Volu me 1 ~ Issue 2
In this Issue:
The Seven Churches of the Book of Revelation
The Four Cursed Generations The EYE and EAR Gate
The Symbols of the Staff
Ju ly 2 0 1 7
Editorial
W
elcome to my second edition of The Patmos Papers. I thought I could make this a monthly pub but due to the amount of time and effort it looks like it will be a bi-monthly publication. Why an e-magazine? I have over 35 years in the printing and publishing industry including graphic design, Newspaper layout, ad design, magazine production and catalogue work. I wanted to use my experience to inform and edify the body of Christ. The world and the church are in may ways in dire straights and I am convinced we are living in the endtimes so I feel an endtime magazine is needful for these days. John, while exiled on the isle of Patmos received a vision for his times and for the endtimes. It became known as the last book in the bible called Revelation. This of course is not to add to or take away from that but to teach, encourage, warn and perhaps be at times a bit prophetic. Topics will usually have to do with the church, the world around us, the Christian faith and occasionally if space permits I will have articles on church history, archeology or creationism vs evolution. The intent is not to just be the only contributor but if there are others who write and want to submit their article, I will be happy to peruse it and include it if it is appropriate. Information to where that can be submitted is on this page. Due to the great expense now in printing, it is cost prohibited to print a 24 page publication and my hope is one day I can do so. So I have designed this to be printed if later that becomes an option but for now will convert each bi-monthly publication to a pdf format. This makes it convenient to read on
desktops, iPads, and other electronic devices. Also on this page is a link to my website as well as a link to Issuu.com where you can read or download the publication as well as some of my others. I also have a Facebook site for this publication and would appreciate you going to it and liking it and encouraging others to check it out. This month I have done a brief study on the Seven churches of Revelation. The history, insight, symbolism and biblical understanding is so relevant to the church today. Paul said concerning the things old testament (and now the new): “Now these things took place as examples for us” 1 Cor. 10 6 ESV “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.” Rom. 15:4 NIV Paul wrote Timothy and said: “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.” 2 Tim. 3:1 That world “perilous” can also be translate “Difficult” or even “Dangerous”! The Lord gave me a revelation about the “Four Biblically cursed generation” and how it applies to our generation. God in the past has judge many people, cities, and nations but he has only judged four generations. One of the great symbols and types in the bible is the staff or rod! There are so many meanings and symbols. So check out my article “The symbol of the Staff.”
2
Finally how does God and for that matter, the devil communicate to people. My article on “The eye and ear gate” shows how out of all our 5 senses these to are used to put us in touch with the spiritual realm both good and bad. Enjoy!
Jerry Wall
Publisher/ Editor
This e-magazine is self publized and is the sole expression of its author. Any content may be copied and used by permision from the publisher. For any comment, requests or advertising information please contact me at: jerrywalldesigns@gmail.com
If you are interested in publishing an article in this magazine, or advertise in this publication please contact the editor below. Articles must be in context with the theme of this magazine and can be provocative but not divisive. jerrywalldesigns@gmail.com
http://patmospapers.zohosites.com
Table of Contents
Table of Contents Editorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Four Biblically Cursed Generations. . . . . . 4
ARTICLE - The Symbol of the Staff . . . . . . . 8
The EYE and EAR Gate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
The Seven Churches of Revelation!. . . . 17 How to Navigate
How to Navigate
Click on the title in Table of Contents and it will take you directly to the article.
To return anytime to the Table of Contents, click on the “The Patpos Paper� icon on the top of the page and you will return to the Table of Contents.
3
Four Biblically Cursed Generations
FOUR BIBLICALLY CURSED GENERATIONS “Therefore I Was Provoked With That Generation!” Heb. 3:10 The word provoke here can mean angered or grieved. Strongs Con- 1. The Generation Of Noah cordance says the greek word prosochthízō means: Of course this is obvious. The “To be wroth or displeased with; to generation of Noah was so wicked loathe; to spew out; to be disgusted that God wiped them out with a with.” flood. The Bible says: Can the wickedness of a generation provoke God to judgement? Absolutely. It is referred to several times in the bible. Both the Old and New Testaments refer to times when God said “I was angry with that generation” Those wicked generations are an example for us today to take heed. There were times when the wickedness of that generation were so bad that He brought destruction on that whole generation. God often destroyed wicked kings and nations. He even destroyed cities such as Sodom and Gomorrah for their wickedness. But only four times does the bible talk about bringing judgement upon a whole generation. These are set to be examples to our own generation to heed the warning of a generation that rejects God. Lets look at these four biblical cursed generations!
“And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.” Gen. 6:5-7
The wickedness of man had become so evil since the fall of man that God decided he had to eradicate that evil and leave a seed of righteousness with
4
Noah by starting a whole new generation with his three sons. Mankind would have a reboot. The key wickedness of that generation was violence! “The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.” Gen. 6:11 “And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.” Gen. 6:13
Four Biblically Cursed Generations The mercy of God is that for 120 years Noah and has sons preached salvation and the end of the world and yet sadly not one other person stepped onto the ark with Noah’s family to be rescued from destruction. It says even God waited patiently in the life of Noah for someone to believe and get saved: “Which sometime were disobedient, when once the long suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.” 1 Peter 3:20
The warning is for our generation as well. Are we becoming a generation of violence. Murder is rampant, Decapitation and terrorism are daily in our news showing that our generation is a dangerous place. Paul wrote concerning the last days: “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 Tim. 3:1
Noah’s generation was destroyed for its violence. What will be of ours?
