Revelation 2:18: “And to the messenger of the church in Thyatira write, ‘These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass.”
The beginnings of the Thyatira Church are recorded in Acts 16:11-16. Paul and company were in Phillipi. They went out of the city to pray by the riverside. They met some women there and began dialoguing with them. One of the women was named Lydia. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira. She worshiped God. “The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul.” So, she invited Paul and his men to stay in her home. Lydia and everyone in her home believed in Jesus and were baptized.
Jesus verifies to the messenger or pastor of the Church in Thyatira that He is the Son of God.
Jesus reveals to the Christians in Thyatira that His eyes are like flames of fire and feet like fine brass. This description of Jesus connects Him to the One who appeared to Daniel in Daniel 10:6, “His body was like beryl, His face like the appearance of lightning, His eyes like torches of fire, His arms and feet like burnished bronze in color, and the sound of His words like the voice of a multitude.” Jesus has powerful eyes that see deep into our souls and into the future of our nations. His feet of fine brass convey that His messages are strong, refined and lead His followers in God’s ways.
Revelation 2:19: “I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first.”
Jesus knows the kind of works His people are producing. In John 15:1-8, Jesus described His Father as the Vinedresser, Himself as the Vine, and people who believe in Him as branches of the Vine in God’s vineyard. On the one hand, the Father prunes the branches that produce fruit. On the other hand, He removes and burns the branches that do not abide in the Vine and that are dried and withered.
The church at Thyatira had four wonderful characteristics of Christ. They loved, served, believed and were patient. The word for patience in the original Greek text is ὑπομονή. It is translated as endurance, perseverance, or as patience according to the context of the passage. It means to remain steadfast under a heavy load or trial. Their last works are more than their first works meaning that they are growing in their productivity just like a healthy vine does.
Revelation 2:20-23: “Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.”
Jesus warned the believers in Thyatira of a threat to their wellness. They allowed a woman named Jezebel to teach and seduce the servants of Jesus to commit sexual sins, and to eat food that has been dedicated not to Him but to the names of foreign gods. Perhaps, they thought they were being loving, patient and self-denying in regards to tolerating this woman, but Jesus had strong words and plans to destroy her and her children if they did not repent.
Jezebel claimed to be a prophetess. The Scripture includes a number of testimonies about women who had the gift of prophecy. For example, Miriam in Exodus 15:20, Deborah in Judges 4:4, Huldah in 2 Kings 22:14, Anna in Luke 2:36 and the four virgin daughters of Philip in Acts 21:9! To be a prophetess for the Lord is not a sin. Prophecy is a gift of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:11 says that the Holy Spirit distributes the gifts to whom He wills. 1 Corinthians 12:7 says that He gives gifts for the profit of all. 1 Corinthians 14:39 says to earnestly desire to prophesy. 1 Thessalonians 5:20 says not to despise prophecies. Prophecy is a highly valued and useful gift in the Bible. But to claim to be a prophetess and to be a Jezebel is evil.
It is highly unlikely that the woman in Thyatira whom Jesus denounces was really named Jezebel. Jezebel is an infamous name in the Bible. What group of believers in Christ would honor a woman with the name of Jezebel to teach, influence people and bear the title of prophetess in their church? It is likely that Jesus calls her Jezebel because she was of the same spirit as the woman who bears that name in the Old Testament.
Jezebel was the demonic wife of King Ahab. 1 Kings 18:13 says, “Jezebel killed the prophets of the Lord.” She had a plan to execute Elijah, but God protected him. In 1 Kings 18:19, she had 450 false prophets to honor Baal and 400 false prophets to honor Asherah. In today’s terms, we would call them ministers of government propaganda. They taught people what to think and not to think. Those who do not agree with her thinking, she executed.
Jesus gave her time to repent, but she refused to do so, so His plan was to cast her and her followers into a bed of suffering. When Jesus says, “I will kill her children with death,” it is reminiscent of how the sons of the Jezebel of the Old Testament were slain, and after that, all the seventy sons of Ahab in 2 Kings 10:1.
Throughout the Bible God chastises sinners.
Adam and Eve were exiled from paradise after they sinned.
In Numbers 12:1-16, when Miriam spoke against her brother Moses, the Lord chastised her with leprosy for seven days.
Throughout the Book of Judges when the nation of Israel began to worship idols, God allowed enemies to invade their land, steal their goods and to oppress them until they repented.
Saul lost his anointing as king over Israel after he disobeyed the Lord’s direct command to him.
In the New Testament, Jesus struck Saul of Tarsus, the persecutor of Christians, with temporary blindness but later healed him after he repented and was ready to serve the Lord.
In 1 Corinthians 5:1-4, the Corinthian believers had a man who was having intimate relationships with his father’s wife (likely his stepmother). In 1 Corinthians 5:5, Paul told the believers, “To deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.” In 2 Corinthians 2:6-7, after the man repented, Paul wrote to the believers, saying, “For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough, so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.”
Though the “Jezebel” and her followers in Thyatira had done great abominations in the sight of the Lord, He was willing to forgive her if she repented.
Idolatry and sexual sin tend to go hand and hand. Proverbs 22:14 says, “The mouth of an immoral woman is a deep pit. He who is abhorred by the Lord will fall there.” Lust and sexual sin in a believer’s life is a sign that something is lacking in his or her relationship with the Lord. Romans 1:28 says, “Even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting.” There’s something that is vying and winning his or her affections more than Jesus. By abiding in Jesus, we avoid such sin and shame, and we bring forth good fruit that brings glory to God and help to our neighbor.
Ungodly teaching produces ungodly thinking. Proverbs 23:7 says, “As a man thinks in his heart, so is He.” Psalm 12:6 says, “The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.” It is best to feed our minds pure thoughts. Proverbs 4:23 says, “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” In Job 31:1, Job said, “I have made a covenant with my eyes. Why then should I look upon a young woman?” Job was committed to protecting his eye gates from lustful images so his heart would not be defiled.
Revelation 2:24-25: “Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden. But hold fast what you have till I come.”
After addressing the error of Jezebel, Jesus speaks to those who did not succumb to her influence and her teaching... they were spared from going into the depths with Satan... which is a very bad place to be. The Lord did not burden them with corrections. He urged them to hold fast to Him as they had been doing.
Revelation 2:26-27: “And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations—‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron. They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’—as I also have received from My Father.”
Jesus promises power over the nations to whom? To those who keep HIS works until the end.
In John 6:28, people asked Jesus, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” In John 6:29, Jesus answered them, saying, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.” The primary work of the Church is to promote and strengthen faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Savior of the world. Only He lived a sinless life. Only He died and rose again to prove to His followers that He truly is who He said He is, namely the Messiah.
In Revelation 2:27, Jesus identifies Himself as the Messiah spoke of in Psalm 2. He rules the nations with a rod of iron and dashes to pieces the ones that He finds unacceptable.
In Jeremiah 18:4, the Lord showed Jeremiah a potter who destroyed one of his marred pots. He made the clay into a different pot. Then in Jeremiah 18:6, the Lord gave this word to Jeremiah to speak to His people, “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter? says the Lord. Look, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel!” The Lord is saying that reformation of individuals and nations is from Him. If we continue to abide in Jesus, He will do the works of prophets through us in a simlar fashion as He did through Jeremiah.
In Psalm 2:8-9, the Lord says, “Ask of Me, and I will give you the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron. You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.” As believers in Christ our goal is to bring the nations to God. In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus called us to make disciples for Him of all nations, and to baptize them in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Is it good to be finely tuned to the Lord? You want your doctor, airplane pilot and banker to be finely tuned to the best practices of their callings, right? Thus, we too, should carefully abide in Jesus so that He can produce much fruit for His glory through our lives.
Revelation 2:28-29: “And I will give him the morning star. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
The morning star appears at the darkest moment of night. In Revelation 22:16, Jesus identifies Himself as the Bright Morning Star. Jesus promises to be our morning star in the darkest moment of our life. Even in that moment when we pass from death to new life in His kingdom, to live and reign with Him forever. Praise the Lord!
Thursday, September 10, 2026
Wednesday, September 9, 2026
Lining Up With Christ – Revelation 2:12-17
Revelation 2:12: “And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, ‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword...”
By mentioning His sharp two-edged sword in Revelation 2:12, our Lord Jesus links Himself to other passages in the Bible about the Messiah.
For example in Isaiah 49:1-2, Messiah is the One called from the womb whose mouth is like a sharp sword. Isaiah 49:6 speaks of “My Servant” raising up Jacob. He is a light to the Gentiles. He is God’s salvation to the ends of the earth. Isaiah 49:8 describes Messiah as given as a covenant to the people, to restore the earth, and to say to prisoners, “Go forth.” Isaiah 49:10 describes Messiah having mercy on people and leading them by the springs of water. Isaiah 49:16 speaks of Messiah having His people inscribed on the palms of His hands. Isaiah 49:26 says, “All flesh shall know that I, the Lord, am your Savior, and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.”
While Isaiah 49 primarily points to Messiah’s first coming, Revelation 19:11-16 speak of His return. Jesus Messiah returns to earth on a white horse with the armies of heaven following Him. Out of His mouth goes a sharp sword to strike the nations. His Name is called The Word of God. He treads the winepress of the wrath of God. The Name on His robe and on His thigh is King of Kings and Lord of lords. He judges and makes war with righteousness.
In Revelation 19:19-21, Jesus slays the armies of the kings who oppose Him with the sword which proceeds from His mouth.
In John 18:3-6, Judas led a detachment of troops with weapons to arrest Jesus. When they arrived Jesus went forward to meet them and He asked them, “Whom are you seeking?” They answered Him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Then, Jesus said to them, “I am He.” When He said, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground.
