Interpretive Study of Revelation

The Revelation of Jesus Christ

Chapter links: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, God.

Revelation Chapter 3

links to sentences in this chapter:

C3-S1 (Verse 1), C3-S2 (Verse 2), C3-S3 (Verse 3), C3-S4 (Verse 3), C3-S5 (Verse 4), C3-S6 (Verse 5), C3-S7 (Verse 6), C3-S8 (Verse 7-8), C3-S9 (Verse 9), C3-S10 (Verse 10), C3-S11 (Verse 11), C3-S12 (Verse 12), C3-S13 (Verse 13), C3-S14 (Verse 14-15), C3-S15 (Verse 16), C3-S16 (Verse 17-18), C3-S17 (Verse 19), C3-S18 (Verse 20), C3-S19 (Verse 21), C3-S20 (Verse 22)'.

Chapter Summary: the last three messages to the seven churches.

This chapter finishes what was started in the prior chapter. Our Lord Jesus Christ gave a personal message to each of seven churches in Asia. The prior chapter told us the message to the first four churches and this chapter tells us the message to the remaining three.

As explained in the note for the prior chapter, there is a popular doctrine which is based upon 'Church Ages' which has some truth and some doctrinal error. People take the word dispensation and apply it to years of time and then apply that to these seven churches to come up with great dispensations in 'Church Ages'. The main problem is that saved people, and churches, exist in circumstances which match the circumstances of each of these churches. However, that doctrine teaches people that: 'You must pay attention to what is written to the church of the Laodiceans and ignore what is written to all of the other churches because the entire world is i n the Laodicean Church Age'. That is a lie. Throughout all time since John wrote this book, there have been people and churches which were in circumstances which match the circumstances of each of these churches. Those people, and churches, need the messages written to the other churches. However, preachers believing this doctrine tell them to ignore the message that our Lord Jesus Christ sent to that. And, I hope that people reading this Study avoid that error.

C3-S1 : The message to Sardis.
C3-S2 : What this church is commanded to do.
C3-S3 : What this church is commanded to do.
C3-S4 : the warning.
C3-S5 : there are some church members still doing right.
C3-S6 : the promise to those saved people who fulfill the requirement for the promise.
C3-S7 : the command to listen spiritually.
C3-S8 : the message to the church in Philadelphia.
C3-S9 : What is promised for the future.
C3-S10 : A promise to leave this Earth before the 'Rapture' or to participate in the 'Rapture'.
C3-S11 : the warning related to saved people in these circumstances.
C3-S12 : Promises to the overcomer.
C3-S13 : the command to listen spiritually.
C3-S14 : the message to the church of the Laodiceans.
C3-S15 : the conclusion of the message from the prior sentence.
C3-S16 : the message to this church.
C3-S17 : the explanation of treatment from God.
C3-S18 : the promised result of a changed life.
C3-S19 : Another promise.
C3-S20 : the command to listen spiritually.

C3-S1 (Verse 1) the message to Sardis.

First Step: Who this is written to.

And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write;

Second Step: Who this is written from.

These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God,
and the seven stars;.

Third Step: What He knows.

I know thy works,
that thou hast a name that thou livest,
and art dead.

Our sentence starts with the word And, which adds it to the prior messages. All of these messages need to be considered together for contextual reasons. Yes, our Lord Jesus Christ has a different message for each church. But He could have given the message to the pastor of each church individually. By giving the message to John, and then having it sent to seven different churches, He is assuring that the message is preserved for us. Therefore, while a lot of people concentrate on the message to the church of the Laodiceans, and ignore the messages to the other churches, our Lord Jesus Christ wants us to pay attention to all of the messages which He has preserved for us.

Our Lord Jesus Christ sends this message to the pastor (the angel of the church) to give the message to the church. God works through the people whom He has put into positions of authority and He will hold them responsible if they refuse to do the job which He gives them to do. In the third Step of this sentence, He says that this pastor has led this church to have a false reputation (thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead). When he stands before the judgment seat of Christ (Romans 14:10; 2Corinthians 5:10), he will have to answer to his God, before all of Heaven, for serving Satan (the father of lies) while claiming to serve God and for leading God's children in this church to serve Satan while telling them that they served God.

In our Second Step, our Lord Jesus Christ says that he hath the seven Spirits of God. Back in 1:4, these were identifies as:

Notice that the seven Spirits are detailed in Isaiah 11:2 as:

the spirit of Lord, which gives us God's never changing law and judgment.
the spirit of wisdom, which gives us how to apply spiritual truths in our life.
the spirit of understanding, which gives us how different things of the word of God fit together without conflict.
the spirit of counsel, which gives us advice on how to proceed when we face the problems of life.
the spirit of might, which gives us God's power to do what we can not do on our own.
the spirit of knowledge, which gives us what the word of God actually says.
the spirit of the fear of the LORD, which gives us the motivation to stop our sinning.

Since out third Step says; thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead, they, obviously, were not listening to these seven Spirits of God. And, if we are truly spiritually alive, then we will have the benefits of these seven Spirits of God.

Our sentence also says that our Lord Jesus Christ hath the seven stars. He holds the pastors in an ongoing basis. It is His job to correct the pastors, as the messages to these churches tell us that He was doing. It is not our job to correct a pastor and we can be disciplined by God, even killed, if we stick our nose into His business. We are to pray for God to lead the pastor, and trust Him to do so. But, we are to avoid trying to correct the pastor ourselves.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this church: 'We now begin looking at the church of Sardis, the city of the same name being located some 30 miles south of thyatira and about 50 miles east of Ephesus. this is the only place in the Bible Sardis is mentioned. It was the capital city of the region known as Lydia and was once a very prosperous and wealthy city, a center for trade and a military hub, a place of luxury. the worship of the city focused mainly around the pagan goddess Cybele, known as the mother of gods whose worship included speaking in tongues, a ritual carried over into the true church, and Artemis, a nature god whose cult’s beliefs revolved around death and rebirth, which may be why the Lord Jesus focuses on life and death in his address to the church here as one of the main problems with Sardis is that it had a history of tragedies and was now known as the city of death for it had suffered two devastating invasions and a disastrous earthquake which had decimated its once grand splendor. these people knew how precious life was and how tragic death can be. At the time of the writing of the book of Revelation, Sardis had dwindled in power and influence due to its disastrous history, it was a shadow of what it once used to be, yet the city was trying to live on its past glory, power and influence. Like the city, the church of Sardis followed suit, for it too was struggling to survive, it had once been a wonderful influential church grounded in the truth, but now it was depending on its once great prosperity to remain an influence within the region, the church was trying to survive on its past greatness. Sardis (the city and the church) was trying to live in the past but unfortunately they were dying in the present.
No where in this address does the Lord commend this church, but neither does he reprimand them for incorrect doctrine or problems that needed to be dealt with, along with this was the fact that the church was not suffering any opposition or persecution. What we see here is the church had grown comfortable and complacent, they had no opposition for they were not taking a stand, they had no encouragement in their work for they were not working, instead they were daydreaming of days of yore, of what they used to be, and ignored what they were now, a dying church. they had become content in their worship, living on fond memories of what they used to be, what used to happen, of past glory – the good ole days, they were living in the past while the present slipped away. Nothing was happening here, as the church really wasn’t doing anything. And if there is no growth, no repair, no reproduction, no power within a church or for that matter any kind of living organism, means that church or living organism is dying or it is already dead. So we see that the church of Sardis was a dying church, a church that had fallen asleep on the job, just as the sentries of that city had fallen asleep on guard duty when both of its tragic invasions occurred. the church of Sardis was once a grand and lively church, but it grew comfortable, complacent, and now the enemy had slipped in and was wreaking havoc. And so the church here stands at a critical point of decision, it either wakes up and succeeds in its task of serving the Lord or it totally drifts away, fades out of existence, and dies a slow death.

Christ reminds this church that it is he who has true power, the power of the Holy Spirit, signified by the phrase “he that hath the seven Spirits of God”, thus referring to the completeness and perfection of the Holy Spirit as discussed in Re 1:4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; Christ is the one who has spiritual power, who sends the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, something the Sardis church was lacking. Jesus also reminds them it is he who holds the seven stars, the pastors in his hands. He is the one in control. Not the state, not the church, not some hierarchy. He controls the Spirit and his called servants. the church has no authority over the preacher just as the preacher has no special authority over the church, it is Christ who is the head, the rest of us are all part of and are an essential part of the body.
Jesus then says he knows their works, and look at what he says about those works, even though this church looked like and appeared like a church on the outside Jesus says “thou hast a name that thou livest”, you have a name, a title, that you are alive, that you are Christian, that you are aligned with me, but then what does the Lord say? “thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.” the Lord Jesus says you are dead, there is nothing about you that is showing signs of life. No Spirit, no power, no outreach, no true worship, no praise, nothing, zero, nada. Yes this church may have some works but those works are pointless if not empowered by the Holy Spirit, which is absent here at Sardis. Only the church of Laodicea is of a lower spiritual state than this church. fora church that grieves the Spirit, quenches the Spirit, that does not have nor welcome the Spirit, loses its spiritual power, and a body without a Sprit is dead. Sardis was a dry, cold, unmoved, dying church.
And in all honesty, I wonder if many churches in today’s time are not close to that state. Many look like a church, have service like a church, have members like a church, they fellowship, give money to missionaries, they tithe well, but where is the spiritual power, where is the life, where is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit? Is He so grieved that He has abandoned such churches? Have they grown so complacent that God has left them for dead? God help us! God forbid that we are a dead or a dying church, but the signs are there for all to see, many have a name that they are alive but are they? But the good news is, whether they are dying or not, the Lord Jesus gives a dead church like Sardis a second chance. forhe sends this letter to them by the hand of John to shake them awake, to stir up what life they my still have, and our churches of today can be revived as well with the Spirit and with life if we heed Jesus’ warning. forwhen a church will begin to confess its sin, and its members begin to get right with God and with each other, the Spirit can be free to move and a reviving, a revival, can occur. But it has to start within each of the members’ hearts. And that’s what will have to happen if such churches want things to turn around, they must humble themselves before God, turn back to Him, confess their sins of complacency and comfort, confess their falling asleep, of trying to live in the past on meetings and services they once had, reveling in the good ole days, believing the best times are already past instead of in the future, they must repent and truly begin worshipping and praising the Lord Jesus, uplifting the name of Jesus, to brag on Jesus, for when the name of Jesus is uplifted the church can truly worship and the Spirit will be in the midst of such worship. Such churches should begin to strengthen what they have in the Lord and begin to try to grow in worship instead of further dying in their worship. But to reach this point it will have to start with a repentant heart. And is that not what the Lord now says to Sardis?'.

Please see the notes for 1Corinthians C13S1; Significant Gospel Events; Significant New Testament Events about the word angel. The functional definition for this word is: 'Literally, a messenger; one employed to communicate news or information or do a job for God'. Please also see the note for Jude 1:7 about the word archangel.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians 11:22 about the word church. The functional definition for this word is: 'a called out assembly of baptized believers'. Please also see the note for 2Thessalonians 1:4 about the phrase church(es) of God. The commonly accepted definition is 'a called out assembly of baptized believers' with most of the disagreement over people including buildings in the definition and people adding or denying different definitions for a 'universal church'. Please also see the note for Hebrews 12:18-24 about the word churches (plural). Please also note that 1Thessalonians gives us 'The Doctrine of the Church'.

Sardis is mentioned, in this book, in: 1:11; 3:1 and 3:4.

Please see the note for Romans 4:23-25 about the word written. The functional definition for this word is: 'a retained record which can be used for judgment in a court of law'. Please also see the notes for Romans C15S13; 2Corinthians 1:13-14; Galatians C3-S12; John 20:31-LJC about the word write Please also see the notes for Luke 6:3-4; the Study called Prove; Ephesians C1S3 and Romans C3S15 about the phrase it is written.

Please see the note for Revelation 1:8 about the word saith. The functional definition for this word is: 'lifestyle speaking. A saying that never changes when said by God'. Please also see the note for Romans 11:1 about the phrase I say. The functional definition is: 'Uttering in articulate sounds or words; speaking; telling; relating; reciting'. Please also see the note for Revelation 1:8 about the word saith. Please also see the note for Romans C10S28 about the word gainsaying. Please also see the note for Matthew 26:1 about the word sayings (plural). Please also see the notes for Romans C15S15 and 2Corinthians 2:17 about the word speak. Please also see the note for 2Corinthians 3:12-14 about the word speech. Please also see the notes for Ephesians C4S15 and 1Peter 2:1 about the phrase evil speaking. The words speaketh and saith mean that the person 'keeps on keeping on doing the saying'.

We find the exact phrase: seven Spirits only in Revelation and only in: 1:4, 3:1, 4:5, 5:6. .

Please see the note for Matthew 15:34 about the word seven. Easton's Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'This number occurs frequently in Scripture, and in such connections as lead to the supposition that it has some typical meaning. On the seventh day God rested, and hallowed it (Ge 2:2-3). the division of time into weeks of seven days each accounts for many instances of the occurrence of this number. this number has been called the symbol of perfection, and also the symbol of rest. "Jacob's seven years' service to Laban; Pharaoh's seven fat oxen and seven lean ones; the seven branches of the golden candlestick; the seven trumpets and the seven priests who sounded them; the seven days' siege of Jericho; the seven churches, seven spirits, seven stars, seven seals, seven vials, and many others, sufficiently prove the importance of this sacred number" (see Le 25:4; 1Sa 2:5; Ps 12:6; 79:12; Pr 26:16; Isa 4:1; Mt 18:21-22; Lu 17:4). the feast of Passover (Ex 12:15-16), the feast of Weeks (De 16:9), of Tabernacles (De 13:15), and the Jubilee (Le 25:8), were all ordered by seven. Seven is the number of sacrifice (2Ch 29:21; Job 42:8), of purification and consecration (Le 27:34,34; 8:11,33; 14:9,51), of forgiveness (Mt 18:21-22; Lu 17:4), of reward (De 28:7; 1Sa 2:5), and of punishment (Le 26:21,24,28; De 28:25). It is used for any round number in such passages as Job 5:19; Pr 26:16,25; Isa 4:1; Mt 12:45. It is used also to mean "abundantly" (Ge 4:15,24; Le 26:24; Ps 79:12'. Please also see the note for Luke 10:1 about the word seventy.

Please see the note for Matthew 2:2 about the word star. The Morrish Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'From the account given of this star it is evident that it was one specially sent for the nativity, for it not only appeared to the Magi in the East, but guided them from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, and 'stood over' where the young child was. Faith in the power of God dispels all difficulty as to the star. Mt 2:1-10. there were traditions that God would raise up a deliverer, and the Magi may have heard of the O.T. prophecies as to Messiah; but whether this be so or not, God, who provided the star, sent the Magi to find out the King of the Jews, and instructed them not to return to Herod'. In Revelation, the functional meaning of this word is symbolic and means: 'They represent Godly people, the pastors of the churches and our Lord Jesus Christ. Look at the next sentence to see this symbolism explained'.

Please see the notes for Romans C10S25; 1Corinthians C1S11; 2Corinthians C1S5; Galatians C3-S9; Colossians C1S3 and know in 1John about the word know. The word knew is the past-tense form of the word know. The functional definition is: 'A clear and certain perception of that which exists, or of truth and fact; and the perception of the connection and agreement, or disagreement between various truths and acts. Within the Biblical usage is the knowledge that comes only from personal intimate experience'. Please see the notes for 2Peter 1:2-LJC; 2Peter 2:20-LJC and Philippians 1:9-11 about the word knowledge. Please see the note for Romans 6:3 about the phrase Know ye not. Please see the note for 1Corinthians C16S17 about the word acknowledge. Please also see the note for Romans C11S4 about the word foreknow.

Please see the notes for Romans C9S8; 1Corinthians C3S13; 2Corinthians 4:8-12; Galatians C2-S10 and Philippians 1:1 about the word works. The functional definition for this word is: ' In a general sense, to move, or to move one way and the other; to perform'. Please also see the note for Romans C11S10 about the phrase works are seen of men. Please also see the note for Psalms 119:23 about the phrase according to works. Please also see the note for Philippians 3:2 about the phrase evil workers. Please also see the note for Hebrews 4:12 about the phrase evil heart. Please also see the notes for Romans 8:1-LJC; Galatians C5-S6 and Revelation 19:2-LJC about the phrase judged by works. Please also see the note for Romans C3S27 about the phrase law of works. Please also see the note for 2Corinthians 6:1 about the word workers. Please also see the note for Matthew 10:9-10 about the word workman.

Please see the notes for 1Corinthians C1S1 and Philippians 2:9-11 about the word name. The functional definition is: 'How a person or thing is identified. In the Bible, the power and authority which is associated with the name is always part of the message where this word is used'. Please see the note for 1Corinthians C1S4 about the phrase the name. That note has links to every place in the New Testament where the phrase in the name. occurs along with links to where similar phrases occur in the New Testament. Please see the note for 1Peter 4:14-LJC about the name of Christ. Please see the note for Luke 13:35 about the phrase name of the Lord. Please also see the Summary and verses documents about the use of this word for the Son of God. Please also see the note for Acts 1:23 about the word surname.

Please see the notes for 2Corinthians 2:15; Philippians 1:19-20; Life in 1John about the word life. The functional definition is: 'Life is that by which a created being enjoys the place in which the Creator has set it'. Please also see the note for Life in 1John about the phrase eternal life. Please also see the notes for Hebrews 1:8-LJC; Philippians 1:27-LJC about the phrase life everlasting. Please note that eternal life is different from everlasting life in that while eternal life is 'Without beginning or end of existence', everlasting life 'has a beginning but is without end of existence'. Please see the note for John 5:24 about the phrase everlasting life. Please also see the note for Life in 1John about the phrase eternal life. Please also see the note for Romans C10S15 about the phrase belief changes life. Please also see the note for 1Corinthians C6S16 about the phrase kingdom of God rejected by lifestyle sins. Please also see the note for Matthew 9:10 about the word sinners. Please also see the notes for Romans C14S11; Galatians C2-S14 and Philippians 1:21 about the word live. The word livest means everlasting or eternal life. Please also see the note for Colossians C3S4 about the phrase Christ lives through us. Please also see the note for Ephesians C1S2 about the phrase just shall live by faith. Please also see the note for Romans C11S6 about the phrase just shall live by his faith. Please also see the note for Romans C9S28 about the phrase live / walk by faith.

Please see the notes for Romans C6S4; 2Corinthians 2:15; Philippians 1:19-20 and Colossians C1S4 about the words dead / death / die. The functional definition for this word is: 'Physical death is separation of soul and spirit from body and the second death is eternal separation from God'. Please also see the notes for Revelation 2:11; Revelation 20:6; Revelation 20:14 and Revelation 21:8 about the phrase death, second.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'unto. Re 1:11,20 he that. Re 1:4; 4:5; 5:6; Joh 1:16,33; 3:34; 7:37-39; 15:26-27; 20:22; Ac 2:33; 1Pe 1:11 and the. Re 1:16,20; 2:1 I know. Re 2:2,9,13,19 exp: Re 3:8,15. and art. Lu 15:24,32; Eph 2:1,5; Col 2:13; 1Ti 5:6; Jas 2:26; Jude 1:12'.

Home Overview of Revelation Chapter Summary Start of Chapter

C3-S2 (Verse 2) What this church is commanded to do.

Equivalent Section: What they are to do.

Be watchful,
and strengthen the things which remain,
that are ready to die:.

Equivalent Section: Why.

for I have not found thy works perfect before God .

Our sentence is continuing the message to the church at Sardis. And, as noted for the prior sentence, this command is directed at the pastor because it is his job to lead the church to do these things.

When our Lord Jesus Christ tells them to Be watchful, He is commanding them to do the job of a soldier guarding a camp while they are in enemy territory. The pastor has let the people of this church fall spiritually asleep. This church is like many today which do not support missions and have very little outreach programs. Such churches always die if they do not turn around and start actively doing the 'Great Commission'.

In our Second Equivalent Section, we read why our Lord Jesus Christ gave the command in the First Equivalent Section. When He says: I have not found thy works perfect before God, He is saying that they are not 'spiritually mature' in their work for God. If people go to church are not active in outreach, then they only go to church to get 'feel good' messages, and are not truly maturing spiritually. As a result, it becomes easy for a devil to move in and destroy the church.

Please see the note for Colossians C4S2 about the word watch. The functional definition for this word is: 'Webster's 1828 dictionary defines watch as: '1. forbearance of sleep. 2. Attendance without sleep. All the long night their mournful watch they keep. 3. Attention; close observation. Keep watch of the suspicious man. 4. Guard; vigilance for keeping or protecting against danger. He kept both watch and ward. 5. A watchman, or watchmen; men set for a guard, either one person or more, set to espy the approach of an enemy or other danger, and to give an alarm or notice of such danger; a sentinel; a guard. He kept a watch at the gate. Ye have a watch; go your way, make it as sure as ye can. Matthew 27. 6. the place where a guard is kept. He upbraids I ago, that he made him brave me upon the watch. 7. Post or office of a watchman. As I did stand my watch upon the hill-- 8. A period of the night, in which one person or one set of persons stand as sentinels; or the time from one relief of sentinels to another. this period among the Israelites, seems to have been originally four hours, but was afterwards three hours, and there were four watches during the night. Hence we read in Scripture of the mourning watch, and of the second, third and fourth watch; the evening watch commencing at six oclock, the second at nine, the third at twelve, and the fourth at three in the mourning. Exodus 14. Matthew 14. Luke 12. 9. A small time piece or chronometer, to be carried in the pocket or about the person, in which the machinery is moved by a spring. 10. At sea, the space of time during which one set or division of the crew remain on deck to perform the necessary duties. this is different in different nations. to be on the watch, to be looking steadily for some event.
WATCH, v.i. 1. to be awake; to be or continue without sleep. I have two nights watchd with you. 2. to be attentive; to look with attention or steadiness. Watch and see when the man passes. 3. to look with expectation. My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the mourning. Psalm 130. 4. to keep guard; to act as sentinel; to look for danger. He gave signal to the minister that watchd. 5. to be attentive; to be vigilant in preparation for an event or trial, the time of whose arrival is uncertain. Watch therefore; for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. Matthew 24. 6. to be insidiously attentive; as, to watch for an opportunity to injure another. 7. to attend on the sick during the night; as, to watch with a man in a fever. to watch over, to be cautiously observant of; to inspect, superintend and guard from error and danger. It is our duty constantly to watch over our own conduct and that of our children.
WATCH, v.t. 1. to guard; to have in keeping. Flaming ministers watch and tend their charge. 2. to observe in ambush; to lie in wait for. Saul also sent messengers to Davids house to watch him, and to slay him. 1 Samuel 19. 3. to tend; to guard. Paris watched the flocks in the groves of Ida. 4. to observe in order to detect or prevent, or for some particular purpose; as, to watch a suspected person; to watch the progress of a bill in the legislature'. Note: it was a death penalty to fall asleep or not stay vigilant while on watch. Forsoldiers it was their own life that was at risk. Forshepherds it was the life of the sheep. ForPeter and others it was their spiritual relationship (life) that required the personal ministry of Jesus Christ to resurrect. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 3:2; 3:4; 16:15.

Please see the note for 2Corinthians C1S6 about the word strength. The functional definition for this word is: 'That property or quality of an animal body by which it is enabled to move itself or other bodies'.

Please see the note for Hebrews 4:6-7 about the word remain. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines this word as:: 'to continue; to rest or abide in a place for a time indefinite. they remained a month in Rome. We remain at an inn for a night, for a week, or a longer time. Remain a widow at thy father's house, till Shelah my son be grown. Gen. 38. 2. to be left after others have withdrawn; to rest or abide in the same place when others remove, or are lost, destroyed or taken away. Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark. Gen. 7. 3. to be left after a part or others have past. Let our remaining time or years be employed in active duties. 4. to continue unchanged, or in a particular state. He remains stupid; he remains in a low state of health. 5. Not to be lost; not to escape; not to be forgotten. All my wisdom remained with me. 6. to be left, out of a greater number or quantity. Part of the debt is paid; that which remains will be on interest. that which remaineth over, lay up for you to be kept till the mourning. Ex. 16. 7. to be left as not included or comprised. there remains one argument which has not been considered. that an elder brother has power over his brethren, remains to be proved. 8. to continue in the same state. Children thou art, childless remain.
REMA'IN, v.t. to await; to be left to; as, the easier conquest now remains thee. this is elliptical for remains to thee. Remain is not properly a transitive verb'.

Please see the note for Acts 17:11 about the words readiness / ready. Webster's 1828 defines the word ready. as: 'a. red'y. Eng. to rid; redo, ready; rida, to ride; bereda, to prepare. Gr. easy. the primary sense is to go, move, or advance forward, and it seems to be clear that ready, ride, read, riddle, are all of one family, and probably from the root of L. gradior. See Read and Red. 1. Quick; prompt; not hesitating; as ready wit; a ready consent. 2. Quick to receive or comprehend; not slow or dull; as a ready apprehension. 3. Quick in action or execution; dextrous; as an artist ready in his business; a ready writer. Ps. 45. 4. Prompt; not delayed present in hand. He makes ready payment; he pays ready money for every thing he buys. 5. Prepared; fitted; furnished with what is necessary, or disposed in a manner suited to the purpose; as a ship ready for sea. My oxen and fatlings are killed, and all things are ready. Matt 22. 6. Willing; free; cheerful to do or suffer; not backward or reluctant; as a prince always ready to grant the reasonable requests of his subjects. the spirit is ready, but the flesh is weak. Mark 14. I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. Acts 21. 7. Willing; disposed. Men are generally ready to impute blame to others. they are more ready to give than to take reproof. 8. Being at the point; near; not distant; about to do or suffer. A Syrian ready to perish was my father. Deut. 26. Job 29. Ps. 88. 9. Being nearest or at hand. A sapling pine he wrench'd from out the ground, the readiest weapon that his fury found. 10. Easy; facile; opportune; short; near, or most convenient; the Greek sense. Sometimes the readiest way which a wise man has to conquer, is to flee. through the wild desert, not the readiest way. the ready way to be thought mad, is to contend you are not so. 1. to make ready, to prepare; to provide and put in order. 2. An elliptical phrase, for make things ready; to make preparations; to prepare. READY, adv. red'y. In a state of preparation, so as to need no delay. We ourselves will go ready armed before the house of Israel. Num. 32'.

The word found is the past-tense form of the word find. Please see the note for John 1:41 about the word find. The functional definition for this word is: 'Literally, to come to; to meet; hence, to discover by the eye; to gain first sight or knowledge of something lost; to recover either by searching for it or by accident'.

Please see the notes for 1Corinthians C2S5 and 2Timothy C3S10 about the word perfect. The functional definition for this word is: 'having attained spiritual maturity or complete in the manner being addressed'. Please also see the note for 1John 4:12 about the phrase perfect love.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'watchful. Re 16:15; Isa 56:10; 62:6-7; Eze 34:8-10,16; Zec 11:16; Mt 24:42-51; 25:13; Mr 13:33-37; Ac 20:28-31; 2Ti 4:1-4; 1Pe 4:7; 5:8 strengthen. Re 2:4; De 3:28; Job 4:4-5; 16:5; Isa 35:3; Lu 22:31-32; Ac 18:23 thy works. 1Ki 11:4; 15:3; 2Ch 25:2; Isa 57:12; Da 5:27; Mt 6:2-4; 23:5,28-38 General references. exp: Mt 25:7; Mr 13:33; 1Co 11:31'.

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C3-S3 (Verse 3) The command.

Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard,
and hold fast,
and repent.

Please pay attention to the fact that this says how, and not what or why. Almost everyone owes their salvation to God using someone else, and an outreach program, to show them their own need of salvation and how to be reached. Our commandos to Remember therefore. As a direct result of our own salvation, each of us is commanded to participate in reaching others. In addition, as we each have assurance of our own salvation, (hold fast) we are to reach others every time that God gives us that assurance. And, the past part of this command is to repent ('turn away from the attitudes and actions of sin and turning towards God and accepting His attitudes and actions about sin'). Each of us has had times when we were so busy with the affairs of this world that we neglected reaching the lost. However, Jesus never was that way and we are to repent every time that we become this way. Remember that this church represents the complacent church and there are churches like that all throughout history since Jesus Christ returned to Heaven. This is why I'm against teaching the doctrine of 'Church Ages'. That doctrine does not have what is required to be a true Bible doctrine. And, it also distracts people from the warnings and commands which are still to be obeyed today while that doctrine teaches us to ignore any given to a church which we believe represents a different 'Church Ages' than what we live in.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence and the next: 'If you are going to live in the past at least remember what it was you heard when you were a Spirit filled, Spirit empowered, church. Remember the truth, the word, the gospel you received, the hearing of the word that granted you salvation; remember and hold fast to the core truths and not all this ritual and tradition and added doctrines of “the church”. Repent of you complacency, your sleepiness, your deadness, and live once more. Jesus is basically saying to this church to turn back to Him, to turn from deadness to life, for Jesus said “I am the life”. He offers this church a chance so they may survive and continue on. But if they refuse, if they continue on their death march, he gives them a warning of coming judgment. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. When the Bible speaks of the coming rapture where the true church is caught up and taken away, leaving the rest of the world to face judgment and wrath we see many times that it describes such an event as a thief coming. And so true believers are commanded to watch and wait and be ready and prepared for such an event, we are to love his appearing so as not to be caught off guard, we read such passages as…
Mt 24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
Mt 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
Lu 12:39 And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. 40 Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.
1Th 5:2 foryourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.3 forwhen they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 1Th 5:4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.6 therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.7 forthey that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.9 forGod hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Re 16:15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
What Jesus is doing is warning the Sardis church if they continue on their path to death, to being a dead church, they will be left for judgment, for even though they may have a name of life, have a profession of faith, claim to be saved, does not mean that they are, for they are not watching for him, they are not waiting and ready for him, for their names are not written in the book of life, they are in essence blotted out for their names were never in the book to begin with. And so if the Lord came at this very moment they would be left for judgment and wrath because many of them had not truly repented. Jesus warned Ephesus he would remove their lampstand if they did not repent, he warned Pergamos he would come and fight against them with the sword of his mouth if they did not repent, and now he threatens judgment upon this dying church of Sardis if they do not repent. Don’t fool yourselves, don’t deceive yourselves, don’t rely upon doctrines of men and traditions or rituals to keep you from judgment, only rely upon me, Jesus Christ, for I am the way, the truth and the life and no man cometh unto the Father but by me. Be ready, be saved, remember the truth that was once given to you.'

Please see the note for 1Corinthians C11S28 about the words remember / remembrance. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines this word as: 'n. 1. the retaining or having in mind an idea which had been present before, or an idea which had been previously received from an object when present, and which recurs to the mind afterwards without the presence of its object. Technically, remembrance differs from reminiscence and recollection, as the former implies that an idea occurs to the mind spontaneously, or without much mental exertion. the latter imply the power or the act of recalling ideas which do not spontaneously recur to the mind. the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance. Ps. 112. Remembrance is when the same idea recurs, without the operation of the like object on the external sensory. 2. Transmission of a fact from one to another. Titan among the heav'ns th' immortal fact display'd, lest the remembrance of his grief should fall. 3. Account preserved; something to assist the memory. those proceedings and remembrances are in the Tower. 4. Memorial. But in remembrance of so brave a deed, a tomb and funeral honors I decreed. 5. A token by which one is kept in the memory. Keep this remembrance for thy Julia's sake. 6. Notice of something absent. Let your remembrance still apply to Banquo. 7. Power of remembering; limit of time within which a fact can be remembered; as when we say, an event took place before our remembrance, or since our remembrance. 8. Honorable memory. Not in use. 9. Admonition. 10. Memorandum; a note to help the memory'.

Please see the note for Romans intro about the word therefore. The functional definition for this word is: 'what follows the therefore is a future result that is based upon what came before the therefore and seen only in that place. In other words, what follows the therefore is a direct result of what precedes the therefore'.

Please see the notes for Romans C14S1; 1Corinthians C15S1; Colossians C2-S4 about the word receive. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines this word as: 'v.t. L. recipio; re and capio, to take. 1. to take, as a thing offered or sent; to accept. He had the offer of a donation, but he would not receive it. 2. to take as due or as a reward. He received the money on the day it was payable. He received ample compensation. 3. to take or obtain from another in any manner, and either good or evil. Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? Job 2. 4. to take, as a thing communicated; as, to receive a wound by a shot; to receive a disease by contagion. the idea of a solidity we receive by our touch. 5. to take or obtain intellectually; as, to receive an opinion or notion from others. 6. to embrace. Receive with meekness the engrafted word. James 1. 7. to allow; to hold; to retain; as a custom long received. 8. to admit. thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Ps. 73. 9. to welcome; to lodge and entertain; as a guest. they kindled a fire and received us every one, because of the present rain and because of the cold. Acts 28. 10. to admit into membership or fellowship. Him that is weak in the faith, receive ye. Rom. 14. 11. to take in or on; to hold; to contain. the brazen altar was too little to receive the burnt-offering. 1Kings 8. 12. to be endowed with. Ye shall receive power after that the Holy Spirit has come upon you. Acts 1. 13. to take into a place or state. After the Lord had spoken to them, he was received up into heaven. Mark 16. 14. to take or have as something ascribed; as, to receive praise or blame. Rev. 4. Rev. 5. 15. to bear with or suffer. 2Cor. 11. 16. to believe in. John 1. 17. to accept or admit officially or in an official character. the minister was received by the emperor or court. 18. to take stolen goods from a thief, knowing them to be stolen'. In addition, please see the note for Matthew 10:41, which explains that in order to truly receive a person, we must receive their character as our own.

Please see the notes for 1Corinthians C12S14 and Galatians C3-S7 about the word hear. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines this word as: 'Perceiving by the ear. This word is often used symbolically for hearing the spiritual message of the word of God, as sound. 1. Listening to; attending to; obeying; observing what is commanded. 2. Attending to witnesses or advocates in a judicial trial; trying'. Please pay attention to the word 'obey' within this definition. That is what most people refuse to do when the Bible says that they do not hear. Please also see the note for James 2:5 about the word hearken. Please also see the note for Mark 4:9 about the phrase He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

The word held is the past-tense form of the word hold. The functional definition for this word is: 'To stop; to confine; to restrain from escape; to keep fast; to retain'. Please see the note for Colossians 2:18-19 about the word hold. The functional definition for this word is: 'Stopping; confining; restraining; keeping; retaining; adhering; maintaining, etc'. Please also see the note for Luke 24:15 about the word holden. Please see the note for Luke 24:15 about the word holden. Please also see the note for 1Timothy 6:17-19 about the phrase lay hold.

Please see the notes for Philippians 1:27-28 and Matthew 11:19 about the word fast. The functional definition for this word is: 'without wavering or don't let go no matter what changes in circumstances occur'. Please also see the note for Luke 4:20 about the word fasten. Please also see the note for Galatians C5S1 about the phrase stand fast. Please also see the note for 1Corinthians C15S54 about the word stedfast.

Please see the note for Romans C11S32 about the word repentance. The functional definition for this word is: 'A turning away from the attitudes and actions of sin and turning towards God and accepting His attitudes and actions about sin'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'Remember. Re 2:5; Eze 16:61-63; 20:43; 36:31; Heb 2:1; 2Pe 1:13; 3:1 and hold. Re 3:11; 2:25; 1Ti 6:20; 2Ti 1:13 repent. Re 3:19; 2:5,21-22 exp: Ac 26:20. General references. exp: Mt 24:36; Lu 12:39; 1Co 11:31.'.

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C3-S4 (Verse 3) the warning.

If therefore thou shalt not watch,
I will come on thee as a thief,
and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

This sentence is giving us a warning based upon people not obeying the command of the prior sentence. I have heard several messages based upon what was written to the church of the Laodiceans. But, I can't remember ever hearing a message based upon what is written to this church even though it is very appropriate for today. I visited the church where Tom Malone preached. I've heard reports from preachers who visited where other famous large ministries occurred in the past. In every case, the church dies out within one or two generations after the famous preacher died. In every case, that I have heard of, those ministries became like this church and the people were so busy listening to messaged about 'Great Church ages' and the message to the church of the Laodiceans, that they never received the message to this church, which is what they actually needed.

