Third Pull Evangelistic Movement as foretold by herald William Marrion Branham

Revelation

Chapter Two Illustrated

To the Church in Ephesus AD 53 to AD 120

1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;

2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:

3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.

Jesus' rates the apostolic Church Generation named Ephesus

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Wonderful commendations for the first Gentile Apostolic Church, whose main messenger was Paul the Apostle! Jesus to them was the pillar in their midst, not a historical religious legend! The living Word of God was their very heartbeat! He was the tree of life in their midst, the very author of their salvation!

He holds the seven messengers in his hand as stars. Paul, their messenger, was one of them. They are in his hand to do his will. The hand here signifies servanthood. Each star is the Lord's servant to perform his will. It means they are sent by him to do his will. They are the sent ones. Yes, apostles!

Psalms 123:2

Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God, until that he have mercy upon us.

There it is! Servants look upon the hand of their master, not the face! Why? A hand, the right hand, means service; yes, we serve using our hands, so the seven stars in the hand of the Lord mean that they are his servants. And those who receive their message also become servants of the Lord. That is why the first thing that Jesus comments on are their works, for as servants they work for him in the evangelical fields.

Jesus from their midst first commends them for their good works, as converted saints, walking in the light of truth. He recognizes their labour to spread the gospel far and near, their patience in the midst of fiery trials, and how they could not bear with those who were worldly, but cast them out and separating themselves from all who walked in flesh and blood. He commends them for how they rejected those who falsely claimed to be Apostles yet they were liars. He repeats it emphasizing how these saints of the apostolic times had borne patiently the gospel word of their day, and how they labored for his name sake.

4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

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

Apostle Paul Contemplating

Streets of Ephesus in Apostolic Times

To the Church in Smyrna AD 120 to AD 320

8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;

9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.

10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

Streets of Smyrna in Apostolic Times

St. Irenaeus of Lyon, the messenger to Smyrna Church Age

To the Church in Pergamum AD 320 to AD 606

12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;

13 I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.

14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.

16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

St. Martin of Tours, messenger to Pergamum Church Age

A theatre next to a Citadel at Pergamos

To the Church in Thyatira

18 And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;

19 I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.

20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.

21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.

22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.

23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

24 But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.

25 But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.

26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:

27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.

28 And I will give him the morning star.

29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.