K-2 Revelation Ch 2. Verse by Verse of Chapter 2 of Revelation!

K-2 THE BOOK OR REVELATION CHAPTER 2!

Verse by Verse Study of Revelation Chapter 2!

This is a VERSE-by-VERSE study of chapter 1 in the Book of Revelation.

This verse-by-verse study on the Book of Revelation is from or with a Biblical Unitarian view of Jesus. 

In other words, verses like Revelation 1:8 are interpreted in the LIGHT of the WHOLE word of Almighty God and NOT in the TRADITIONAL church interpretation.

To say this another way, it is NOT Jesus who is the one speaking in Revelation 1:8. But rather, it is Almighty God the Father speaking in Revelation 1:8.

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Revelation Chapter 2.

Here are some things that I have found that are common with all seven letters written to the seven literal churches or congregations in Asia.

#1. Each letter is addressed to the angel, or more specifically each letter is addressed to a single individual messenger of that particular church by name; EPHESUS, SMYRNA, PERGAMOS, THYATIRA, SARDIS, PHILADELPHIA, and LAODICEA.

#2. Every letter begins with a clue leading the reader to know that it is Jesus himself who is the one speaking to or telling John what to write to the seven churches.

EPHESUS: “These things say HE that holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks.”

SMYRNA: “These things say the first and the last, which was DEAD, and is ALIVE.”

PERGAMOS: “These things say HE which has the sharp sword with two edges.”

THYATIRA: “These things say the SON OF God, who has his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass.”

SARDIS: “These things say HE that has the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars.”

PHILADELPHIA: “These things say HE that is holy, he that is true, he that has the key of David, he that opens and no man shuts, and shuts and no man opens.”

LAODICEA: “These things say Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God.”

All these descriptions are identified with Jesus.

#3. Every church is then greeted by Jesus saying, “I know your WORKS.” So then, pay very close attention to what Jesus HIMSELF is saying. 

For you see, Jesus will judge us BY our WORKS. Church TRADITION says things like, “Well that sounds like a WORKS based salvation to me”, mocking Christians like me who teach my readers and seekers of the TRUTH the WHOLE word of Almighty God.

#4. Then following this greeting Jesus says something good about the first six churches quickly followed by a reprimand on where they need to improve. Only the last church, LAODICEA is given a reprimand without any exhortation first.

#5. Then every letter to each church is closed with these words: “He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the CHURCHES.” 

Notice that each letter begins in the singular form but always ends in the plural form. “Unto the angel of the CHURCH (singular) write…” “...hear what the Spirit says unto the CHURCHES (plural).” 

This is one of the things causing me to believe that each church of today may contain some of the same characteristics of these seven churches that are or were in Asia. 

So then, hear what the Holy Spirit of Almighty God is saying to YOU dear child of God in these letters to ALL church denominations! 

Read the WARNINGS given to YOU in the letters to the seven churches, because these warnings are for YOU! 

Do NOT be DECEIVED by those who CLAIM that these letters are not written to the church of today. The WHOLE Holy Bible is written to YOU! 

Now, the Old Testament was written to the children of Israel with the prophecy of a NEW Covenant. 

Therefore, we still need to read and study the Old Testament so we can show Jews the PROPHECIES of Jesus being their Messiah. 

We the church are under the NEW COVENANT and the WORDS of the NEW covenant are written in the NEW Testament.

#6. Then Jesus gives this WARNING to each and every church, “To him that OVERCOMES…”

EPHESUS: “To him that overcomes I will give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.”

SMYRNA: “He that overcomes shall not be hurt of the second death.”

PERGAMOS: “To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give to him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knows saving he that receives it.”

THYATIRA: “And to him that overcomes and keeps my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations; And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. And I will give him the morning star.”

SARDIS: “To him that overcomes, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will NOT blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.”

PHILADELPHIA: “He that overcomes I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him a new name.”

LAODICIA: “To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, EVEN AS I also overcame and am set down with my Father in his throne.”

Now that you have an overview of the letters to the seven churches in Asia, let us go back to verse one of chapter two and take a closer look at each verse. 

I only feel comfortable sharing my opinion when I can back it up with other Scriptures so you may find I skip over a lot of things, which I myself cannot explain with SOUND scriptural support. 

Revelation 2:1. “UNTO the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things say he that holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;”

Just in the book of Revelation alone the English word “SEVEN” is used 54 times in the King James version of the Bible. 

The number 7 is identified with the meaning of perfection, completeness or maturity. 

If you would like to know more about the number 7, then please read the study called Hh-1.THE AMAZING NUMBER 7!

The question has been asked of me, “Is there more than one true church?” And if not, then “Which church is the one true church?” 

I believe that the body of Christ is ONE body with many members. 

Each member has their own function or purpose in the body, just as each different denomination throughout history has had a part in the function of the body of Christ, which is basically to spread the gospel.

Even though we are told of SEVEN churches, I believe these seven churches were all part of the one true church being in seven different locations or seven different CONGREGATIONS.

In other words, it is like the church of today with MANY different churches or congregations of believers all over the world. 

And they also had their differences as well, like we do today in the different church denominations in the world. 

But there is only ONE true church, where we all have the same basic fundamental message, Jesus died for our sins, and we are saved (born-again) by BELIEVING this simple message of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Again, there were DIVISIONS in the early church as well, and Paul rebuked them for their divisions. 

It is not God's will for us to be divided. God desires that we dwell in unity and we believe and teach the same things. 

And that is one of the main purposes of why I write these studies in God’s word.

Next, the wording RIGHT-HAND shows us authority, such as the right hand of God. 

Jesus is holding the seven stars in his right hand showing us the seven churches are the authority of God in all the earth. 

And Jesus walking in the midst of the churches signifies it is through Jesus, and in the NAME of Jesus that we have this authority. 

For a deeper understanding of this authority please read the studies entitled G-1. Jesus the NAME ABOVE ALL NAMES and G-3.The POWER & AUTHORITY of the BELIEVER!

As I said in chapter 1, the seven stars, which are the seven angels, could very well be literal angelic beings assigned to each congregation of believers. 

In other words, God may have assigned angelic beings to watch over each church congregation. 

A “guardian” angel, so to speak. I believe that we all have an angelic being assigned to each of us. Our own guardian angel, if you will. 

So, Jesus has given these angels authority to protect us when we BELIEVE and keep the teachings of Jesus. 

Just as a side note, the good angels are angels of “LIGHT”. And several times in my life I have had this same experience: I would be driving at night and, as I passed by each and every street light, that street light would go out. 

Then I would look back in my rearview mirror and they would come back on.

God bore witness in my mind and spirit that it was my guardian angel passing over the dusk to dawn light sensor as I drove by, and the light from my angel was causing the light to go out in the presence of the “LIGHT” of my guardian angel.

Once I passed that street light, then it would come back on. 

This same experience happened on different occasions in my life. It was in my opinion, God reminding me of His protection. 

Perhaps, God did this for me to share that He has given a guardian angel to each and every believer. 

With that being said, back to the study in Revelation chapter 2.

I also said these angels may be messengers or pastors over each congregation, who have been given authority to teach the flock given to their care. The Greek word translated as angel also means messenger.

The phrase “seven golden candlesticks” can be compared to Zechariah 4:1-14. 

In this passage of Scripture in the Old Testament, we see the seven golden candlesticks all connected as ONE. 

These verses are describing the ONE candlestick having seven bowls that God gave the children of Israel specific instructions on how to make in Exodus 25:31-37. 

The Jews of today call this candlestick with seven lights a Menorah. 

Verse 36 of Exodus tells us that this candlestick of seven lamps shall be ONE beaten work of PURE GOLD. 

The only way to get PURE gold is to try it in the fire seven times. 

In Zechariah 4:9,10, we see that these seven lamps of this candlestick of pure gold are the EYES of the Lord, which run to and fro in all the earth. 

Zechariah 4:9,10.

“The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me unto you. (I personally believe that this is a prophecy and a type or shadow of Jesus.

For you see, Jesus is the one who builds the house of God made without hands, speaking of us, the church being the temple of the living God. 

We also know that Jesus is the author and FINISHER of our faith. 

And we know that Jesus is the FOUNDATION of the church. 

So Zerubbabel is a figure or shadow pointing to Jesus, meaning what was written about Zerubbabel also applies to Jesus. 

Meaning what is written is some, much, or all that is written, may apply. 

In other words, we cannot always apply everything in Bible history to Jesus)

Zechariah 4:10. For who has despised the day and shall see the plummet in the hand of of small things? For they shall rejoice Zerubbabel WITH those SEVEN; they (Speaking of us the church that will judge the angels and the wicked WITH Jesus) ARE the EYES of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.”

The church is the body of Christ. We are his hands, feet, voice, and eyes. 

In other words, we, the church, ARE the seven EYES, which ARE the seven SPIRITS before the Lord spoken about in Revelation 1:4.

