Rev2:18And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: 'The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze. 19I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. 20But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. 21I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. 22Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works,23and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works.24But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden. 25Only hold fast what you have until I come. 26The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations,27and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father. 28And I will give him the morning star. 29He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches" ESV
Pay attention here to they way the Lord presents himself..."The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze." The Lord presents himself in each of the letters to signify the special issue each of the churches has. Here, he speaks as the diety He is. Why? Well, some think that Rome thinks of Jesus as the Son of Mary. There are still persons who would rather go to Mary than to Jesus or God. Jesus is bring the point home that HE is the Son of God, there is no other or subitute.
On to the eyes, the flame of fire speaks to the righteousness and holiness of Jesus. The eyes mean two things: one; the anger he has against sin, and two; the flame's ability to burn off and penetrate the outer disguises, to see into the inner most emotions and the heart and of man.
The brazen feet are significant to the immovable power of the Risen Christ.
Verse 19 then goes to give credit for the work Rome has done. From the 7th centruy on, The church of Rome as done a great deal of good works.
Verse 20 starts the real Thyatira issue, the woman Jezebel and her ways. The authorized Version calls this woman "that woman Jezebel". The Moffat translation, "that Jezebel of a woman". The Greek translation uses the word gunaika which not only means woman but wife, this turns the meaning to your wife Jezebel. There are no true identifiers for the woman other than knowing she is refered to as Jezebel; her true name is not given. But, we can know what kind of person she was.
She claimed to be a prophetess, and a true, great one at that. The Old and the New Testaments are full of prophetesses, think of Miriam in Exodus, Deborah in Juges, Huldah in 2 Kings, Anna in Luke, and the four virgin daughters of Philip in Acts, to name a few. So, it was not unheard of for the women to be prophets.
We need to go back to the original Jezebel to find what character this one had. Refer 1 Kings 16, we find that Jezebel was the daughter of Ethball, kind of Sidon and wife of Ahab. When she came from Sidon, she brought her own gods and ended up influencing Ahab and the people to worship Baal. She was not against Jehovah, she wanted both. She was influential, chrismatic and had a place to speak where she could be heard. She made an attempt at mixing religions to unite all religions into the one religion of Rome! This is a form of Romanism- it is a mixture of Heathenism, Christinaity and Judaism. It originated from heathenism in a weak attempt to convert pagans. In the 4th, 5th and 6th centuries, the church was very comprimising to this line of thought * For the practice of idolatry of the Old Testament Jezebel, God gave her room to repent and she didn't. This practice was fully acceptable of New Testament Jezebel by the Church of Rome. Remember, the churches of Ephesus and Pergamos were at an end, Syrna at an end about 312 AD. However, Thyatira begins in the 7th century and goes to the Great Tribulation as do the remaining three chruches yet to be spoken of; Thyatira is the basis for the Church of Rome.
Now back to this Revelation Jezebel, she taught two things: eating meat offered to idols was okay as was committing fornication. (see verse 20 & 21) God is againt this, but is giving the Church of Rome time to repent.
To this day many Prostentant leaders continue to push for a great united church and would like a union with Rome. Scripture shows clearly that this will yet take place. In the 16th century Rome failed again to repent adding to her blasphemies by the declaration of the Virgin Mary as sinless, lifting her to a position of a female god, and crowning her queen of heaven. Further, at the Council of the Vatican (less than 75 years ago) the Church of Rome declared the infallibility of her Popes. At that point many of the churches Bishops said it was going to far. And here we are, God still waiting for Rome to repent.
Verse 22 states that He will place this church into the Great Tribulation. There is a true point here: anyone coming into that church for the first time would have loved going there, would have belived it to be full of life and fruit producing in every good work. Those who prospered in business because of the compromise with the world were generous and lavish in their liberality and generous with their monies. They must have looked like real Christians, no doubt Jezebel did a fine job. Is there a parallel that you see in the Church today? The true measue is that the Risen Christ can see through the disguise, he will know if the repentance is real or not.
And there will be judgement.
For those who are faithful, there are two promises:
1. authority over nations- Straight forward, we will rule with a rod of iron "you shall break them with a rod of iron, and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel." "Them" is in reference to the heathen. (see Psalms2:8 &9).
2. The promise of the morning star.- In Revelation 22:16 Jesus is called "the bright morning star". The promise is of Christ himself! Praise the Lord! To never lose Christ any more! What a glorious day!!