In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus allowed a troop to arrest Him. In Revelation 19:19-21, He speaks with the sword of His mouth, that is the Word of God, and multiple kings and armies perish in an instant.
In Hebrews 4:12, God’s Word is compared to a two-edged sword that is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Jesus helps us to distinguish the difference between a lie and a truth. In Ephesians 6:17, the Word of God is called the sword of the Spirit.
Revelation 2:13: “I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is.”
The Christians of Pergamos dwelt where Satan had his throne. The altar of Zeus was located in Pergamos. Zeus was considered the strongest of the Olympian gods in Greek idol worship. From a Biblical perspective he is the metaphor for Satan, the destroyer, and king of demons.
In 1 Corinthians 10:20, the Apostle Paul warns that sacrifices to idols are sacrifices to demons. He wrote, “they sacrifice to demons and not to God.” In Leviticus 17:7, the Lord commanded Israel, “They shall no more offer their sacrifices to demons, after whom they have played the harlot. This shall be a statute forever for them throughout their generations.”
In Matthew 4:8–9, the devil took Jesus to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, ‘All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me’” Luke 4:5 says that the devil showed him the kingdoms in a moment of time. In Luke 4:6, he admits that this “authority and glory has been delivered to me.” He gained this authority and glory by tempting and deceiving the human race’s first parents, Adam and Eve, to sin against God. Sin is the portal through which the devil gains access into people’s lives.
In Matthew 4:10, Jesus said to the devil, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’” Then, the devil left Jesus, and angels came and ministered to Him.
“Satan’s sway in this world is terrible and vast.” 1 John 5:19 says, “The whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” Ephesians 2:1–2 speak of those who are “dead in the trespasses and sins,” and “who follow the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that works in the sons of disobedience.” 2 Corinthians 4:4 says, “The god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers.” [1]
Isaiah 14:12-17 is a prophecy of Lucifer or Satan’s demise. “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground! You who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart, ‘I will ascend into heaven. I will exalt my throne above the stars of God. ...I will be like the Most High.’ Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit. Those who see you will gaze at you, and consider you, saying: ‘Is this the man who made the earth tremble, who shook kingdoms, who made the world as a wilderness and destroyed its cities, who did not open the house of his prisoners?’”
1 John 3:8 says, “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” Jesus destroyed the devil’s power over people when He atoned for our sin on the cross. Jesus crushes the enemy of our souls when He converts us to believe in Him and fills us with the Holy Spirit. 1 John 4:4 says, “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” That is, the Spirit of Christ is greater than all demon spirits put together.
Revelation 2:13: “And you hold fast to My Name and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.”
The Bible offers several reasons why God allows believers to face persecution and death for their faith. Martyrdom demonstrates that God and His glory are more valuable than physical life or worldly comforts. The original Greek word for martyr means “witness.” A person who willingly dies for his or her faith in Jesus demonstrates how real Jesus is to him or her. Throughout Christian history, “the blood of the martyrs” has been considered “the seed of the Church.” Persecution frequently helps spread and solidify the faith in Christ rather than destroy it. A martyr usually inspires complacent or inactive believers to take God and eternity seriously. In 2 Timothy 3:12, Paul wrote, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” [2]
Thankfully, God does not abandon martyrs. He grants His presence to them. For example, in Acts 7:55-58, Stephen saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God when he stood up for Jesus before his executioners. In James 1:12, Jesus promised the crown of life to those who love Him.
Jesus commended the Christians in Pergamos for their steadfast loyalty to Him even after the Lord’s faithful martyr Antipas was executed.
Revelation 2:14: “But I have a few things against you, because you have there, those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.”
In Numbers 31:16 it is written, “Look, these women caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to trespass against the Lord in the incident of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the Lord.” Balak paid Balaam to curse the people of Israel, but God turned his curses into blessings. So, he advised King Balak to send food sacrificed to idols for the people to eat, and to send Moabite women into Israel’s camp to seduce the men to sin so that they would fall into disfavor with God. The outcome for many who sinned was an early death.
Revelation 2:15: “Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.”
According to the Theopedia, the Nicolaitans practiced a form of antinomianism, which means they believed God’s grace allowed people to sin without penalty. In his work “Against Heresies” (Book 1, Chapter 26), Irenaeus wrote that the Nicolaitans led lives of “unrestrained indulgence.”
In Romans 6:1-2, Paul asks, “Shall we continue to sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” Jesus delivered us FROM sin not TO sin.
1 John 3:6 says, “Whoever abides in Him does not sin.” In other words, when I abide in Christ, I do not sin, I bear good fruit. In John 15:5, Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” In my own self, that is in my flesh, I do nothing but sin, but in Christ, I bear fruit that glorifies God.
Revelation 2:16: “Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.”
The sword of Jesus’ mouth is the Word of God. In John 12:48, Jesus said, “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him— the Word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.” The Word of God is the measuring stick by which each person will be judged on the last day. How many Bibles sit on shelves unopened and unread, yet these Bible contain in them the very words by which we each will be judged. The Bible teaches us that we are hopeless and lost sinners and that without an abiding relationship with Christ we will perish.
In James 4:4, the Bible asks us, “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” Jesus is the Word of God personified. We need to align ourselves with His Word to avoid being aligned with the world.
Jesus urged those who aligned themselves with the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, that is, the lawless, self-indulgent ones to repent lest He fight against them with the sword of His mouth.
Revelation 2:17: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.”
Jesus promises hidden manna and gifts of white stones with new names on them to the overcomers. White stones were rewarded to winners of public games. They were given white stones with their name inscribed on them. The white stone entitled them to lifelong provisions at public expense. Hidden manna refers to victors of public games who were entitled to provisions of food for the rest of their lives at the public expense. [3]
By mentioning His sharp two-edged sword in Revelation 2:12, our Lord Jesus links Himself to other passages in the Bible about the Messiah.
For example in Isaiah 49:1-2, Messiah is the One called from the womb whose mouth is like a sharp sword. Isaiah 49:6 speaks of “My Servant” raising up Jacob. He is a light to the Gentiles. He is God’s salvation to the ends of the earth. Isaiah 49:8 describes Messiah as given as a covenant to the people, to restore the earth, and to say to prisoners, “Go forth.” Isaiah 49:10 describes Messiah having mercy on people and leading them by the springs of water. Isaiah 49:16 speaks of Messiah having His people inscribed on the palms of His hands. Isaiah 49:26 says, “All flesh shall know that I, the Lord, am your Savior, and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.”
While Isaiah 49 primarily points to Messiah’s first coming, Revelation 19:11-16 speak of His return. Jesus Messiah returns to earth on a white horse with the armies of heaven following Him. Out of His mouth goes a sharp sword to strike the nations. His Name is called The Word of God. He treads the winepress of the wrath of God. The Name on His robe and on His thigh is King of Kings and Lord of lords. He judges and makes war with righteousness.
In Revelation 19:19-21, Jesus slays the armies of the kings who oppose Him with the sword which proceeds from His mouth.
In John 18:3-6, Judas led a detachment of troops with weapons to arrest Jesus. When they arrived Jesus went forward to meet them and He asked them, “Whom are you seeking?” They answered Him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Then, Jesus said to them, “I am He.” When He said, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground.
In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus allowed a troop to arrest Him. In Revelation 19:19-21, He speaks with the sword of His mouth, that is the Word of God, and multiple kings and armies perish in an instant.
In Hebrews 4:12, God’s Word is compared to a two-edged sword that is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Jesus helps us to distinguish the difference between a lie and a truth. In Ephesians 6:17, the Word of God is called the sword of the Spirit.
Revelation 2:13: “I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is.”
The Christians of Pergamos dwelt where Satan had his throne. The altar of Zeus was located in Pergamos. Zeus was considered the strongest of the Olympian gods in Greek idol worship. From a Biblical perspective he is the metaphor for Satan, the destroyer, and king of demons.
In 1 Corinthians 10:20, the Apostle Paul warns that sacrifices to idols are sacrifices to demons. He wrote, “they sacrifice to demons and not to God.” In Leviticus 17:7, the Lord commanded Israel, “They shall no more offer their sacrifices to demons, after whom they have played the harlot. This shall be a statute forever for them throughout their generations.”
In Matthew 4:8–9, the devil took Jesus to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, ‘All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me’” Luke 4:5 says that the devil showed him the kingdoms in a moment of time. In Luke 4:6, he admits that this “authority and glory has been delivered to me.” He gained this authority and glory by tempting and deceiving the human race’s first parents, Adam and Eve, to sin against God. Sin is the portal through which the devil gains access into people’s lives.
In Matthew 4:10, Jesus said to the devil, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’” Then, the devil left Jesus, and angels came and ministered to Him.
“Satan’s sway in this world is terrible and vast.” 1 John 5:19 says, “The whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” Ephesians 2:1–2 speak of those who are “dead in the trespasses and sins,” and “who follow the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that works in the sons of disobedience.” 2 Corinthians 4:4 says, “The god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers.” [1]
Isaiah 14:12-17 is a prophecy of Lucifer or Satan’s demise. “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground! You who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart, ‘I will ascend into heaven. I will exalt my throne above the stars of God. ...I will be like the Most High.’ Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit. Those who see you will gaze at you, and consider you, saying: ‘Is this the man who made the earth tremble, who shook kingdoms, who made the world as a wilderness and destroyed its cities, who did not open the house of his prisoners?’”
1 John 3:8 says, “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” Jesus destroyed the devil’s power over people when He atoned for our sin on the cross. Jesus crushes the enemy of our souls when He converts us to believe in Him and fills us with the Holy Spirit. 1 John 4:4 says, “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” That is, the Spirit of Christ is greater than all demon spirits put together.
Revelation 2:13: “And you hold fast to My Name and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.”
