Revelation 2:26 - And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
And he who is overcoming, again that's a Present Participle. He who (is) overcoming, and keeps my works. The word keeps is not to do. It's TEREO, which means to guard against outside influence interfering with the Lord's works. Who keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
Revelation 2:28 - And I will give him the morning star.
Beginning in the book of Numbers, there's a prophecy given to the Jews that the star represented the Messiah. In Revelation 22:16, we will see that Jesus says He is the morning star. It represents the Messianic rule of Christ.
Revelation 3:3 - Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. The phrase "hold fast" is the word TEREO which means to guard.
There are different theological approaches to the book of Revelation, and I'll try and point out some to you as we go through this. But Chapter 4 Verse 1 is the verse that's used by those who believe that the believers will be raptured prior to the Tribulation Period, because number 1, the door had been opened, and number two, a trumpet was talking to him.
It's the same as Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 4:13, I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that you sorrow not, as others which have no hope. He had just said in this chapter that the trump of God would sound. It would be a great shout, and the trump of God would sound. And so here is the trumpet talking to John saying come up here.
And those who hold the Pre-Trib. position see that as equivalent to the rapture of the church that is happening. And from now on, John will see everything from heaven, and the church will no longer be on the earth, but the multitudes will be in heaven.
And many believe that's an indication, among other scriptures, especially 1 Thessalonians Chapter 5 where it gives us the Tribulation Period, and he says this is for the wrath of God, and we have not been chosen for the wrath of God.
Thanks, brother. If you wouldn't mind sharing your thoughts on Revelation 3:10-11, I feel it connects with verse 12. The one thing we must understand is that the great tribulation and the wrath of God are not the same thing. As we will see later in Revelation, there will be two resurrections; a rapture of the Church would make three. Why would the last of the Church be spared what all those in Christ from the beginning of the Church have not been spared? History has recorded their faith and the horrendous ways they were killed.
In short, here is my understanding of the two verses you asked me about. Revelation 3:10-11 is the exhortation to the church. Verse 10 is His promise to His people who are faithful. He has promised that they will not go through the tribulation and trial that is to come upon the whole earth. In Verse 11, He says that no man take thy crown. My understanding is that this is not salvation that is taken but the rewards given to the believers.
As far as the Tribulation Period goes, I understand it to be a 7-year period, with the last 3-1/2 years being called the Great Tribulation, a time where God's wrath will be poured out on an unbelieving world. As far as resurrections, I have never made any reference to there being three. I believe there will be two resurrections, one for the just (believers), and another one at the end of the 1,000-year reign for those who rejected Christ. The resurrection of the saints, the collecting of Christ, that many call the rapture, when the dead are raised first, and we are raised with them, that is the first resurrection. There is a second resurrection, and that is when the unbelieving dead are raised after the thousand-year reign of Christ.
I have read Foxe's book of Martyrs, and I agree with you that the early church went through some excruciating torture and death. I hope I am misunderstanding you, but it seems as though you feel we as the church should have to go through the same brutality. Again, I hope I am just misunderstanding what you stated. I do apologize for the late reply. I had a couple of busy days, plus I have been trying to focus and finish up the last of this New Testament study.
Brother, you didn't misunderstand. As I mentioned, the Great Tribulation and the wrath of God are two distinct events. I know you are busy; we can talk about it later.
I understood what you meant when you said that the Great Tribulation and the wrath of God are two distinct events. I understand that that is your belief. What I was not sure of was your question asking, "Why would the last of the Church be spared what all those in Christ from the beginning of the Church have not been spared?" The believers at the beginning of the church were tortured in the most gruesome ways imaginable. Even after suffering and surviving the torture, many were burnt alive. If I am understanding you correctly, it looks as though you feel that we as the church today should have to suffer the same things that the early church suffered.
Yes, brother, we are no different from those who came before us. Nowhere in Revelation does it say we will be taken out. Revelation is clear: anyone who will not take the mark will be killed. Revelation 13:9 If any man hath an ear, let him hear. "Here is the patience and the faith of the saints". The faithful are still here, and many will be beheaded and killed. We are to endure to the end, even if we face death.
I hope this is enough; this could be a long discussion. I know you are working on this, and I do not want to slow it down. I hope you don't mind if I reply, this is most important for the truth.
