Revelation Chapter 5

The Book Sealed with Seven Seals

Verse 1: Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals.

As the vision continued to unfold before him, John saw a book in the right hand of the Almighty God who was sitting on the throne. This book not only contained writings on the inside but also on the back of it showing that the contents were full and complete. This book was the “title deed” to the earth.

The book contains the story. The story is found in the book we call the bible. It is the story of redemption. Hence, the Holy Book can be called the “Book of Redemption” or figuratively, the “Book of Life”. The story of redemption tells of how the creator-God had originally given this good earth to the mankind, Adam. But Adam failed to obey God’s commandment by listening to his wife, who was deceived by the serpent.

Verse 2: And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, "Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?"
Verse 3: But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it.
Verse 4: I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside.

Since the time of the fall of man, there has not been one worthy enough to take the book and open it. None can break the seals or even take a peep at the contents. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Now, the fall of man did not catch God unaware. In fact, God foreknow it and permitted it to happen. Why? So that out of corruption shall come forth perfection and beauty (Psalm 50:2, Lamentation 2:15). The Apostle Paul wrote: For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God (Romans 8:20-21). Amen. But how? Through the seed of God – Jesus Christ Who was virgin born! Why? To bypass the original sin. It was absolutely essential for the Redeemer to have pure, undefiled blood running in His veins.

Verse 5: Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals."
Verse 6: Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

Praise the Lord! Amen! But who is this Lion of the tribe of Judah? He is none other than Jesus Christ Who is not only the King of Israel, but Who is also the King of all born again saints of His spiritual kingdom. Even as a King, He did not have the right to redeem because God demanded a lamb. So He became a Lamb. And He prevailed. Christ if the King and Savior of who believe in Him.

Notice, the lamb had “seven horns and seven eyes. Which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. Remember, what John saw was a vision, a pictorial scene, illustrative of God’s truth.
Now, the seven spirits which stood before the throne of God (Revelation 1) identified themselves so closely with Christ in His work throughout the church ages that they became a part of the Lamb. Here they are described as horns and eyes on the head of the lamb because they worked with the Head of the Church. Horns and eyes signify power and knowledge respectively. Hence the seven horns and seven eyes denote the omnipotence and omniscience of Christ Jesus in His dealing with His saints in His church.

Verse 7: He came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne.
Verse 8: And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

Remember that John saw all these in a vision. The one sitting on the throne is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ, who had overcome and now sits on the Father’s Throne. He is all of God, the Everlasting Father (Isaiah 9:6). He is the fullness of God (Colossians 2:9). God and Christ are one (John 10:30, 38). But the lamb personifies Jesus Christ in His work as a sacrificial lamb.

The four living creatures and the twenty four elders prostrated themselves before the Lamb and worshipped Him. Each had a harp and a golden vial that was filled with the prayers of the saints. Yes, God loves the adoration of His saints, their praises and prayers.

Verse 9: And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.
Verse 10: You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth."

In Revelation 4:9-11 they sung the song of creation. Here it is the new song of redemption with specific reference to the Lamb’s worthiness to open the scroll because of His work of redemption. Truly Jesus Christ, as a bloody lamb, was worthy to take the Book and to open and loose the seven seals because He willingly gave His life to be slain on the cross. With His blood He has redeemed people, in the great millennial reign of Christ.

Verse 11: Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders.
Verse 12: In a loud voice they sang: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!"

Not only the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders prostrated themselves before the Lamb to worship Him but all the angels in heaven also lifted their voices and worshipped the Lam. Notice that the worship was directed at the Lamb. Why? Because He was slain and had overcome and was therefore worthy to receive all the praises and adoration. Because He had overcome He was worthy to take the sealed scroll and open it. Because He could take the sealed scroll and loose the seals He was worthy to receive the power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory and blessing.

Verse 13: Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!"
Verse 14: The four living creatures said, "Amen," and the elders fell down and worshiped.

Every creature in the whole universe had to worship and glorify the Lamb because He was truly worthy. If He had not accomplished what He was ordained to do then there would be no redemption and creation would continue and end in death. He wants you to get intimate with Him so that He may give you the revelation which He has received Him from the Heavenly Father. He is doing all this through His Five Ascension ready for His coming.

Saints of God, do you see the Lord Jesus Christ in our midst? Do you recognize the true ministry? Therefore let us put on the hearth on the Holy Spirit and get that gold which has been tried in the fire that we may be rich and that we may put on the white raiment at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Revelation Chapter 4

The Throne in Heaven

Having shown John the conditions of the seven churches, God now goes on to show him that will come to pass in the due time. This chapter not only presents John as a type of the bride of Jesus Christ being brought up into heaven as the church closes out but also shows the bride being brought up in the Spirit of revelation.

Verse 1: After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this."