The Bible offers several reasons why God allows believers to face persecution and death for their faith. Martyrdom demonstrates that God and His glory are more valuable than physical life or worldly comforts. The original Greek word for martyr means “witness.” A person who willingly dies for his or her faith in Jesus demonstrates how real Jesus is to him or her. Throughout Christian history, “the blood of the martyrs” has been considered “the seed of the Church.” Persecution frequently helps spread and solidify the faith in Christ rather than destroy it. A martyr usually inspires complacent or inactive believers to take God and eternity seriously. In 2 Timothy 3:12, Paul wrote, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” [2]
Thankfully, God does not abandon martyrs. He grants His presence to them. For example, in Acts 7:55-58, Stephen saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God when he stood up for Jesus before his executioners. In James 1:12, Jesus promised the crown of life to those who love Him.
Jesus commended the Christians in Pergamos for their steadfast loyalty to Him even after the Lord’s faithful martyr Antipas was executed.
Revelation 2:14: “But I have a few things against you, because you have there, those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.”
In Numbers 31:16 it is written, “Look, these women caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to trespass against the Lord in the incident of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the Lord.” Balak paid Balaam to curse the people of Israel, but God turned his curses into blessings. So, he advised King Balak to send food sacrificed to idols for the people to eat, and to send Moabite women into Israel’s camp to seduce the men to sin so that they would fall into disfavor with God. The outcome for many who sinned was an early death.
Revelation 2:15: “Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.”
According to the Theopedia, the Nicolaitans practiced a form of antinomianism, which means they believed God’s grace allowed people to sin without penalty. In his work “Against Heresies” (Book 1, Chapter 26), Irenaeus wrote that the Nicolaitans led lives of “unrestrained indulgence.”
In Romans 6:1-2, Paul asks, “Shall we continue to sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” Jesus delivered us FROM sin not TO sin.
1 John 3:6 says, “Whoever abides in Him does not sin.” In other words, when I abide in Christ, I do not sin, I bear good fruit. In John 15:5, Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” In my own self, that is in my flesh, I do nothing but sin, but in Christ, I bear fruit that glorifies God.
Revelation 2:16: “Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.”
The sword of Jesus’ mouth is the Word of God. In John 12:48, Jesus said, “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him— the Word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.” The Word of God is the measuring stick by which each person will be judged on the last day. How many Bibles sit on shelves unopened and unread, yet these Bible contain in them the very words by which we each will be judged. The Bible teaches us that we are hopeless and lost sinners and that without an abiding relationship with Christ we will perish.
In James 4:4, the Bible asks us, “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” Jesus is the Word of God personified. We need to align ourselves with His Word to avoid being aligned with the world.
Jesus urged those who aligned themselves with the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, that is, the lawless, self-indulgent ones to repent lest He fight against them with the sword of His mouth.
Revelation 2:17: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.”
Jesus promises hidden manna and gifts of white stones with new names on them to the overcomers. White stones were rewarded to winners of public games. They were given white stones with their name inscribed on them. The white stone entitled them to lifelong provisions at public expense. Hidden manna refers to victors of public games who were entitled to provisions of food for the rest of their lives at the public expense. [3]
Praise the Lord! I am just happy to know that the Lord Jesus included me to be identified with Him, but beyond this, He offers to me and to all who believe in Him, eternal rewards.
[1] desiringgod.org/interviews/how-much-authority-does-satan-have-in-the-world
[2] Various articles linked to gotquestions.org/Christian-martyrdom.html
[3] Information from pastor and evangelist Adrian Rogers
[1] desiringgod.org/interviews/how-much-authority-does-satan-have-in-the-world
[2] Various articles linked to gotquestions.org/Christian-martyrdom.html
[3] Information from pastor and evangelist Adrian Rogers
Tuesday, September 8, 2026
I Know Your Tribulation – Revelation 2:8-11
Revelation 2:8: “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, ‘These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life.”
Jesus introduces Himself to the saints in Smyrna as “The First and Last” and “who was dead, and came to life.” In Revelation 1:11, 17, He also introduced Himself to John as “The First and Last.”
In Isaiah 44:6 it is written, “Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel, and His Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: I am the First and I am the Last. Besides Me there is no God.” Jesus identified Himself to the Christians in Smyrna as the Yahweh of the Old Testament.
Jesus is the “First” because He existed before all creation. As the “Last,” Jesus holds the final authority over human history. He brings our existence to completion. Jesus pairs “The First and The Last” with the declaration, “who was dead and came to life.” Jesus has supreme authority over mortality and resurrection. People began with Him, are sustained by Him, and find their ultimate meaning in Him.
In Romans 14:9, it is written, “For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.”
Revelation 2:9: “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich). And I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not but are a synagogue of Satan.”
“I know your works.” The Greek word for works in this text is “εργα.” We derive our English word “energy” from this word. Are we energetic for the Lord? Our outward works express our inward faith.
“I know your tribulation.” The Greek word for tribulation is θλῖψις (thlipsis). Thlipsis means “pressure,” “squeezing,” or “crushing.” In ancient and biblical Greek, it is used to describe intense emotional, mental, or spiritual pressure, such as suffering and persecution. [1]
In Matthew 24:9, Jesus warned us that in the last days before He returns, “They will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My Name’s sake.” In Matthew 24:21, He said, “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.”
In Acts 14:22, Paul taught his disciples, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” In Acts 20:23, Paul told fellow church leaders, “The Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me.”
In Romans 8:35, Paul asks, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation... ?” In Romans 8:38-39, he responds to his own question, saying, “I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
In John 16:33, Jesus taught His disciples, “In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
Jesus said to the saints in Smyrna, “I know your poverty (but you are rich).” In Matthew 5:3, Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” In James 2:5, God’s Word says, “Listen, my beloved brethren: has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?”
Do you see a theme here? The Lord is saying to keep our eyes fixed on being with Him in paradise and not on our circumstances in this world.
Hebrews 11:24-26 says of Moses, “By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.”
Jesus laid down His earthly life for us so that we could have a better life in eternity with God. In 2 Corinthians 8:9, it is written, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.”
Jesus told the saints in Smyrna, “I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not but are a synagogue of Satan.” In 2 Corinthians 11:14, Paul spoke of Satan transforming himself into an angel of light. The word “angel” refers to a messenger. The messenger can be from the spiritual or physical realm depending on the context. In 2 Corinthians 11:13, Paul is speaking of “false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.”
The religious leaders in Jerusalem gave Jesus the most grief during His earthly ministry. The same is true of the disciples in the Book of Acts. Imposter leaders hate authentic leaders because authentic leaders expose how self-serving and how ungodly they are. The Christians in Smyrna were being slandered by a synagogue of Satan, which means a gathering of Satan.
Sometimes lovers of Christ are betrayed by liars and deceivers in a very devilish way.
For example, in 1414, John Hus was invited to defend his teachings at the Council of Constance under an official, sealed ‘safe conduct’ guarantee from King Sigismund of Hungary. Sigismund claimed to be a protector of the true Christian faith and promised Hus he would return to Bohemia unharmed, regardless of the verdict. However, once Hus arrived, Church cardinals arrested him. When Hus’s supporters protested the violation of the king’s Christian word, the Council replied that no promise made to a heretic is binding. Hus was burned at the stake. [2]
In 1535, William Tyndale, who translated the Bible into English, was betrayed by a fake friend named Henry Phillips. William was burned at the stake.
While serving the Lord in China, I was warned to beware of “Christians” from the government approved Three-Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM). TSPM churches were staffed by people loyal to the Communist Party. They preached the social Gospel. They turned over to authorities the names of Christians who they deemed too fanatical. Why? Because those who truly love the Lord Jesus expose liars who are really serving their own ambitions.
Revelation 2:10: “Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”
In Matthew 10:28, Jesus told His disciples, “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Persecutors can destroy our bodies, but not our souls if we have committed them to the Lord. For us who are in Christ, death has lost its sting. Death is for a moment, but life with God in paradise is forever.
While in China, I was tempted at times to panic for my life, but the Lord reminded me that every knee will bow to Him and every tongue will confess that He is Lord one day. It is better to bow and profess Jesus now as His loyal followers than to do so after denying Him, and end up in hell.
Jesus told the saints in Smyrna not to fear what they were about to suffer. Yes, some would be imprisoned. They would experience ten days of tribulation, but a crown of life awaited them after it was over.
Praise the Lord that He places limitations on our suffering. In Job 1:12, “The Lord said to Satan, ‘Behold, all that he has is in your power. Only do not lay a hand on his person.’” In Job 2:6, “The Lord said to Satan, ‘Behold, he is in your hand, but spare his life.’”
The ten day test that Jesus speaks of in Revelation 2:10 compares with Daniel 1:12-15. Daniel and his three friends did not want to eat the pagan food of King Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel asked for permission to eat vegetables and drink water instead. Daniel pleaded, “Please test your servants for ten days.” In Daniel 1:15, “at the end of ten days their features appeared better and fatter in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion of the king’s delicacies.”
For me “delicacies” are a snare. When I over stimulate my taste buds, I eat too much. It is better for me to eat basic foods and feed my soul with an abundance of God’s Word. When my soul is full of Jesus, it is less tempted to bite at attractive baits. I want to eat to live not live to eat.
If I am imprisoned for my faith in Christ, hopefully, a severe longing for delicacies will not defeat me as it did “the mixed multitude” in the wilderness. “The mixed multitude” were the people who left Egypt with the Israelites, probably some Egyptians. In Numbers 11:4-33, they complained about the manna and brought a great plague upon themselves and upon Israel.
In Psalm 141:4, David prayed, “Do not incline my heart to any evil thing. To practice wicked works with men who work iniquity! And do not let me eat of their delicacies.”
The Lord advises us in Proverbs 23:1-3, “When you sit down to eat with a ruler, consider carefully what is before you. And put a knife to your throat if you are a man given to appetite. Do not desire his delicacies, for they are deceptive food.” Kings and rich people sometimes use lures like food or money to tempt Christians to compromise their relationship with the Lord.