As a foundation for any man's thinking is it not written that " When the Holy Spirit shall come ,He will lead us into all truth"? and ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free ?
In the matter of what is called the" rapture" but which really should be called the " translation" of the Bride . The importance of the matter as to the truth WHEN it will happen is beyond dispute. For if a man believes it will be post great tribulation and it is pre great tribulation he clearly will not be ready and will miss it .
That there is so much confusion in the church is a result of so much confusion in many a pulpit who aproach the scruptures in a purely intellectual subjecting them to man's thinking nd understanding rather than man subjecting his thinking to the scriptures and " leaning upon the beloved ".
First we must understand the scriptures have two 'tribulations' . The one that " all who live Godly in Christ Jesus will suffer tribulation" this is the lot of all who live Godly lives .
Then there is the " great tribulation" a time when if the Lord did not shorten the ( number) days no one would be saved" .
This is the time of the anti christ and of " Jacobs trouble" and the outpouring of Gods judgements upon the world
This we must have clear in our minds .
Now no man knows the time of His appearing " In the air" but we are given signs of the season .
As in the days of Enoch is one . Note that Noah was also in those times . He was saved through Gods judgement on the earth . Enoch was translated before the outpouring of it and did not see death . " For God took him" .
As in the days of Lot " In the days of Lot we also had Abraham . Now Lot though counted righteous ( for his righteous soul was vexed") he walked by sight and not by faith for when they both were blessed so much the land coukd not contain them without conflict Abraham who walked by faith said to him " If you go that way I'll go this way but if you go this way I'll go that way "
Revelation 4:1 - After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.
First, let me share with you that the Greek word for our English word hereafter is the word META TOUTA which means after these things.
After this, and the Greek text reads META TOUTA, 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 shew thee things which must happen hereafter, META TOUTA.
This of course is Christ. We know that from Chapter 1. But I wanted to read that last line of Verse 1. These are the things that must happen META TOUTA. And that's exactly what he said in Verse 19. So, the things that are hereafter go from Chapter 4 Verse 1 through Chapter 22 Verse 5.
So, we're starting on this part three, the things which shall be hereafter. And Chapter 4 Verse 1 through Chapter 5 Verse 14 is the description of the scene in heaven. The first two verses is the transition in heaven.
John says, after this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: The Perfect Tense verb shows that the door had already been open. It was standing open when John saw the door.
Secondly, and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; That would be back in Chapter 1 Verse 10. That's the Lord Himself, speaking as it were a trumpet, which said to him, Come up here, and I will show you things which must be hereafter, or META TOUTA.
Revelation 3:12 - 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.
To the one overcoming (Present Participle), I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: That pillar being that stationary permanent fixture in God's temple in heaven. He says you'll never go out again.
Earlier, I said that if you hang in there and read the rest of the scriptures, it tells you what the new name is. And I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which comes down from out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. It's His name, name of ownership!
Revelation 3;14 - And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
To the angel of the church of the Laodiceans, the direction to John, write; and then we see the description of Christ: These things says the Amen. This is found twice in Chapter 1, but it is from a Hebrew word, AMEIN, which means of a truth, or so be it. Christ is the Amen.
In Chapter 1, He is the faithful and true witness, and He is the beginning of the creation of God, which is a paraphrase of Him being the first begotten from the dead which is a title to be the head of those who have died. He is the beginning of the creation of God.
Revelation 3:21 - 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.
To the one who is overcoming (Present Participle), will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also have overcome, and am set down with my Father in his throne. Talk about an intimate fellowship that time will be!
Revelation 3:5 - He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
He that overcomes, and again, that's a Present Participle. To the one who (is) overcoming, 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.
There are references in the Old Testament that tell us there's more than one book ( Exodus 32:32-33, Daniel 12:1-2, Psalm 69:28). There's the book of life which has listed in it everybody that has received human life. And then there's the book of the Lamb, those who belong to Christ.
In the book of life, if a person rejects Christ, their name is removed from the book of life as if they've never been born. They're gone! But no one is ever blotted out of the Lamb's book of life. If you go back into the Old Testament and you study from those references, it will show you that there's more than one book. And the Jews knew that.
It's not that God has books up there. But it's just a human example or an illustration that God knows everything, all the people that have been born, and all the people that belong to Christ. He says I will not blot out his name out of the book of life. And I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. Jesus said that He would do that.