2. The generation of Moses Naturally we think of Noah’s generation who was destroyed for its wickedness and violence. But what about His people! We see it often in the old testament when the people of Israel strayed from God He led them into captivity! We specifically see this when the generation of Israelites that were rescued out of Egypt hardened their hearts in the wilderness and were not permitted to enter the Promise land! This is referenced to another warning to the last generation in the end days by Paul when he wrote: “So, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the wilderness, where your ancestors
tested and tried me, though for forty years they saw what I did. That is why I was angry with that generation; I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways.’ So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’” Hebrews 3:7-11
“But they rebelled And grieved His Holy Spirit; Therefore He turned Himself to become their enemy, He fought against them. Then His people remembered the days of old, of Moses. Where is He who brought them up out of the sea with the shepherds of His flock? Where is He who put His Holy Spirit in the midst of them, Who caused His glorious arm to go at the right hand of Moses, Who divided the waters before them to make for Himself an everlasting name, Who led them through the depths? Like the horse in the wilderness, they did not stumble; As the cattle which go down into the valley, The Spirit of the LORD gave them rest. So You led Your people, to make for Yourself a glorious name. Isaiah 63:10-14
They complained, questioned and rebelled against God and their disbelief cost them entrance into the promise land. After 40 years in the wilderness they came to the edge of the promise land but after hearing the reports of the 10 spies they were afraid to enter so God was angry with that generation and caused them to wander in the wilderness another forty years until they all died “And the LORD’S anger was kindled off. Here was a generation that against Israel, and he made them beheld God’s miracles, heard wander in the wilderness forty years, God’s voice, felt His presence, saw until all the generation, that had His provision and protection and done evil in the sight of the LORD, yet they hardened their hearts. was consumed.” Num. 32:13 Here is a generation that beheld This generation was said to the miraculous plagues of Egypt, provoke God: walked through the parting of the sea, beheld the column of fire by “Surely they shall not see the land night and cloud of glory by day; ate which I swear unto their fathers, manna daily by his hand, received neither shall any of them that quail and water in the wilderness provoked me see it:” Num. 14:23 and their shoes did not wear out on their feet. Yet it says that God “Remember, and forget not, how was angry with this generation thou provoked the LORD thy God because in spite of all the miracles to wrath in the wilderness: from the day that thou didst depart out of the they walked in unbelief ! Isaiah land of Egypt, until ye came unto this even said of that generation:
5
Four Biblically Cursed Generations place, ye have been rebellious against the LORD” Deut. 9:7
God did more to that generation then any other and yet that generation provoked God to the destruction of that generation. But this is also a warning to the last day generation! “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.” Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies perished in the wilderness? And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed? So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief. Heb. 3:15-17
3. The Generation of Jesus! Jesus’ own generation provoked God to judge them for their unbelief and rejection. Because they rejected
Him, he rejected them! Jesus called his own generation of generation of vipers (Matt. 3:7). He called it an evil and adulterous generation (Matt. 16:4) He called them a faithless and perverse generation (Matt 17:17) He was provoked by that generation and spoke of its judgement: “But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign; and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet; or just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation at the judgment, and will condemn it because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. The Queen of the South will rise up with this generation at the judgment and will condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.” Matt 12:39-42
Harsh words for His own generation. Is there a cryptic message about each generation having to give an account in the day of judgement. He also said of His generation: “But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling and saying, “We played the pipe for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’” Matt. 11:17
His generation did not rejoice at His presence nor mourn at His death and sufferings. Though many did follow, many more disbelieved and rejected and the majority called for Barabbas to be released rather than Jesus! His harshest words were yet to come: “Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.” Matt. 23:33-36
Because they did not know the hour of His coming and society as a whole rejected Him, God was provoked with that generation and pronounced his wrath on it: “... who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” (Matt 3:7). He later foretold the destruction of the temple and city of Jerusalem. In Matthew 24 when the disciples were bragging about the splendor of the city walls Jesus said: “Truly I say unto you, there shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.” Matt. 24:2
6
He was prophesying destruction of the Temple.
the
Four Biblically Cursed Generations “When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near.” (Luke 21:20
He was prophesying the destruction of the city! Jesus spoke these words in 33AD and all this happened in 70AD. Within 50 years that generation fell under the Roman hands not to arise until the 20th century. Jesus told them: “Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.” Matt. 24:34
4. The Last Generation! Moses after writing the 5 first books of the bible prophesied about the last generation: “Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee. For I know thy rebellion, and thy stiff neck: behold, while I am yet alive with you this day, ye have been rebellious against the Lord; and how much more after my death? … For I know that after my death ye will utterly corrupt yourselves, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will befall you in the latter days; because ye will do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands.” Deut. 31:26-29
be the generation of the Antichrist! Noahs’ generation was destroyed for violence and disbelief. Moses generation was destroyed for a hardened heart, rebellion and disbelief! Jesus’ generation was destroyed for rejection and disbelief. The last generation will be destroyed for all the previous and second coming. This is a generation more: violence, a hardened heart, rejection, apostasy, of disbelief as was Moses’. Peter rebellion, scoffing, mocking and disbelief! It concludes his chapter by saying: will be so bad that Jesus will have “Therefore, dear friends, since you to pull his saints out of the world to have been forewarned, be on your judge it! Jesus said of the endtimes: guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.” 2 Peter 3:17
Timothy says of the last days that there will be a departure of faith: “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;” 1 Timothy 4:1,2 “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.” 2 Thess: 2:3
That word “falling away is also Peter in the third chapter of 2nd translated “apostasy” or “rebellion”! Peter talks about the last days: This last generation is a “Above all, you must understand that generation of departure of faith, in the last days scoffers will come, seduction, hypocrisy and a seared scoffing and following their own evil conscience. The world and no doubt desires. They will say, “Where is this part of the church will be filled with ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our doctrines of demons and not the ancestors died, everything goes on as teachings of Christ. Homosexuality it has since the beginning of creation.” is acceptable. Cohabitation, 2 Peter 3:2-4 fornication and adultery are all too Scoffing and mocking are normal. Hate and violence are on prevalent today! Evolutionary display in the streets and terrorism Scientists laugh at Christians for (fear) fills the nations through a believing in creation or “Intelligent false religion’s desire for conquest. Design!” They scoff at the rapture or Ultimately the last generation will
7
For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: ... And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” Matt. 24:7-13
The Remnant Noah’s generation had 8 survivors! Moses generation had Caleb and Joshua! Jesus’ generation had the church! The last generation will have the raptured! All are minorities! A wide road leads to death and a very narrow one to life! Solomon said: “There is a generation that curse their father, And bless not their mother. There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, And yet are not washed from their filthiness. There is a generation, oh how lofty are their eyes! And their eyelids are lifted up. There is a generation whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, To devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.” Proverbs 30:11-14
Are we that generation?
ARTICLE - The Symbol of the Staff
The Symbol of the Staff The staff in the bible is used quite often both literally and figuratively. It is used as a walking stick and shepherds staff and a kings scepter. All have great meaning. Moses went from a prince’s scepter in Egypt to a shepherds staff in the wilderness. David did quite the opposite and went from a boys shepherd staff on the hills of Judah to King’s scepter in Jerusalem. The staff or stick is a simple tool with multiple uses: a weapon, a surveyor’s tool, a spear, a walking stick, a pole bearing a flag, banner or emblem, and a scepter. The staff had its humble beginnings as a stick, “stave” or rod. It was simply a branch cut to aid the walker or help the shepherd with the sheep or assist a man as a weapon against wild animals or robbers. So let’s look at some of these uses and see some of their symbols and meanings
Laban with a family and great wealth but as he came home he greatly feared meeting Esau and as his brother approached Jacob took half his family and divided them and sent then to the other side of Jordan and then he prayed: In great fear and distress Jacob divided the people who were with him into two groups, and the flocks and herds and camels as well. He thought, “If Esau comes and attacks one group, the group that is left may escape.” Then Jacob prayed, “O God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, Lord, you who said to me, ‘Go back to your country and your relatives, and I will make you prosper, I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant. I had only my staff when I crossed this Jordan, but now I have become two camps.”
