Revelation
King James Version (KJV)
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Revelation 2:4 - Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
Nevertheless I have something against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. That's it!
The word first in Greek does not make reference to time. It's not their first love from ten years ago when they received Christ. It is a word of priority. You have left your first love. In other words, they started off by making Christ the priority in everything. But as time went on, they began to wear down.
They put their efforts into working in the church and doing the church work and testing people to see if they're truly apostles or not, but in their personal lives, the top priority of Christ has now slipped away. In Exodus Chapter 20:3 (The Ten Commandments), God says you shall have no other gods before me. That's what the King James says. But in the Hebrew, it's you shall have no other gods beside me.
In other words, God's not just first, and then maybe my career second, and then third is this, and so on. No, God says I'm it. You can have no other gods beside me. I'm the only one that you can have! And here is Christ telling the church, remember the first and great commandment is love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, soul, mind, and strength. And the second command is this: love your neighbor as yourself.
You see, we're also in a day where we really emphasize loving our neighbor. What about loving God? What about top priority? What about in our decision making? Is He our first love? You can see why this is important. I've mentioned this before that all the decisions we make are based on what or who we love the most.
Revelation 2:2 - I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
He says I know thy works. Every church will have this phrase spoken to them, I know your works. God knows everything. And He evaluates the church. But He says I know your works, and your labor, and the Greek word means to work to the point of exhaustion.
And your patience, which is literally the word for endurance, HUPOMONE. And how you cannot bear them which are evil: And the word bear means to carry on the shoulders. You can't tolerate people who are evil. And you have tried them, you tested them, who say they are apostles, who are not, and you have found them to be liars:
In Verse 3, we have the summaries:
Revelation 2:3 - And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
And you have borne, meaning you tolerated. You have patience, meaning you remain under. And for my sake you have labored, and that's a Perfect Tense verb, again, labored to the point of exhaustion. And you have not fainted, that is, you have not grown weary.
Now I don't know about you, but I'd take that church. This is a serving church, a working church. They remain under, they're patient, they cannot bear evil people, and they put everybody to the test to see if they're liars or not, and they been found to be liars.
Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing, ( 2 Peter 2:15).
Balaam was mentioned as a warning in the book of Jude as well as in Revelation 2:14 to the church of Pergamum which apparently did some of these practices. We note that divination was one of the things done as Joshua 13:22 states Balaam also, the son of Beor, the one who practiced divination, was killed with the sword by the people of Israel among the rest of their slain.
Thus we see the sobering end of such characters. We see another example of how a false spirit affects multiple people as we see in 1 Kings 22:18-23.
18 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but evil?
19 And he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left.
20 And the Lord said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner.
21 And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the Lord, and said, I will persuade him.
22 And the Lord said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so.
23 Now therefore, behold, the Lord hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the Lord hath spoken evil concerning thee.
James 2:1 Continued
Picking up where I left on faith, in Galatians 5:22, when talking about the fruit (not fruits), there's a singular fruit of God's Spirit that is made up of many parts. In other words, none of these can be separated from the others. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, and notice, faith. Faith is the production of the Spirit of God, not of man.
1 Corinthians Chapter 12:9, in the explanation of the gifts of the Spirit, Paul says that faith is given by the same Spirit, and to another, gifts of healing by the same Spirit. He's presenting the fact that God's Spirit gives faith to people.
In Romans Chapter 12, Paul says to go according to the measure of faith that God gives to you. In the early church, the problem was going beyond what God wanted to do. It wasn't a lack of faith. It was going beyond faith. God gives us the faith, the persuasion, His presence, His leading, His provision, when God wants us to do something.
Also, in Revelation 2:13, this is the Lord speaking to Pergamos, He says I know your works, and where you dwell, even where Satan's seat is: and you hast not denied my faith. That's Jesus speaking. He says you have not denied (my) faith. It's the Lord's faith. He says even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwells.
And so, they did not reject the faith of Christ. When Christ's Spirit came to them, and was persuading them to trust the Lord, even in the midst of some of them even dying, they didn't reject the persuasion of God's Spirit to trust the Lord. And they received God's provision to trust Him.
Part 7.
