• Everything that started in Genesis is wrapped up in the book of Revelation.
• Now to recognize and to discover the unity of the entire package.
• There are 66 books penned by 40 different authors over virtually 2,000 years and yet, it’s integrated in its design.
• There are aspects throughout the book that anticipates what needs to be there in order for revelation to make sense.
“He Shall Glorify Me” John 16:14
• In the Old Testament Christ appears in Prophecy “Behold, He Comes!”
• In the Gospels Christ appears in History “Behold, He Dies!”
• In the book of Acts Christ appears in the Church “Behold, He Lives!”
• In the Epistles Christ appears in Experience “Behold, He Saves!”
• In the Apocalypse Christ appears in coming Glory “Behold, He Reigns!”
“He” is the Holy Spirit…
When Jesus cries, “It is finished,” He is closing out the Levitical requirements of the Torah…
Revelation:
The name of the book is “Revelation” it’s singular in its pronunciation, not revelations.
Revelation means, “The Unveiling”
Apocalypse means the unveiling.
• It is the Consummation of all things.
• It is the only book in the Bible promising a special blessing to the reader.
• The book of Revelation consists of 404 verses
• It contains over 800 allusions from the Old Testament that is a 2:1 ratio.
(For every verse in Revelation, there are 2 allusions to the Old Testament,))
• So if the book seems strange to our ears, it’s because we have not spent enough time in the Old Testament.
• The more you know your Old Testament, the more comfortable this book reads.
• It presents the climax of God’s Plan for Man.
To Whom Is it Given?
Revelation 1:1,2
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him, to show unto
His servants things which must shortly come to pass; and He sent and
signified it by his angel unto His servant John: who bare record of the word
of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.
The revelation of whom?
• ...”The Revelation of Jesus Christ“...
God gave to whom?
• ...”God gave to Him“..., God gave it to Jesus.
Mark 13:32 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father ...
• The Father knew when Jesus was coming back, and He was the only one that did.
– It could be that as the Son of Man, He didn’t know, but He knows now.
To show unto whom? …
• ...”to show unto His servants “...
Servants, is the Greek word, doúlos ("bond-slave") it is used with the highest dignity – namely, of believers who willingly live under Christ's authority as His devoted followers.
• ...”and he sent and signified“...
Signified is the Greek word for “signs” from (sémainó).
When?
• ...”things which must shortly come to pass“...
The Greek word shortly implies, that when these things start happening, they are going to follow one after the other in tight order.
• ...”by his angel to His servant John“...
...”who bare record of the word of God“...
• ...”of all things that he saw“...
• Not things that he dreamed up or imagined, John wrote down the things that he saw.
– There will be many visions, and many idioms, these were things that were visual.
• They are not necessarily just 3 dimensional.
A Unique Promise
Revelation 1:3
Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy,
and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
• If we do this with sincerity and commitment a blessing is in store.
• It doesn’t mean that everything that I say is correct, we have to continue to study these things for ourselves.
This is not history, but prophesy...
...”words of this prophecy“...
Revelation 1:4,5
John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace,
from Him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the
Seven Spirits which are before his throne; And from Jesus Christ, who is
the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the
kings of the earth.
From John to the seven churches in Asia...
• ...”John to the seven churches which are in Asia“...
• This is John’s cover letter for this document is addressed to the seven churches.
• This is the Roman province of Asia, not the Asia that we think of today.
• This is the Roman province of Asia today that is generally associated with Turkey.
Greetings from the Trinity:
• From God the Father...
...”Grace be unto you, and peace, from Him
which is, and which was, and which is to come”...
• From the Seven Spirits...The Seven Spirits...is the Holy Spirit...
...”and from the Seven Spirits “...
• From Jesus Christ...
...” And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness,
and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of
the kings of the earth“...
Jesus has three labels here:
The faithful witness
The first begotten of the dead
The prince of the kings of the earth
• In chapter 1 of Revelation, there are 24 titles of Jesus Christ and they are all used as identities somewhere else in the book.
• If you are a computer programmer, this is like the data division.