The “first voice” was the voice of the Lord Jesus Christ (Revelation 1:10-11). Like a trumpet that is blown to call one’s attention, the voice had shown John’s attention to an open door in the heaven right after Christ had shown the conditions of the seven churches. Because the bride of Jesus Christ is called out of the apostate system of the church, she is no longer living in the realm of the Laodicean church. So God set an open door for her to enter the heavenly realm.

“After this” or “after these things” denotes the transition from one part of the vision to another – it marks the succession of the visions and not of time. “Things which shall be hereafter” means after “the things which are”, that is, the conditions of the seven churches in Asia Minor shown to John who was asked to write a letter to each of them. See Revelation 1:19. Simply, it means the things which would come to pass from John’s time forward into the future.

Verse 2: At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it.

Straightaway John was caught up in the Spirit of Revelation. He was caught up into heaven in a vision and saw the Almighty sitting on a throne. Let me emphasize once again that the spirit of John was not transported into the future, to every century, to witness the events literally as they happened. Unfortunately, this is what some preachers are teaching.

“And one sat on the throne”. This is a self-evident statement: John saw One sat on the Throne because there is only One God. If there is a trinity (of Gods) John would have seen three Gods sitting on three thrones in heaven. If you are a believer of a Holy Trinity, you should now realize that you are being deceived by traditional theology of man.

Verse 3: And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne.

Christ Jesus, Who is sitting on the Throne, is full of the glory of God. He is the fullness of the Godhead bodily (Colossians 2:9). He is the image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15). Jesus Christ is the visible form of God that man could see. For the Almighty God is an invisible Spirit Whom no one can see (1 Timothy 1:17; 6:16)

Verse 4: Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads.

These twenty-four elders represent the Old Testament and the New Testament Church of God. They characterize the twelve patriarchs or Israel of the Old Testament and the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ of the New Testament. These two groups of twelve speaks of the following: “2” testifies of witness and “12” signifies the perfect government of God.

Verse 5: From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God.

In the Old Testament era, when God met with the people of Israel on Mount Sinai and when He gave the Ten Commandments to Moses, there were lightning, thunders, a thick cloud, the voice of trumpet and earthquake, smoke and fire (Exodus 19:16-18). Such phenomena show the awesome omnipotence of the Almighty God particularly when God is about to pass judgment or show His wrath from His throne.

Notice that John also heard voices coming from the throne. These voices denotes revelations proceeding from the throne. Every true revelation must originate from the Throne of God.

Verse 6: Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back.
Verse 7: The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle.

This “sea of glass like unto crystal” denotes a sea of people who are pure and holy. These are the chosen few who are the redeemed and the over comers of every age. They stand before their Lord and Master and await their rewards (Romans 14:10; 2 Corinthians 5:10). Later, they will sit on thrones set up for them (Revelation 20:4)

There is another “sea glass” in Revelation 15:2 but it is mingled with fire. The “four beasts” should be called the “four living creatures”. They are guardian angels with great intelligence. In the New Testament, we have the Four Gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Respectively, these four books reflect the nature and characteristics of Jesus Christ as the lion, which represents His royalty and kingship; the ox represents His patience and sacrifice; the man, which represents His sympathy and humanity and the flying eagle, which represents His glorious majesty and divinity.

Verse 8: Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come."

These living creatures were not created and program by God to worship Him day and night, saying “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was and is and is to come” Some preachers, in an effort to ensure that their teachings stick, have literally made a nonsense of certain scriptural doctrines. They teach that the angelic beings were programmed to worship God robotically.

Verse 9: Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever,
Verse 10: The twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:

Verse 11: "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being."

What humility! Even with such high positions bestowed upon them, the 24 Elders placed their crowns before the throne, prostrated themselves before the Lord and worshiped Him whenever the four beasts offer glory, honor and thanksgiving to the One sitting on the throne. They offer us an excellent example of humility in respect of our position in the church of God because people tend to get high-minded when they are in certain positions. Some make themselves lords over God’s heritage while others make themselves the chiefest of God’s servants.

Let us really humble and worship the Lord, giving Him all glory, honor and power. Amen.

Revelation Chapter 3 (continuation)

Verse 11: I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.
Verse 12: Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God, and I will also write on him my new name.
Verse 13: He who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

If you are born again child of God, you have a place in the Body of Christ and you also have a crown. So, hold fast to whatever you have received of God, and be an over comer and you will be made a pillar in the church of God. These pillars are strong and could not be moved. These are the ones who shoulder certain responsibilities in the assembly that God uses to strengthen the temple. There are some Christians who move about so much, going in and out, among different assemblies that they could never be pillars. They could not even be a stone in the temple of God because they are busy with their own self-righteous programs that they are doing God a service without God’s directive. God wants us to be living stones that are fitly joined and held together for the temple of God (1 Peter 2:5 and Ephesians 4:16) and not rolling stones that can never stay still long enough to be cemented into proper place in the temple.