Hebrews 4:3 references Psalm 95, which describes the Israelites' journey with Moses through the wilderness, enduring dunes, rocky paths, and scarce food and water. Those who did not remain faithful, trusting in God's promise, did not enter God's rest. This passage stresses faith and the rest God has promised to those who, in faith, overcome the trials of this life filled with challenges, temptations, and struggles.
Revelation 3:5 shows us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. We cannot earn our salvation through our actions; rather, this rest is dependent on accepting the grace and redemption offered in Christ, works that were finished from the foundation of the world.
Revelation 13:7-8 states that all who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. This time is still to come; only true believers will be able to resist this hour of temptation that is foretold in Revelation 3:10. We see this same language in the concept that the Lamb was slain before the foundation of the world.
The challenge and reward are found in Revelation 2:7 and Revelation 13:9-10, "He who has ears, let him hear." We can read and study the Bible without grasping the truth of its message for different reasons, truth comes from prayer. Our ears are connected to our eyes; if we cannot hear, we are also blind.
We have these verses to consider.
Before being ordained, Jeremiah 1:5, Acts 13:48, 1 Corinthians 2:7, Ephesians 2:10, Galatians 1:15
The foreknowledge of God, Acts 2:23, Ephesians 3:9, Colossians 1:26-27, 1 Peter 1:2, 1 Peter 1:20
Predestination, Acts 4:27-28, Romans 8:29-30, Ephesians 1:5, Ephesians 1:10-12
God's plan.
2 Kings 19:25, Psalm 33:11, Isaiah 14:27, Isaiah 22:11, Isaiah 25:1, Isaiah 37:26, Isaiah 46:10, Jeremiah 29:11.
See last part 8
1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith He that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for My name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
Remember when we first came to God, how we were in sin and the love we felt in those saved.
God's blessings!
Revelation 2:2-6
2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.
This thought then leads me to verse 27, of the vital inseparable relationship between the Father & His Spirit Whom He has sent out into the world & especially into the lives of His children. It is God "Who searches the hearts" and it is God "Who knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit". To those who believe that God's Spirit is just a force of God would have to concede that the Spirit of God is not a mere force from God but a very real Being (Person) of God Whom God has sent forth to accomplish His Will on the Earth. His Spirit has a 'Mind', which means He holds & expresses the very same mental attributes & Will of God to fulfil God's Purposes. The Spirit is truly God in us ( John 14:16,17) & God working before others.
This can be confusing as we can somewhat understand Jesus, God's Son as walking on Earth & living a sinless life, perfectly performing the Father's Will. But when we speak of the Holy Spirit Who can't be seen, having a Mind (v27), or demonstrating intelligence ( 1 Corinthians 2:10,11); having feelings ( Ephesians 4:30); or having a Will ( 1 Corinthians 12:11), & many other Works, then our understanding of this is quite tested. Even as Jesus holds all the attributes of the Father ( Revelation 2:23, "He which searcheth the hearts & reins"), the Spirit's Mind fully aligns with God.
Acts 6:3 - Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
The literal translation here when it says, "of honest report," this is the word "testimony" and it is in a Present Participial form. Those who are carrying the testimony of two things: number one, being full of the Holy Spirit. And number two, being full of wisdom.
To be filled with the Holy Spirit doesn't have anything to do with the Holy Spirit "leaking out" and you have to go to a meeting or church and get filled up again. The Greek word for "filled" means to have your inner faculties filled and influenced by something.
We always have the Holy Spirit living inside of us no matter what we're doing. Even if we're not doing what He's doing, He's always in us and He's always active. But then there are times when God's Spirit would fill our inner human faculties and use us to either do something or say something.
Acts 6:5 - And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:
And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit. Wow! That's his reputation. By the way, these are all Jews with Greek names from the Hellenist community.
As a side note, Nicolas was a proselyte from Antioch. From the history of this man, he eventually left God's work somewhere down the line and he gathered his own following. Because his name is Nicolas, they were called the Nicolaitans. Beginning at Revelation 2:6, he told the church at Ephesus, "You hate the deeds and the doctrines of the Nicolaitans which I also hate."
They were followers of Nicolas, and the trail leads back, at least to the historians and the archaeologists, to this Nicolas of Antioch. Just a side note!