Our sentence starts out with: If therefore thou shalt not watch. That is what this church failed to do and it is what each of the churches did after their famous preacher died. They failed to guard against the complacency which devils brought into those ministries to kill them. I've been in ministries which were dying out. Not only did they demand 'feel good' messages, based upon their past, but they rejected any message that their ministry was dying.

Notice the remainder of our sentence: (I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee). I've talked to preachers and people who participated in a famous large ministry. When you ask them what happened, they just say: 'It just died out. No one knows why except for a lot of little things'. However, the truth is that they ignored the warning written to this church. At the end of the ministry, they put more money into comfort and physical things for the church members than they put into missions and outreach programs. The church members felt, and were taught, that there was difference between church staff and church members and the church members just had to pay for the church staff to do all of the work. The church members believed they would be rewarded without personal participation in the 'Great Commission'. So, as our sentence warns, our Lord Jesus Christ came and destroyed those ministries, and their wrong complacent doctrines, and no one realized when or how it happened.

We find the phrase as a thief in: 1Thessalonians 5:2; 1Thessalonians 5:4; 1Peter 4:15; 2Peter 3:10; Revelation 3:3; Revelation 16:15. When we consider other Bible references to the word thief we see that thehomeowner does not expect the thief and that his appearance is unexpected. Therefore, no one expects our Lord Jesus Christ when he shows up. This warning is added to the warning in the next sentence which, basically, tells the saved of the great tribulation to always be ready to showup before God with no prior notice. And, this warning should be applied to all saved throughout all ages.

Please see the note for 1Peter 4:15 about the word thief. The Morrish Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'robber, bandit.' Used by the Lord in reference to those who bought and sold in the temple. Mt 21:13; Mr 11:17; Lu 19:46. In the parable of the Good Samaritan the traveller fell among robbers. Lu 10:30,36. When the Lord was arrested He asked if they had come out as against a robber. Mt 26:55; Mr 14:48; Lu 22:52. the two malefactors crucified with the Lord were also men of this character. Mt 27:38,44; Mr 15:27. the same Greek word is translated 'robber' in the A.V. in Joh 10:1,8; John 18: 40; 2Co 11:26. 2. 'thief.' those who break through and steal secretly. Mt 6:19-20. this is the word employed in the expression "as a thief in the night," to which the unexpected coming of the Lord to the world is compared. 1Th 5:2,4; 2Pe 3:10; Re 3:3; etc. It is applied to Judas. Joh 12:6. the word 'thief' in the A.V. is always this word except in the passages quoted under No. 1'. Please also see the note for Matthew 15:19-20 about the word theft. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 3:3; 16:15.

Please see the note for John 2:4 about the word hour. The functional definition for this word is: 'a short period of time relative to the perspective'. Thus, a thousand years can be considered to be an 'a short period of time relative to the perspective'. from the perspective of eternity. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 3:3;3:10; 8:1; 9:15; 11:13; 14:7; 17:12; 18:10; 18:14; 18:19.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'I will. Re 16:15; Mt 24:42-43; Lu 12:39-40; 1Th 5:2,4-6; 2Pe 3:10 know. Mt 25:13; Mr 13:33,36 General references. exp: Mt 24:36; Lu 12:39; 1Co 11:31.'.

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C3-S5 (Verse 4) there are some church members still doing right.

Equivalent Section: their identity and reward.

First Step: they did not do wrong.

Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments;

Second Step: their promise for avoiding that sin.

and they shall walk with me in white:.

Equivalent Section: Why.

for they are worthy.

Please see the Significant New Testament Events for links to other places in the New Testament, outside of the Gospels, where we find promises from God. Please notice that every promise comes withe a requirement which must be fulfilled in order to receive the promise.

What is easy to overlook is that, in our First Step, our Lord Jesus Christ says that only a few, in this church, have not defiled their garments. The message is that when we become complacent, we, spiritually, defile our garments. God gives is a clean spiritual garment, when we get saved. But, we defile our garments when we sin. And, what many people miss, is that these sins are not sins of commission but are sins of omission.

In our Second Step we see the promise given to these people. But, many saved people, who have not fulfilled the First Step, try to 'claim' this promise, which God will not allow. Notice that our Second Equivalent Section says: for they are worthy. That is God's judgment of them and not their own judgment. Saved people, whom God does not judge as worthy, will not receive this promise no matter what they try to 'claim'. And, while I can not write as a doctrinal certainty, I believe this includes returning for the 1,000 years reign of Christ. Yes, many people and preachers claim that all saved will return for that time, but the word of God clearly teaches otherwise. Some saved will be left in heaven and, I believe, that group will include the saved who have defile their garments through refusing to participate in the 'Great Commission' while they were alive on this Earth.

Please see 1:14 for references to every place where the word white is used in this book. With the exception of the being on a white horse, who was sent to deceive lost people, every other reference to the word white is used for spiritually pure and associated with spiritually clean.

Sardis is mentioned, in this book, in: 1:11; 3:1 and 3:4.

Please see the notes for 1Corinthians 3:17 and James 3:6 about the word defile. The functional definition for this word is: 'to make spiritually impure'. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines this word as: 'to make unclean; to render foul or dirty; in a general sense. 2. to make impure; to render turbid; as, the water or liquor is defiled. 3. to soil or sully; to tarnish; as reputation, etc. He is among the greatest prelates of the age, however his character may be defiled by dirty hands. they shall defile thy brightness. Ezek. 28. 4. to pollute; to make ceremonially unclean. that which dieth of itself, he shall not eat, to defile himself therewith. Lev. 22. 5. to corrupt chastity; to debauch; to violate; to tarnish the purity of character by lewdness. Schechem defiled Dinah. Gen. 34. 6. to taint, in a moral sense; to corrupt; to vitiate; to render impure with sin. Defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt. Ezek. 20. He hath defiled the sanctuary of the Lord. Numb. 19'. Basically, this is what we do when we refuse to do what God requires us to do in order to be holy. Probably two of the most important passages, for understanding this type of sin, are Matthew 15 and Mark 7 where we read Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. In the beginning of these chapters we read that the religious crowd had a religious fit because the disciples of Jesus did external things which their religious rules said defiled a person. Yet those same religious rules allowed them to have internal attitudes which Jesus said were the true source of defilement. That which cometh out of the mouth is the fruit of our heart and souls revealed by God when we put on a show of being holy while we are truly defiled. Please also see the note for Psalms 119 about the word undefiled. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 3:4; 14:4; 21:27.

Please see the note for Matthew 9:16 about the word garment. The Morrish Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'Several words are used both in the O.T. and in the N.T. for raiment, clothing, or apparel, without defining what particular garments are alluded to; and when a single garment is intended it is variously translated in the A.V. In the East few garments were needed, and they were probably much the same as those worn there at present by the natives. 1. the inner garment is the kethoneth, a long tunic worn by men and women. It was made of wool, cotton, or linen. this was the garment God made of skins for Adam and Eve, and what Jacob made of many colours for Joseph. Ge 3:21; 37:3,23-33. It formed part of the priests dress. At times another is worn over it. the bride said she had put off her 'coat' for the night, which was probably the outer one, though the Hebrew word is the same. Cant. 5:3. the kethoneth answers to the χιτών of the N.T., mostly translated 'coat.' the disciples were not to take two when the Lord sent them out. Mt 10:10. It was this garment of the Lord's that was woven in one piece, Joh 19:23; and the word is used of the coats made by Dorcas. Ac 9:39. 2. the other principal garment was the simlah, a cloak, or wide outer mantle, worn by men and women, and in which they wrapped themselves at night. this might be of any texture according to the season, and according to the station in life of the wearer. the peasants often wear such, called an 'abba' of camels' or goats' hair. this garment if taken in pledge had to be returned in the evening, for without it 'wherein shall he sleep?' Ex 22:26-27; cf. De 24:13. the simlah is the garment that was rent in grief. Ge 37:34; 44:13; Jos 7:6. this corresponds to the ἱμάτιον in the N.T. It is translated 'cloak ' in Mt 5:40; Lu 6:29; and it is the robe of purple with which the soldiers mocked the Lord. Joh 19:2,5. It is the 'garment' the edge of which the woman touched, Mt 14:36; and the 'garments' of which the scribes and Pharisees enlarged the borders. Mt 23:5. It is otherwise used for 'garments' in general, as in Mt 27:35; Joh 19:23-24; and is often translated 'raiment' and 'clothes.' 3. Another prominent article of apparel and one often richly ornamented was the GIRDLE. these three, with sandals, and a handkerchief or other covering for the head, constituted the usual dress in the East. Besides the above we read of 'changeable suits of apparel' for women. Isa 3:22. Also 4. the MANTLE, or ROBE meil, described as 'a large tunic, worn over the common one, but without sleeves.' It was worn by priests, Ex 28:31; 1Sa 28:14; Ezr 9:3,5; by kings and princes, 1Sa 18:4; 24:4,11; by men of rank, Job 1:20 Job; 2:12: and by women, 2Sa 13:18. 5. the WIMPLE or VEIL, a wide upper garment or shawl, which covered the head and part of the body. Ruth was able to carry in such a veil six measures of barley. Ru 3:15; Isa 3:22. there are four other Hebrew words translated 'veils.' 6. the STOMACHER, apparently a wide ornamented girdle. the word occurs only in Isa 3:24'.

Please see the notes for Romans C8S1 and Ephesians C4S1 about the word walk. The functional definition for this word is: 'taking small repeated steps. this word is used symbolically for the small things which we do regularly in our life without thinking about those things'. Please also see the note for Romans C9S28 about the phrase live / walk by faith. The word walketh means: 'ongoing lifestyle walking'.

Please see the note for Matthew 5:36 about the word white. Easton's Bible Dictionary defines this word as 'a symbol of purity (2Ch 5:12; Ps 51:7; Isa 1:18; Re 3:18; 7:14). Our Lord, at his transfiguration, appeared in raiment "white as the light" (Mt 17:2, etc.)'.

Please also see the note for Acts 5:41 about the word worthy. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'a. G. 1. Deserving; such as merits; having worth or excellence; equivalent; with of, before the thing deserved. She has married a man worthy of her. thou art worthy of the sway. I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies--Genesis 32. 2. Possessing worth or excellence of qualities; virtuous; estimable; as a worthy citizen; a worthy magistrate. Happier thou mayst be, worthier canst not be. this worthy mind should worthy things embrace. 3. Suitable; having qualities suited to; either in a good or bad sense; equal in value; as flowers worthy of paradise. 4. Suitable to anything bad. the merciless Macdonald, worthy to be a rebel. 5. Deserving of ill; as things worthy of stripes. Luke 12.
WORTHY, n. A man of eminent worth; a man distinguished for useful and estimable qualities; a man of valor; a word much used in the plural; as the worthies of the church; political worthies; military worthies'. Please also see the note for 1Corinthians C11S31 about the words worth / worthily. The functional definition for this word is: 'Webster's 1828 dictionary defines worthily as: 'adv. 1. In a manner suited to; as, to walk worthily of our extraction. Bad. 2. Deservedly; according to merit. You worthily succeed not only to the honors of your ancestors, but also to their virtues. 3. Justly; not without cause. I affirm that some may very worthily deserve to be hated'. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 3:4; 4:11; 5:2; 5:4; 5:9; 5:12; 16:6.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'names. Re 11:13 (Gr) Ac 1:15 even. 1Ki 19:18; Isa 1:9; Ro 11:4-6 which. Re 7:14; 19:8; Isa 52:1; 59:6; 61:3,10; 64:6; Zec 3:3-6; Jude 1:23 exp: Mt 22:11. walk. Re 3:5,18; 4:4; 6:11; 7:9,13; 19:14; Es 8:15; Ps 68:14; Ec 9:8; Zec 3:4; Mr 16:5 for. Mt 10:11; Lu 20:35; 21:36; 2Th 1:5'.

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C3-S6 (Verse 5) the promise to those saved people who fulfill the requirement for the promise.

First Step: the everlasting evidence of his testimony.

He that overcometh,
the same shall be clothed in white raiment;.

Second Step: what our Lord Jesus Christ will do for these people.

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.

Our sentence has two Steps which tell us the reward given to some people but not to others. In the First Step, we see the requirement for the saved person to the word overcometh is: : 'A lifestyle of overcoming. That is' they overcome the temptations of this world and never go back to them'. Please see the Significant New Testament Events for links to every place in this book where we find forms of the word overcometh and the promises to saved people who truly do this.

In the second phrase of our First Step, we are told that these saved people shall be clothed in white raiment. Lots of people like to sing about having a white robe in Heaven, but the implication is that there will be some saved people, in Heaven, who do not have this white robe. I am not writing that only these people will have a white robe, but that there will be some saved people, in Heaven, who do not fulfill any of the requirements to receive a white robe. And, yes, I know that there will be some people who demand that I show that every place where we read about a white robe in Heaven. includes a requirement and that there can be some saved person who did not fulfill and of the requirements. Instead, let that person prove that the word of God literally says that a saved person who refused to serve God, such as Lot, will receive a white robe.

Now, the first phrase, of our Second Step, causes problems because people claim that we can lose our salvation since this sentence says that our Lord Jesus Christ will blot out (someone's) name out of the book of life if they do not fulfill the requirements of this sentence. But that claim goes against many Bible promises which are the basis of the doctrine called everlasting salvation. In addition, 1Timothy 2:4 says: Who (God our Saviour) will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. The acceptable explanation is that God 'pencils in' everyone's name at conception. He makes that entry permanent when they accept Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Lord. He blots out (their) name out of the book of life when it becomes obvious that they will never be saved. This explanation reconciles all of the various Bible references and I have never heard any other explanation which reconciles all related references.

To claim that this phrase teaches losing our salvation goes against many other promises in the word of God. The problem is that people claim; 'I don't see that'. OK. Explain all of the hardware and software involved in a person speaking into a camera at one place in the world and they show un on a screen in another place in the world. According to that foolish claim, TV must be impossible. No, that claim does not prove that everlasting salvation is a wrong doctrine. it only proves that the person making the claim is a Biblical fool.

Our next phrase starts with the word but. The word but always provides a contrast between what precedes it and what follows it. The prior phrase told us what our Lord Jesus Christ Where our first phrase told us what our Lord Jesus Christ would not do, the remainder of the sentence tells us what He will do. The first phrase assures us of everlasting salvation and the rest assure us of reward for doing right. The only way that people can claim that the first phrase tells us about losing our salvation is if they use Satan's method for talking the phrase out of context.

The second phrase makes the promise a part of the official Heavenly legal record. Then, our Lord Jesus Christ says that he will confess his name before...before his angels. That means that all of Heaven will know this truth for the rest of eternity.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence: 'Here Jesus does give some good news, that even in this dead church there is still a remnant of spiritually alive faithful believers, the righteous few, who have not death to look forward to, but true life in Christ Jesus. there are a few here who have not been corrupted, who have not been defiled by false doctrine or teaching, who have not been contaminated by the state church and its power and influence. they have true faith, they have the Spirit, they have Christ, and they are counted worthy to one day walk with the Lord in white robes of righteousness, for they are true believers, believers who are only worthy because they have accepted the one who is worthy of all glory and praise and honor. they have Christ first in their lives, they have truly escaped from the arms of a worldly church and have devoted themselves to the true word of God. these believers may have not done great works to be commended but they are still faithful, they may not have been what they should have been, but they were holding fast to what they had, so Jesus tries to encourage them, even in their weak and feeble state for they still had hope, they just needed to keep keeping on.'.

Please see the note for 2Corinthians 5:2-3 about the word clothed. The functional definition for this word is: 'Covered with garments; dressed; invested; furnished with clothing'.

Please see the note for Luke 9:29 about the word raiment. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'n. for arrayment. See Array and Ray. 1. Clothing in general; vestments; vesture; garments. Gen. 24. Deut. 8. Living, both food and raiment she supplies. 2. A single garment. in this sense it is rarely used, and indeed is improper'. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 3:5; 3:18; 4:4.

Please see the note for Colossians 2S8 about the word blot. Easton's Bible Dictionary defines this word a: 'a stain or reproach (Job 31:7; Pr 9:7). to blot out sin is to forgive it (Ps 51:1,9; Isa 44:22; Ac 3:19). Christ's blotting out the handwriting of ordinances was his fulfilling the law in our behalf (Col 2:14)'.

Please see the note for Luke 3:4 about the word book. The functional definition for this word is: 'A general name of every literary composition which is printed; but appropriately, a printed composition bound; a volume. the name is given also to any number of written sheets when bound or sewed together, and to a volume of blank paper, intended for any species of writing, as for memorandums, for accounts, or receipts. 1. A particular part of a literary composition; a division of a subject in the same volume. 2. A volume or collection of sheets in which accounts are kept; a register of debts and credits, receipts and expenditures.'. Please also see the note for Galatians 3:10 about the phrase book of the law. Please also see the note for Revelation 13:8-LJC about the phrase book of the life.

The word but provides a contrast between what preceded it and what follows the word. Beware of the doctrinal error which claims that there is no relationship between what precedes the word but and what follows it. Our sentence, before the word but, said what our Lord Jesus Christ would not do while what follows the word but tells us what he will do for these particular saved people.

Please see the note for 2John C1S7 about the word confess. The functional definition for this word is: 'a lifestyle which proves the faith that a person claims to have In the Bible confess includes the testimony that you live'. Please also see the note for 1Timothy 6:13-16 about the word confession. The functional definition for this word is: 'Confession is acknowledging something with a lifestyle. There are two applications of This word, one of which is apt to be overlooked. The one is the confession of sin. This was enjoined by the law, and if accompanied with a sacrifice it led to forgiveness. Le 5:5; Nu 5:7. The other application of the term is a changed lifestyle due to the Lord Jesus'.

Please see the note for Hebrews 1:5 about the word father. The functional definition for this word is: 'the man who passes his character to the son'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'that. Re 2:7; 1Sa 17:25 the same. Re 3:4; 19:8 blot. Ex 32:32-33; De 9:14; Ps 69:28; 109:13 the book. Re 13:8; 17:8; 20:12,15; 21:27; 22:19; Php 4:3 confess. Mal 3:17; Mt 10:32; Lu 12:8; Jude 1:24 General references. exp: Nu 3:40.'.

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C3-S7 (Verse 6) the command to listen spiritually.

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

Please see the notes for the note for Mark 4:9 and Revelation 2:7 about the First Step of our sentence.

This is the conclusion of what our Lord Jesus Christ says to this church. It tells us to listen to what was written using spiritual ears to hear the spiritual message. Almost everyone has physical ears and most people understand that some people still have trouble hearing and that the hearing of some people is better than that of other people. The same is true spiritually. Lost people do not have spiritual ears to hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. The only spiritual message which they can received is their need to be truly saved. And, among saved, some hear spiritual messages better than others. However, carnal saved people are full of pride and want to be considered some type of expert on prophecy. They insist that what they imagine using their natural reasoning must be true. They fight against what the Spirit saith unto the churches and claim that they are more reliable that God's Holy Spirit. And, they gather lots of lost and carnal people to agree with them. That is why there is so much controversy about this Bible book.

The above considerations are also true for all of the promises of the Bible. Please see the Significant Gospel Events and the Significant New Testament Events for links to every promise given during the 'Church Age'. Those links go to notes which explain every promise given within the context where we are told about the promise. In every case the promise is contingent upon our fulfilling the requirement from God which is specified within the context. Devil motivated liars claim that people can 'claim the promise' while they refuse to fulfill God's requirement. Put yourself into God's place. Would you let someone demand that you fulfill a promise while they refuse to fulfill the required condition for receiving that promise? When we apply this concept to legal contracts, such action is called fraud. And, no, you can not defraud God.

Notice that our Lord Jesus Christ said that people in the church (thou) thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. These are church members who made a religious profession but never accepted a personal relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ. And, there are many like that in churches today, especially in America and other places which used to have strong churches but those churches accepted liberal doctrines from devils.

Notice also that our Lord Jesus Christ said that I have not found thy works perfect before God. They had a lot of religious works, which is why they had a name that thou livest, but those works were not spiritually mature perfect, which is also why he said that they personally art dead.

The solution to their spiritual problem, from Lord Jesus Christ, was: Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. Following that, He gives a promise but it is only to those church members who have not defiled their garments. That is: 'to those saved people who have not lived a sinful life which matches the life of lost people in this world'.

That brings us to our prior sentence where a promise is made to: He that overcometh. That is: 'to the saved people who overcome the temptations of the flesh and of this world so that they are not controlled by those temptations'.

With this review of what our Lord Jesus Christ wrote to this church, it should be obvious that what was written needs to be spiritually understood. Those church members, who do not have spiritual ears to hear, will have excuses which, they believe, allow them to 'claim the promises' while refusing to fulfill the requirements to receive those promises. Only those saved church members who hath a (spiritual) ear will hear (and obey) what the Spirit saith unto the churches so that they can receive the promises.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians C12S13 about the word ear. The functional definition for this word is: 'The Morrish Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'The organ of hearing is often used symbolically in scripture. When a servant, whose time of service had expired, preferred to stop with his master, saying, "I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free," his ear was bored with an awl to the door post, and his ear belonged to his master perpetually, he was to hear only that one as master: type of Christ and His love to the church. Ex 21:5-6; De 15:17. Of Christ also it is said, "mine ears hast thou opened." Ps 40:6; quoted in Heb 10:5 from the LXX, "a body hast thou prepared me," both signifying that He was the obedient one. "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear" was said by the Lord to His hearers, and to each of the seven churches in Asia, and also said when the beast, representing the future Roman power, is worshipped, signifying that a spiritual discernment was needed to catch the meaning of what was uttered. Mt 13:9,43; Re 2:7,11,17,29; 3:6,13,22; 13:9'. As explained elsewhere, man written dictionaries have multiple applications which are presented as definitions. That belief leads to doctrinal error when people use those applications to build Bible doctrine. The main Biblical usage of this word is symbolic for the spiritual truth. Please also see the note for Mark 4:9 about the phrase ears to hear.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'General references. Re 2:7 exp: Mt 11:15; 13:9; Mr 4:9; 7:16; Heb 10:15; Re 3:22.'.

Home Overview of Revelation Chapter Summary Start of Chapter

C3-S8 (Verse 7-8) the message to the church in Philadelphia.

Equivalent Section: Who this message is to and Whom it is from.

First Step: Who this message is to.

and to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write;

Second Step: Who this message is from.

These things saith he that is holy,
he that is true,
he that hath the key of David,
he that openeth,
and no man shutteth;.

Third Step: His power.

and shutteth,
and no man openeth;.

Equivalent Section: What he knows about them.

I know thy works:.

Equivalent Section: What he did for them.

behold,
I have set before thee an open door,
and no man can shut it:.

Equivalent Section: Why.

for thou hast a little strength,
and hast kept my word,
and hast not denied my name.

Our sentence has four Equivalent Sections which tell us the same message different ways. Yes, that seems wrong because it is not obvious. However, each Equivalent Section is telling us what our Lord Jesus Christ has written to this church.

In the First Equivalent Section, we see who this message is to and Whom it is from. So, people should not have a problem seeing that obvious truth. In the Second Equivalent Section, we see the what our Lord Jesus Christ knows about this church. This tells us why he gave this message to them. In the third Equivalent Section, we see what our Lord Jesus Christ did for them because of their testimony. Thus, we see what was required in order for them to receive this message. In the last Equivalent Section, we see why our Lord Jesus Christ gave them this message. Thus, in each Equivalent Section we see an important consideration of this message. We see why they received this message and why others did not receive it. Therefore, our sentence not only gives us the message but it also tells us the restrictions on whom can receive this message.

Returning to our First Equivalent Section, we see three Steps. Our First Step tells us that this message is directed to the pastor (the angel of the church ) with the expectation that he will pass it on. And, as already explained, God always works through the organizational structure that he establishes.

In our Second Step, we read five attributes about the Son of God which are directly related to the message given to this church. Please notice the different attributes of the Son of God which are mentioned in relationship to the message given to each church and how those particular attributes are directly matched with the message given. in this particular Step we read:

These things saith he that is holy: this is one of the main character attributes of God. This tells us that our Lord Jesus Christ is God. It also tells us the attribute that he wants to see in people who receive the promise given to this church (Leviticus 11:44-45; Psalms 86:2; 1Peter 1:16).
he that is true: As the Word Study tells us: Here our Lord Jesus Christ promises reward to those who have personally (thou) hast kept the word of my patience despite the fact that there are them of the synagogue of Satan within the church. (Please use the link in the sentence outline, above, for more details on this phrase.)
he that hath the key of David: is a reference to Isaiah 22:22 and to Luke 1:32. This is a direct reference to the promise that he will return to rule this world.
The fourth and fifth phrases work together. They say: he that openeth, and no man shutteth: is also a reference to Isaiah 22:22. It recognizes that His power is greater than anyone other than God the Father. in this sentence He promises these people I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it. Our current phrase recognizes His power which assures that this promise will be kept.

In our third Step, we read and shutteth, and no man openeth. This is also Isaiah 22:22. When he shuts devils and lost people out of His future kingdom, we can be assured that they will not be an influence until God releases Satan for a little season Revelation 20:3.

In our Second Equivalent Section, we read: I know thy works. Please pay attention to the personal pronoun of thy. Our Lord Jesus Christ rewards or punished on a personal basis. In addition, the Biblical definition of the word works tells us that he pays attention to everything that we do for His kingdom, no matter how small. And, he considers the sum of multiple works. This is why he gave them the promise found in this message.

In our third Equivalent Section, we read: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it this means: 'Pay close attention because our Lord Jesus Christ has created an opportunity that not everyone receives. In addition, since no man can shut it, they (and we) can not blame anyone else if we fail to take advantage of the opportunity that he provides'. We will each personally answer at the judgment seat of Christ for how we did, or did not, take advantage of the opportunities which he gives to us personally.

In the first phrase of our Fourth Equivalent Section, we read: for thou hast a little strength. He knows how much spiritual strength that each of us personally (thou) has. Therefore, a claim that 'I can't' is rejected for our service to God. It is true that we can't. But, we are supposed to rely on His strength and he can.

In our next two phrases we read: thou...hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. The promise of the next sentence is because of what these people have already personally (thou) done. Our Lord Jesus Christ wants us to realize that he recognizes, and rewards, what we personally do for Him, even if we don't know anyone else who does the sameans even if we are opposed by others.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence: 'The church of Philadelphia, and the city of the same name, are located about 28 miles southeast of the city of Sardis, on one of the main trade routes to Rome, which allowed the city of Philadelphia to be the most prosperous of any of the seven cities we have studied, leading it to be known as the “Gateway to the East”. It was also known as “Little Athens” because of the many temples and other fabulous architecture that were located there. Philadelphia was thus a wealthy, commercial driven, religiously diverse, cultured and highly populated city, which means there were a lot of people there who needed the Lord.
The word Philadelphia, as many of you know, means “brotherly love” or “love for the brethren”. In fact the Greek word “philadelphia” is translated in the New Testament as “brotherly love” several times as we see in the following verses, this should give us an idea of the attitude this church had towards its fellow man…
Ro 12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
1Th 4:9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another
Heb 13:1 Let brotherly love continue.
1Pe 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
2Pe 1:7 and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. {charity meaning love}
So we see brotherly love was a defining characteristic of this church. And we truly see the meaning of brotherly love come into play during the church age that Philadelphia represents. As this church symbolizes the church age from 1750-1900 AD, that age ending a little over 100 years ago, coming just after the age of Sardis, which was a time of cold, lifeless church services and worship. Where there was a contentment and complacency within the church, that had a name that was alive but was in fact dead. But then in the 18th and 19th centuries God began to stir his people. Awakenings began to occur all over Northern Europe and Britain which then spread to America. Churches and believers were once more spirit-filled and spirit empowered, they got on fire for God. the church that was so sound asleep that it seemed like it was dead was now stirred awake. During this time period the great missionary movement was birthed, revivals spread across the land like wild fire, believers began to truly show God's love to a lost and dying world. Men of God like George Whitefield, John Wesley, Charles Finney, D.L. Moody and Jonathon Edwards preached to thousands and carried the gospel everywhere they went to receptive hearts. this was the time of the Great Awakenings that gripped churches, believers and unbelievers alike, and many, many lost souls were saved. the church was revived, they now had a world vision for the lost, they had been awakened spiritually, and they now began to really focus on the second coming of the Lord. What a time to be alive and be involved with the Lord’s work to see Him bless so, especially when the church had been so cold and indifferent for so long. So is it any reason that the Lord Jesus has no rebuke for the church of Philadelphia?
In fact he was very pleased with this church, as this church was almost the exact opposite of Sardis, which was corrupted and cold, while Philadelphia was pure and on fire, which makes what the Lord says about Laodicea so sad, for it was neither hot nor cold, just luke warm, and the Lord preferred it to be one or the other and not be in the state it was in. But what a church Philadelphia was, and we even have remnants of this church with us tday, the same spirit, the same attitude, just as we have the remnants of the church of Sardis and thyatira with us as well, the dead or dying church and the state-church filled with corrupted doctrines. I am sure I could guess what kind of church we would all want to be like, so as we look at the church of Philadelphia lets keep in the back of our mind how our church compares with it in attitude and spiritspirit, and if need be, make adjustments, not only in our church and worship, but in ourselves as well.'.

This church is identified in 1:10 and in this sentence. Different commentators write different things about it. Mainly, it is called 'the city of brotherly love', was known for frequent earthquakes, poverty and faithfulness to our Lord Jesus Christ in spite of all of their worldly problems.

Please see the notes for Romans C7S16; 1Corinthians C3S17; Philippians 1:3-7 and Colossians C1S6 about the word holy. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines this word as: 'a. 1. Properly, whole, entire or perfect, in a moral sense. Hence, pure in heart, temper or dispositions; free from sin and sinful affections. Applied to the Supreme Being, holy signifies perfectly pure, immaculate and complete in moral character; and man is more or less holy, as his heart is more or less sanctified, or purified from evil dispositions. We call a man holy, when his heart is conformed in some degree to the image of God, and his life is regulated by the divine precepts. Hence, holy is used as nearly synonymous with good, pious, Godly. Be ye holy; for I am holy. 1 pet.1. 2. Hallowed; consecrated or set apart to a sacred use, or to the service or worship of God; a sense frequent in Scripture; as the holy sabbath; holy oil; holy vessels; a holy nation; the holy temple; a holy priesthood. 3. Proceeding from pious principles, or directed to pious purposes; as holy zeal. 4. Perfectly just and good; as the holy law of God. 5. Sacred; as a holy witness. Holy of holies, in Scripture, the innermost apartment of the Jewish tabernacle or temple, where the ark was kept, and where no person entered, except the high priest, once a year. Holy Ghost, or Holy Spirit, the Divine Spirit; the third person in the Trinity; the sanctifier of souls. Holy war, a war undertaken to rescue the holy land, the ancient Judea, from the infidels; a crusade; an expedition carried on by Christians against the Saracens in the eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth centuries; a war carried on in a most unholy manner'. Please also see the note for Matthew 4:5 about the phrase holy city. Please also see the Word Study on the Holy Ghost for links to every place in the Bible where we find the phrase Holy Ghost. Please also see the note for 1John 2:20 about the phrase Holy One. Please also see the Significant Gospel Events for this, and other, Minor Titles of the Son of God. Please also see the note for John 7:39 about the phrase indwelling Holy Spirit.

Please see the note for Matthew 16:19 about the word key. Easton's Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'frequently mentioned in Scripture. It is called in Hebrew maphteah, i.e., the opener (Jg 3:25); and in the Greek New Testament kleis, from its use in shutting (Mt 16:19; Lu 11:52; Re 1:18, etc.). Figures of ancient Egyptian keys are frequently found on the monuments, also of Assyrian locks and keys of wood, and of a large size (comp. Isa 22:22).
The word is used figuratively of power or authority or office (Isa 22:22; Re 3:7; 1:8; comp. Re 9:1; 20:1; comp. also Mt 16:19; 18:18). the "key of knowledge" (Lu 11:52; comp. Mt 23:13) is the means of attaining the knowledge regarding the kingdom of God. the "power of the keys" is a phrase in general use to denote the extent of ecclesiastical authority'.

In the Bible, we see that king David was: 'The most important king in Jewish history. He was given many promises because of his personal relationship with God. The most important promise given to him was that Christ would be a physical descendent of his'. Please see the Verses in the New Testament about the phrase Son of David. Please also see the note for Luke 1:26-27 about the phrase house of David. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 3:7; 5:5; 22:16.

Please see the note for John 18:20 about the words open / openly. The functional definition for this word is: 'Unclosed; not shut; as, the gate is open; an open door or window; an open book; open eyes. to unclose; to unbar; to unlock; to remove any fastening or cover and set open; as, to open a door or gate; to open a desk'. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 3:7-8; 3:20 4:1; 5:2; 5:3; 5:4; 5:5; 5:9; 6:1; 6:3; 6:5; 6:7; 6:9; 6:12; 8:1; 9:2; 10:2; 10:8; 11:19; 12:16; 13:6; 15:5; 19:11; 20:12.

Please see the note for Matthew 25:10 about the word shut. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'to close so as to hinder ingress or egress; as, to shut a door or gate; to shut the eyes or the mouth. 2. to prohibit; to bar; to forbid entrance into; as, to shut the ports of the kingdom by a blockade. Shall that be shut to man, which to the beast Is open? Milton. 3. to preclude; to exclude. But shut from every shore. Dryden. 4. to close, as the fingers; to contract; as, to shut the hand'. Please note that the word in our sentence is: shutteth, which is: 'a lifestyle shutting'. Men and devils might shut spiritual door for a short time, such as when the leaders of the Church of Jerusalem tried to shut the door of salvation to Gentiles by claiming that someone had to be circumcised and become a Jew in order to be spiritually saved. But, as the New Testament teaches us, our Lord Jesus Christ worked around them and opened the door of salvation to Gentiles. Likewise, the phrase shutteth, and no man openeth means that when our Lord Jesus Christ permanently closes a door, no one is going to open it again. For example, the message of the books called Left Behind is doctrinal error. After the 'Rapture', no one received the indwelling Holy Spirit and true salvation is only given to people who obey the Mosaic Law. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 3:7-8; 11:6; 20:3; 21:25.

Please see the note for Colossians C2S3 about the word behold. Webster's 1828 Dictionary defines this word as: 'to fix the eyes upon; to see with attention; to observe with care. Behold the lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world. John 1. 2. In a less intensive sense, to look upon; to see. When he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived. Num. 21. BEHO'LD, v.i. to look; to direct the eyes to an object. And I beheld, and lo, in the midst of the throne, a lambdas it had been slain. Rev.5. 1. to fix the attention upon an object; to attend; to direct or fix the mind. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. Rev.3.word is much used in this manner for exciting attention, or admiration. It is in the imperative mode, expressing command, or exhortation; and by no means a mere exclamation'. Please also see the note for Colossians 2:18-19 about the word hold. Please also see the note for Luke 24:15 about the word holden.

Please see the note for 2Corinthians 2:12-13 about the word door. The Morrish Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'Besides the common use of the door as the means of entrance into a house, and of enclosing those within when shut, it is used in scripture symbolically for the way of entrance into blessing. the Lord said, "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved." Salvation is only by Him. He also said that as the true Shepherd He entered into the sheepfold by the door, that is, though Son of God, He entered as obedient by God's appointed means, being circumcised, presented in the temple, and baptized. Joh 10:1-9. God opened 'the door of faith' to the Gentiles by Paul and Barnabas. Ac 14:27. Opportunities for service are called opened doors. 1Co 16:9; 2Co 2:12; Col 4:3; Re 3:8. When the church is represented as in a Laodicean state the Lord is outside knocking for admission at the door of the assembly, so that the individual may hear, with a promise of blessing to those who open to Him. Re 3:20. Doors in the East are usually made of wood; but in the deserted cities of Bashan doors are found cut out of stone, with a projection top and bottom which served as pivots on which the door turned'. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 3:8; 3:20; 4:1.

Please see the note for 1Timothy 5:22 about the word keep. The functional definition for this word is: 'To hold; to retain in one's power or possession; not to lose or part with; as, to keep a house or a farm; to keep anything in the memory, mind or heart'. Please also see the note for 1John 5:2 about the phrase keep his commandments. Please also see the note for Matthew 28:3-4 about the word keeper. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: .

