CHAPTER 2

The doctrine to these churches are written about seven problems one in each church. God gives the solution to each of these problems and that was the Lord Jesus Christ. He is in the mist of each of these churches if they would only trust Him. The doctrine of each of these churches is based on works, overcoming, and the law. The believers are not sealed with the Holy Spirit because this is not one of the ministries of the seven Spirits during the tribulation period.

Revelation 2:1 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;

Doctrinally the churches are in the tribulation period. The Spirit writes to the angel of each of these churches. Many teach that these angels are messengers and not angels. Today, angels are not seen (Col 2:18(. But during the tribulation period God will use angels again to deal with the Nation of Israel. God only uses angels when He is dealing with Israel. In the scripute we see angels used as helpers (Luke 4:10). In Daniel 10:13, a angel is used as a fighter. When you see “angel of the Lord”, in most cases this is an appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 12:11)/ Today, God is dealing with the Body of Christ though His Word and He is not using angels. Also, the Spirit writes to the angel of each church and not to individual members of the church. Today, God is dealing with everyone alike and not a nation. Galatians 3: 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

Revelation 2: 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:

Revelation 2:3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.

During the tribulation period there will be people that say they are apostles and the Church of Ephesus has tried those people and found the to be liars. The same should apply today. Many say they are apostles but don’t meet the qualifications in the scriptures. Acts 1:22 Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.

 Revelation 2:4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

The church at Ephesus had stopped doing the works for the Lord. The Lord Jesus Christ is in their mist and all they would have to do is place their trust in Him and return to their first love

Revelation 2 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.

God tells this church if it does not repent and return to doing labor for Him, He will remove that candlestick (church) from the earth. Remember that salvation is obtained doing the tribulation period by faith plus works and that the Spirit can also leave them because they are not sealed (James 2:24).

Revelation 2:6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.

The word Nicolaitans means “to conquer”. Laos means common people. In other words, it is the doctrine of how to conquer the common man.

Revelation 2:7 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.

If the people in this church overcame and lived through the tribulation period they would go into the kingdom with the Lord and afterward be on the new earth and would be able to eat of the tree of life. This is the first promise given to the over comers. Genesis 3:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

Revelation 22:2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

Revelation 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

In the Age of Grace, the Body of Christ will have a glorified body, after the rapture, and will not have to overcome anything nor have to eat of the tree of life.

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

Revelation 2:9 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.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the one that is writing to the church at Smyrna. All the members of the seven churches are also members of the Nation of Israel because they blasphemy when they say that they are Jews and they are not.

Revelation 2:10 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.

After ten days in prison they will be given a chose of taking the mark of the beast or having their heads cut off. They not only had to promise of the crown of life but they will be part of the first resurrection. Revelation 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

The Body of Christ has never been promised the crown of life for being faithful. It is the righteousness of Jesus Christ that has been imputed to all that would believe. He was faithful to go the cross for us.  

Romans 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: The Book of James is written to the twelve tribes of Israel and is also doctrine for the tribulation period. Those that endureth temptation will receive the crown of life. James 1: 12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

Revelation 2:11 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.

This is another promise given to those that overcometh, they will not be put into the Lake of fire. Revelation 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

Revelation 2:12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;

Revelation 2:13 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.

The church of Pergamos is where Satan’s seat is. Historically, it is the place where the high Babylonian mystical priesthood taught the religion of Nimrod. This seat was moved to Pergamos at the time John wrote the Book of Revelation.

Revelation 2:14 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.

Revelation 2:15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.

The doctrine of Balaam came about from the fact that he could not curse the children of Israel because God would not let him. So Balaam found a way to put the children of Israel in a situation where God himself would curse them. Balaam taught Balak, the King of Moah this method. He had the Moabites to inter-marry with the Nation of Israel and God killed them himself. One of the commandments God gave the Nation of Israel was that they should not inter-marry with the Moabites. This the “doctrine of Balaam” found in Numbers 25:2-9. In this religious worship of Balaam there where three things taught to the children of Israel. 1. He taught the children of Israel to eat things sacrificed to idols. 3. H taught the children of Israel to commit fornication. 3. He taught that the clergy should be over the common man. The error of Balaam was the fact that he hated the Word of God. Jude 1:11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. .Unrighteousness is the way of Balaam. 2 Peter 2:15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness.

Revelation 2:16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

The Word of is how to fight against the devil. If they don’t fight against them the Lord will

Revelation 2:17 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.

God tells this church if they will repent so they could overcome the tribulation period, He would give them a new name in a white stone so they could eat of the hidden manna that was going to provided for them. The White Stone, Hidden Manna and New Name that they will receive has to do with the priesthood. All Israel that goes into the kingdom will be part of the priesthood 1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light; God will provide a place in the wilderness and give them manna from heaven the last three and half years of the tribulation period. Revelation 12:6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

Revelation 2: 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;

Revelation 2:19 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.

Jesus tells John to write to the angel of the church in Thyatira and to tell him to tell the people who He was and that He knew their works and patience and that they had more patience than works.

Revelation 2:20 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.

They allowed the teaching of Jezebel to be taught in their church. 1 Kings 18:13 Was it not told my lord what I did when Jezebel slew the prophets of the LORD, how I hid an hundred men of the LORD's prophets by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water?

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

God compares what this church was doing with the OT prophetess Jezebel had done and she had not repented of this sin.

1 Kings 19:1 And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword.

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 searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

God tells this church what the judgment will be for those that do like Jezebel had done. He would put them in great tribulation and kill their children. Revelation 6:8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

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.

The depths of Satan is what sin does to all that will involved in it. Sin will lead so far as to have pleasure in those that commit such acts. Romans 1:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

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

Revelation 2:26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over 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 hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

God promises these churches if they will overcome and keep the works until the end. He would give them power over the nations. Remember that God also promise the twelve Apostles that they would sit upon twelve thrones and judge the twelve tribes of Israel. Matthew 19:28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. He promised the Nation of Israel that they would rule over the Gentile Nations in the kingdom. Revelation 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. The Body of Christ has a heavenly promise and the Nation of Israel has an earthly promise. We are saved by grace through faith, not of works (Eph 2:8-9) but this is not the case of the Nation of Israel in the tribulation period, they must overcome and not take the mark of the beast.

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