One sure thing it means is whoever receives it their reward will be the lake of fire. There are many speculations on the mark and the number 666. Some say it was about Nero the Hebrew name for him numerically adds to 666, some say it will be a Pope whose title is Vicarious Filii Dei, meaning Vicar of the Son of God this in Latin numerically adds up to 666, and others.
If we are here, we will know exactly what it is and those who take it will do it willingly, there are things God has not revealed. A smaller but similar picture of what is to come has happened in the past. Decius/Decian persecution in 250 AD, a decree that Christians had to prove their loyalty to paganism and the emperor, ordered those sacrifices to idols be performed in the presence of a Roman magistrate. It was a signed and witnessed certificate issued not a mark.
Many Christians were put to death for refusing to perform the sacrifices, and many others apostatized/falling away and performed the ceremonies thinking they could still be a Christian in secret. Others went into hiding. The Decian persecution was the severest on Christians at that time and the loss suffered by the apostasy/falling away. What is coming will be much more severe and worldwide.
When the beast rises, we will know but until then there are a plethora of suggestions and guesses without a true answer. We just need to be strong in our faith, ready even if we face death, Revelation 2:11.
God bless,
RLW
Part 1
Revelation 12:1-5 A wonder in heaven a woman clothed with the sun and the moon under her feet. Genesis 37:9-10 With Joseph is the 12 stars, the Sun, the moon, Jacob, and the mother represent Israel, the same woman all through this chapter to verse 17.
This is before the birth of the man-child, we see this woman represents Israel and the righteousness of the ancient fathers and prophets who labored through the years, and persecutions, as they groaned and longed for the promised Messiah, the promised seed of Abraham. The righteous physical Israel longing in pain for their coming Messiah represents the Woman in birth pain, Isaiah 26:17-19 Micah 4:9-10.
Another wonder in heaven is the red dragon/Satan who cast a third of the stars/angels to the earth this will happen in the future. The dragon stood before the woman to devour the child. Satan through Herod and the Roman empire tried to kill Jesus as soon as He was born, Matthew 2:13-16. Israel birthed the Messiah/Jesus through the tribe of Judah who will rule the nations with a rod of iron Revelation 2:27 Revelation 19:15.
After Jesus's resurrection, He was caught up to God and his throne, Ephesians 1:20-21. Verse 6 is what the woman will do after Satan and his angels are cast down to this earth, for 1260 days we see the same event in verse 14 a time and times and half a time, this is 3.5 years to be in the future. God will preserve a remnant and give a place of special divine protection for His people during these 3.5 years,
See part 2
Luke 23:35 - And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.
The rulers derided him, which is the Greek word for "to stick up the nose." They scoffed at Him, a smug mocking at Him, saying He saved others; let Him save himself, if He be Christ, the chosen of God.
That is a fulfillment of Psalm 22:6-7, and Psalm 22:16-17.
Luke 23:41 - And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
The Greek word for "nothing amiss" means He's done nothing out of place. He has done everything perfectly!
Luke 23:43 - And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.
Many people have discussed where paradise is. First of all, it is a Persian word. That is where the word paradise came from. In the New Testament, not only is it here, but it's also found in 2 Corinthians 12:3, where Paul says that he was caught up in the third heaven into paradise. And again, in Revelation 2:7, where it is the reward for those overcomers, those that overcome the evil.
It is also used in the Greek translation of the Old Testament for the Garden of Eden. It is called PARADISO, paradise, same word! But that doesn't answer the question where is it? Well, right before the term "in paradise" you have your answer. You will be with "me" in paradise.
Wherever Jesus is, it is paradise. Where was Jesus that day or that night or the next day? Wherever Jesus was, he was with Him, and that's paradise.
First I would like to say the Word of GOD is from everlasting to everlasting,the Word is GOD,GOD Himself,self-executing.He is Ominiscient,and Omnipotent,and Omnipresent,and in His Omniscience and Omnipotence the birth of Moses was in His plan,GOD Himself would go to use Moses to free or to rescue His people out of the power of demonic Pharaoh.
The problem is that the Devil knew that Moses would be born and would be the Liberator of the people of Israel enslaved by Pharaoh.In the other hand,GOD knew what the Devil would do to kill Moses in his birth,and two times Pharaoh was used by the Devil to kill Moses.First Pharaoh commanded the midwifes of the Hebrew women,if was born a son,then they shall kill him:but if it be a daughter,then she shall live.But GOD intervened in the process,and prevented Pharaoh,by allegory the Devil,to kill the boys.