Hunters study to know what their prey likes to eat.
Jacob knew what his brother Esau loved to eat so he made some, and then, offered it to him for a price. Hebrews 12:15-17 says, “Look carefully lest anyone... be... like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.”
In Matthew 4:1-4, Jesus had not ate for forty days so the devil tempted Him to use His power to change stones into bread. Adam and Eve partook of forbidden fruit in the garden and lost their purity. Jesus did not succumb to the devil’s provocation. He told the devil, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”
In 1 Corinthians 10:13 it is written, “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”
In 1 Timothy 6:10-12, Paul warned Timothy, “The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”
Paul advised Timothy to flee from the love of money. What should a Chrisian pursue? Pursue God! Hold onto your eternity with God with all your might.
Revelation 2:11: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.”
Jesus promises eternal life to those who listen to the Holy Spirit. “Yes, Holy Spirit, please speak to us and guide us to the Heavenly Kingdom’s shores to be with our heavenly Father forever.”
[1] Google
[2] GotQuestions.org
Jesus introduces Himself to the saints in Smyrna as “The First and Last” and “who was dead, and came to life.” In Revelation 1:11, 17, He also introduced Himself to John as “The First and Last.”
In Isaiah 44:6 it is written, “Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel, and His Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: I am the First and I am the Last. Besides Me there is no God.” Jesus identified Himself to the Christians in Smyrna as the Yahweh of the Old Testament.
Jesus is the “First” because He existed before all creation. As the “Last,” Jesus holds the final authority over human history. He brings our existence to completion. Jesus pairs “The First and The Last” with the declaration, “who was dead and came to life.” Jesus has supreme authority over mortality and resurrection. People began with Him, are sustained by Him, and find their ultimate meaning in Him.
In Romans 14:9, it is written, “For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.”
Revelation 2:9: “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich). And I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not but are a synagogue of Satan.”
“I know your works.” The Greek word for works in this text is “εργα.” We derive our English word “energy” from this word. Are we energetic for the Lord? Our outward works express our inward faith.
“I know your tribulation.” The Greek word for tribulation is θλῖψις (thlipsis). Thlipsis means “pressure,” “squeezing,” or “crushing.” In ancient and biblical Greek, it is used to describe intense emotional, mental, or spiritual pressure, such as suffering and persecution. [1]
In Matthew 24:9, Jesus warned us that in the last days before He returns, “They will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My Name’s sake.” In Matthew 24:21, He said, “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.”
In Acts 14:22, Paul taught his disciples, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” In Acts 20:23, Paul told fellow church leaders, “The Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me.”
In Romans 8:35, Paul asks, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation... ?” In Romans 8:38-39, he responds to his own question, saying, “I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
In John 16:33, Jesus taught His disciples, “In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
Jesus said to the saints in Smyrna, “I know your poverty (but you are rich).” In Matthew 5:3, Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” In James 2:5, God’s Word says, “Listen, my beloved brethren: has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?”
Do you see a theme here? The Lord is saying to keep our eyes fixed on being with Him in paradise and not on our circumstances in this world.
Hebrews 11:24-26 says of Moses, “By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.”
Jesus laid down His earthly life for us so that we could have a better life in eternity with God. In 2 Corinthians 8:9, it is written, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.”
Jesus told the saints in Smyrna, “I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not but are a synagogue of Satan.” In 2 Corinthians 11:14, Paul spoke of Satan transforming himself into an angel of light. The word “angel” refers to a messenger. The messenger can be from the spiritual or physical realm depending on the context. In 2 Corinthians 11:13, Paul is speaking of “false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.”
The religious leaders in Jerusalem gave Jesus the most grief during His earthly ministry. The same is true of the disciples in the Book of Acts. Imposter leaders hate authentic leaders because authentic leaders expose how self-serving and how ungodly they are. The Christians in Smyrna were being slandered by a synagogue of Satan, which means a gathering of Satan.
Sometimes lovers of Christ are betrayed by liars and deceivers in a very devilish way.
For example, in 1414, John Hus was invited to defend his teachings at the Council of Constance under an official, sealed ‘safe conduct’ guarantee from King Sigismund of Hungary. Sigismund claimed to be a protector of the true Christian faith and promised Hus he would return to Bohemia unharmed, regardless of the verdict. However, once Hus arrived, Church cardinals arrested him. When Hus’s supporters protested the violation of the king’s Christian word, the Council replied that no promise made to a heretic is binding. Hus was burned at the stake. [2]
In 1535, William Tyndale, who translated the Bible into English, was betrayed by a fake friend named Henry Phillips. William was burned at the stake.
While serving the Lord in China, I was warned to beware of “Christians” from the government approved Three-Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM). TSPM churches were staffed by people loyal to the Communist Party. They preached the social Gospel. They turned over to authorities the names of Christians who they deemed too fanatical. Why? Because those who truly love the Lord Jesus expose liars who are really serving their own ambitions.
Revelation 2:10: “Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”
In Matthew 10:28, Jesus told His disciples, “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Persecutors can destroy our bodies, but not our souls if we have committed them to the Lord. For us who are in Christ, death has lost its sting. Death is for a moment, but life with God in paradise is forever.
While in China, I was tempted at times to panic for my life, but the Lord reminded me that every knee will bow to Him and every tongue will confess that He is Lord one day. It is better to bow and profess Jesus now as His loyal followers than to do so after denying Him, and end up in hell.
Jesus told the saints in Smyrna not to fear what they were about to suffer. Yes, some would be imprisoned. They would experience ten days of tribulation, but a crown of life awaited them after it was over.
Praise the Lord that He places limitations on our suffering. In Job 1:12, “The Lord said to Satan, ‘Behold, all that he has is in your power. Only do not lay a hand on his person.’” In Job 2:6, “The Lord said to Satan, ‘Behold, he is in your hand, but spare his life.’”
The ten day test that Jesus speaks of in Revelation 2:10 compares with Daniel 1:12-15. Daniel and his three friends did not want to eat the pagan food of King Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel asked for permission to eat vegetables and drink water instead. Daniel pleaded, “Please test your servants for ten days.” In Daniel 1:15, “at the end of ten days their features appeared better and fatter in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion of the king’s delicacies.”
For me “delicacies” are a snare. When I over stimulate my taste buds, I eat too much. It is better for me to eat basic foods and feed my soul with an abundance of God’s Word. When my soul is full of Jesus, it is less tempted to bite at attractive baits. I want to eat to live not live to eat.
If I am imprisoned for my faith in Christ, hopefully, a severe longing for delicacies will not defeat me as it did “the mixed multitude” in the wilderness. “The mixed multitude” were the people who left Egypt with the Israelites, probably some Egyptians. In Numbers 11:4-33, they complained about the manna and brought a great plague upon themselves and upon Israel.
In Psalm 141:4, David prayed, “Do not incline my heart to any evil thing. To practice wicked works with men who work iniquity! And do not let me eat of their delicacies.”
The Lord advises us in Proverbs 23:1-3, “When you sit down to eat with a ruler, consider carefully what is before you. And put a knife to your throat if you are a man given to appetite. Do not desire his delicacies, for they are deceptive food.” Kings and rich people sometimes use lures like food or money to tempt Christians to compromise their relationship with the Lord.
Hunters study to know what their prey likes to eat.
Jacob knew what his brother Esau loved to eat so he made some, and then, offered it to him for a price. Hebrews 12:15-17 says, “Look carefully lest anyone... be... like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.”
In Matthew 4:1-4, Jesus had not ate for forty days so the devil tempted Him to use His power to change stones into bread. Adam and Eve partook of forbidden fruit in the garden and lost their purity. Jesus did not succumb to the devil’s provocation. He told the devil, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”
In 1 Corinthians 10:13 it is written, “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”
In 1 Timothy 6:10-12, Paul warned Timothy, “The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”
Paul advised Timothy to flee from the love of money. What should a Chrisian pursue? Pursue God! Hold onto your eternity with God with all your might.
Revelation 2:11: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.”
Jesus promises eternal life to those who listen to the Holy Spirit. “Yes, Holy Spirit, please speak to us and guide us to the Heavenly Kingdom’s shores to be with our heavenly Father forever.”
[1] Google
[2] GotQuestions.org
Monday, September 7, 2026
Eating in Paradise with God – Revelation 2:1-7
Revelation 2:1: “To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands.”
The Apostle Paul helped to establish the church in Ephesus. According to Acts 20:27-32, he declared to them the whole counsel of God. He warned them night and day with tears for three years. He urged the elders to carefully shepherd the church which Christ purchased with His own blood. He warned them that after his departure, savage wolves would attack the flock. Men from among them would speak perverse things to draw away the disciples after themselves. He told them to be watchful. He commended them to God and to God’s grace.
In Revelation 2:1-7, Jesus gives to John a message for His flock in Ephesus. Jesus holds this church in His right hand. His right hand is the hand of favor and strength. Jesus healed people with this hand during His earthly ministry. He walks with the golden lampstand, that is, with the pastor of the church.
Jesus speaks three similar sayings to the seven churches: “I know your works.” “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” “To Him who overcomes I will give...”
Revelation 2:2: “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not and have found them liars.”
“I know your works.” The Greek word for works in this text is “εργα.” We derive our English word “energy” from this word. Are we energetic for the Lord? Our outward works express our inward faith.
“I know your labor.” The Greek word for “labor” means to suffer a hit so hard that it seriously weakens and debilitates you.
“I know your patience.” The Greek word translated as “patience” in this text is ὑπομονή. It appears 32 times in the New Testament. It is translated as endurance, perseverance, or as patience according to the context of the passage. It means to remain steadfast under a heavy load or trial.
ὑπομονή appears in Luke 8:15: “The seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the Word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with endurance.”