A Letter to the Church in Laodicea

Verse 14: To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation.

We are living in the Laodicean age which began around the year 1906 and which will end at the coming of Christ for His Bride. Though the name Laodicea means “people rights” it was often used in honor of certain royal ladies. The name so chosen by the Lord is apt for this last age. There are indeed many “royal ladies” with people within them demanding their rights. But the only rights a Christian have are those which God has stated in His word. But the Laodicean Christians do not want that. They may not openly say so, but they will water down the word and will of God to such an extent that they practically dress, talk, and behave just like the world. They curse, swear, cheat and lie. Their womenfolk cut their hair, paint their faces and put on shorts and trousers like men or dress indecently. Some of their men, with long hair, behave like women, almost. These Christians are being seduced by lying spirits (1 Timothy 4:1). This last generation of the Laodicean church is but a sick generation.

Verse 15: I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot, I wish you were either one or the other!
Verse 16: So, because you are lukewarm – neither hot nor cold – I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

When Christians demand their rights, their priority to the Lord and His word will be relegated to the second place as their individual rights preoccupy their minds. They are lukewarm and do not have the right spiritual judgement. They are neither cold not hot. If they are either cold or hot, God will deal with them accordingly. But God is sick of lukewarm Christians and He is going to vomit them out of His mouth. They may have certain achievements in their works for the Lord. But God has no regard for their works.

Verse 17: You say, I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing. But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.

How true it is! As this church gets closer to the return of Christ, the church becomes vainer in their appearance. But the bride, the true elect, is not so. Each of the “royal ladies” would complete for greater attention of the world with their church programs to increase their membership. They have different sorts of social activities to make the people feel good. They would raise large amount of money to buy properties and build large church buildings.

Verse 18: I counsel you to buy from me gold refine in the fire, so you can becomes rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness, and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

Our Lord Jesus Christ is a God of love, grace and mercy. Before He passes judgment He would give a warning and provide a way of escape for those who have an ear to hear what His Spirit is saying to the church. He is counseling the church to buy Him gold tried in the fire. He wants them to have the genuine faith that has withstood the test of fiery trials through the churches of time. However, many Christians just cannot stay still for a while to really hear and receive the message God has prepared for them. So they end up with counterfeit gifts and fool’s gold that are worthless. But Jesus said:

Verse 19: Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.

Yes, there will be a group of people whom Jesus loves. They will repent. They won’t rebel as Jesus corrects them. They will respond to the love of God is Christ. They will hear the voice of God’s seven churches messenger. They will receive and contend for the genuine golden faith that was once delivered to the believers in the days of the apostles (Jude 3).

Verse 20: Here I am I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him and he with Me.

As this church comes to its end we see that Jesus is no longer inside the church. This church started with an outpouring of God’s gifts. The outpouring was supposed to get the church to pay close attention of the word of God. Instead, we see the church wanting more of the gifts of God than the giver Himself. Paul says that God give and distributes Hid gifts as He wills (1 Corinthians 12), but the church is saying that all believers must speak in tongues of have at least one of the gifts. The church today has no true message for the world because Christ is no longer inside the church.

Verse 21: To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me in my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
Verse 22: He who has ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

God will grant to every individual believer, who overcomes the state of lukewarmness, who gets spiritually hot for the Lord Jesus, who lives a holy life and who does the will of God, the right to share in the authority of Christ.

Have you heard? The admonition to hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches is the same for all churches ages. There is not only the necessity to hear but also the need to have a spiritual ear to hear correctly the revelation of the Holy Spirit for the churches.

Next is Revelation Chapter 4 and try also visits my other URL: http://jmhe-blogko.blogspot.com for more God explanations.

Revelation Chapter 3

A Letter to the Church in Sardis

Verse 1: To the angel of the church is Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.
Verse 2: Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God.

It is clear that the seven spirits of God worked with, and through, the seven stars in the Seven Churches. The fifth of the seven spirits conveyed the message of Christ to Martin Luther (you remember him), the messenger to the Sardisean church. If we can remember Luther was taught by the prophetess Jezebel for quite some time until he received a revelation when he heard the voice of God saying “the just shall live by faith”. So from there reformation started.

Verse 3: Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.
Verse 4: Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy.

Would that all Christians remember what they have received and heard concerning the word of God, or they fall into a mere form of worship. It is important to know what we hear and how we hear it so that we will receive the right things according to the will of God that we may continue to live and walk in the light of God’s word. You know failure to do so can cause the lamp in our life to be removed. God warned the Sardis church, the “escape ones”, about their short comings. Having escaped, they should have followed the path where God had wanted them to go.