Jacob said that when he left The land of Israel all he had was his staff. But by leaning on God he was blessed and the Lord prospered him. As a staff assists our walk so the Lord assists ours if we depend on Him and lean Probably one of the very first usage of the rod was as on Him. a walking stick. The Judaen hills and wildernesses were often mountainous, steep and difficult to climb. In my twenties I climbed to the bottom of the Grand Canyon A Staff as a Crutch – a Symbol of Support and the very first thing I did was find a long stick to help after an Injury! me go up and down the switchback trails. I climbed 11, 000 feet up Mt. Rainier and could not of done it When we are injured and can not walk we need a without a walking stick. Now in my mid 60s I still crutch to help us until we are healed. In Exodus it says love to hike in the Georgian wilderness and park trails if a man strikes another man and he does not die but but I have swapped the old branch stick for a pair of walks abroad upon his staff (crutch [NIV]), then he professional adjustable aluminum trekking poles with must pay for the mans injury (Ex. 21:19). I was working in a print shop years ago and was ergonomic anti-slip cork handles and interchangeable helping a man move a 500 pound drum of solvent when rubber and carbine feet. it fell off the hand truck and onto my foot. It broke it The hiking sticks may have changed but the purpose pretty badly and even with a cast and boot I could not is the same, to assist in your walking in difficult terrain. walk without crutches for quite awhile until I healed. The Lord wants to assist us in our walk. He wants us to In life we often get hurt and injured spiritually and it lean on him and push forward. He is our walking stick can hinder our walk in God. It may take time to heal and helps us navigate rough terrain. from certain tragedies in life but we can always lean on Jacob deceived Esau then ran for his life. He crossed him until time heals our pain. Most the time there will the Jordan and went back to Haran to work for Laban comes a time when we can walk again without the use who became his father in law. Years later he had left of crutches.
The Walking Stick - a Symbol of Assistance!
8
ARTICLE - The Symbol of the Staff Unfortunately some do not heal and become lame like Mephibosheth who was the son of Jonathan. His nurse dropped him at the age of five and he became lame in both feet. Yet David had mercy on him and allowed him to sit at the Kings table, a right reserved only for the King’s sons. He also instructed that Jonathan’s fields be worked and Mephibosheth receive the proceeds. This a such a type of God and his mercy. A stick as a weapon -a symbol of defense. The earliest defense against oppressors and robbers was a simple staff or stick. It could be wielded to keep the enemy at bay or strike them in defense. It was also used by herdsmen to keep away predators from their flock, (part of the use of a shepherds staff). Many don’t know that David did not approach Goliath with just a of the staff to poke and jab the sheep in the ribs to nudge slingshot. He also brought his staff. Goliath laughed and them in the right direction. The point is the staff was said used for gathering, directing and protecting. The staff represents God’s Spirit. It indicates gentle guidance and “Am I a dog that you come after me with sticks?” proper leading, but at times it is also a rod for protection 1 Samuel 17:43 and correction. This is why David wrote: Later people got smart and attached a spear head “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow to one end. This spear was often used in warfare in biblical times and long after. One of David’s mighty of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; men of valor, Abishai slew 300 men with his spear. Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.“ Psalm Another valiant man of David’s took a spear from 23:4 a giant Egyptian with a stick and killed him with his own spear. Spears could be thrown so were considered A Staff as a Symbol of Examination, both short distance and long distance weapons. The Division and Separation. bible says that the weapons of our warfare are mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. Prayer is a weapon against the enemy. Daniel prayed to God “And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant.” and He sent Michael who did battle in the heavens Ezekiel 20:37 while another angel delivered a message to Daniel. A staff was often used as a means of examining the sheep. He would often allow the sheep to pass under the rod as he entered the pen to count the sheep to make The Shepherds Staff sure none were lost. He also could examine the sheep The shepherd’s staff was a combination of all the this way. The shepherd would run his rod backward or above. It was a walking stick as he lead the sheep on the across the wool. The rod separated the wool, allowing hills of Israel. It was a protective weapon for the sheep the shepherd to look down onto the sheep’s skin. He was to keep away wolves and thieves. It had a hook on the then able to see both the quality of the skin and of the end so the shepherd could quickly grab a sheep from wool. harms way. It helped lead the sheep. When you want It was also used for dividing and separating sheep the sheep to go into pen, or turn at a crossing, waiving that did not belong to the flock. Often flocks got mixed. a stick in your outstretched arm helps you block them We see this with Abraham and Lots flocks needing to off and steer them in the direction you want them to go. separate because they often got mixed together. Even Large hooks where useful with small lambs to gather though the ears were often notched a certain way to by the neck but actually the hook (Sometimes called determine the owners flock, the shepherd would pass crook. Ever heard of the phrase “by hook or crook”) was them under the staff so he could check those ears and often used to grab the sheep by the foot. The shepherd pull out those who were not. Jesus often talked about simply hooks one of the legs by the hook and lifts the leg those who were His and those who were not and a final and the sheep cant go anywhere because all its weight is separation in the end-time of not only the goats from on the other three feet. This way he can grab an injured the sheep and the sheep that are not of His flock. sheep or pull him out of danger or prevent him from The rod was also used to count every 10th sheep as going in the wrong direction. Sheep tend to wander a tithe that was to be used for sacrifices in the temple. from the flock so the shepherd often used the blunt end
9
ARTICLE - The Symbol of the Staff These sheep were considered: “Holy unto the Lord! (Lev. 27:32).
A staff is a Symbol of Authority! Nearly everyone carried a staff. It was necessary for walking the rugged terrain and hills and wilderness of Israel. But a person’s staff was unique. Often they had their names or tribal history carved on to their staffs. The twelve sons of Israel had unique staffs that would represent their tribes. When Judah unwittingly seduced Tamar his daughter in law, he left her as a pledge: his staff, his signet ring and personal bracelets. Later he recognized that staff and knew it was his and what he had done. When Korah questioned Moses and Aaron’s authority Moses called for the staffs of the leaders of the 12 tribes, had their names written on them and placed in the Tent of Meeting and the next day Aaron’s rod produced buds, blossoms and almonds. It was a supernatural work that caused a dead rod to become a living tree branch and confirmed Aaron’s authority. Then the ground opened up and swallowed Korah and those who sided with him and they went down into hell alive. We might take heed about questioning God’s authority and those he has chosen. A king often had a staff that was very elaborate. Often they were made of gold and highly decorated. They were called scepters and those scepters represented the authority of the king. In the story of Queen Esther, she was not allowed to come into his presence if his staff was not extended to her or she could die but she risked it and approached him to warn him about the plans of Haman. Fortunately he did extend his scepter and allowed her to come before him. (Esther 4:11) It was prophesied that Jesus would spiritually possesses the scepter of Judah, being His descendant and rightful natural heir to kingship. “The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he to whom it
belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his.” Gen. 49:10 God must have a Scepter since he is the King over the earth. The bible calls it a scepter of justice: “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.” Psalm 45:6 It is said that His scepter is made of iron for twice it says in Revelation that He will rule the nations with a Rod (scepter) of iron. (Rev. 12:5, Rev. 19:15).
The Staff of Moses Exo. 4:2 “What is that in your hand. He said a rod.” I have always thought that the greatest relic man could get next to the Ark of the Covenant would be the staff of Moses. Moses traded a scepter for a shepherds staff when he left Egypt and walked the backside of the hard, hot wilderness. When he wandered in the wilderness he had a walking stick. When he tended Jethro’s sheep it became a shepherds staff, a preparation for leading the children of Israel in the wilderness. When the time came for him to go back to Egypt and deliver his people, the Lord asked him what was in his hand. Sometimes God wants us to use the thing that is most available to us! That simple rod would become a powerful symbol of God’s accompanying power. He would have him throw his staff down and God turned it into a serpent that would devour the magicians serpents, a sign of Gods superior authority. He would use his staff or rod to strike the Nile river and turn it into blood, a sign of judgment. He would use that staff to part the Red sea a sign of supernatural deliverance. He would use that staff to strike the rock and bring forth water in the wilderness, a sign of Gods provision. Moses would stand on a hill with his rod extended as the people fought the Amalekites and Aaron and Hur held up his hands until they got the victory, a sign of endurance and perseverance.
