Revelation 2:1 "Unto the angel (this is an arch-angel) of the church of Ephesus write:
(Ephesus = permitted. Relate this church to the 10 virgins, i.e. the 5 who were short of God's Word. Misled by the "rapture" theory.)
'These things saith He that holdeth the seven stars
(These stars are the angels over each of these churches, and the "golden candlesticks" are the seven churches. This was established in the first chapter.)
in His right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks:
(Which are the 7 churches. See 1:12,13, and cp. Lev. 26:12. Deut. 23:14, &c. 2 Cor. 6:16. Jesus told John to write to the church at Ephesus first. The message is to Christians in all churches of these end times, and now especially to those who have doctrines and works that match that of the Ephesus Church.)
2 I know thy works and thy labor and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them that are evil; and how thou hast tried them that say they are apostles and are not, and hast found them liars;
(Jesus recognizes the good traits of this church and it's people, including the fact that this church even tests their members according to their fruits of their works and words. This church even has pinpointed the liars, or hypocrites that live and worship amongst them.)
3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for My name's sake hast labored and hast not fainted.
4 Nevertheless, I have something against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
(The Father & Christ. There are many who have left Christ, and have gone to forms of godliness, but in doing so, they deny the power thereof [of God].
Remember, these are the seven types of Churches in the world that exist on "the Day of the Lord", or the Lord's day. That day is the day the seventh trumpet sounds, and our Lord Jesus Christ returns.
Does your church preach and believe in the "Virgin birth of Christ"? How about the death, and resurrection, and the ascension into heaven of Jesus Christ? Does your church believe that the only way to the Heavenly Father is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ? How about all those stories and parables in the Bible; how is your church teaching them? This is what tell you if your church has left it's first love.
To deny Jesus' virgin birth, His death and resurrection, and ascension into heaven, is to deny that Jesus Christ is our Savior. Many ministers today simply do not believe that the Bible is anything but a storybook. Their sermons are about everything sweet and lovely, but not of God's love and justice. Many of these pastors are locked into the traditions of their denominations that they learned in their seminary, and to sway from that could mean loss of job, and more important to many of these preachers, their pensions or livelihood. But for whatever their reason, the truths of God's holy Word has taken the back seat to their systems traditions.)
5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent and do the works as at first;
(Learning & studying. There are many churches that never study from the Old Testament. They leave their members in total ignorance and open to the deceptions that are coming upon us, that are increasing by the day.)
or else I will come unto thee quickly and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, unless thou repent.
(Jesus is warning this Church of Ephesus to repent, and get back into all of God's Word. Christ is the center of the entire Word of God, and He is the first love of all your study.
God is threatening that if you do not get back to your first love, He will tare your church up. If that candlestick representation your church and it will be gone. What again was this church doing that was so wrong? They strayed from Christ and His teachings, and in their believing in the Word of God. The focus of their worship was not Christ, but worldly matters. If you have strayed, repent and get back on track.)
6 But this thou hast: that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
(Baal worship. They are hateful and disruptive people towards God. In the Strong's Concordance, their number is #3531, "Kebarah", and here we are referred to #3527. When we go there we see these people are called, "Kabar; to accumulate in large number, an abundance; to multiply." The church at Pergamos also practiced this.
The Dixon Bible Dictionary said of the "Nicolaitanes", "They had become established in the Churches of Ephesus and Pergamos; and taught that it was the right and liberty of Christians to eat meat offered to idols, and indulge in other forms of heathenism."
In modern day churches, most are taking in heathen forms of religious practices in their worship, and accepting heathen traditions as being from God. Doctrine and deeds which are contrary to God's Word are allowed and even promoted. This should cause you to draw attention to Romans 11:7, where Paul said, "Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded."
This is speaking to the time of our generation, and that obtainable thing that is the wisdom and knowledge within all of God's Word. Included are all prophecies, and the understanding that the Antichrist comes first. This one world system spreading now over the earth will drag all religious orders to it, including Christian churches. The Nicolaitanes will try to convince the churches of the type of Ephesus and Pergamos to join them. And they will accept the heathen customs and traditions that fit into this godless "one world system", that has already been formed.)
7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the Tree of Life,
(= Christ, the first love.)
which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.'
(Ff you are an overcomer against these godless practices and doctrines, you will partake in Christ's Millennium Kingdom. This is discussed fully in chapter twenty two. You will either be in this "paradise of God" as an overcomer, or after judgment you will be sent to the lake of fire. Your church system could lead you there.)
8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write:
(Smyrna translated means strengthened perfume.)
'These things saith the First and the Last, who was dead and is alive:
(Here is the second church Jesus told John to write about. It is the church of Smyrna, and all those churches of today which are like it. This is one of the churches God is very pleased with. If your church is not like Smyrna, then you could be in trouble. The key to the church of Smyrna's form of worship is that they took and understood the entire Word of God.