Next blog, starts the fifth church....hope to see you there.
Blessings on all,
Calabash
* There is a challenge in my study to go to your church, and find in the Bible where whe sermon is from and study it. Did the sermon match with the Word from the Bible? If not, you will need to ask your self and your church why!
Books used for Reference: Prophecy Study Bible, Tim LaHaye ; Lectures on the Revealtion, Ironside; The Revlation of John, Vol 1&2 ,Wm Barclay; The Majority Text Greek New Testament Interlinear,
The Greatest Book on "Dispensational Truth" in the World, Clarence Larkin, and of coarse, The Bible KJV and ESV (several authors!)
Monday, May 30, 2011
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Thyatira
The longest of the seven letters is written here, concerning Thyatira. Importance of all cities at that time, Thyatira would have to rank least.
Thyatira comes from two words, one meaning sacrifice and the other word meaning, "goes on continually". Put these together we get, "continual sacrifice". This is significant in that the church of Thyatira started a period which resulted in the union of church and state. The time was the 7th century and the Bishop of Rome was recognised as the head of the church and as Christ's vicegerent (a person exercising delegated power on behalf of a sovereign or ruler.) This was, properly speaking, the beginning of the papacy.
Location: Thyatira in in a long valley that connects the Hermus and the Caicus rivers. Location was what this city had going for it.
1. Thyatira was the gateway to Pergamum, the capitol of the province. Thyatira was a Macedonian troop armed garrison. The purpose of Thyatira was to protect Pergamum. The problem here was the location of the open valley and the difficulty of any prolonged defense. All Thyatira could hope to ever do was to delay invaders of Pergamum until Pergamum could prepare to meet the invaders.
2. Thyarira was a commercial town due to the roads running to Pergamum, which connected to Sardis and then to Philadelphia and Laodicea then linking up to Smyrna and Byzantium. The is the road the imperial persons traveled the most.
3. There was no significant heathen religion there. There was a fortune telling shrine at Thyarira. It was run by a female oracle named Sambathe. Hardly any competition or issue for the Church.
4. Thyarira's specialty goods were the dyeing industry and the woolen goods. Lydia (Acts 16:14) came from Thyaria with her speciality as the seller of purple. Thyarira had the largest number of guilds and guild workers: wool, leather, linen, bronze, makers of outer garments, dyers, potters, bakers, slave-dealers etc.
So, what was the church of Thyatira's issue? The issue was of an "inside" nature; there was a women addressed only as Jezebel. She wanted to compromise with the world in the business and prosperity area. She felt the Holy Spirit would keep them safe in there endeavors.
**I feel led to put an additional word for word reading attached to this blog. I think it needs to be separate from the body of the above due to it's unique significance.
Quoted form the , Lectures on the Revelation by H.A. Ironside.
"I said the Thyatira seemed to imply a continual sacrifice. You will see the significance of this in the great fundamental error of the church of Rome- the sacrifice of the mass. The Roman Catholic priest declare that, in the mass, they offer a continual sacrifice for the sins of the living and the dead. Other errors of the church of Rome spring from that. There are many things that Prostestants might be able to condone. This is the central, the root, blasphemy- the denial of the finished work of the Lord Jesus on Calary's cross- the one, only and all-sufficient offering for the sins of a guilty world. Every time the priest stands at Rome's altar to offer the sacrifice of the mass, he denies the unchanging efficacy of the work wrought by the Lord Jesus on Calvary's cross."
This basic concept is the basis of the letter to Thyatira. Christ died on the cross for us and our sins. Jesus said, "It is finished."(John 19:30). There should NEVER be a continual sacrifice, no other sacrifice should ever be needed.
Thyatira comes from two words, one meaning sacrifice and the other word meaning, "goes on continually". Put these together we get, "continual sacrifice". This is significant in that the church of Thyatira started a period which resulted in the union of church and state. The time was the 7th century and the Bishop of Rome was recognised as the head of the church and as Christ's vicegerent (a person exercising delegated power on behalf of a sovereign or ruler.) This was, properly speaking, the beginning of the papacy.
Location: Thyatira in in a long valley that connects the Hermus and the Caicus rivers. Location was what this city had going for it.
1. Thyatira was the gateway to Pergamum, the capitol of the province. Thyatira was a Macedonian troop armed garrison. The purpose of Thyatira was to protect Pergamum. The problem here was the location of the open valley and the difficulty of any prolonged defense. All Thyatira could hope to ever do was to delay invaders of Pergamum until Pergamum could prepare to meet the invaders.