Then,the Devil tried once again to kill Moses,saying to ALL HIS PEOPLE:Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river,and every daughter ye shall save alive.
By the way,even at the death of Moses there was a battle between Michael and the Devil over Moses' body: Jude 1:9-Yet Michael the archangel,when contending with the Devil he disputed about the body of Moses.
The question is:How could the Devil know that Moses would go to be born and by two times tried to kill him?The Devil was/is a former Cherub, he was the ruler of Eden.For the Devil, the other boys or children,they were irrelevant.The main goal of the former Cherub,the Devil,was to kill Moses as soon as he was born.The Devil knew who was Moses,but how?Ez.28:3 reveals: Behold,thou art wiser than Daniel;THERE IS NO SECRET that they can hide from thee:
Revelation 2:24-25
24But 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.
25But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.
Getting back to my primary point on this specific subject; I will make an assumption that we are following a Pastor who is apparently a true believer; Biblically sound and therefore qualified to lead the local congregation as the example of who we can desire to emulate. That; of course is a tall order with the state and condition of churches in general at this hour.
A cult of personality; nonetheless can still rear its ugly head even in this situation. The first rule of thumb; of course is to determine if indeed a church is still teaching correct doctrine or if error is creeping in as that is a top method of the enemy. When one is puffed up there is danger of a little leaven creeping in. ( Romans 11:21). Revelation 2:4 mentions losing our first love while teaching is basically correct doctrinally.
There is; as my initial post alluded to distractions in the flesh. There is no doubt that many megachurches in particular are focused on young; attractive people in leadership as either Pastors or Music Directors in particular. I have gotten into that on previous occasions; so I won't elaborate here.
Ok; with the preliminaries well examined I will ask what seems to be a dumb question: How do we properly view a good Pastor or other leader? From my premise I have established that no man is perfect; but I'll say it straight out-no man is perfect.
Psalm 37:37 says to "mark the perfect man"; there are other N.T. references to being perfect but clearly this means fully mature. It should be clear that proper teaching must also be accompanied by proper living out of the Gospel. Given that IS occurring to the best of our understanding-then what? How do we allow this experience to transform us?
To be a conduit of truth; no doubt best aids the rest of the congregation through genuinely listening to the gifts of others in our midst. This means proper doctrine as well as timely messages edifying at the time.
I searched deeply an explanation for this biblical mystery, and by the Word of GOD what I found is the follow:
First of all, frogs are amphibians vertebrate animals that live in the aquatic environment and on the terrestrial environment. But is it the same in the spiritual environment? Yes, it is.
1-AQUATIC ENVIRONMENT OF THE EVIL SPIRITS LIKE FROGS
Revelation 17:15-And the angel saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. NOTE: Except the TRUE CHRISTIANS/ ELIEVERS, all the peoples of all the nations are leaded and guided by the THREE UNCLEAN SPIRITS like frogs.TERRIBLE.
The aquatic environment of these three spirits of demons like frogs which guide the peoples or rule nations of all tongues in whole earth, through devilish systems, as religious systems(Catholicism, and Judaism, spiritism, budhism, islamism, among others),and also political systems,and military systems,and social and cultural systems,among others systems. In fact, Satan goes to and fro and from walking up and down among them.
2 - TERRESTRIAL ENVIRONMENT OF THE EVIL SPIRITS LIKE FROGS
FIRST we need to understand that Israel is an island among the waters (Gentile nations)or in the middle of the sea, as is described above in according the Scriptures. Israel is the earth, a dry land, Genesis 1:v.10-3rd Day-or still the clay- Isaiah 64:v.8-a dry land surrounded by water on all sides or by allegory surrounded by the Gentile nations. Isaiah prophesyed saying: Is.41:1-2 -> 1-Keep silence before me,O islands; and let the people renew their strength:let them come near;then let them speak:let us come near together to Judgment.