In that verse John sent us greetings from the seven Spirits before the throne of God. We will see a similar greeting again in Revelation 5:6, when we read about the seven eyes.

Revelation 5:6.

“And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven EYES, which ARE the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.” 

Which runs to and fro in the whole earth. The horns and the eyes are a PART of the BODY of the Lamb. 

We, the church, are the BODY of Christ. We are in essence the hands, feet, EYES, and mouth or voice piece for our Lord Jesus Christ, sent forth into all the earth. 

Every true born-again Christian has the Holy Spirit of God DWELLING in them. Our spirit communicates with the Spirit of God dwelling in us. 

And Proverbs 20:27 teaches us that the spirit of man is the candle of the Lord SEARCHING all the inwards parts to know our HEART. 

In short, the EYES of the Lord dwells in a man or woman that is a new creature God created in Jesus. 

The spirit of man is the LIFE of God in man, as in, ALL of mankind. 

This is NOT the same as the Holy Spirit dwelling in the BELIEVER ONLY. 

And the Holy Spirit dwelling in ALL believers is NOT the same as being FILLED with the Holy Spirit. 

Every true believer in Jesus has the Holy Spirit dwelling in them but there is also what the Bible calls being baptized in the Holy Spirit. 

Please read the related studies on the Holy Spirit for all the verses that teach us about the fullness of the Holy Spirit and how we need to stir up this gift of the Holy Spirit within us.

For now, let us move on to the next verse in Revelation chapter 2.

Revelation 2:2. “I know your WORKS, and your labor and your patience, and how you cannot bear them which are evil; and you have tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and has found them liars:”

This verse tells us that Jesus knows our WORKS, both good and bad. 

He begins by exhorting us with a word of praise because we would not tolerate sin among us. 

Jesus knows when we cannot even tolerate those who claim to be Christians, but who we find to be liars by judging the fruit that they bear. 

Thus, we separate ourselves from them so their leaven would not leaven the whole lump. 

Now I want you to pay close attention as you read the letters to the seven churches, when we get there. 

Pay close attention to how much EMPHASIS Jesus places on our WORKS. 

Notice how we MUST without fail OVERCOME sin, if we desire to receive the reward Jesus promises to ONLY those of us who OVERCOME, even as he overcame.

Revelation 2:3. “And has borne, and has patience, and for my name's sake has labored, and has NOT fainted.”

To me, this verse is saying sometimes we have to sit patiently and bear hearing things with which we do not agree.

For you see, we represent the name of Jesus, and to make a scene, so to speak, would be bringing shame to his name. 

So, for his name's sake, it is sometimes better to sit patiently and listen, while others mock us, while some refuse to believe in God, and while some teach false doctrine. 

Now please understand we are not to faint or compromise what we know to be the truth. 

We are not to be ashamed of being a Christian when we are mocked. 

We are not to give up on people when they refuse to believe the gospel. 

And we are not to change what we know is the truth just so some will not be offended by the truth. 

If a person is offended by the truth, then it is because the truth is not in them. 

This does not mean they are not saved, but rather, it means they have been misled or deceived by the enemy to sincerely believe what they are teaching is the truth.

For example, every true born-again Christian knows the TRUTH concerning Jesus suffering and dying for their sins. 

And thus, they are never offended by someone who argues and debates with them that there is no God and Christianity is a waste of time.

No, we do not get offended, because we know the TRUTH. We know that it is THEY who get angry with us for sharing the TRUTH with them. 

Thus, they are the ones who do not have the truth and are moved by the spirit of offense, defensiveness, and so forth.

The REASON that they attack or persecute the one sharing the truth, is that they do not want to HEAR the TRUTH. 

One thing I have learned is once I share the TRUTH God has revealed to me, I then let God do His work in the individual.

For you see, arguing and getting into strife seems to only cause division and more strife. 

I have found that the TRUTH will always rise up and shine forth in the end, even though sometimes in the beginning it is rejected. 

So then, be PATIENT and suffer the mocking that we endure for our Lord’s namesake.

And do NOT faint in what you have been shown by the Holy Spirit to be the TRUTH. 

Here is another short testimony. When I first saw the TRUTH concerning the rapture of the church, it seemed that I was alone in what I was taught by the Holy Spirit for decades. 

But now, God has opened many hearts to receive the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of God concerning the POST tribulation rapture as being what the Bible ITSELF teaches us in SIMPLICITY. 

So then, God sees our patience and He sees our labor to share the truth concerning the TRUTH that we know He revealed to us.

God also sees the persecution we have received for the name of Jesus and the truth’s sake.

So, be PATIENT and the TRUTH will always prevail over EVERY FALSE teaching.

Revelation 2:4. “Nevertheless, I have somewhat against you, because you have left your first love.”

After first finding something positive to say about us, Jesus gives us a reprimand. Jesus warns us to be careful of leaving our first love. 

I personally believe that our first love is the enthusiasm and zeal we all possessed when we first came to know Jesus as our personal savior. 

We could not wait to tell everybody about the joy in us. That love to share God was like fire in our bones. 

But over time, we grow cold. Thus, we must stir those embers to burn hot once again. 

This is something I must continually stir up within myself. Love is the driving force behind all that we do. 

If we LOVE our job, it is no longer a JOB to us. But rather, it becomes a joy that we look forward to doing. 

Paul said you can have all faith, even faith to move mountains, but without LOVE you are nothing. 

A person can be blessed with great financial wealth, but if they have not LOVE, then they will only consume that wealth upon themselves. 

And what is it Jesus said? If a man gains the whole world and loses his own soul, what did it profit that man? 

The Bible tells us even our faith works by LOVE. 

Please read Galatians 5:6.

“For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision avails anything, nor uncircumcision; but FAITH which WORKS BY LOVE.”

We all need to examine our hearts to see if our motives are directed by LOVE. 

In 1 John 4:20,21, we read if one SAYS they love God, and they do not love their fellow man, then the love of God is NOT in them. 

In other words, at times it is not what you say, but what you DO that really shows your LOVE. Let us have love and compassion for one another. 

Moving on to the next verse.

Revelation 2:5. “Remember therefore from whence you are fallen, and REPENT, and DO the first WORKS; OR ELSE I will come unto you quickly, and will REMOVE your candlestick out of his place, except you repent.”

Now, Jesus is not going to count to three like some parents do to their kids. Jesus firmly warns us to REPENT or ELSE. 

That means we had better be found to be GOOD and FAITHFUL servants when he comes again, OR ELSE he will REMOVE our candlestick. 

Proverbs 24:20 warns us that God will PUT OUT the candle of the wicked.

Proverbs 24:20.

“For there shall be NO reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be PUT OUT.” 

Sin is what causes a person to be WICKED.  Evil means NOT doing what God teaches us to do. God is not speaking about vile people.

But rather, God is referring to workers of INIQUITY or sin, even those little so-called white lies. 

For you see, according to Revelation 21:8, no LIAR shall inherit the kingdom of God, but rather, all liars shall have their part in the lake of fire. 

So REPENT speedily when you give into temptation and sin. 

Also, do NOT make excuses saying things like, “Well everybody lies. And at least I am not as bad as so and so.” 

Now, it may very well be so and so REPENTS quickly and does NOT make excuses for their sins. 

Every time we slip and fall into sin no matter how small we think it to be, we need to repent immediately and do the first works motivated by LOVE. 

I don’t know about you, but when I first came to know the Lord I was consumed in my whole being with finding out what pleased God. 

Then, after seeing things in God’s word, I focused all my energy doing everything God showed me to do. 

Walking free from sin was my primary focus, where God led me to victory ONE sin at a time. 

Thinking back to when I was first saved, I believe the first sin that God dealt with me about, was lying or more specifically, exaggerating. 

So, desiring to become a man of integrity became my driving passion. 

Once integrity became my LOVE, then lying, or story telling to fit in, was no more a temptation like it used to be. 

My next trial to overcome was stealing. And the hardest sin to overcome was the lust of the flesh. 

My point is God led me to overcome one sin at a time. 

And anything that was not the truth began falling away because I learned how to speak TRUTH in every area of my life. 

I spoke God’s word to myself and the enemy as well, even though the enemy kept trying to make me think I was lying because what I was speaking forth was not yet manifested in my life. 

What I mean by this, God showed me how to speak what I desire to BE and NOT what was already in my life. 

After I became a DOER of what God taught me and not a hearer only, then my lifestyle began to change. 

People began to see a difference in me. I was a new creature. 

For a deeper understanding of what I mean by this please read the study entitled G-4.The POWER of Our WORDS!

The point I am trying to make is if there is sin in your life, REPENT. 

To repent means to make a complete turnaround and go the other way. At first, it will seem like you repent and turn right around and do the same thing again. 

Please see the study E-21. TRUE BIBLICAL REPENTANCE for a deeper understanding of this subject of repentance. 

