 apostle positions of the Wall, and 12 Elder positions for the New Testament listing of the Tribes of Israel for the Gates. These Elders need not be Apostles, or Tribes, they are Elders, representative of the Day and Night, showing Both the Greater Light, and Lesser Light are under the authority of Jesus. If God has Elders, does it mean they give suggestions to God? No, it means there are representative of the Day and Night.
From all this we know we’re not the Record in heaven, but we do have the Witness. The word for “seats” is the same word used for Thrones, the only place we find Thrones (plural) is in reference to the kings who overcome. The Elders have their thrones, God has His, they are not the same. The singular usage of the Greek word is found when talking about God’s Throne (Rev 20:4), but it’s also used in reference to the “seat of Satan” (Rev 2:13). The Greek word is Thronos; however, when we find the English translation of “thrones” it’s only in reference to those of heaven, again showing the Authorship of the Holy Ghost behind the hand of John, as well as the translators.
In all, we will find the Greek Thronos some 47 times, the connection between Satan and the Beast is clear when we find the “seat of Satan” is joined to the “seat of the Beast” (Rev 2:13 & 16:10). There are only three references to the “seat” (throne) of Satan. The twenty-four elders have Seats (thrones) in heaven, the dragon gives his seat (throne) to the First Beast, along with the “seat of Satan” promoting idol worship, then the Fifth Angel pours out his vial on the “seat of the Beast”, it’s the Fifth Angel who opens the pit (Rev 16:10 & 9:1-2). The counterfeit of the “throne” of God on earth, is the “seat of Satan”; however it’s still a singular usage, the only place we find the plural for “thrones” is in heaven, thus our Thrones are not of this earth, they wait for us in heaven, showing we are kings, but not of this world, our Kingdom is in Heaven, our Passport is the Spirit.
The Twenty Four elders are clothed in White, but this is before the Fifth Seal. This preview in the Record proves there will be some who walk with Jesus in White (v. 4). John will also see the four beasts in heaven at this time, but they are not set in motion to point to the Horsemen until the First Seal is broken, which won’t happen for several verses yet. Verse 5 gives us the Lightnings and Thunderings and Voices. Lightnings point to the Father, the Thunderings point to the Sound of the Son, or The Word, the Voices to the Holy Ghost giving us the Record in heaven (I Jn 5:7-8). Thunders have sounds, Lightnings show Power, the word Voices is the Greek Phone which was best described as, “what brings light upon what is thought in the mind”. It’s the same word used by John the Baptist as a “voice crying in the wilderness”. It means the manifestation of what is in the mind, thus the Holy Ghost reproves by conviction, making the conviction mental. When devastating events happen, so does Revival, sad, but we know it’s so.
The Seven Lamps are Before the Throne, yet we know the churches are on earth, thus the promise is before the Throne in the Report. The word “before” is the Greek Enopion meaning In the face of, or In the presence of, yet we know John just finished telling us when he was on the Isle he heard a voice, turned and saw one like unto the Son of man standing in the midst of the Golden Candlestick. According to Revelation 2:1 Jesus held the Seven Stars in His right hand, as He walked in the midst of the Seven Golden Candlesticks, but here we find they are the “Spirits of God”. Ahh, the Record, this is still heaven, the stars represented positions, here are the seven “hear what the Spirit says” all recorded in the Record., thus we are told to Read, Hear and Keep these words (vs. 1:3).
Verse 6 gives us the Sea of Crystal, yet the metaphor for Sea represents the Gentile; but we find the other metaphor Crystal represents the Bride (vs. 21:9-11), thus this metaphor points to the Bride who comes from the Gentile Dispensation, or Age. Since this is still the Record, we find the declaration is made, the Witness is performing the work on earth.