10
ARTICLE - The Symbol of the Staff The Rod is a Form of Correction! We have all heard the saying: “ Spare the rod, spoil the child.” The basics are from the bible in proverbs and teaches the importance of disciplining the child. Parents use to use a switch on their children when they misbehaved. Spanking has probably replaced the practice and today unfortunately many people find all this appalling (thus so many spoiled children!) “Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.” Pro. 22:15 “Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.” Pro. 13:24 “Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish them with the rod, they will not die” Pro. 23:13 Paul said concerning the church that it sometimes needed discipline: “What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod of discipline, or shall I come in love and with a gentle spirit?” 1 Cor. 4:21
The Rod is a means of Measuring! “He took me there, and I saw a man whose appearance was like bronze; he was standing in the gateway with a linen cord and a measuring rod in his hand.” (See Ezekiel 40:3-8) You have heard of a yard stick. Its simply a stick that is 3 feet long. In ancient days they had sticks measuring cubits spans and stadia. These measuring rods were tools used in constructions and determined height, length and width of buildings and objects. God’s word is like a rod whereby we see if we measure up to his standards. “The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city, its gates and its walls. The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia in length, and as wide and high as it is long.” Rev. 21:15-16 So a simple stick can mean so many things and serve many purposes. Like Moses it can represent God’s power and delegated authority. David being both shepherd and king reveals great symbolism of the staff and scepter. To him it was a comfort to see Gods protection, direction, leading and gentle correction all revealed in the simple staff. Truly now we can see why he said “His Rod and staff comfort me!”
The Elder’s Staff My youth has left me Like a single eagle searching empty skies. So time in awkward melodies And one-time flagrant rhapsodies, Does drift as hopeful dreams subside. Exhaustive course; once gallantly strove; Majestic knight on whited horse The youthful pledge to yonder course. How futile to seek the changing horizon Or to vainly grasp the place of setting sun. Passive moments now stir the air And children’s laughter breaks despair. Once I did run with glee in search of elder wise, And now I sit and point to seeking few. Instructive from my former pain to guide yet others in wise refrain. Lessons learned now teachers make. Apprentices of experience’s craft; The Markings on an elder’s staff. My journeys plot a mighty map On struggling roads and resting grove, May yet a wiser elder make.
❦ 11
The EYE and EAR Gate
he suddenly saw the angelic armies along the horizon. Samuel heard the Lord in the dead of night when Eli the priest and others in the temple heard nothing. Paul when struck Senses to the Spiritual Realm down on the road to Damascus There are two main entrances into the redeemed saints and the unsaved heard the voice of the Lord when our inner man; the eyes and the ears. lost dwell. Its realm is so vast that none of the travelers with him heard Both God and the devil use them the scripture says concerning just anything! (Acts 22:9). The prophetic to speak to the spirit of man. What the heavenly realm: is often a visual perception into we see and what we the spiritual realm. hear often form who Visions are pictures “We have 5 physical senses that connect us we become. For that revealed by the reason we must be spirit and often are to the physical realm but only the eyes and wise and cautious accompanied by ears can connect us to the spiritual realm.” concerning both spiritual hearing. what we see and what Peter while in a we hear. That which trance saw the vision of the sheet we see and hear effects our thinking, “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, of unclean animals while praying. our emotions, and our believing. We neither have entered into the John while in the spirit on the Lords heart of man, the things which have 5 physical senses that connect day was caught up in a vision and God hath prepared for them that us to the physical realm but only the heard a voice behind him and saw eyes and ears can connect us to the love him.” 1 Cor. 2:9. the Lord. Notice he heard first and spiritual realm. Perhaps that is why The two senses mentioned here then he saw . More about that later! God gave us two eyes and ears while in Corinthians declare that all that There is a principle that few we only have one mouth, one nose man can see or hear in the natural Christians grasp which is that etc. Perhaps the two represent the is greatly limited and the vastness of although both Satan and God desire connection to the two realms. heavens mysteries and the spiritual to communicate to man through his Scripture often speaks of God realm are beyond our physical eyes and ears, God prefers to use the opening our eyes and opening our abilities. We can only see and hear ears first and Satan prefers to use the ears. Seers of old were given visions so much yet by the Spirit of God, eyes first. We will see this through and often the prophets heard the the Lord can extend the limitations many examples in the scriptures. “word of the Lord!”. That is, God of sight and give spiritual vision and The eyes and ears are likened to spoke to them. Man lives in a 3 extend the limitation of sound and gates or doors or even windows dimensional physical ream but the give spiritual audible perception. because they open up to either let truth is there is also a spiritual realm The prophet Elisha prayed that the things in or let things out. They are where God, angels, demons, Satan, eyes of his servant be opened and two-way portals connecting the spirit
12
The EYE and EAR Gate or soul of man with the spiritual was good. There it was. In everything “I John, your brother and realm. The Eyes and Ears are the he created He said then He saw! partaker with you in tribulation spiritual connection and means of Words are sound waves and are and kingdom and patience which communication between the physical meant for hearing. No doubt the are in Jesus, was in the isle that and spiritual. Satan who knows this angels heard the words first and is called Patmos, for the word of has used this with mediums, occultic then saw Gods creation. God spoke. God and the testimony of Jesus. practices, witchcraft and even false This is not for the eye but for the I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s prophets. day, and I heard The war between behind me a great We often hear the term “Seeing is believing” good and evil, voice, as of a trumpet Angels and demons saying, What thou The truth actually is “Hearing is believing”. and God and Satan seest, write in a book are being fought in and send it to the the arena of mans seven churches: unto heart, mind and Ephesus, and unto soul and they both are speaking ear. What we hear is based upon Smyrna, and unto Pergamum, to the ears of man and the eyes of sound waves what we see is based and unto Thyatira, and unto humanity to draw man to one side or upon light waves. More on that Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, the other. later. So sound waves came before and unto Laodicea. And I turned How do we discern who is speaking light waves. Perhaps that is why the to see the voice that spake with and who is revealing what. The angels joined in the creation with me. And having turned I saw bible says that in the last days many song. seven golden candlesticks; and in would be deceived. It is not God who the midst of the candlesticks one “When the morning stars sang deceives but Satan and Satan often like unto a son of man, clothed together, and all the sons of God appears as an angel of light (or an with a garment down to the foot, innocuous serpent in a garden). If shouted for joy?” Job 38:7 and girt about at the breasts with our first parents were deceived what Next I went to the end of the bible a golden girdle.” Rev. 1:9-13 hope is their for any of us. There is a and in the last chapter of the book of John first heard a voice then he pattern and when we recognize it we Revelation John says saw the Lord. This pattern is often can determine its source. “And when I had heard and seen, repeated in the scriptures. God spoke to Abraham to call him out of I fell down to worship before the PRIORITY OF PORTALS the land of Ur than late appeared to feet of the angel which shewed him. (Gen. 12: Gen. 17:1) I once heard Chuck Missler say me these things. ” Rev. 22:8 God first speaks to Moses in a that God’s portal is often through burning bush and then reveals the ear but Satan’s portal is usually Notice the order. Though