Please see the note for Colossians 2S2 about the word word. The functional definition is: 'a single component part of human speech or language'. However, the word of God is the holy scriptures and in the English language, it is only the KJV-1611. Please also see the notes for Romans C10S22 and Word in 1John about the phrase word of God. Please also see the note for John 1:1 for an extensive note explaining the differences, and similarities, between the capitalized and the non-capitalized word word. When a Bible reference uses an uppercase word, it is referring to Jesus Christ. The uppercase makes this a formal name of the Son of God. However, while the exact definition is different, the properties are spiritually similar to the lowercase word. Please also see the note for 1Thessalonians 1:8 about the phrase word of the Lord. Please note that the word of the Lord is a sub-set of the word of God. the word of God contains all of God's written truth including recording the lies of Satan. The word of the Lord is that part of the word of God which will be used to judge us. The lies from Satan are not included within the word of the Lord.

Please see the note for 2Timothy 2:11-13 about the words deny / denial. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines this word as: 'to contradict; to gainsay; to declare a statement or position not to be true. We deny what another says, or we deny a proposition. We deny the truth of an assertion, or the assertion itself. the sense of this verb is often expressed by no or nay. 2. to refuse to grant; as, we asked for bread, and the man denied us. 3. Not to afford; to withhold. 4. to disown; to refuse or neglect to acknowledge; not to confess'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'to the. Re 1:11; 2:1 exp: Re 1:4. Philadelphia. Philadelphia, so called for its founder, Attalus Philadelphus, still exists in the town called Allahshehr, "the city of God," "a column in a scene of ruins." It is situated on the slopes of three or four hills, the roots of mount Tmolus, by the river Cogamus, twenty seven miles E. S. E. from Sardis, about long. 28 degrees 40', lat. 38 degrees 23'. the number of houses is said to be about 3,000, of which 250 are Greek, the rest Turkish; and the Christians have twenty-five places of worship, five of them large and regular churches, a resident bishop, and twenty inferior clergy. he that is holy. Re 4:8; 6:10; Ps 16:10; 89:18; 145:17; Isa 6:3; 30:11; 41:14,16,20; 47:4; 48:17; 49:7; 54:5; 55:5; Mr 1:24; Lu 4:34; Ac 3:14 he that is true. Re 3:14; 1:5; 6:10; 15:3; 16:7; 19:2,11; 21:5; Mt 24:35; Joh 14:6; 1Jo 5:20 the key. Re 1:18; Isa 22:22; Lu 1:32 he that openeth. Re 5:3-5,9; Job 11:10; 12:14; Mt 16:19 General references. exp: Mt 18:18; Lu 24:45.
I know. Re 3:1,15; 2:2 an open. Re 3:7; 1Co 16:9; 2Co 2:12; Col 4:3 a little. Da 11:34; 2Co 12:8-10; Php 4:13 and hast kept. Re 3:10; 22:7; Joh 14:21-24; 15:20; 17:6; 2Ti 4:7 and hast not. Re 2:13; Pr 30:9; Mt 26:70-72; Lu 12:9; Ac 3:13-14; 1Ti 5:8; 1Jo 2:22-23; Jude 1:4 General references. exp: Mt 18:18.'.

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C3-S9 (Verse 9) What is promised for the future.

First Step: Identity of the people that our Lord Jesus Christ will deal with.

Behold,
I will make them of the synagogue of Satan,
which say they are Jews,
and are not,
but do lie;.

Second Step: How he will deal with them.

behold,
I will make them to come and worship before thy feet,
and to know that I have loved thee.

Our sentence has two Steps and each starts with the word behold. Therefore, we are told to 'pay close attention to what else is said in each of the Steps'.

In the First Step, our Lord Jesus Christ identifies the people that He will deal with. Notice the phrase: but do lie. It is providing a contrast to what is said before the word but. That is: these people make a claim which they say is true, but it is a lie. They say they are Jews. However, our Lord Jesus Christ says that they are of the synagogue of Satan and that but do lie. But, this is written to a Gentile church. Therefore, in this sentence, the title of Jews is to be interpreted as: 'saved children of God' and the fact that they might actually be Gentiles in not important and does not affect the interpretation of this word within this sentence.

In the Second Step, our Lord Jesus Christ says what he will do to these people. As explained in the Word Study on worship : worship.

In the last phrase of our Second Step, our Lord Jesus Christ says why He will do this. He says: I will make them to...know that I have loved thee. Liars claim that love never allows hurt. However, our Lord Jesus Christ allowed these people to get hurt so that He is justified in giving them greater everlasting rewards than He gives to people who do not suffer the same way. Then He does this sentence so that know that I have loved thee. It is not what happens every step of the way but it is the end result which prove His love.

We see Satan referenced, in this book, in: 2:9; 2:13; 2:24; 3:9; 12:9; 20:2 and 20:7.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence: 'So here is another promise of that, Satan’s minions would be humiliated before the true King and His followers, they would see who had true strength, true power, true control, true love, and they will be forced to bow and to confess the name that is above every name. Where they had spurned the love of God and are punished for it, believers in Christ accepted that love and are rewarded for their faith.'.

Please see the note for John 6:59 about the word synagogue. The functional definition for this word is: 'A Jewish place of worship, religious teaching and religious government with the people who were members on that particular synagogue. It functioned like a church but with more control over the lives of the members than is typical for a church'.

Please see the note for 2Corinthians 2:10-11 about Satan. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines Satan as: 'Heb. an adversary. the grand adversary of man; the devil or prince of darkness; the chief of the fallen angels'. Please also see the section called Jesus and Devils, in the Study called Significant Gospel Events, for links to every place where Jesus dealt with devils and separates the references according to how He dealt with them. Please note that there are no daemons' within the Bible. That word is doctrinal error deliberately taught by devil-motivated men to cause God's children to ignore or think less about the true danger that true devils are. Please also see the note for 12:9 about the word devil. Please also see the Word Study on Spirit for links to every place in the Bible where we find 'Other Spirits', which are devils.

Please see the note for John 7:3 about the words Jewry / Judaea / Judea / Judah. The Morrish Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'This name occurs in Ezr 5:8 for the territory of Judah; in Da 5:13 the same is called JEWRY. In the N.T. the name at times refers to a much larger district, including all south of about 32 5' N with the plain on the west border of the land to mount Carmel as generally shown on N.T. maps. the land was thus divided by Rome, with Samaria in the centre, and Galilee in the north. In Lu 3:1 Judaea embraces the above and Samaria; but in other passages a smaller area than the above is implied. Ac 12:19 speaks of Herod going down from Judaea to Caesarea, whereas Caesarea would be part of the Judaea of the Romans. Paul, in Ga 1:22; 1Th 2:14, speaks of the 'churches of Judaea' which would seem to embrace the whole of Palestine. the context will almost always show the extent of the district intended. It is called JEWRY in Lu 23:5; Joh 7:1.'. the functional definition is: 'The area of land generally associated with the Southern Kingdom and religious control by Jewish rulers but which varies in size from one reference to another'.

The word But provides a contrast between what preceded it and what follows the word. Beware of the doctrinal error which claims that there is no relationship between what precedes the word but and what follows it.

Please see the note for Galatians C1-S15 about the word liar. The functional definition for this word is: 'n. from lie. 1. A person who knowingly utters falsehood; one who declares to another as a fact what he knows to be not true, and with an intention to deceive him. the uttering of falsehood by mistake, and without an intention to deceive, does not constitute one a liar. 2. One who denies Christ. 1John 2'.

The word feet is the plural form of the word foot. Please see the note for Matthew 4:5 about the word foot. The functional definition for this word is: 'The orientals used to wash the feet of strangers who came off a journey, because they commonly walked with their legs bare, and their feet defended only by sandals, Ge 24:32; 43:24. So Abraham washed the feet of the three angels, Ge 18:4. this office was usually performed by servants and slaves; and hence Abigail answers David, who sought her in marriage, that she should think it an honor to wash the feet of the king's servants, 1Sa 25:41'. Please also see the note for Hebrews 1:13 about the word footstool. Please also see the note for Luke 1:76 about the word feet.

Please see the notes for Romans 8:39-LJC; Galatians C5-S14; Philippians 1:9-11; love in 1John and 2John 1:3-LJC about the word love. In particular, the note for 2John 1:3-LJC has links to every place where John writes about the word love. Please also see the note for Revelation 8:35-LJC for a table which divides the various roles of God and gives Bible references for how God loves us through each of His roles. Please also see the note for Revelation 8:35-LJC for a table which divides the various roles of God and gives Bible references for how God loves us through each of His roles. Please see the note for 1John C3S26 about the phrase love one another. Please see the note for Matthew 19:19 about the phrase love thy neighbour. Please see the note for 1John C4S13 about the phrase perfect love. Please see the notes for Romans C9S23 and Colossians C3S8 about the word beloved. Please also see the note for Matthew 17:5 for links to every place where the phrase beloved Son is applied to Jesus. The true Biblical doctrine of this word is very complex since it is a character trait of God. That said, the functional definition, of the word love, is: 'Doing what brings the greatest ultimate good to another being without any consideration of cost to self and not consideration of any response by the other and a willingness to even bring short-term pain if that is what is required in order to bring the ultimate long-tern good'. The functional definition, of the word beloved, is: 'be and loved, from love. Greatly loved; dear to the heart'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'the synagogue. Re 2:9 I will make them to. Ex 11:8; 12:30-32; 1Sa 2:36; Es 8:17; Job 42:8-10; Isa 49:23; 60:14; Zec 8:20-23; Ac 16:37-39 General references. exp: Ex 8:25; De 2:25; 1Sa 18:28; Pr 14:19; Isa 26:6.'.

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C3-S10 (Verse 10) . A promise to leave this Earth before the 'Rapture' or to participate in the 'Rapture'.

Because thou hast kept the word of my patience,
I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation,
which shall come upon all the world,
to try them that dwell upon the earth.

Please see the Significant Gospel Events and the Significant New Testament Events for links to every promise given during the 'Church Age'. Those links go to notes which explain every promise given within the context where we are told about the promise. In every case the promise is contingent upon our fulfilling the requirement from God which is specified within the context.

Once more we see the need to realize that the promises to these churches are actually promises to any church, or saved person, who finds themselves in similar situations. The doctrine of the 'Great Church Ages' is used by devils to distract God's children from the commandments and promises which are directed at the other churches in this book besides the church of the Laodiceans. We have people arguing about when the 'Rapture' will happen, and saved people believing doctrinal lies, because they believe that promises, such as in this sentence, are no longer applicable to them, even if they are in situations matching this church. Devils want people to ignore this promise so that they will not do what is required in order to receive it. And, in case someone does not ignore it, then they get men to teach doctrinal lies about it so that God's people believe errors.

Earlier, we say our Lord Jesus Christ say that He would put certain false church members into tribulation, but He did not say that He would put them into the great tribulation. When we are looking at prophecy and when things will happen, that distinction becomes critical. Therefore, some of these distinctions are far more important than what some people are willing to admit.

Most people tend to look at what is happening in their own circumstances and believe those circumstances apply to everywhere in the world. That attitude is flat our wrong. The truth is that, since the time that our Lord Jesus Christ returned to Heaven, God's people have suffered somewhere in this world. And, to those children of God, this promise is very important. If the circumstances of life are acceptable to us, then we don't need the word of my patience. Only saved people who are suffering need it.

Next, our sentence has a promise to saved people who need the word of my patience, and who use it to maintain a Godly testimony during suffering. Saved people, who are not truly suffering, do not experience the need and many of them are led into doctrinal error about this promise. This is a promise to leave this Earth before the 'Rapture' or to participate in the 'Rapture'. However, many saved people, who are not truly suffering, have been deceived into believing the doctrinal lies called 'Mid-Trib' and 'Post-Trib'. Saved people, who are truly suffering, have already been tried ('tested multiple times in order to find reliable truth'). They do not need to tried like this sentence is talking about. And, yes, there are other reasons why we should reject the doctrinal lies called 'Mid-Trib' and 'Post-Trib'. However, this sentence is giving us this reason and we will limit discussion to what is in our current sentence.

Please see the note for Romans C1S10 about the word because. The functional definition for this word is: 'provides a effect where the cause and effect are both in the past'. This is opposed to the use of the word for, which has a functional definition of: 'provides a effect where the effect is in the past but the effect is in the future'. Please also see the note for 2Corinthians C2S5 about the word cause. Please also see the note for John 15:25 Romans C1S10 about the phrase without cause. Please also see the note for Romans C8S38 about the phrase dying because of the truth.

Please see the note for 1Timothy 5:22 about the word keep. The functional definition for this word is: 'To hold; to retain in one's power or possession; not to lose or part with; as, to keep a house or a farm; to keep anything in the memory, mind or heart'. The word keepeth means: 'a lifestyle of keeping'. The word kept is the past-tense form of the word keep. Please also see the note for Matthew 28:3-4 about the phrase keep his commandments. Please also see the notes for 1John 5:2 about the word keeper.

Please see the notes for Romans C5S2 and Colossians C1S3 about the word patience. patience as this word as: 'n. pa'shens. L. patientia, from patior, to suffer. 1. the suffering of afflictions, pain, toil, calamity, provocation or other evil, with a calm, unruffled temper; endurance without murmuring or fretfulness. Patience may spring from constitutional fortitude, from a kind of heroic pride, or from Christian submission to the divine will. 2. A calm temper which bears evils without murmuring or discontent. 3. the act or quality of waiting long for justice or expected good without discontent. 4. Perseverance; constancy in labor or exertion. He learnt with patience, and with meekness taught. 5. the quality of bearing offenses and injuries without anger or revenge. His rage was kindled and his patience gone. 6. Sufferance; permission. Not used. 7. A plant, a species of rumen of dock'. Please also see the note for Romans C12S8 about the word patient.

Please see the note for Galatians C4-S11 about the word temptation. Easton's Bible Dictionary defines this word as: '(1.) Trial; a being put to the test. thus, God tempted [Ge 22:1; R.V., 'did prove'] Abraham; and afflictions are said to tempt, i.e., to try, men (Jas 1:2,12; comp. De 8:2), putting their faith and patience to the test. (2.) Ordinarily, however, the word means solicitation to that which is evil, and hence Satan is called the tempter (Mt 4:3). Our Lord was in this way tempted in the wilderness. that temptation was not internal, but by a real, active, subtle being. It was not self-sought. It was submitted to as an act of obedience on his part. Christ was led, driven. An unseen personal force bore him a certain violence is implied in the words (Mt 4:1-11).
The scene of the temptation of our Lord is generally supposed to have been the mountain of Quarantania (q.v.), a high and precipitous wall of rock, 1,200 or 1,500 feet above the plain west of Jordan, near Jericho.
Temptation is common to all (Da 12:10; Zec 13:9; Ps 66:10; Lu 22:31,40; Heb 11:17; Jas 1:12; 1Pe 1:7; 4:12). We read of the temptation of Joseph (Ge 39), of David (2Sa 24; 1Ch 21), of Hezekiah (2Ch 32:31), of Daniel (Da 6), etc. So long as we are in this world we are exposed to temptations, and need ever to be on our watch against them'. Please also see the note for Luke 4:12 about the phrase tempt God. Please also see the note for 1Corinthians C10S6 about the word tempt. Please also see the note for 1Thessalonians 3:5 about the word tempter.

Please see the notes for Romans C16S33; 1Timothy 1:15; 2Timothy C1S5; 1Corinthians C1S19 and World in 1John about the word world. The functional definition for this word is: 'all of the people in the world as a group'. Please also see the note for John 9:5 about the phrase light of the world. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 3:10; 11:15; 12:9; 13:3; 13:8; 16:14; 17:8.

Please see the note for Mark 12:1 about the words trieth / try / tried. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'to attempt. Try to learn; try to lift a weight. the horses tried to draw the load. these phrases give the true sense.
TRY, v.t. to examine; to make experiment on; to prove by experiment. Come, try upon yourselves what you have seen me. 1. to experience; to have knowledge by experience of. Or try the Libyan heat, or Scythian cold. 2. to prove by a test; as, to try weights and measures by a standard; to try one's opinions by the divine oracles. 3. to act upon as a test. The fire sev'n times tried this. 4. to examine judicially by witnesses and the principles of law; as causes tried in court. 5. to essay; to attempt. Let us try advent'rous work. 6. to purify; to refine; as silver seven times tried. 7. to search carefully into. Ps.11. 8. to use as means; as, to try remedies for a disease. 9. to strain; as, to try the eyes; the literal sense of the word. Totry tallow, etc. is to melt and separate it from the membranes. Totryout, to pursue efforts till a decision is obtained'. The functional definition for this word is: 'to test repeatedly until you are very confident of the answer'. The word tried is the past-tense form of the word try.

Please see the note for Romans C7S24 about the word dwell. The functional definition for this word is: 'ppr. Inhabiting; residing; sojourning; continuing with fixed attention. DWELL'ING, n. Habitation; place of residence; abode. Hazor shall be a dwelling for dragons. Jer.49. 1. Continuance; residence; state of life. thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. Dan.4'. Please also see the note for John 7:39 about the phrase indwelling Holy Spirit.

Please see the note for Philippians 2:9-11 about the word earth. Easton's Bible Dictionary defines this word as: '(1.) In the sense of soil or ground, the translation of the word adamah'. In Ge 9:20 "husbandman" is literally "man of the ground or earth." Altars were to be built of earth (Ex 20:24). Naaman asked for two mules' burden of earth (2Ki 5:17), under the superstitious notion that Jehovah, like the gods of the heathen, could be acceptably worshipped only on his own soil. (2). As the rendering of 'erets, it means the whole world (Ge 1:2); the land as opposed to the sea (Ge 1:10). Erets also denotes a country (Ge 21:32); a plot of ground (Ge 23:15); the ground on which a man stands (Ge 33:3); the inhabitants of the earth (Ge 6:1; 11:1); all the world except Israel (2Ch 13:9). In the New Testament "the earth" denotes the land of Judea (Mt 23:35); also things carnal in contrast with things heavenly (Joh 3:31; Col 3:1-2)'. Please also see the note for 2Corinthians 4:7 about the word earthen. Please also see the note for 2Corinthians 5:1 about the word earthly. Please also see the note for Luke 21:10-11 about the word earthquake. Please also see the note for Luke 21:10-11 about the word earthquake. Please also see the note for Revelation 10:11-LJC about the phrase kings of the earth. Please also see the note for Matthew 32-33 about the phrase Judge of all the earth.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'the word. Re 1:9; 13:10; 14:12 I also. Mt 6:13; 26:41; 1Co 10:13; Eph 6:13; 2Pe 2:9 all. Mt 24:14; Mr 14:9; Lu 2:1; Ro 1:8 to try. Isa 24:17; Da 12:10; Zec 13:9; Jas 3:12; 1Pe 4:12 General references. exp: Lu 21:19.'.

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C3-S11 (Verse 11) the warning related to saved people in these circumstances.

Equivalent Section: Expect unexpected sudden appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Behold,
I come quickly:.

Equivalent Section: What to do all throughout the trial.

hold that fast which thou hast,
that no man take thy crown.

Our sentence has two Equivalent Section with our First Equivalent Section telling us to expect unexpected sudden appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ. Doing this actually will help God's people to keep their crown. Obeying the First Equivalent Section gives God's people hope to endure. Devils want us to give up hope so that we will quit doing what earns us a crown. In addition, elsewhere we are told that greater suffering will yield greater everlasting rewards (according to his works) and that There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it (1Corinthians 10:13). {I personally held onto the promise in that verse when I had a motorcycle accident which should have killed means in which the physical damage guaranteed that I would be in great pain for the rest of my life}.

In our Second Equivalent Section, we are warned what may happen if we fail to hold that fast which thou hast. What lots of liars and deceived people deny is what this phrase means. If we lose our personal (thy) crown, then we will also lose the right to return with Christ to rule this world, under Him, for 1,000 years.

We see the phrase come quickly in: Revelation 3:11; Revelation 22:7; Revelation 22:12; Revelation 22:20. Every one of these is a warning to God's people to be prepared for the sudden and unexpected 'Rapture'.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence: 'So, due to this promised deliverance and his imminent return, Jesus tells the Philadelphian believers to hold fast, to keep the faith, even with their little strength they were to hold on to him, lest some man come and take their crown, lest some man steal their reward, not their salvation or eternal security, but their reward in heaven. forit is in heaven we are to lay up our treasures, as that is where the heavenly treasurer is isn’t he?, so that is where your heart needs to be, so do not get unfocused or led astray by one of these satanic minions, do not let them hinder or side track your service to the Lord, to come to a point where a believer loses their heavenly reward.'.

Please see the note for Matthew 5:25 about the word quickly. The functional definition for this word is: 'Speedily; with haste or celerity. 2. Soon; without delay'.

Please see the note for James 1:12 about the word crown. The functional definition for this word is: 'Crowns show that the person wearing them has authority and a special position'. Some saved people will be in Heaven but will not be allowed to return with Christ, to this Earth, for His 1,000 years reign. Anyone with a crown will be returning with Him and ruling under Him.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'I come. Re 1:3; 22:7,12,20; Zep 1:14; Php 4:5; Jas 5:9 hold. Re 3:3; 2:13,25 exp: 1Th 5:21; 2Ti 1:13; Heb 10:23. Thy. Re 2:10; 4:4,10; 1Co 9:25; 2Ti 2:5; 4:8; Jas 1:12; 1Pe 5:3-4'.

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C3-S12 (Verse 12) Promises to the overcomer.

Equivalent Section: He will be with God permanently.

Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God,
and he shall go no more out:.

Equivalent Section: He will be part of the new Jerusalem.

and I will write upon him the name of my God,
and the name of the city of my God,
which is new Jerusalem,
which cometh down out of heaven from my God :.

Equivalent Section: He will have a special relationship with the Son of God.

and I will write upon him my new name.

This sentence promises that he that overcometh will have a permanent position in the new Jerusalem. Other than that, and what we see in the sentence titles above, no onecan really say whatthe significance of these promises are. However, since thay are given to him that overcometh, and all other promises given to him that overcometh are significant, we can assume that these are also even though we do not understand all that is involved with these promises.

Please see the note for 2Peter 2:19 about the word overcome. The functional definition for this word is: 'To conquer; to vanquish; to subdue; as, to overcome enemies in battle. 2. to surmount; to get the better of; as, to overcome difficulties or obstacles'. The word overcometh is: : 'A lifestyle of overcoming. That is' they overcome the temptations of this world and never go back to them'. Please see the Significant New Testament Events for links to every place in this book where we find forms of the word overcometh and the promises to saved people who truly do this.

We find forms of the word pillar occurring 136 times in 107 verses of the Bible and, in the New Testament, in: Galatians 2:9; 1Timothy 3:15; Revelation 3:12; Revelation 10:1. The Morrish Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'There are several Hebrew words translated 'pillar': the principal are 1. matstsebah, from 'to set, put, place;' and hence anything that is set up. It is used for the stone that Jacob had had for a pillow, which he set up, and on which he poured oil and made his vow. Also for the heap of stones he raised when Laban and he parted. Ge 28:18,22; 31:13,45-52; 35:14,20; Ex 24:4; Isa 19:19. From De 12:3 it would appear that pillars of some sort were also connected with idolatry. these may resemble the cairns often found in what were idolatrous lands. Absalom raised up for himself a pillar to keep his name in remembrance because he had no son. 2Sa 18:18. 2. the word ammud occurs many times for the pillars of the tabernacle and the temple. It is also used for the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire; also symbolically for the pillars of the heavens and the pillars of the earth. Ex 13:21; 27:10-17; 1Ki 7:2-42; Job 9:6; 26:11; Ps 75:3; Eze 40:49; 42:6. In the N.T. the word is στύλος, 'a pillar or column.' James, Cephas and John seemed to be 'pillars' in the church at Jerusalem — those to whom matters were referred, as they were afterwards to Paul. Ga 2:9. the church of God is "the pillar and ground of the truth" — the witness that maintains the truth on earth. 1Ti 3:15. the word occurs also in Re 3:12; 10:1.'.

Smith's Bible Dictionary provides links for the word pillar as: 'The notion of a pillar is of a shaft or isolated pile either supporting or not supporting a roof. But perhaps the earliest application of the pillar was the votive or monumental, this in early times consisted of nothing but a single stone or pile of stones: Ge 28:18; 31:40 etc. The stone Ezel: 1Sa 20:19 was probably a terminal stone or a way-mark. The "place" set up by Saul: 1Sa 15:12 is explained by St, Jerome to be a trophy. So also Jacob set up a pillar over Rachel's grave. Ge 36:20. The monolithic tombs and obelisks of Petra are instances of similar usage. Lastly, the figurative use of the term "pillar," in reference to the cloud and fire accompanying the Israelites on their march or as in Song 3:6 and Reve 10:1 is plainly derived from the notion of an isolated column not supporting a roof.'.

Nave's Topical Bible provides links for the word pillar as: 'Of Solomon's temple: 1Ki 7:13-22; 2Ki 25:17. Broken and carried to Babylon: 2Ki 25:13; Jer 52:17,20-21. Of Solomon's palaces: 1Ki 7:6. Used to mark roads: Jer 31:21. Pillar of salt, Lot's wife turned to: Ge 19:26; Lu 17:32. Monuments erected to commemorate events: By Jacob, his vision of angels: Ge 28:18; 31:13; 35:14. By Jacob, his covenant with Laban: Ge 31:45. By Moses, the covenant between Jehovah and Israel: Ex 24:4. By Joshua, the crossing of the Jordan River: Jos 4:1-9; De 27:2-6; Jos 8:30. By Joshua, at Shechem: Jos 24:25-27; Jg 9:6. By Samuel, the defeat of the Philistines: 1Sa 7:12. By Absalom, to keep his name alive: 2Sa 18:18. As a boundary: Jos 15:6; 18:17. As a road sign: 1Sa 20:19. As a landmark: 2Sa 20:8; 1Ki 1:9. Prophecy of one in Egypt: Isa 19:19. Monuments of idolatry, to be destroyed: De 12:3. FIGURATIVE: Re 3:12'.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians 3:16 about the word temple. Easton's Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'first used of the tabernacle, which is called "the temple of the Lord" (1Sa 1:9). In the New Testament the word is used figuratively of Christ's human body (Joh 2:19,21). Believers are called "the temple of God" (1Co 3:16-17). the Church is designated "an holy temple in the Lord" (Eph 2:21). Heaven is also called a temple (Re 7:5). We read also of the heathen "temple of the great goddess Diana" (Ac 19:27).
This word is generally used in Scripture of the sacred house erected on the summit of Mount Moriah for the worship of God. It is called "the temple" (1Ki 6:17); "the temple [R.V., 'house'] of the Lord" (2Ki 11:10); "thy holy temple" (Ps 79:1); "the house of the Lord" (2Ch 23:5,12); "the house of the God of Jacob" (Isa 2:3); "the house of my glory" (Isa 60:7); an "house of prayer" (Isa 56:7; Mt 21:13); "an house of sacrifice" (2Ch 7:12); "the house of their sanctuary" (2Ch 36:17); "the mountain of the Lord's house" (Isa 2:2); "our holy and our beautiful house" (Isa 64:11); "the holy mount" (Isa 27:13); "the palace for the Lord God" (1Ch 29:1); "the tabernacle of witness" (2Ch 24:6); "Zion" (Ps 74:2; 84:7). Christ calls it "my Father's house" (Joh 2:16)'. Please also see the note for 2Corinthians 6:16 about the phrase temple of God. Please also see the note for 2Corinthians 6:16 about the phrase temple of the Lord. Please also see the note for Mark 15:38 about the phrase veil of the Temple. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 3:12; 7:15; 11:1; 11:2; 11:19; 14:15; 14:17; 15:5-6; 15:8; 16:1; 16:17; 21:22.

Please see the note for Mark 11:19 about the word city. The functional definition for this word is: 'An area where many people live together and have a local government rule over them'. Please also see the note for Romans C13S12 about the phrase city of refuge. Please also see the note for Matthew 4:5 about the phrase holy city. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 3:12; 11:2; 11:8; 11:13; 14:8; 14:20; 16:19; 17:18; 18:10; 18:16; 18:18; 18:19; 18:21; 20:9; 21:2; 21:10; 21:14; 21:15; 21:16; 21:18; 21:19; 21:21; 21:23; 22:14 and 22:19.

Please see the note for Galatians C1-S12 about Jerusalem. The functional definition for this word is: ''There is more than one holy city, but, usually, this phrase is used for Jerusalem or the New Jerusalem'. In the Bible, this phrase is used only for Jerusalem or the New Jerusalem'. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 3:12; 21:2; 21:10.

Please see the note for Philippians 2:9-11 about the word heaven. Easton's Bible Dictionary this word as: '(1.) Definitions. the phrase "heaven and earth" is used to indicate the whole universe (Ge 1:1; Jer 23:24; Ac 17:24). According to the Jewish notion there were three heavens, (a) the firmament, as "fowls of the heaven" (Ge 2:19; 7:3,23; Ps 8:8, etc.), "the eagles of heaven" (La 4:19), etc. (b) the starry heavens (De 17:3; Jer 8:2; Mt 24:29). (c) "The heaven of heavens," or "the third heaven" (De 10:14; 1Ki 8:27; Ps 115:16; 148:4; 2Co 12:2). (2.) Meaning of words in the original, (a) the usual Hebrew word for "heavens" is shamayim, a plural form meaning "heights," "elevations" (Ge 1:1; 2:1). (b) the Hebrew word marom is also used (Ps 68:18; 93:4; 102:19, etc.) as equivalent to shamayim, "high places," "heights." (c) Heb gall, literally a "wheel," is rendered "heaven" in Ps 77:18 (R.V., "whirlwind"). (d) Heb shahak, rendered "sky" (De 33:26; Job 37:18; Ps 18:11), plural "clouds" (Job 35:5; 36:28; Ps 68:34, marg. "heavens"), means probably the firmament. (e) Heb rakia is closely connected with (d), and is rendered "firmamentum" in the Vulgate, whence our "firmament" (Ge 1:6; De 33:26, etc.), regarded as a solid expanse. (3.) Metaphorical meaning of term. Isa 14:13-14; "doors of heaven" (Ps 78:23); heaven "shut" (1Ki 8:35); "opened" (Eze 1:1). (See 1Ch 21:16.) (4.) Spiritual meaning. the place of the everlasting blessedness of the righteous; the abode of departed spirits. (a) Christ calls it his "Father's house" (Joh 14:2). (b) It is called "paradise" (Lu 23:43; 2Co 12:4; Re 2:7). (c) "The heavenly Jerusalem" (Ga 4:1; 6:18; Heb 12:22; Re 3:12). (d) the "kingdom of heaven" (Mt 25:1; Jas 2:5). (e) the "eternal kingdom" (2Pe 1:11). (f) the "eternal inheritance" (1Pe 1:4; Heb 9:15). (g) the "better country" (Heb 11:14,16). (h) the blessed are said to "sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob," and to be "in Abraham's bosom" (Lu 16:22; Mt 8:11); to "reign with Christ" (2Ti 2:12). In heaven the blessedness of the righteous consists in the possession of "life everlasting," "an eternal weight of glory" (2Co 4:17), an exemption from all sufferings for ever, a deliverance from all evils (2Co 5:1-2) and from the society of the wicked (2Ti 4:18), bliss without termination, the "fulness of joy" for ever (Lu 20:36; 2Co 4:16,18; 1Pe 1:4; 5:10; 1Jo 3:2). the believer's heaven is not only a state of everlasting blessedness, but also a "place", a place "prepared" for them (Joh 14:2)'. Please also see the note for Matthew 3:2 about the phrase kingdom of Heaven. Please also see the note for Hebrews 12:2-LJC about the phrase treasure in Heaven. Please also see the Message called Laying up Treasure in Heaven. Please also see the note for Luke 3:21-22 about the phrase voice from heaven Please also see the note for Revelation 20:9 about the phrase fire from heaven. Please also see the note for 1Peter 1:2-LJC about the phrase things in Heaven. There are 57 references to this word just in this Bible book. Therefore, this note does not provide links to all of them.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'overcometh. Re 2:7; 17:14; 1Jo 2:13-14; 4:4 exp: 1Jo 5:4. pillar. 1Ki 7:21; Jer 1:18; Ga 2:9 I will. Re 2:17; 14:1; 22:4 the city. Re 21:2,10-27; Ps 48:8; 87:3; Ga 4:26-27; Heb 12:22 exp: Isa 60:14. my new. Re 22:4; Isa 65:15; Eph 3:15 General references. exp: Song 3:10.'.

Home Overview of Revelation Chapter Summary Start of Chapter

C3-S13 (Verse 13) the command to listen spiritually.

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

Please see the notes for the note for Mark 4:9 and Revelation 2:7 about the First Step of our sentence.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'General references. Re 2:7 exp: Mt 11:15; 13:9; Mr 4:9; 7:16; Heb 10:15; Re 3:22.'.

Home Overview of Revelation Chapter Summary Start of Chapter

C3-S14 (Verse 14-15) the message to the church of the Laodiceans.

Equivalent Section: Basics of the message.

First Step: Who the message is to.

And unto the angel of the church of the Laodice and write;

Second Step: Whom the message is from.

These things saith the Amen,
the faithful and true witness,
the beginning of the creation of God;.

Third Step: the basis of the message.

I know thy works,
that thou art neither cold nor hot:.

Equivalent Section: How our Lord Jesus Christ feels about this church.

I would thou wert cold or hot.

This church is the most preached about among the seven churches in this book. I've heard an American preacher preach about 'The Laodicean Church Age' at a tent meeting which saw over 3,000 professions in three days. He was valid in saying that America was in 'The Laodicean Church Age', but the country where he was preaching did not fit what he preached when he preached it. Many people make the mistake of thinking that what is true at their home is true for all of the world. At the same time as he experienced that at home, other places in the world experienced persecution and martyrs, other places experienced revival. And, the truth is that, if you look all around the world, and pretty much all of the time, you will find churches that are experiencing circumstances which match all seven of the conditions described in this book. Be careful about focusing on 'The Laodicean Church Age' because it causes people to ignore the truth which happens elsewhere.

I know that what I just wrote is not popular and will be rejected by some believers. But my job is not to reinforce your popular wrong doctrine but it is to tell you what is actually written in the word of God. With that written, there are some truths about this church which others have researched and I have not.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this church: 'We now come to the last of the seven churches of Asia the Lord Jesus commanded John to write to, the church of Laodicea. the city of the same name was located some 40 miles southeast of Philadelphia and 40 miles east of Ephesus. It was located between the cities of Hierapolis, which was famous for its hot springs, and the city of Colossae, which was known for its pure cold water, while the city Laodicea was well known for its wealth due to it being a large banking center, trade and market area. Much wealth and goods traded hands here. Laodicea was also a center for lots of manufacturing, especially the fabrication of a very soft, fine black wool cloth; where white togas was more common among the Romans, those of Laodicea commonly wore the local black cloth. Also within this city was a large medical school which made many medicines, ointments and salves, this school was known primarily throughout the land for one particular eye-salve it produced. the city also had much in the way of entertainment, boasting two theatres and a stadium. this city and the church along with it, were very prosperous, very wealthy and very well to do.
But the thing is, at one point Laodicea was a spiritually strong and thriving church; in Paul’s epistle to the Colossians we are introduced to a man named Epaphras who was from Colossae, who was one of Paul’s acquaintances in the faith, and was a fellow prisoner with him in Rome. Epaphras pastored in Laodicea. Col 4:12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. 3 forI bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis…. 15 Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house. Paul instructed that letter to the Colossians to be delivered to Laodicea as well, and that the letter which he wrote to Laodicea (which is now lost) to be read in Colossae Col 4:16 And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.
Laodicea had been instructed and grounded in truth, in sound doctrine, had been preached to by Epaphras the servant of Christ who labored fervently and zealously in his study to help these people, Laodicea had been personally written to by the Apostle Paul, had a full understanding of who the Lord Jesus is and how he should be in the preeminent place of every believers’ heart and life. Yet from such a close standing with the Lord Jesus this church had drifted so far from the Lord that he was now outside the church knocking on the door trying to get in. forinstead of walking in the midst of the seven golden candle sticks, instead of holding in his right hand the seven stars or pastors of those churches, instead of being welcome and in the midst of the church’s worship and praise and service, Jesus had been locked outside, and instead of walking with them was knocking to be allowed admittance. Jesus was trying to get in to a place and a people that bore his name yet really didn’t know him as they should, they instead treated him as a stranger.
Why is this? Its because the church compromised its stand, the people grew indifferent, worldliness was let into the church and into individual believer’s lives and thus Christ was shoved aside and forgotten, the church pushed Jesus out and forgot to invite him back in and so they took control themselves and began to run the church the way they wanted to. And this we see from the meaning of the word “Laodicea”, it translates as “the rights of the people” or “the people rule”, in the church where Christ was to be the head and the church the body, the body had now walked off without its head, and thus the body began to falter and die, for we all know that a body without a head is dead. And that’s what we see in the apostate church. People in charge of God's house, running it their way, doing what seems good in their own eyes, indifferent to Christ and the truth and to sin, having no need of God, his power or his input. Paul sums it up nicely in 2Ti 4:3 forthe time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth… So is there any surprise that the Lord Jesus has absolutely no commendation for this church, only rebuke, only warning, a last and final warning, and to put the exclamation point on this warning Christ introduces himself in some very powerful words.'.