ὑπομονή appears in Romans 5:3-4: “We also boast in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope.”
ὑπομονή appears in Hebrews 12:1: “Since we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”
Jesus commends them for not tolerating those who are evil. Κακους is the Greek word in this text for evil. Κακους refers to something that is rotten. They did not tolerate rot.
Jesus commended the Ephesians for testing the false apostles and exposing them as liars. Jesus affirms those who do not tolerate evil.
The Church is to be the pillar and the ground of the truth. In 1 Timothy 3:15, Paul said to Timothy, “I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.”
In Isaiah 5:20, the Lord says, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
Has anyone tried to convince you to take sides with evil and to condemn that which is good?
George Orwell said, “The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those who speak it.”
What measures can we take to protect ourselves from scammers? We can ask Jesus to help us interpret the Bible correctly. In Luke 24:44-45, Jesus opened the minds of His disciples to understand the Scriptures. Knowing the truth protects us from lies.
Revelation 2:3: “And you have persevered and have patience and have labored for My Name’s sake and have not become weary.”
Maintaining a big ego is costly. The world tells us to be heroes. Be the center of everyone’s attention. In Galatians 6:14, Paul wrote, “May I never boast except in the cross of Christ.” Persevere, be patient, labor for the Name of Jesus Christ! Point people to Jesus Christ!
Revelation 2:4-5: “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen. Repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.”
They did not lose their first love, they left it. They abandoned the thought of loving Jesus too much. Something can be lost accidentally but leaving is deliberate. Have you been mistreated for loving Jesus? The Ephesian church had good works and doctrine, but persecution iced their love for Jesus. [1]
Jesus called the Ephesian Christians to repent and turn back to their first works, namely, to love Him. In Luke 15:17-19, when the Prodigal Son came to his senses, he returned to his father and said to Him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before You.” He confessed his sin to God. To not love God is to fail the first and great commandment.
Lack of love was the issue that the Lord had with His people in Jeremiah 2:1-2. “The Word of the Lord came to me, saying. ‘Go and cry in the hearing of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord: I remember the kindness of your youth, the love of your betrothal, when you went after Me in the wilderness, in a land not sown.’”
The Lord wants a close relationship with you. Worship is when you tell Him, “I love You, Lord.”
Revelation 2:6: “But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.”
Jesus commended the Ephesians for hating the deeds of the Nicolaitans. “Irenaeus described the Nicolaitans as self-indulgent.” [2]
Revelation 2:7: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”
Are your ears hearing what the Holy Spirit is saying to the churches? The thief on the cross heard what the Spirit was saying as he beheld Jesus on the cross next to him.
In Luke 23:39-43, one of the two criminals next to Jesus on His cross blasphemed Him. The other criminal rebuked the first one, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds, but this Man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
Jesus promised to Ephesian overcomers that they would eat in paradise with God.
How do we Christians overcome? In 1 John 5:4-5, it is written, “This is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”
[1-2] Quotes from Adrian Rogers
The Apostle Paul helped to establish the church in Ephesus. According to Acts 20:27-32, he declared to them the whole counsel of God. He warned them night and day with tears for three years. He urged the elders to carefully shepherd the church which Christ purchased with His own blood. He warned them that after his departure, savage wolves would attack the flock. Men from among them would speak perverse things to draw away the disciples after themselves. He told them to be watchful. He commended them to God and to God’s grace.
In Revelation 2:1-7, Jesus gives to John a message for His flock in Ephesus. Jesus holds this church in His right hand. His right hand is the hand of favor and strength. Jesus healed people with this hand during His earthly ministry. He walks with the golden lampstand, that is, with the pastor of the church.
Jesus speaks three similar sayings to the seven churches: “I know your works.” “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” “To Him who overcomes I will give...”
Revelation 2:2: “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not and have found them liars.”
“I know your works.” The Greek word for works in this text is “εργα.” We derive our English word “energy” from this word. Are we energetic for the Lord? Our outward works express our inward faith.
“I know your labor.” The Greek word for “labor” means to suffer a hit so hard that it seriously weakens and debilitates you.
“I know your patience.” The Greek word translated as “patience” in this text is ὑπομονή. It appears 32 times in the New Testament. It is translated as endurance, perseverance, or as patience according to the context of the passage. It means to remain steadfast under a heavy load or trial.
ὑπομονή appears in Luke 8:15: “The seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the Word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with endurance.”
ὑπομονή appears in Romans 5:3-4: “We also boast in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope.”
ὑπομονή appears in Hebrews 12:1: “Since we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”
Jesus commends them for not tolerating those who are evil. Κακους is the Greek word in this text for evil. Κακους refers to something that is rotten. They did not tolerate rot.
Jesus commended the Ephesians for testing the false apostles and exposing them as liars. Jesus affirms those who do not tolerate evil.
The Church is to be the pillar and the ground of the truth. In 1 Timothy 3:15, Paul said to Timothy, “I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.”
In Isaiah 5:20, the Lord says, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
Has anyone tried to convince you to take sides with evil and to condemn that which is good?
George Orwell said, “The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those who speak it.”
What measures can we take to protect ourselves from scammers? We can ask Jesus to help us interpret the Bible correctly. In Luke 24:44-45, Jesus opened the minds of His disciples to understand the Scriptures. Knowing the truth protects us from lies.
Revelation 2:3: “And you have persevered and have patience and have labored for My Name’s sake and have not become weary.”
Maintaining a big ego is costly. The world tells us to be heroes. Be the center of everyone’s attention. In Galatians 6:14, Paul wrote, “May I never boast except in the cross of Christ.” Persevere, be patient, labor for the Name of Jesus Christ! Point people to Jesus Christ!
Revelation 2:4-5: “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen. Repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.”
They did not lose their first love, they left it. They abandoned the thought of loving Jesus too much. Something can be lost accidentally but leaving is deliberate. Have you been mistreated for loving Jesus? The Ephesian church had good works and doctrine, but persecution iced their love for Jesus. [1]
Jesus called the Ephesian Christians to repent and turn back to their first works, namely, to love Him. In Luke 15:17-19, when the Prodigal Son came to his senses, he returned to his father and said to Him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before You.” He confessed his sin to God. To not love God is to fail the first and great commandment.
Lack of love was the issue that the Lord had with His people in Jeremiah 2:1-2. “The Word of the Lord came to me, saying. ‘Go and cry in the hearing of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord: I remember the kindness of your youth, the love of your betrothal, when you went after Me in the wilderness, in a land not sown.’”
The Lord wants a close relationship with you. Worship is when you tell Him, “I love You, Lord.”
Revelation 2:6: “But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.”
Jesus commended the Ephesians for hating the deeds of the Nicolaitans. “Irenaeus described the Nicolaitans as self-indulgent.” [2]
Revelation 2:7: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”
Are your ears hearing what the Holy Spirit is saying to the churches? The thief on the cross heard what the Spirit was saying as he beheld Jesus on the cross next to him.
In Luke 23:39-43, one of the two criminals next to Jesus on His cross blasphemed Him. The other criminal rebuked the first one, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds, but this Man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
Jesus promised to Ephesian overcomers that they would eat in paradise with God.
How do we Christians overcome? In 1 John 5:4-5, it is written, “This is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”
[1-2] Quotes from Adrian Rogers
Attached is a link to a power point version of this article which I have recorded on my YouTube channel:
Sunday, September 6, 2026
The Keys of Hades and Death – Revelation 1:17-20
Revelation 1:17-18: “And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, ‘Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.’”
John is so overwhelmed by the glory of Christ that he falls at His feet as though dead.
Daniel had a similar experience with the Lord in Daniel 8:18: “Now, as He was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep with my face to the ground; but He touched me, and stood me upright.”
Jesus laid His right hand on John. The right hand denotes favor and power. In Mark 6:5, 7:33, 8:25, Matthew 8:13, Jesus used touch to heal people.
In Mark 16:18, it is written, “They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” In Acts 9:17, Ananias laid hands on Saul to heal his blind eyes.
Jesus said to John, “Do not be afraid.” In Matthew 17:5-7, Peter, James and John fell on their faces and were greatly afraid after a bright cloud overshadowed them and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying of Jesus, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!’” Jesus touched them and said, “Arise, and do not be afraid.”
Jesus said to John, “Do not be afraid.” In Matthew 14:26-28, when the disciples saw Jesus “walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, ‘It is a ghost!’ And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “’Be of good cheer! It is I. Do not be afraid.’”
Jesus said to John, “I am the First and the Last.” In Isaiah 44:6 it is written, “Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: I am the First and I am the Last. Besides Me there is no God.” Jesus identified Himself to John as the Yahweh of the Old Testament.
Jesus is the “First” because He existed before all of creation. As the “Last,” Jesus holds the final authority over human history. He brings our existence to completion. Jesus pairs “The First and The Last” with the declaration that He was dead and is now alive forevermore, holding the “keys of death and Hades.” This shows His supreme authority over mortality and resurrection. People began with Him, are sustained by Him, and finds their ultimate meaning in Him. [1]
“I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen.”
Jesus revealed to John that He is the resurrected One from the dead, and that He will never die again. He is now in His glorified state, but His intentions have not changed.
“I have the keys of Hades and of Death.” Keys stand for privilege and authority. Jesus can liberate or imprison us. Isaiah 9:6 says that the government is on His shoulders. In John 5:22, the Father has committed judgment to Jesus. [2] Jesus is the Word of God. At the end of our lives, we shall be measured by the Word of God.
What is hades? Hades is the Greek word for the place of the unseen dead. [3]
In Luke 16:22-26, a beggar died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. A rich man also died. The rich man being in torments in Hades, could see the beggar with Abraham. He asked Abraham to have the beggar bring him water. Abraham said to him, “Between us there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.”