These are the data definitions.
• If Jesus is the faithful witness, and later on we are talking about the faithful witness we know who it is referring to.
• These names are linkages being set up here.
• The book of Revelation was obviously written by a computer programmer.
Isaiah 11:2 And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord;
• The Seven Spirits...is the Holy Spirit...
The Holy Spirit from the Old Testament:
Here he speaks of the spirit of Jehovah, or Yod-Heh-Vav-Heh, shall rest upon
1) And the Spirit of the YHWH shall rest upon him,
2) the Spirit of Wisdom
3) the Spirit of Understanding,
4) the Spirit of Counsel
5) the Spirit of Might,
6) the Spirit of Knowledge
7) and the Spirit of the Fear of the LORD.
• This is the seven-fold term of the spirit that you and I would call the Holy Spirit.
• He is a “he” and a person.
• So here we have a salutation by John that comes from the Trinity by in a form that you’re probably not familiar with.
Revelation 1:6
Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and
hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory
and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
• ...”He hath made us kings and priests “...
• That is very non-Levitical.
• The only people who are kings and priests are...
– Melchizedek
– Jesus Christ
– The Church (individual members of the Body of Christ)
• We are going to encounter 24 Elders, later on.
The Vision in Chapter 1: Has Seven Key Features
1) Hair; head: Daniel 7:9
2) Eyes: Hebrews 1:13; 4:13
Like a flame of fire 1 Corinthians 3:13; Malachi 3:2
3) Feet: symbol of walk; brass = judgment
[cf. Brazen serpent] Numbers 21
4) Voice, many waters Ezekiel 1:24; 43:2; Daniel 10:6
5) In His Right Hand are: 7 stars,
Lampstands: Yet, He stands in the midst of the lampstand; while we are in His hand
6) Mouth: two-edged sword: Hebrews 4:12; Ephesians 6:17;
Isaiah 49:2
Judges unbeliever John 12:48
The Earth is smitten Isaiah 11:4
The Antichrist is consumed 2 Thessalonians 2:8
7) Countenance, Sun: Matthew 17
Cf. Programmer’s “Data Declarations. ” These “descriptors” will be used as identities throughout the rest of the Book.
The Divine Outline:
Revelation 1:19
Write the things which thou hast seen,
The Vision of Christ, Chapter 1
And write the things which are,
The Seven Churches Chapters 2,3
And write the things which shall be hereafter;
Which follows after the Churches Chapters 4-22
“hereafter,” “after these things” = meta tauta.
• The Vision of Christ Chapter 1
are the things which thou hast seen, so far.
• The Seven Churches Chapter 2,3
And the things which are, which will be a prominent discussion later.
• Which follows after the Churches Chapter 4-22
And the things which shall be hereafter,.
The Key(s) are Self-Contained
Revelation 1:20
The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the
seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven
churches: And the seven lampstands which thou sawest are the seven
churches.
• The book all the way through for the most part identifies the idioms for you.
• The lampstands, are translated candlesticks in the old King James version.
• The lampstands in chapters 2 and 3, Jesus stands in the midst of the lampstands that are on the earth.
• In chapter 4 you will discover, they are in Heaven.
The Seven Churches Chapter 2,3:
• In chapters 2 and 3 there’s more things hidden here that most of us tend to miss.
“The Things that Are”
Why these seven?
• Why not Jerusalem? Or Antioch, Rome, Lystra or Iconium?
• In each letter to the 7 churches they have a peculiar code word.
– ...”He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches“...
[“He that hath an ear…” appears 7 times elsewhere.]
– These seven letters have at least four levels of meaning.
• 4 Levels of Application:
First of all they really were local churches.
– ”He that hath an ear, let him hear“
This phrase occurs seven times elsewhere in the New Testament, this is not by accident.
Matthew 11:15; Matthew 13:9; Matthew 13:43; Mark 4:9; Mark 4:23; Luke 8:8; Luke 14:35.
1) Local.
– Sir William Ramsey, archaeologically researched this area and found out that they really were churches and that they really had these kinds of problems.