Our sentence has two Equivalent Sections with the First Equivalent Section telling us the basis of the message to this church and the Second Equivalent Section telling us how our Lord Jesus Christ feels about their service and actions towards the kingdom of God. And, probably most of what is preached about this message is true and should be paid attention to in churches where such messages are applicable. I am not against such messages. I am only against the blind belief that the entire world matches what is described for this church.

Our First Equivalent Section has three Steps with the First Step telling us who this message is directed to, the Second Step telling us whom it is fRomans the third Step telling us the basis of the message. The word of God tells us that God preserved every word (Deuteronomy 8:3; Proverbs 30:5; Matthew 4:4; Matthew 18:16 and Luke 4:4) and every tittle {'every punctuation mark'} (Matthew 5:18; Luke 16:17). {The doctrine of every word is explained in the note for Romans C13S12.} those make up a sentence, not a verse. In addition, Isaiah 28 tells us that God will teach knowledge and make to understand doctrine using the sentence structure (line upon line, line upon line, the original language word for line means 'a measuring line' and language is measured by punctuation.) the word of God was written is sentences and paragraphs but ungodly men chopped it into verses starting 100 years after John closed God's book. And, the current format of verses is at least third iteration of such. Further, for the same reason as Jesus taught in parables, God left the verse format. That is, He left it so that lost and carnal men would be led into doctrinal error and God would be justified in judging them. However, the saved people who truly listened to God's Holy Ghost would receive the true spiritual message from Him. Therefore, I am explaining why I use the sentence structure so that saved people who truly want God's truth will use God's way to interpret God's word.

Returning to the analysis of our sentence, we see, in the First Step, that God wrote this to the pastor of the church (the angel of the church of the Laodiceans). As noted for every other church addressed in this book, God works through the authority structure which he established. That means that God uses the local pastor as His messenger (the angel). It also means that God expects the pastor to pass on His message and not some popular doctrinal error. And, finally, the local pastor will answer to God, at the judgment seat of Christ, for what happens in the church that he is put in charge of.

In the Second Step, that God wrote, we see a description of our Lord Jesus Christ which is unique to this church. First, He says that he is: the Amen. Every place, in the new Testament, where we find Amen, except here, I have pointed out that this word is used to double what came before it. That changes, what precedes the Amen, from being something that we can have different opinions on to being part of God's law which will be used to judge us. (This is not just my religious opinion but is proven to be true for every usage of this word.) And, in our current sentence, the phrase the Amen means: 'there is only one final word on God's Law and it is the Son of God in this role'. Here, the Son of God is clearly telling this church that this message is part of God's law which will be used to judge them and there is no other being whom that can appeal to. His judgment is final. Yes, this is a title but this title is tied to every other place where We find this word and it is telling us how hew will act within this role.

Next, the Son of God describes Himself as; the faithful and true witness. He is the Word of God in human flesh (John 1:1-2). And, as the faithful and true witness, He delivered God's message and what He personally knew about Heaven, if God allowed something to be revealed (John 5:19; John 5:30; John 5:36-37; John 12:49). Therefore, what he says comes from God the Father and there is none greater than God the Father. As a result, there is no appeal from His judgment. And, just like the first title given to this church, this title is speaking about law and judgment.

Our next title is: the beginning of the creation of God and some religions misinterpret this title. They use this title to claim that our Lord Jesus Christ is a created being. But, the word of God says that He is eternal, (John 3:15 : John 5:39 : John 17:13 : Romans 5:21; Romans 6:23; 1Timothy 1:17; Hebrews 5:9; 1John 1:2; 1John 5:11; 1John 5:20; Jude 1:21), Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually (Hebrews 7:3).

The truth is that God the Father provided the power and plan for creation. and, at the beginning, He gave those to God the Son. So, He was the beginning of the creation of God in that God the Father gave Him the power and plan of creation. He was not a created being.

In our third Step, the first phrase is; I know thy works. Our Lord Jesus Christ has had this phrase written to all seven churches (2:2; 2:9; 2:13; 2:19; 3:1; 3:8; 3:5). And, as has been explained in those other notes, the word thy is a personal pronoun, the Biblical definition of know 'includes a personal intimate knowledge' and the word works 'identify the actions which we do and which reveal the attitudes of our heart'. Obviously, our Second Equivalent Section makes it very clear that 'the attitudes of our heart' will be critically important when we will be judged.

The second phrase, of our third Step, is unique to this church and is probable the best known of all that is written to any of these churches. And, as has been well preached, the phrase: that thou art neither cold nor hot is clearly defined, in the next sentence, as: thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot. This is also clearly preached as: 'A hot person is on-fire for God and His kingdom. This person is clearly saved and lives a life which displays this truth. A cold person is clearly lost and fights against the kingdom of God, even participating in the persecution of true Christians. This type of person is as easy to identify as the hot person. And, a lukewarm person is neither hot nor cold but is a mixture of both. This person claims to be saved but lives a life like they are lost. Think about what the word of God reports about Lot and his wife'.

In our Second Equivalent Section, we read the phrase: I would thou wert cold is clearly preached as: 'Our Lord Jesus Christ clearly prefers clear spiritual enemies to saved people who refuse to truly serve His kingdom and who claim to be saved while living carnal worldly lives'. These lukewarm people help devils spread lies about God and true Christianity as they are held up as what the Bible and Christianity are about and are used, by devils and devil motivated people, to proclaim that God, the word of God, and Christianity are all inconsistent and unreliable.

With this all in mind, please realize that our next sentence starts with the phrase: So then and gives us a conclusion based upon this sentence. Toconsider either sentence, without also considering the other, is to use Satan's way the pervert he word of God by taking what it says out of context.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about these sentences: 'V14: And unto the angel of the church of the Laodice and write; these things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
Here Jesus refers to himself as the Amen which is the Hebrew word for confirmation and trustworthiness, it means “so be it”. Amen is also a title used of God in Isaiah 65:16 where the Hebrew word “amen” is translated as the word “truth” that he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth {amen}; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth {amen}; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes. Jesus here in v14 proclaims that he as God is ultimately trustworthy and what he says is absolutely true, he is the confirmer of God's truth, he amens the Amen. forhe also calls himself the faithful and true witness, not only here but in ch1:5. Jesus also referred to himself as holy and true to the church of Philadelphia, so what he is about to say to the church of Laodicea about their spiritual condition is the absolute truth whether they recognize it or not. Note that what Jesus says is not diluted, not sugar coated, he does not soften or distort or pull his punches in delivering the truth of the church’s state as their condition is far too serious not to be direct. He gives them the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth for they need the help of God. And you know sometimes I may be a little too blunt, a little too direct, I may really step on some toes, maybe say some things that infuriate some people but its not because I’m trying to hurt, I’m trying to help, just like Jesus is doing here, out of love for the church he is trying to help them by giving them the truth.
Jesus then gives a third description of himself, he says he is the beginning of the creation of God. Again this places Jesus in the place of deity, within the trinity of the triune God, and it is thru this position that Jesus created all of creation, he is the origin, the beginning of all within the universe. John 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. I believe this is also a reminder to the Laodicean’s of the letter they received from Paul Col 1:16 forby him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: Jesus began it all, he is the Creator, all things were created by him, for him and by him all things consist, he is the one that gave life to mankind and that gave his life for mankind, and the church here needs to remember that, without him, without Christ, they are nothing, without him there is no future, without him they are without everything, yet he is the very one they have locked outside their church doors.
And I believe it is because of that fact that the Lord says to John to write to the church of the Laodiceans. the key word being the there. Jesus makes this subtle addition as if it were no longer his church but theirs, the Laodiceans. He does not say the church of Laodicea but the church of the Laodiceans, as he is on the outside of the church, and it is now ruled by the people on the inside, it is empowered by the people, it is being destroyed by the people and their wants, their desires, their pettiness, their feelings. Church became about them and them being served, it was to run how they thought, it was not about them serving or worshipping the Lord, it was about them being served, they came for a blessing, not to be one. And so Jesus as the faithful and true witness who sees and knows all things and calls them like he sees them says to the church of Laodicea…

V15: Jesus knows this church’s works, what they do in his name, and he is not pleased. forwe see they are not hot, neither are they cold, they are a sickening lukewarm, tepid temperature; they are stale, halfhearted, apathetic, unenthusiastic, indifferent. thru biblical study you can find there are three types of spiritual heat in one’s spiritual heart, first there is a burning heart as seen with the disciples on the way to Emmaus when unbeknownst to them they spoke to the resurrected Jesus: Lu 24:32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? Second there is the cold heart Mt 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. And then thirdly there is the lukewarm heart as seen in the church of Laodicea. the temperature of this church would be as that of water pumped from the hot springs of Hierapolis or the cold pure water of Colossae, no matter the location that water was pumped from the water would arrive at a lukewarm temperature at Laodicea. this church showed no enthusiasm about the Lord whatsoever, they were indifferent to doctrine, to devotion, to zeal. Laodicea may have appeared like any other church on the outside, but it was just going thru the motions on the inside. It had lost its power and was clueless to this fact. the Lord Jesus said this sickened him so much that he would prefer they were either hot or cold, instead of this blah kind of temperature. He would prefer they were a cold dead church like Sardis who were alive in name only or that they were on fire like the church of Philadelphia who truly had a heart for God and His service, Romans 12:11 describes such a heart Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;. But Laodicea was neither, instead it was just there, somewhere in the middle, not quite dead but definitely not alive, it was just taking up space, just hanging on, doing what it had always done, or at least it thought was, but something was very different, something was lacking from what it used to be.
And that lack was that there was no spiritual fire, no spiritual heat to warm the hearts of the members any longer. they had drifted far from God, lost the Spirit, and locked Christ outside, and without a continual influx of such spiritual fervor, of spiritual fire, they grew cool until they hit their lukewarm indifference. Just as the Second Law of thermodynamics tells us. this law states that a closed system, such as this church, with nothing coming in and nothing going out, eventually moderates {balances out} so that no more energy is being produced. Unless something is added from the outside, the system decays and dies. For example, without electricity the hot water in the hot water heater becomes cool, without electricity coming in, the refrigerant in the freezer becomes warm. And so the church cannot be a closed system, it will grow lukewarm and powerless if it is, for Jesus said “Without me ye can do nothing”. the church needs the addition of the Lord and His Spirit. Yet the Laodicean church was independent, self-satisfied and secure in their own little world. they even said they had need of nothing, not realizing they truly needed God. So they were dying a slow death, they were spiritually powerless, with the Lord on the outside trying to get in {paraphrase of Warren Wiersbe}. Laodicea had closed its doors to Christ and the dynamic energy he supplies and thus they began to moderate to a lukewarm temperature. from this we see Jesus either wants all your heart or all your hate but he does not want lukewarm love, it is revolting to him.
And do we not see evidence of this in our churches today? An indifference among professing believers? An indifference to worship, to praise, to preaching, to teaching, to faithfulness to the church, indifference to the Spirit, to the truth, to the gospel, to salvation, indifference to one another, even an indifference to the church itself, thinking one church is as good as another, when its not. Many think they can take or leave their church and it doesn’t matter {sister churches, denominations, yet each church is its own unique body}. In our churches today we see evidence of no enthusiasm, no urgency, no compassion, yet these churches move and operate, even appear like any other church but the key difference is the Lord is not there or at least he is not participating in their worship. What a sad, sad fact. that in one of the most opportunistic times in history to get the gospel out and see the lost saved, the church has become indifferent to the lost’s plight and the one that saved them from their own damnation. And it is this indifference that sickens God.'.

We find Laodicea only in: our current sentence; Revelation 1:11; Colossians 2:1; Colossians 4:13; 4:15 and 4:16. Paul wrote an epistle to this church just like he wrote to the Colossians. In his mind, as we read that he wrote to the Colossians, the two epistles had equal importance. But, God preserved the one but not the other. That lets us know that Paul did not realize that he was writing scripture when he was writing. And, it lets us know that God determined what was preserved unto us.

We find forms of the word amen occurring 78 times in 72 verses of the Bible and, in the New Testament in: Matthew 6:13; Matthew 28:20; Mark 16:20; Luke 24:53; John 21:25; Romans 1:25; Romans 9:5; Romans 11:36; Romans 15:33; Romans 16:20; Romans 16:24; Romans 16:27; 1Corinthians 14:16; 1Corinthians 16:24; 2Corinthians 1:20; 2Corinthians 13:14; Galatians 1:5; Galatians 6:18; Ephesians 3:21; Ephesians 6:24; Philippians 4:20; Philippians 4:23; Colossians 4:18; 1Thessalonians 5:28; 2Thssalonians 3:18; 1Timothy 1:17; 1Timothy 6:16; 1Timothy 6:21; 2Timothy 4:18; 2Timothy 4:22; Titus 3:15; Philemon 1:25; Hebrews 13:21; Hebrews 13:25; 1Peter 4:11; 1Peter 5:11; 1Peter 5:14; 2Peter 3:18; 1John 5:21; 2John 1:13; Jude 1:25; 1:6; Revelation 1:7; Revelation 1:18; Revelation 3:14; Revelation 5:14; Revelation 7:12; Revelation 7:12; Revelation 19:4; Revelation 22:20; Revelation 22:21. This sentence is the only place where we find the phrase the Amen, to make it a title of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Please see the Minor Titles of the Son of God in the Significant Gospel Events Study for links to other titles given to our Lord Jesus Christ.) Most dictionaries and commentators define this word to be 'an affirmation o truth'. We see it used through the New Testament to double the prior statement, which makes the prior statement part of God's law. Thus, we can say that this title makes our Lord Jesus Christ 'Truth and the final source of God's law'. Of course, the Word Study of Truth already tells us that Lord Jesus Christ is Truth and provides links to every place what the Bible uses any form of the word truth.

Our sentence tells us that our Lord Jesus Christ is the faithful and true witness. Revelation 19:11 tells us that His title is Faithful and True and Revelation 22:6 tells us that the words of the prophecy which reveals Jesus Christ as Lord of all are also faithful and true. Please use the link in the sentence outline, above, to access the Word Study on true. Please see the note below about the word faithful.

Please see the notes for 1Corinthians C1S3; 2Corinthians C1S17; Galatians C3S27; Ephesians 6:23-LJC; Philippians 1:25-26 and 2Timothy C1S2 about the word faith. The functional definition is: 'an action word that is based upon a belief in a promise found within the Bible with the action dictated by the Bible and the understanding that our action does not force God to act nor determines when or how God acts but proves that of our own free will we are giving God permission to act in and through our life to do what He promised within His Word'. Please also see the notes for Colossians 1:1 and Titus 1:1 about the word faithful. The functional definition is: 'Firm in adherence to the truth and to the duties of religion. Full of faith, trustful, and not simply trustworthy. being true to oneself, to one's nature, to any promise given, and to any trust committed'. Please also see the note for Hebrews 3:1-LJC about Christ Jesus is faithful. Please also see the notes for Romans 4 and James 2:21-LJC about Abraham's faith. Please also see the note for 2Timothy C1S2 about the phrase faith: unfeigned. Please also see the note for 2Peter 2:3 about the word feign. Please also see the note for Romans C10S12 about the phrase faith makes us not ashamed. Please also see the note for Ephesians C1S2 about the phrase just shall live by faith. Please also see the note for Romans C11S6 about the phrase just shall live by his faith. Please also see the note for Romans C3S29 about the phrase justification by faith. Please also see the note for Romans C3S25 about Law and faith. Please also see the note for Romans C9S28 about live / walk by faith. Please see the note for James 2:14 for links to every verse in the New Testament where the words faith and works contained within the same verse.

Please see the note for Hebrews 11:4 about the word witness. The functional definition for this word is: 'someone who is qualified to testify in court and is available to do so if the court requests'. Please also see the notes for John 8:17; 2Corinthians 13:1 and Colossians C3S13 about the phrase witnesses, two or three. The functional definition for this phrase is: 'Basically, if the Bible literally says something in at least two places, that is a law that will be enforced by the court of God and is something that all must accept and obey'. Please also see the note for John 5:1 about the phrase witnesses given by Jesus to show that He is God.

Be careful of the phrase: the beginning of the creation of God. This does NOT mean that our Lord Jesus Christ was created. God the Father provided the plan and power for creation. God the Holy Ghost did work as directed by our Lord Jesus Christ. Creation was started (the beginning) with and by the person of our Lord Jesus Christ. He personally started creation, which is why He is the beginning of the creation of God.

Please see the note for John 1:1 about the word beginning. The functional definition for this word is: 'First entering upon; commencing; giving rise or original; taking rise or origin'.

Please see the note for Romans 1:20-21 about the word creation. The functional definition for this word is: 'The entire physical reality'. That note has a definition which is quite more detailed, if the reader is interested in more details.

Please see the note for John 18:18 about the word cold. The functional definition for this word is: 'An extreme lack of warmth. Used symbolically for an extreme lack of caring and even antagonistic feelings'. Please see the note in John for a more detailed explanation.

It should be obvious that this word, and the phrase it is in, is used symbolically for their spiritual attitude and not for the physical temperature. People who are spiritually cold, symbolically, fight against all truth from God. They try to murder the saved in order to try and prove that their personal religious beliefs are greater that truth from God. Foran example, think about Paul before he was saved.

We find forms of the word hot occurring 32 times in 31 verses of the Bible and, in the New Testament, in: 1Timothy 4:2; Revelation 3:15; Revelation 3:16. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'a. 1. Having sensible heat; opposed to cold; as a hot stove or fire; a hot cloth; hot liquors. Hot expresses more than warm. 2. Ardent in temper; easily excited or exasperated; vehement. Achilles is impatient, hot and revengeful. 3. Violent; furious; as a hot engagement or assault. 4. Eager; animated;; brisk; keen; as a hot pursuit, or a person hot in a pursuit. 5. Lustful; lewd. 6. Acrid; biting; stimulating; pungent; as hot as mustard or pepper'.

It should be obvious that this word (hot), and the phrase it is in, is used symbolically for their spiritual attitude and not for the physical temperature. People who are spiritually hot, symbolically, fight for all truth from God. They try to convert the lost and encourage the saved to let God change their life in order to try and prove that that truth from God is the most powerful thing which we can receive in this physical life. Foran example, think about Paul after he was saved.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'the angel. Re 1:11; 2:1 of the Laodiceans. or, in Laodicea. Col 2:1; 4:16 the Amen. Isa 65:16; 2Co 1:20 the faithful. Re 3:7; 1:5; 19:11; 22:6; Isa 55:4; Jer 42:5 the beginning. Col 1:15 exp: Col 1:18. General references. exp: Joh 5:31.
I know. Re 3:1; 2:2 exp: Re 3:8. That. Re 2:4; Mt 24:12; Php 1:9; 2Th 1:3; 1Pe 1:22 I would. De 5:29; Ps 81:11-13; 2Co 12:20 thou. Jos 24:15-24; 1Ki 18:21; Pr 23:26; Ho 7:8; 10:2; Zep 1:5-6; Mt 6:24; 10:37; Lu 14:27-28; 1Co 16:22; Jas 1:8 General references. exp: Lu 11:23.'.

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C3-S15 (Verse 16) . The conclusion of the message from the prior sentence.

So then because thou art lukewarm,
and neither cold nor hot,
I will spue thee out of my mouth.

Since our sentence starts with the phrase: so then, it is providing a conclusion from the prior sentence. The word lukewarm is only used in this sentence, within the Bible, and is also, obviously, used symbolically for their spiritual attitude. And, as has been preached many times, this type of attitude is very prevalent among American so-called 'Christians' of today. They don't know, or don't believe the true spiritual Biblical promises for serving God or, more often, they believe the doctrinal lie that they will receive those promises even though they don't fulfill the Biblical requirements for receiving them. In addition, many American so-called 'Christians' of today have been convinced that God will not punish them personally for living in sin in spite of the warnings in the Bible and in spite of the History of God punishing His people several times because the majority of them accepted that exact same attitude.

Please read the Word Definitions, below, as they are different from what many people believe. For example, the words thou and thee, in our sentence, are personal pronouns. Therefore, the judgment, specified in this sentence, is personal and is because of personal attitudes In spite of what many religions and preachers claim, judgment is not based upon what the entire church does. However, most people do not look at how they personally fulfill the requirements found in the word of God, but look at how they believe they compare to other people using their own distorted measure instead of using the measure found in the word of God. Thus, many saved people will be shocked to find that God's judgment of their personal life and service to Him is quite different from what they expected.

in this sentence, our Lord Jesus Christ is very clear about how He feels as a result of the attitude described here. Many people try to claim that our attitude does not matter but this sentence clearly tells us differently.

Imagine being at the judgment seat of Christ, with all of Heaven there as a witness and with the knowledge that all of those beings will remember what is said about you for ever. And, our Lord Jesus Christ pronounces: 'your life makes me so sick that I want to up-chuck my last meal. You make me sorry that I saved you. get far from means stay far away from me'. Yes, because of everlasting salvation there will be lost people in Heaven, like Lot and his wife, who will hear a judgment like this. And the main reason why saved people will hear such a message is because they believe lies from devils that everyone saved receive all promises, regardless if they fulfill the requirements to receive those promises. They also believe the doctrinal lies of: 'No tears in Heaven' and 'Everyone gets a mansion right next door to Peter'.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence: 'This church which had once been a blessing to God and pleased him was now repulsive to God. He hates this condition of indifference in his children, it is like asking a child questions over and over and them simply replying I don’t know or I don’t care, it doesn’t matter, or my wife’s favorite response from our nephew “I guess”. there is no enthusiasm or care in such an answer, yet this was how the church was responding to God and that’s how many respond to Him today, with the answer I don’t care or it doesn’t matter, “do you want me to be involved in your worship?”… “I guess” is the answer they give to God; they are indifferent, which not only has to be sickening to God to the point he is ready to vomit this church out of his mouth, but it must be infuriating as well.
The saddest fact about the condition of the Laodicean church is they were totally unaware of their state. they had deceived themselves about their condition. Like many churches today believe they have everything a church needs to be a church, they have a building, a preacher, assistant pastors, a few deacons, a choir, committee after committee, an assortment of programs including a missions program, Sunday School, a few special meetings a year, plenty of members, plenty of money in the bank and a big spending budget, they thought they had so much that they had need of nothing else, they didn’t need anything added to their church, to their worship or to their service, yet they were utterly blind to the fact that they didn’t have the most important factor, they were missing the Lord Jesus, they had left him outside in the cold, and then they probably wondered why their services were cold, uninspired, dead, and why their church was dying. And then Lord Jesus tells them why.'.

Please see the note above about the word hot. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'a. 1. Having sensible heat; opposed to cold; as a hot stove or fire; a hot cloth; hot liquors. Hot expresses more than warm. 2. Ardent in temper; easily excited or exasperated; vehement. Achilles is impatient, hot and revengeful. 3. Violent; furious; as a hot engagement or assault. 4. Eager; animated;; brisk; keen; as a hot pursuit, or a person hot in a pursuit. 5. Lustful; lewd. 6. Acrid; biting; stimulating; pungent; as hot as mustard or pepper'.

It should be obvious that this word (hot, and the phrase it is in, is used symbolically for their spiritual attitude and not for the physical temperature. People who are spiritually hot, symbolically, fight for all truth from God. They try to convert the lost and encourage the saved to let God change their life in order to try and prove that that truth from God is the most powerful thing which we can receive in this physical life. Foran example, think about Paul after he was saved.

We find forms of the word spue only in this sentence, within the Bible. Wright's Bible Word-Book defines this word as: 'To spit, vomit; metaphorically, to reject with loathing as nauseous food: A. S. spíwan. Spelt 'spew' in 1611. Now become a vulgarism'. Our prior sentence told us that our Lord Jesus Christ would prefer people who honestly fought against Him and against true Biblical doctrine. It is my personal observation that people who have the attitude described By this sentence are positive that they will personally live in eternal joy within a mansion 'next door to Peter in Heaven', even thought they don't know what the Bible says is required in order for them to receive such things. In addition, such people tend to become very angry at anyone who dares to show them that the Bible says anything different from what they chose to believe.

Please see the note for Luke 1:64 about the word mouth. The American Tract Society Dictionary defines this word as: 'Is sometimes used in Scripture for speaker, Ex 4:16; Jer 15:19. God spoke with Moses "mouth to mouth," Nu 12.8, that is, condescendingly and clearly. the law was to be "in the mouth" of the Hebrews, Ex 13:9, often rehearsed and talked of. "The rod of his mouth," Isa 11:4, and the sharp sword, Re 1:16, denote the power of Christ's word to convict, control, and judge; compare Isa 49:2; Heb 4:12. the Hebrew word for mouth is often translated "command," Ge 45:21; Job 39:27; Ec 8:2; and the unclean spirits out of the mouth of the dragon, Re 16:14, are the ready executors of his commands'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'I will spue thee out. Re 2:5; Jer 14:19; 15:1-4; Zec 11:8-9 General references. exp: Le 18:28; Lu 11:23.'.

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C3-S16 (Verse 17-18) the message to this church.

Equivalent Section: the judgment of this church.

First Step: their erroneous thinking which brought judgment.

Because thou sayest,
I am rich,
and increased with goods,
and have need of nothing;.

Second Step: their true spiritual condition.

and knowest not that thou art wretched,
and miserable,
and poor,
and blind,
and naked:.

Equivalent Section: the counsel to this church

First Step: Get true spiritual riches which will survive the judgment fires.

I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire,
that thou mayest be rich;.

Second Step: Get spiritual clothing required to participate in the marriage supper of the Lamb.

and white raiment,
that thou mayest be clothed,
and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear;.

Third Step: Receive the spiritual help which will let them see and understand spiritual truths.

and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve,
that thou mayest see.

Our sentence has two Equivalent Sections with the First Equivalent Section telling them their true spiritual condition and the Second Equivalent Section telling them how to fix their true spiritual condition. And, with as many messages as have been preached based upon the message to this church, you would think that churches would avoid this spiritual condition. However, the truth is that most churches in America seem to be in the same spiritual condition as this church. That is why so many preachers claim that the entire world is in 'The Laodicean Church Age'. No, it is mainly churches in Western Cultures. Other parts of the world have circumstances which match what we read about the other six churches mentioned in this book. And, while that is true, the main reason why so many American churches are in this condition is because so many people believe that they are some Bible expert, because they can argue about wrong religious doctrines. And, as our Lord Jesus Christ says to this church: thou...knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked. Like people in this church, many saved people in America can not rightly divide physical religious doctrines from spiritual truth.

The First Step, in the First Equivalent Section, tells us the erroneous thinking, of this church, which brought judgment. They were looking strictly at the physical and otally ignoring the spiritual. Unfortunately, many people , including many who claim to be saved, do the same thing today. Now, we need to compare the thinking in this Step to the truth, told by our Lord Jesus Christ, found in the Second Step. Look at our third phrase which says: and increased with goods. The word goods is speaking about physical things. Now consider our first phrase which says: Because thou sayest. This means: 'The r4eason why you are being judged is because you have a lifestyle saying that you measure your life by the possession of physical things'. Consider the parable of 'The Rich fool' (Luke 12:16-21) and what led to that parable as found in Luke 12:15. This Step tells us that the people in this church has the same mistaken belief as 'The Rich fool'.

The Second Step, in the First Equivalent Section, tells us their true spiritual condition as told to us by our Lord Jesus Christ. In the first phrase, we read: knowest not. They might have had some knowledge, based upon preaching or reading, but they did nor have a 'lifestyle knowledge' because, if they had that, it would have changed how they lived. In addition, this is personal because of the use of the personal pronoun (thou). Further, this phrase proves the claims of 'No tears in Heaven' and 'Everyone gets a mansion right next door to Peter' to be lies from devils.

The first phrase also tells us: that thou art wretched ('Very miserable; sunk into deep affliction or distress, either from want, anxiety or grief'). If they remain in this spiritual condition when they die, their condition will not be changed until after the great white throne judgment (20:11-15).

Continuing on, in the second phrase, we read that they are personally (thou) are miserable ('Unhappily; calamitously'). Again, their condition will not change until God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes after the great white throne judgment (21:4).

In the third phrase, we read that they are personally (thou) poor ('Destitution of spiritual treasure'). Please see the note for Hebrews 12:2-LJC about treasure in Heaven. Please also see the Message called; Laying up Treasure in Heaven.

In the fourth phrase, we read that they are personally (thou) blind ('lacking the ability to spiritually see and understand'). Without spiritual sight, they did not even know what they were missing. When such saved people get to Heaven, and realize all that they could have had but failed to spiritually obtain, their misery will be greater.

In the fifth phrase, we read that they are personally (thou) naked ('Want of covering or clothing; nudity; bareness'). Revelation 19:8 tells us that these people will not be allowed to be part of the bride of Christ, even though they are saved and in Heaven. Please also see the message called: outer darkness.

The First Step, in the Second Equivalent Section, tells us what our Lord Jesus Christ counsels. The first phrase tell us: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire. Dr. Jeff Wilson gives us a different perspective, below, on the word buy from what I will tell you here. In the past, I have worked in order to receive something that I needed even though I was not paid actual money. That is a form of trade. In the word of God we are told to serve God in order to lay up treasure in Heaven. This is the Biblical way to buy of me gold tried in the fire.

The gold tried in the fire is what we are to use to build our spiritual life (1Corinthians 3:11-15). Simply put, most of the people in this church, and most people in Western societies, would leave church if that lost everything that they had in this world and ended up being persecuted. But, true spiritual gold tried in the fire is the result of someone continuing to worship and serve God even after experiencing something like that.

The second phrase, of the First Step, in the Second Equivalent Section, we read: that thou mayest be rich. This tells us Keeping a right attitude through the worst storms of life is how we lay up treasure in Heaven.

The Second Step, in the Second Equivalent Section, tells us how to get spiritual clothing required to participate in the marriage supper of the Lamb. in this Step, we are told to buy this clothing. Our Heavenly spiritual clothing is made from the righteousness of saints (Revelation 19:8). But we have no righteousness of our own (Romans 3:10). Therefore, when we believe and obey God, he counts that for righteousness (Genesis 15:6) and this is how saved people gain true righteousness. Thus, saved people can buy righteousness by believing and obeying God.

The third Step, in the Second Equivalent Section, we see two phrases with the second phrase telling us the results of doing the first phrase. The second phrase says: that thou mayest see ('that we can have a lifestyle of spiritual sight and understanding'). Again, we see that we must buy this eyesalve from our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the only one Who can fix spiritual sight. We buy this eyesalve by doing the true work of studying what the word of God truly says and letting it correct wrong religious doctrine which we have been taught before. Our sentence tells us that the people in this church had the problems mentioned in this sentence because they believed doctrinal error instead of what the word of God truly says. Likewise, people of today have the same problems for the same reasons. And, the God given solution remains the same for us as it was for them.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence, and a little about the prior sentence: 'This church was ignorant of their spiritual condition and needed to be told very bluntly that they needed the Lord back in their lives. this church was so indifferent to the missing Christ that they thought they were fine, that their spiritual condition was okay, they were satisfied, comfortable, no one rocked the boat and that was okay with them, but it disturbed them when someone tried to stir them up. One of the main reasons the church had slipped into to such a state was they were so increased with goods, they were so prosperous they didn’t have to depend on or need God anymore. they were truly a rich church, wealthy, having plenty to fulfill their programs, yet they had no heart to use that money. they truly thought in the back of their minds “we are so well off we really don’t need anything else, we have all our bases covered, we are financially secure, even our members are increased with goods, they don’t struggle to make ends meet, they live good lives, live in nice houses, drive nice cars, have lots of land, have plenty of additional material goods”, they thought because they had so much we must be doing something right for God to bless us so much. And it is that right there that has snared many a Christian, they mistake their prosperity for God's blessing, yet does not the Bible say that the followers of Christ would suffer, especially suffer persecution? Remember the church of Smyrna suffered great persecution and great poverty yet Jesus calls them rich, they were the only church not reprimanded by Christ, yet Laodicea is materially wealthy but they are spiritually destitute and receive no commendation only rebuke from the Lord. Laodicea had grown wealthy because they weren’t growing anywhere else, no heart for the lost, fellow churches, missions, the hurt, the orphaned, the poor, the abused, the afflicted, they had no compassion for their fellow man, no outreach to show the love of Christ to others, so their money began to pile up. this church was not burdened for the things of God, they were burdened by their wealth. Clarence Larkin writes “The trouble with the church today is that it thinks that nothing can be done without money, and that if we only had the money the world would be converted in this generation. the world is no to be converted with money, but by the spirit of God”. Laodicea and the churches it represents have no sense of need, they are self-sufficient, they got along just fine without God, they are independent of the Lord. they have a high opinion of themselves, they are focused on money and materialism and self instead of depending on and being focused on God. they measure their success by human standards instead of by God's , and God wants obedience, he wants relationship, he wants humbleness, he wants love. Yet Laodicea and these others have none of these and are ignorant of this fact.
So Jesus the faithful and true witness informs them of their miserable condition. You think you have it all and don’t even realize, that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: this is a church God is ashamed of, sickened by, angered with and is very close to judging. Laodicea is symbolic of much of the church in the last days, yet it shouldn’t and doesn’t have to be. forwe saw last time there will be remnants of the Philadelphia church in the last days, along with remnants of Sardis and thyatira. So we have a choice, we are going to be one of these churches and share characteristics with others, and I don’t believe thyatira or Pergamos, the state-churches, are an option for us, so we are either going to be a Philadelphian church, a church of brotherly love, a Smyrna church, poor and severely persecuted (not likely at the moment but the chances are ever increasing by the day), an Ephesus church that has left its first love, the Sardis church, a church that is alive but dead, or we are the church of Laodicea, a church of indifference that sickens God. Which one do you think your church is?, which one would you like you church to be like?, what are you going to do about it?
Their indifference to God caused the church of Laodicea to put Him aside while they took charge so they could rule, and thus their spiritual fervor cooled to a sickening lukewarm temperature, they were neither on fire for God or to the point they were fully cold and dead, they were just there, going thru the motions, they had no zeal for God yet they had not fully rejected Him either, the church had become all about the members and their wants and their issues, not God, not the lost, not spiritual service, instead of trusting God and growing their faith they done what they deemed right and best for themselves, and this sickened the Lord to the point he was about to spew them out of his mouth. Yet the very sad fact was, this church did not recognize their miserable spiritual condition, they had so much, so much material wealth, were so prosperous, they thought they didn’t need anything added, they were so increased with goods they had need of nothing else, yet they were unaware they were missing the most critical factor, they were missing the Lord Jesus. He was not involved with their worship or their work because they were indifferent to Him and uninvolved with Him, and just to keep this in your minds, this church is representative of the state of the church in the last days, not all churches, but quite a large majority of them, but the good news is Jesus does give those who wish to escape such a miserable spiritual state a chance to do so.
This church thought they had everything, wealth, power, influence, all the church programs you could shake a stick at, numbers, all the niceties and comforts of life, yet Jesus says they were poor: absolutely destitute, wretched: meaning contemptible or afflicted, miserable: pitiable, blind and naked, shameful. they had the appearance of well to do, good moral people, having a form of godliness with deep religious insight, even biblical knowledge, robed in decency and honor, blessed and fine representatives of the church of Laodicea who enjoyed life, yet on the inside it was a totally different matter. for this is a church God is ashamed of, sickened by, angered with and is very close to judging and being finished with it. And that is why the Lord in his mercy offers this church, and the believers that made up that church, some wise counsel.