2. Thyarira was a commercial town due to the roads running to Pergamum, which connected to Sardis and then to Philadelphia and Laodicea then linking up to Smyrna and Byzantium. The is the road the imperial persons traveled the most.
3. There was no significant heathen religion there. There was a fortune telling shrine at Thyarira. It was run by a female oracle named Sambathe. Hardly any competition or issue for the Church.
4. Thyarira's specialty goods were the dyeing industry and the woolen goods. Lydia (Acts 16:14) came from Thyaria with her speciality as the seller of purple. Thyarira had the largest number of guilds and guild workers: wool, leather, linen, bronze, makers of outer garments, dyers, potters, bakers, slave-dealers etc.
So, what was the church of Thyatira's issue? The issue was of an "inside" nature; there was a women addressed only as Jezebel. She wanted to compromise with the world in the business and prosperity area. She felt the Holy Spirit would keep them safe in there endeavors.
**I feel led to put an additional word for word reading attached to this blog. I think it needs to be separate from the body of the above due to it's unique significance.
Quoted form the , Lectures on the Revelation by H.A. Ironside.
"I said the Thyatira seemed to imply a continual sacrifice. You will see the significance of this in the great fundamental error of the church of Rome- the sacrifice of the mass. The Roman Catholic priest declare that, in the mass, they offer a continual sacrifice for the sins of the living and the dead. Other errors of the church of Rome spring from that. There are many things that Prostestants might be able to condone. This is the central, the root, blasphemy- the denial of the finished work of the Lord Jesus on Calary's cross- the one, only and all-sufficient offering for the sins of a guilty world. Every time the priest stands at Rome's altar to offer the sacrifice of the mass, he denies the unchanging efficacy of the work wrought by the Lord Jesus on Calvary's cross."
This basic concept is the basis of the letter to Thyatira. Christ died on the cross for us and our sins. Jesus said, "It is finished."(John 19:30). There should NEVER be a continual sacrifice, no other sacrifice should ever be needed.
Next blog starts the letter and gets into the meat of the Church of Thyarira and the woman and her influence. Join me, won't you?
Blessings on all,
Calabash
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Clairifacation to the Revelation 2 :12 & 13 post
Arius was an Arian of note that started an Arian controversy. the controversy was over what John had said, "In the beginning was the Word"- . Arius took this to mean that the Word was the greatest that came from God. Those opposing him felt that the Word was one with God. After much debate, the question truly came down to ; Was Jesus truly God or was He only the greatest being God had ever created?
The "brilliant Arian" mentioned was not named. Neither was the brave African that gave such a spirit filled speech given his name. We do know that the Spirit of the Lord moved so strongly in that arena that the speech convinced all present that Jesus was one with God in the Holy Trinity.
I hope this clears up the blog some....it was a little confusing and I apologize.
Blessings to all, and thank you for bring this to my attention!
Calabash
The "brilliant Arian" mentioned was not named. Neither was the brave African that gave such a spirit filled speech given his name. We do know that the Spirit of the Lord moved so strongly in that arena that the speech convinced all present that Jesus was one with God in the Holy Trinity.
I hope this clears up the blog some....it was a little confusing and I apologize.
Blessings to all, and thank you for bring this to my attention!
Calabash
Revelation 2:14-17,
Rev 2:14But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality.15So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.17He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.'
Here we see something Jesus really detest, it is those who follow other teaching. Jesus takes doctrine serious, he hates compromise with immorality. There were those who would lord over the common persons trying to teach them that there was nothing wrong with being a Christian and conforming to the world. The Nicolaitans, and those who taught the doctrines of Balaam. In addition, we know that Pergamos had the largest altar in the world - to Zeus! These things were MAJOR stumbling blocks for Christians and Jesus is warnig against them. There are many common day stumbling blocks, just sit, listen to your colleagues at work, watch TV, listen to news...do you feel a pull for you to conform to the World today? With the buy it now, buy it fast, "get yours now". Listen to the lyrics of some of the songs your listening to....really listen, is it what Christ would want you to hear? How easy is it to get a divorce, curse at someone in traffic, steal from your neighbor? You can sit and watch murder, infidelity, drunkenness, sexual immorality and brutality all on the NEWS! Now with the internet there is a plethora of immorality at the touch of a button! A friend of mine gave me this simple test: Would you watch this program, listen to this song, say that thing or do that thing if Jesus was in the room with you? Then why would you do it?