Whatever be the case about Hades, one thing is for certain, it vital to heed God’s Word, believe in Jesus and confess faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior before you die!
Jesus has the keys to Hades (the unseen realm) and death. He holds the keys to everyone’s eternity. No one by-passes Jesus to overcome Hades and Death. He is the only way. Jesus intends to use His keys to get those who believe in Him past death and into paradise.
Preacher Adrian Rogers told the story about Hell and Calvary. He said that there was a night club in Chicago called, “The Gates of Hell.” On the same road was a Church called Calvary. A stranger once asked a man, “Can you tell me how to get to “The Gates of Hell.” The man advised, “You just pass by Calvary and you will arrive at the “Gates of Hell.” Hell is where people end up who pass by Calvary.
In John 14:6, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
The Lord has done so much to bring us to paradise. He is still working to save our souls. We need to stop at Calvary and confess Jesus. When Jesus tells us that He holds the keys, He is extending to us an invitation to believe and confess Him. Are you doing that? Are you believing in and confessing Jesus?
Revelation 1:19-20: “Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this. The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the messengers of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.”
In Revelation 1:11, Jesus said to John, “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”
The seven messengers of the churches are securely in the right hand of Jesus. Seven represents completeness. So, “He’s got the whole Church in His hands.”
The lampstands are a good picture of the Church. We do not produce the light. We simply dispense it. “A lamp must receive both oil and fire before it can produce light. We need the oil and fire of the Holy Spirit to cast out the darkness from human souls.
[1] Ligonier Ministries
[2] Enduring Word Commentary
[3] Ibid
Attached is a link to a power point version of this article which I have recorded on my YouTube channel:
Daniel had a similar experience with the Lord in Daniel 8:18: “Now, as He was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep with my face to the ground; but He touched me, and stood me upright.”
Jesus laid His right hand on John. The right hand denotes favor and power. In Mark 6:5, 7:33, 8:25, Matthew 8:13, Jesus used touch to heal people.
In Mark 16:18, it is written, “They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” In Acts 9:17, Ananias laid hands on Saul to heal his blind eyes.
Jesus said to John, “Do not be afraid.” In Matthew 17:5-7, Peter, James and John fell on their faces and were greatly afraid after a bright cloud overshadowed them and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying of Jesus, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!’” Jesus touched them and said, “Arise, and do not be afraid.”
Jesus said to John, “Do not be afraid.” In Matthew 14:26-28, when the disciples saw Jesus “walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, ‘It is a ghost!’ And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “’Be of good cheer! It is I. Do not be afraid.’”
Jesus said to John, “I am the First and the Last.” In Isaiah 44:6 it is written, “Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: I am the First and I am the Last. Besides Me there is no God.” Jesus identified Himself to John as the Yahweh of the Old Testament.
Jesus is the “First” because He existed before all of creation. As the “Last,” Jesus holds the final authority over human history. He brings our existence to completion. Jesus pairs “The First and The Last” with the declaration that He was dead and is now alive forevermore, holding the “keys of death and Hades.” This shows His supreme authority over mortality and resurrection. People began with Him, are sustained by Him, and finds their ultimate meaning in Him. [1]
“I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen.”
Jesus revealed to John that He is the resurrected One from the dead, and that He will never die again. He is now in His glorified state, but His intentions have not changed.
“I have the keys of Hades and of Death.” Keys stand for privilege and authority. Jesus can liberate or imprison us. Isaiah 9:6 says that the government is on His shoulders. In John 5:22, the Father has committed judgment to Jesus. [2] Jesus is the Word of God. At the end of our lives, we shall be measured by the Word of God.
What is hades? Hades is the Greek word for the place of the unseen dead. [3]
In Luke 16:22-26, a beggar died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. A rich man also died. The rich man being in torments in Hades, could see the beggar with Abraham. He asked Abraham to have the beggar bring him water. Abraham said to him, “Between us there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.”
Whatever be the case about Hades, one thing is for certain, it vital to heed God’s Word, believe in Jesus and confess faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior before you die!
Jesus has the keys to Hades (the unseen realm) and death. He holds the keys to everyone’s eternity. No one by-passes Jesus to overcome Hades and Death. He is the only way. Jesus intends to use His keys to get those who believe in Him past death and into paradise.
Preacher Adrian Rogers told the story about Hell and Calvary. He said that there was a night club in Chicago called, “The Gates of Hell.” On the same road was a Church called Calvary. A stranger once asked a man, “Can you tell me how to get to “The Gates of Hell.” The man advised, “You just pass by Calvary and you will arrive at the “Gates of Hell.” Hell is where people end up who pass by Calvary.
In John 14:6, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
The Lord has done so much to bring us to paradise. He is still working to save our souls. We need to stop at Calvary and confess Jesus. When Jesus tells us that He holds the keys, He is extending to us an invitation to believe and confess Him. Are you doing that? Are you believing in and confessing Jesus?
Revelation 1:19-20: “Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this. The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the messengers of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.”
In Revelation 1:11, Jesus said to John, “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”
The seven messengers of the churches are securely in the right hand of Jesus. Seven represents completeness. So, “He’s got the whole Church in His hands.”
The lampstands are a good picture of the Church. We do not produce the light. We simply dispense it. “A lamp must receive both oil and fire before it can produce light. We need the oil and fire of the Holy Spirit to cast out the darkness from human souls.
[1] Ligonier Ministries
[2] Enduring Word Commentary
[3] Ibid
Attached is a link to a power point version of this article which I have recorded on my YouTube channel:
Saturday, September 5, 2026
Messengers of Christ– Revelation 1:11-16
Revelation 1:11: [A loud voice] “…saying, ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,’ and ‘Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”
Jesus said to John, “I am the First and the Last.” In Isaiah 44:6 it is written, “Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: I am the First and I am the Last. Besides Me there is no God.” Jesus identified Himself to John as the Yahweh of the Old Testament.
Jesus is the “First” because He existed before all of creation. As the “Last,” Jesus holds the final authority over human history. He brings our existence to completion. People began with Him, are sustained by Him, and find their ultimate meaning in Him.
“It is the opinion of very learned writers upon this book, that our Lord, by these seven churches, signifies all the churches of Christ to the end of the world; and by what he says to them, designs to show what shall be the state of churches in all ages, and what their duty is.” [2]
Revelation 1:12-13: “Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the seven lampstands one like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band.”
In Revelation 1:20, Jesus explains that the seven golden lampstands are the seven churches. He has messages for each of these churches in Revelation chapters 2-3. The churches are compared to candlesticks because they hold out the light of the Gospel to the world. The churches themselves are not the source of the light. Christ is our light.
In Matthew 5:14-16, Jesus compared His followers to lamps. “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
The Son of Man refers to Jesus Christ as God enfleshed in human form. In truth, it is we humans who are made in His image.
Christ is clothed with a priestly garment down to His feet. “Long garments were an emblem of great status and authority.” [3]
“The golden band around the chest probably hints at the garments of the high priest (Exodus 29:5). Exodus 39:1-5 says that there were golden threads in the band that went around the chest of the high priest of Israel. Jesus’ band has more than a few golden threads. It is all gold! How much greater is the eternal, heavenly priesthood of Jesus!” [4]
Revelation 1:14: “His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire.”
When John saw Jesus in heaven, instead of hair matted with blood, His hair was white like wool. Instead of a tortured face, His face shined like the sun. Instead of bleeding feet, His feet glowed like molten brass. Instead of eyes glossed over with pain, His eyes were like flames of fire.
His white hair connects Jesus to being the Ancient of Days referred to in Daniel 7:9, “I watched till thrones were put in place, and the Ancient of Days was seated. His garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool.”
The fiery eyes of Jesus see deep into the human heart. Nothing is hidden from Jesus.
Revelation 1:15: “His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters.”
His feet like burnished brass connect Him to the One who appeared to Daniel in Daniel 10:6: “His face like the appearance of lightning, His eyes like torches of fire, His arms and feet like burnished bronze in color, and the sound of His words like the voice of a multitude.”
“Fine brass is also a durable metal, the most durable known in the ancient world. Therefore feet… like fine brass are “An emblem of His stability and permanence, brass being considered the most durable of all metallic substances or compounds.” [5]
His voice sounds like many waters. There is a parallel between Revelation 1:16 and Ezekiel 43:2. In Ezekiel 43:2 and following, Ezekiel sees the glory of God. God’s glory sounds like many waters. The same language is used of Jesus in Revelation 1:16. His voice sounds like many waters. These passages depict the same reality. Jesus is the glory of God. He gives and IS God’s Word to God’s people. [6]
Revelation 1:16: “He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.”
In Revelation 1:20, He explains that the stars are the seven angels of the churches. The Greek word for angel is ἄγγελος – angelos. The Hebrew word for angel is מַלְאַךְ – mal’ak. Angelos and mal’ak both mean “messenger.” A “messenger” can be a heavenly being or an human being depending on the context of the passage.
Many scholars interpret “angel” in Revelation 1:20, as the pastors of the churches. Jesus holds them in His right hand, that is with favor and strength, so that they can serve His people well. The Good Shepherd is holding them and helping them to speak His Word. To God be the glory!
The sharp two-edged sword that proceeds from His mouth is the Word of God. In Hebrews 4:12, God’s Word is compared to a two-edged sword that is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Jesus helps us to distinguish the difference between a lie and a truth. In Ephesians 6:17, the Word of God is the sword of the Spirit.
The face of Jesus shines as the sun. In Matthew 17:2, when Jesus was transfigured before Peter, James and John, His face shined like the sun. In Matthew 17:5, God the Father spoke from a cloud and said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” In John 8:12, Jesus said of Himself, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” Jesus enlightens our souls so we can see God.
Now that we have received these words and visions of Jesus, we too should live circumspectly of them and share them with others.