– So there is a practical, immediate, local reason for this letter.
2) Admonitory:
• Notice that this says, “..churches”: this is addressed to all of them, they are to all read the letters.
”He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches“
• If you are in Philadelphia, you want to read what is going on in Sardis, etc.
– There is advice here for the churches and their leadership.
3) Homiletic:
“He that hath an ear...”
Applies to us.
– This message is personal to all of the church, you and I to some extent.
4) Prophetic.
These letters lay out the seven periods of the history of the church in their particular order with surprising precision.
If the order of the church was laid out in any other order, it would off.
[They fill the gap implied in Daniel 9:26, and between Revelation 12:5 and 6, etc.]
Seven Design Elements
Each letter has seven design elements.
– Every church is surprised as to what will be revealed to them.
– The churches who thought that they were doing great were doing terribly.
– And the churches that thought that they were doing terribly were doing great.
– Go to the book of Acts to design church governance.
1. Name of the Church.
– The name of the church turns out to be significance to its message, a specific theme.
2. The Title of Christ Chosen.
– The title that Jesus uses for Himself is different for each letter and it’s appropriate to the mission of that particular church.
3. The Commendation.
– Their report card,
4. The Concern.
– Each church has a concern addressed.
5. The Exhortation.
– Do or continue to do that which is pleasing to God.
6. The Promise to the Overcomer.
– There is a prize promised to the overcomer.
7. “He that hath an ear, hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
This seems as if it’s the closing passage to each letter.
Letter to Ephesus
The name Ephesus means “Darling”, it’s a term of courtship.
Revelation 2:1-6
Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; [Title of Christ]These
things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh
in the midst of the seven golden lampstands; [Commendation A+] I know thy
works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them
which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and
are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and
for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. [Concern]
Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first
love. [Exhortation] Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and
repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and
will remove thy lampstand out of his place, except thou repent. But this thou
hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
[The Title of Christ]
These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh
in the midst of the seven golden lampstands;
• In Acts 20 when Paul gave his farewell address to the Ephesian elders, he warned them that there was going to be wolves coming in among them.
“29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.”
[Commendation A+]
• Apparently, Paul’s advice was heeded. “thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles not”.
– They did a good job concerning doctrine, they were also patient, they labored and they persevered.
[Concern]
• Nevertheless I have somewhat against you, because you have left your first
love.
– They were so busy, doing the business of the King, that they had no time for the King.
– Are we so busy in ministry, helping the poor, or doing other things, that we have no time for personal devotions?
– Then we have missed the whole point of ministry.
[Exhortation]
Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and
repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and
will remove thy lampstand ...
– The city of Ephesus today is in ruins, the lampstand isn’t there anymore.
Nicolaitans:
The Nicolaitans are hated here, but became “doctrine” in Pergamos (Letter #3)]
Is their lampstand visible today?
One of “the seven” chosen to have the oversight of “the daily ministration” to the poor of the church in Jerusalem (Acts 6:5).
He is called “a proselyte of Antioch”;
(the other 6 were therefore probably Jews by birth).
Some of the church Fathers (Irenaeus, Hippolytus, Pseudo-Tertullian) state that he was the founder of a sect called NICOLAITANS.
Other Fathers seem to suggest that this was a vain claim made by this sect in seeking apostolic authority for their opinions.
Who are the Nicolaitans?:
Three theories...
• Some believe that Nicholas started a 1st century sect and began abusing their liberty in Christ. He may have been one of the seven in the book of Acts 6 that was chosen to minister to the poor in Jerusalem.
• An untranslated word?
– Nicao means to conquer, overcome, rule.
– Laos means Laity or people.
So, the word, the Nicolaitans implies conquering or ruling over the people.
– Jesus did not like the whole concept of using their clerical stature or position to rule over the laity.
• Washing of feet John 13:5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded..
Jesus told us how to organize:
He that is chief among you must be the servant of all kjv
Matthew 20:27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: 28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life....
– Having some senior elders to do teaching that’s fine, but it doesn’t assume they rule over the people. You can have deacons to help and there’s a whole different concept suggested.