Verse 5: He who overcomes will like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.
Verse 6: He who has ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches

Every over comer of each church will “be clothed in white raiment” which is the glorified body, given only at the first resurrection. It speaks of the righteousness of Christ in all these saints. When Christ saved a person He saved him to the uttermost. “Once saved, always saved” is true for Christ does not redeem a believer and lose him later on. But some say it is impossible because if the person after he save by Jesus he commit sin and return to his old nature, his salvation gone also. That’s why Christ is sure that if He save a person, that person is for Him forever and nobody can snatch from Him. The bible says that Romans 8:29-30 – For those God foreknow he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

A Letter to the Church in Philadelphia

Verse 7: To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.

Philadelphia means “brotherly kindness” which are church in Philadelphia possessed. The saints were full of brotherly kindness. It was the greatest missionary church in the history of Christianity during which the word of God was greatly published, promulgated and preached to various nations of the world. David was a king and a warrior. So was Christ Jesus.

Verse 8: I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.

In that city of Philadelphia the church at that time bore the name of Christ. Like all the churches in the days of the Apostle John, the saints were all water baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. But since the doctrine of trinity was formulated in the ONE NAME of God Almighty. The true faith was already not fully understood in the way that it should be. Nevertheless, they held to the name and did not deny it. As long as the predestinated seeds of God have a little strength, keep God’s word and do not deny His name, the door of Christ will remain open for them to refresh themselves in the word of God for the hour.

Verse 9: I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars – I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have love you.
Verse 10: Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth.

Throughout the seven churches, many Christians had suffered in their own ways during their hour of temptation. But that which shall come upon the world, to try them that dwell upon the world points to a future period of eventful days of the great tribulation, after the true church is saved. It would be a dreadful hour of temptation for the people of the world but the enduring saints who keep the word of God will be spared. So, let us be patient for patience products experience and experience produces hope that will not disappoint us.

For more sources and explanation about word of God visit my http://jmhe-blogko.blogspot.com/. God bless you… all

To be continued….

Revelation Chapter 2 (continuation)

A Letter to the Church in Pergamum

Verse 12: To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword.
Verse 13: I know where you live – where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness who was put to death in your city – where Satan lives.

This is the church that Satan finally established his seat of power in Christianity. Apostate Christianity – when Constantine the Great became emperor. His previous religion was the worship of the “Unconquered Sun”. He became a Christian after he saw a vision of a cross in the sky. He described himself as the “defender of the church” but was actually a meddler in church affairs. The interfering emperor convened an ecumenical council in 325 AD, at Nicea where some 1500 delegates gathered to define the doctrine of the Godhead. And the unholy doctrine of a “3-in-1 (see more details in http://jmhe-blogko.blogspot.com (under label "doktrina ka ba" ) God was then formulated. From then on the Roman subjects were challenged by the bishops to receive the “Christian trinity belief” as it was formulated at Nicea. The belief in the Trinity, which consists of the tri-unity of God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit was thereby the only valid creed for all Christians. It became the state-furthered religion. To this day the majority of Christians accept the teaching of the Trinity as a basic Scriptural doctrine without reservation. Hence, actually Christianity was mixed Paganism and made the official religion. This was the beginning of the first and largest denomination – the Roman Catholic Church.

Pergamos – meaning “citadel” pointed to the stronghold of the Roman Catholic system – which was very similar to the religious system of Nimrod of Babel (Babylon) – the seat of Satan.

Verse 14: Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality.
Verse 15: Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.

We read in Numbers Chapters 22 and 24 how that Balaam, who did not belong to the children of Israel, succeeded in getting the children of Israel to fornicate with the Moabites. Balak, the Moabite king, had bribed Balaam, a soothsayer, to prophesy evil against Israel.

The spirit of Balaam was in Constantine when he used the same “doctrine of Balaam” to unite Paganism and Christianity. God hates idolatry and spiritual fornication. The “doctrine of Balaam” is still widely embraced by organized religious churches around the world.

Verse 16: Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
Verse 17: He who an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.

God came upon the unrepentant ones with the Sword of His mouth and took away the candlestick while lighting another. But to those who had the ears to hear and to the over-comers, God allowed them to partake of the hidden manna which was the rich spiritual truths of God’s Word. They were also each given a white stone signifying that they had the revelation and fellowship of God (Matthew 16:17-19). They were the few precious saints of Christ in that hour. Likewise, there are a few of such precious saints of Christ in this present hour. They will all receive their new name when they go up in the grace with their new body.

A Letter to the Church in Thyatira

Verse 18: To the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These are the words of the Son of God whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze.
Verse 19: I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.
Verse 20: Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols.

Christ stood with fine brazen feet ready to judge the church if she did not repent. Because He had gone through the fiery judgment of God for us.

Thyatira means “dominating female”. In the days when the Apostle John received this vision, there was a woman named Jezebel, who called herself a prophetess and taught in the church in the city of Thyatira. She also seduced the ministers of God to coming fornication with her and made them eat food offered to idols.