And then follow up by reading the study F12. HOW YOU CAN LIVE YOUR LIFE FREE FROM SIN! We can not take the word of God lightly! 

When Jesus returns for his church and finds us to have sin in our lives, he will REMOVE the candlestick from us and we will be cast into outer darkness. 

Take HEED to the words Jesus spoke to us as a WARNING saying, “Depart from me you that WORK INIQUITY”. 

Or Jesus will say, “you who are living in a lifestyle of SIN depart from me”. 

You see, it will be like Jesus never knew you, if you are living in sin as your lifestyle, making excuses it’s not sin. 

In other words, if you die living in a lifestyle of sin, making excuses about things the Bible says is SIN, Jesus will say “depart from me”. 

Jesus will come again in a moment, a twinkling of an eye and you will have no time to repent! What if you are asleep when Jesus comes? 

So, make sure you are READY by obeying the Holy Spirit to repent, when and if you sin.

I realize that we all sin from time to time and most of us repent immediately. So I am not speaking of this kind of sinning. 

Rather, I am referring to those who are EXCUSING their sin and living a sinful lifestyle. I am speaking of those who are excusing their sin, saying it is NOT sinning. 

I do not have to point the finger at you, you KNOW who you are. This is why I do not have many studies defining what is a sin. 

The Holy Spirit convicts us when we sin. What we really need in the church is more teaching on HOW to overcome sin. Enough said on verse five. 

Let us move to the next verse.

Revelation 2:6. “But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.”

In other words, Jesus is saying, “I will say this much for you that you hate the DEEDS of the Nicolaitans, which I myself also hate.”

Now, I don't remember where I heard this, but I heard the Nicolaitans liked to “lord over” the people. So then, their DEED was lording over people. 

That is to say, those in authority in the church would abuse their power and cause the LAITY, speaking of the ordinary people in the congregation to serve them rather than those in authority serving the people.

This is a form of BOASTING or self-exaltation to make themselves better than everyone else.

Strong's exhaustive concordance defines Nicolaitians as followers of Nicolas. 

The word Nicolas means victor over the people. In other words, the doctrine or teaching of the Nicolaitans is to teach separation of God’s people into two classes, the ruling class known as the clergy, and the common people known as the laity. 

Hence, victory over the “laitans” or the laity. Something to think about.  

When the leaders in the church begin to EXPECT to be served and looked up to, as being better than those in the congregation, then they are in danger of being like the Pharisees who loved the praises of men. Jesus said I come not to be served, but rather to serve. 

Moving on to the next verse.

Revelation 2:7. “He that has an ear, let him HEAR (Or pay close attention to and truly understand) what the Spirit says unto the CHURCHES: (In the plural, meaning each and every one of us no matter what church denomination you attend) To him that OVERCOMES will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.”

I believe we not only need to hear what the Spirit is saying in these letters, to ALL believers, but we must also hear and obey that small still voice of the Holy Spirit that dwells within us. 

You see, it is the Holy Spirit living in us who leads and guides us into all truth and bears witness with our spirit, the things that are true. 

We need to search the Scriptures daily to find out for ourselves if what we are being taught by others is truly and soundly based on the WHOLE word of God.

Also, pay very CLOSE ATTENTION to the promise that Jesus makes to ONLY those of us in the church that OVERCOME! Jesus is saying to ONLY those of us who OVERCOME he will give to us ETERNAL LIFE. 

In other words, you do NOT overcome and you do NOT repent and you are NOT found to be a good and faithful servant enduring unto the END. 

Jesus equally PROMISES that he will NOT give you the right to eat of the tree of life. You will NOT inherit the promise of ETERNAL LIFE. And you will be cast into outer darkness.

Do NOT be DECEIVED by the FALSE teaching of once saved always saved. 

For an exhaustive in-depth study in God’s word that puts forth all the evidence on both sides of this highly controversial subject of the O.S.A.S. doctrine against the clear word of Almighty God. 

For, the Bible ITSELF plainly teaches that the latter part of our salvation, which is the receiving END of our salvation is CONDITIONAL upon our WORKS. 

Please read the study F-2. Is ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED BIBLICAL!

In other words, there are two parts of being saved. 

First, we are saved, as in, we are forgiven of all our past sins without any works. 

This is called being RECONCILED to God. One of the meanings of the Greek word “sozo” that is translated as saved, also means to be placed back in a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with God. 

Secondly, we WORK to receive the END of our salvation, according to Romans 6:22, James 1:20-27, 1 Peter 1:9, and Revelation 3:4-6.

This means that we walk with God in the Holy Spirit to bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit. 

For you see, afterwards comes the END of our salvation, which is the day of judgment at the COMING of Jesus. 

It is at the coming of Jesus when we either receive eternal life in the world to come or we are cast out into outer darkness IF we are unfaithful in our walk in obedience to God under the NEW Covenant written in the New Testament. 

This is why I teach my readers to OBEY the leading of the Holy Spirit.

This brings us to the end of the letter to the church Ephesus. The next letter is to the church in Smyrna.

Revelation 2:8. “And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things says the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;”

The phrase “the first and the last” is found seven times in the Bible. 

It is found in Revelation 1:11, Revelation 1:17, Revelation 2:8, Revelation 22:13, Isaiah 41:4, Isaiah 44:6, and Isaiah 48:12. 

And of these seven times, three are found to be Jesus doing the speaking.

Now, I believe the remaining four times this phrase is found refer to Almighty God the Father as the one speaking. 

The one found in this passage is definitely referring to Jesus as the one who is speaking. 

This phrase, “the first and the last”, is interpreted by some Christians to mean that Jesus existed before he was born of the Virgin Mary and became flesh. And thus, they argue that Jesus must be Almighty God HIMSELF. 

I do not believe this claim. Jesus saying the same words as Almighty God the Father does NOT make Jesus to be Almighty God the Father Himself. 

Thus, that “interpretation” of Jesus being Almighty God Himself in the flesh is NOT a sound Biblical understanding of WHY the Father and the Son spoke the SAME phrase, “I am the first and the last.”

The literal meaning of the word “FIRST” means the most before, which means to be the one preferred ABOVE others. 

And Almighty God is the HEAD of Jesus and Jesus is the head of the church.

The word “last” in this context speaks of Jesus as being the HEAD of the church, being FIRST, or preferred above the church. 

And thus, Jesus is the one deserving to be SERVED, yet Jesus humbles himself to be the LAST. So then, being last, means to SERVE.

As well, Almighty God loved us while we were yet sinners. God SO LOVED the world that he RECEIVED His ONLY begotten Son up into heaven FOR us. 

Again,  more correctly translated, God RECEIVED His only begotten Son so that whosoever BELIEVES on the NAME of the only begotten Son will NOT perish, but be given eternal life.

Please read the study called What Does John 3:16 TRULY Mean?

Almighty God the Father is FIRST or above ALL. but yet He is MINDFUL of His creation of mankind to serve us by never leaving or forsaking us. 

Again, Jesus spoke whatever his God and Father TOLD him to speak. 

So I do NOT see Jesus saying these words as proof Jesus is Almighty God Himself. I do believe that Jesus came out from God, just like Jesus said. 

Please read the study U-6 WHAT DOES GOD INCARNATE TRULY MEAN? 

We also see that Jesus died, but now Jesus is alive for evermore. I have heard some say Jesus dying on the cross and now being alive evermore is what the phrase “I am the first and last” means. 

I myself do not see their logic at how they arrived at this interpretation, because Jesus is not the last one to be given eternal life. 

I talk more in-depth about this phrase, the first and the last, in the study on the deity of Jesus and the study I have about this phrase. 

Also, this phrase “the first and the last” refers to Jesus being the first man to offer himself as a sacrifice to redeem mankind back to God. 

And Jesus is the last man that will ever need to be offered as a sacrifice for mankind. 

Also, Jesus is the first and the last to be highly exalted and given the highest name above every other name. 

This is the first and last time that God will share His glory with another in this manner. 

There can only be one who is second in command and Jesus has this honor. 

But this honor of being seated at the right hand of Almighty God does not seem to be for all eternity, according to 1 Corinthians 15:20-28 and Micah 4:6-8.

Now, some Christians dogmatically demand that since Jesus identifies himself with the same phrases the Father identifies Himself with, this proves Jesus is Almighty God Himself. 

Please read the study U-28. I TIMOTHY 6:15 WHO IS THE KING OF KINGS? 

This study proves beyond a shadow of a doubt Jesus is NOT saying that he is THE ALMIGHTY God anywhere in the Bible. 

For now, back to this Revelation verse-by-verse study.

Revelation 2:9. “I know your WORKS, and tribulation, and poverty, (But you are rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are of the synagogue of Satan.”

Jesus knows our WORKS and the things we suffer. He knows those who are in poverty, but he tells them that they are rich. 

Now, there are different schools of thought here. It could be that Jesus was saying though you are poor, in the eyes of the world, you are rich in me. 