We have the metaphors, Sand of the Sea, the Sea, the Mountains, the Hills, the Earth, the Stars, and the Islands all representing something. We know the Sand of the Sea represents the Jews, the Sea the Gentile, the Mountains nations, the Hills sub-nations (smaller mountains connected to mountains), the Earth as the kingdom of heaven (not the Kingdom of God). The Stars are the promised spiritual positions, the Islands raise up out of the Sea, but they are not the Beast of the Sea, rather Islands are those who came up out of the Sea (Gentiles) yet rule as kings and priests. After the Rapture there are no more Islands, thus they are gone, yet seen in the Report as Crystal before the throne.
In the Old we find Joseph gave his two sons his position, making the list 13 tribes, not 12, then God removed the Levi order as the priestly order, thus one from 13 leaves 12. However, in the New Testament list we find there are only 12, not 13, as Levi is accounted among the 12. The 144,000 are not priests, but those who keep the Commandments of God, much different from one who serves the Law of Moses. This shows the priestly order will not be at issue in the Time of Comfort. Today there is much talk about the Jews bringing back sacrifices, but even if they do, it will not have any bearing on the Time of Comfort. How could God accept a sacrifice of animals over the one of His Son? Does not compute: Mercy will be the issue, they will keep the Commandments of God by Mercy, giving us “I desire Mercy, and Not sacrifice” (Hosea 5:6).
Then the next element we find are the Four Beasts, they are not Seven, nor are they “dragons”. These beasts are not the horses, or the horsemen, they are in heaven as the Report regarding the horses and horsemen. Since there are Four Horsemen we find their time runs to the Fifth Seal, not after, thus after the Fifth Seal is opened these Four Horsemen are not seen again, neither are the four beasts.
John will talk about these beasts later, explaining how they point out the four horsemen, as the four beasts differ from the beast of the Sea and the beast of the Earth. The Four Beasts all represent the events in our Season, pointing out the purposes of the Riders and Horses; the Riders are not the Horses, either, neither are the Horses, the Riders.
If we confuse these Beasts as natural brute beasts we miss the entire picture. John doesn’t say they are natural brute beasts, he sees them as beasts of burden, they are sent from God, not the devil. The Greek shows these beasts have Life, meaning their purpose is to point to life, thus they may point out elements which may not seem Good to the natural mind, but they are nonetheless methods God uses to bring man to the Cross in our Season.
These four beasts are Full of eyes, they are the eyes of the Lord seeing what was, what will be, and what is. Verse 7 gives us a description of each Beast, the first is like a Lion, it’s not the Lion, but neither is it a goat, or a sheep, the false prophet appears as a sheep, but is really a goat, thus this Beast shows the First Rider is not the famed antichrist, rather the First Rider connects to the Lion from the Tribe of Juda. The Beast is like unto a Lion, thus the Rider represents the Lion, one area this is seen is in Acts 13:1 where the Holy Ghost appointed Offices on behalf of Jesus. This Rider Plants the Word, the Word is the Seed of God. This is found in the word Bow, the root word shows it’s an instrument to Plant Seeds. This Horse is White, not black, or gray, or white with a black heart. The Rider goes forth Conquering (Victory – Acts) and to Conquer (Give Victory – Ways). This Rider isn’t stealing, robbing or killing; therefore, this Rider is the Holy Ghost, the Horse is the Authority and Power. In each case the Horse represents the Authority and Power, the Rider carries out a function in reference to the Authority and Power. Therefore the Horse defines the function of the Rider, in the case of the White Horse the Power and Authority relate to Jesus.
Jesus said four things were for sure, the Holy Ghost would come, and did so on Pentecost. Then He told us there must be Wars, Rumors of Wars, Pestilence, and Famine. These had to be, we find they are sent by God as reproving elements, also none of these horsemen are referred to as “beasts”, it’s the Beasts in heaven pointing them out. The four beasts in heaven have elements identifying the rider of the horse, after the First Rider goes forth, then the other Three are sent. There is a division between the First Rider and the other Three, called “Another” (v. 6:4), and the word Another means like the first, but with a different function. The Second Beast is like a calf, which is sacrificed before any war, or after the victory of war, thus the Record of this Beast shows the second Rider and Horse will go forth to cause Wars and Rumors of Wars. Although the Rider is a Rider, and the Horse a Horse, as the Beast a Beast, the method is different, because the authority different, but the purpose the same, drive mankind to the Cross.