God is wanting moral persons as His children, who will stand, be blessed by Him! And you will need to stand against the immorality. You will need to stand against the world...are you ready? If not, Jesus is asking you to repent, if we do not repent and get it right, there will be war waged against us.
If we do repent, there is the hidden manna, a white stone and a new secret name! We will be taken up with Christ on that glorious day. We will be richly rewarded and be with Him forever. If your not right with God, write to me...you have the address! I can help.
Blessings on all,
Calabash
Here we see something Jesus really detest, it is those who follow other teaching. Jesus takes doctrine serious, he hates compromise with immorality. There were those who would lord over the common persons trying to teach them that there was nothing wrong with being a Christian and conforming to the world. The Nicolaitans, and those who taught the doctrines of Balaam. In addition, we know that Pergamos had the largest altar in the world - to Zeus! These things were MAJOR stumbling blocks for Christians and Jesus is warnig against them. There are many common day stumbling blocks, just sit, listen to your colleagues at work, watch TV, listen to news...do you feel a pull for you to conform to the World today? With the buy it now, buy it fast, "get yours now". Listen to the lyrics of some of the songs your listening to....really listen, is it what Christ would want you to hear? How easy is it to get a divorce, curse at someone in traffic, steal from your neighbor? You can sit and watch murder, infidelity, drunkenness, sexual immorality and brutality all on the NEWS! Now with the internet there is a plethora of immorality at the touch of a button! A friend of mine gave me this simple test: Would you watch this program, listen to this song, say that thing or do that thing if Jesus was in the room with you? Then why would you do it?
God is wanting moral persons as His children, who will stand, be blessed by Him! And you will need to stand against the immorality. You will need to stand against the world...are you ready? If not, Jesus is asking you to repent, if we do not repent and get it right, there will be war waged against us.
If we do repent, there is the hidden manna, a white stone and a new secret name! We will be taken up with Christ on that glorious day. We will be richly rewarded and be with Him forever. If your not right with God, write to me...you have the address! I can help.
Blessings on all,
Calabash
Friday, May 6, 2011
Revelation 2: 12 & 13
Rev2: 12And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: 'The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword. 13I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.
The Risen Christ is "...Him who has the sharp two-edged sword."
The issue of "Satan's throne " is derived from several points.
1. Pergamum was charged with attempting to please society, instead of the Lord, to the point of both false apostles and priest in favor of powerful hierarchy. This lead the way to a paganization of the church.
2. As in the previous blog, the largest non-Christian altars were there.
3. The Caesar worship continued. Even though Constantine was on the throne for a period of time.
Interesting note here, Christ calls the place Satan's throne then immediately commended them for holding fast His Name.
The controversial issue in the days of Antipas was this:
To clarify, the word Antipas means "against all." There was no record as to who the Antipas was.
Arius (an Arien of considerable note) denied the eternity of the Word! It came down to the question, was Christ truly the son of God, or the greatest being that God ever created? Constantine attempted to put this question to rest by calling a church council. He brought over three hundred bishops to Nicea and together they set to answer the debate. Constantine, himself, presided as head of the Christian church. He bore the title Pontifex Maximus, or High Priest of the Heathen. (The same title the the Pope uses today.)
It is told that a brilliant Arian (no name given for this person) was about to convince the opposition in favor of unitarian heresy when an African( no name given for this person) stood, displayed scars on his back (from being thrown in an arena with wild beasts which had massively disfigured his back) and declared these are the brand marks of Jesus Christ and he would not hear the blasphemy said here! He then began to speak clearly giving a stirring, convincing talk concerning Christ's deity. The council attributed the speaking as the work of the Spirit of God and confessed the true deity of Jesus as God and man in one Person, part of the Holy Trinity- God, Son, and the Holy Spirit. We still cannot confirm the truth of this story but it does speak to the spirit pervading in the meetings.
Think about what this means. The matter of the deity of Christ was settled once and forever in a public way, holding fast in His Word and His name not denied!
Blessings on all,
Calabash
The Risen Christ is "...Him who has the sharp two-edged sword."
The issue of "Satan's throne " is derived from several points.
1. Pergamum was charged with attempting to please society, instead of the Lord, to the point of both false apostles and priest in favor of powerful hierarchy. This lead the way to a paganization of the church.