– The formalism in some denominations and the strict following of pastors, etc., in some church buildings is a form of Nicolaitanism.
[Promise to the Overcomer]
Revelation 2:7
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches;
[Promise to the Overcomer] To him that overcometh will I give to eat of
the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
• Notice that the “Promise to the Overcomer” comes after the “Hear that hath an ear” phrase.
• We have the promise to the overcomer as a post script, like a P.S.
• The first three letters has that design, the last four letters are different.
• Each promise to the overcomer is unique in each letter.
Letter to Smyrna
• Those in Smyrna were probably surprised, because of their poverty they had probably assumed that they had done something wrong.
– It was there locality.
The word Smyrna is a synonym for myrrh, that which speaks of death.
– They were facing death.
– Myrrh is an embalming ointment.
– The word myrrh suggests death.
• When the Magi visited Bethlehem, they brought three gifts, gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
• In the Millennium they are going to bring the Lord gifts, gold, frankincense.
• But no myrrh, because the Magi were prophesying His death.
• In the millennium His death is once and for all behind Him.
Revelation 2:8-11
And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; [Title of Christ] These
things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; [Commendation]
I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich)
and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not,
but are the synagogue of Satan. [Exhortation] Fear none of those things
which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison,
that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful
unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. He that hath an ear, let him
hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; [Promise to the Overcomer]
He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
[Title of Christ]
These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;
[Commendation]
I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich)
and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not,
but are the synagogue of Satan.
• Jesus tells them that they are rich, they may seem poor, but they are not.
– They’re doing better than they thought that they were.
– We should be very concerned when Christians feel like the Church has replaced Israel, because they’re saying that they are Jews when they are not.
• If that is what Jesus is talking about, I don’t want to trade places with them.
[Concern]
• This one of two letters that have no concern.
[Exhortation]
Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful
unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches;
•
[Promise to the Overcomer]
He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
• The promise to the overcomer is a post script (P.S.)
Notice that the “Promise to the Overcomer” comes after the “He that hath an ear” phrase.
If you are born twice, you die once; if you are born once, you die twice.
John 3:3... Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
10 “Days” the persecution of the Church (spans 250 years) of Tribulation
54 - 68 Nero (Paul was beheaded; Peter was crucified upside down)
95 - 96 Domitian (John was exiled)
104 - 117 Trajan (Ignatius was burned at the stake)
161 - 180 Marcus Aurelius (Polycarp was martyred)
200 - 211 Septimus Severus (He killed Irenaeus)
235 - 237 Maximinus (He killed Ursula and Hippolytus)
249 - 251 Decius
257 - 260 Valerian
270 - 275 Aurelian
303 - 313 Diocletian (Was the worst of all)
Letter to Pergamos
• Means “Mixed Marriage” [bigamy =two; polygamy = many].
Revelation 2:12-16
And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; [Title of Christ] These
things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;
[Commendation] I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where
Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith,
even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain
among you, where Satan dwelleth. [Concern] But I have a few things
against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam,
who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to
eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. So hast thou also
them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. [Exhortation]
Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against
them with the sword of my mouth.
• The remedy is the word of God.
[Title of Christ]
These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;
•
[Commendation]
I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where
Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith,
even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain
among you, where Satan dwelleth.
•
[Concern]
But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to
eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
• Balaam was a prophet that was hired by Balac, the enemy of God.
– Balac wanted to know, how do I beat these people?
– Balaam knew that the only way to defeat Israel was for Israel to become out of favor with God.
• So Balaam counsels Balac to get his beautiful women along the fringe of the camp of Israel and get them into fornication with these pagan women.
• And if you do that Balac, God’s hand will turn against Israel and you will be able to defeat them.
• Balaam gave Balac the doctrine that caused Israel to have a stumbling block put before them.
• Jesus is making an analogy here between that and the situation in Pergamos where they are mixing idolatry. They’re faithful on the one hand and yet they’re mixing idolatry with their worship.
• They are marrying the world rather than being a witness to the world. That’s where the Pergamos (“mixed”) aspect comes in.