Mother church dominated the world through her politico-religious system. One such ritual was the continual sacrifice, another meaning of the word Thyatira of the Body of Christ which they called “Mass”.

Verse 21: I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling.
Verse 22: So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways.
Verse 23: I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who search hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.

Did the Roman Catholic Church repent? No, she did not and she will never ever repent. She made herself to be a great prophetess and claimed divine authority in all her words.

Verse 24: Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets.
Verse 25: Only hold on to what you have until I come

To the messenger and those who did not embrace the doctrine of Jezebel or learn what was called the deep things of Satan, Christ admonished them to hold on to what they possessed and He would not put upon them any additional burden. And His promise to them was:

Verse 26: To him who overcome and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations
Verse 27: He will rule them with an iron scepter, he will dash them to pieces like pottery – just as I have received authority from my Father.
Verse 28: I will also give him the morning star,

For those saints who will persevere to the end and overcome, what a day it will be when they shall live and reign with Christ in the Age of Regeneration (Matthew 19:28). They will cease to live in a dark chaotic age because they will receive the bright morning star - Jesus Christ, together with Him, they shall rule the nations righteously with true justice.

Verse 29: He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches…

Next topic is Revelation Chapter 3 – God bless you.

Revelation Chapter 2

At the end of the first chapter of Revelation, we are introduced to the Seven Churches as represented by the seven candlesticks. These Seven Churches make up what is called “the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 13). It is also called “the mystery of God” (Revelation 10:7) identified by the apostle Paul as a period in which the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob blinded the Jews and turned to the Gentiles to call a people – For I would not, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness is part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in (Romans 11:25).

We shall not delve into the historical details of the Seven Churches as they are fully dealt with in “The Exposition of the Seven Churches”.

A Letter to the Church in the Ephesians

Verse 1: Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things say he that hold the seven stars in his right hand, who walk the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
Verse 2: I know thy works and they labor and thy patience and how thou can not bear them which are evil: and thou has tried them which say they are apostles and are not and has found them liars:

Apostle Paul was the angel or messenger to the first church. He was an apostle born out of due season (1 Corinthians 15:8) and was the founder of the church in Ephesus. A revival fore was started in the city and from there is spread to other cities throughout the Asia Minor.

When the church began on the Day of Pentecost it was very stringent in its faith. Tares, if any, were quickly weeded out by the roots so that only the wheat remained (Acts 5). As more converts were added to the church and as the Gentiles accepted the gospel the spirit of antichrist began to work harder. The works and virtues of the believers of every age were known of God. The saints of the first church could not tolerate those who were evil, especially those who claimed that they were the apostles of God but were proven to be liars. The Church of Christ began with the Ministry in the New Testament age and unveiled to them the revelation of the prophetic word. The apostles were highly respected man of God. They were called and sent of God to get God’s people to line up with the Word of God and God’s plan of salvation. Satan knew what God was doing and began to impersonate Him.

Organized Christianity is in a chaos today. Many denominational churches are supporting called it ecumenism, even though they are divided along doctrinal lines. And the individual groups tend to go about doing things according to their own ideas. But the Word of God shows that there would be a message that would wake up the sleeping virgins to call them back to the Word (Matthew 25:1-13).

Verse 3: And hast borne, and hast patience and for my name’s sake hast labored and has not fainted.
Verse 4: Nevertheless I have somewhat against you, because you has left my first love.
Verse 5: Remember therefore from whence you are fallen and repent and do the first works or else I will come unto you quickly and will remove your candlestick and out of his place, except you repent.

Ephesus means “desirable aimed at”. It shows the spiritual attitude of the saints of that church towards God. They showed a lot of patience and they labored much for the Lord. Ephesus also means “relaxed and drifting”. And that was what happened to many saints who began to relax from the fire that they possessed in the beginning and drift from the Truth and the Love of God.

God is warning His people to repent. Repentance is the only way to get back to God. It has never changed. We are living in an age where “because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold” (Matthew 24:12 and 1 Timothy 4:1). We need to heed the warning lest we become like the First Church which, when their fire went out and the lamp stand was removed, never had another renewal – only a dead form remained.

Verse 6: But this thou hast, that thou hate the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.

The Nicolaitanes were a group of people who sought to make a distinction between those who ministered the word other called them “clergy or elders” and those who accepted and listened to the Word. They wanted to claim superiority of the ministers over the word. In other words they wanted to conquer the words. When the church elders conquered the words the prevented the Spirit of the Lord from moving about freely in the church to manifest His gifts such as tongues and prophecies.

Verse 7: He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit say unto the churches; To him that overcome will I give to eat of the tree of life; which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

The promise to Ephesus church; to all who received the revelation of the message, was the right to go into the paradise of God and partake of the tree of life (Luke 23:43)

A Letter to the Church in the Smyrnaean

Verse 8: And unto the angel of the church is Smyrna write: These things say the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;
Verse 9: I know your works, and tribulation and poverty (but your are rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.