2. As in the previous blog, the largest non-Christian altars were there.
3. The Caesar worship continued. Even though Constantine was on the throne for a period of time.
Interesting note here, Christ calls the place Satan's throne then immediately commended them for holding fast His Name.
The controversial issue in the days of Antipas was this:
To clarify, the word Antipas means "against all." There was no record as to who the Antipas was.
Arius (an Arien of considerable note) denied the eternity of the Word! It came down to the question, was Christ truly the son of God, or the greatest being that God ever created? Constantine attempted to put this question to rest by calling a church council. He brought over three hundred bishops to Nicea and together they set to answer the debate. Constantine, himself, presided as head of the Christian church. He bore the title Pontifex Maximus, or High Priest of the Heathen. (The same title the the Pope uses today.)
It is told that a brilliant Arian (no name given for this person) was about to convince the opposition in favor of unitarian heresy when an African( no name given for this person) stood, displayed scars on his back (from being thrown in an arena with wild beasts which had massively disfigured his back) and declared these are the brand marks of Jesus Christ and he would not hear the blasphemy said here! He then began to speak clearly giving a stirring, convincing talk concerning Christ's deity. The council attributed the speaking as the work of the Spirit of God and confessed the true deity of Jesus as God and man in one Person, part of the Holy Trinity- God, Son, and the Holy Spirit. We still cannot confirm the truth of this story but it does speak to the spirit pervading in the meetings.
Think about what this means. The matter of the deity of Christ was settled once and forever in a public way, holding fast in His Word and His name not denied!
Blessings on all,
Calabash
Monday, May 2, 2011
Pergamum,Pre Revelation 2: 12-17
Pergamum has another name, Pergamos, as found in the Authorized version. The first mention name is more common, and we will use it here.
Pergamum comes form the word Peramos and has two meanings. One "marriage" and is applicable to this time when the church was "married" to the world. Church and State were unified by Constanine and his successors.
The second meaning was "elevation". Also applicable at this time when the church had a position of power.
How did this happen with Rome's worship of the Emperors? Constantine had a vision of a cross of fire and heard a voice. The message was, "In this sign, conquer." The translation given him was, that the cross is of the Christian religion and that our God was calling him personally. In addition, if he obeyed the voice of God, he would be able to defeat Maxentius and be Emperor....of the World! So, he accepted, called for Christian bishops and started learning the Christian way. He defeated Maxentius and did become Emperor...of the world. (That was the title.) One of his first decrees as Emperor was to liberate Christians.
Location:
Pergamum was out in the middle of nowhere. It was not on any of the great roads, and yet was the capitol city of the Seleucid kingdom and remained that until 133 B.C. Not only was it away from everything, it was built on a rather large, tall hill. While this city was not a trade city, it was a cultural city surpassing Ephesus and Smyrna. Most famous for its 200,000+ parchment rolls library.
Pergamam was a great religious center having two sites of note. One was the great alter of Zeus, the other was was to honor Asclepios, the "Pergamum god". The latter may be the one which is being called Satan's seat in the letter to the church. We will discuss that in our later blog.
Blessings on all
Calabash
Pergamum comes form the word Peramos and has two meanings. One "marriage" and is applicable to this time when the church was "married" to the world. Church and State were unified by Constanine and his successors.
The second meaning was "elevation". Also applicable at this time when the church had a position of power.
How did this happen with Rome's worship of the Emperors? Constantine had a vision of a cross of fire and heard a voice. The message was, "In this sign, conquer." The translation given him was, that the cross is of the Christian religion and that our God was calling him personally. In addition, if he obeyed the voice of God, he would be able to defeat Maxentius and be Emperor....of the World! So, he accepted, called for Christian bishops and started learning the Christian way. He defeated Maxentius and did become Emperor...of the world. (That was the title.) One of his first decrees as Emperor was to liberate Christians.
Location:
Pergamum was out in the middle of nowhere. It was not on any of the great roads, and yet was the capitol city of the Seleucid kingdom and remained that until 133 B.C. Not only was it away from everything, it was built on a rather large, tall hill. While this city was not a trade city, it was a cultural city surpassing Ephesus and Smyrna. Most famous for its 200,000+ parchment rolls library.
Pergamam was a great religious center having two sites of note. One was the great alter of Zeus, the other was was to honor Asclepios, the "Pergamum god". The latter may be the one which is being called Satan's seat in the letter to the church. We will discuss that in our later blog.
Blessings on all
Calabash
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