2 Who raised up the righteous man from the east,called him to his foot,gave the nations before him,and made him rule over kings?he gave them as the dust to his Sword- Revelation 2:v.26 to 28-,and as driven stubble to his bow.(bow- Revelation 6:v.2)
Of course Franklin Roosevelt gave the quote "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself." That is true to some extent; because the enemy of our souls can only do what God allows; but of course the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; which is found in numerous scriptural passages as well. It has been said that the opposite of fear is faith; and of course true love casts out fear ( 1 John 4:18). This is something only the Lord can give; for Jesus Himself had martyrdom to face daily; and Revelation 2:10 is one example given for the church; as well as the verse where Christ said to not fear what can be done to the body but the one who can cast body and soul into hell. ( Matthew 10:28). The enemy also likes to remind us as the accuser of the brethern of our sins and our condemnation which Christ took at the cross for true believers. (see Revelation 12:10). The Lord will convict us when we grieve the Spirit but that is out of love. The power of sin is death ( 1 Cor. 15:56). Jesus overcame death and the grave and took our sins on Himself at Calvary. We need to be daily reminded of these basic Gospel truths as we can become hardened to it for various reasons.
There is hope for us after death and hope is for things yet unseen ( Hebrews 11:1). Surely with the world in the state it is today we need that future expectation for any joy to be maintained; whether emotionally or as a fruit of the Spirit. Being part of the BODY of Christ is imperitive as to our identity so that we may together strive for unity in fulfilling the Great Commission and prayer and fellowship with one another for strength.
Do you believe:
Psalms 149:9 To execute upon them the judgement written, this honour hath all his saints.
1 Corinthians 6:2 ... the saints shall judge the world ......
This is GOD'S words not mine.
Psalms 82:6 I (God) have said, Ye are gods, children of the most high,
Psalms 82:7 But ye shall DIE like men (sinful flesh, on the cross of Christ) and fall like one of the princes (of this world)
Psalms 82:6 ARISE (by the resurrection), O god, JUDGE the EARTH, for thou shall inherit the nations.
Revelation 2:26 And he that overcometh and keeps MY WORKS, until the end, to him will I give power over the nations
Do you believe these words.
God Bless YOU!
There are terms in the Bible such as twice dead and Second death. " Jude 1:12, Revelation 2:11, Revelation 20:14 and Revelation 21:8.
Paul says in Romans 7:9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
Which death did he die? The 1st or the 2nd?
An unbeliever is ALREADY dead! Yet he is still continuous.
( 1 Timothy 5:6.) This is a very common NT idiom. The word (noun) for "dead" is "nekros" and is used of physical death (obviously) but also spiritual death to describe an unsaved person who is physically alive but spiritually dead. Here are some examples:
Matt 8:22 - But Jesus told him, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead."
Eph 2:1 - As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,
Eph 2:5 - made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved.
Eph 5:14 - This is why it is said: "Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.
Col 2:13 - When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins.
Eternal Salvation is life! It is separation from this Body/Tabernacle of death.
In Romans 6:3 we see the sacrificial Lamb at work.
In Romans 6:4-5 we see the NEW BIRTH and the first fruit of the Resurrection. This is the 1st Resurrection.
You are either dead right now or you have life right now!
Those who have life has already died once and has been born again, never to die again.
"Eternal life speaks of "spiritual life and death".
That's the only death a believer has. "He's already been born again"
Those who are dead is already spiritual dead and their bodies will soon die, and they will remain spiritual dead throughout eternity.
The bible doesn't say anything about being unconscious after the body dies. It has lots of scripture describing conscious.
If the grave is Hell, the Bible never says anything about the saved going there.
See Pt 2
Revelation 2:1 Unto the ANGEL of the church ....write ....
Revelation 2:8 Unto the ANGEL of the church ..... write.....
Revelation 2:12 Unto the ANGEL of the church ..... write .....
Revelation 2:18 Unto the ANGEL of the church ....write .....
Revelation 3:1 Unto the ANGEL of the church ..... write ......
Revelation 3:7 Unto the ANGEL of the church.... write ....
Revelation 3:14 Unto the ANGEL of the church ..... write ......
The word says the message is to the angel of the church, just as relevant for today as then, the word is for ALL AGES.
YOU are the angel (messenger) of the church, and the church is Christ, and YOU and Christ were made ONE flesh at his resurrection.
God Bless YOU!
All men DIED (take up your cross and follow me in death), a NEW CREATION arose, the BODY of Christ, the bride, Christ's wife: and Christ being the HEAD of the BODY.