Revelation 2:26 - And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
And he who is overcoming, again that's a Present Participle. He who (is) overcoming, and keeps my works. The word keeps is not to do. It's TEREO, which means to guard against outside influence interfering with the Lord's works. Who keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
Revelation 2:28 - And I will give him the morning star.
Beginning in the book of Numbers, there's a prophecy given to the Jews that the star represented the Messiah. In Revelation 22:16, we will see that Jesus says He is the morning star. It represents the Messianic rule of Christ.
Revelation 3:3 - Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. The phrase "hold fast" is the word TEREO which means to guard.
Revelation 4:1 Continued
There are different theological approaches to the book of Revelation, and I'll try and point out some to you as we go through this. But Chapter 4 Verse 1 is the verse that's used by those who believe that the believers will be raptured prior to the Tribulation Period, because number 1, the door had been opened, and number two, a trumpet was talking to him.
It's the same as Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 4:13, I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that you sorrow not, as others which have no hope. He had just said in this chapter that the trump of God would sound. It would be a great shout, and the trump of God would sound. And so here is the trumpet talking to John saying come up here.
And those who hold the Pre-Trib. position see that as equivalent to the rapture of the church that is happening. And from now on, John will see everything from heaven, and the church will no longer be on the earth, but the multitudes will be in heaven.
And many believe that's an indication, among other scriptures, especially 1 Thessalonians Chapter 5 where it gives us the Tribulation Period, and he says this is for the wrath of God, and we have not been chosen for the wrath of God.
Thanks, brother. If you wouldn't mind sharing your thoughts on Revelation 3:10-11, I feel it connects with verse 12. The one thing we must understand is that the great tribulation and the wrath of God are not the same thing. As we will see later in Revelation, there will be two resurrections; a rapture of the Church would make three. Why would the last of the Church be spared what all those in Christ from the beginning of the Church have not been spared? History has recorded their faith and the horrendous ways they were killed.
God bless,
RLW
In short, here is my understanding of the two verses you asked me about. Revelation 3:10-11 is the exhortation to the church. Verse 10 is His promise to His people who are faithful. He has promised that they will not go through the tribulation and trial that is to come upon the whole earth. In Verse 11, He says that no man take thy crown. My understanding is that this is not salvation that is taken but the rewards given to the believers.
As far as the Tribulation Period goes, I understand it to be a 7-year period, with the last 3-1/2 years being called the Great Tribulation, a time where God's wrath will be poured out on an unbelieving world. As far as resurrections, I have never made any reference to there being three. I believe there will be two resurrections, one for the just (believers), and another one at the end of the 1,000-year reign for those who rejected Christ. The resurrection of the saints, the collecting of Christ, that many call the rapture, when the dead are raised first, and we are raised with them, that is the first resurrection. There is a second resurrection, and that is when the unbelieving dead are raised after the thousand-year reign of Christ.
I have read Foxe's book of Martyrs, and I agree with you that the early church went through some excruciating torture and death. I hope I am misunderstanding you, but it seems as though you feel we as the church should have to go through the same brutality. Again, I hope I am just misunderstanding what you stated. I do apologize for the late reply. I had a couple of busy days, plus I have been trying to focus and finish up the last of this New Testament study.
Blessings!
Brother, you didn't misunderstand. As I mentioned, the Great Tribulation and the wrath of God are two distinct events. I know you are busy; we can talk about it later.
God bless,
RLW
I understood what you meant when you said that the Great Tribulation and the wrath of God are two distinct events. I understand that that is your belief. What I was not sure of was your question asking, "Why would the last of the Church be spared what all those in Christ from the beginning of the Church have not been spared?" The believers at the beginning of the church were tortured in the most gruesome ways imaginable. Even after suffering and surviving the torture, many were burnt alive. If I am understanding you correctly, it looks as though you feel that we as the church today should have to suffer the same things that the early church suffered.
Thank you for the response.
God Bless!!!
Yes, brother, we are no different from those who came before us. Nowhere in Revelation does it say we will be taken out. Revelation is clear: anyone who will not take the mark will be killed. Revelation 13:9 If any man hath an ear, let him hear. "Here is the patience and the faith of the saints". The faithful are still here, and many will be beheaded and killed. We are to endure to the end, even if we face death.
I hope this is enough; this could be a long discussion. I know you are working on this, and I do not want to slow it down. I hope you don't mind if I reply, this is most important for the truth.