some Himself on Mt. Sinia. (Gen. 3:4, Ex. through the eyes. This really struck translations have this reversed, me profoundly and provoked me most translations always put 24: 9,10) We often hear the term “Seeing to search the scriptures to see if hearing before seeing. The Greek is believing” The truth actually is this pattern existed. First I went to word is akouo which means : to “Hearing is believing”. The scripture Genesis and looked at the very first hear, to understand to perceive by says Faith (believing) comes by words of the bible and made an the ear what is said, to comprehend. hearing and hearing by the word of interesting discovery. It says: This is more than physically God. ” Romans 10:17 hearing, it is understanding and “And God said, “Let there be With the Lord, usually first comprehending what is being light,” and there was light” comes the hearing and then comes said. the seeing. The audible first, the (that is he spoke. The audible The Greek word here for saw is visual second. Someone once said came forth first). Let there be light.” blepo which means: to see, discern “Often faith comes from hearing then it says: with the bodily eye, to perceive by and doubt comes from seeing”. The use of the eyes, to look and discover. Twelve Spies saw the giants in the “God saw that the light was Again this is more than just seeing land and it caused doubt. Lets first good” Gen. 1:3 physically but entails understanding look at the eye gate and how this He said then he saw. The audible and perception. is the first choice for the enemy to came before the visual. He continues John says in the first chapter of sow deceptive and doubt and gain with creation with this pattern “He Revelation entrance into the heart of man. said let there be... and He saw that it
13
The EYE and EAR Gate THE EYE GATE “...For everything in the world--the lust of the flesh,
the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--comes not from the Father but from the world.” 1 John 2:16 Interestingly the scripture warns against the lust of the eyes. It doesn’t say the lust of the ears. Something about what we see is enticing, stimulating and provocative. It is often the clincher in the deal with sin. In the book of Genesis although the serpent planted doubt in Eve about the tree of knowledge of Good and Evil it wasn’t till she looked upon it and the scripture say: “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat.” Gen. 3:6 David was a man after Gods own heart but he was a man. After many years of obedience to God and being persecuted first by King Saul and then by his own son Absalon, he finally became king. His struggles seemed over and everything was going well, then he walked up to his balcony and saw Bathsheba bathing on her rooftop. He called for her and slept with her and when she got pregnant he had her husband killed. This cost him his child and had he not repented it could of cost him his kingdom if not more. All because of the “lust of the eyes.
Satan loves to put things before the eyes of man to trip him up or lure him into traps. There is also a saying that says “Looks can be deceiving.” Abraham’s nephew Lot had the choice of land for his herd and picked what looked like the best land for himself in the Jordan Valley which was well watered leaving the remainder for Abraham. However the Jordan Valley contained the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and Lot pitched his tent near Sodom. Eventually we find him living in the city with his wife and daughters. We know the story. The city was so wicked the Lord sent angels to pull his family out before He destroyed it but Lot lost his wife in the end. Abraham gave Lot the choice but he choose what looked good to the eyes and yet ended up in destruction! One of the ten commandments deals with coveting. This pertains to the lust of the eyes. It is desiring what others have or to have something you shouldn’t have. The dictionary says coveting means: to yearn to possess or have something; to feel desire for what belongs to another . Naaman came to the prophet Elisha to be cured of Leprosy. Elisha told him to go to the Jordan river and dip himself in it 7 times and he would be healed. He did so and returned to offer the prophet a gift of ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten changes of clothing. Elisha refused any payment so Naaman left. Elisha’s servant Gehazi however went after Naaman and asked for some silver and two changes of clothing which he got. When he returned to Elisha the prophet said: “Did not my heart go with you when the man turned back from his chariot to meet you? Is it time to receive
14
money and to receive clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male and female servants? Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and your descendants forever.” Gehazi coveted with his eyes and ended up with leprosy. Probably not wise to take a lepers clothes! “For everything in the world-the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--comes not from the Father but from the world.” 1 John 2:16 When Jesus was in the wilderness the devil tempted Jesus with the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life (self preservation). After 40 days of not eating, Satan tempted him to turn stones into bread which he could do (lust of the flesh). He tempted him to cast Himself off the temple wall to see if the angels would preserve him (pride of life). Then in Matthew it tells how he tempted him with the lust of the eyes: “Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me. Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.” Matt. 4:8-11
The EYE and EAR Gate Jesus saw the kingdoms of the world under Satan’s control and was offered them. This was a real desire otherwise it wouldn’t be a temptation. Perhaps Satan was offering all of mankind without the need of redeeming it. This would indeed be a temptation because then Jesus wouldn’t have to go to the cross. But the cost would be bowing down and worshiping His creation; the fallen one, the rebel angel who had caused a war in heaven. Jesus refused and the devil left. The eyes were created by God and they are not evil. They are however vulnerable. We are to be careful what we set before them and put a guard over them. Psalms says:
tore the mountains and broke Jesus said: in pieces the rocks before the “The gatekeeper opens the gate Lord, but the Lord was not in for him, and the sheep listen to the wind. And after the wind an his voice. He calls his own sheep earthquake, but the Lord was not by name and leads them out. in the earthquake. And after the When he has brought out all his earthquake a fire, but the Lord own, he goes on ahead of them, was not in the fire. And after the “I will set no wicked thing before and his sheep follow him because fire the sound of a low whisper. my eyes.” (Psa. 101:3); they know his voice. But they will And when Elijah heard it, he never follow a stranger; in fact, wrapped his face in his cloak “Turn away mine eyes from they will run away from him and went out and stood at the beholding vanity “ (Psa. 119:37). because they do not recognize a entrance of the cave. And behold, stranger’s voice.” Jesus used this there came a voice to him and figure of speech, but the Pharisees The Ear Gate said, “What are you doing here, did not understand what he was Elijah?” 1 Kings 19:11-13(ESV) telling them .” John 10:3-6 Elijah did not find God’s power The ear is often the first place God uses to get to the heart. As stated in a mighty wind or earthquake We must be so intimate with the before; Faith comes by hearing! God or dazzling fire, but in a still small good Shepherd that we recognize and is always speaking to us by the Holy voice; a whisper from God. Then he follow only His voice and are able to Spirit. The problem is we are not began to really hear from God. discern the luring voice of a stranger. C.S Lewis said: “God whispers to always listening. There is a warfare against the us in our pleasures, speaks to us in “My sheep listen to my voice; I voice of God. You are constantly our conscience, but shouts in our know them, and they follow me.” bombarded by the sounds of this pains: It is His megaphone to rouse John 10:27 world. Think about it. You have a deaf world” the TV blaring at home; the radio “Incline your ear, and come unto blasting in the car, people talking FROM THE EAR me: hear, and your soul shall to you constantly at work. Sound TO THE EYE is all around us; Cars, machinery, live.” Isaiah 55:3 ambulance and police sirens in the There are many demonic voices distance. It is no wonder we rarely that try to impersonate God’s. It When men discovered how to hear from God when noise is all is essential that you listen to God send wireless signals through the around us. enough until you recognize His air in the 1800s they had to create It is essential that we find a quite voice. I was always amazed how in a transmitter and receiver for place to pray, meditate on Gods word a small church I attended, you could the radio to be invented. It was and listen to his voice. Remember sometimes hear a baby cry in the the first device to allow for mass the story of Elijah: nursery and immediately the right communication both nationally and mother got up and went into the international. In the 1900 it further “And he said, “Go out and stand back. Though the babies all sounded developed and radio programs were on the mount before the Lord.” the same to me, the mother spent broadcasted to nearly every home. It And behold, the Lord passed so much time with her child she initially broadcasted variety shows, by, and a great and strong wind became very familiar with its voice. music and gospel programs. After