1 John 3:9 Whosoever is BORN (new birth, being RAISED as the body of Christ, and Christ as the head of that body) doth not commit sin, BECAUSE his SEED (the word of God, truth, life) remaineth IN HIM (this mystery, Christ IN YOU), and he CANNOT SIN
WHY can't we sin: BECAUSE
Ezekiel 36:27 And I WILL put my SPIRIT (the Spirit that raised Christ) IN YOU, and I WILL CAUSE you to walk in my statutes, and TO KEEP my judgements and DO THEM.
It's not our works (in that day they will say, did WE NOT): we do nothing it's all the WORKS OF GOD.
Revelation 2:26 .... and KEEPS my WORKS .....
Isaiah 26:10 ....TOGETHER (as ONE), with my DEAD BODY shall they ARISE .....
Revelation 21:5 ..... I MAKE all things NEW ......
John 17:22 And the GLORY that thou GAVEST ME, I have given them, that as WE ARE ONE, that may be ONE .
Christ was RAISED with eternal (IMMORTAL) LIFE, we are joint-heirs of that eternal LIFE
1 Timothy 6:16 ... Christ ONLY hath IMMORTALITY, dwelling in the light .....
1 Corinthians 15:53 ....this mortal MUST PUT ON IMMORTALITY ....
1 Corinthians 15:38 ... and to every SEED ..... HIS OWN BODY ......
1 Corinthians 12:27 ..... ye are the BODY of CHRIST ......
God BLESS YOU!
God BLESS YOU!
Revelation 19:14 states: "and the armies in heaven, clothed in [b]fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses".
Revelation 2:26-27 says 26 "And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: 27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father."
Perhaps a reminder of the exhortation of 1 John 2:10 is needed at this point. "He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him." The next verse states the opposite state of a soul who hates his brother; that is being in darkness. We are adopted sons and daughters ( Ephesians 1:5 and many other verses) and part of something vastly bigger than ourselves. If we are saved we are no longer our own ( 1 Cor. 6:19) and bought with a price. Therefore our commission and omission of transgressions affects not only us but others in our midst as well; particularly true in regard to the body of Christ. Salvation itself; therefore in order to be genuine begins to give the true convert a sense of being "seated in heavenly places" ( Eph. 2:6). That verse shows how we are in that state together as well in the Body of Christ not just as individuals.
What matters to those who the Godhead dwells ( John 14:23) is the Lord's concerns. Note that keeping God's Word is a part of the verse indicating those who are truly possessed by the Holy Ghost. God gets all the glory and does all the work; but we are responsible to work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Phillipians 2:12) demonstrating our inner heart through our outer actions and works. The persevering is part of God's work of sanctification; but of course we need to be demonstrating good works predestined for us to do from the foundation of the world ( Ephesians 2:10).
Agape
Verse 3 states:
"And to speak unto the priests which were in the house of the LORD of hosts, and to the prophets, saying, Should I weep in the fifth month, separating myself, as I have done these so many years?"
Verse 4-6 state: 4 Then came the word of the Lord of hosts unto me, saying, 5 Speak unto all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month, even those seventy years, did ye at all fast unto me, even to me? 6 And when ye did eat, and when ye did drink, did not ye eat for yourselves, and drink for yourselves?
We are reminded here of parallel passages in Isaiah 58; verse 4 states "Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high."
Zechariah 7:9-10 goes on to say 9 Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother: 10 And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.
Again in Isaiah 58:6-7 we see simiilar admonitions: 6Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? 7Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
We can see here in the rest of this chapter in Zechariah the results which were the captivity; in the Isaiah passage the end of that chapter talks about blessings should they heed a correct fast in their worship. These are all things we should take into consideration if we find ourselves going through the motions of worship without putting our heart into it. Revelation 2:4 is a good warning for our example in this matter.
The first 9 verses discuss 4 horses which are likely the same spiritual entities listed in Revelation. The white horse is described as going with the black horse and somehow "quieting my spirit" in the north country. This seems to be referring to the angel himself; likely a scenario at that time with nations attempting to intrude from the north. Verse 10 mentions people coming out of captivity; which is somewhat paralleled in recent years with the Jews coming from Russia and other areas; and fulfilled completely during the Millennium after the Tribulation when captives are freed.
