Revelation 3

The third letter of the Hebrew alphabet is "gimmel" which represents lifting up in pride. These are the three final letters to the last three churches, or church ages.

 

> To the Church at Sardis (means Prince of Joy); addressed to the Pastor (angel), from The One who holds the Holy Spirit and the 7 pastors in His right hand (Jesus, V. 5). In verse one, they are reminded that He sees all; there are no secrets from The Lord. This church is chastised for losing enthusiasm for worship, being faithless and having no charity. (Isa. 52:1, Jer. 51:39) He warns He will come without warning so now is the time to invigorate what little strength they have left. However, He compliments the "few" who have not soiled themselves with this lack of enthusiasm. 

 

 

 

> To the Church at Philadelphia (means Brotherly Love); against their weakness, they have managed to keep God's word and upheld His Son's example of love. For this, The Lord will have Godless nations fall at their feet and admit The Lord loves this church of brotherly love. He further promises to save this church from end time trials because of their patient endurance. Another promise is given to put these people in the New Jerusalem (Isa. 62:2) with a new name (Eze. 48:35).

Note: This church of brotherly love was not told to repent.

 

> To the Church at Laodicea (means People's Rights): Here Jesus is referred to as the "Amen" - the last word and author of God's creation. (Isa. 55:4, Prov. 8:22) He is addressing the last age of the church (TODAY) and proclaiming they are not enthusiastic or anti God's teachings; we are neutral - without feeling. Today, we are so blessed (we think by our own hands), we believe we have no need of God. We are instructed to learn from our trials, be cleansed of wrong doings and use the "Balm of Gilead" (Jesus) to open our eyes and see ourselves as we are. He reminds us we are dearly and tenderly loved so we will be disciplined if we do not repent. He is waiting to live in us, Jn. 14:23. His final promise for following Him is to sit with Him on His new throne, in the New Jerusalem, forever.

To be continued . . . . .

 

Revelation's Berisheet Prophecy

REVELATION

(Second in a series)

 

Starting in 1:4, we happen on our first mention of "7"; seven churches.

> Interesting: 7 days of creation, 7 thousand years of history and 7 churches addressed here. Could there be a connection?

> God worked on creation for six days and rested on the 7th. (A day is as a thousand years to God.) There are listed, in the Bible, six thousand years of man before the second coming of Jesus.

> Many of the ancient church fathers, from the first three centuries AD, taught this theory. Leaders of the church such as Barnabas, Irenaeus, Hippolytus, Commodianus, Victorinus, Methodius and Lactantius wrote things like: "Therefore, children, in six days, or in six thousand years, all the prophecies will be fulfilled", "The Sabbath is a type of the future kingdom. . . For 'a day with the Lord is as a thousand years", "Resurrection of the body will be when six thousand years are completed,", and "In the seventh millennium we will be immortal and truly celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles."

 

 

> Could the first six churches listed in Revelation 2 and 3 be the ages of the church? Could the 7th church listed be the age we are presently in?

> From the Hebrew language, take the first word of Gen.1:1 (beginning) and break down the meaning of each letter and the term "In beginning" tells us, "The Son of God, Creator, is coming out of His home and will be part of an epic event that will bring a covenant for the future of mankind". The term "In beginning" (Heb: Berisheet") is all about home and new beginnings.

> The Book of Revelation is about Jesus bringing our new beginning.