– To compromise with the world.
• ...”hast thou also them that hold the doctrine
of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate“...
• Previously, it was the deeds of the Nicolatians that God hated, now it’s the doctrine.
[Exhortation]
Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against
them with the sword of my mouth.
• The sword is the word of God.
The Prophet Balaam
• “The Doctrine of Balaam.” Revelation 2:14
– Spiritual unchastity; marriage with the world.
• “The Way of Balaam.” II Peter 2:15
– Hireling = making a “market” for his gift.
• “The Error of Balaam.” Jude 11
– Sacrificing eternal riches for temporal gain.
Promise to the Overcomer]
Revelation 2:17
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches;
[Promise to the Overcomer] To him that overcometh will I give to eat of
the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new
name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
Notice that the “Promise to the Overcomer” comes after the “He that hath an ear” phrase.
Letter to Thyatira
Queen of heaven.
• Thyatira was formerly named Semiramis and Semiramis was the consort or wife of Nimrod.
• Nimrod was the first dictator of the world Genesis 10 and 11.
Revelation 2:18-22
And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; [Title of Christ] These
things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and
his feet are like fine brass; [Commendation] I know thy works, and
charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last
to be more than the first. [Concern] Notwithstanding I have a few things
against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth
herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit
fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. And I gave her space
to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. Behold, I will cast her
into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation,
except they repent of their deeds.
[Title of Christ]
These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and
his feet are like fine brass;
• These things saith the Son of God, in contrast to Jezebel the queen of heaven.
• ...”who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and
his feet are like fine brass“...
– Eyes flaming and feet like brass implies that judgement is coming.
– So this is a hostile letter, probably the most hostile of them all.
[Commendation]
I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.
•
[Concern]
Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit
fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
•
[Exhortation]
But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other
burden. But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.
•
[Promise to the Overcomer]
And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. And I will give him the morning
star. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
• The promise of the overcomer now, is put in the body of the letter and is not a post script (P.S.).
• This is the first time.
Cf. Elijah at Mt. Carmel…
Queen Jezebel: 1 Kings 21
She did a lot of things.
– First of all King Ahab had everything that he wanted, he was the king, he ran the place.
– But there was a little guy by the name Naboth, that had a little vineyard and he loved that vineyard.
• King Ahab wanted Naboth’s vineyard but Naboth didn’t want to sell it.
• Queen Jezebel arranges an Inquisition of false witnesses; they condemn Naboth, and execute him.
• Naboth’s vineyard is seized for the king.
• Does this sound like the Inquisitions, where you contrive inquisitions and gain land for the church?
• That’s the parallel here.
Revelation 2:23, 24
And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that
I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every
one of you according to your works. [Exhortation] But unto you I say, and
unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have
not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other
burden. But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.
Revelation 2:26-29
[Promise to the Overcomer] And he that overcometh, and keepeth my
works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall
rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken
to shivers: even as I received of my Father. And I will give him the morning
star. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Letter to Sardis
• Sardis means “Remnant...” [Note: there is no “commendation” in this letter!]
Whatever Sardis’s problem is apparently the Holy Spirit has to repair it.
Revelation 3:1-3
And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; [Title of Christ] These
things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars;
[Concern]I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and
art dead. [Exhortation] Be watchful, and strengthen the things which
remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before
God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast,
and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief,
and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
Revelation 3:4-6
Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments;
and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. [Promise to the
Overcomer] He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment;
and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his
name before my Father, and before his angels. He that hath an ear, let him
hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
“name” (or “denomination”) is all through this letter…
[Title of Christ]
These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars;
•
[Commendation]
• There is no commendation. Sardis has nothing good said about it.
[Concern]
I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.
• The word name echoes all throughout this letter, a synonym for denomination.
[Exhortation]
Be watchful, and strengthen the things which
remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before
God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast,
and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief,
and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
• Is the denominational church asleep today?
• Revelation 3:4-6
Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments;
and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.