The Third is like a man, this doesn’t represent the Son of man, but shows how man will be man. The Record of this Beast shows the third Rider and Horse will go about to bring famine as a result of man’s greed, as a sign of unrighteousness of man. The Rider merely carries out what man does, thus somewhere in the world at any given minute there are wars, rumors of war, famine or pestilence.
The Fourth Beast is Like an eagle, as representative of an angel. The record of this Beast shows the fourth Rider and Horse are the angel of death, and God sent the angels of death into the land of Egypt, but the people with the Blood on their Door were free of the torment. We just read how Jesus has the keys of hell and of death (v. 1:18). In speaking to the churches Jesus doesn’t use the “keys of hell and of death”, but He does say He has them, meaning no one gets out unless He uses the Keys.
The First goes forth to bring Victory over the Sea, the other Three show the reproving of the world. We can see the Wars, Rumors of War, Pestilence and Famine are the beginning of sorrows, not the end. Each of the first four Seals point to these Riders, but they also point to a church as well. The First Seal brought the Seed of God, the ability to Love, but Ephesus left its first love. The Second Rider brought wars and rumors of wars, Smyrna was found in tribulation. The Third Rider brought famine, Pergamos was caught in Satan’s seat, facing Balaam who was money hungry. The Fourth Rider brought pestilence, Thyatira was found with Jezebel, all four horses run the race until the end of the Day, which is found in Sardis, who had to Remember how it Received and Heard. The Four Horses don’t begin the Night, they will end the Day so the Night can begin. When there is Peace and Safety surely we can see there are no wars, rumors or wars, famine or pestilence, thus they are for a Season, our Season; thus Jesus said when we see those things, it is not the End (Luke 21:9).
Verses 8 and 9 show the beasts have Six Wings displaying their times and Season only point to the time before the Sixth Seal, not beyond. The beasts are seen only in heaven, they rest not day or night, thus the beasts are not the Riders and Horses, rather they are showing John the Riders and Horses, while the beasts remain in heaven. They can’t Rest until It is Done, thus these beasts show the Bride will be in heaven during the Time of Comfort, but the wedding can’t take place until She has Her Bridesmaids. The Beasts say, “Holy, Holy, Holy” which points to Jesus and the phrase “which was, and is, and is to come”. The phrase Holy, Holy, Holy also points to the Trinity, Three Holies as a display of the Tabernacle, one Holy for the Courtyard, one for the Holy Place, and one for the Holy of Holies. The phrase “Holy, Holy, Holy” is progressive, as “Holy, and Holy, and Holy”, giving us three areas of Holiness. There is a holiness to the courtyard, showing God’s Justice is just as holy as God’s Grace, although each has a different purpose. We have God’s True Holiness in the New Man, thus True Holiness is Salvation based.
Is the evidence of the power and authority of these Riders evident today? Yes, as man fights the Rider, the Rider fights man. When man thinks he can make “Peace”, the Rider on the second horse shows his authority as another war, or rumor of a war begins. When man thinks he can cure some disease, he finds one worse coming on the scene. When man thinks he can win all the money in the world, famine strikes somewhere. Today we find more diseases than at any other time in history, so is there more? Man says he is finding more, but does it mean there are more. Clearly there are, when man comes up with one cure, the Rider produces another disease. Yet, it based on man’s unrighteousness, sin and judgment. If the Kingdom has Grace, the world must have the opposite. In the Night there is no Grace or Salvation, thus the world will be in Peace and Safety.