In other words, your circumstances on earth in this present life do not determine your joy, because your TRUE treasures are stored up in heaven. 

I have seen that the poor are the most joyous people, so do not allow circumstances to steal your joy in the Lord. This life is but a vapor compared to eternity. 

And the wealth of the unjust is laid up for the righteous in the world to come.

Another school of thought is when the transcript was copied due to the manuscript wearing out, some that were faded. 

Thus, what you see in parentheses was added as a commentary, or paraphrased from memory of what they believed the faded word to be saying.

Then words are left in parenthesis and kept as a part of the original text.

So then, Jesus could be saying something like “let the redeemed say so.” 

In other words, another school of thought is Jesus saying something like, “I see your poverty BUT why? Can you not see that I have provided for your every need, so why are you choosing to live in this state of poverty when I have made you rich.” 

Now, there are different opinions of what being rich means to different people.

Personally, I believe that God and His Son Jesus desires us to know and understand that ALL of our NEEDS will be met or supplied to us by God through FAITH in Jesus.

Thus, that kind of PEACE is being RICH.

Concerning the last part of this verse where there are those saying that they are Jews, but Jesus says they are of the synagogue of Satan, there are again, different schools of thought.

#1. The Jews are Christians who say that Christians MUST keep all of the Law of Moses in order to please God.

#2. The Jews are Christians who teach that Jesus died only for the Jews. 

There are two sects of these who say they are the true Jews, the Black Africans who say they are the true Hebrew people. 

And the Caucasian white race who say that they are the true Hebrew people.

Both groups demand the keeping of all the Law of Moses to be pleasing to God.

#3. The Islamic Ishmaelites who say that they have the true faith. Please read Book 8 What is the TRUE Faith. Here is the link to chapter 1,  B-8 Ch1 Is Islam the TRUE Faith?  

Again, something to think about. Let’s move on to the next part of this verse.

There will be those that say they are Christians, but whose actions prove otherwise. And there will be those that say they are Jews, but in truth, they are followers of the god of this world, Satan. 

Please read the study Dd-79 WHO ARE THE TRUE JEWS?  

Also please read the other related studies, because some are wrongly teaching that they are the true Jews and the Jews in Israel are fake Jews. 

Recently I had one claiming to be one of the TRUE Jews write to me and his attitude was that of being far superior to Gentile Christians. 

I asked him whatever gave him the idea that the Jews who become Christians are ABOVE the Gentile Christians and he quoted Romans 3:1,2.

Romans 3:1,2.

“What advantage then has the Jew? Or what profit is there of circumcision? 

Romans 3:2. Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.”

This simply means that the gospel is to the Jews FIRST, and then God turned to the Gentiles. 

In other words, the Jews had the advantage of hearing and accepting the gospel FIRST.

Now, when I told this so-called Hebrew Israelite the meaning of this verse in Romans he quoted me, he became very hostile toward me. His spirit was of the synagogue of Satan and not of God. 

And thus, I myself have this gut feeling, so to speak, the FIRST shall be LAST and the LAST shall be FIRST is speaking of the Jews being the first chosen people of God who will be the last to receive eternal life. 

What I mean by this is ONLY those of us who are in Jesus Christ at his coming will receive eternal life in the world to come at the BEGINNING of the Millennium. 

Then, the natural born Jews who are found faithful at the END of the 1000 year reign of Jesus will receive eternal life. 

Let us move on to the next verse.

Revelation 2:10. “Fear none of those things which you shall SUFFER; behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that you may be tried; and you shall have tribulation ten days: be you FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH, and I will give you a crown of life.”

Jesus exhorts us not to FEAR any of those things we may SUFFER. Now nobody really likes the idea that we have to suffer some persecutions. 

But for simply believing in the one true God, sharing the gospel of this good news with others, we will suffer persecution by some. 

And some of us may suffer prison, while others, death for the sake of the gospel. 

No matter which will happen, we must be found FAITHFUL unto death BEFORE we can be crowned with ETERNAL LIFE. 

This can mean natural death, being martyred or killed for the sake of the gospel. 

The thing I want to point out to you is, Jesus warns us to hold fast and be FAITHFUL unto DEATH, which tells me there is going to be some pretty SEVERE SUFFERING for the sake of the gospel, for some believers. 

It is already this way with Muslims who become Christians, particularly in Muslim dominated countries. 

They are even being killed by their OWN family members. In some cases, being turned over to the leaders of radical Islam. 

Keep in mind the opposite of what Jesus says here is equally true and if one is NOT found to be FAITHFUL unto DEATH, then Jesus will NOT give them a crown of eternal life. 

Therefore, unless we remain faithful unto the end to not deny Jesus as the Christ, the SON of the living God, then we will NOT obtain eternal life in the world to come. 

If a believer denies Jesus as their Lord and Savior, then Jesus has no choice but to blot their name out of the book of life.

This is WHY the Bible WARNS us NOT to be deceived to take the MARK of the beast. And I believe that the mark of the beast is following the faith of Islam. 

Please read the study J-27. Could Islam be the Mark of the Beast? 

And in Book 8. Which Faith is the True Faith?  

I cover different ways of witnessing to Muslims, helping them see Jesus is the Son of God and Jesus died on the cross for their sins. 

You see, their Quran denies both of these things, and Muslims are taught to believe the Bible has been corrupted.

We cannot just simply read over verses like these and pretend they mean something else. 

The plain and simple TRUTH is if we DENY that Jesus is the Son of God and he died for our sins and was raised from the dead, then Jesus will DENY us. 

For a deeper understanding of this. please read the study F-2. IS ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED BIBLICAL?

But for now, let us continue with this study. 

The word crown in the Greek language is “Stephanos”, which means VICTORY wreath. And it is translated 7 times as the name: “Stephen”. 

The word “crown” in all its forms like crowned is found 85 times in the Bible. 

The number 85 can be written as 5 x 17, where the number 17 is associated with victory and the number 5 is the number for grace. 

It is only through grace that is given to us from Almighty God through faith that we can attain victory over sin, fear, doubt, and unbelief in order to receive eternal life in the world to come. 

The question has been asked, will we actually receive a literal golden crown to wear, or is it just a symbol showing we have victory and authority over Satan? 

Either way, I believe all the glory and honor will be given back to him that sits on the throne, Almighty God, the Father, Himself and to His Son Jesus.

Whether the crown is literal or figurative of a victory crown for overcoming sin and the lies of Satan, we will cast all the glory to the Father and the Son.

Revelation 4:10,11 says it this way.

“The four and twenty elders fall down before Him that sat on the throne, and worship him that lives for ever and ever, and CAST their CROWNS before the throne, saying,

Revelation 4:11. You are worthy, O Lord, to receive GLORY and honor and power: for you have created all things, and for your pleasure they are and were created.”

Now again, these crowns may be literal or they may be symbolic, as in, we give glory, honor and praise to Almighty God for the gift of eternal life. 

For you see, we are HIS workmanship in overcoming sin THROUGH His eternal Spirit dwelling in us. 

We are God’s workmanship by our believing HIS promises in HIS word to overcome sin. 

So then, we are in essence casting our crowns before Him by giving ALL the GLORY to HIM who sits upon the throne. 

When we praise and give thanks to Jesus, the praise and glory goes to Almighty God the Father who sits on the throne. 

In other words, Jesus says, “well done my good and faithful servants” by crowing us with praise and then we cast the glory of this crowning “praise” directed to us, back to the Father. 

The word of God teaches us we who are found to be faithful will receive the CROWN of LIFE. 

Please read James 1:12, which teaches us that ONLY the ones who ENDURE temptation shall be BLESSED by receiving the CROWN of LIFE or the crown of ETERNAL LIFE.

James 1:12.

“Blessed is the man that ENDURES temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the CROWN of LIFE, which the Lord has promised to them that LOVE him.”

So from this verse of Scripture, I do not see the CROWN of life is a LITERAL physical crown we will wear on our heads. 

Rather, we are crowned with ETERNAL LIFE in the world to come. It might be a literal crown, but I cannot say for sure one way or the other. 

Here is one more verse I found that may give us more insight. 

Please read Revelation 2:10.

“Fear none of those things which you shall suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that you may be tried; and you shall have tribulation ten days: be you FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH, and I will give you a CROWN of LIFE?”

Still, I see this CROWN as a representation of ETERNAL LIFE and NOT a literal CROWN we will wear in the world to come or cast before the throne of God. 

To be crowned is the bestowing of honor upon someone. 

When a squire is crowned or dubbed to knighthood the honor of becoming a knight is bestowed upon him. He does not receive a literal crown. 

Here is one final verse that causes me to think along these lines. Please read Revelation chapter 3 and verse 10.

Revelation 3:10.

“Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which you have, that no man take your CROWN.”

To me, this verse is saying be SURE no man DECEIVES you into losing your promise of ETERNAL LIFE. 