15
The EYE and EAR Gate World War Two it expanded to but we are not always on the right Jesus often said to the pharisees Comedy and Sports. Interestingly in frequency to receive.) and religious leaders: the 30’s and 40’s many people were This was limited to short and long “Having eyes ye see ye not? And building their own radio kits and sounds, dots and dashes and thus the government came in to regulate he used Morse code to develop the having ears ye hear ye not?” Mark 8:18 the industry dictating who could telegraph. build transmitters and who could Side note but interesting: eventually Naturally they had ears and eyes build receivers. but were spiritually Families would sit blind. around the radio “God is alwas transmitting but we are not in the evenings We are to be careful always on the right frequency to receive.” and listen to a to guard what we see. variety a clean Jesus said: shows including “The eye is the lamp of many Christian the body. If your eyes are healthy, programs. the telegraph was installed on luxury your whole body will be full of light. In the late 40s, TV was invented. In liners and the Titanic and rescue But if your eyes are unhealthy, 1946 there were only 6 TV stations boats communicated by it causing your whole body will be full of in the nation. So again, First came the Postmaster general of Britain darkness. If then the light within the radio then the TV; the audio to say “Those who have been saved, you is darkness, how great is that then the visual. The radio actually have been saved through one man, darkness!” Matthew 6:22-23 brought the family together and Mr. Marconi...and his marvelous entertained and informed them and invention.”. Marconi was offered free Job said: was fairly clean. Even TV initially passage on Titanic before she sank, was censored often by Pastors and but had taken Lusitania three days “I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a young religious groups. But Hollywood earlier so he could get paper work woman.” Job 31:1 grew and they kept pushing the done on board. envelope and eventually stopped all There is a wireless system that Healthy eyes is determined by censorship. They created a Rating God uses to communicate with what we put before them. Today system leaving the censorship up man. God uses the Holy Spirit to Satan is enticing the world to sin to the recipient not the source. Bad speak and reveal to man the deep through online pornography. TV idea! things of God. I quoted earlier the and movies are filled with violence, As stated earlier, the radio and scripture: sex and ungodly perversions. television operated by the usage We are bombarded by what we “No eye has seen, no ear has of a transmitter and a receiver! see and hear in the world and it heard, no heart has imagined, It is the same basis as Alexander is opening communications to Bell’s telephone but without wires. what God has prepared for those the kingdom of darkness not the Marconi is credited for inventing who love Him.” Kingdom of God. The answer is to the radio, perfecting the long range But the next verse says: put God’s word before our eyes and radio and ultimately the wireless incline our ears to his voice and “But God hath revealed them telegraph. Radio waves are simply our eye gate and ear gate to unto us by his Spirit: for the open invisible light waves. Marconi Him! initially used a transmitter and Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what “Open thou mine eyes, that I receiver to send a radio signal to man knoweth the things of a man, may behold wondrous things out ring a bell at a distance without save the spirit of man which is in of thy law.” Psa. 119:23 wires. (God is alwas transmitting him? Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit “Whether you turn to the right or of God.” 1 Cor. 2: 10 ,11 to the left, your ears will hear a It is not just physical eyes that voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isa. 30:21 can be opened by the Spirit, but our inner eyes. Eyes also represent “Blessed are your eyes for understanding. The devil is said to have blinded the they see, and your minds of those who do not believe. ears for they hear.” Matthew 13:16; Blindness is the inability to see.
16
The Seven Churches of Revelation!
In chapter 2 and 3 of the Book of Revelation the Lord addresses the seven major local churches of Asia. These are literal churches and though there may be some symbolism and analogies of churches today or the church ages we must first look it its foremost meaning which is that Jesus was both correcting and blessing these churches and the correction is a warning to the churches today while the blessings are an encouragement to us today! Jesus warned those churches that if they did not repent he would remove the candlestick or light from them. Today, sadly all seven churches have fallen into ruin. Below is a bit of history and insight into those churches. I encourage you to do more research and see the symbolism’s, warnings and testimonies of these churches and let these things be written “ for our example.” (1 Cor:10:11, Romans 15:4)
hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.” The first church Jesus addresses is the church at Ephesus. This is the church we are most familiar with. Paul wrote his epistle to this church which is entitled “Ephesians”. Paul visited Ephesus and preached in the synagogue and they asked him to stay longer but he had to leave but promised to return. (Acts 18:19-21)
To the Church in Ephesus Rev. 2:1-7- “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:“These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured
17
The Seven Churches of Revelation! Apollos came to Ephesus and had been a disciple of John the Baptist. Aquila and Priscilla met him and “showed him a more perfect way!” When Paul returned he found 12 believers and led them into the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God came on them and they began to prophesy and speak in tongues. Thus a powerful beginning of the church in Ephesus. Paul stayed there for 3 months teaching in the synagogue until they would not listen anymore so he taught for 3 years in the school of Tyrannus. God began using Paul mightily. “God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them” It was here that the spirits attacked the seven sons of Sceva saying “Jesus I know and Paul I know but who are you?” Many brought out their occult scrolls and curious arts and publicly burned them. (Acts 19) “So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed”. Acts 19:20 The church grew so powerful it was affecting the commerce of silver idols. People were not buying idols to Diana of Ephesus so a riot broke out and Paul left Ephesus. The church of Ephesus was commended by the Lord for enduring hardship. Perhaps it was in having a city church where the Temple of Artemis (Diana) was one of the Seven Wonders of the world and a haven for idolatry. Paul wrote 1st Corinthians from Ephesus and later wrote the epistle to the Ephesians from his jail in Rome. Its is believed that John also ministered in Ephesus. Ephesus was a powerful church with a rich Christian heritage. It was known for its love (Ephesians 1:15) and ironically it had left that first love and the Lord had to warn them to return back to the first love and first works as the beginning. Ephesus was guilty of straying from its original intent and purpose. Sometimes it is important to go back before we can go forward. It must of heeded the warning because they remained strong well into the 2nd century and was commended by many of the early fathers. Ephesus was commended in hating the false doctrines of the Nicolatians, a sect possibly started by apostate Nicolas, one of the first deacons in Jerusalem. Jesus presents himself to this church as the one who holds the seven stars. Ephesus was the preeminent church of the region but is reminded that Jesus holds authority over the churches and that he walks among the 7 churches making his presence known. The city was destroyed by the Goths in 263.