Remember from the first chapter; "He that is first [first earth age], and the last [eternal] is our Lord Jesus Christ". "The Alpha and Omega" is one of the names for Jesus Christ, and it is He that is speaking to John. "Which was dead, and is alive;" is another description of Jesus. Jesus Christ's flesh body was crucified and dead, and in three days Jesus came alive to conquer death. Jesus is the Messiah.)
9 I know thy works and tribulation and poverty (but thou art rich),
(Have peace of mind.)
and I know the blasphemy of them that say they are Jews and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
("Jews" = Kenites = the sons of Cain. Ioudos has two meanings in the Greek; 1. = offspring of Judah, 2. = resident of the land of Judea. Always use the meaning which is relevant to the context. See also 3:7-10. This church is one of the two churches that taught this were the ONLY two churches Christ found no fault with. Does your church teach this?)
10 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.
(No big deal with Christ on your side. See Mark 13:9-11.)
Be thou faithful unto death,
(= the devil, Satan is death.)
and I will give thee a crown of Life.
(When you know exactly what the deceptions of these Kenites are and from the rest of Revelation, you how these Kenites are working. The purpose is how to identify them, and then you will have nothing to fear from them. God will protect you, for the entire tribulation is nothing but smoke and mirrors. It's deceptions, tricks, and all sorts of supernatural wonders given by God to Satan [the Antichrist]. The Antichrist and his children, the Kenites, will use those powers to deceive you into worshipping Satan in ignorance as the true Christ.
When you know who Satan is, and that he comes to the earth before Jesus Christ comes, you simply can not be tricked by Satan or his children. These Kenites are Satan's children through the womb of Eve. The child born from that sexual union was "Cain", and all the offspring of Cain, to this generation are called the "Kenites". Though you are unaware of this, rest assured that the Kenites know all about themselves. This race of Kenites have copied and mimic what ever group they happen to enter.
I Chronicles 2:55 "And the families of the scribes which dwelt in Jabez [Jerusalem], the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, the Suchathites. These are the Kenites that came of Hemath, the father of the house of Rechab."
These scribes were the Sopherites that set out to write the "Textual Criticism" called the "Sopherim". Their purpose was to rewrite the Word of God, and teach is as their traditions, to replace the teaching of the Massorah of the Levitical priesthood. This is why they sought to kill Jesus from the day of the start of his ministry, Jesus knew the difference. Notice also that they are of the house of Rechab, of the lineage of Cain, not of the house of Israel, they came from the land of Hemath, of the location of the Kenites.
I Chronicles 2:55 gives us the time that the Kenites took over the duties of the scribes, or keeping safe the true meaning of God's Word, and because of this we have a Massorah Text. Whereby if anything is added to, or taken away from God's Word, it would stand out. These Kenites dominated the priestly duties of the Levites also, when the Jews came out of Babylon. This is quite obvious by Ezra's writing, in Ezra 2:43-65. It is this band of Kenites that sat in the seat of Moses, that Jesus referred to constantly through His ministry in the Gospels.
The nature of the Kenites is exactly as their father Satan is, thus when you understand how Satan infiltrates, and uses and twists the Word of God to deceive and confuse, you can see how these people will infiltrate your church, and lead you into their father's camp. We are told in Mark 13:11 that when you go against them, they will cause you to give an answer why you will not follow them. There is a reason you are not to think ahead at this time of what you will say, but to let the Holy Spirit to speak through you. That is because these people are wordsmiths, they know how to take words you say and twist meanings to accommodate themselves. Satan and his kids know the Word of God, and be assured that they have been in a position to distort it for thousands of years.
Don't make plans to fight the Antichrist, for you will lose. Instead, study to prepare yourself to know about him, and what he will do. He will do exactly what God will give him authority to do, and nothing more. When we keep our eyes on Jesus Christ and know we will not see Him in this flesh body each of us have, then the hardest step is out of the way. For whoever claims to be Christ, simply cannot be, for you will see Him in your flesh body.
We see also in Mark 13:11, the total time of tribulation for the saints and faithful is for ten [10] days. To those who hold fast to the Lord for those ten days, God's reward to His elect [those that know the truth and remain true to Christ] is "the crown of Life", that is eternal life. This earth age is about over, and our minds should be set, and looking to the day of our Lord's return.
The only two that are assured of losing their lives in the Antichrist's tribulation are the two witnesses. Their death marks the last three and an half days of this earth age. Then Christ will return. This is recorded in Revelation 11 and we will study it in detail.
Remember that the Church at Smyrna is still on earth when all this takes place. No so-called "rapture" has occurred; However, all those who are looking for the rapture will have already served the Antichrist, and taken his name and his number.)