God bless,
RLW
In the matter of what is called the" rapture" but which really should be called the " translation" of the Bride . The importance of the matter as to the truth WHEN it will happen is beyond dispute. For if a man believes it will be post great tribulation and it is pre great tribulation he clearly will not be ready and will miss it .
That there is so much confusion in the church is a result of so much confusion in many a pulpit who aproach the scruptures in a purely intellectual subjecting them to man's thinking nd understanding rather than man subjecting his thinking to the scriptures and " leaning upon the beloved ".
First we must understand the scriptures have two 'tribulations' . The one that " all who live Godly in Christ Jesus will suffer tribulation" this is the lot of all who live Godly lives .
Then there is the " great tribulation" a time when if the Lord did not shorten the ( number) days no one would be saved" .
This is the time of the anti christ and of " Jacobs trouble" and the outpouring of Gods judgements upon the world
This we must have clear in our minds .
Now no man knows the time of His appearing " In the air" but we are given signs of the season .
As in the days of Enoch is one . Note that Noah was also in those times . He was saved through Gods judgement on the earth . Enoch was translated before the outpouring of it and did not see death . " For God took him" .
As in the days of Lot " In the days of Lot we also had Abraham . Now Lot though counted righteous ( for his righteous soul was vexed") he walked by sight and not by faith for when they both were blessed so much the land coukd not contain them without conflict Abraham who walked by faith said to him " If you go that way I'll go this way but if you go this way I'll go that way "
Revelation 4:1 - After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.
First, let me share with you that the Greek word for our English word hereafter is the word META TOUTA which means after these things.
After this, and the Greek text reads META TOUTA, 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 shew thee things which must happen hereafter, META TOUTA.
This of course is Christ. We know that from Chapter 1. But I wanted to read that last line of Verse 1. These are the things that must happen META TOUTA. And that's exactly what he said in Verse 19. So, the things that are hereafter go from Chapter 4 Verse 1 through Chapter 22 Verse 5.
So, we're starting on this part three, the things which shall be hereafter. And Chapter 4 Verse 1 through Chapter 5 Verse 14 is the description of the scene in heaven. The first two verses is the transition in heaven.
John says, after this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: The Perfect Tense verb shows that the door had already been open. It was standing open when John saw the door.
Secondly, and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; That would be back in Chapter 1 Verse 10. That's the Lord Himself, speaking as it were a trumpet, which said to him, Come up here, and I will show you things which must be hereafter, or META TOUTA.
Revelation 3:12 - 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.
To the one overcoming (Present Participle), I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: That pillar being that stationary permanent fixture in God's temple in heaven. He says you'll never go out again.
Earlier, I said that if you hang in there and read the rest of the scriptures, it tells you what the new name is. And I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which comes down from out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. It's His name, name of ownership!
Revelation 3;14 - And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
To the angel of the church of the Laodiceans, the direction to John, write; and then we see the description of Christ: These things says the Amen. This is found twice in Chapter 1, but it is from a Hebrew word, AMEIN, which means of a truth, or so be it. Christ is the Amen.
In Chapter 1, He is the faithful and true witness, and He is the beginning of the creation of God, which is a paraphrase of Him being the first begotten from the dead which is a title to be the head of those who have died. He is the beginning of the creation of God.
Revelation 3:21 - 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.
To the one who is overcoming (Present Participle), will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also have overcome, and am set down with my Father in his throne. Talk about an intimate fellowship that time will be!
Revelation 3:5 - He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
He that overcomes, and again, that's a Present Participle. To the one who (is) overcoming, 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.
There are references in the Old Testament that tell us there's more than one book ( Exodus 32:32-33, Daniel 12:1-2, Psalm 69:28). There's the book of life which has listed in it everybody that has received human life. And then there's the book of the Lamb, those who belong to Christ.
In the book of life, if a person rejects Christ, their name is removed from the book of life as if they've never been born. They're gone! But no one is ever blotted out of the Lamb's book of life. If you go back into the Old Testament and you study from those references, it will show you that there's more than one book. And the Jews knew that.
It's not that God has books up there. But it's just a human example or an illustration that God knows everything, all the people that have been born, and all the people that belong to Christ. He says I will not blot out his name out of the book of life. And I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. Jesus said that He would do that.
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