[Promise to the Overcomer]
He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment;
and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his
name before my Father, and before his angels. He that hath an ear, let him
hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Letter to Philadelphia
• Philadelphia means brotherly love.
• Ask any church and they’ll tell you that they are a part of Philadelphia, because it’s the one that has nothing said about them.
• Philadelphia was a missionary church, when God opens the door, the door is open...like it is in Asia right now.
Revelation 3:7-13
And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; [Title of Christ] These
things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he
that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;
[Commendation] I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open
door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept
my word, and hast not denied my name. Behold, I will make them of the
synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold,
I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I
have loved thee. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will
keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world,
to try them that dwell upon the earth. [Exhortation] Behold, I come quickly:
hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.[Promise to the
Overcomer] Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my
God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of
my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which
cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new
name. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the
churches.
[Title of Christ]
Thesethings saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he
that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;
•
[Commendation]
I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I
have loved thee. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
• Verse 10 is a key eschatological verse.
• ...”Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation ( I will keep you from the time of the Tribulation), which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. “...
• One of the things that you will discover when you study the book of Revelation, is that there are two groups of people, those that are saved and the earth dwellers.
• All the way through the book of Revelation, those that dwell on the earth are the lost.
• The saved are not earth dwellers, we may be here but our allegiance is not of this world.
• We are pilgrims, we are passing through.
[Exhortation]
Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
• You may not be able to lose your salvation, but you sure can lose your rewards, be careful.
• There is no expression of “concern”!
[Promise to the Overcomer]
• Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my
God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of
my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which
cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new
name. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the
churches.
• The promise of the Overcomer is in the body of the letter.
This is the only letter with a promise of keeping them out of the time of the “Great Tribulation.”
Letter to Laodicea
Laodicea means “Rule of the People”.
• Jesus Christ is suppose to rule.
– These churches do market research to make sure that they are user friendly.
– These are churches that the people rule not the Word of God.
The name it and claim it guys, the televangelists, the "name it and claim it" and "blab it and grab it" churches.
Revelation 3:14-22
And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; [Title of Christ] These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; [Concern] I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind,
and naked:
[Exhortation] I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will
sup with him, and he with me.
[Promise to the Overcomer] To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
[Title of Christ]
These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
• That means that He was at the beginning of creation, see; Colossians.
– ...” the beginning of the creation of God“...
• This phrase is used only here and the book of Colossians.
[Concern]
I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
• The name it and claim it guys, the televangelists, “I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing.”
• And they know not that “thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked”.
• This is the Laodiceans church, where the “People rule”.
[Commendation]
• None.
[Exhortation]
I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
• You want riches and garments and the ability to see, invest in Me and not these worldly things. He’s using that idiomatically.
• As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
• Verse 20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
• This verse is a scathing indictment to a church that was to have already had Him.
• Jesus Christ is standing outside of the church knocking to get in.
• And His invitation is not to the church, it’s to an individual who will let Him in.
• The church system, is hopelessly dead.
[Promise to the Overcomer]
To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
• Jesus today is sitting next to the Father on His throne, inviting individuals to join Him.
Two Letters had nothing good said about them.
Sardis and Laodicea.
Two Letters had nothing bad said about them.
Smyrna and Philadelphia.
• He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches
• The promise to the overcomer in the first three letters is a post script (P.S.)
• In the last four letters the promise to the overcomer is in the body of letter.
– The three post scripted churches have a historical termination.
– The last four Churches endure to the end historically.
• Ephesus • The Apostolic Church
• Smyrna • The Persecuted Church
• Pergamos • The Married Church
• Thyatira • The Mediaeval Church
• Sardis • The Denominational Church
• Philadelphia • The Missionary Church
• Laodicea • The Apostate Church
– The three post scripted churches have a historical termination.
– The last four Churches endure to the end historically.
– Another thing that the last four Churches have that the first three don’t.
– Each one of the last four letters has an explicit reference to the second coming of Jesus Christ.
– It’s alluded to in the letter and it’s conspicuous by omission in the first three.
• Thyatira is explicitly promised to go into the tribulation.