11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. He that overcometh shall not be hurt by the second death.'
(Those in the Church of Smyrna are getting ready to receive the "crown of life", eternal life. Those who receive this reward will not see the second death, the death of the soul.)
12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write: 'These things saith He that hath the sharp sword with two edges:
("Per'-ga-mos" is the type of another church existing in these latter days; compare it now to your Church. The reference to the "sharp sword with two edges", is because Jesus Christ is preparing to do some cutting on some dead wood. A pruning is going to take place. He is going to discipline the Pergamos church.)
13 I know thy works and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is; and that 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.
(The Pergamos Church is a very high-minded church. This church had a special high authoritative person they called "savior" [not Christ], and this church believed that you had to go through him, and please him to be saved and approach the Heavenly Father. The symbol of this "savior" was the serpent. This is because of his identification being related back to Ancient Babylonian worship. He was a follower of the serpent [Satan], even though the things he did and said appeared to be good.
Pergamos still carries the true name of Christ, with a strong faith. The time is fixed for us when this church claims to be Christ, but takes an identification with the "seat of Satan". "Antipas" in the Greek, is "Anti-father", or "Antichrist" in the spiritual sense. We are observing this Church of Pergamos in John's vision that takes place "on the Lord's day". This is looking back on the final days of this earth age.
As we will see in Revelation 12:7, Satan is now in heaven as our accuser, until the time when Michael casts him, and his fallen angels to the earth. The actual time of "Antipas" or Satan's coming is set in Revelation 9:1, when the fifth angel sounds the fifth trumpet. These events will be covered in detail in those chapters.
Satan is God's servant, just as Nebuchadnezzar was God's servant in Ancient Babylon. The seat of Satan will be in Jerusalem, and that is where he will dwell. Satan, the Antichrist, will dwell and live in Jerusalem, just as you expect the True Christ to come and reign. That is why we are told in Matthew 24, and Mark 13, that when you see him there, you had better get out of Judea [the nation of Israel today].)
14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam,
(Taught people for money, riches. Don't be a beggar. We are talking about religious activities, and spiritual matters here. This "fornication" is a spiritual act. "Balaam" was a teacher who taught for money. He was so stupid that he couldn't hear when God talked directly to him. In fact he didn't even realize the difference when the ass he was riding spoke to him. This old boy still can't catch on, because all he can think of is preaching, and collecting his money for that teaching.
Where and how does money come into your church with respect to the Word of God? Is their a constant plea for money? When sermons are built around money, and programs are created for the purpose of generating, then ultimately they are building your spiritual relationship to what you give [they get]. Then your church is comparable to the Church at Pergamos. Your preacher becomes a spiritual beggar at the pulpit. The tithe is the Lord's, but the purpose of the church, and it's pastor, is to teach the Word of God. A pledge is not a tithe, because the tithe is a tenth of what God has placed in your hands that belongs to Him. When your pastor takes your full tenth, are you getting the full Word of God, or just spiritual crumbs from him?. Scraps from the table of the Lord does not prepare anyone to stand against the "wiles of the devil".)
who taught Balak to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
15 So thou also hast them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
16 Repent, or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.
17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna (= God's Truth), and will give him a white stone,
(= to count, to understand the Word of God.)
and on the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth save he that receiveth it.'
(God's elect. See also Zech. 4:9. The word "stone" is #5586 In the Strong's Concordance it means; "a pebble worn smooth in counting." This is also part of Revelation 13, where we are told "to count the number of the beast." That number of the beast is the number of man. The word "count" is not like counting numbers 1, 2, 3, and so on; but comes from an outdated Greek word "Stigma". In the Greek, Strong's #5585, "Psephizo, psay-fid-zo; from 5586; to use pebbles in enumeration, to compute, to count".
Strong's #5586, "Psephos, psay'-fos; a pebble [as worn smooth in handling],i.e., to use as a counter or ballot, a verdict of acquittal or ticket of admission; by vote-stone". The Kenites use their skills in controlling the majority, in determining right or wrong, who is in power, and the bases of their world system through the United Nations. This is exactly how we are going to lose national sovereignty, and be brought under control of this satanic system, at the ballot box, by the polls, and through the Demotrcratic process of the numbering of the people.
In the "Song of Moses" , in Deuteronomy 32:30-31 it is clear that Satan is presented as a "rock", or stone. To the overcomers that are aware that; "this rock is not like our Rock", where most Christians do not know the difference between the two rocks. The Church of Pergamos did not know the difference.
Though in the English the words "stone", and "count" are far apart, however in the Greek they were not. They have the same prime root meaning. So by giving the number 666, that number has the same root meaning as counting and identifying stones, or rocks. The whole idea of taking a number, like the branding on ones body of a tattoo and have it commit you to Satan is out-right ignorance. For by force, anyone can be branded, and as such, not one child of God loses his or salvation. This will be discussed in detail in a later chapter.