V18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
The Lord says the Laodice and had the wrong kind of gold, in all their wealth he still looked at them as poor, which is the opposite of what he said about Smyrna, who were utterly poor in a worldly sense but Jesus called them rich. the Laodice and had worldly gold, not heavenly gold, so Christ advises them to buy of him gold tried in the fire. Jesus is asking them to examine and test their faith, will their faith really stand up to trial, to temptation, to persecution, if not they have fool’s gold, they need to get the real stuff, strong faith, growing faith, not faith that is so weak it would allow them to leave Jesus outside. Jesus wants them to strengthen their faith, to have gold tried in the fire, and the best way to increase one’s faith is thru adversity, thru testing, 1Pe 1:7 that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: this church had so much going for it and had compromised so much it really didn’t face any persecution or problems like the rich church of Smyrna did, so instead of having spiritual gold, strong faith, this church was weak spiritually. But if they would let God back into their midst and partake of the riches of His grace, of His gold that has been tried, tried on the cross of Calvary, they can be partakers of the riches of Christ and they will find these riches more than sufficient to help build their own faith, they will be made spiritually wealthy for when they begin to do the Father’s business they will face some trials to help strengthen their faith. God allows his churches to face adversity at times to help them grow in faith so they can be strong enough to face the purposes He has planned for them. So if a church will begin to serve God and increase in faith and most importantly let Jesus back into their midst they will have the one In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge Col 2:3. they will be truly wealthy.
Ro 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
Eph 3:16 that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
Php 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
The second thing the Lord Jesus says to buy from him is white raiment. Remember Laodicea was famous for manufacturing clothing, specifically a fine black wool that many of the residents wore, but here Jesus advises them to buy white raiment to cloth their nakedness and change their state of wretchedness and misery to that of righteousness. He bids them to be clothed with the garments of salvation and righteousness. Isa 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. Jesus advises them to put on the white raiment of the bride of Christ, the raiment of the saved, the faithful. This is also the same or similar to the white raiment the Lord Jesus himself is clothed in,
Mt 17:2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
Mt 28:3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
Mr 9:3 And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.
Lu 9:29 And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.
And it is also the same white raiment Jesus promises to those who overcome, Re 3:5 He that overcometh, 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. this white raiment He offers is the covering of those who believe upon the Lord Jesus. He asks them to not be clothed and identified with the world, to be carnal believers, but to be identified with him, to wear the white robes of righteousness and not the black robes of worldliness, compromise and indifference.
And lastly the Lord Jesus says to the Laodice and to buy of him eyesalve to anoint their eyes with in order to remove their spiritual blindness, so they can see what they have done, in how they have left the Lord on the outside and how they have corrupted their worship and faith with their own pride, selfishness and indifference; how they have taken the church and robbed it of its spirit and life. they needed to see themselves as God saw them, they needed to see their miserable state without Jesus in order for them to desire to remove their lukewarmness by inviting Jesus back in.
If you recall Laodicea was also well known for its medical school and production of medicines, specifically a very potent eyesalve. Jesus says the very best medicine you have can’t help you but what I offer can cure and heal all things, including your blindness. foragain this church had walked away from so much, and had become what Peter warns of in his letter… 2Pe 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: … 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 forif these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. this church needed healing so they could see Jesus as their Lord and Savior once more, as the head of the church, as the Son of God who gave all for them to be saved, they needed to see they needed to put Christ back in the preeminent place in their lives.
And everything that Jesus offers here will accomplish that, will help change the condition of this church. But one thing I find curious is that Jesus uses the term “buy” I counsel thee to buy of me... Is not grace and salvation freely given, can man earn or merit or buy salvation or God's forgiveness? then why use the term buy? I believe what Jesus is trying to get across, to remind the Laodiceans, is that all of these things he advises them to partake of (heavenly riches, righteousness, spiritual healing) have already been purchased, the price has already been paid by Christ’s very own blood. the riches of glory, the white raiment, spiritual sight, all are offered freely for Jesus bought them for us, he purchased all those things and more, he purchased salvation and all that entails for us on the old rugged cross. And all one must do is obtain these things from the Lord, that’s what the word “buy” their means, to obtain, they do not have to give something to get something in return, they do not have to buy them, but they only have to receive what is freely offered from the one who did buy such things, for he has already paid the price. Another thing to take notice of here is that Jesus does not force himself on these people or on anyone, he gives them the choice, grace or judgment, him or the world, him outside or inside, involvement or indifference.'.

Please see the note for Revelation 1:14 for every place where we find the words eyes and fire used in the same verse. In every one of these verses, the context is telling us about judgment by God. 1Corinthians 3:13-15 also warns us that the works of all saved will be made manifest...by fire. Thus, this phrase is also dealing with our Lord Jesus Christ being prepared to judge.

Please see the notes for Romans C11S35 and Colossians C1S6 about the word riches. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines this word as: 'n. this is in the singular number in fact, but treated as the plural. 1. Wealth; opulence; affluence; possessions of land, good or money in abundance. Riches do not consist in having more gold and silver, but in having more in proportion than our neighbors. 2. Splendid sumptuous appearance. the riches of heav'n's pavement, trodden gold. 3. In Scripture, an abundance of spiritual blessings. Luke 16. the riches of God, his fulness of wisdom, power, mercy, grace and glory, Eph. 1, 2; or the abundance supplied by his works. Ps. 104. the riches of Christ, his abundant fulness of spiritual and eternal blessings for men. Eph. 3. the riches of a state or kingdom, consist less in a full treasury than in the productiveness of its soil and manufactures, and in the industry of its inhabitants'. The note for Romans has links to every place where forms of this word are used in the New Testament along with a short note about the usage. Please also see the note for 1Corinthians C1S2 about the word enriched.

Please see the note for Colossians 2S10 about the word increase. The functional definition for this word is: 'To become greater in bulk or quantity; to grow; to augment; as plants. Hence, to become more in number; to advance in value, or in any quality good or bad'.

Please see the note for Matthew 12:29 about the word goods (plural). The functional definition for this word is: ''n. plu. Movables; household furniture. 1. Personal or movable estate; as horses, cattle, utensils, etc. 2. Wares; merchandize; commodities bought and sold by merchants and traders'.

Please see the note for Philippians 4:19 about the word need. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines this word as: 'n. to be in want. the primary sense is to press. 1. Want; occasion for something; necessity; a state that requires supply or relief. It sometimes expresses urgent want; pressing exigency. What further need have we of witnesses? Matthew 26. 2. Want of the means of subsistence; poverty; indigence. I know how to abound and to suffer need. Philippians 4.
NEED, v.t. to compel to want; to lack; to require, as supply or relief. they that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. Matthew 9.
NEED,v.i. to be wanted; to be necessary. When we have done it, we have done all that is in our power, and all that needs. Not used. Need is often used as an auxiliary, or at least without the personal termination. And the lender need not fear he shall be injured'. Please also see the note for Romans C13S8 about the phrase must needs. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 3:17; 21:23; 22:5.

We find forms of the word wretched is only used in this sentence within the Bible. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'a. 1. Very miserable; sunk into deep affliction or distress, either from want, anxiety or grief. The wretched find no friends. 2. Calamitous; very afflicting; as the wretched condition of slaves in Algiers. 3. Worthless; paltry; very poor or mean; as a wretched poem; a wretched cabin. 4. Despicable; hatefully vile and contemptible. He was guilty of wretched ingratitude'.

Please see the note for Matthew 21:41 about the words miserable / miserably. Webster's 1828 defines this word as 'Unhappily; calamitously. the fifth was miserably stabbed to death. 1. Very poorly or meanly; wretchedly. they were miserably entertained. 2. In misery or unhappiness.''.

Please see the note for Mark 12:42 about the word poor. Easton's Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'The Mosaic legislation regarding the poor is specially important. (1.) they had the right of gleaning the fields (Le 19:9-10; De 24:19,21). (2.) In the sabbatical year they were to have their share of the produce of the fields and the vineyards (Ex 23:11; Le 25:6). (3.) In the year of jubilee they recovered their property (Le 25:25-30). (4.) Usury was forbidden, and the pledged raiment was to be returned before the sun went down (Ex 22:25-27; De 24:10-13). the rich were to be generous to the poor (De 15:7-11). (5.) In the sabbatical and jubilee years the bond-servant was to go free (De 15:12-15; Le 25:39-42,47-54). (6.) Certain portions from the tithes were assigned to the poor (De 14:28-29; 26:12-13). (7.) they shared in the feasts (De 16:11,14; Ne 8:10). (8.) Wages were to be paid at the close of each day (Le 19:13). In the New Testament (Lu 3:11; 14:13; Ac 6:1; Ga 2:10; Jas 2:15-16) we have similar injunctions given with reference to the poor. Begging was not common under the Old Testament, while it was so in the New Testament times (Lu 16:20-21, etc.). But begging in the case of those who are able to work is forbidden, and all such are enjoined to "work with their own hands" as a Christian duty (1Th 4:11; 2Th 3:7-13; Eph 4:28). this word is used figuratively in Mt 5:3; Lu 6:20; 2Co 8:9; Re 3:17'. Please also see the note for 2Corinthians 8:1 about the word poverty. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines this word as: 'Destitution of property; indigence; want of convenient means of subsistence. the consequence of poverty is dependence. the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty. Prov.23. 2. Barrenness of sentiment or ornament; defect; as the poverty of a composition. 3. Want; defect of words; as the poverty of language'.

Please see the note for 2Corinthians 3:12-14 about the word blind. The functional definition for this word is: 'lacking the ability to spiritually see and understand'. Please also see the note for John 12:45 about the phrase: eyes to see.

Please see the note for Romans C8S37 about the word nakedness. The functional definition for this word is: 'n. 1. Want of covering or clothing; nudity; bareness. 2. Want of means of defense. Ye are spies; to see the nakedness of the land are ye come. Gen 42. 3. Plainness; openness to view. to uncover nakedness, in Scripture, is to have incestuous or unlawful commerce with a female'. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 3:17-18; 16:15; 17:16.

Please see the note for John 11:53 about the word counsel. The functional definition for this word is: ' to give advice or deliberate opinion to another for the government of his conduct; to advice.'. Please also see the note for Romans C11S38 about the word counseller.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians 7:23 about the words bought / buy. The functional definition for this word is: 'Webster's 1828 dictionary defines buy as: 'v.t. pret. and pp. bought. pron. bawt. 1. to acquire the property, right or title to anything, by paying a consideration or an equivalent in money. It differs from barter only in this, that in barter the consideration or equivalent is some species of commodity; in purchase, the consideration is money paid or promised. to purchase; to acquire by paying a price to the satisfaction of the seller; opposed to sell. 2. to procure by a consideration given, or by something that is deemed worth the thing bought; to procure at a price; as, to buy pleasure with praise; to buy favor with flattery. 3. to bribe; to corrupt or pervert the judgment, by paying a consideration. to buy off, to influence to compliance; to cause to bend or yield by some consideration, as to buy off conscience; to detach by a consideration given, as to buy off one from a party. to buy out, to buy off, or detach from. 1. to purchase the share or shares of a person in a stock, fund, or partnership, by which the seller is separated from the company, and the purchaser takes his place, as, A buys out B. to purchase stock in any fund or partnership, is to buy in. to buy on credit, is to purchase a thing, on a promise in fact or in law, to make payment at a future day. to buy the refusal, is to give money for the right of purchasing at a fixed price at a future time. to buy the small pox, in South Wales, is to receive it by inoculation. In popular language, to buy is to pay dear for, as in Chaucer. BUY, v.i. to negotiate, or treat about a purchase. I will buy with you and sell with you'. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 3:18; 13:17; 18:11.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians C3S13 about the word gold. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines this word as: 'A precious metal of a bright yellow color, and the most ductile and malleable of all the metals. It is the heaviest metal except platina; and being a very dense, fixed substance, and not liable to be injured by air, it is well fitted to be used as coin, or a representative of commodities in commerce. Its ductility and malleability render it the most suitable metal for gilding. It is often found native in solid masses, as in Hungary and Peru; though generally in combination with silver, copper or iron. 2. Money. forme, the gold of France did not seduce-- 3. Something pleasing or valuable; as a heart of gold. 4. A bright yellow color; as a flower edged with gold. 5. Riches; wealth. Gold of pleasure, a plant of the genus Myagrum. GOLD, a. Made of gold; consisting of gold; as a gold chain'.

Please see the note for James 3:6 about the word fire. The functional definition for this word is: 'In the Bible, it is mainly used symbolically for the presence and judgment of God'. Please also see the note for Romans C12S18 about the phrase coals of fire. Please also see the note for Revelation 19:20 about the phrase lake of fire.

Please see the note for 2Corinthians 5:2-3 about the word clothed. The functional definition for this word is: 'Covered with garments; dressed; invested; furnished with clothing'.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians 6:5 about the word shame. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines this word as: 'n. A painful sensation excited by a consciousness of guilt, or of having done something which injures reputation; or by of that which nature or modesty prompts us to conceal. Shame is particularly excited by the disclosure of actions which, in the view of men, are mean and degrading. Hence it is often or always manifested by a downcast look or by blushes, called confusion of face'. Please also see the notes for Romans C5S2 about the word ashamed. Please also see the note for Romans C10S12 about the phrase faith makes us not ashamed. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 3:18; 16:15.

Please see the note for 2Corinthians 5:10 about the word appear. Webster's 1828 dictionary definition for this word is: 'to come or be in sight; to be in view; to be visible. the leprosy appeareth in the skin of the flesh. Lev. 13. And God said, Let the dry land appear. Gen. 1. 2. to become visible to the eye, as a spirit, or to the apprehension of the mind; a sense frequent in scripture. the Lord appeared to Abram, and said. Gen 12. the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of the bush. Ex. 3. 3. to stand in presence of, as parties or advocates before a court, or as persons to be tried. the defendant, being called, did not appear. We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ. 2Cor. 5. 4. to be obvious; to be known, as a subject of observation or comprehension. Let thy work appear to thy servant. Ps. 90. It doth not yet appear what we shall be. 1John 3. 5. to be clear or made clear by evidence; as, this fact appears by ancient records. But sin that it might appear sin. Rom 7. 6. to seem, in opposition to reality. they disfigure their faces, that they may appear to men to fast. Mat. 6. 7. to be discovered, or laid open. that they shame may appear. Jer. 13'. Please see the Appearances of Jesus Christ After the Resurrection Section within the Time Sequence of Gospel Events Study. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 3:18; 12:1; 12:3.

Please see the note for 2Corinthians C1S15 about the word anoint. The functional definition for this word is: 'To pour oil upon; to smear or rub over with oil or unctuous substances. Used symbolically to represent being covered by God's Holy Ghost'.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians C12S13 about the word eye. The functional definition for this word is: ' the organ of sight or vision; properly, the globe or ball movable in the orbit'. Man written dictionary definitions, for this word, have multiple applications presented as definitions, which leads to doctrinal error when people use those applications to build Bible doctrine. Please also see the note for John 12:45 about the phrase eyes to see.

We find forms of the word eyesalve only in this sentence within the Bible. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia defines this word as: 'i'-save (kollourion; collyrium; Re 3:18): A Phrygian powder mentioned by Galen, for which the medical school of Laodicea seems to have been famous (see Ramsay, the Letters to the Seven Churches of Asia), but the figurative reference is to the restoring of spiritual vision'.

Please see the notes for 1Corinthians C13S9; 2Corinthians 2:17 and Colossians C1S6 about the words see / sight. The functional definition is: 'perception of objects by the eye; view. this word is often used symbolically for spiritual understanding'. Please also see the note for John 6:40-LJC about the phrase see the Son. Please also see the note for Acts 2:25 about the words foresee / foresaw. Please also see the note for Romans C11S10 about the phrase works are seen of men.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'I am. Re 2:9; Pr 13:7; Ho 12:8; Zec 11:5; Lu 1:53; 6:24; 18:11-12; Ro 11:20,25; 12:3; 1Co 4:8-10 have need. De 8:12-14; Pr 30:9; Jer 2:31; Mt 9:12 knowest. Ro 2:17-23 wretched. Mt 5:3; Ro 7:24 blind. Isa 42:19; Joh 9:40-41; 2Pe 1:9 naked. Re 16:15; Ge 3:7,10-11; Ex 32:35 exp: Ex 32:25. General references. exp: Pr 8:5; 9:4; Lu 11:35; 1Co 10:12.
counsel. Ps 16:7; 32:8; 73:24; 107:11; Pr 1:25,30; 19:20; Ec 8:2 buy. Pr 23:23; Isa 55:1; Mt 13:44; 25:9 gold. Mal 3:3; 1Co 3:12-13; 1Pe 1:7 that thou. Re 2:9; Lu 12:21; 2Co 8:9; 1Ti 6:18; Jas 2:5 white. Re 3:4-5; 7:13; 16:15; 19:8; 2Co 5:3 the shame. Re 16:15; Isa 47:3; Jer 13:26; Da 12:2; Mic 1:11; Na 3:5 anoint. Joh 9:6-11; 1Jo 2:20-27 General references. exp: Pr 3:14; 8:5; 9:4; 1Co 10:12.'.

Home Overview of Revelation Chapter Summary Start of Chapter

C3-S17 (Verse 19) the explanation of treatment from God.

Equivalent Section: How God deals with those He loves.

As many as I love,
I rebuke and chasten:.

Equivalent Section: the proper response to chastening.

be zealous therefore,
and repent.

Our First Equivalent Section tells us the same thing as Hebrews 12:5-10, only Hebrews has more of an explanation. In addition, our Second Equivalent Section tells us the same thing as Hebrews 12:11-15 with Hebrews, again, providing more of an explanation.

Our sentence is telling us why our Lord Jesus Christ said what was in the prior sentences to this church. His rebuke of them proved His love. Too many people believe the doctrinal lie that they will get all of the blessings in Heaven while they live a lukewarm life here. They believe the lie of: 'I'm not so bad' while our prior sentence describes their true spiritual condition and the prior note explains why they will not get what they believe they will get. In addition, these lukewarm saved people believe they are heading for 'eternal bliss in Heaven' while most are heading for 1,000 years of tears.

Our Lord Jesus Christ is telling them, and us, that he loves them and proves it with His rebuke because the doctrinal lies, which they currently believe, will get them a very poor everlasting reward. However, if they truly listen to the rebuke, and change their attitudes and actions about serving the kingdom of God, then they will have a much better everlasting life in Heaven. Thus, this rebuke is not because our Lord Jesus Christ is upset with them but is because He wants them to have a better future.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence: 'Here Jesus gives the reason of such strong rebuke to this church. It is because he loves them, “As many as I love”. All that Jesus done and does for mankind is because of his love. His love caused him to give it all on the cross, caused him to suffer torment, pain and death, to become sin for us and face God's unmitigated wrath. It was that same love that caused him to arise from the dead and leave an empty tomb behind, to ascend into heaven where he now sits at the right hand of the Father showing us even more love as he intercedes for us and now awaits the appointed time to come and get the bride he so adores. And it is that same love that gives the Laodice and a second chance, a chance to make things right, to amend their ways, to repent, seek forgiveness and become involved once more with the Lord by inviting him back into their midst; one truly can not say that God is not gracious or a God of second chances. Yet as with all love, such as the love of a parent for a child, there is rebuke, correction, because of such love and care. Heb 12:6 forwhom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
Pr 3:11 My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: 12 forwhom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
And so Jesus has been longsuffering with this church, loving, patient, compassionate, but his leniency for their sin is about to end and chastening is about to begin unless they change their ways, unless they repent, but not just repent, Jesus says there is something else they must do, they must be zealous. the Greek word for zealous here actually means “to have warmth of feeling for or against”. He is telling them their indifference has to change, they must turn from their lukewarmness and become fervently, zealously, spiritually hot. Speaking to believers Paul instructs them in Ro 12:11 to be …fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; and thats what the Laodice and need, to be fervent in spirit, their lukewarmness must be replaced by a roaring spiritual fire, by a hot burning heart for the Lord, they must be stirred up in spirit, they must be zealous, involved, invested, devoted, obedient. And the'.

Please see the note for Titus 2:15 about the word rebuke. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines this word as: 'v.t. See Pack and Impeach. 1. to chide; to reprove; to reprehend for a fault; to check by reproof. the proud he tam'd, the penitent he cheer'd, not to rebuke the rich offender fear'd. thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbor. Lev. 19. 2. to check or restrain. the Lord rebuke thee, of Satan. Zech. 3. Is. 17. 3. to chasten; to punish; to afflict for correction. of Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger. Ps. 6. 4. to check; to silence. Master, rebuke thy disciples. Luke 19. 5. to check; to heal. And he stood over her and rebuked the fever. Luke 4. 6. to restrain; to calm. He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea. Matt. 8. REBU'KE, n. 1. A chiding; reproof for faults; reprehension. Why bear you these rebukes and answer not? 2. In Scripture, chastisement; punishment; affliction for the purpose of restraint and correction. Ezek. 5. Hos. 5. 3. In low language, any kind of check. to suffer rebuke, to endure the reproach and persecution of men. Jer. 15. to be without rebuke, to live without giving cause of reproof or censure; to be blameless'.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians 11:32 about the word chasten. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines this word as: ', pp. Corrected; punished; afflicted for correction'. Please also see the note for 1Corinthians C11S36 about the word chastisement.

Please see the note for Romans C10S2 about the word zeal. The functional definition for this word is: 'Webster's 1828 dictionary defines zeal as: 'n. Gr., L. Passionate ardor in the pursuit of anything. In general, zeal is an eagerness of desire to accomplish or obtain some object, and it may be manifested either in favor of any person or thing, or in opposition to it, and in a good or bad cause. Zeal, the blind conductor of the will. they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. Romans 10. A zeal for liberty is sometimes an eagerness to subvert, with little care what shall be established'. Please also see the note for Galatians C1-S11 for links to every place in the Bible where the word zealous is used along with links from other commentators.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'many. De 8:5; 2Sa 7:14; Job 5:17; Ps 6:1; 39:11; 94:10; Pr 3:11-12; 15:10,32; 22:15; Isa 26:16; Jer 2:30; 7:28; 10:24; 30:11; 31:18; Zep 3:2; 1Co 11:32; 2Co 6:9; Heb 12:5-11; Jas 1:12 exp: 1Co 11:30. be. Nu 25:11-13; Ps 69:9; Joh 2:17; Ro 12:11; 2Co 7:11; Ga 4:18; Tit 2:14 repent. Re 2:5,21-22 exp: Re 2:16; 3:3. General references. exp: Mt 25:7.'.

Home Overview of Revelation Chapter Summary Start of Chapter

C3-S18 (Verse 20) the promised result of a changed life.

Equivalent Section: Pay attention to what our Lord Jesus Christ is doing.

Behold,
I stand at the door,
and knock:.

Equivalent Section: Respond in the right way.

if any man hear my voice,
and open the door,
I will come in to him,
and will sup with him,
and he with me.

The people of this church would love how this sentence is usually preached today. They would sit in the meeting and think: 'Yeah preacher. You tell them lost people what they need to do. Then you assure all of us saved that we will be rewarded in Heaven for sitting in this meeting'.

The truth is that this sentence was written to saved church members who had just been rebuked. This is a promise which is based upon their responding in a godly way to the rebuke. Although this sentence is usually preached as a message to the lost, that is actually a perversion of the true intent of this sentence. Devils love it when God's people hear a promise of God and are told to not do what is required to receive the promise because it reinforces their disobedience and decreases the possibility of their truly repenting.

Our First Equivalent Section starts with the word behold and our Lord Jesus Christ wants these saved church members to seriously pay attention to what He is telling them. Next, he says: I stand at the door, and knock. This means that He is not part of their life even though they are truly saved. Someone pointed out a truth of: 'All Bible doctrine comes from Antioch of Syria of from Alexandria of Egypt. Alexandria of Egypt was the center of worldly thinking and was the starting place for the false religion of Islam. At the same time, Antioch of Syria sent Paul out as their missionary. It is the source of all Biblical thinking which is truly spiritual and godly'.

One of the favorite doctrinal lies is 'If you're saved then you have Christ in you and you are in Christ'. The truth is that: 'If you're saved then you have God's Holy Spirit in you and you are in a relationship with God through His Holy Spirit'. However, our relationship through Christ is pictured as the relationship between a man and his wife according to Ephesians 5. And, there are many saved people who were married but are no longer living together in a proper relationship. In addition, as the Study called Relational Prepositions explains, we can be saved and not be in Christ and not have Christ in us because we have left our relationship with Christ even though we are still saved. And, that is the type of people that this sentence is truly sent to.

Our First Equivalent Section tells us: I stand at the door, and knock. A popular doctrinal lie is Calvinism and all of the various offshoots of it. All claim that God takes away our free will and 'God forces His grace on us. We do not have to actively seek it and obey His commandment in order to receive God's grace'. The truth is that God lets most people spend eternity in the lake of fire because He refuses to repent and take away the gift f a free will (Romans 11:29). No, the truth is that He stands at the door, and knocks, but the saved must actively get up, open the door and actively invite Him back in to restore their fellowship.

In the first phrase, of our Second Equivalent Section, we read: if any man hear my voice. The word if makes this a conditional. In order to receive the rest of this Equivalent Section, we must truly spiritually hear his voice. Please also see the note for Mark 4:9 about the phrase He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

In the second phrase, of our Second Equivalent Section, we read: and open the door. The word and adds this requirement to the prior requirement. Both must be fulfilled in order receive the rest of this Equivalent Section. Our Lord Jesus Christ will not force His way into the lives of saved people. We must decide to restore our fellowship and actively do what is required in order to receive this result. Both requirements must be fulfilled before we can receive the result. First, we must start listening spiritually, as opposed to listening to delightful religious lies. Then, we must realize that we have lost that fellowship and determine what is required in order to restore it. Then, we must do what is required in order to restore our fellowship.

In the last phrases, of our Second Equivalent Section, we read: I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. This is not just a casual visit where we talk for a few minutes and then separate. In many cultures, especially Eastern cultures, the meal is centered on fellowship and encouraging each other and helping people with their problems. That is what our Lord Jesus Christ promises here. However, we must be prepared to restore an ongoing personal relationship in order to receive the promise of this sentence.

Please notice that our next sentence is also a promise to him that overcometh. Saved people can only do that if they first truly restore the fellowship which this sentence is telling us about.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence: 'When Jesus came to this earth his nation rejected him, the world crucified him and now his church had excluded him, yet in his love he still calls to those who will hear. And now in v20 he cries not to the church, but he cries to individuals, appealing to individual souls who will be zealous, who will repent, who will let him in and be involved in an intimate relationship with him once more. Please note that this plea from Jesus is not to the sinner but to the believer, remember he is speaking to the church that had become lukewarm, that overtime had become indifferent, that had drifted away, become backslidden, had become uninvolved in relationship with him, and he now appeals to them to let him in once more. Again, notice that this is an individual’s choice, as Jesus was earlier described as having the keys and what he opens no man can shut and what he shuts no man can open, but here Jesus does not force himself into relationship with his followers. Yes he wants relationship with them, desires it, for he loves them, but he allows the believer to decide whether to open the door or not, Jesus simply stands outside and knocks, speaking to them with his still small voice “Let me in, let me in and we can sit and sup together, we can dine together, we can have fellowship, friendship, communion, and worship, we can have a hot meal, not a cold or lukewarm meal, we can have warm friendship not a distant indifference, all you have to do is open the door”. And look at what happens if one will heed this call, if they will open the door of their hearts and let Jesus in once more, the supper room, the room where they sit with Jesus becomes the throne room.'.

The word stood is the past-tense form of the word stand. Please see the notes for Romans C14S5 and 1Corinthians C15S1 about the word stand. The functional definition for this word is: 'to be upon the feet, as an animal; not to sit, kneel or lie'. Please also see the note for Philippians 1:18 about the word notwithstanding. Please also see the note for 1Corinthians C14S2 about the word understand. Please also see the note for Galatians C5S1 about the phrase stand fast. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 3:20; 5:6; 6:17; 7:1; 7:9; 7:11; 8:2; 8:3; 10:5; 10:8; 11:1; 11:4; 11:11; 12:4; 13:1; 14:1; 15:2; 18:10; 18:15; 18:17; 19:17; 20:12.

Please see the note for Luke 11:11 about the word knock. Easton's Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'Though Orientals are very jealous of their privacy, they never knock when about to enter your room, but walk in without warning or ceremony. It is nearly impossible to teach an Arab servant to knock at your door. they give warning at the outer gate either by calling or knocking. to stand and call is a very common and respectful mode. thus Moses commanded the holder of a pledge to stand without and call to the owner to come forth (De 24:10). this was to avoid the violent intrusion of cruel creditors. Peter stood knocking at the outer door (Ac 12:13,16), and the three men sent to Joppa by Cornelius made inquiry and 'stood before the gate' (Ac 10:17-18). the idea is that the guard over your privacy is to be placed at the entrance."
Knocking is used as a sign of importunity (Mt 7:7-8; Lu 13:25), and of the coming of Christ (Lu 12:36; Re 3:20)'.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians C14S11 about the word voice. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines this word as: 'n. L. vox; voco. the sense of the verb is to throw, to drive out sound; and voice is that which is driven out. 1. Sound or audible noise uttered by the mouth, either of human beings or of other animals. We say, the voice of a man is loud or clear; the voice of a woman is soft or musical; the voice of a dog is loud or harsh; the voice of a bird is sweet or melodious. the voice of human beings is articulate; that of beasts, inarticulate. the voices of men are different, and when uttered together, are often dissonant. 2. Any sound made by the breath; as the trumpet's voice. 3. A vote; suffrage; opinion or choice expressed. Originally voice was the oral utterance of choice, but it now signifies any vote however given. Some laws ordain, and some attend the choice of holy senates, and elect by voice. I have no words; my voice is in my sword. 4. Language; words; expression. Let us call on God in the voice of his church. 5. In Scripture, command; precept. Ye would not be obedient to the voice of the Lord your God. Deut. 8. 6. Sound. After the fire, a still small voice. 1Kings 19. Canst thou thunder with a voice like him? Job. 40. the floods have lifted up their voice. Ps. 93. 7. Language; tone; mode of expression. I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice. Gal. 4. 8. In grammar, a particular mode of inflecting or conjugating verbs; as the active voice; the passive voice.
VOICE, v.t. 1. to rumor; to report. It was voiced that the king purposed to put to death Edward Plantagenet. Little used. 2. to fit for producing the proper sounds; to regulate the tone of; as, to voice the pipes of an organ. 3. to vote'. Please also see the note for Luke 3:21-22 about the phrase voice from heaven Please also see the note for Revelation 20:9 about the phrase fire from heaven.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians 11:25 about the word sup. The functional definition for this word is: 'to eat a meal'. This is where we get the word 'supper'. Please also see the note for Matthew 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-46; Luke 22:17-20 and 1Corinthians 11:23-34 about the phrase Lord's Supper. Please also see the note for John 12:2 about the word supper. Please also see the note for Luke 22:7 about the phrase symbols of the Lord's Supper in Passover. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 3:20; 19:9; 19:17.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'I stand. Song 5:2-4; Lu 12:36 I will. Joh 14:21-23 will sup. Re 19:9; Lu 12:37; 17:8 General references. exp: Mt 25:7.'.

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C3-S19 (Verse 21) Another promise.

To him that overcometh 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.

This is a promise to return and rule on this Earth with Christ during His 1,000 years reign. The phrase sit with me in my throne is a promise to be part of His government. Please see the Significant New Testament Events Study for links to every place in this book where we find forms of the word overcometh and the promises to saved people who truly do this.

Please notice that this sentence is also a promise, but it requires the saved person to first truly restore the fellowship which the prior sentence told us about. In addition, the saved person must also overcometh ('have an ongoing lifestyle of overcoming the temptations of this world and of rejecting the way of this world and of rejecting popular doctrines from devils').

We need to be careful about understanding what this sentence truly says. The throne in Heaven belongs to God the Father. The throne of our Lord Jesus Christ will be here on Earth. Our sentence says: even as I...am set down with my Father in his throne. Our Lord Jesus Christ rules in Heaven directly under God the Father. Likewise, this is a promise to rule on this Earth directly under our Lord Jesus Christ.

Next, we need to pay attention to the phrase: even as. In order to understand the definition of the word even, we need to think of a balancing scale. when the two sided have the same weight, they are even. The Doctrinal Study called What Did Jesus Do? has over 800 notes on circumstances that Jesus dealt with while He lived on this Earth. Each of those notes also has one or more links to where the Gospels tell us what he actually did. Now, there was a popular doctrine, for awhile, called 'What Would Jesus Do?'. However, devil motivated people destroyed that movement by perverting the message. They claimed that Jesus would do many sinful things. However, the difference in this Study is that it is restricted to what the Gospel accounts actually report what Jesus did. If anyone claims that He did something that is not reported in the Gospels, we can denounce them as devil-motivated liars who are adding to what is actually written in the word of God.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence and the next sentence: 'Only thru a close relationship with Christ can one be an overcomer, for it’s only by him one can overcome sin, the power of Satan, and the pull of this world and the flesh. And with such closeness, not only does the saved believer sit in fellowship with Christ, he sits and rules and reigns with Christ with him in his throne, not the throne of heaven, but the throne of David from which he will rule this world. And he does have the right and authority to rule, to judge, to reign, for he did overcome all, he was the firstfruits, he defeated sin and destroyed the works of the devil, he finished the work and purpose God the Father sent him to do. But even in such authority he still calls out in love to those who have drifted from him, he gives a second, possibly last chance to this church and its members that is so representative of the church today. Christ wants a close relationship with all of us, all we must do is respond, open our hearts and let him in. But the crux of the problem here is that Laodicea wasn’t aware of their state until they received this letter from John, but if you see similarities in your own church, if you have recognized there are problems, what are you going to do about it?'.

Please see the note for 2Peter 2:19 about the word overcome. The functional definition for this word is: 'To conquer; to vanquish; to subdue; as, to overcome enemies in battle. 2. to surmount; to get the better of; as, to overcome difficulties or obstacles'. The word overcometh is: : 'A lifestyle of overcoming. That is' they overcome the temptations of this world and never go back to them'. Please see the Significant New Testament Events Study for links to every place in this book where we find forms of the word overcometh and the promises to saved people who truly do this.

Please see the note for Mark 10:37 about the word grant. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'to admit as true what is not proved; to allow; to yield; to concede. We take that for granted which is supposed to be true. Grant that the fates have firmed, by their decree-- 2. to give; to bestow or confer on without compensation, particularly in answer to prayer or request. thou hast granted me life and favor. Job.10. God granted him that which he requested. 1. Chron.4. 3. to transfer the title of a thing to another, for a good or valuable consideration; to convey by deed or writing. the legislature have granted all the new land. Grant me the place of this threshing floor. 1 Chron.21.
GR`ANT, n. the act of granting; a bestowing or conferring. 1. the thing granted or bestowed; a gift; a boon. 2. In law, a conveyance in writing, of such things as cannot pass or be transferred by word only, as land, rents, reversions, tithes, etc. A grant is an executed contract. 3. Concession; admission of something as true. 4. the thing conveyed by deed or patent'.

Please see the note for Colossians C1S3 about the word throne. Easton's Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'a royal chair or seat of dignity (De 17:18; 2Sa 7:13; Ps 45:6); an elevated seat with a canopy and hangings, which cover it. It denotes the seat of the high priest in 1Sa 1:9; 4:13, and of a provincial governor in Ne 3:7; Ps 122:5. the throne of Solomon is described at length in 1Ki 10:18-20'.

Please see the note for Hebrews 1:5 about the word father. The functional definition for this word is: 'the man who passes his character to the son'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'him. Re 2:7; 12:11; 1Jo 5:4-5 to sit. Re 1:6; 2:26-27; Mt 19:28; Lu 22:30; 1Co 6:2-3; 2Ti 2:12 even. Joh 16:33 and am. Re 5:6-8; 7:17; Da 7:13-14; Mt 28:18; Joh 5:22-23; Eph 1:20-23; Php 2:9-21 General references. exp: Jer 17:12'.

Home Overview of Revelation Chapter Summary Start of Chapter

C3-S20 (Verse 22) the command to listen spiritually.

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

Please see the notes for the note for Mark 4:9 and Revelation 2:7 about the First Step of our sentence.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'General references. Re 3:6,13; 2:7,11,17 exp: Mt 11:15; 13:9; Mr 4:9; 7:16; Heb 10:15.'.

Home Overview of Revelation Chapter Summary Start of Chapter

Revelation Chapter 4

links to sentences in this chapter:

C4-S1 (Verse 1), C4-S2 (Verse 2), C4-S3 (Verse 3), C4-S4 (Verse 4), C4-S5 (Verse 5), C4-S6 (Verse 6), C4-S7 (Verse 7), C4-S8 (Verse 8), C4-S9 (Verse 9-11)'.