Smyrna means “bitter”. It comes from the word “myrrh”. It was an age of bitter persecution. The saints in the city of Smyrna were stricken with poverty and lived in great hardship. Because of their faith, they were made the laughing stocks in the city, especially by those pseudo-Jews who belonged to the synagogue of Satan. There were also many pseudo-believers who derived and persecuted the saints. They were of the devils assembly. Though they were poor materially, the true worshippers were rich in the Lord because of the revelation they had received through Irenaeus, the messenger of God for the church.

Verse 10: Fear none of those things which thou shall suffer, behold the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried and ye shall have tribulation ten days: he thou faithful unto death and I will give the a crown of life.
Verse 11: He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit say unto the churches, He that overcome shall not be hurt of the second death.

The elect of God do not persecute; rather they are persecuted. Persecution comes upon the elect as a trial of their faith. In the church of Smyrna, the saints endured tribulation brought upon them by the adversary of God. Some were cast into prison.

The “second death” takes place when the spirit of life leaves the soul and body, which happens after the Great Throne Judgment. The “first death” takes places when the soul departs from the body (Revelation 20:14, Genesis 35:18). Jesus said, Fear not them which kill the body, but not able to kill the soul, but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28). All sinners will have a share in the Lake of Fire as they are being burn and destroy completely. Yes, the wicked ones will be annihilated.

.to be continued

Revelation Chapter 1 (continuation)

Truly, we certainly need to know what we believe lest we receive a harsh rebuke from the Lord just as He had rebuked the Samaritan woman at the well. “Yee worship ye know not what”. The majority of the Christian people have been deceived into accepting the doctrine of the “trinity” for their salvation. Some tenets of faith of denominational churches specifically state that a person is not a Christian unless he/she believes in the trinity. But the bible shows otherwise,

Verse 9: I John, also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Patmos was a small island off the coast of Asia Minor. It was about 60 to 120 kilometers from those seven churches to which John addressed his letters. There was no escape from the island which was infested with poisonous snakes and scorpions. John was probably about 90 years old when he was exiled to the isle of Patmos. Well, whether you are 90’s or 9 years old. God can always use you provided you are willing to serve Him. Here we see that John was persecuted for his faith. He knew that the true worshippers of God must invariably go through trials and tribulations one way or another for their faith.

In solitude John had plenty of time. His physical body was in bondage but his spirit was not. Having nothing physical to do, he spent his time in the presence of the Almighty God, worshipping Him. And he was in such an attitude one day, on the first day of the week, the Lord’s day, that he became the instrument of blessings to the saints of God. He was so immersed in the Spirit of the Lord that the natural realm began to move away and he began to enter into another realm – the spiritual realm of God. He began to hear and see things that no man had heard or seen before, and he “bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw”

Verse 10: I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet.
Verse 11: Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou see, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

The term “Lord’s Day” is not the same as the “Day of the Lord” which is found in many passages throughout the Old and New Testaments. The term is used only once in the Holy Scriptures and is understood to signify the “first day of the week” when the saints would gather together to worship God. Another occurrence is in 1 Corinthians 11:20 – Lord’s Supper, and ordinance set down by the Lord in which the saints would come together to commemorate His death till He returns.” Lord’s Supper” is never called the “Supper of the Lord”.

When John was in the Spirit of the Lord, he heard a great voice, which sounded like a trumpet, right behind him. He was none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. Time began with Him and time will end with Him – the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last. The seven churches to which John was commanded to address his writings consisted of mostly Gentiles converts. These seven churches were located in Asia Minor (the area which is today’s Western Turkey). The book of Revelation was written for the benefit of the bride that she might understand what the Lord was going to do in His church and what events would transpire throughout the grace age.

Verse 12: And I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
Verse 13: And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

When John turned to see who was speaking to him he saw Seven Golden Candlesticks (or Lampstands).These Seven Golden Candlesticks are the Seven Churches as interpreted in verse 20. That was the Lord Jesus Christ, the God Man. And He was wearing a High Priest robe. This means that He was in the position of a High Priest showing that He was as Intercessor or a Mediator. Our Lord Jesus Christ has to fulfill what was written of Him in the prophetic writings contained in the books of the Old Testaments. He has many roles to fulfill, so to speak. When He came to this earth nearly 2000 years ago, He came as a Prophet-Servant to preach the Word of God and to serve mankind (Mark 10:45). He was no longer the Prophet and Servant after His death and ascension but “the Apostle and High Priest of our profession.. (Hebrew 3:1)

Verse 14: His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his easy were as a flame of fire.

This speaks of Jesus Christ as being a Judge. In his days, the prophet Daniel also saw this same Judge in his vision (Daniel 7:9). No evil can escape the scrutiny of His eyes of blazing fire.