The word Kiddush in the Hebrew means a prayer to God in reference to the Sabbath and Gathering. There are 18 Kiddush prayers, 8 being the number of New Beginnings and Circumcision, with 10 the number of testing. Each Kiddush has “Blessed are You, O Lord, Our God, King of the Universe”; therefore, showing the Trinity (although the Jew doesn’t know it). Clearly the reference to “which was, and is and is to come” points to Jesus (v 1:19 & 1:8). This doesn’t mean Jesus is the Trinity, but it does show if we have seen Jesus, we have seen the Father. The confusion of the Trinity comes when we find the Father, Son and Holy Ghost are so much alike, it’s hard to tell one from the other.
What crowns do the Elders cast before the Throne in verse 10? Not only do they have Crowns of Gold, but they are wearing White, thus the White always represents a Resurrected Body, but the Crown represents a Crown of Victory, the same type of Crown the Holy Ghost carries with Him (v. 4). It’s also important to know when they cast these crowns before the throne, John shows it’s after he sees the four beasts, not after he sees all the seals opened. The Gold shows they were tried in the fire of God (v. 3:18). The word for Crown is the Greek Stephanos, it’s the same word used for Crown in the phrase “Crown of thorns”, but it’s not a kingly crown, it’s a Crown of Victory, although we see they are Gold, the original crowns from where this word was taken were made of Oak, Ivy, Myrtle, Olive Leaves, and Flowers, all things pertaining to Life. Why do they cast their crowns down? Could it be their crowns were given to them by God, indicating they had Victory, but being before God was more important than the Promise. Metaphorically we see the Debt being paid, indicating the premise of their souls being saved. The Elders are wise, showing why they are Elders, thus they show us regardless of the Season, what every gift we have, it’s still by God, to Him goes the Glory, forever and ever.
It’s also important to know the twenty four elders, and the four beasts are all in heaven when John sees them, the Seals had not been broken, thus John sees 24 positions, not people, all pointing to what will be, as this is still the Report.
The phrase “O LORD” in verse 11 is a direct reference to Jehovah the Mediator, as the Mediator between man and God. It’s obvious to the reader of the Book of Revelation we find many aspects at various times, here in verse 11 we find Glory, Honor, and Power, the three elements of Creation, as the three elements known to Abraham. This would be the Beginning, since Creation is the context, not Salvation or Judgment. This helps us understand how the Lamb was slain from the foundation of the world, yet we know it was several thousand years after the creation of the world. The Plan was complete, the purpose of Creation is to bring the Lamb through the Cross, to bring us to God, thus in Genesis 2:1 we read “the heavens and the earth were finished”. The Hebrew word for the phrase Were Finished is Kaiah meaning Ready to be at an end, or Ready to be destroyed, thus God created the things of the Night to be destroyed, but we find the Plan of Salvation to remove His own from the destruction is also in the Plan. Before the creation of the Night there was The Light, the Light did shine, showing the Lamb was slain from the Foundation. It’s our concept of “rule” getting us confused, we thing to rule means we can tell the world what to do, or how to do it. We rule by not being subject to the prince of the power of the air, or the result of disobedience.
The Creation in the Beginning also shows the Earth, the Sea, the living souls of the Sea, the Fruit of the Tree, the Beast of the Field, as elements noted in the Book of Revelation showing, the Record holds the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, as the Logos (Word). Later we will see other elements as the Progression moves along, it may help us see how them line up:
CHART FROM THE LISTS IN REVELATION CHAPTERS 4 AND 5
List from Rev 4:11:
(Creation)
Glory
Honor
Power
From Rev 5:12:
(Promise or life)
Power
Riches
Wisdom
Strength
Honor
Blessing
From Rev 12:10:
Salvation
Strength
Kingdom of God
Power of His Christ
Let’s move on to Revelation 1, Part 2.
By Rev. G. E. Newmyer – Sbiles27rev7/© 2003