There are a couple of verses in Ezekiel chapter 21 hinting at the wicked having a crown right now in this world, which we can obviously see the wicked are not wearing literal crowns. 

Then when the wickedness is come to full, where none will seek after God, then their crowns will be taken from them and given to the righteous and lowly at heart. 

The wicked also have a candle now, but that candle will be put out if they do not repent and turn from their wickedness. We know the candle is NOT a literal candle.

So no, I myself do not see our crown as a literal crown we wear on our heads in the world to come. 

Rather, our crown is symbolic of ruling and reigning WITH Jesus during the 1000 years. 

Some of you may wonder why I spent so much time answering this one question of whether or not the crown is a literal crown. 

The reason is, some Christians will dogmatically argue that the crown must be a literal crown, while most other Christians could care less about being rewarded with a literal crown. 

All I have done was to give you all the verses about this subject, for YOU to draw your own conclusion. This is to show my readers how to search out the truth for themselves. 

Moving on to the next verse.

Revelation 2:11. “He that has an ear, let him HEAR what the Spirit says unto the churches; He that OVERCOMES shall NOT be hurt of the second death.”

Again, only he that OVERCOMES shall receive eternal life and be free from the power of the second death. 

This is vitally IMPORTANT, so please do NOT take this lightly. 

For you see, IF a true born-again Christian does NOT ENDURE unto the END by REMAINING FAITHFUL to God and His word, THAT UNFAITHFUL Christian will NOT RECEIVE ETERNAL LIFE in the end. 

Rather, the disobedient children will be cast out into outer darkness, to await the SECOND DEATH.

DO NOT be DECEIVED by the FALSE DOCTRINE of ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED!

Again, please read the detailed Biblical SOUND in-depth study on this subject entitled F-2. IS ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED BIBLICAL?

Getting back to the subject at hand. What exactly is the second death? We know from 1 Corinthians 15:26 the last enemy to be destroyed is DEATH. 

In Revelation 20:14,15, we see that DEATH and HELL are cast into the lake of fire along with all those who were not found written in the book of life, and this is called the SECOND DEATH.

I believe that at the END of the 1000-year reign of Jesus, all of mankind, speaking of all of the HUMANS that have DISOBEYED the word of God will be RESURRECTED from the dead to face the final Day of JUDGMENT.  

In other words, at the end of the 1000-year reign of Jesus, all the people who were NOT saved at the coming of Jesus, will be judged by their works. 

Those who are NOT saved during the 1000-year reign of Jesus, will be found GUILTY before Almighty God in their SIN. 

There will also be the LOST from Adam to the cross, will be judged by their works, on the final Day of Judgment.

Then all of these WICKED humans that will NOT be found worthy to receive eternal life will be DESTROYED in the lake of fire. 

In other words, all of the WICKED of mankind will NOT RECEIVE ETERNAL LIFE.

But rather, the wicked will be DESTROYED in the lake of fire, which is the SECOND DEATH. 

Please read Revelation 20:6 first, then we will skip down to verse 14.

Revelation 20:6.

“Blessed and holy is he that has part in the first resurrection: on such the SECOND DEATH has NO POWER, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.”

So then, you DEFINITELY want to be one who takes part in the FIRST resurrection.  

I will explain WHY when we get to this verse later in this verse by verse study of the book of Revelation.

But for now, please read verse 14, which tells us that the SECOND DEATH is the lake of FIRE.

Revelation 20:14.

“And death and hell were cast into the LAKE of FIRE. THIS is the SECOND DEATH.”

              And DEATH means to PERISH and never rise again. God is a CONSUMING fire and NOT an eternal torturer! Please read the study Ee-23. Is the DOCTRINE of HELL BIBLICAL? 

Some say the FALLEN ANGELS, who are ALREADY ETERNAL beings will SUFFER for all eternity in this lake of fire.

Their logic is that an ALREADY ETERNAL being cannot die. 

To me, God is able to destroy whatever he created. Therefore, Satan the Devil and all the fallen angels will be DESTROYED as well in the lake of fire. 

Thus, some Christians simply ASSUME it is IMPOSSIBLE for God to destroy an eternal being HE Himself has made to be an eternal being, but that is just an ASSUMPTION.

Whatever God GIVES, He can certainly take it away. Please know and understand that God is JUST and He will not destroy Satan and the fallen angels UNJUSTLY.  

Revelation 14:10.

“The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out WITHOUT  MIXTURE into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:”

I believe the words, “WITHOUT MIXTURE”, SEPARATE the WRATH of God being poured out on the FALLEN ANGELS, from the WRATH of God being poured out upon FALLEN MANKIND. 

YES, fallen man will receive TORMENT with FIRE, but I do NOT believe this TORMENT will be a forever and ever TORMENT of SUFFERING in an ETERNAL FIRE of HELL as some Christians teach. 

Number one, because both HELL and DEATH are cast INTO this lake of FIRE to be DESTROYED. 

YES, the JUDGMENT itself will be ETERNAL, in that, once the JUDGMENT is made there will be ABSOLUTELY NO CHANCE of a REVERSAL of that FINAL judgment. 

In other words, this judgment is FINAL and has no chance of an appeal. So in that respect, the JUDGMENT is ETERNAL. 

Another verse that I believe supports my belief, is the very next verse Revelation 14:11.

Revelation 14:11.

“And the SMOKE of their torment ascends up for ever and ever: and they have NO REST day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receives the mark of his name.”

First of all, the phrase no REST “day and night” can be interpreted to mean the SINNERS, the children of the Day and the children of the Night, will not have any REST, as in, to be given eternal life.

Also, to me, it is clear that it is the SMOKE of their TORMENT from being DESTROYED in the lake of fire that LASTS for an AGE to an AGE. 

A REMINDER for all those who REMAINED FAITHFUL never to REBEL against God’s command. 

Again, the fact they have or they RECEIVE NO REST, to me simply means they do NOT RECEIVE ETERNAL LIFE EVER. 

In other words, no matter how many days go by, they will NEVER EVER be given ETERNAL LIFE, who worships the beast and his image and whosoever receives the mark of his name. 

I say this because some Christians teach, eventually all people will be saved. This is called Universalism which is not a sound Biblical teaching. 

Universalist Christians go to the extreme on the other side of the controversy about hell and the lake of fire to wrongly teach that the lake of fire cleanses the sinners from all their sins.

I believe that one of the CAUSES of the false doctrine of Universalism is the man-made DOCTRINE of eternal TORMENT in hellfire. 

This Roman Catholic eternal torture doctrine has also caused many to leave the faith. And it has caused many to never embrace the Christian faith. 

I believe the “traditional” church doctrine of eternal torment in hell is a FALSE DOCTRINE. 

And I address it in-depth in the studies called Ee-23 Is the DOCTRINE of HELL BIBLICAL? and  Ee-22. Does Revelation 20:10 Teach ETERNAL TORMENT? 

But for now, let us return to our verse-by-verse study in Revelation here in chapter 2.

This brings us to the end of the letter to Smyrna and the beginning of the letter to Pergamos.

Revelation 2:12. “And to the angel of the church of Pergamos write; These things says he which has the sharp sword with two edges;”

Jesus said there is one that will JUDGE us, the WORDS that Jesus spoke. 

And, according to the prophecy in Deuteronomy 18:15-19 and its fulfillment in John 12:47-50, the word of God is what will judge all men. 

And in Hebrews 4:12, we are told that the word of God is sharper than any two-edged sword.

Hebrews 4:12. 

“For the WORD of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any TWO EDGED SWORD, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and morrow, and is a discerner of thoughts and intents of the heart.”

The dividing asunder of the soul and spirit will take place on the final Day of Judgment. 

And ONLY the soul and spirit of the wicked will be severed apart or separated after the souls of the wicked are destroyed in the lake of fire. 

And then, the spirit that gave life to the soul will return to God.

And all of this is prophesied in the WORD of Almighty God. The word of God is what came out of the MOUTH of Almighty God who is a Spirit. 

And in Ephesians 6:17, we are told that the SWORD of the Spirit is the WORD of God.

Then in Revelation 19:15, we see Jesus riding a white horse and out of his MOUTH going a sharp sword. 

So then, putting all of these verses together, we can conclude the weapon of choice is the WORD of Almighty God going forth from our mouth. 

You see, Jesus defeated the devil by speaking the word of God saying to the enemy, “It is written…” And we are to do the same.

Let us continue with the next verse.

Revelation 2:13. “I know your WORKS and where you dwell, even where Satan's seat is: and you HOLD FAST my name, and have NOT denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwells.”

The phrase “even in those days” is one of the things leading me to believe characteristics of all seven churches can be found throughout every period in the history of the church age, beginning in the first century.

I have heard some Christians speculate that Satan’s seat is the city of Rome, referring to the Roman Catholic Church. 