Chapter Summary: John, and all saved, are called up to Heaven.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this chapter: 'We now begin the third portion of the book of Revelation as detailed by the Apostle John in Re 1:19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter. So far we have looked at what John has seen in his vision of the Lord Jesus in Rev ch1, and the things which are, which covers the entire church age represented by the seven churches of Asia that we looked at in Rev ch2 and 3, and now here in ch4 the church age comes to an end with the Rapture and we are shown the things which shall be hereafter, after the church has been removed from the earth, the future events to occur.'.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about the 'Rapture' in his book and I chose to not copy his sermon here. Those who wish to read his message can do so in his book. He pulls together most of the relevant scripture passages and explains them in a Biblically true manner. This is one of the most perverted doctrines found in the New Testament. And, yes, I deal with all of those references in my various Book Studies. But, I have not pulled all of them together like Dr. Jeff Wilson does because he is a preacher and I am not. It is his job to explain the many applications of the word of God while it is my job to explain the single interpretation of the word of God. I provide far more details but he provides the overview. They are simply two different perspectives and two different ways to study of the word of God. Therefore, please see his book for the overview of the 'Rapture'.

C4-S1 : What John saw then.
C4-S2 : John obeyed the command.
C4-S3 : the symbolic description of what John saw.
C4-S4 : the description of others around God's throne.
C4-S5 : What John also saw when he looked at the throne of God.
C4-S6 : the next things which John noticed.
C4-S7 : the physical appearance of the four beasts.
C4-S8 : the worship of the four beasts.
C4-S9 : the worship of the four and twenty elders.

C4-S1 (Verse 1) What came after the messages to the seven churches.

Equivalent Section: What John saw then.

After this I looked,
and,
behold,
a door was opened in heaven:.

Equivalent Section: What was commanded to John.

First Step: Identify the voice which he heard.

and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me;

Second Step: What the voice commanded.

which said,
Come up hither,
and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.

Our sentence starts with the phrase; After this and it starts telling us what John saw after he recorded the messages to the seven churches. Back in 1:19-20, Our Lord Jesus Christ told John to Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter. What he personally hast seen is in Chapter 1. And, the things which are the messages to the seven churches which is everything in Chapter 2 and Chapter 3. And, the things which shall be hereafter start in the next sentence and continue through the end of this Bible book. In addition, it says that what comes after this sentence are things which must be hereafter. Therefore, this sentence is providing a major division in the time of events which are reported in this book.

Now, there are many arguments about what happens at the time of this division. The main arguments are grouped into three camps called: 'Pre-Trib', 'Mid-Trib' and 'Post-Trib'. They basically are arguments about when the 'Rapture' happens, with the first camp declaring that 'The Rapture happens before the great tribulation', which is this phrase in this sentence. The second camp declaring 'The Rapture happens during the middle of the great tribulation'. The third camp declaring 'The Rapture happens after the great tribulation'. And, below, is a message from Dr. Jeff Wilson which presents one of the main arguments of the 'Pre-Trib' camp. That doctrinal argument is Biblically correct, but I will present a different perspective on this from which Dr. Jeff Wilson presents.

Dr. Jeff Wilson holds to the doctrine of 'Great Church Ages', which I reject. (That doctrine is not required in order to accept the 'Pre-Trib' doctrine.)

First, it is a religious argument which does not fulfill the Biblical requirements to be a true Bible doctrine. Secondly, it is the basis for people declaring that 'The whole world is in the Laodicean Age', which is blatantly not true if people look at what is happening right now around the world. Yes, what is described as 'The Laodicean Age', can be attributed to most of the churches in America, but at the same time, churches in other parts of the world are experiencing the same circumstances as was described for the other churches dealt with in this book. In addition, all of the seven churches existed at the same time, and all throughout history, we could find churches experiencing the same circumstances as was written for all of these seven churches. The preaching about 'The Laodicean Age' denies the messages which our Lord Jesus Christ intended for the other of the seven churches. Many churches throughout history, and oday, match the other circumstances and need the right message which matches their circumstances. That is why I am against this doctrine. And, while I deny the doctrine, it does not fulfill the Biblical requirements for breaking fellowship. Therefore, I can maintain fellowship even while disputing that doctrine. However, the arguments about 'Mid-Trib' and 'Post-Trib' do fulfill the Biblical requirements to break fellowship. So, while I dispute some doctrines, I do not break fellowship over them while I do break fellowship over other doctrines.

Within our book, our Lord Jesus Christ ended each message to each of these seven Churches with: He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. (Please see the notes for those sentences for the doctrine of this command.) What our Lord Jesus Christ commanded all saved people to do is to 'listen spiritually to what he says to all of the churches'. Now, without going into all of the details, both doctrines, 'Mid-Trib' and 'Post-Trib', use natural reasoning. They do not 'listen spiritually to what he says to all of the churches'. They are both doctrines of devils.

Go back and consider each of the messages to the various churches. In every case, they were told: 'Here is how you can repent and get out of the punishment for sin'. Neither of those two devil derived doctrines provide such a command. In addition, the word of God clearly teaches that the great tribulation is designed to punish people who have rejected our Lord Jesus Christ. It deals with the Jews, because that rejected His position and power. Likewise, it deals with devils and lost people who rejected our Lord Jesus Christ, even if they did it in different ways. And anyone who is truly Biblically saved, even if they are leading a life of disobedience like Lot, has accepted our Lord Jesus Christ for salvation.

Now, I present a proper analysis of all of the related New Testament scriptures, including those referenced below by Dr. Jeff Wilson, if people wish to study this doctrine further. in this note, I am only presenting a high-level presentation. However, if you are listening to someone who preaches about one of the wrong doctrines, find any of those people who have published the differences in the Biblical day of. (Please see my notes for Philippians 1:6-LJC and 1Thessalonians 5:2 about those phrases.) If they have not published such notes, then they do not have the required proof that they are rightly dividing the word of truth. (Please see the Word Study on Dividing and the other notes which have links in the Word Definitions.) No, I have not gathered all of the relevant notes together into a single book but I have more true analysis, than anyone else at this time, of all relevant Bible references to this doctrine. The reader just needs to be willing to do some study on their own. And, the final true doctrine is 'Pre-Trib'. The character of the true God of the Bible will not allow Him to punish people who have accepted our Lord Jesus Christ with those beings who have rejected Him when the word of God makes it clear the purpose of the great tribulation is to punish beings who have rejected our Lord Jesus Christ.

So, returning to the analysis of our sentence, the phrase After this is clearly separating the messages to the seven churches from prophecy of future events. (Go read the book to verify this for yourself.) In all further prophecy of future events, we read about God punishing beings until after the great white throne judgment. Then, John returns to how God deals with the saved who are in Heaven. However, what follows this phrase is dealing with people who are not represented by the seven churches while what precedes this phrase dealt with people who are not represented by the seven churches. Therefore, this phrase is separating what God says about two different groups of people. He is separating the messages to those who accepted our Lord Jesus Christ from those who rejected Him and this separation is dealt with, in other parts of the word of God, by what is called the 'Rapture'.

Hopefully, I have dealt sufficiently with that doctrinal argument. Those who desire to study it more have the links in this note; and the message from Dr. Jeff Wilson, below; and the notes on this site which match the references provided by Dr. Jeff Wilson. Therefore, we will move on with the analysis of the rest of this sentence.

The rest of our First Equivalent Section says: I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven. Again, the word behold tell us t: 'pay close attention, this is important'. Every place in the word of God, where we read: open door, it is speaking about 'removing a barrier so that someone can enter a new place'. Paul writes about a similar experience in 2Corinthians 12:2 when he writes: I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. So, we can not say if Paul went there physically or spiritually but our next sentence tells us that John went there spiritually. However, those differences really don't matter and they are not something to contend over. The point is that John went where few have gone and returned to report to us what they were able to see. And, this rest of the First Equivalent Section also symbolically represents the 'Rapture'. And, when people refuse to see this spiritual truth, they are letting us know that they refuse to see spiritual truths with spiritual eyes. They are claiming to see the spiritual with physical eyes and senses, which makes them a liar.

The rest of our sentence is in the Second Equivalent Section which has two Steps. Both Steps tell us what John heard, which matches what he saw in the First Equivalent Section. Thus, our two different senses give us the same message two different ways, which is our equivalency.

Our First Step, of the Second Equivalent Section, identifies the speaker as our Lord Jesus Christ because the phrase voice...as it were of a trumpet matches 1:10-11, where we are told that it was our Lord Jesus Christ Who was speaking. Again, this matches the message about the 'Rapture' because He will personally come then to receive all who are truly saved (1Thessalonians 4:16-17).

In our Second Step, we read the command to go to Heaven and old why John was given this command. God was going to give him the revelation which is in the rest of this book. And, as explained in the start of this Study, this is a single revelation which is about revealing that Jesus Christ is Lord of lords and King of kings. People claim that it is about future events. However, in Revelation 10:4, we read that John heard things but was told Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not. If this book was truly about future events, then John would not have been commanded to not write. However, since it is truly revealing that Jesus Christ is Lord of lords and King of kings, then everything which reveals that truth is in this book and future events which do not reveal that truth were forbidden to be written.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about the 'Rapture': 'WHAT IS thE RAPTURE?
I thessaloni and 4:13-18
How many of you know what an ambassador is? An ambassador is a high ranking official that is sent by one country as its representative to another country. they go to a foreign land or country and speak on behalf of their own nation. they educate others about their home country and advise and assist government officials from their own nation as well as the one they are visiting. But when a nation is about to declare war upon another, it is customary that the nation calls its ambassador home from the country they are about to attack, they pull him out before the war starts for the ambassador’s protection and safety.
Now Paul writes in 2Co 5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ… We that are saved are representatives of a far away country, we are ambassadors for the heavenly kingdom to this world. And when God gets ready to declare war upon this earth, when He is ready to pour out His wrath on this world in the form of the Great Tribulation spoken of in great detail in the book of Revelation, God will call His ambassadors home. Do you know what we call this event? We call this the rapture of the saints and that’s what Paul is writing about here in these verses of I thessalonians, and this is what I am going to try to preach on, on What is the Rapture?
Here in these verses, Paul has preached to the church at thessalonica about the rapture and about the resurrection, where believers will receive new bodies and go home to be with the Lord. But some of the thessaloni and were concerned, were worried, about some of their loved ones that had been saved but had already passed away. they were worried that their loved ones who had died would have to wait to be resurrected, that they would not be resurrected at the rapture when the living believers received new bodies. they thought they might have to wait until after the Tribulation or even after the Millennial Reign or if they were resurrected, they might be disadvantaged in some way because they were dead. But here in I thessaloni and ch4 Paul assures these believers in thessalonica that when Christ comes, that the dead in Christ will be resurrected and will be raptured right along with the living. Paul tells them this is as sure as the death and resurrection of Christ Himself, 14 forif we believe that Jesus died and rose again,. He tells them this will happen and he tells them how it will happen.
Paul begins his explanation by saying in v13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. He says I don’t want you to have a misunderstanding or misconception concerning those that are asleep. He uses the words asleep or sleep here to refer to death. Paul is not talking about some kind of soul sleep or purgatory or anything, he is referencing the body of these believers. the body is asleep or is dead when the soul and spirit are not present. James 2:26 defines physical death for us, foras the body without the spirit is dead, When the spirit leaves our body, our body dies. And 2Co 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Paul says for the soul and spirit to be absent from the body is to be in the presence of the Lord. When a believer dies their soul/spirit immediately goes to heaven, but they do not have/receive a resurrected body. they get their new body, their resurrected body, at the time of the rapture. How does that work. Read v13-14. 14 forif we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. Paul says when Jesus returns, He does not return alone. Paul says that those that believe in Jesus, that have died and are now in heaven because of their belief, will be brought with Jesus when He comes to call all the living believers home. their soul and spirit which have been in heaven since they passed away will return to this earth with Jesus. Paul says Jesus is going to come and He is bringing His people with Him. And when they return, then they will be given a resurrected body, and those that are alive will be changed into a glorified body without having to taste death. If you are alive when the Lord comes you will not have to die if you are saved.
Paul assures those in thessalonica in v15 that the living will not prevent nor precede those that are dead in Christ. He says those that are saved and have died that Jesus brings with Him will be resurrected and changed first, v16 and the dead in Christ shall rise first, and then those that are saved and are living are changed second. Paul is trying to comfort these believers and give them something to look forward to. Because at the time of the rapture, loved ones that are saved and have passed on will be reunited with the living. We will not only meet our Savior in the air but we will meet saved loved ones that have gone on before us. this is one reason I read this selection of Scripture at a believer’s funeral or graveside service. I believe that those who are saved when the Lord comes to call us home will be coming with Him. All those that were saved and have went on to be with the Lord will return with Him, my grandparents, those that you know and loved, all those that I have heard you speak so fondly of, will return and receive a new resurrected, glorified body. that’s why v18 says to comfort one another with these words, we have something to look forward to. Not only are we going to meet Jesus our Lord and Savior, not only are we going home to heaven, not only are we being called home before God declares war on this earth but we will meet loved ones once again, it will be a time of great reunion. this is not a time of sadness for believers but a time of joy unspeakable, our hope in our Lord will be fulfilled, this time is what we have been looking forward to.
Change/Translated/New Body
Now I mentioned a resurrected, glorified or a changed body, and from my understanding this is a physical body that our spirit will live in. But it won’t be a corrupted body like we have now, one that’s ruined with sin, but it will be a body like the body of Christ. 1Jo 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
Php 3:20 forour conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body
1Co 15:49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. 50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 for this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 the sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
These new bodies won’t get sick, won’t age, won’t get tired, will not be corrupted, will not be mortal. they will be eternal, immortal, incorruptible. Both the living and the dead that are saved by Christ will receive these new bodies at the rapture.
Rapture
Now so far I’ve used the term rapture but have not really defined it. But v16-17 give a good description of it. the Lord descends from heaven, there is a shout, a trumpet, a voice and then the dead in Christ shall rise first. those that believe but have passed away and have returned with the Lord from heaven will arise with their new bodies first, as they have been waiting the longest, and then we that are alive and are saved shall be, whats v17 say we shall be? Caught up.
What does that phrase caught up mean? Literally it means to seize or carry off. the Lord will come and grab us and take us home. this is what the word rapture actually means, to be caught up. Webster gives us a definition meaning to transport with joy, that rapture is an act of seizing and carrying away to sublime happiness. Scripture uses many terms and phrases to describe this event, but never actually uses the word rapture Actually the word “rapture” comes from the Latin word rapturo, which is a translation of the Greek verb "caught up" found here in verse 17. And we use this term to speak of the removal of all of God's children from the earth, both physically and spiritually, both living and dead. this is what we are waiting and watching for. this is our hope. this is why we put our faith in Jesus Christ, that He was who He said he was, the Son of God that came to take away the sins of the world, that He done what He came to do, to die for all mankind, to die for the remission of our sins, to die as a substitute for each and everyone of us, and that He is going to do what He said would do, that He went to prepare a place for us and that He will come again to get us. Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. We will be caught up together with them, together with those that were dead and we will be reunited with, we will be given new bodies, we will be caught up, we will meet our Lord Jesus in the air and we will be with Him forever. that’s the rapture.
Pre-Tribulation
At the beginning of this message, I talked about an ambassador and how he would be called home before war was declared. that’s why I believe the rapture is the next big event on God's calendar. Nothing stands in the way of the rapture, nothing else has to occur. We believe that God will rapture the church before the Great Tribulation, before God's judgment is poured out upon this earth. If you ever read the book of Revelation you will know all about the horrible things this world has to suffer thru during the Tribulation for its wickedness and evil ways. Mass destruction, wars, diseases, famine, natural disasters as well as supernatural disasters will be poured out upon this world. Billions of people will die. Not millions, but billions. think of all the thousands that died in the tsunami a few years ago, think of all those that have died from plague or AID’s or cancer or other diseases and viruses, think of all those that died in the great wars. that is nothing compared to what will happen during the 7 years of the Great Tribulation, when God judges this earth.
Now some think, Christians must go thru this time of tribulation and the rapture happens at the end, some think we will be raptured half way thru the Great Tribulation, but we believe, I believe, the rapture happens before this, we believe that God will call us home before all this happens, that He will call His ambassadors home to safety before the Great Tribulation. Why? 1Th 5:9 forGod hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
Ro 8:1 there is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Ro 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.10 forif, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. Joh 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. We don’t have to suffer God's wrath, God's judgment, or condemnation because Jesus bore all of that on the cross for us. If we have accepted Him as our sacrifice, our substitute, our Savior, we don’t have to suffer thru God's war on this sinful world.
And we are given multiple types and examples of this in Scripture of God carrying away His followers before destruction fell. think of Enoch, Ge 5:24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him. And Heb 11:5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. {translate means to carry over or to remove}Enoch was seized by God and taken to heaven before God poured out His judgment on the earth in the form of the flood. Enoch is a type of the church. Noah and his family are a type of Israel. God protected Noah thru the judgment like He will Israel in the tribulation, but He removed Enoch before the destruction fell.
Think of Lot and his family that were removed from Sodom and Gomorrah before God rained down fire and brimstone in judgment of those cities’s wickedness. And in Re 4:1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. Here we see John the apostle being told to come up hither, and in the book of Revelation we do not see the church mentioned from the end of ch3 until the last chapter of the book. And if Revelation details so much of the end times, of the Great Tribulation, how is it the church is not mentioned during all this time of great destruction upon the earth? How does God not mention how the church survives all this? Why isn’t the church mentioned? Because the church is not here anymore, we have been told to come up hither. Remember v16 back in thessaloni and says the Lord will descend with a shout, and I think that shout is the same one John heard “Come up Hither”, just as the Lord raised Lazarus from the dead and old him to come forth, we will be caught up, told to come up hither at the command of our Savior and Lord.
We also see in v16 that there is a trump that will sound, the trump of God. We know Israel used a trumpet to announce manythings, to declare war, to begin special times and seasons as well as to gather people for a journey. that trump is going to gather us for a wonderful journey. Whether that trump is an actual trumpet or the voice of the Lord as a sound of a trumpet, I don’t know. And then the voice of the archangel, what this is I am not sure either unless its Michael and the angelic host giving a shout of victory when Jesus comes or its Jesus speaking with that kind of authority, to tell us to come up hither. But this time of rapture of those who have placed their faith and trust in Jesus Christ will be a wonderful, wonderful time. We are saved from God's wrath, reunited with loved ones, are given new bodies, and most of all we get to see and to be with our Savior forever and ever.
When?
The only question we ask now, is when will this happen? the short answer, I don’t know. Mr 13:32 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. 33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. No one knows when the rapture will occur but God alone. that’s why we are told to watch and wait. We are not told to look for signs of His coming, we are to watch for His coming. Tit 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; this is just another reason why we believe the rapture takes place before the Great Tribulation, because if it didn’t we could follow the book of Revelation and see when Christ returns at the battle of Armageddon, when He comes to set up his kingdom here on earth. But according to Scripture, the rapture can take place at any moment, in the twinkling of an eye, and we do not know the time. So if we can’t tell when He is coming and that His coming is the next big event, that means He can come at any moment, His coming is imminent and we need to be ready.
Even Paul seemed to think as he wrote these letters to the thessaloni and that he could be raptured instead of facing death. In v15 Paul says “we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord” and in v17 he says “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them”. Paul even thought the rapture could happen at any time, even in his day, and that was 2000 years ago. He was ready and waiting to see the Lord return. So Paul didn’t know when Christ was coming back, nobody knows when God is going to tell His Son to go bring my children home. Paul writes in the next chapter 1Th 5:1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 2 foryourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. How many thieves do you know give you hints as to when they are going to come rob you? So why would Jesus tell us when He would come seize us and carry us off? We would plan for it and live how ever we wanted up to that time and then repent. But that’s not how it works. that’s why He tells us to be ready, to be prepared for His coming because the rapture can happen at any time. Mt 24:44 therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
So my question to you as I close, are you ready to meet him in the air? Are you looking forward to His coming and bringing loved ones that gave their hearts to Him with him? Are you ready for a reunion? Are you ready to leave this world and its sin and evil and wickedness behind? Are you ready to be raptured? Are you prepared to be raptured? Let me make this very clear, the rapture is for believers only, saved people only, its not for good people, not for church members, not for baptized people, because you may be all that, but still be unsaved, the rapture is only for those that have believed upon the name of Jesus Christ, trusted Him by faith. So if Jesus returned today to take His ambassadors home, would you be going with him to heaven or would you be left here all alone, wondering what in the world just happened. Are you comforted by these words, or are you troubled by these words? If this troubles you, you need to get right with God today, get saved today, because He could come at any moment and then it will be too late. Re 22:20 Jesus says… Surely I come quickly. And John then adds Even so, come, Lord'.

Please see the note for Philippians 2:4 about the word look. The functional definition for this word is: 'The primary sense is to stretch, to extend, to shoot, hence to direct the eye. We observe its primary sense is nearly the same as that of seek. Hence, to look for is to seek'. Please also see the note for Galatians C6S6 about the phrase LORD looketh on the heart. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 4:1; 4:3; 5:3; 5:4; 6:8; 14:1; 14:14; 15:5.

Please see the note for Philippians 2:9-11 about the word heaven. Easton's Bible Dictionary this word as: '(1.) Definitions. the phrase "heaven and earth" is used to indicate the whole universe (Ge 1:1; Jer 23:24; Ac 17:24). According to the Jewish notion there were three heavens, (a) the firmament, as "fowls of the heaven" (Ge 2:19; 7:3,23; Ps 8:8, etc.), "the eagles of heaven" (La 4:19), etc. (b) the starry heavens (De 17:3; Jer 8:2; Mt 24:29). (c) "The heaven of heavens," or "the third heaven" (De 10:14; 1Ki 8:27; Ps 115:16; 148:4; 2Co 12:2). (2.) Meaning of words in the original, (a) the usual Hebrew word for "heavens" is shamayim, a plural form meaning "heights," "elevations" (Ge 1:1; 2:1). (b) the Hebrew word marom is also used (Ps 68:18; 93:4; 102:19, etc.) as equivalent to shamayim, "high places," "heights." (c) Heb gal literally a "wheel," is rendered "heaven" in Ps 77:18 (R.V., "whirlwind"). (d) Heb shahak, rendered "sky" (De 33:26; Job 37:18; Ps 18:11), plural "clouds" (Job 35:5; 36:28; Ps 68:34, marg. "heavens"), means probably the firmament. (e) Heb rakia is closely connected with (d), and is rendered "firmamentum" in the Vulgate, whence our "firmament" (Ge 1:6; De 33:26, etc.), regarded as a solid expanse. (3.) Metaphorical meaning of term. Isa 14:13-14; "doors of heaven" (Ps 78:23); heaven "shut" (1Ki 8:35); "opened" (Eze 1:1). (See 1Ch 21:16.) (4.) Spiritual meaning. the place of the everlasting blessedness of the righteous; the abode of departed spirits. (a) Christ calls it his "Father's house" (Joh 14:2). (b) It is called "paradise" (Lu 23:43; 2Co 12:4; Re 2:7). (c) "The heavenly Jerusalem" (Ga 4:1; 6:18; Heb 12:22; Re 3:12). (d) the "kingdom of heaven" (Mt 25:1; Jas 2:5). (e) the "eternal kingdom" (2Pe 1:11). (f) the "eternal inheritance" (1Pe 1:4; Heb 9:15). (g) the "better country" (Heb 11:14,16). (h) the blessed are said to "sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob," and to be "in Abraham's bosom" (Lu 16:22; Mt 8:11); to "reign with Christ" (2Ti 2:12). In heaven the blessedness of the righteous consists in the possession of "life everlasting," "an eternal weight of glory" (2Co 4:17), an exemption from all sufferings for ever, a deliverance from all evils (2Co 5:1-2) and from the society of the wicked (2Ti 4:18), bliss without termination, the "fulness of joy" for ever (Lu 20:36; 2Co 4:16,18; 1Pe 1:4; 5:10; 1Jo 3:2). the believer's heaven is not only a state of everlasting blessedness, but also a "place", a place "prepared" for them (Joh 14:2)'. Please also see the note for Matthew 3:2 about the phrase kingdom of Heaven. Please also see the note for Hebrews 12:2-LJC about the phrase treasure in Heaven. Please also see the Message called Laying up Treasure in Heaven. Please also see the note for Luke 3:21-22 about the phrase voice from heaven Please also see the note for Revelation 20:9 about the phrase fire from heaven. Please also see the note for 1Peter 1:2-LJC about the phrase things in Heaven. There are 57 references to this word just in this Bible book. Therefore, this note does not provide links to all of them.

Please see the note for Revelation 1:8 about the word first. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'a. furst. See fare and for. 1. Advanced before or further than any other in progression; foremost in place; as the first man in a marching company or troop is the man that precedes all the rest. Hence, 2. Preceding all others in the order of time. Adam was the first man. Cain was the first murderer. Monday was the first day of January. 3. Preceding all others in numbers or a progressive series; the ordinal of one; as, 1 is the first number. 4. Preceding all others in rank, dignity or excellence. Demosthenes was the first orator of Greece. Burke was one of the first geniuses of his age. Give God the first place in your affections. FIRST, adv. furst. 1. Before anything else in the order of time. Adam was first formed, then Eve. 1Tim. 2. 2. Before all others in place or progression. Let the officers enter the gate first. 3. Before anything else in order of proceeding or consideration. First, let us attend to the examination of the witnesses. 4. Before all others in rank. He stands or ranks first in public estimation. At first, at the first, as the beginning or origin. First or last, at one time or another; at the beginning or end. And all fools and lovers first or last.'. Please also see the note for Hebrews 1:5-LJC about the word firstbegotten. Please also see the note for Colossians 1:15 about the word firstborn. Please also see the note for Romans C8S21 about the word firstfruits. Please also see the note for John 20:1 about the phrase first day of the week.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians C14S8 about the word trumpet. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines this word as: 'n. 1. A wind instrument of music, used chiefly in war and military exercises. It is very useful also at sea, in speaking with ships. there is a speaking trumpet, and a hearing trumpet. they both consist of long tubular bodies, nearly in the form of a parabolic conoid, with wide mouths. the trumpet's loud clangor Excites us to arms. 2. In the military style, a trumpeter. He wisely desired that a trumpet might be first sent for a pass. 3. One who praises or propagates praise, or is the instrument or propagating it. A great politician was pleased to be the trumpet of his praises.
TRUMP'ET, v.t. to publish by sound of trumpet; also, to proclaim; as, to trumpet good tidings. they did nothing but publish and trumpet all the reproaches they could devise against the Irish'. In the Bible, a trumpet was used to announce an important event that God's people were to pay attention to. For example, it announced the start of war and the start of an important worship service.

Please see the note for Matthew 22:15 about the word talk. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'to converse familiarly; to speak, as in familiar discourse, when two or more persons interchange thoughts. I will buy with you, sell with you, talk with you; but I will not eat with you. In Aesop's time When all things talk'd, and talk'd in rhyme. I will come down and talk with thee. Num.11. Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way? Luke 24. 2. to prate; to speak impertinently. 3. to talk of, to relate; to tell; to give account. Authors talk of the wonderful remains of Palmyra. the natural histories of Switzerland talk much of the fall of these rocks, and the great damage done. So shall I talk of thy wondrous works. Ps.119. 4. to speak; to reason; to confer. Let me talk with thee of thy judgments. Jer.12. to talk to, in familiar language, to advise or exhort; or to reprove gently. I will talk to my son respecting his conduct.
TALK, n. tauk. Familiar converse; mutual discourse; that which is uttered by one person in familiar conversation, or the mutual converse of two or more. Should a man full of talk be justified? Job 11. In various talk th' instructive hours they past. 1. Report; rumor. I hear a talk up and down of raising money. 2. Subject of discourse. this noble achievement is the talk of the whole town. 3. Among the Indi and of North America, a public conference, as respecting peace or war, negotiation and the like; or an official verbal communication made from them to another nation or its agents, or made to them by the same'. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 4:1; 17:1; 21:9; 21:15.

Please see the note for Matthew 8:29 about the word hither. The functional definition for this word is: 'Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'HITH'ER, adv. 1. to this place; used with verbs signifying motion; as, to come hither; to proceed hither; to bring hither. 2. Hither and thither, to this place and that. 3. to this point; to this argument or topic; to this end. Little used and not to be encouraged. Hither we refer whatever belongs to the highest perfection of man.
HITH'ER, a. Nearest; towards the person speaking; as on the hither side of a hill; the hither end of the building'. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 4:1; 11:12; 17:1; 21:9.

Please see the note for Colossians 2S8 about the word shew. The functional definition for this word is: 'The Biblical spelling for the word show, which means: to exhibit or present to the view of others'.

We find forms of the word hereafter in: Isaiah 41:23; Ezekiel 20:39; Daniel 2:29; Daniel 2:45; Matthew 26:64; Mark 11:14; Luke 22:69; John 1:51; John 13:7; John 14:30; 1Timothy 1:16; Revelation 1:19; Revelation 4:1; Revelation 9:12. The functional definition for this word is: 'from this time forward'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'After. Re 1-3 a door. Ex 1:1; Mt 3:16; Mr 1:10; Lu 3:21; Ac 7:56; 10:11 the first. Re 1:10; 16:17 Come. Re 11:12; Ex 19:24; 24:12; 34:2-3 exp: Pr 25:7. and I. Re 1:19; 22:6; Joh 16:13'.

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C4-S2 (Verse 2) John obeyed the command.

Equivalent Section: What happened immediately.

And immediately I was in the spirit :

Equivalent Section: What John saw first in Heaven.

and,
behold,
a throne was set in heaven,
and one sat on the throne.

Our First Equivalent Section tells us that John obeyed the command to go to Heaven. He did so in his spirit. Then, our Second Equivalent Section tells us the first thing that he saw there. He saw the throne of God and God sitting on it, which are the most important things in Heaven.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence: 'Here as John is immediately transported to heaven he sees a throne, a symbol of authority and majesty, and one that sits upon that throne. Who is it? None other than God the Father, we know this for the Son approaches the throne in 5:6 and the Spirit is before the throne in 4:5. Now realize this is a vision and here we see the three personalities of God, who is not three separate beings, but three different personalities, which are pictured for us here as the triune God. John sees in his vision God the Father and can not and does not attempt to describe such an awe inspiring sight, for how could he describe God if he even tried? Mere words would not suffice, they would always be lacking and oo small to try to describe such a big God. It would be like describing the Grand Canyon as a hole in the ground. So John doesn’t even try to describe the appearance of God, he simply gives a symbolic description…'.

Please see the note for Mark 1:42 about the word immediate. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'Proximate; acting without a medium, or without the intervention of another cause or means; producing its effect by its own direct agency. An immediate cause is that which is exerted directly in producing its effect, in opposition to a mediate cause, or one more remote. 2. Not acting by second causes; as the immediate will of God. 3. Instant; present; without the intervention of time. We must have an immediate supply of bread. Immediate are my needs-- Death--inflicted--by an immediate stroke'.

Please see the note for Philippians 2:9-11 about the word heaven. Easton's Bible Dictionary this word as: '(1.) Definitions. the phrase "heaven and earth" is used to indicate the whole universe (Ge 1:1; Jer 23:24; Ac 17:24). According to the Jewish notion there were three heavens, (a) the firmament, as "fowls of the heaven" (Ge 2:19; 7:3,23; Ps 8:8, etc.), "the eagles of heaven" (La 4:19), etc. (b) the starry heavens (De 17:3; Jer 8:2; Mt 24:29). (c) "The heaven of heavens," or "the third heaven" (De 10:14; 1Ki 8:27; Ps 115:16; 148:4; 2Co 12:2). (2.) Meaning of words in the original, (a) the usual Hebrew word for "heavens" is shamayim, a plural form meaning "heights," "elevations" (Ge 1:1; 2:1). (b) the Hebrew word marom is also used (Ps 68:18; 93:4; 102:19, etc.) as equivalent to shamayim, "high places," "heights." (c) Heb galgal, literally a "wheel," is rendered "heaven" in Ps 77:18 (R.V., "whirlwind"). (d) Heb shahak, rendered "sky" (De 33:26; Job 37:18; Ps 18:11), plural "clouds" (Job 35:5; 36:28; Ps 68:34, marg. "heavens"), means probably the firmament. (e) Heb rakia is closely connected with (d), and is rendered "firmamentum" in the Vulgate, whence our "firmament" (Ge 1:6; De 33:26, etc.), regarded as a solid expanse. (3.) Metaphorical meaning of term. Isa 14:13-14; "doors of heaven" (Ps 78:23); heaven "shut" (1Ki 8:35); "opened" (Eze 1:1). (See 1Ch 21:16.) (4.) Spiritual meaning. the place of the everlasting blessedness of the righteous; the abode of departed spirits. (a) Christ calls it his "Father's house" (Joh 14:2). (b) It is called "paradise" (Lu 23:43; 2Co 12:4; Re 2:7). (c) "The heavenly Jerusalem" (Ga 4:1; 6:18; Heb 12:22; Re 3:12). (d) the "kingdom of heaven" (Mt 25:1; Jas 2:5). (e) the "eternal kingdom" (2Pe 1:11). (f) the "eternal inheritance" (1Pe 1:4; Heb 9:15). (g) the "better country" (Heb 11:14,16). (h) the blessed are said to "sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob," and to be "in Abraham's bosom" (Lu 16:22; Mt 8:11); to "reign with Christ" (2Ti 2:12). In heaven the blessedness of the righteous consists in the possession of "life everlasting," "an eternal weight of glory" (2Co 4:17), an exemption from all sufferings for ever, a deliverance from all evils (2Co 5:1-2) and from the society of the wicked (2Ti 4:18), bliss without termination, the "fulness of joy" for ever (Lu 20:36; 2Co 4:16,18; 1Pe 1:4; 5:10; 1Jo 3:2). the believer's heaven is not only a state of everlasting blessedness, but also a "place", a place "prepared" for them (Joh 14:2)'. Please also see the note for Matthew 3:2 about the phrase kingdom of Heaven. Please also see the note for Hebrews 12:2-LJC about the phrase treasure in Heaven. Please also see the Message called Laying up Treasure in Heaven. Please also see the note for Luke 3:21-22 about the phrase voice from heaven Please also see the note for Revelation 20:9 about the phrase fire from heaven. Please also see the note for 1Peter 1:2-LJC about the phrase things in Heaven. There are 57 references to this word just in this Bible book. Therefore, this note does not provide links to all of them.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'like a. Re 21:11,19-20; Ex 24:10; Eze 1:26; 28:13 a rainbow. Re 10:1; Ge 9:13-16; Isa 54:9-10; Eze 1:28 like unto. Re 21:19; Ex 28:18; 39:11; Eze 28:13 General references. exp: Ge 9:13.'.

Home Overview of Revelation Chapter Summary Start of Chapter

C4-S3 (Verse 3) the symbolic description of what John saw.

Equivalent Section: the symbolic description of how God looked.

And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone:

Equivalent Section: the symbolic description of how God's throne looked.

and there was a rainbow round about the throne,
in sight like unto an emerald.

Please see the note from Dr. Jeff Wilson for a more detailed description of the symbolic meaning of what John describes here.

We find forms of the word jasper is described in the Word Definitions, below. It is always associated wit God and the things of God. Even Satan, when he served God and before he rebelled, was decorated with this stone.

The sardine stone is also called sardius. The Morrish Bible Dictionary describes this stone as" 'One of the precious stones in the breastplate. Ex 28:17; 39:10. It also embellished one of the foundations of the holy Jerusalem. Re 21:20. It was one of the stones that covered the king of Tyrus (doubtless portraying Satan before his fall). Eze 28:13. In heaven One who sat upon the throne was "to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone." Re 4:3. It is supposed to be the sard, a superior variety of agate, of various colours, some blood-red, and others of a golden hue'. So, again, we find a stone which is associated with God in the word of God.

The word rainbow only occurs twice in the word of God, and it occurs when there is enough water in the air to be considered to be 'rain' and when light (from God) shines through it. Sinful perverts have tried to claim this Godly symbol for their sin and try to claim that God made them the way they are, which is impossible. Sodomites do not reproduce. Therefore, they can not be born with that sin nature. Please see the Word Definitions, below, for more detains on this word.