– “Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her
into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.”
– Philadelphia is explicitly promised that it would not.
– “ I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world”. It seems as if they are raptured out.
– Sardis and Laodicea is problematic and it obviously depends on the individual.
A Prophetic Profile?
The Seven Kingdom Parables
Revelation 2 & 3 Matthew 13 the seven parables
• Ephesus • The Sower and 4 Soils
• Smyrna • The Tares and the Wheat
• Pergamos • The Mustard Seed; the birds are evil pastors.
• Thyatira • The Woman & the Leaven; is a type of sin.
• Sardis • The Treasure in the Field
• Philadelphia • The Pearl of Great Price an oyster is not kosher. The pearl is the jewel, that is a response to irritation, that grows by accretion, and is removed from it’s place of growth to become an item of adornment. The Church being raptured.
• Laodicea • The Dragnet
Seven Churches
Jesus wrote seven letters to seven churches so did Paul.
Jesus Paul
• Ephesus • Ephesus
• Smyrna • Philippians
• Pergamos • Corinthians
• Thyatira • Galatians
• Sardis • Romans
• Philadelphia • Thessalonians
• Laodicea • Colossians
Revelation 4:1, 5
After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first
voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said,
“Come up hither, and I will show thee things which must be hereafter”…and
there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne…
• ...” hereafter“...the Greek word, meta tauta, after these things.
Strong's Transliteration Greek English Morphology
3326 [e] Meta ?et? After Prep
3778 [e] tauta ta?ta these things
Opens the third, and final, section of the book:
• …and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne…
– The lamps are no longer on the earth.
– “Come up hither”
– John is treated to a glimpse ahead of what it will be like at the rapture.
Chapters 4 through 22.
Revelation 5:1-4
And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a scroll written
within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong
angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll, and
to loose the seals thereof?”And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither
under the earth, was able to open the scroll, neither to look thereon. And
I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the
scroll, neither to look thereon.
• ...” a scroll written within and on the backside“...
– You don’t usually write on the backside of a scroll because it was the rough side.
– But, if it was a title deed, the rules by which it could be opened were written there.
– This implies that it was a title deed, probably to the Earth and Mankind.
Ezekiel 2:10 When He spread it out before me, it was written on the front and back, and written on it were lamentations, mourning and woe.
• ...”And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the scroll, neither to look thereon.
And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the
scroll, neither to look thereon.“...
It required a Man a kinsman of Adam:
– It had to be a kinsman of Adam, to be eligible to open this scroll, a human redeemer to redeem mankind was needed…
– John a redeemed man said, ...”I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the scroll“...
– John understood, that this is tragic, this is scary because it took a man and no man was worthy to do this.
– John is panicked and sobbed convulsively.
Revelation 5:5,6
And one of the elders saith unto me, “Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe
of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose
the seven seals thereof.” And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne
and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood the
Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are
the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
Who?
– ...”And one of the elders saith unto me,
“Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
Where do you find Him?
In the midst of the 24 Elders…
– ...” And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood the Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.“...
• Matthew spent his time establishing that Jesus was the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David.
– And that He was the Lamb that had been slain.
• The entire universe pivots on this historical event.
– The book of Leviticus lays down the specifications.
• The crucifixion of Jesus Christ was not a tragedy, it was an achievement.
• And because of that achievement, there is a Man eligible to take the title deed.
• That was Gods plan from the beginning and Satan’s attempt to thwart that plan included trying to contaminate the human race to prevent a man being eligible to do this.
Genesis 6:2 ...That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. 3 And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. 4 There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.
The Apocalypse
• A catastrophic end-crisis of the present age.
• A spectacular reappearance of the King of Kings in His global empire.
• The Internment of Satan in the Abousso.
• The Millennial earth-reign of Christ.
• The Final insurrection and the abolition of sin.
• A New Heaven, a New Earth, and a New Jerusalem.
Where to begin a serious study?
Revelation is excellent…
Everything begun in Genesis is consummated in Revelation:
The is an integrated design…
Hour 23 Revelation 4 to 22
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