I have to admit there is certainly a lot of evidence that SEEMS to point in this direction, but I personally do not believe Rome or the Roman Catholic Church is the seat of Satan being referred to by Jesus in this verse. 

If we observe this verse as being the church's location, in the city of PERGAMOS, we see this city was the capital of Asia minor in the day of John. 

Also called PERGAMON, which is acceptable to spell the city Pergamon, Pergamum, Pergamos or Pergamus.

After we see the significance of the city of Pergamos, this verse seems to be teaching us it must have been harder to serve the Lord and remain faithful in that particular LOCATION. 

You see, Jesus tells us they remained faithful EVEN though they dwelt in the very place where Satan reigned, yet did not deny their faith in Jesus, no matter how brutal the persecution got, even when some were being martyred among them. 

The whole area where the seven churches of Asia were located in John’s day, is now modern-day Turkey. 

And in those days of the early church, the people in Asia minor worshiped idols and followed the Babylonian religion and all laws for this area of Asia came from the city of Pergamus. 

For you see, it was the capital seat of Asia. This city was the very center of paganism. 

And in the city of Pergamus were many temples and altars to their pagan gods. 

One such altar was believed to be the altar of the Greek god Zeus, which many believe is what Jesus is calling Satan’s seat. 

For more information on Satan’s seat. please see the history of Pergamon's Altar. 

For those of you who are Sabbath keeping Christians that sincerely believe that Rome, or the Roman Catholic Church, is the seat of Satan, please read the studies on Sabbath keeping under the subject menu heading called **Dd-0. What is the TRUE Sabbath?** 

Jesus teaches us to remove the BEAM from our own eye FIRST, so that we can see HOW to remove the splinter in the eyes of others.

The name Antipas comes from two Greek words, “anti”, which means against, and “pater”, which means father or fathers. 

I leave the speculation to you. But coming from a Roman Catholic background myself, I used to call the priest by the title of “father”. 

And thus, in the LIGHT of the WHOLE word of God, I can see how some have concluded ROME is Satan’s seat. You see, the title of “father” is given to the clergy from the priest up to the pope himself. 

And ANTIPAS, which means AGAINST the FATHERS was MARTYRED for his FAITHFULNESS to Jesus. Or is it just a COINCIDENCE that his NAME means AGAINST the FATHERS? 

Again you, the reader and seeker of the truth, must decide this for yourself. But there were many Christians who would not bow their knee to the “catholic” or “universal” church, beginning to form.

Now, HISTORY itself also shows us that Antipas was the bishop of the church at Pergamos, who is said to have been put to death by the pagans on the altar of Zeus. 

It is said that Antipas was casting out so many devils, the pagans put him to death by placing him in a bronze bull and lighting a fire under the bull as a sacrifice to Zeus. 

I do not find that Antipas was against the “Roman Catholic Church”. 

Antipas is said to have been martyred by the Church that was in Rome BEFORE the sect of the “Roman Catholic Church” came into existence. 

Others say he was martyred by the church that was in Antioch. You decide.

The main thing I see in this verse, by the location of Pergamos being in modern-day Turkey, is some considered Turkey to be the seat of Islam. 

Also, many who are followers of Islam are Arabs, but NOT all Arabs are Muslim. In fact, many Arabs are Christians. But Arabs, according to the Bible, are descendants of Abraham through the lineage of Ishmael. 

Thus, Arab Muslims who follow Islam are AGAINST what their “FATHERS”, as in, their forefathers taught. 

Again, I leave the speculation to you, the reader. My point is the meaning of the name Antipas, which again, means against the “fathers”.

So, just because the NAME Antipas means AGAINST 

the fathers does not dogmatically mean against the Roman Catholic priests who are called “father”. 

For you see, the patriarchs of the Jews and Christianity are also called “fathers”.

I find the phrase Jesus used in this verse saying, “EVEN in THOSE days” of Antipas they remained faithful, very intriguing.

You see, the days of Antipas were BEFORE the organized Roman Catholic Church. 

However, during the days of Antipas, one of the MAIN false teachings was the KEEPING of the LETTER of the Law of Moses in order to be saved. 

And this has led me to look at the FUTURE days in that area of Turkey where the seat, or throne of Satan, dwells. 

This is another reason why I myself see far more Biblical evidence pointing to ISLAM as being the MARK of the beast, than the claim that Roman Catholicism is the antichrist and the mark of the beast. 

Please read the study J-27. COULD ISLAM BE THE MARK OF THE BEAST? 

Moving to the next verse. Let us go ahead and read the next three verses together, since they are basically teaching the same thing.

Revelation 2:14. “But I have a few things against you, because you have THERE THEM that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto IDOLS, and to commit fornication.

Revelation 2:15. So have you ALSO them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.

Revelation 2:16. REPENT, OR ELSE I will come unto you quickly, and will fight against THEM with the sword of my mouth.”

So, from verses 14 and 15, we can see perhaps BOTH the Babylonian religion and idol worship were in this place, or in the area where this church of Pergamos was located. 

AND there might have also been the ruling by the clergy OVER the laity or common believers as well. 

Here is what I understand from these verses. Jesus says I have a few things against you. 

And one of those things is there are SOME among you who hold to the doctrine or teachings of Balaam, who caused many to stumble and depart from my ways, by teaching them to eat things sacrificed to idols.

Now, the time of this happening in the church was after John wrote the book of Revelation. 

But it could also be a prophecy of the time during the early days of the church when Constantine made Christianity to be the belief system for all the people under his reign, even if they were pagan idol worshipers.

You see, it was then beginning to become a MIXTURE of the pagan beliefs with Christianity, that spread among all of the churches. 

However, it is obvious that neither of these interpretations should be forced as being the truth of the whole word of God.

But, it is in fact the truth, many PAGANS were brought into the church among the TRUE Christians by the order of Constantine. 

And the TRUE Christians, under the order of Constantine were forced to ACCEPT the PAGANS into their fold, knowing they were not truly born-again Christains. 

Obviously, the church could NOT convert all of these PAGANS overnight to have TRUE repentance and TRUE faith in Jesus. 

And thus, that little LEAVEN began to CORRUPT the TRUE CHURCH and many of the PAGAN rituals were ADOPTED into the ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. 

The pagan practices were given new names that Christians could accept. 

In other words, a PAGAN festival would now be renamed as a feast day for a saint. 

For more on the errors of the Roman Catholic Church please see the related studies under the heading **Ee-0. What Every Catholic Must Know!**

For now, let us continue with this verse-by-verse study in Revelation chapter 2. 

Jesus said they hold the doctrine or teachings of the NICOLAITANS, which as I said earlier was the teaching that SEPARATED the CLERGY from the lower class of people called the LAITY. 

And that is EXACTLY what the Roman Catholic Church system has done even to this day.

This SEPARATION of classes of people where the CLERGY lords over the common people, is very widely taught in this religious system of CATHOLICISM. The laity is instructed NOT to question what they are taught by the priests. 

In turn, the Priests are instructed not to question what they are trained by the Bishops, who are taught to not question the Cardinals. 

And the Cardinals are trained to not question the Pope, who himself is self-proclaimed as being infallible.

Then Jesus says, REPENT, or TURN AWAY FROM this or else I will come unto YOU quickly, and will fight AGAINST THEM that do NOT REPENT.

So, for me personally, I have come to see far too many teachings and practices in the Roman Catholic Church that are in ERROR for me to REMAIN under its false teachings. 

Thus, I left the Catholic faith to embrace the teachings of the Holy Spirit, who leads and guides every true believer into ALL TRUTH. 

This does not mean I was not a true born-again Christian while I was still in the Roman Catholic Church. 

My Christian growth was very rapid, so it did not take me long to make a clean break from the Roman Catholic Church. 

Now, I was faced with the FEAR of leaving the Roman Catholic Church, being dogmatically taught ONLY Catholics can be saved.

I had to OVERCOME that fear, CHOOSING what the Bible ITSELF teaches, over what church TRADITION teaches.

However, not all Christians grow and mature in their faith at the same rate of speed. 

Therefore, I do believe that some Catholics are true sincere born-again believers. 

And thus, the true born-again Catholics are a part of the one true church. 

However, they are being DECEIVED still by the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. 

For this reason, I find it hard to interpret these verses, referring to the Roman Catholic Church, lumping together the true born-again Christians, who have chosen to remain under the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church along with those Catholics, who are NOT true born-again Christians. 

To ME, there are true born-again Christians in every church denomination, just as there are ALSO those who are Christians in NAME ONLY in every church denomination. 

My point is, I do not see Jesus fighting against His true church. Again, the true church is the body of true faithful believers in ALL church denominations. 

However, I do see in many places in the Bible where Jesus will fight against the countries that are today Islamic dominated countries. 

Many Muslims are repenting and coming to Jesus, and are being Martyred for their faith in Jesus by their OWN people, even their own family members. 

There is also a MERGING of Christianity with Islam called CHRISLAM, which could be what Jesus is referring to prophetically as having the doctrine of Balaam. 