To the Church in Smyrna
Rev. 2:8-11- “To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.” Smyrna was an ancient city built by Alexander the great. It was near the coastline of Asia minor in present day Turkey. The name Smyrna may have gotten its name from myrrh which was the chief export of the city in ancient times. It once was a large city destroyed by war 500 years before Christ and though it was rebuilt later it never became what it was before. Jesus says of the church that though they are poor they are rich! Smyrna was only 35 miles north of Ephesus and a main road went from Ephesus to Smyrna! A large Jewish population lived here probably leading to Christian converts and the establishing of a city church. Polycarp was a bishop there. He is a famous church father who was a disciple of John, met, taught and ordained by the apostles as bishop of Smyrna and was martyred there in 152ad. Other church fathers such as Ignatius of Antioch and Irenaeus influenced the Church of Smyrna. The Jewish believers continued celebrating Passover and the sabbath in their church. Jesus wrote about the affection and joy that comes from triumph over hardship and persecution. The church faced strong Jewish opposition in Smyrna. It
18
The Seven Churches of Revelation! was the Jewish community that rose up against Polycarp and had him burned alive. Thus the words of Jesus of those who say they are Jews but are not, but are of the synagogue of Satan. The emphasis in his words to Smyrna is in overcoming knowing that hardship is temporary. It is appropriate the he presents himself as the first and last, the one who died and rose again. It is the hope of resurrection that encourages those who may face death. The words to the church in Smyrna are unique in that it is one of only two churches that get no rebukes, criticisms or warnings as the others.
cults and temples, The god of healing, Asclepius received worship there. There were 3 temples dedicated to the worship of the emperor. A temple to the ancient Egyptian god of the underworld Serapis was erected in the lower city of Pergamum and a temple to Athena Nicephorus. But Jesus mentions the seat of Satan. Here he refers to the Alter of Zeus, the most famous landmark of Pergamum. Interestingly it was removed and placed in a museum in Berlin, Germany just before Hitler rose into power. Jesus said Satan lived in Pergamum, no doubt talking about the huge demonic stronghold of that city with all its idolatry. To the Church in Pergamum Jesus mentions the martyr of Antipas. Antipas was the bishop of the church in Pergamum ordained by Rev. 2:12-17- “To the angel of the church in the apostle John. Antipas was casting out so many dePergamum write: These are the words of him who mons that they began appearing to the priest of Ascehas the sharp, double-edged sword. I know where pius (who used slithering snakes as part their healing you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you program). The priest brought Antipas before the goverremain true to my name. You did not renounce your nor who told him to offer up incense in worship of the faith in me, not even in the days of Antipas, my emperor. When Antipas refused, they took him to the faithful witness, who was put to death in your city— seat of Satan, that is the alter of Zeus and placed him where Satan lives. Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to in a large bronze bull and burned fire underneath until the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice he was roasted alive. He died praying for the church. The church was chastised by the Lord for allowthe Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed ing some of their believers to follow the cult of the to idols and committed sexual immorality. Likewise, Nicolatians and the teaching of Balaam. Cultic teachyou also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will ing had crept into the church causing compromise soon come to you and will fight against them with with sexual immorality and idol worship. Jesus is rethe sword of my mouth. Whoever has ears, let them vealed himself to them as the one with a two-edged hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one sword coming out of his mouth. He said he would who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden fight the false doctrine with the sword of his mouth manna. I will also give that person a white stone (the word of God). His judgment is swift and sure. with a new name written on it, known only to the But he also offers hidden manna for those who overone who receives it.” come and a personalized white stone with their name Pergamum was one of the most beautiful and im- on it showing individual recognition for overcoming. portant cities of the Greek age. It was well learned having one of the largest libraries in the world. It was To the Church in Thyatira highly adorned with sculptures, paintings and temples. Pergamum was a city of great Greek and Roman Rev. 2:18-29 “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. I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first. Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. 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. I will strike her children dead. Then all
19
The Seven Churches of Revelation! To the Church in Sardis
the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds. 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, ‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’ To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations— that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery’ just as I have received authority from my Father. I will also give that one the morning star. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Thyatira was a small industry city with many trades. It was famous for its dyeing facilities and was a center of the purple cloth trade. It had a large guild of dyers in the city. There were more guilds in Thyatira than any other contemporary city in the Roman provinces including: wool-workers, linen-workers, makers of outer garments, dyers, leather-workers, tanners, potters, bakers, slave-dealers, and bronze-smiths (Interesting that Jesus reveals himself as the one who’s feet are like Bronze.) Because the guild catered to pagan feasts and idolatry it was taught by many of the early church that no Christian might belong to one of the guilds. While in Philippi, Paul and Silas stayed with a woman named Lydia from Thyatira, who continued to help them even after they were jailed and released. Jesus charge them for tolerating the spirit of Jezebel or sexual immortality. A temple at Thyatira was dedicated to Sambethe, and at this shrine was a prophetess, by some supposed to represent the Jezebel who uttered the sayings which this deity would impart to the worshippers. The church was commended by the Lord for perseverance and doing more than they were doing in the beginning. The church community in Thiatira has continued till the 20th century.
Rev. 3:1-6 “To the angel of the church in 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. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, 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. 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. The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Sardis was the capital of the ancient kingdom of Lydia, one of the important cities of the Persian Empire. Sardis was conquered by Cyrus the Great. Sardis remained under Persian domination until it surrendered to Alexander the Great in 334 BC. Sardis was 60 miles inland from Ephesus and Smyrna. Artemis was the main goddess of the city and the temple dedicated to her in Sardis was one of the seven largest Greek temples. A large complex built in the center of the lower city in the 2nd century AD included a gymnasium and a bathhouse. The complex was over five acres in size and its western part was characterized by large vaulted halls for bathing. Interesting that the Lord said “There are some who have not soiled their clothing” as if to wash themselves again and put on white garments. The metallurgists of Sardis discovered the secret of separating gold from silver, thereby producing both metals of a purity never known before. Sardis
20
The Seven Churches of Revelation! is famed in history as the place where modern currency was invented. In AD 17, Sardis was destroyed by an earthquake, but it was rebuilt with money from the Emperor and exempted from paying taxes for five years. The city died and came back alive several times over the century. Perhaps that is why Jesus said “ You have a reputation for being alive but you are dead. By the 19th century, Sardis was in ruins. Archaeologists found a strong Jewish presence in the city along with God-fearers (Gentiles who followed much of the Jewish teachings without being converts.) The church like many today had become dead and asleep. The Lord urged them to wake up before it was too late.