The word emerald is found in the word of God, in: Exodus 28:18; Exodus 39:11; Ezekiel 27:16; Ezekiel 28:13; Revelation 4:3; Revelation 21:19. Smith's Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'a precious stone of a rich green color, upon which its value chiefly depends. this gem was the first in the second row on the breastplate of the high priest: Ex 28:18; 39:11. It was imported to Tyre from Syria: Eze 27:16. was used as a seal or signet, Ecclus. 32:6, as an ornament of clothing and bedding: Eze 28:13; Jg 10:18. and is spoken of as one of the foundations of (the new) Jerusalem: Re 21:19. Tob. 13:16. the rainbow around the throne is compared to emerald in: Re 4:3'. Other dictionaries try to give other descriptions of this stone, which means that, if they reject the current stone which has this name, then they are not sure what the stone was like.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence: 'John says to look upon God was like looking upon a jasper and sardine stone. Now the jasper stone is similar to what we call a diamond, for we see the jasper described in the appearance of the New Jerusalem in Rev 21:11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; this stone is bright and light, depicting the glory of God, His brightness, much like the brightness of the countenance of Christ in His glorified state in ch1.
Ps 104:1 Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty. 2 Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment:
I think what John focuses on here is the glory, the skekinah glory, the bright aura around God.
Now the sardine stone is very much like the ruby, red, red as blood, the blood that was sacrificed by the grace of God for the salvation of mankind, also red as a fire as God is a consuming fire (which also gives off light which we also see the Holy Spirit in v5 described as fire as well as Christ was back in ch1).
It was the jasper and sardine stones that were the first and last stones upon the breastplate of the high priest of Israel that were engraved with the name of the twelve tribes of Israel, thus, we see the people were ever upon the heart of the priest, the heart being the place for affection and love. So here in the description we have of God, we see that God who so loved the world that gave His only begotten Son forever has His people on His heart, and has now called them home to be His children.
And then, just like that, John jumps to other things he sees, for so majestic is God he can not dwell upon the sight of the Almighty upon His heavenly throne. So John’s eyes begin to wander around the throne room and he sees in v3 a rainbow that encircles the throne, this is not just a half circle but a total circle with God and the throne at the center, for in heaven all things are complete, and its not just any kind of rainbow, it is like an emerald, a vibrant green rainbow. the way I imagine this is with different shades of green in place of the various colors of the rainbow we know. the rainbow is a token of God's covenant with man and creation, which typically is seen after a storm, but here the rainbow is seen before the storm, before judgment falls on those upon the earth and creation. And the green of the emerald speaks to us of the creation and God's covenant with it, for in the end of this chapter the elders and four beasts bow down and worship God because of the creation (v11).
So thus far, as John instantly arrives in heaven he describes to us what he begins to take in, first his eyes focus on the throne and the one upon that throne, then his sight drifts to that which is immediately around the throne, the emerald rainbow, and now as his eyes move across the throne room he sees in v4…'.

Please see the note for Matthew 7:24-25 about the word liken. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'To compare; to represent as resembling or similar. Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, that built his house on a rock. Matt. 6'. Please also see the note for Philippians 2:5-8 about the word likeness. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines this word as: 'Resemblance in form; similitude. the picture is a good likeness of the original. 2. Resemblance; form; external appearance. Guard against an enemy in the likeness of a friend. 3. One that resembles another; a copy; a counterpart. I took you for your likeness, Chloe. 4. An image, picture or statue, resembling a person or thing. Ex. 20'. Please also see the note for Romans 15:5-6 about the word likeminded. word also see the note for Philippians 2:5-8 about the word likeness. Please also see the note for Mark 4:16-17 about the word likewise.

We find forms of the word jasper in: Exodus 28:20; Exodus 39:13; Ezekiel 28:13; Revelation 4:3; Revelation 21:11; Revelation 21:18; Revelation 21:19. Smith's Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'a precious stone frequently noticed in Scripture. It was the last of the twelve inserted in the high priest's breastplate: Ex 28:20; 39:13. and the first of the twelve used in the foundations of the new Jerusalem: Re 21:19. The characteristics of the stone as far as they are specified in Scripture: Re 21:11. are that it "was most precious," and "like crystal;" we may also infer from: Re 4:3. That it was a stone of brilliant and transparent light. the stone which we name "jasper" does not accord with this description. there can be no doubt that the diamond would more adequately answer to the description in the book of Revelation'.

Please see the note for 1Peter 2:4-5 about the word stone. The functional definition for this word is: 'he same composition as a rock or a pebble but with a size between them'. Please also see the note for Luke 17:28-29 about the word brimstone. Please also see the note for Ephesians 2:20 about the phrase corner stone. Please also see the note for Luke 17:2 about the word millstone. Please also see the note for 1Corinthians C3S13 about the phrase precious stones. Please see the Minor Titles of the Son of God in the Significant Gospel Events Study for the title of stone.

Please see the note for 1Peter 1:7 about the word precious. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines this word as: 'Of great price; costly; as a precious stone. 2. Of great value or worth; very valuable. She is more precious than rubies. Prov.3. 3. Highly valued; much esteemed. the word of the Lord was precious in those days; there was no open vision. 1 Sam.3. 4. Worthless; in irony and contempt. Precious metals, gold and silver, so called on account of their value'.

We find forms of the word rainbow only in: Revelation 4:3 and 10:1. However, the word bow is also used for it. Please see the note for Philippians 2:9-11 about the word bow. The Morrish Bible Dictionary defines the word rainbow as: 'The 'bow set in the clouds' was given by God to Noah as a token that He would not again destroy the world by a flood. Ge 9:13-16. that the rainbow, as is now known, is caused by the refraction of light on drops of rain, need not cause any difficulty. the rainbow may have appeared to Noah before, but it was not appointed by God as a token until after the flood. the word translated 'set' (nathan) is sometimes translated 'appoint,' as in Jos 20:2. Others judge it to be more probable that the rainbow had not been seen prior to the flood, the state of the atmosphere being different from what it became after the deluge.
The rainbow is mentioned in Re 4:3; 10:1, as a symbol that, notwithstanding all the sin of man, God has been faithful to His promise respecting the earth. the beautiful bow in the cloud should ever call to mind His abiding faithfulness.'.

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C4-S4 (Verse 4) the description of others around God's throne.

Equivalent Section: Where they sat.

And round about the throne were four and twenty seats:

Equivalent Section: .

First Step: Who sat there.

and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting,
clothed in white raiment;.

Second Step: the symbol of their positions.

and they had on their heads crowns of gold.

Lots of people have different speculations as to who these four and twenty elders are. Some agree with Dr. Jeff Wilson, see his note below, some claim that they represent the Old Testament saints and some clain a combination. However, the word of God does not tell us enough to be more accurate than speculation. However, we can know about them that:

The number of them is: four and twenty.
They are elders. Most Baptists, and other religions, teach doctrinal error about this role. They say that elders are not ordained, although Paul instructed preachers to ordain elders and their position in Heaven required these elders to be ordained. This is just one more place where people ignore what the word of God says because it would correct their doctrine.
They were clothed in white raiment. This is symbolic of they having had their sin record blotted out and that God declared them to be righteous and sinless.
They wear crowns of gold. This is symbolic of them ruling under God.
Every place else, where we see them mentioned, they are always fall down and worshipped God. They always openly acknowledged that, no matter what they might claim about themselves, it all came from God.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence: 'So not only is there the heavenly throne, but in the heavenly court there are arrayed 24 other seats, or thrones, and on them sit 24 elders clothed in white raiment and wearing golden crowns, victor crowns specifically according to the Greek word used here. So who are these elders? Well according to their raiment they are priests, they are clothed in white, as with the righteousness of the saints Re 19:8 and to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. these elders are also kings, crowned with gold. And aren’t thrones and crowns promised to the saints? Christ told those that overcome he would give them a crown of life (2:10) and in Re 3:21 to him that overcometh 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.
So what we see here are representatives of a royal priesthood. 1Pe 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: 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
Re 1:4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; 5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
So I believe these 24 elders represent the redeemed saints in glory, and we know that by what they say in Re 5:8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. 9 And they sung a new song, saying, thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and ongue, and people, and nation; 10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
These are the redeemed who have overcome in the conflict with Satan and the world because they wear the victor’s crown and robes of righteousness, and they worship before the throne.
Now King David had something similar to these 24 elders in I Chronicles 24, where he appointed 24 elders to represent the entire Levitical priesthood of his day, he divided the priests of Israel into groups who were to serve for a two week period in the temple, serving in the House of God, the place that God dwelled. Now those priests were thousands strong so all of them could not all come together at one time to discuss matters, but each time the 24 elders that David appointed met the whole priestly house was represented. So it is possible these 24 elders around the throne in heaven represent the much larger heavenly priesthood.
So I submit to you a thought here, and only a thought, that each of us who are true believers, saved by faith, washed in the blood children of God, of the royal priesthood, may in fact one day get to set upon one of these thrones in our appointed time of service to the most high God, either that or an elect few who are honored with such a reward for faithful service to represent the saved, I don’t know if can prove that but it’s a thought, for if these elders are all true believers and they possibly rotate in service like the priests did of David’s and Solomon’s time, we might have the honor and privilege of sitting in the royal throne room of the Heavenly Father with the responsibility of representing the redeemed. We will possibly get to see the very sight John saw here for ourselves, we will get to see the throne, the One who sits upon the throne like a jasper and sardine, we will get to see the emerald rainbow, we will get to see and experience all that and much more! Glory what a day that will be!'.

Please see the note for Mark 12:38-40 about the word seat. The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia defines this word as: 'set: this word is used to translate the Hebrew words (moshabh, shebheth, kicce', and tekhunah), once (Job 23:3). It translates the Greek word (kathedra) (Mt 21:12; 23:2; Mr 11:15), and "chief seat" translates the compound word (protokathedria) (Mt 23:6; Mr 12:39; Lu 20:46). In the King James Version it translates (thronos) (Lu 1:52; Re 2:13; 4:4; 11:16; 13:2; 16:10), which the Revised Version (British and American) renders "throne." It denotes a place or thing upon which one sits, as a chair, or stool (1Sa 20:18; Jg 3:20). It is used also of the exalted position occupied by men of marked rank or influence, either in good or evil (Mt 23:2; Ps 1:1)'. Please also see the note for 2Corinthians 5:10 about the phrase judgment seat. Please also see the note for Romans 14:10 and 2Corinthians 5:10 about the phrase judgment seat of Christ.

Please see the note for 1Timothy 5:1 about the word elder. The true Biblical definition for this word is: 'An older saved person within the church who has Godly wisdom and is accepted as a leader in the church even if he has no formal position within the church'. Please be careful about this definition as there are several wrong religious definitions which are strongly held by people including 'Good, Godly, fundamental, KJV only Baptists'. In addition, many man-written dictionaries have different definitions, and many of those have parts that did not match the Biblical usage. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 4:4; 4:10; 5:5; 5:6; 5:8; 5:11; 5:14; 7:11; 7:13; 11:16; 14:3; 19:4.

Please see the note for 2Corinthians 5:2-3 about the word clothed. The functional definition for this word is: 'Covered with garments; dressed; invested; furnished with clothing'.

Please see the note for Colossians C1S4 about the word head. The functional definition for this word is: 'The part of the body which holds the brain. It is also used, symbolically, for the main source of control'. Please also see the note for Matthew 14:10 about the word beheaded. Please also see the note for 1Corinthians 11:3-LJC about the phrase Christ: the head of.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'were four. Re 11:16; 20:4; Mt 19:28; Lu 22:30 four and twenty. Re 4:10; 5:8,14; 7:11; 19:4 clothed. Re 3:4-5; 6:11; 7:9,13-14; 19:14 crowns. Re 2:10; 9:7; Es 8:15; Ps 21:3; 2Ti 4:8 General references. exp: Re 11:16.'.

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C4-S5 (Verse 5) What John also saw when he looked at the throne of God.

Equivalent Section: the symbolic evidence of God's power.

And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices:

Equivalent Section: the symbolic evidence of God dealing with churches.

and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne,
which are the seven Spirits of God .

Our First Equivalent Section tells us what proceeded directly from God seated on His throne. That is: 'This is symbolically God showing us His power and authority'. Look at the Word Definitions, below. The word lightnings is used symbolically for: 'tokens of God's wrath'. The word thunder is used symbolically for: '"the voice of the Lord"'. The word voices is used symbolically for: 'How God speaks through His ministers'. Thus, this First Equivalent Section is, symbolically, telling us: 'God is using His own voice and His ministers to warn men of His wrath which is about to come'. And, most of the rest of this book describes that wrath. God's wrath is what the great tribulation is all about.

Our Second Equivalent Section tells us that there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne and that they, symbolically, are the seven Spirits of God. Back in 1:19-20, we were told about seven candlesticks and that they, symbolically, are the seven churches. A candle, on a candlestick puts out less light than a lamp, but they both put out light. The word of God teaches much about light and links to those lessons can be found in the Word Study. The saved are commanded to let God's light shine through them in this dark world. And, the connection between the symbols of this sentence and the symbols of the prior sentence is that the spiritual attributes of the seven Spirits of God will shine through the churches if they allow it.

In our Second Equivalent Section, our Lord Jesus Christ says that the hath the seven lamps are the seven Spirits of God. The seven Spirits are detailed in Isaiah 11:2 as:

the spirit of Lord, which gives us God's never changing law and judgment.
the spirit of wisdom, which gives us how to apply spiritual truths in our life.
the spirit of understanding, which gives us how different things of the word of God fit together without conflict.
the spirit of counsel, which gives us advice on how to proceed when we face the problems of life.
the spirit of might, which gives us God's power to do what we can not do on our own.
the spirit of knowledge, which gives us what the word of God actually says.
the spirit of the fear of the LORD, which gives us the motivation to stop our sinning.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence: 'Now something draws John’s attention back to the throne. Just like the rainbow is depicting a coming storm, so to do these lightnings and thunderings and voices. forwe see such a sight when God is dealing intensely with humanity…
Re 8:5 And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.
Re 11:19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.
Re 16:17 And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. 18 And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.
This also reminds us of the time God in his glory came to Mt Sinai to speak with Moses… Ex 19:16 And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.17 And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount.18 And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly…
Heb 12:21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)
Also here before the throne, the Holy Spirit is now seen, represented by the seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. Now we know the Holy Spirit is not seven separate entities (neither is God 3 separate entities), but we have looked at this description of the Holy Spirit before, the number seven being the number of His perfection, the fullness of the Holy Spirit, the number of His perfect characteristics or attributes.
Re 1:4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which
is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
Re 3:1 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; these things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God…
Re 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.
So this is just another description of the manifestation of the Holy Spirit in a visible form, much like John barely describes God but instead defines the colors or stones he sees as God's attributes, he does the same with the Holy Spirit, not a visual physical description but more of a description of the perfection of the Spirit as he appears before the throne.'.

Please see the note for John 15:26-7 about the word proceed. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'to move, pass or go forward from one place to another; applied to persons or things. A man proceeds on his journey; a ship proceeds on her voyage. this word thus used implies that the motion, journey or voyage had been previously commenced, and to proceed is then to renew or continue the motion or progress. 2. to pass from one point, stage or topic to another. the preacher proceeds from one division of his subject, and the advocate from one argument, to another. 3. to issue or come as from a course or fountain. Light proceeds from the sun; vice proceeds from a depraved heart; virtuous affections proceed from God. 4. to come from a person or place. Christ says, "I proceeded forth and came from God." John 8. 5. to prosecute any design. He that proceeds on other principles in his inquiry into any sciences, posts himself in a party. 6. to be transacted or carried on. He will, after his sour fashion, tell you, What hath proceeded worthy note to-day. Not now in use. 7. to make progress; to advance. 8. to begin and carry on a series of actions or measures. the attorney was at a loss in what manner to proceed against the offender. in this sense, the word is often followed by against. 9. to transact; to act; to carry on methodically. From them I will not hide My judgments, how with mankind I proceed. 10. to have a course. this rule only proceeds and takes place, when a person cannot of common law condemn another by his sentence. 11. to issue; to be produced or propagated. From my loins thou shalt proceed. 12. to be produced by an effectual cause. All created things proceed from God.'. the functional definition for this word is: 'This word incorporates a series of sets which move us from one place to another'. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 4:5; 11:5; 19:21; 22:1.

Please see the note for Luke 17:24 about the word lightning. The functional definition for this word is: ''frequently referred to by the sacred writers (Na 1:3-6). thunder and lightning are spoken of as tokens of God's wrath (2Sa 22:15; Job 28:26; 37:4; Ps 135:7; 144:6; Zec 9:14). they represent God's glorious and awful majesty (Re 4:5), or some judgment of God on the world (Re 20:9)'. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 4:5; 8:5; 11:19; 16:18.

Please see the note for John 12:29 about the word thunder. The American Tract Society Dictionary defines this word as: 'And lightning are significant manifestations of the power of God, and emblems of his presence, Ex 19:16; 1Sa 2:10; 12:17; Ps 18:13. thunder is poetically called "the voice of the Lord" in the sublime description of a thunder-storm in Ps 29:11; "The voice of the Lord is upon the waters; the God of glory thundereth; the Lord is upon many waters. the voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty. the voice of the Lord breaketh the cedars; Yea, the Lord breaketh the cedars of Lebanon," etc. See also Job 37:1-5; 40:9; Jer 10:13. In illustration of Ps 29:9, Moffat, while describing the thunder-storms of South Africa, say that the antelopes flee in consternation; and that he has observed the Bechuanas starting off early on the morning following such a storm in quest of young antelopes prematurely born. In Ps 78:48, "hot thunderbolts" means lightning'. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 4:5; 6:1; 8:5; 10:3; 10:4; 11:19; 14:2; 16:18; 19:6.

We find the exact phrase: seven Spirits only in Revelation and only in: 1:4, 3:1, 4:5, 5:6. .

Please see the note for Matthew 25:1 about the word lamp. The functional definition for this word is: ''the physical source of light which is also used, symbolically, for the physical source of spiritual understanding'.

Please see the note for Luke 24:32 about the word burn. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'The primary sense is, to rage, to act with violent excitement. 1. to consume with fire; to reduce to ashes by the action of heat or fire; frequently with up; as, to burn up wood. 2. to expel the volatile parts and reduce to charcoal by fire; as, to burn wood into coal. Hence, in popular language, to burn a kiln of wood, is to char the wood. 3. to cleanse of soot by burning; to inflame; as, to burn a chimney; an extensive use of the word. 4. to harden in the fire; to bake or harden by heat; as, to burn bricks or a brick kiln. 5. to scorch; to affect by heat; as, to burn the clothes or the legs by the fire; to burn meat or bread in cookery. 6. to injure by fire; to affect the flesh by heat. 7. to dry up or dissipate; with up; as, to burn up tears. 8. to dry excessively; to cause to wither by heat; as, the sun burns the grass or plants. 9. to heat or inflame; to affect with excessive stimulus; as, ardent spirits burn the stomach. 10. to affect with heat in cookery, so as to give the food a disagreeable taste. Hence the phrase burnt to. 11. to calcine with heat or fire; to expel the volatile matter from substances, so that they are easily pulverized; as, to burn oyster shells, or lime-stone. 12. to affect with excess of heat; as, the fever burns a patient. 13. to subject to the action of fire; to heat or dry; as, to burn colors. to burn up, to consume entirely by fire. to burn out, to burn till the fuel is all consumed.
BURN, v.i. to be on fire; to flame; as, the mount burned with fire. 1. to shine; to sparkle. O prince! O wherefore burn your eyes? 2. to be inflamed with passion or desire; as, to burn with anger or love. 3. to act with destructive violence, as fire. Shall thy wrath burn like fire? 4. to be in commotion; to rage with destructive violence. the groan still deepens and the combat burns. 5. to be heated; to be in a glow; as, the face burns. 6. to be affected with a sensation of heat, pain or acidity; as, the heart burns. 7. to feel excess of heat; as, the flesh burns by a fire; a patient burns with a fever. to burn out, to burn till the fuel is exhausted and the fire ceases.
BURN, n. A hurt or injury of the flesh caused by the action of fire. 1. the operation of burning or baking, as in brickmaking; as, they have a good burn'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'proceeded. Re 8:5; 11:19; 16:17-18; Ex 19:16; 20:18; Ps 18:13-14; 68:35; Joe 3:16; Heb 12:18-29 seven. Ge 15:7; Ex 37:23; 2Ch 4:20; Eze 1:13; Zec 4:2,11-14 exp: Ex 25:37. The seven. Re 1:4; 3:1; 5:6; Mt 3:11; Ac 2:3; 1Co 12:4-11 General references. exp: Ex 37:23; 40:25; Nu 8:2; Eze 1:13.'.

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C4-S6 (Verse 6) the next things which John noticed.

Equivalent Section: the sea of glass.

And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal:

Equivalent Section: the four beasts.

and in the midst of the throne,
and round about the throne,
were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.

Our sentence starts with the word And, which adds it to the prior sentence. All of the sentences in this chapter, after the first sentence, start with the word And. That means that this entire chapter is a single unit of thought and all of it needs to be considered together for contextual reasons. The entire chapter describes what John saw as soon as he arrived in Heaven. 4:6 through the end of the chapter describe these four beasts.

The symbolism of this sentence is speculated about by many people with differing claims. I only copied part of what Dr. Jeff Wilson writes and the reader is welcome to read the rest for themselves. I do not disagree with him, but I don't people to think that I am saying that his speculation rises to the level of Bible doctrine.

In the Bible, the word glass is used for a mirror (1Corinthians 13:12) and that verse is speaking about difficulty in seeing spiritual things. In Genesis 44, and other places, we see that Joseph used a cup, with liquid in it, to divine ('see spiritual truth'). And, the speculation from Dr. Jeff Wilson, and others, is that the word of God shows us spiritual truth. Which is true, but it is here in this physical reality while the crystal sea is in Heaven. (The word crystal is used to convey the meaning of 'extreme clarity'.) therefore, my speculation (not doctrinal level of truth0 is that the crystal sea shows beings in Heaven spiritual truth about this physical reality. And, this speculation is reinforced by the equivalency of this sentence. (Both Equivalent Sections tell us about beings in heaven seeing things spiritually.)

Our Second Equivalent Section describes four beasts, which can only be speculated about. (The rest of this chapter describes them but, since symbolic language is used, there is disagreement about the meaning of the symbols.) However, the symbolism of full of eyes before and behind should not be in dispute. They can see all around them. There is nothing hid from their sight. In the word of God, eyes and sight are used, symbolically, for spiritual sight and understanding. And, the symbolism of these eyes matches the symbolism of the crystal sea, which was described by our First Equivalent Section and where we saw that it was used, by God and Heavenly beings, to spiritually see what happens in the world.

The phrase full of eyes is also used by Ezekiel in Ezekiel 1 to describe the four living creatures which he saw is a vision. And, there are other similarities between what Ezekiel saw and what John saw, but there is not enough of a description, by either writer, to say that they are the same Heavenly creatures or to say that they are different. Yes, some people will offer an opinion to try and look like some type of authority, but i will not.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence: 'Before the throne there is a sea of glass, of crystal, solid and clear, sparkling in all the lights (fire, rainbow, lightning, God's glory). I think H. A. Ironside explains this best, “The sea of glass of v5 reminds us of the sea of brass in Solomon’s temple. that “sea” symbolized, like the laver {in the tabernacle} the Word of God because it contained the water used for priestly cleansing, and we are sanctified and cleansed by the “washing of the water by the word.” But this sea {in Rev} is not for cleansing, so it is as crystal {solid} and later we find the martyred Tribulation saints standing on it {15:2}. It is the Word of God still, but it is no longer needed for cleansing because desert experiences are viewed here forever past. But the Word abides, stable and sure forevermore – the glassy sea filled with crystal – firm and glorious, on the which the people of God can stand eternally.”
And I’ll add to that that Jesus himself said in Mt 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. His Word is here symbolized as the sea of glass as being forever fixed, in the eternal throne room of God, its purpose fulfilled but what it stands for to never be forgotten but to be an ever-present reminder of what the Lord Jesus done for mankind.
We saw the sea of glass, of crystal, representing the everlasting Word of God which shall not pass away and which cleanses believers much like the laver in the tabernacle, the sea is not flowing, it is solid, like crystal, symbolizing its eternalness.'.

Please see the note for John 6:16-17 about the word sea. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines this word as: 'A large bason, cistern or laver which Solomon made in the temple, so large as to contain more than six thousand gallons. this was called the brazen sea, and used to hold water for the priests to wash themselves. 1 Kings 7. 2 Chron. 4 2. A large body of water, nearly inclosed by land, as the Baltic or the Mediterranean; as the sea of Azof. Seas are properly branches of the ocean, and upon the same level. Large bodies of water inland, and situated above the level of the ocean, are lakes. the appellation of sea, given to the Caspian lake, is an exception, and not very correct. So the lake of Galilee is called a sea, from the Greek. 3. the ocean; as, to go to sea. the fleet is at sea, or on the high seas. 4. A wave; a billow; a surge. the vessel shipped a sea. 5. the swell of the ocean in a tempest, or the direction of the waves; as, we head the sea. 6. Proverbially, a large quantity of liquor; as a sea of blood. 7. A rough or agitated place or element. In a troubled sea of passion tost. Milton'. Please also see the note for Hebrews 11:29 about the phrase Red Sea. Please also see the note for John 21:1 about the phrase sea of Tiberias. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 4:6; 5:13; 7:1; 7:2; 7:3; 8:8; 8:9; 10:2; 10:5-6; 10:8; 12:12; 13:1; 14:7; 15:2; 16:3; 18:17; 18:19; 18:21; 20:8; 20:13; 21:1.

Please see the note for James 1:23 about the word glass. All of the dictionaries speak about the material. However, the usage within the Bible is: 'mirror'. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 4:6; 15:2; 21:18; 21:21.

We find forms of the word crystal in: Job 28:17; Ezekiel 1:22; Revelation 4:6; Revelation 21:11; Revelation 22:1. Easton's Bible Dictionary defines this word as: '(Eze 1:22, with the epithet "terrible," as dazzling the spectators with its brightness). the word occurs in Re 4:6; 21:11; 22:1. It is a stone of the flint order, the most refined kind of quartz. the Greek word here used means also literally "ice." the ancients regarded the crystal as only pure water congealed into extreme hardness by great length of time'.

Please see the note for John 20:19 about the word midst. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'The middle. there is nothing said or done in the midst of the play, which might not have been placed in the beginning. the phrase, in the midst, often signifies involved in, surrounded or overwhelmed by, or in the thickest part, or in the depths of; as in the midst of afflictions, troubles or cares; in the midst of our contemplations; in the midst of the battle; in the midst of pagan darkness and error; in the midst of Gospel light; in the midst of the ocean; in the midst of civil dissensions. From the midst, from the middle, or from among. Deut.18.
MIDST, adv. In the middle. On earth, join all ye creatures to extol Him first, Him last, Him midst, and without end'.

The four beasts of Revelation are described in Revelation 4:6-8. Please see the notes for those sentences abour their descriptions and the symbolism involved in those descriptions. We find the four beasts of Revelation mentioned in: 4:6; 4:8; 5:6; 5:8; 5:14; 6:1; 6:6; 7:11-12; 14:2-3; 15:7 and 19:4.

Please see the note for Acts 7:42 about the word beast. The The functional definition for this word is: 'Any animal that is not man. Sometimes it means quadrupeds, and not creeping things'.

Please see the note for Philippians 4:18 about the word full. Please also see the note for Colossians 2:9 about the word fullness. The functional definition for this word is: 'Replete; having within its limits all that it can contain'. Please also see the notes for Romans C15S11 and Galatians C5-S15 about the word fulfill. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 4:6; 4:8; 5:8; 14:18; 15:7; 16:10; 17:3; 17:4; 21:9.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'a sea. Re 15:2; Ex 38:8; 1Ki 7:23 crystal. Re 21:11; 22:1; Job 28:17; Eze 1:22 the midst. Re 5:6; 7:17; Eze 1:4-5 four beasts. Re 4:8-9; 5:6,14; 6:1; 7:11; 14:3; 15:7; 19:4; Eze 1:5-28; 10:14 full. Re 4:8; Eze 1:18; 10:12 General references. exp: 1Ki 7:25.'.

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C4-S7 (Verse 7) the physical appearance of the four beasts.

And the first beast was like a lion,
and the second beast like a calf,
and the third beast had a face as a man,
and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.

Some commentators believe they represent attributes or aspects of God and are not separate creatures themselves, other commentators believe these 4 beasts are angelic beings, possibly cherubim or seraphim or some similar angelic order that are in intimate service to the Almighty. In other words, we are not given enough information about them to say exactly what they are. However, all through this book that are presented with the twenty-four elders. and are acting at the same level of authority as the twenty-four elders.

In the note below, Dr. Jeff Wilson writes that he believes these four beasts are angelic beings but he also describes how the symbolism matches our Lord Jesus Christ as He is described in the four Gospels. As I wrote above, I do not believe we have enough information, within the Bible, to form an opinion as to the exact nature of these four beasts. Therefore, I leave that to others.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence: 'Now I read quite a few descriptions about these four beasts in my studies, some believe they represent attributes or aspects of God and are not separate creatures themselves, others like myself, believe these 4 beasts are angelic beings, possibly cherubim or seraphim or some similar angelic order that are in intimate service to the Almighty. If you look at the first chapter of Ezekiel you will see similar creatures described, as well as many other similarities between these two chapters. forlike Rev ch4, in Ezekiel you see fire and brightness, lamps and lightning, a crystal sea or firmament, a thunderous voice, a throne and one upon the throne with the likeness of a man, a rainbow, the glory of God in all its shining brightness, and then four creatures with wings and eyes with similarities of a lion, an ox, a man and an eagle. So it makes you wonder if Ezekiel had a similar vision to John’s of the heavenly throne room. And then when you look at Isaiah ch6 were that prophet sees a vision of the throne room of God we read…. Isa 6:1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. 2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. 3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. We see similarities in the angelic beings’ wings and their praise of God. Now whether these are the same angelic creatures as in Rev 4, or if they are different variations of such or totally distinct and separate types of angels I do not know, but we can assume some things about the beasts in ch4 based on their description.
John says these creatures are full of eyes, covered with eyes, eyes before and behind and within, this would denote a divine wisdom, an all seeing omniscience, clear insight, super intelligence, being aware of all things where nothing is hidden from them. their wings give the impression of speed and swiftness and constant activity. these beasts that are before the throne serve God incessantly, they are always active, seeking and searching and seeing, they rest not night and day. And then we see these four beasts, these angelic beings, have four distinct descriptions about them, one is like a lion, one an calf, one with a face of a man, and another an eagle. And we can see many characteristics of God or Christ in these. Such as the lion represents divine majesty, the calf or ox: strength and service, the man: intelligence, purpose, and personality, and the eagle: heavenly swiftness in detecting and judging evil. In such symbolism we can also see a resemblance between the beasts and creation, for creation is the main theme of ch4 as we have seen God ready to judge creation, the rainbow denoting a covenant and mercy upon creation, and at the end of this chapter the four beasts and the elders give praise to the Creator. We read of God's covenant with creation in Ge 9:9 And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you; 10 And with every living creature that is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you; from all that go out of the ark, to every beast of the earth. In that we see these four beasts represented for here we see God's covenant is with Noah (the face of a man), with the fowl (the face of an eagle), with the cattle (face of the calf) and with every beast of the earth, and who is the king of the jungle? (the face of the lion).
Then we also see in the beasts a four fold picture of Christ in the gospels. the book of Matthew presents Christ as the King of the Jews, the Lion of the tribe of Judah which is depicted by the face of the lion. the face of the calf corresponds with the book of Mark who presents Christ as the sacrificial servant as the calf/ox/bullock which is used to serve man and then was used in some of the sacrifices of the Jews, Mr 10:45 foreven the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. Luke then gives us the representation of the man, as that gospel presents the Lord Jesus as the Son of Man, the perfect man, showing us the humanity of Christ, that he is the Last Adam. And then John in his gospel gives us the picture of the eagle, linking Jesus with heaven, that he is deity, is the Son of God, as He came to earth from his heavenly abode. Each of these beasts reflect an aspect of the likeness of the Lord. “They are so much like Him because they are so much with Him. When Moses came down from the mount, unknown to him, the skin of his face shown with the shining image of his master. those who spend time in the presence of God become like the Lord Jesus.” (quoted John Phillips).
And it is these beasts, representative of so much divinity and godliness, that are in such close proximity to God that they resemble some of God's majesty, who praise God constantly, they give praise without ceasing, crying Holy, Holy, Holy (a holy for each person of the trinity), Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. they magnify the power of God. their purpose is to praise and they do so incessantly without end. they cry out and worship the almighty, omnipotent, all powerful, eternal God.
And look what happens when these four beasts give honor and glory and thanks to God, when they worship the Almighty, look who joins in, which we should take note of, that when we truly worship it will cause others to truly worship as well…'.

Please see the note for Acts 7:42 about the word beast. The The functional definition for this word is: 'Any animal that is not man. Sometimes it means quadrupeds, and not creeping things'.

We find forms of the word lion occurring 150 times in 119 verses of the Bible and, in the New Testament, in: 2Timothy 4:17; Hebrews 11:33; 1Peter 5:8; Revelation 4:7; Revelation 5:5; Revelation 9:8; Revelation 9:17; Revelation 10:3; Revelation 13:2. The American Tract Society Dictionary defines this word as: 'The well-known and noble king of beasts, frequently spoken of in Scripture. He often exceeds eight feet in length and four feet in height; and his majestic and dauntless aspect, his prodigious strength and agility, and his peculiar roar, make him the terror of the forests. Lions were common in Palestine, (See JORDAN,) and the Hebrews had seven different names for them, to distinguish the different ages, etc. Five of these occur together in Job 4:10-11. See also Na 2:11-12. the psalmist alludes to the stealthy creeping of the lion till he can spring upon his prey, when he says of the crafty wicked man, "He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den;....he croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones." the Bible reader will remember the exploits of Samson and of David, Jg 14:5-6; 1Sa 17:34-36, the story of the disobedient prophet slain by a lion, 1Ki 13:28, and of the obedient Daniel, safe in the lion's den, Da 6; also the sublime image of Jehovah's care for his people, in Isa 31:4.
"The Lion of the tribe of Judah," Re 5:5, is Jesus Christ, who sprung from the tribe of Judah and the race of David, and overcame death, the world, and the devil. It is supposed that a lion was the device of the tribe of Judah; whence this allusion, Ge 49:9'. Easton's Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'the most powerful of all carnivorous animals. Although not now found in Palestine, they must have been in ancient times very numerous there. they had their lairs in the forests (Jer 5:6; 12:8; Am 3:4), in the caves of the mountains (Song 4:8; Na 2:12), and in the canebrakes on the banks of the Jordan (Jer 49:19; 50:44; Zec 11:3).
No fewer than at least six different words are used in the Old Testament for the lion. (1.) Gor (i.e., a "suckling"), the lion's whelp (Ge 49:9; Jer 51:38, etc.). (2.) Kephir (i.e., "shaggy"), the young lion (Jg 14:5; Job 4:10; Ps 91:13; 104:21), a term which is also used figuratively of cruel enemies (Ps 34:10; 35:17; 58:6; Jer 2:15). (3.) 'Ari (i.e., the "puller" in pieces), denoting the lion in general, without reference to age or sex (Nu 23:24; 2Sa 17:10, etc.). (4.) Shahal (the "roarer"), the mature lion (Job 4:10; Ps 91:13; Pr 26:13; Ho 5:14). (5.) Laish, so called from its strength and bravery (Job 4:11; Pr 30:30; Isa 30:6). the capital of Northern Dan received its name from this word. (6.) Labi, from a root meaning "to roar," a grown lion or lioness (Ge 49:9; Nu 23:24; 24:9; Eze 19:2; Na 2:11).
The lion of Palestine was properly of the Asiatic variety, distinguished from the African variety, which is larger. Yet it not only attacked flocks in the presence of the shepherd, but also laid waste towns and villages (2Ki 17:25-26) and devoured men (1Ki 13:24-25). Shepherds sometimes, single-handed, encountered lions and slew them (1Sa 17:34-35; Am 3:12). Samson seized a young lion with his hands and "rent him as he would have rent a kid" (Jg 14:5-6). the strength (Jg 14:18), courage (2Sa 17:10), and ferocity (Ge 49:9) of the lion were proverbial'. The functional definition for this word is: 'A literal type of physical animal whose character traits are used symbolically for spiritual beings such as The Lion of the tribe of Judah is Jesus Christ'.