[1] Enduring Word Commentary
[2] Poole, Matthew A Commentary on the Holy Bible, Volume III: Matthew-Revelation (London: Banner of Truth Trust, 1969, first published in 1685)
[3-4] Enduring Word Commentary
[5] Clarke, Adam The New Testament with A Commentary and Critical Notes, Volume III (New York: Eaton & Mains, 1831)
[6] Chad Bird, 1517 Project at https://youtu.be/XKxgyW8-A6M?si=t69sabf3-ml-dU2E
[1] Enduring Word Commentary
[2] Poole, Matthew A Commentary on the Holy Bible, Volume III: Matthew-Revelation (London: Banner of Truth Trust, 1969, first published in 1685)
[3-4] Enduring Word Commentary
[5] Clarke, Adam The New Testament with A Commentary and Critical Notes, Volume III (New York: Eaton & Mains, 1831)
[6] Chad Bird, 1517 Project at https://youtu.be/XKxgyW8-A6M?si=t69sabf3-ml-dU2E
Attached is a link to a power point version of this article which I have
recorded on my YouTube channel:
Friday, September 4, 2026
Trials Turned to Gold – Revelation 1:9-10
Revelation 1:9: “I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the Word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.”
In Hebrews 10:34, the writer commended those who suffered losses for the sake of the Gospel, saying, “You had compassion on those in prison. You joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.” Thanks be to God for a knowing that Christ is worth more than the treasures of this world.
By describing his suffering, John showed that he understood what other Christians were experiencing. He was on the Isle of Patmos for the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus.
John was exiled for God’s Word and the testimony of Jesus. In Revelation 12:17, the devil wars with keepers of God’s commands (Law) and hold to the testimony of Jesus (Gospel). The devil does not want lost souls to hear such presentations and be saved.
In his book, “The Freedom of the Christian,” Luther explains “that the entire Scripture of God is divided into two parts: commands and promises.” Luther’s friend Philip Melanchthon wrote, “All of Scripture is either Law or Gospel.” [1] He also wrote, “The Law shows the disease, the Gospel the cure.” [2]
John was on one of the 237 inhabitable islands of Greece called Patmos. Jesus showed John how world empires would end in the very place where blueprints for world empires were created. “Greece is considered the cradle of Western civilization, being the birthplace of democracy, western philosophy, the Olympic games, western literature, political science, major scientific and mathematical principles, and Western drama.” [3]
Patmos spanned roughly 13 square miles of rocky terrain with sparse vegetation and harsh living conditions. Its rough landscape and distance from the mainland made it a natural fortress and an ideal isolated prison camp for the Roman Empire. [4]
Revelation 1:10: “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet.”
John was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day. Oh, that all people on earth were moving in the power of the Holy Spirit on the Lord’s Day.
“The Lord’s Day” refers to the first day of the week (Sunday), which Christians observe in remembrance of Christ’s resurrection. John was meditating on the Word of God under the gracious guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Those who want to enjoy fellowship with God on the Lord’s Day should turn their thoughts and affections away from worldly and earthly things and give their attention to worshipping God and meditating on His Word.
What did John hear? John heard a voice as of a trumpet. The heavenly watchman Jesus Christ was sounding the alarm and telling His people to prepare for a battle.
How does one prepare for tribulation? In 1 Peter 4:12-13, Peter advises us not to think of trials as strange: “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.”
We can ask the Lord to deliver us from tests and trials. Jesus taught us to pray in the Lord’s prayer, “Lead us not us into temptation but deliver us from evil.”
In Revelation 3:10, Jesus told the Christians in Philadelphia, “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.”
In Luke 21:36, Jesus said, “Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
In 1 Corinthians 10:13, Paul wrote, “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”
A young Corrie Ten Boom was afraid of death. Her father asked her: “When you and I go to Amsterdam, when do I give you your ticket?” Corrie replied: “Why, just before we get on the train.” Her father then explained: “Exactly. And our wise Father in heaven knows when we’re going to need things, too. Don’t run out ahead of Him, Corrie. When the time comes, you will look into your heart and find the strength you need—just in time.” [5]
In John 16:33, Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” In Matthew 28:20, Jesus promised us, “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.” In Psalm 23, our Good Shepherd brings us through the valley of the shadow of death to dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Much of the Bible was written under duress. Moses, who wrote the first five books of the Bible, had to face off with Pharaoh and lead hundreds of thousands of people through a wilderness for 40 years. King David, the prophets, the apostles and Jesus experienced persecution while bringing God’s Word to hungry souls.
Trials are often a writer’s greatest asset, acting as the raw material for deep and authentic storytelling. While painful to experience, adversity connects a writer to the kinds of situations people like to read but not talk about.
A common saying among writers is to “torture your protagonist.” Whenever a character finds a solution, the next outcome should create an even greater complication. Stories stall when things go well for the main character. Hardships show a character’s true nature and force them to grow. Overcoming severe trials makes the final victory satisfying.
The good news is that while some people shy away from troubled souls, the Lord draws near to them. In Psalm 34:18, it is written, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
In Romans 8:35, 37-39, Paul wrote, “ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
[1] Commonplaces 1521, 94.
[2] Commonplaces 2014: 91
[3] Enduring Word Commentary
In Hebrews 10:34, the writer commended those who suffered losses for the sake of the Gospel, saying, “You had compassion on those in prison. You joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.” Thanks be to God for a knowing that Christ is worth more than the treasures of this world.
By describing his suffering, John showed that he understood what other Christians were experiencing. He was on the Isle of Patmos for the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus.
John was exiled for God’s Word and the testimony of Jesus. In Revelation 12:17, the devil wars with keepers of God’s commands (Law) and hold to the testimony of Jesus (Gospel). The devil does not want lost souls to hear such presentations and be saved.
In his book, “The Freedom of the Christian,” Luther explains “that the entire Scripture of God is divided into two parts: commands and promises.” Luther’s friend Philip Melanchthon wrote, “All of Scripture is either Law or Gospel.” [1] He also wrote, “The Law shows the disease, the Gospel the cure.” [2]
John was on one of the 237 inhabitable islands of Greece called Patmos. Jesus showed John how world empires would end in the very place where blueprints for world empires were created. “Greece is considered the cradle of Western civilization, being the birthplace of democracy, western philosophy, the Olympic games, western literature, political science, major scientific and mathematical principles, and Western drama.” [3]
Patmos spanned roughly 13 square miles of rocky terrain with sparse vegetation and harsh living conditions. Its rough landscape and distance from the mainland made it a natural fortress and an ideal isolated prison camp for the Roman Empire. [4]
Revelation 1:10: “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet.”
John was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day. Oh, that all people on earth were moving in the power of the Holy Spirit on the Lord’s Day.
“The Lord’s Day” refers to the first day of the week (Sunday), which Christians observe in remembrance of Christ’s resurrection. John was meditating on the Word of God under the gracious guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Those who want to enjoy fellowship with God on the Lord’s Day should turn their thoughts and affections away from worldly and earthly things and give their attention to worshipping God and meditating on His Word.
What did John hear? John heard a voice as of a trumpet. The heavenly watchman Jesus Christ was sounding the alarm and telling His people to prepare for a battle.
How does one prepare for tribulation? In 1 Peter 4:12-13, Peter advises us not to think of trials as strange: “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.”
We can ask the Lord to deliver us from tests and trials. Jesus taught us to pray in the Lord’s prayer, “Lead us not us into temptation but deliver us from evil.”
In Revelation 3:10, Jesus told the Christians in Philadelphia, “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.”
In Luke 21:36, Jesus said, “Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
In 1 Corinthians 10:13, Paul wrote, “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”
A young Corrie Ten Boom was afraid of death. Her father asked her: “When you and I go to Amsterdam, when do I give you your ticket?” Corrie replied: “Why, just before we get on the train.” Her father then explained: “Exactly. And our wise Father in heaven knows when we’re going to need things, too. Don’t run out ahead of Him, Corrie. When the time comes, you will look into your heart and find the strength you need—just in time.” [5]
In John 16:33, Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” In Matthew 28:20, Jesus promised us, “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.” In Psalm 23, our Good Shepherd brings us through the valley of the shadow of death to dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Much of the Bible was written under duress. Moses, who wrote the first five books of the Bible, had to face off with Pharaoh and lead hundreds of thousands of people through a wilderness for 40 years. King David, the prophets, the apostles and Jesus experienced persecution while bringing God’s Word to hungry souls.
Trials are often a writer’s greatest asset, acting as the raw material for deep and authentic storytelling. While painful to experience, adversity connects a writer to the kinds of situations people like to read but not talk about.
A common saying among writers is to “torture your protagonist.” Whenever a character finds a solution, the next outcome should create an even greater complication. Stories stall when things go well for the main character. Hardships show a character’s true nature and force them to grow. Overcoming severe trials makes the final victory satisfying.
The good news is that while some people shy away from troubled souls, the Lord draws near to them. In Psalm 34:18, it is written, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
In Romans 8:35, 37-39, Paul wrote, “ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
[1] Commonplaces 1521, 94.
[2] Commonplaces 2014: 91
[3] Enduring Word Commentary
[4] https://youtu.be/_2AlTpYrVhE?si=M3ViFV9c7wfisCM0
[5] The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom with John and Elizabeth Sherrill, (c) 1971
[5] The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom with John and Elizabeth Sherrill, (c) 1971
Attached is a link to a power point version of this article which I have
recorded on my YouTube channel:
Thursday, September 3, 2026
Glory to Jesus the Messiah – Revelation 1:6-8
Revelation 1:6: “He [Christ] has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
What a grand privilege to be included in God’s kingdom and to serve Jesus as a priest. A priest stands between God and humanity and forms a bridge so God can get to humanity and humanity can get to God. Jesus calls us to be bridges between heaven and earth. [1]
God made the promise of priesthood to Israel in Exodus 19:6, “You shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.” But He did not mean priests in the sense of taking over the physical work inside the tabernacle.