Verses 11-15 discuss crowning Joshua; but then mention the final fulfillment with "The BRANCH" starting in verse 12. The Messianic rule is clear here with the building of the Millennial Temple (verses 12-13); and the O.T. saints crowned as a "memorial" verse 14. Finally; verse 15 shows people from far off (probably nations throughout the world) and indicates these things happen "if ye will diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God." (v. 15).
We can see from this near and far fulfillments; as well as conditionally what would have perhaps been sooner in coming to pass with continual obedience; which of course is impossible in the law. We certainly can learn today to continue to be salt and light ( Matt. 5:13-14) so as not to allow spiritual decay farther before the Lord's return. Christ was necessary to fulfill the role of Priest for our justification but also wat the final Prophet as well as the King of Kings. Scripture demonstrates that the most godly have from time to time fallen short ( Numbers 20:10-13; Matthew 11:3). The Lord wishes to move in His Body the church but will withdraw His candlestick when we fall short ( Revelation 2:5).
Study Ezekiel 40-48 for further insights on the Millennial Temple as well as changes on the earth at that time.
Why do you assume the beast in Revelation is satan or the anti-christ?
Daniel 7:23 ...the FORTH beast shall be the FORTH KINGDOM on earth ....
John the Baptist came preaching the KINGDOM of GOD; the FORTH kingdom on earth, the FORTH BEAST, the last kingdom on earth.
The Kingdom of God has been on earth now for about 2000 years; CHRIST IN THE FLESH, IN YOU, his BODY, causing man TO WILL and TO DO his good pleasure.
Ezekiel 36:27 I WILL put MY SPIRIT IN YOU and CAUSE YOU to walk in my statutes and TO KEEP my judgements and DO THEM
Revelation 6:7 And when HE (the lamb of God) had opened the forth seal, I heard the voice of the FORTH BEAST (the lamb of God, the kingdom of God) SAY, come and see
Revelation 6:8 And I looked, and behold, a pale horse, and his name that sat on him WAS DEATH, and the grave followed after him, and POWER WAS GIVEN TO THEM (the image of the BEAST, the kingdom of GOD) over the forth part of the earth, to KILL with the SWORD (the word of God), and with HUNGER (no bread of life), and with DEATH, and with the BEAST of the EARTH (those that carry the mark of the BEAST: the kingdom of God.
Revelation 12:16 And the earth HELPED the WOMAN, and the earth OPENED her MOUTH (DEATH and the grave), and swallowed up the FLOOD (people, tongues and nations) which the dragon cast out of his mouth.
Psalms 7:13 He hath also prepared for him the INSTRUMENTS of DEATH; he ORDAINED his ARROWS against the persecutors.
Jeremiah 51:29 THOU (those that carry the MARK) are my battle axe and WEAPONS of WAR (arrows, the word of GOD); for with THEE (the saints, the BODY of Christ, the IMAGE of the BEAST) WILL I break in pieces the NATIONS, and with THEE will I destroy kingdoms.
Revelation 2:27 ...to him that overcometh, WILL I give POWER over the NATIONS .....
God Bless You!
You was saved from death 2000 years ago, when you were resurrected a NEW CREATION.
Christ (TRUTH) began revealing himself to you in 1979, this Revelation of "Christ in you" will continue until the angel ls sent to harvest HIS SEED.
Luke 20:36 Neither can they (YOU) DIE ANY MORE: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the CHILDREN of the RESURRECTION.
You are now in the birth pains of being born again.
Christ revealing who you are IN HIM.
1 Peter 1:23 Being BORN AGAIN ..... by the WORD(s) of GOD ...... TRUTH ......
Revelation 12:2 .... and she (YOU, Christ wife) being with child, travailing in birth, pained to be DELIVERED ......
1 Timothy 2:14 .... but the woman, being deceived (by a carnal mind) was in the TRANSGRESSION ....
1 Timothy 2:15 ..... she shall BE SAVED IN CHILDBEARING ...
Revelation 12:5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron....
Philippians 2:5 Let this MIND be IN YOU, which was also in Christ Jesus
Philippians 2:6 Who being in the form (image) of God, thought it not robbery to equal to God.