Please read the study J-27. COULD ISLAM BE THE MARK OF THE BEAST? 

The main point we should get from all of this is, Jesus is warning us all to REPENT and keep our garments white and clean, to live without sin. 

And thus, we should never COMPROMISE our faith by MERGING with another faith, such as Islam, and say we worship the SAME God. 

Please read Book 8 What is the TRUE Faith? This book will help Christians to NOT be deceived and believe that Islam worships the SAME God the Bible ITSELF teaches. 

This book will ALSO help Muslims see, Jesus is the ONLY WAY to receive eternal life in the world to come.

And this book will help Christians understand HOW to WITNESS to Muslims the TRUE Jesus, which Muslims will BELIEVE and receive as their Lord and Savior!

For now, let us move on to the next verse in Revelation chapter 2.

Revelation 2:17. “He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches; To him that OVERCOMES will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and I will give to him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knows saving he that receives it.”

The word MANNA means bread from heaven. Jesus said to his disciples, “you do not know what bread I eat”, but the disciples did not understand. In other words, the bread that Jesus was eating was HIDDEN from them. 

You see my dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, to simply do the WILL of the Father was all the food Jesus needed to eat. Like, when you LOVE what you are doing, you do not care about time or eating food.

The word manna is found 19 times in the Bible. Fourteen times in the Old Testament and five times in the New Testament. 

The number 19 is the number associated with faith, which is one of my favorite numbers. 

The number 14 bears the meaning of salvation or FORGIVENESS of sins. 

And the number 5 is the number for grace. We are saved (14) by grace (5) through faith (19). 

Jesus is also called the bread of life from heaven. Bread is symbolic of teaching. So hidden manna or hidden bread could mean the hidden teaching Jesus will give to those who overcome. 

You see, the world cannot understand the word of God without the Holy Spirit. 

But the word of God is given for those who believe, to KNOW the hidden things of God. 

However, this hidden manna is not given to us until we overcome, being born-again by faith in the word of truth, the true gospel of Jesus Christ. 

But there also seems to be things still yet hidden from us, most likely not to be known right now in this present world. 

There were things shown to Paul, he could not utter to men, in this present life. 

Even Jesus could not teach everything to his disciples until after they received the Holy Spirit. 

While the hidden manna may be referring to the bread of life, the TEACHING of Jesus on how to be born-again, may also be referring to something yet to come in the future world. 

For you see, the context also speaks of a NEW NAME that will be given to us who overcome, only we will KNOW. But I am getting ahead of myself.

The word here in verse 17 for stone is the Greek word  “psephos” which is found only three times in the Bible. 

Two of which are in this very verse translated as stone. The only other time this word is found, it is translated as a voice against. 

This Greek word means to vote, which is to be given a VOICE in a matter. And the color white signifies innocence or being pure. 

So the white stone may signify a vote for us who overcome, as a vote of innocence, being found pure in Jesus with our name written upon it. 

Or perhaps the vote signifies the VOICE of overcomers in Jesus that will JUDGE the fallen angels. 

In other words our VOTE will be against Satan and the fallen angels, to clear God’s NAME of being blasphemed by His enemies, Satan and the fallen angels. 

For you see, we are WITNESSES for God and Jesus is the first faithful and true witness, the first begotten from the DEAD, the BEGINNING of the creation of God, according to Revelation 1:5 and Revelation 3:14.

Many things in the book of Revelation are symbolic. Thus, some verses can have many meanings, or many opinions as to what they mean. 

These are simply my thoughts, or my own opinions based upon the context and comparing Scripture with Scripture.
                In the TREE of LIFE, in the midst of the garden of God, could be understood to bear fruit called MANNA, meaning the BREAD of LIFE. 

So, the HIDDEN MANNA could be symbolic for the TREE of LIFE, seeing that it was HIDDEN by the flaming swords of the angels. 

In other words, it was kept HIDDEN from FALLEN mankind, until the day that we shall be made WORTHY by faith in Jesus, to be given the right to partake of the fruit on the TREE of LIFE. These are simply my thoughts.

For a deeper understanding of my belief concerning the Tree of Life, please read Chapter 2 of Book 8 What is the Tree of LIFE in the Bible?

In conclusion, my interpretation of the hidden manna is the reward of eternal life that only those who OVERCOME will be given to eat. 

This brings us to the end of the letter to the church in Pergamos.

The last 21 verses in chapter 2 will be about the church in Thyatira.

Revelation 2:18. “And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things says the Son of God, who has his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;”

The phrase “These things say the SON OF GOD”, and the description of Jesus that follows leaves no doubt that Jesus, the Son of God, is the SECOND voice John heard. 

And this voice of the SON of God, telling John what to write to the seven churches which are in Asia.

In other words, Almighty God GAVE the “revelation” of what to say to the Apostle John to write down what he saw and heard, and send letters to the seven churches in Asia.

Revelation 2:19. “I know your WORKS, and charity, and service, and faith, and your patience, and your WORKS; and the last to be more than the first.”

Notice that Jesus said I know your WORKS...and your WORKS. Service is work. 

In fact, all of these things are WORKS. James said I will show you my faith by my WORKS. It takes WORK to have patience. 

And how many know charity or love can be hard WORK at times? 

It most certainly seems Jesus was pleased with their WORKS. 

I want you to keep in MIND the importance of our WORKS, our GOOD works and NOT the works of the Law of Moses, contained in ORDINANCES that Jesus abolish on the cross. 

You will see where our GOOD works will lead later on, and WHY we are not saved by the works of the LAW, according to Ephesians 2:8-15.

But for now, let us read the remaining 10 verses in Revelation chapter 2, then I will give my comments on what these verses mean to me, in the LIGHT of the WHOLE word of Almighty God.

Please read Revelation 2:20-29.

Revelation 2:20. “Notwithstanding I have a few things AGAINST you, because you suffer that woman Jezebel, which calls herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.

Revelation 2:21. And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.

Revelation 2:22. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they REPENT of their DEEDS. 

Revelation 2:23. And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searches the reins and hearts: and I will give unto EVERY ONE of YOU according to your WORKS.

Revelation 2:24. 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.

Revelation 2:25. But that which you have already hold fast till I come.

Revelation 2:26. And he that OVERCOMES, and keeps my WORKS unto the end, to him will I give power to the nations:

Revelation 2:27. 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.

Revelation 2:28. And I will give him the morning star.

Revelation 2:29. He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches.”

After giving this church in Thyatira a compliment Jesus says, NOTWITHSTANDING I have a few things AGAINST you. In other words, all your good works do not excuse what you have neglected to do. 

In other words, Jesus is saying “I have a few things against”  FOR or you BECAUSE you are suffering that woman Jezebel that calls herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication and eat things sacrificed to idols. 

One of the meanings of the word “suffer” in this instance, is to TOLERATE EVIL, or to be complacent (to do nothing) about this woman or this false church. 

Simply consider how much evil are we tolerating all around us. And also consider all of the false teaching in the many different church denominations.

In verses 21-24, I want to draw your attention to the pronoun use. Jesus begins by speaking to the church with a compliment soon followed by a rebuke. 

In this rebuke, Jesus says I have a few things against YOU because YOU tolerate and allow this woman Jezebel. Notice the change in the pronoun use in the following verses.

Revelation 2:21. “And I gave HER space to repent of HER fornication; and SHE repented not. Behold I will cast HER into a bed, and THEM (Now, the pronoun “THEM” may also include you, if you are a part of that Jezebel church. 

Or if you are still yet complacent, having done nothing to come out of that Jezebel church or warn her of her sins. 

Thereby, you are giving your consent by your complacency. 

So, the pronoun “THEM” definitely speaks of those) that commit adultery with HER into great tribulation, except THEY repent of THEIR deeds. And I will kill HER children with death.”

Then in the last part of verse 23, the pronoun use changes back to YOU.

And what we learn from the changes in the pronoun use is that there is no less than one FALSE church among the midst of the TRUE church.

Revelation 2:23b. “...I will give unto every one of YOU according to YOUR works.”

And in verse 24, we see that God will not put on us more than we can bear.

Revelation 2:24. “But unto YOU I say, and unto the REST in Thyatira as many as have NOT this doctrine, and have NOT known the depths of Satan, as THEY speak, I will put upon YOU none other burden.”

Here in verse 24, we see the importance of true sound Biblical teaching or sound Biblical church doctrine. 

How will you know if the traditional church doctrines that we have been taught are SOUND Biblical doctrines, if we do not search the Scriptures for ourselves like the men in Berea in Acts 17:11?

In verses 25-28, we are told to hold fast to that which we already have.  And those who OVERCOME will rule the nations with Jesus and he will give us the MORNING STAR.

Revelation 2:25-28.

Revelation 2:25. “But that which you have already hold fast till I come.