Thompson Chain Topics provides links for the word lion as: 'General References to: Jg 14:5; 1Sa 17:34; 1Ki 13:24; Da 6:19. Characteristics of: De 33:22; Jg 14:18; 2Sa 17:10; Job 10:16; Ps 17:12; Pr 30:30; Isa 31:4; Na 2:12'.

Nave's Topical Bible provides links for the word lion as: 'King of beasts: Mic 5:8 Fierceness of: Job 4:10; 28:8; Ps 7:2; Pr 22:13; Jer 2:15; 49:19; 50:44; Ho 13:8. The roaring of: Ps 22:13; Pr 20:2. Strength of: Pr 30:30; Isa 38:13; Joe 1:6. Instincts of, in taking prey: Ps 10:9; 17:12; La 3:10; Am 3:4; Na 2:12. Lair of, in the jungles: Jer 4:7; 25:38. The bases in the temple ornamented by mouldings of: 1Ki 7:29,36. Twelve statues of, on the stairs leading to Solomon's throne: 1Ki 10:19-20. Samson's riddle concerning: Jg 14:14,18. Proverb of: Ec 9:4. Parable of: Eze 19:1-9. Kept in captivity: Da 6. Sent as judgment upon the Samaritans: 2Ki 17:25-26. Killed by: Samson: Jg 14:5-9. David: 1Sa 17:34,36. . Benaiah: 2Sa 23:20. . Saints: Heb 11:33. Disobedient prophet killed by: 1Ki 13:24-28. An unnamed person killed by: 1Ki 20:36. Used for the torture of criminals: Da 6:16-24; 7:12; 2Ti 4:17. FIGURATIVE: Of a ruler's anger: Pr 19:12; Jer 5:6; 50:17; Ho 5:14. . Of Satan: 1Pe 5:8. Of divine judgments: Isa 15:9. SYMBOLICAL: Ge 49:9; Isa 29:1; Eze 1:10; 10:14; Da 7:4; Re 4:7; 5:5; 9:8,17; 13:2'.

Torrey's Topical Textbook provides links for the word lion as: 'Canaan infested by: 2Ki 17:25-26. DESCRIBED AS: Superior in strength: Jg 14:18; Pr 30:30. Active: De 33:22. Courageous: 2Sa 17:10. Fearless even of man: Isa 31:4; Na 2:11. Fierce: Job 10:16; 28:8. Voracious: Ps 17:12. Majestic in movement: Pr 30:29-30. Greatness of its teeth alluded to: Ps 58:6; Joe 1:6. God's power exhibited in restraining: 1Ki 13:28; Da 6:22,27. God provides for: Job 38:39; Ps 104:21,28. Lurketh for its prey: Ps 10:9. Roars when seeking prey: Ps 104:21; Isa 31:4. Rends its prey: De 33:20; Ps 7:2. Often carries its prey to its den: Na 2:12. Conceals itself by day: Ps 104:22. Often perishes for lack of food: Job 4:11. INHABITS: forests: Jer 5:6. Thickets: Jer 4:7. Mountains: Song 4:8. Deserts: Isa 30:6. Attacks the sheepfolds: 1Sa 17:34; Am 3:12; Mic 5:8. Attacks and destroys men: 1Ki 13:24; 20:36. Universal terror caused by roaring of: Jer 2:15; Am 3:8. Criminals often thrown to: Da 6:7,16,24. Hunting of, alluded to: Job 10:16. SLAIN BY: Samson: Jg 14:5-6. David: 1Sa 17:35-36. Benaiah: 2Sa 23:20. A swarm of bees found in the carcass of, by Samson: Jg 14:8. Disobedient prophet slain by: 1Ki 13:24,26. ILLUSTRATIVE: Of Israel: Nu 24:9. Of the tribe of Judah: Ge 49:9. Of the tribe of Gad: De 33:20. Of Christ: Re 5:5. Of God in protecting His church: Isa 31:4. Of God in executing judgments: Isa 38:13; La 3:10; Ho 5:14; 13:8. Of boldness of saints: Pr 28:1. Of brave men: 2Sa 1:23; 23:20. Of cruel and powerful enemies: Isa 5:29; Jer 49:19; 51:38. Of persecutors: Ps 22:13; 2Ti 4:17. Of the devil: 1Pe 5:8. Of imaginary fears of the slothful: Pr 22:13; 26:13. (Tamed,) of the natural man subdued by grace: Isa 11:7; 65:25. (Roaring of,) of a king's wrath: Pr 19:12; 20:2'.

Please see the note for Luke 15:22-24 about the word calf. The functional definition for this word is: 'A young cow. Calves were commonly made use of in sacrifices, and are therefore frequently mentioned in Scripture. The "fatted calf" was regarded as the choicest of animal food; it was frequently also offered as a special sacrifice (1Sa 28:24; Am 6:4; Lu 15:23)'.

Please see the note for 2Corinthians 4:6 about the word face. The functional definition for this word is: 'The power, position, authority and presence of the being that is presented to us'. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: Re 4:7; 6:16; 7:11; 9:7; 10:1; 11:16; 12:14; 20:11; 22:4.

We find forms of the word flying occurring 34 times in 34 verses of the Bible and, in the New Testament, only in Revelation and in: 4:7; 8:13; 12:14; 14:6; 19:17. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'FLYING, ppr. 1. Moving in air by means of wings; passing rapidly; springing; bursting; avoiding. 2. a. Floating; waving; as flying colors. 3. a. Moving; light, and suited for prompt motion; as a flying camp. Flying colors, a phrase expressing triumph'.

We find forms of the word eagle occurring 34 times in 34 verses of the Bible and, in the New Testament, in: Matthew 24:28; Luke 17:37; Revelation 4:7; Revelation 12:14. The American Tract Society Dictionary defines this word as: 'Job 39:27-30, a large and very powerful bird of prey, hence called the King of birds. there are several species of eagle described by naturalists, and it is probable that this word in the Bible comprehends more than one of these. the noble eastern species, called by Mr. Bruce "the golden eagle," measures eight feet four inches from wing to wing; and from the tip of his tail to the point of his beak, when dead, four feet seven inches. Of all known birds, the eagle flies not only the highest, Pr 23:5; Jer 49:16; Ob 1:4, but also with the greatest rapidity. to this circumstance there are several striking allusions in the sacred volume, 2Sa 1:23; Job 9:26; La 4:19. Among the evils threatened to the Israelites in case of their disobedience, the prophet names one in the following terms: "The Lord shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flieth," De 28:49. the march of Nebuchadnezzar against Jerusalem, is predicted in similar terms: "Behold, he shall come up as clouds, and his chariots as a whirlwind: his horses are swifter than eagles," Jer 4:13; 48:40; 49:22; Ho 8:1. this bird was a national emblem on Persian and Roman standards, as it now is on United States' coins.
The eagle, it is said, lives to a great age; and like other birds of prey, sheds his feathers in the beginning of spring, after which his old age assumes the appearance of youth. to this David alludes, when gratefully reviewing the mercies of Jehovah: "Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things, so that thy youth is renewed like eagle's," Ps 103:5; Isa 40:31. the careful pains of the eagle in teaching its young to fly, beautifully illustrate God's providential care over Israel, Ex 19:4; De 32:11-12.
The eagle is remarkable for its keen sight and scent. Its flesh, like that of all birds of prey, was unclean to the Jews; and is never eaten by any body, unless in cases of necessity, Mt 24:28; Lu 17:37'.

Torrey's Topical Textbook provides links for the word Eagle as: 'A bird of prey: Job 9:26; Mt 24:28. Unclean: Le 11:13; De 14:12. Different kinds of: Le 11:13,18. Called the eagle of the heavens: La 4:19. DESCRIBED AS: Long-sighted: Job 39:29. Swift: 2Sa 1:23. Soaring to heaven: Pr 23:5. Strength of its feathers alluded to: Da 4:33. Greatness of its wings alluded to: Eze 17:3,7. Peculiarity of its flight alluded to: Pr 30:19. Delights in the lofty cedars: Eze 17:3-4. Dwells in the high rocks: Job 39:27-28. Feeds her young with blood: Job 39:29-30. ILLUSTRATIVE: Of wisdom and zeal of God's ministers: Eze 1:10; Re 4:7. Of great and powerful kings: Eze 17:3; Ho 8:1. (Renewed strength and beauty of,) of the renewal of saints: Ps 103:5. (Mode of teaching her young to fly,) of God's care of His church: Ex 19:4; De 32:11. (Wings of,) of protection afforded to the church: Re 12:14. (Upward flight of,) of the saint's rapid progress toward heaven: Isa 40:31. (Swiftness of,) of the melting away of riches: Pr 23:5. (Swiftness of,) of the swiftness of hostile armies: De 28:49; Jer 4:13; 48:40; La 4:19. (Height and security of its dwelling,) of the fancied but fatal security of the wicked: Jer 49:16; Ob 1:4. (Increased baldness of, in the moulting season,) of calamities: Mic 1:16. (Hasting to the prey,) of the swiftness of man's days: Job 9:26. Was the standard of the Roman armies: Mt 24:15,28'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'the first beast. Re 4:6; Ge 49:9; Nu 2:2-34; 23:24; 24:9; Pr 28:2; Eze 1:10; 10:14,21 like a calf. Eze 1:10; 1Co 9:9-10 as. 1Co 14:20 a flying. De 28:49; 2Sa 1:23; Isa 40:31; Eze 1:8,10; 10:14; Da 7:4; Ob 1:4 General references. exp: 1Ki 7:25; Ps 118:3; Re 6:3,7.'.

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C4-S8 (Verse 8) the worship of the four beasts.

Equivalent Section: Another description.

First Step: they had wings like some angels.

And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him;

Second Step: they had unique features.

and they were full of eyes within:.

Equivalent Section: How they worship.

and they rest not day and night,
saying,
Holy,
holy,
holy,
Lord God Almighty,
which was,
and is,
and is to come.

Our sentence tells us about the four beasts worshiping the Lord God Almighty and our next sentence tells us about the twenty four elders also worshiping the Lord God Almighty. We find that all of these beings worship the same way as the seraphim in Isaiah 6:2-3 worshipped God.

Our sentence has two Equivalent Sections with the First Equivalent Section giving us another description of the four beasts and the Second Equivalent Section telling us how they worship. The description found in this sentence shows us that they had more power than men have and, yet, they still worship God like men do.

In the First Step, of the First Equivalent Section, we read that each of them six wings about him. Isaiah 6:2 tells us that seraphims also have six wings and some people use that as a basis for declaring that these four beasts must be angels. However, more than one kind of insect has four wings. Therefore, the number of wings is not sufficient information to make such a declaration.

In the Second Step, of the First Equivalent Section, we read that they were full of eyes within. As already explained in the note for 4:6, the symbolism of full of eyes tells us that they can see all around them. There is nothing hid from their sight. In the word of God, eyes and sight are used, symbolically, for spiritual sight and understanding. And, the symbolism of these eyes matches the symbolism of the crystal sea, which was described by our First Equivalent Section and where we saw that it was used, by God and Heavenly beings, to spiritually see what happens in the world.

The conclusion of the description, in the First Equivalent Section, is that these four beasts have powers that regular men do not have. Yet, throughout this Bible book, we see them worshipping God and acting at the same level as the four and twenty elders. Therefore, my conclusion is that they are different in order to do a different job but, they are not considered to be a greater being. The angel told John to not worship the angel because that would put the angels above men in authority. So, all are at the same level below God and only God is to be worshipped.

The first phrase in the Second Equivalent Section, tells us that their worship never stops. We would do well to constantly keep in mind that God can do things well beyond the limits of this physical reality. Our flesh, and this world, want to puff us up with pride and think that our personal opinion is as good as, or greater than, what God wrote in His word. However, no one gets miracles with that attitude and i write this based upon personal experience which has happened more than once. No, constantly keeping in mind the vase difference between us and God is the best way, that I know of, to avoid the sin of pride.

Next we are told what they say and the first thing they say is: Holy, holy, holy. This is probably the main characteristic of God and the repetition recognizes that fact and that God is always holy. God does not change (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8). Therefore, this character attribute of God does not change. In addition, God commands is to personally become holy (be ye holy {Leviticus 20:7; 1Peter 1:15-16 }). This is because the more we become like God, the more we will personally enjoy our everlasting in Heaven.

Next we read that they recognize that He is: Lord God Almighty. We also find this phrase (Lord God Almighty) in Revelation 4:8; Revelation 11:17; Revelation 15:3; Revelation 16:7 and in Revelation 21:22. And, in every one of these verses except Revelation 21:22, other phrases in the context let us know that Lord God Almighty applies to God the Son. In Revelation 21:22, Lord God Almighty applies to God the Father. This lets us know that God the Father and God the Son are equal in character, might and position, yet God the Son submits to God the Father. His submitting shows us that true submitting is not an acknowledgement of being weaker or lesser but a willingness to be orderly.

(Use the link in the sentence outline, above, to see the table ofregerences where this Bible book tells us about God.

The word Almighty is applied to God (outside of the phrase of Lord God Almighty) in: Genesis 17:1; Genesis 28:3; Genesis 35:11; Genesis 43:14; Genesis 48:3; Genesis 49:25; Exodus 6:3; Numbers 24:4, Numbers 24:16; Ruth 1:20-21; Job 5:17; Job 6:4, Job 6:14; Job 8:3, Job 8:5; Job 11:7; Job 13:3; Job 15:25; Job 21:15, Job 20; Job 22:3, Job 17, Job 23, Job 25-26; Job 23:16; Job 24:1; Job 27:2, Job 10-11, Job 13; Job 29:5; Job 31:2, Job 35; Job 32:8; Job 33:4; Job 34:10, Job 12; Job 35:13; Job 37:23; Job 40:2; Psalms 68:14; Psalms 91:1; Isaiah 13:6; Ezekiel 1:24; Joel 10:5; Joel 1:15; 2Corinthians 6:18; Revelation 1:8; Revelation 16:14; Revelation 19:15.

The last part, of the Second Equivalent Section, tells us that He was, and is, and is to come. This only applies to our Lord Jesus Christ. He had all of the power of God when He created this physical reality. But, he left His won power and authority behind in order to be conceived, live and die was) as a literal physical man. (God can not die.) Next, He currently is in Heaven as our advocate (1John 2:1). And, he will return (is to come) to this physical world to rule and reign for 1,000 years.

Our last phrase is: him which is, and which was, and which is to come. (this phrase is found in: 1:4; 1:8 and 4:8.) He currently is on the throne next to God the Father and being the advocate for saved people who sin. He was because He died to pay for the sins of the whole world (1John 2:2). He is to come When He returns in the 'Rapture' to get His bride. Thus, John is reminding us of all that He has done, and all that he is doing and all that He will do as he tells us that we are promised grace and peace from Him. This phrase deals with our ongoing personal relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ.

The note above has what Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence.

Please see the note for Matthew 23:37 about the word wing. The Morrish Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'Used as a symbol of protection. Under 'the shadow of God's wings' is referred to in the Psalms; and the Lord said He would often have gathered Israel as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, but they would not. Ps 17:8; 36:7; 57:1; Mt 23:37; etc. Wings were given for rapid motion. the living creatures in Ezek. 1, had each four wings, and those in Isa 6:2 and Rev. 4, had each of them six wings. God's executives are swift messengers'. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 4:8; 9:9; 12:14.

Please see the note for 2Corinthians 2:12-13 about the word rest. The functional definition for this word is: ' Cessation of motion or action of any kind, and applicable to any body or being; as rest from labor; rest from mental exertion; rest of body or mind. Also ceasing the action of separation'.

Please see the note for Luke 1:5 about the word day. Easton's Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'The Jews reckoned the day from sunset to sunset (Le 23:32). It was originally divided into three parts (Ps 55:17). "The heat of the day" (1Sa 11:11; Ne 7:3) was at our nine o'clock, and "the cool of the day" just before sunset (Ge 3:8). Before the Captivity the Jews divided the night into three watches, (1) from sunset to midnight (La 2:19); (2) from midnight till the cock-crowing (Jg 7:19); and (3) from the cock-crowing till sunrise (Ex 14:24). In the New Testament the division of the Greeks and Romans into four watches was adopted (Mr 13:35). (See Watches.) the division of the day by hours is first mentioned in Da 3:6,15; 4:19; 5:5. this mode of reckoning was borrowed from the Chaldeans. the reckoning of twelve hours was from sunrise to sunset, and accordingly the hours were of variable length (Joh 11:9). The word "day" sometimes signifies an indefinite time (Ge 2:4; Isa 22:5; Heb 3:8, etc.). In Job 3:1 it denotes a birthday, and in Isaiah 2:12; Acts 17:31; 2Timothy 1:18, the great day of final judgment.'. The functional definition, of the phrase last day is: '(end of the) Church Age. However, in the life of the individual, it can be used for the day that he dies'. Please see the note for Hebrews 3:13 about the word today. The functional definition is: 'obey immediately'. Please also see the note for Matthew 26:55 about the word daily. Please also see the notes for Philippians 1:6-LJC and 1Thessalonians 5:2 about the phrase day of. Please also see the note for 1Thessalonians 5:2 about the phrase day of the Lord. Please also see the note for John 20:1 about the phrase first day of the week.

Please see the note for John 11:10 about the word night. The Morrish Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'Used symbolically for: 1. Death, a time "when no man can work." Joh 9:4. 2. the moral darkness of the world, in which men sleep and are drunken. 1Th 5:7. 3. the period of Christ's rejection, which is far spent, and the 'day' at hand. Ro 13:12. there will be no night of moral or spiritual darkness in the heavenly Jerusalem. Re 21:25; 22:5'. It is used in this sentence to identify the complete period of time. Please also see the note for Matthew 25:6 about the word midnight. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 4:8; 7:15; 8:12; 12:10; 14:11; 20:10; 21:25; 22:5.

The definition, for the word Almighty, from the Morrish Bible Dictionary is: 'The learned are not agreed as to the derivation of the word shaddai and its signification: some giving it as 'all bountiful,' others 'all sufficient,' 'all mighty,' etc. This is not at all surprising, for any name of God must be above mere human learning or definition, yet it was the ground of faith to those who had the revelation. The name first occurs in Ge 17:1; God said to Abraham "I am the Almighty God." This links it with the Patriarchs: it is the name by which God was known to them; and except to them, and in Job where it occurs very often, it is seldom found in the O.T. The title 'the Almighty' without the name of God being added, occurs first in Jacob's address to his twelve sons before he died: the blessings upon Joseph were to be by "'the Almighty,' . . . . blessings of Heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts and of the womb." Ge 49:25. Balaam uses the name in Nu 24:4; Naomi also in her lamentations. Ru 1:20-21. See also Ps 68:14; 91:1; Isa 13:6; Eze 1:24; 10:5; Joe 1:15. In the N.T. the name Lord Almighty occurs in 2Co 6:18 in a quotation from Jeremiah, and a few times in the Revelation, but only once as 'the Almighty' in Re 1:8: "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty." On the whole it is clear that the name was one of special relationship with the Patriarchs as that of Jehovah was with Israel . This is plainly declared: "I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob by the name of GOD ALMIGHTY; but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them." Ex 6:3. That of Father is now the revealed name of God by which Christians know Him, being brought by the work of Christ and through the operation of the Spirit into the relationship of children, and of sons. See Joh 20:17; 1Jo 3:1; Ga 4:4-5. The name Almighty will appear again when God works out his purposes in power and judgement. It was revealed in connection with promises made in time, as Father is in connection with eternal counsels. The four living creatures cry day and night "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come." Re 4:8. See also Re 21:22'. Please also see the note for 2Corinthians 10:3-6 about the word might.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'six. Isa 6:2-13; Eze 1:6; 10:21-22; 2Ti 4:2 full. Re 4:6; 1Ti 4:16 exp: Eze 1:18. and they. Re 7:15; Isa 62:1,6-7; Ac 20:31; 1Th 2:9; 2Th 3:8-9 rest not. Gr. have no rest. Holy. Re 3:7; Ex 15:11; Isa 6:3 exp: Ps 111:9; Joh 17:11. Lord God Almighty. Re 1:8; 11:17; 15:3; 16:7,14; 19:15; 21:22; Ge 17:1; Ps 91:1; Isa 13:6; Joe 1:15; 2Co 6:18 which. Re 4:4; Heb 13:8 exp: Isa 62:6. General references. exp: Ps 66:2; 118:3.'.

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C4-S9 (Verse 9-11) The worship of the four and twenty elders.

Equivalent Section: How they worshipped.

And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne,
who liveth for ever and ever,
The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne,
and worship him that liveth for ever and ever,
and cast their crowns before the throne,
saying,
Thou art worthy,
O Lord,
to receive glory and honour and power:.

Equivalent Section: Why they worshipped.

for thou hast created all things,
and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Our sentence has two Equivalent Section with the First Equivalent Section telling us how the four and twenty elders worshipped and our Second Equivalent Section telling us why. In addition, the context ties their worship to the worship of the four beasts. In fact, the phrase those beasts is a direct reference to the four beasts of the prior sentence. Please see the note for the prior sentence to see links to everywhere the four beasts are mentioned in this Bible book.

Our sentence starts out with the phrase: And when this can be interpreted as: 'at the same time', or it can be interpreted as: 'right after'. The difference is not significant and not something to argue about.

Our sentence continues with the first two phrases telling us the equivalent of the prior sentence while also telling us different details. When we worship our Lord Jesus Christ, we would be well advised to follow their example and consider incorporating all of the details of the prior sentence and of these first two phrases. He sits on the throne. as our advocate (1John 2:1). And, He liveth for ever and ever, which means that He will always be the provider and protector of the saved. These are only two of the reasons why He is worthy of praise.

Our next phrase tells us that the four and twenty elders humbled themselves as the start of their own worship. As explained in the Word Study on worship, 'Worship is a personal act that often requires personal sacrifice'. in this case, the sacrifice was to humble themselves. And, as elders, their main job is to show the saved how to get blessings from God and to avoid punishment from God. That is exactly what this phrase is telling us that they did as the start of their own personal worship.

As our next phrase tells us, they worship him that liveth for ever and ever. This is what the four beasts did and these elders did the same for the same reason. (See earlier in this note about this phrase.)

As our next phrase tells us, they cast their crowns before the throne. Anyone who truly has a crown, in Heaven and besides our Lord Jesus Christ, has it because they let Him work through their life while they were physically alive. Therefore, they are recognizing that He was Who truly did the spiritual work which they received credit for doing.

As the rest of our Equivalent Section: tells us, they are saying that our Lord Jesus Christ is their personal Lord and that He is worthy because of all that He has done for all men. When they say: to receive glory and honour and power, He already has all of those things. No, he is not given these things but they are recognizing that He has them. What He really receives, during worship, is recognition of what He already has and what He has done with those things for our benefit.

when this verse tells us Thou art worthy, it clearly says that God personally has done what is required (and more) for us to worship Him. No other creature has done for us what our Creator has and, therefore, should not receive our worship. when this verse says to receive glory and honour and power, it simple means that we are to recognize these traits and consider how He used them in His creation and verbally express our observations. Anyone who has ever went far enough from man's civilization to get away from most of the light pollution and really observed nature can not help but wonder at the glory that God put into creation. Anyone who has ever personally experienced a killer storm can witness to the power that God put into creation. Yet anyone who has ever witnessed a new birth would see the honor of enduring life in spite of all circumstances. Simply put, we need to wake up and really consider what is all around us and what it took for God to create it all and verbally recognize Him for His creation. As said many places in the notes for this epistle, all throughout Revelation we find God's saved people worshiping Him.

In our Second Equivalent Section, we read why they worshipped. People who attack Genesis are, basically, refusing to acknowledge that He is our creator. They are refusing to acknowledge their own need to worship and obey Him. And, while wecould go on aboutthat, the last phrase is actually more interesting. Very few saved peoplerealize that wewerecreated for thy (His personal) pleasure. Our main job, in this life, is to please Him.

We find that the Bible mentions that God created us and that we are His creatures in Genesis 1:1, Genesis 1:20-21, Genesis 1:24, Genesis 1:27; Genesis 2:3-4, Genesis 2:19; Genesis 5:1-2; Genesis 6:7; Genesis 9:10, Genesis 9:12, Genesis 9:15-16; Leviticus 11:46; Deuteronomy 4:32; Psalms 51:10; Psalms 89:12; Psalms 102:18; Psalms 104:30; Psalms 148:5; Proverbs 16:4; Ecclesiastes 12:1; Isaiah 4:5; Isaiah 13:21; Isaiah 40:26, Isaiah 28; Isaiah 41:20; Isaiah 42:5; Isaiah 43:1, Isaiah 43:7, Isaiah 43:15; Isaiah 45:7-8, Isaiah 45:12, Isaiah 45:18; Isaiah 48:7; Isaiah 54:16; Isaiah 57:19; Isaiah 65:17-18; Jeremiah 31:22; Ezekiel 1:5, Ezekiel 13-15, Ezekiel 19-22; Ezekiel 3:13; Ezekiel 10:15, Ezekiel 10:17, Ezekiel 10:20; Ezekiel 21:30; Ezekiel 28:13, Ezekiel 28:15; Amos 4:13; Malachi 2:10; Mark 10:6; Mark 13:19; Mark 16:15; Romans 1:20, Romans 1:25; Romans 8:19-22, Romans 8:39; 1Corinthians 11:9; 2Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15; Ephesians 2:10; Ephesians 3:9; Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 1:15-17, Colossians 1:23; Colossians 3:10; 1Timothy 4:3-4; Hebrews 4:13; James 1:18; 1Peter 4:19; 2Peter 3:4; Revelation 3:14; Revelation 4:11; Revelation 5:13; Revelation 8:9; Revelation 10:6. While Psalms 8 does not specifically mention creation or creature or a similar word, I personally find that it gives me a proper perspective for or relationship to our Creator.

Dr. Jeff Wilson writes about this sentence: 'Here we see the 24 elders, the representatives of those that are redeemed, when the 4 beasts give glory to God, the elders fall down before God, prostrating themselves in sincere humbleness before the throne and what do they do? they worship. they worship. they worship! We want to have an idea of what true worship is?, here is a picture, a denial of self and full acceptance of God, a realization of one’s own worthlessness and the full worthiness of God, one who is worthy of all love, all adoration, all praise, glory, thanks, all worship, for it is He who loved the world so much that He gave His only begotten Son, it is His mercy and grace that grants one salvation, that made the way for the redeemed to be redeemed, so one does not have to face the eternal torments of a dark and fiery hell. the elders abase themselves and uplift praise to the one who they acknowledge as worthy of such worship, to one who deserves it. forGod is worthy of it all. Do you know what the old English word for worship used to be? Worth-ship. God is worthy and so He should be worshipped, especially by those who He had done so much for.
And in this worship the elders take their crowns, their rewards, and cast them before the throne. forthey know they are not worthy of such a crown, they did not earn them, they do not deserve them, but it is God who deserves it all, for He is worthy. the elders do exactly what every living Christian should do, they give back to God what God has given them, for they give everything they have, they have nothing left from their earthly life, only heavenly/eternal rewards and they willingly and lovingly and devotedly cast such rewards at the feet of the one who made such rewards available. And everything we have, everything we are, is all because of God as well, and it is God who gave His all for us, so should we not give it all back to Him, to serve Him, to honor Him, to worship Him with everything at our disposal? Was not Abraham willing to give his own son Isaac to God? Did not Abel give the best of what God gave to him back to God? Did not Hannah who prayed for a son give her son Samuel back to God? What do we really think a living sacrifice is? We are to live a sacrificial life, sacrificing this life to the One who gave us everlasting life, because it is He who is worthy of such service and worship and dedication.
And that is exactly what these elders proclaim in v11, that God is worthy, He is worthy, He is due such praise, He is the one who deserves all the credit, all the glory and honor and power, God deserves all this for what? Because He has created all things and those things were created for His pleasure… they were created to worship Him.
So now we see why so much has been referenced in this chapter about creation, for God is the one who made it all, without Him nothing exists, but because of Him there is creation, there is being, there is life. And that’s something to worship Him for! to give God His due, His praise, honor, glory, power, thanksgiving, that is worship. But if you or me do not give God this when we come together to worship, where we abase ourselves, deny ourselves, and give God His due, uplift and magnify the name of Jesus, then we have not really worshipped, all we have done is have a social meeting. Worship requires more than just being present, it requires participation, not just bodily bowing down, but it takes a submission of the heart, it takes sincerity of spirit, it requires an intense strain on one’s mental and emotional faculties. to worship with all our heart, all our soul, all our mind, power and strength is to totally, voluntarily, willingly, joyfully and fearfully give our entire being over to God, to deny Him nothing, to offer Him everything, because it is He who made us, who made us what we are, gave us what we have, so He is worthy to receive it all back, it is all His anyway including us. God is worthy!
I just want to show you how often these elders worship the Lord in this book, in order for us to see what they do, for if nothing else to give us an idea of what true worship is, so please take time to read the following… Rev 4:9-11; 5:8-14; 7:9-12; 11:15-19 and 19:1-4'.

Please see the note for Acts 7:42 about the word beast. The The functional definition for this word is: 'Any animal that is not man. Sometimes it means quadrupeds, and not creeping things'.

Please see the notes for 2Corinthians 5:5 and Philippians 4:15 about the word give. The functional definition for this word is: 'Bestowing; conferring; imparting; granting; delivering'. Please also see the note for 2Corinthians 9:8-11 about the word given. Please also see the note for 2Corinthians 9:7 about the word giver. Please also see the notes for 1Corinthians C14S19 and Ephesians C5S2 about the phrase giving of thanks.

Please see the notes for Romans C15S14; 1Corinthians C15S36; Ephesians C1S2; 2Corinthians 10:14-LJC and Colossians C1S6 about the word glory. The functional definition for this word is: 'bright, shining. Glory, then, is brightness, splendor. the L. floreo, to blossom, to flower, to flourish, is probably of the same family. 1. Brightness; luster; splendor'. Please also see the note for Matthew 17:1 about the phrase Jesus Christ return in glory.

Please see the note for Romans C12S8 about the word honour. The functional definition for this word is: 'To revere; to respect; to treat with deference and submission, and perform relative duties to'. Please also see the note for Romans C12S8 about the word dishonour. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 4:9-11; 5:12; 5:13; 7:12; 19:1; 19:7; 21:24; 21:26.

Please see the notes for 1Corinthians C14S19 and Ephesians C5S2 about the word thank. The functional definition for this word is: 'Webster's 1828 dictionary defines thank as: 'v.t. 1. to express gratitude for a favor; to make acknowledgments to one for kindness bestowed. We are bound to thank God always for you. 2 thess 1. Joab bowed himself and thanked the king. 2 Sam.14. 2. It is used ironically. Weigh the danger with the doubtful bliss, And thank yourself, if aught should fall amiss'. Please also see the notes for 1Corinthians C14S19 and Ephesians C5S2 about the phrase giving of thanks. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 4:9; 7:12; 11:17.

The phrase ever and ever has the same application as the word everlasting. Please see the note for Luke 16:9 about the word everlasting. The functional definition for this word is: 'ever and lasting. Lasting or enduring for ever; eternal; existing or continuing without end; immortal'.

Please see the note for 1Timothy 3:6 about the word fall. The functional definition for this word is: 'To drop from a higher place; to descend by the power of gravity alone. Rain falls from the clouds; a man falls from his horse; ripe fruits fall from trees; an ox falls into a pit. I beheld Satan as lightning fall from Heaven. Luke 10. 2. to drop from an erect posture. I fell at his feet to worship him. Rev. 19'. The word fell is the past-tense form of the word fall.

Please see the note for Luke 1:29 about the word cast. The The functional definition for this word is: 'In general "to throw," with various degrees of violence; usually, with force, but not so necessarily, as e.g. in cast a net," cast lots'. Please also see the note for Romans C11S19 about the phrase cast away. Please also see the note for 2Corinthians 4:8-10 about the phrase cast down. Please also see the note for Mark 9:28 about the phrase cast out. Please also see the note for Romans C11S1 about the phrase God will not cast away his people.

Please see the note for Romans C13S2 about the word power. The functional definition for this word is: 'The primary sense of the verb is to strain, to exert force. 1. In a philosophical sense, the faculty of doing or performing anything; the faculty of moving or of producing a change in something; ability or strength'. Please also see the note for John 5:41 about the phrase power of God. Please also see the notes for Romans C8S40 and Ephesians C6S8 about the phrase spiritual powers.

Please see the note for Colossians 1:9-17 about the word create. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines this word as: 'Formed from nothing; caused to exist; produced; generated; invested with a new character; formed into new combinations, with a peculiar shape, constitution and properties; renewed'. Please also see the note for Revelation 4:11-LJC about the phrase God created us. Please also see the note for Romans 1:20-21 about the word creation. Please also see the note for 1Peter 4:19 about the word Creator. Please also see the note for Colossians 1:9-17 about the word creature. Please also see the Significant Gospel Events for this, and other, Minor Titles of the Son of God. In addition, Hebrews 2:10 tells us that He created everything so that he could save some. Even though He knew that not all would be saved, He created all so that he could save someans we need to worship Him for including us personally in the saved.

Please see the note for Luke 8:14 about the word pleasure. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'n. plezh'ur. 1. the gratification of the senses or of the mind; agreeable sensations or emotions; the excitement, relish or happiness produced by enjoyment or the expectation of good; opposed to pain. We receive pleasure from the indulgence of appetite; from the view of a beautiful landscape; from the harmony of sounds; from agreeable society; from the expectation of seeing an absent friend; from the prospect of gain or success of any kind. Pleasure, bodily and mental, carnal and spiritual, constitutes the whole of positive happiness, as pain constitutes the whole of misery. Pleasure is properly positive excitement of the passions or the mind; but we give the name also to the absence of excitement, when that excitement is painful; as when we cease to labor, or repose after fatigue, or when the mind is tranquilized after anxiety or agitation. Pleasure is susceptible of increase to any degree; but the word when unqualified, expresses less excitement or happiness than delight or joy. 2. Sensual or sexual gratification. 3. Approbation. the Lord taketh pleasure in his people. Ps. 147. and 149. 4. What the will dictates or prefers; will; choice; purpose; intention; command; as, use your pleasure. Cyrus, he is my shepherd and shall perform all my pleasure. Is.44. My counsel shall stand and I will do all my pleasure. Is.46. 5. A favor; that which Please s. Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, answered Paul. Acts.25. 6. Arbitrary will or choice. He can vary his scheme at pleasure'. Please also see the notes for 2Timothy 2:4 and Galatians 1:10-LJC about the word please.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'when. Re 5:13-14; 7:11-12 who. Re 1:18; 5:14; 10:6; 15:7; Ex 15:18; Ps 48:14; Heb 7:8,25 exp: Eph 4:6. General references. exp: Ps 66:2; 118:3.
fall. Re 5:8,14; 19:4; Job 1:20; Ps 72:11; Mt 2:11 worship. Re 4:9; 7:11; 15:4; 22:8-9; 1Ch 29:20; 2Ch 7:3; Ps 95:6; Mt 4:9-10; Lu 24:52 exp: Re 19:10. cast. Re 4:4; 1Ch 29:11-16; Ps 115:1; 1Co 15:10 General references. exp: Nu 14:5; Ps 66:2; 118:3; Re 11:16.
art. Re 5:2,9,12; 2Sa 22:4; Ps 18:3 to receive. Re 14:7; De 32:4; 1Ch 16:28-29; Ne 9:5; Job 36:3; Ps 29:1-2; 68:34; 96:7-8 exp: Re 5:12. Forthou. Re 10:6; Ge 1:1; Ex 20:11; Isa 40:26,28; Jer 10:11; 32:17; Joh 1:1-3; Ac 17:24; Eph 3:9; Col 1:16-17; Heb 1:2,10 and for. Pr 16:4; Ro 11:36 General references. exp: Ps 66:2; 118:3; Joh 1:3.'.

Home Overview of Revelation Chapter Summary Start of Chapter

Interpretive Study of Revelation

The Revelation of Jesus Christ

Revelation Chapter 3

links to sentences in this chapter:

Chapter Summary: the last three messages to the seven churches.

Revelation Chapter 4

links to sentences in this chapter:

Chapter Summary: John, and all saved, are called up to Heaven.

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