Verse 15: And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace, and his voice as the sound of many waters

“And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace” Jesus Christ, the One with God’s own life, stood steadfastly in judgment for you and me so that we might not be condemned. It was a fiery trial all along the way till He ended up as a breeding Lamb, spilling His blood at Calvary, thus completing God’s atonement for us. But, very soon, He is coming to judge those who reject His offer of salvation.

“And his voice as the sound of many waters” Like mighty running streams of water, babbling brooks, or great showers of rain, the words of Christ have always been soothing joy, comfort, peace and faith to the hearers. Throughout of the ages the sound of His voice, speaking through His ministers, would revive His people in the Spirit and Word of God.

Verse 16: And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shine in his strength.

“The seven stars are the seven angels of the seven churches”. Apparently the Apostle John was acquainted with these seven churches and their presiding bishops or pastors. Hence, the letters were addressed to these seven outstanding servants of God as “messengers” so that they would be aware of Christ’s assessment of their respective church and its condition. And knowing the conditions of these God set a type that would reflect Churches in seven epochs of time.

Verse 17: And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last.
Verse 18: I am he that live, and was dead; and behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

If the countenance of Christ in all His glory proved too much for John, what about us? So let us be holy as God is holy. Jesus Christ once again identified himself as “the first and last”. In fact He is “the first and the last” person ever to be born into this world to die for mankind and yet live again. He is the only one. Nobody else has ever done what He did. There is no other person through whom mankind can have salvation. God turned His back upon Christ, figuratively speaking, as He hung on that cross at Mount Calvary, spilling His blood for you and me. And because He lives again, we will also live with Him, Amen.

Verse 19: Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter:

John was commanded to write down “what he had seen”, “the things which thou has seen” – what is, “the things which are” – that is the conditions of the seven local churches in Asia Minor. What is to happen after these things, “the things which shall be hereafter” – pointing to events which shall happen in the future ahead of John’s time. Consequently, we have this Book of Revelation.

Verse 20: The mystery of the seven stars which saw in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches; and the seven candlesticks which thou saw are the seven churches.

This last verse is self-explanatory. In fact this is one of several “key” verse to the interpretation of the Book of Revelation. Right away we are told that the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches and the seven candlesticks are the seven churches. Hence, the mystery is unfolded to show us that there would be seven “earthly” angels, or messengers, of the seven churches and not just seven local ministers of seven churches in Asia Minor.

Next is Revelation Chapter 2….. see you

Revelation Chapter 1

The Visions of John on the Lord’s Day

Verse 1: The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
Verse 2: Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

The Book of Revelation begins with a clear declaration – “the revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him”. It was the revelation of Jesus Christ and not the revelation of John. It was the revelation which the Almighty God gave to His Son. Why? (Undoubtedly, there is a special relationship between the Almighty God and the Lord Jesus Christ.) The Revelation was given to Jesus Christ to show to His servants concerning things and events which must soon take place – from the time of John.

Our Lord Jesus sent and communicated His Revelation through and angel to John who recorded all that he saw in his visions. John was the beloved of the Lord Jesus Christ (John 13:23; 20:2). He is a type of the Beloved (bride) of Christ. Whatever things that were shown to John would have to be revealed to His bride. Because we are living at the final stretch of the closing period of the whole dispensation of the Seven Churches., we are privileged to see a clearer picture than those members of the bride in each of the past six Churches could see. Yes, this is the hour, not only for the Word but also for “the oil and the wine” – the anointing and the stimulation of revelation – of the Holy Spirit upon the Word. And this is the life that cannot be hurt (Revelation 6:6)

Verse:3 Blessed is he that read, and they hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written for the time is at hand.

The unfolding of the Revelation of Jesus Christ is for us to understand and to obey the words of prophecy that we may be a light in this world of spiritual darkness and always be ready and prepared for the return of the Lord. Many Christians are actually spiritually blinded by Satan who has entered the realm of religious Christianity since long time ago, and who has actually been worshipped in the organized churches today! Satan is the god of this evil age.

Verse 4: John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
Verse 5: And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loves us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood.
Verse 6: And hath made us kings and priest unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Notice that there are three greeting from the throne area of Heaven. The first is from “him which is, and which was and which is to come”. The second is from “the seven spirits which are before his throne”. The third is from “Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth”.

The One “which is and which was and which is to come” is the Eternal Invisible Spirit – Elohim, the Almighty One. He does not have, and never had a beginning: He will never have an end. He is always is because He always was and He always will be – the I AM. He is the Creator and the Father of all creations. But Jesus Christ who is the faithful witness and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth” is Elohim’s only begotten son who is vested with all His authority (Matthew 28:18).

Now, Jesus is the first begotten from the dead, which obviously means there will be others, after Him, who will be begotten from the dead. There will be a people who upon their translation, will also have the same glorified body that Jesus has. They are the true members of the Bride (body) of Christ. They are priests and subjects in His Kingdom for they all have direct access to Him.