Jesus is telling John that the Key to being acceptable to Him, is when you are able to know the difference between the two rocks; the true Rock being Christ, and the fake rock is the Antichrist. We are to be able to count those pebbles [666], and know those fakes [the Kenites]. The Kenites will deceive you if you lack the "hidden manna", the truths in God's Word.
Revelation 2:18 "And unto the angel of the church in Thy-a-ti'-ra write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine [burnished] brass;")
18 And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write: 'These things saith the Son of God, who hath His eyes like unto a flame of fire, and His feet are like fine brass:
19 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.
(This sounds like a good group of people, only their works are a lot stronger then their charity. God is commending them for their works. The problem here is also that at Thyatira is ignorant of who the Kenites are. Their works do not cover up their lack of knowledge of God's Word.)
20 Notwithstanding, I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel,
(See 1 Kings 16:30-34; 21:25. This patroness of Baal-worship will have her sinister anti-type in the future. Here it is used in irony. Jezebel being translated means chaste.)
who calleth herself a prophetess,to teach and to seduce My servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
(They listen to her and not to God's Word. This church allowed those that claimed to be prophets of God to lead them into false religion.)
21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication, and she repented not.
(Christ paid the price on the cross with His blood and gave them the opportunity to repent, but they wouldn't.)
22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed,
(With the false Christ.)
and them that commit adultery with her
(= idolatry. The great apostasy.)
into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds.
(This is the tribulation of the Antichrist. The tribulation of the Antichrist is the only subject of Matthew 24, Mark, 13, and Luke 21. They are the most detailed prophecies concerning the time prior to the return of Christ, and our gathering back to Him. You, as an individual can be an overcomer, regardless of what your local church body does.
This great falling away that will happen just prior to our Lord's return is called the great "Apostacy". This is because when the Antichrist arrives on earth, many Christians will believe that the Antichrist is the true Christ, and will follow and worship the Antichrist in ignorance. At that moment, they have been "seduced" by him.)
23 And I will kill her children with death (= spiritual death), and all the churches shall know that I am He that searcheth the reins and hearts; and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.
(Good and bad. God doesn't like false teachers. Judgment begins at the pulpit. May God help those that lead even one of His children astray. Stick to His Word.)
24 But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine and who have not known the depths of Satan (as they say) I will put upon you no other burden.
(This is addressed to those who have not taken part in the Antichrist's deception. It is to those who are within the Church of Thyatira, or one like it, but have not joined in her Jezebel practice. These saints are not, and will not be judged with the others, nor held accountable for the actions of them. Jesus Christ will see that you are protected against all fiery darts of deception in Satan's spiritual warfare, if you only arm yourself with the spiritual armor. This is an individual thing, because the Church simply can not save anyone, for through Jesus Christ we are cleansed of our sins.)
25 But that which ye have already, hold fast till I come.
(Do you know the depths of Satan? Do you realize Satan will be cast down from heaven and be here on earth as antichrist? If you don't, you are already in Thyatira.)
26 And he that overcometh and keepeth My works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations,
(Notice here that it does NOT say, keep my faith to the end. It says, "Keep my works to the end". It is quite common to hear, "All you need is to have faith". Friend, that will not be sufficient in these latter days, while Satan is on earth ruling as the Antichrist. "Faith" is of value to us in this end generation, for by faith we generate our actions into studying God's Word, and gain understanding and wisdom from the Scriptures, which in turn builds our confidence in Jesus Christ. The more wisdom we have from the Scriptures, the more passion we have to work and serve God. You simply cannot have faith, without a commitment to serve Jesus Christ.)
27 And "he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers,"
(Quoted from Ps. 2:8,9.)
even as I have received from My Father.
(Do you accomplish God's works, or your own? You would be able to know the answer by whether you are being blessed or not. The Son will rule with a rod of Iron. Those that lead others astray through fraud and deceit deserve the rod.)
28 And I will give him the morning star.
(= early light, truth. There are two morning stars, and the first star to come in these end days will be the Antichrist. Isaiah 14:12; "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lu-ci-fer [day star], Thy son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!"
How many teachers have been tricked into believing this is Christ? Once God has sealed His "elect" and the 144,000 in their minds, the rest of mankind will be given over to Satan, the morning star. see Revelation 9:1-5.)
29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches!'
(Be certain you are in a church that teaches as Smyrna and Philadelphia. You must know those who claim to be of Judah, but they are of the synagogue of Satan [Rev. 2:9 and 3:9]. You must know the key of David. What do you do with that key? You reach out to your brothers and sisters that are lost.)