Revelation 2:26. And he that OVERCOMES, and KEEPS my WORKS unto the END, to him will I give power over the nations:

Revelation 2:27. And he shall rule them (Speaking of Jesus ruling over the nations that are making war with Israel and also those who do not repent) with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.     

Revelation 2:28. And I (Jesus) will give him (Speaking of whosoever that OVERCOMES, will Jesus give) the MORNING STAR.”

Keep in mind that Lucifer means the MORNING STAR. And also remember we shall JUDGE the fallen angels. In other words, our OVERCOMING the world will be used by God as His WITNESSES against His ENEMIES, Satan and the fallen angels, who BLASPHEMED the NAME or the character of their Creator.

You see, Lucifer falsely accused God of “creating” him flawed. And thus, Lucifer BLAMED God for the WAR that he and the fallen angels waged against God’s throne. 

Please read Book 6 called WHY God Created us! 

Revelation 2:29. “He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches.”

So, the clear, plain and simple message Jesus gives to the churches is “he that OVERCOMES” will be given eternal life and the privilege to rule the nations WITH Jesus during the world to come. 

Jesus said in Matthew 24 false prophets and false teachers would arise and if it were possible, would deceive the very elect. 

So, the message to the churches is to hold fast to the sound teaching, thoroughly rooted in the word of God.

Jesus said he would give those of us that OVERCOME the MORNING STAR. 

We read in Isaiah 14:4-17 Lucifer is cast down to the sides of the pit. Now, to me, this is a prophecy of Satan being bound for 1000 years in the bottomless pit. 

In other words, Jesus will cast down the enemy Satan to the pit, where he and all of the evil spirits will be bound for 1000 years.

This is to PROVE, WITHOUT the influence of Satan and the fallen angels TEMPTING mankind, man CAN and WILL live in PEACE for 1000 years without having any WARS. 

And at the end of the 1000 years when Satan is loosed for a short time, he will deceive the nations one last time and then Satan will be judged by those of us who OVERCOME him, by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. 

Let’s go ahead and read that prophecy in Isaiah chapter 14.

Isaiah 14:4-17.

“That you shall take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How has the OPPRESSOR ceased! The golden city ceased! (The king of Babylon is Satan, the king of PRIDE, the OPPRESSOR of mankind)

Isaiah 14:5. The LORD has broken the staff of the wicked, and the scepter of the rulers. (The staff and scepter are symbolic for the authority to rule. And that authority to rule will be taken away from the god of this present world and given to Jesus and the saints to rule over the earth in righteousness)

Isaiah 14:6. He who smote the people in wrath with a continual stroke, he that ruled the nations in anger, is persecuted, and none hinders. (In other words, Satan and the fallen angels along with the SERVANTS of Satan, will receive DOUBLE what they gave to the church and God’s people Israel. 

And no evil will hinder man to live righteous during the world to come)

Isaiah 14:7. The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth into singing.

Isaiah 14:8. Yea, the fir trees rejoice at you, and the cedars of Lebanon, saying, Since you are laid down, no feller has come up against us. (Again, speaking of no TEMPTER during the 1000-year reign of Jesus)

Isaiah 14:9. Hell from beneath is moved for you to meet you at your coming: it stirs up the dead for you, even all the chief ones of the earth; it has raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations. (Again, speaking of Satan being bound in the bottomless pit during the 1000-year reign of Jesus)

Isaiah 14:10. All they shall speak and say unto you, Are you also become weak as we? Are you become like unto us? (Referring to the unsaved dead in hell, now seeing Satan cast into hell with them)

Isaiah 14:11. Your POMP  (Or your PRIDE, Satan) is brought down to the grave, and the noise of your viols: the worm is spread under you, and the worms cover you.

Isaiah 14:12. How are you fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How are you cut down to the ground, which did weaken the nations! 

Isaiah 14:13. For you have said in your heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 

Isaiah 14:14. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. 

Isaiah 14:15. Yet you shall be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. (Here we see that the bottomless pit is the same pit as the pit called hell)

Isaiah 14:16. They that see you shall narrowly look upon you, and consider you, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; (The Hebrew word that is “translated” as “man” here in this verse is NOT the Hebrew word “adam”, which means HUMAN. 

But rather, this Hebrew word means a CERTAIN whosoever, a specific being. So then, are you the FELLER that deceived the whole world)

Isaiah 14:17. That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?”

Again, 1 Corinthians 6:2,3 teaches us, we who have overcome will judge the world and the fallen angels. 

I say the fallen angels, for what need is there to judge the GOOD faithful angels? 

In other words, we will judge Satan and the other fallen angels and not the good angels who remained faithful to God. 

The word Lucifer is translated from the Hebrew word “helel” and means shining one or MORNING STAR. 

So I see Jesus giving us, who have OVERCOME Satan, the right or LICENSE to JUDGE Satan, the MORNING STAR, on the final Day of Judgment. 

The reason WHY Satan accuses us before God (day and night) is, Satan is trying to lay all the blame on God, saying he and mankind were created by God to be rebellious and sinful. 

By getting Christians to teach the doctrine of devils, saying God ORDAINED us to have a SINFUL NATURE, those Christians can not be used as WITNESSES against Satan. 

In other words, if Christians BLAME God for all of the EVIL in the world, how can God use THOSE Christians as His TRUE and FAITHFUL witnesses against Satan, who STARTED that LIE? 

Please read the study Q-1. UNDERSTANDING WHY? to learn why God allows evil to exist in this present world and why God will let Satan loose again to tempt the nations after he has bound him for 1000 years.

I do not know if it has any significance, but the first three letters that were written to the first three churches in Asia all ended with “He that has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches,” followed by “He that overcomes...:” 

And the last four letters that were written to the last four churches in Asia end with “He that overcomes…” followed by “He that hath an ear…”  

In other words, the order of the ending is reversed in the last four churches. This brings us to the end of the letter to the church of Thyatira. 

This brings us to CHAPTER 3 of the Book of Revelation.

To continue with CHAPTER 3 just click on the link or go to the menu list below to click on the link to a different chapter in the Book or Revelation.

Here is the Table of Contents with links to all of the chapters in the Book of Revelation. 

It is best to read them in the order that they are listed. But please feel free to skip any chapter and any verse.

Table of Context of Chapters with links!

Thanks for reading, and may God bless you richly as you continue to seek the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of Almighty God. 

And to me, the truth concerning who Jesus TRULY is, according to the Bible ITSELF, is the Biblical Unitarian view of Jesus. 

Once Christians, Jews, Muslims, and even atheists understand the REASON that Yahweh CREATED the Son of MAN, Jesus, was to have DOMINION over the work of Yahweh’s hands. 

And after you understand that the REASON that Yahweh did that is to STILL His ENEMIES, Satan and the fallen angels. 

Then you can understand that God made His human Son to become “a” Lord, “a” King, and “a” God, under and subject to his God and Father in order to JUDGE Satan and the fallen angels. 

For a deeper understanding of this WAR that Lucifer and one third of the angels waged against the throne of Almighty God, please read the studies under the subject category called ** Q-0 Why Are We Here?  Is God at WAR? **.

More studies are coming in this SHORTER Biblical Unitarian view of who Jesus is according to the WHOLE word of God. 

If you have a PARTICULAR verse of Scripture that you would like to know the sound Biblical Unitarian meaning, then please email me at MarkatAMatterOfTruth@Gmail.com and let me know.

For further and more in-depth studies on this subject of Jesus being created to STILL the enemies of Yahweh, please read the studies called D-25. A NEW LOOK at JOHN 1:1-In the BEGINNING, and D-28. The PRE-ADAMIC LUCIFERIAN FLOOD! 

At the top of my homepage, there are subjects or categories which contain compiled lists of ** ALL Studies ** I have written on that particular subject. So, if a link within a study is broken, then click on ** ALL Studies ** to find the suggested study.

Or you can scroll down to the MORE dropdown menu list to find those studies as well. 

Thanks again for reading, and may God bless you richly as you continue to seek the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of Almighty God. 

And to me, the truth concerning who Jesus TRULY is, according to the Bible ITSELF, is the Biblical Unitarian view of Jesus. 

And again, for ALL of the studies on the Biblical Unitarian view of Jesus, please click on the subject heading ** D-0 The BIBLICAL UNITARIAN VIEW of Jesus! **

And for the SUBJECT on the true foundation of the church, please click on the subject heading ** C-0 The TRUE FOUNDATION of the Church! ** 

This way you can just send ONE link to those who you want to share the TRUE sound Biblical FOUNDATIONAL teachings of the church that Jesus and his Apostles taught in the first century church.

Your brother in our Lord Jesus Christ,

Brother Mark.

My heartfelt prayer is that all Christians RETURN to the TRUE FOUNDATION of the church that is taught by the very Apostles of Jesus in the first century. 

So let us all come into the UNITY of the faith and return to what Jesus and his Apostles taught us in SIMPLICITY in the New Testament. 

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