Verse 7: Behold, he come with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindness of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen

This is not the coming of Christ for His Bride in the rapture. The rapture is a secret event of the world. Is this a true event or doctrine only? This is the Lord Jesus Christ coming back physically with His saints after they have supped at the marriage supper of the Lamb in heaven (Matthew 24:29-30)

Verse 8: I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, said the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

Do pay close attention to this verse that you may understand two terms in the verse which clearly show us the Oneness of the Godhead – all that God is, is in Christ Jesus. It will show you Who God is and Who Jesus is: they are One God. Notice the first statement – I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending – the Lord is speaking of His being in Time. Eternity has no time; it has no beginning and no ending.

Remember Jesus Christ had a beginning. He was born of a virgin, raised as a child and grew up as a man (Luke 2:40-52). But God is Spirit and will always be Spirit. He is invisible (1 Timothy 1:17). The only way we can see God is to see His works. At the appointed time, Jesus was empowered by the Word of God.

The Word of God which came forth in the beginning (John 1:1-4) was actually His creative self-revelation, “the side of God turned towards the world”. It was not another Spirit being Who was also God. There is but ONE SPIRIT, ONE TRUE GOD. The Trinity of God is a PAGAN CONCEPT. It has its root in the mystery religion spawned at Babel by Nimrod and his mother, Semiramis. The concept of multiple gods, by different names and titles, was greatly accepted throughout the time of the Greek and Roman world. The mystery of the doctrine of Trinity is a mystery created by the theologians.

Continued…

New Birth

Meditation:

"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." John 3:3

Explanation:

Nicodemus was so impressed with the miracles Jesus had done that he wanted to find out more. He asked Jesus about miracles, and Jesus began to talk to him about births. It's as if Jesus was saying, "Nicodemus, if you want to understand miracles, you're going to have to become a miracle." Now Nicodemus was an intelligent man. He was a ruler of the Jews and a Sanhedrin, and yet, with all of his learning, Jesus said to him, "Except you are born again, you cannot see the kingdom of God." People simply can't understand spiritual things until the Holy Spirit of God turns the light on in their souls.

Ipanganak na muli ito ang isang bagay na mahirap maunawaan agad ng isang tao, kung paano ipanganganak na muli ang isang matanda na. Tulad ni Nicodemus na nakatingin sa natural na katawan at sa kaanyuan ng ipanganganak na muli. Paano nga ba natin ito ipauunawa sa isang tao na nagtatanong ng ganito. Meron ba tayong bahagi dito, meron sabi ni Apostol Pablo ipahayag mo lang ang pag-ibig at salita ng Diyos sa tao, ang salita o ang Diyos ang Siyang kikilos para sa sunod na pangyayari. Bakit kamo? Sapagkat sabi sa Juan 6:44 - na maliban na dalhin ng ama sa aking paanan ang isang kaluluwa wala akong o tayong magagawa. Ibig sabihin ang Diyos pa rin ang may kontrol ng lahat ng bagay, tayoy mga instrumento lamang.

Do you know someone who has a lot of education, but no salvation? I challenge you to share this same Good News with him or her today.

No Other

Meditation:
"Thou shalt have no other gods before Me." Exodus 20:3

Explanation:

What is an idol and how does it come to be? An idol is created when a man takes his own ideas and puts them into the work of his hands and begins to worship that. What he is really worshiping is himself. You may say, "Well, I'm not guilty of idolatry." Let's just see. Is there anything you love more than God? Is there anything you fear more than God? Is there anything you serve more than God? Is there anything you trust more than God? Am I getting hot? You say, "Well, I give God a place in my life." God doesn't want a place in your life. Then, you say, "Well, I give God prominence in my life." God despises prominence in your life. God demands preeminence in your life. He will take nothing less.

Sa ating sarili sinasabi natin lagi na ang Diyos lamang ang Siyang nangunguna sa buhay natin, subalit yun ay sa salita lamang, wala sa gawa sapagkat taliwas ito sa nakikita sa atin. Sabi nga anumang bagay, o sitwasyon na mas higit sa Diyos matatawag nating pagsamba sa diyos-diyusan yun. Sapagkat sinasabi sa kasulatan na hindi ka makakapag-silbi sa dalawang master, iibigin ang isa at itatakwil ang isa. Yan ang ibig na wag mangyari ng Diyos sa atin sapagkat alam Niya ang kahinaan ng tao. Pero ano ang dapat gawin patungkol dito, ang tanging masasabi ko, pagsikapan natin na laging una ang Diyos sa ating buhay bilang panginoon, master, at kalakasan.

Is there anyone or anything in your life that takes precedence over God? Confess it and repent of it. Now, put on the throne the rightful Master -- the Lord Jesus!