adelphia had a temple to the emperor and gave him the title “The Son of the Holy One.” It is undoubtedly for this To the Church in Philadelphia reason the Lord is called, “He who is holy, who is true” . It was founded with the deliberated intention that it Rev. 3:7-13 “To the angel of the church in might be a missionary of Greek culture and the Greek Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who language to Lydia and Phrygia; and it did its work so well is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one that by A.D. 19 the Lydians had forgotten their own Lydian language and were all but Greeks. That is what Jesus can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed means when he speaks of the open door that is set before before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept Philadelphia. Philadelphia had been given an open door my word and have not denied my name. I will make to spread Greek ideas to its bordering regions and now it those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim would be an open door to carry the gospel of Jesus Christ. to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will This church had but” little strength,” i.e. was small make them come and fall down at your feet and in numbers and poor in resources, of small account acknowledge that I have loved you. Since you have in men’s eyes. The cost of repairing the often shaken kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come city taxed heavily the citizens. But the Lord was emon the whole world to test the inhabitants of the phasizing that it is not about strength but faithfulness. Isaiah 22:22 is an interesting verse in conjunction with earth. I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, this message to the Philadelphian Church. “The key of so that no one will take your crown. The one who the house of David I will lay on his shoulder; so he shall is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of open, and no one shall shut; and he shall shut, and no my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the one shall open.” This speaks of admission and Jesus has city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming all power and authority to admit to the New Jerusalem. down out of heaven from my God; and I will also Like Smyna it received only praise and no criticisms write on them my new name. Whoever has ears, let from the Lord. Smyrna and Philidelphia had another them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” thing in common; the synagogue of Satan. Both were Philadelphia, which means “brother- oppressed by the Jewish community in their cities. ly love,” was about 38 miles southeast of SarTo the Church in Laodicea dis. It was built in 189 BC by King Eumenes II of Pergamum and named the city for the love of his Rev. 3:14-22 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea brother, who would be his successor, It was built near a write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful volcano and was dangerous due to constant earthquake and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know tremors. Because of that many of the people actually your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish lived outside the city where it was safer. Perhaps that is you were either one or the other! So, because you implied when the Lord says that the faithful will be like are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to a pillar in the temple of God and they will never need to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have leave. Interestingly there is a ruin of a church that col- acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you lapsed but arches of bricks like pillars remain today! Phil- do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor,
21
The Seven Churches of Revelation! blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 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 that person, and they with me. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” The ancient city of Laodicea lay on the river Lycus, in the Roman province of Asia, and one of the early centers of Christianity. The Christian community in Laodicea seems to have been closely connected with that of nearby Colossae (10 miles away). The water supply of the city was lukewarm, in contrast to the hot springs at nearby Hierapolis and the cold, pure waters of Colossae. Archaeology shows Laodicea had an aqueduct that probably carried water from hot mineral springs some five miles south, which would have become tepid before entering the city. Thus the symbolism of the Lord is that it is better to be hot or cold then lukewarm. Hot springs are beneficial to the body and cold water is good to drink but tepid water us of little value. Many Christian have grown lukewarm in their faith and this leaves a bad taste in the mouth of the Lord. So much that He wants to spew them out of His mouth. The city was a place of great finance and banking. The city minted its own coins, the inscriptions of which show evidence of the worship of Zeus, Æsculapius, Apollo, and the emperors. In 60 A.D the city was hit by a major earthquake. The city refused help of the Roman empire because of pride and rebuilt the city itself. The Lord chastises the church for thinking that they are rich and in need of nothing.
The Lord always used terms the people could relate to: the good shepherd, the four seeds, white sepulchers, wedding feasts, etc.. Antiochus the Great transported 2,000 Jewish families to Phrygia from Babylonia. Many of Laodicea’s inhabitants were Jews, and Cicero records that Flaccus confiscated the considerable sum of 9 kilograms (20 lb) of gold which was being sent annually to Jerusalem for the Temple. The Jews were sending gold to Jerusalem every year for the temple. Jesus told them to buy gold refined in fire “so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.”. The city was known for its cloth trade, particularly black wool that was produced in the area. Interestingly the Lord told them to buy “white raiment” to cover their nakedness. The Lords remark about buying eye salve is interesting because in Laodicea there was a medical school where a famous ophthalmologist practiced. The city also lies within the boundaries of ancient Phrygia, from where an ingredient of eye-lotions, the so-called “Phrygian powder”, was supposed to have originated. Laodicea is mentioned four times in the New Testament’s epistle to the Colossians. Paul must of written to Laodicea (possibly lost) because he instructs the Colossians to exchange his letter with one he has written to the Laodiceans (Colossians 4:16) Several Laodicean names are mentioned in the New Testament: Archippus (Colossians 4:17); Nympha is mentioned in Colossians 4:15); and Diotrephes (3 John 9). After Constantine The Council of Laodicea was a regional synod of approximately thirty clerics from Asia Minor that assembled about 363–364 AD. The major concerns of the Council involved regulating the conduct of church members. The Council expressed its decrees in the form of written rules or canons. Among the sixty canons decreed, issues such as: Specifying a Biblical canon, Maintaining order among bishops, clerics and laypeople; Enforcing modest behavior; regulating approach to heretics, Jews and pagans; outlawing the keeping of the sabbath (Saturday) and encouraging rest on the Sunday; outlining liturgical practices; restrictions during Lent; admission and instruction of catechisms and neophytes (new believers). So you can see this rich and influential church later set the foundation for the rules of the catholic church. Not surprising? The Seven Churches were actual churches in a specific region and known to John while on the Isle of Patmos. They were also known to the Lord as this was the very first thing Jesus addressed in the revelation of the end time and judgment on the earth. Remember, the bible says that judgment begins in the house of
22
The Seven Churches of Revelation! the Lord! ( 1 Peter 4:17, Ezekiel 9:6, John 2:16). Jesus addressed the qualities and imperfections of the church as a type of dealing with his own before he deals with the world. The beginning of the book of Revelation is about the church. After that he brings judgment to the world. There are also several symbolism attached to the 7 churches of Revelation. Perhaps there are many layers to this than just the literal aspect. Many believe that these 7 churches represent 7 types of churches. Some believe it represents different congregations and individuals. Others think that the seven churches represent seven church ages in history. If this is true than many believe we are living in the Laodicean age; the last church; the lukewarm church. The following shows the symbolism:
This e-magazine and others are FREE to download and/or read online at: www.issuu.com/visualdesigngraphics
Ephesus -the church that had forsaken its first love. Smyrna -the church that would suffer persecution. Pergamum - the church that needed to repent. Thyatira - the church that had a false prophetess. Sardis - the church that had fallen asleep. Philadelphia - the church that had endured patiently. Laodicea -- the church with the lukewarm faith. It is interesting that Jesus says He is the one who walks in the midst of the 7 candlesticks which are the seven churches. If you look at an aerial shot of the seven churches He starts at Ephesus and goes through them as if walking in a circle, perhaps showing the circuit of the seven church ages. Regardless, we are to heed his warnings to the churches and repent of our shortcomings and strengthening our weakness as we continue to be faithful to the bridegroom!
Please visit our Facebook Page and like us at: https://www.facebook.com/jerrywall.1952/
All comments, suggestions, and correspondants may be sent to the editor/publisher at: jerrywalldesigns@gmail.com
Please visit our website at www.patmospapers.zohosites.com
23
24