1 Corinthians 2:16 ....we have the MIND of CHRIST ....
Romans 8:29 .... being predestinated (by the resurrection of Christ) to be conformed to his image .....
Revelation 2:26 And to him that overcometh (deception) and keepeth MY WORKS, to him will I give power over the nations .....
God bless you
Praise GOD
What does the Word of GOD say for this current time, the seventh and last Day, the Lord's Day, or seventh and last millennium? The Word is GOD, self-executable, understand?
Romans 6:2-3
2 Do ye not know that the saints shall Judge the WORLD? and if the WORLD shall be Judged by you(we), are ye(we) unworthy to Judge the smallest matters?
3 Know ye not that we shall Judge angels (ANGELS of the Churches: Revelation 2:2; and 2:9; and 2:14-17; and 2:20; and 3:1-3; and 3:7-8; and 3:14-18)? How much more things that pertain to this life?
Daniel 7:22
22 ... and Judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the Kingdom.
Revelation 11:15-18
15 ... The kingdoms OF THIS WORLD are become the Kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
18 And the nations were (WILL BE) angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
Get ready
1 Peter 4:17 - 17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
John 2:28 - And now, little children, abide in Him; that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.
So, John pastored there. And like I said, Paul was there for about three years. Timothy took over after him for a year and a half, and the letters and the missionary efforts coming out from here went all the way through and the seven churches in Revelation had actually started from out of Ephesus, one of the capitals and the main encampment of Christianity.
Right outside of Ephesus is where the tomb of Mary is supposed to be, as history tells us that Mary actually wound up in Ephesus and spent her last days there. Ephesus was the Roman capital of Asia. Ephesus was known for having one of the seven wonders of the world - the temple of Artemis (or Diana).
Ephesus is believed to be evangelized by Priscilla and Aquila. ( Acts 18:18-19). The church in Ephesus was later established by Paul during his third missionary journey. ( Acts 19). Paul ministered there for three years. After Paul left, Timothy pastored the church for about 1 1/2 years.
Paul wrote to Timothy in Ephesus to counter false teaching by two leaders in the church in Ephesus - Hymenaeus and Alexander ( I Timothy 1:3 and I Timothy 1:20).
Thirty years later, Christ gave the message to Ephesus in Revelation 2:1-7. So, thirty years later, the Lord said that you have left your first love. And that was Christ's message to them!
IV. THE THEME OF EPHESIANS:
It presents the believer's position in Christ. The term "in Christ" is the key phrase in the letter to the Ephesians.
In this chapter, the Israelites are camping near an Acacia Grove. Such groves were often used by pagans to worship Baal and Asherah. They were still in the land of Moab east of the Jordan River and Jericho. Balaam had taken leave of Balak at this time. Israel did not know what Balak and Balaam were plotting. Because Balaam knew that God would not go back on His word and curse Israel whom He had blessed, he came up with a new way to bring harm to the nation of Israel. Revelation 2:12-17 speaks of Balaam's involvement in the incidents in this chapter of Numbers, saying that Balaam instructed Balak to have the women invite the Israelite men to their idol feasts and to entice them into sexual and spiritual immorality by participating in sexual immorality associated with the worship of Baal. Soon, the men were also bowing down to Baal.
This incident in Numbers 25 is where Israel was introduced into Baal worship. YHWH was full of anger at this immorality and idolatry from the very people He blessed and set apart for Himself in a covenant relationship. The men so easily broke this covenant. And by breaking it, the curses of this broken covenant came upon Israel from the hand of YHWH. So, Balaam was successful in devising a way for Israel to be cursed, not that God changed His mind or His blessing to a curse, but by the people bringing upon themselves the curses that were a part of the covenantal agreement they made with YHWH at Sinai.
So, Balaam's scheme worked, but he did not get to enjoy his success for long. He was killed in Moab when he abode among the Midianites when Isael came against Midian at God's direction. Israel slew all of the Midianite men in the area and most of the women.
In this era and area of the world, sexual immorality was a part of the way they worshipped Baal and Asherah. Apparently, Moab, descended from Lot, took to Baal worship early on. cont.
I am sorry I should have proofread that better. It should have been Revelation 2:27 Revelation 12:5 and Revelation 19:15, these are verses that show the man child the woman birthed is Jesus That He will reign and rule with a rod of iron.
God bless,
RLW