In 2 Chronicles 26:16-19, King Uzziah attempted to unlawfully combine the two offices of king and priest apart from God’s authorization to do so. Eighty priests withstood him, saying, “It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord, but for the priests… who are consecrated... Get out of the sanctuary, for you have trespassed!” The Lord struck Uzziah with leprosy.
In the New Testament, Jesus became our High Priest. He succeeded where the previous Aaronic priesthood failed, namely, He never sinned. Also, Jesus lives forever, whereas Old Testament high priests had only temporary lives on this earth. Jesus replaced animal sacrifices which had to be offered again and again, with one perfect sacrifice, namely Himself, so that whosoever believes in Him is saved to the uttermost. [2]
In Acts 1:8, Jesus told His disciples, “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. “ Then, in Acts 2:4, the Holy Spirit baptized them. The Holy Spirit authorized and empowered them to be priests unto God, and to reign on the earth.
In 1 Peter 2:5, Peter wrote, “You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” And in 1 Peter 2:9, “You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”
Christ making us kings and priests unto God is a stated fact in Revelation 5:10: “You have made us kings and priests to our God, and we shall reign on the earth.”
In what sense of the word, do New Testament “kings and priests” reign on the earth? We reign in a spiritual sense because God is with us and we are with Him.
In Luke 9:1, Jesus “called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases.” In Luke 10:17, the disciples joyfully reported to Jesus, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your Name.”
While serving proclaiming the Gospel in China and in Hong Kong, we too saw people delivered from demons in the Name of Jesus. We too fed hungry souls the Word of God. God did His kingly and priestly work through us.
In the Book of Acts, the Lord servants rebuked demons out of people and healed sickness. They fed people the Word of God.
“To Him [Christ] be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
Revelation 1:7: “Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.”
Just as Jesus ascended into the clouds after His appearance to His disciples, He will return to earth with the clouds. This time every eye will see Him.
Just as Jesus ascended into the clouds after His appearance to His disciples, He will return to earth with the clouds. This time every eye will see Him.
Revelation 1:7 is the first prophecy in Revelation that is yet to be fulfilled. It says, “Every eye will see Him.” When Jesus returns, He will come in clouds of glory.
Revelation 1:8: “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, says the Lord, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Colossian 1:17 says, “He [Jesus] is before all things, and by Him all things hold together.”
Jesus is not just a good man, a prophet or miracle worker. In Revelation 1:8, He reveals Himself as the Almighty who started and ends all things. He exists in the past, present, and future.
[1] Enduring Word Commentary
[2] Hebrews 7:11, 17, 24-27; 8:13
What a grand privilege to be included in God’s kingdom and to serve Jesus as a priest. A priest stands between God and humanity and forms a bridge so God can get to humanity and humanity can get to God. Jesus calls us to be bridges between heaven and earth. [1]
God made the promise of priesthood to Israel in Exodus 19:6, “You shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.” But He did not mean priests in the sense of taking over the physical work inside the tabernacle.
In 2 Chronicles 26:16-19, King Uzziah attempted to unlawfully combine the two offices of king and priest apart from God’s authorization to do so. Eighty priests withstood him, saying, “It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord, but for the priests… who are consecrated... Get out of the sanctuary, for you have trespassed!” The Lord struck Uzziah with leprosy.
In the New Testament, Jesus became our High Priest. He succeeded where the previous Aaronic priesthood failed, namely, He never sinned. Also, Jesus lives forever, whereas Old Testament high priests had only temporary lives on this earth. Jesus replaced animal sacrifices which had to be offered again and again, with one perfect sacrifice, namely Himself, so that whosoever believes in Him is saved to the uttermost. [2]
In Acts 1:8, Jesus told His disciples, “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. “ Then, in Acts 2:4, the Holy Spirit baptized them. The Holy Spirit authorized and empowered them to be priests unto God, and to reign on the earth.
In 1 Peter 2:5, Peter wrote, “You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” And in 1 Peter 2:9, “You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”
Christ making us kings and priests unto God is a stated fact in Revelation 5:10: “You have made us kings and priests to our God, and we shall reign on the earth.”
In what sense of the word, do New Testament “kings and priests” reign on the earth? We reign in a spiritual sense because God is with us and we are with Him.
In Luke 9:1, Jesus “called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases.” In Luke 10:17, the disciples joyfully reported to Jesus, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your Name.”
While serving proclaiming the Gospel in China and in Hong Kong, we too saw people delivered from demons in the Name of Jesus. We too fed hungry souls the Word of God. God did His kingly and priestly work through us.
In the Book of Acts, the Lord servants rebuked demons out of people and healed sickness. They fed people the Word of God.
“To Him [Christ] be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
Revelation 1:7: “Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.”
Just as Jesus ascended into the clouds after His appearance to His disciples, He will return to earth with the clouds. This time every eye will see Him.
Just as Jesus ascended into the clouds after His appearance to His disciples, He will return to earth with the clouds. This time every eye will see Him.
Revelation 1:7 is the first prophecy in Revelation that is yet to be fulfilled. It says, “Every eye will see Him.” When Jesus returns, He will come in clouds of glory.
Revelation 1:8: “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, says the Lord, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Colossian 1:17 says, “He [Jesus] is before all things, and by Him all things hold together.”
Jesus is not just a good man, a prophet or miracle worker. In Revelation 1:8, He reveals Himself as the Almighty who started and ends all things. He exists in the past, present, and future.
Therefore, anyone who tries to deny or remove any part of the glory and divine authority belonging to Christ dishonors Him greatly. Those who despise Him will be brought low, but those who honor Christ will be honored by Him.
[1] Enduring Word Commentary
[2] Hebrews 7:11, 17, 24-27; 8:13
Attached is a link to a power point version of this article which I have recorded on my YouTube channel:
Wednesday, September 2, 2026
Blessed is the Hearer and Keeper – Revelation 1:3-5
“Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.” Revelation 1:3
There are seven blessings recorded in the Book of Revelation.
Revelation 1:3: “Blessed is he that reads and they that hear the words of this prophecy and keep these things…”
Revelation 14:13: “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.”
Revelation 16:15: “Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.”
Revelation 19:9: “Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!”
Revelation 20:6: “Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection.”
Revelation 22:7: “Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”
Revelation 22:14: “Blessed are those who do His commandments.”
Revelation 1:3: “Blessed is he that reads and they that hear the words of this prophecy…”
In Matthew 13:16-17, Jesus said, “Blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear. For assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.”
Divine revelation is a gift from God.
Revelation 1:3: “Blessed is he that reads and they that hear the words of this prophecy and keep these things which are written therein…”
In Luke 2:19, “Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.”
In John 13:17, Jesus said, “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.”
Let us live circumspectly of Biblical prophecy.
Revelation 1:3: “Blessed is he that reads and they that hear the words of this prophecy and keep these things which are written therein, for the time is near.”
In Matthew 24:27, Jesus said that His return will happen as suddenly as lightning strikes. In Matthew 24:36-44, He said “Of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” People will be going about life as usual as in the days of Noah. He warned, “Be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
Revelation 1:4: “John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne.”
Revelation 1:4: “John, to the seven churches which are in Asia…” Note: The Lord addressing churches not Israel.
These churches were located in modern day Turkey. These churches were located in modern day Turkey. These churches likely consisted of Gentiles. How wonderful that a Jewish disciple wrote a book for the Lord and sent it to Gentile churches!
The early Church began with Jewish believers in Jerusalem, but by the time John wrote Revelation, the Gospel had spread extensively among the Gentiles. [1]
Revelation 1–3 addresses the churches because the immediate subject is Christ’s relationship with His Church during the present age. Israel is not the focus of these opening chapters. Israel does, however, become very important later in Revelation. [2]
Revelation 1:4: “…Grace to you and peace from Him...”
Revelation begins in Revelation 1:4 and ends with a blessing of grace in Revelation 22:21: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”
Amazing grace! In Ephesians 2:4-5, it is written, “Because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ... it is by grace that you have been saved.”
Here we have an apostolic blessing upon those who give proper attention to this divine revelation. This blessing seems intended to encourage us to study this book and not become discouraged because some parts are difficult to understand. Careful and attentive study will be rewarded. [3]
Revelation 1:4: “...From Him who is and who was and who is to come...” Revelation 4:8: “Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” Revelation 16:5: “You are righteous, O Lord, the One who is and who was and who is to be…” John blesses the churches in the Name of the One who is, and who was, and who is to come. He is eternal.
Revelation 1:4: “...And from the seven Spirits who are before His throne.” Seven Spirits speaks of His perfectness. The seven Spirits are characteristics of our Lord who is anointed by the Holy Spirit. [4]
The Holy Spirit is called the seven spirits. This does not mean that there are seven Holy Spirits. Rather, it speaks of the one perfect and infinite Spirit of God, who works through many different gifts and activities. He is before the throne because God works and governs all things through His Spirit. [5]
Revelation 1:5: “And from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood.”
The Lord Jesus Christ is likely mentioned after the Spirit because John is about to say much more about Christ.
Note: John had seen Christ on earth. In Revelation 19:11-16, John sees Christ returning in glory. This vision fulfilled what Jesus spoke of in Matthew 16:28 when He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”
In Revelation 1:5, Jesus is the faithful witness. Christ was eternally a witness to all the counsels of God. When He came into the world, He faithfully revealed God’s will to us. We can 100% depend upon Christ’s testimony because He cannot be deceived and cannot deceive us.
Jesus Christ is the faithful witness. In John 18:37, Jesus stood before the judgment seat of Governor Pontius Pilate, and said, “You say that I am a king, I was born for this, and I have come into the world for this: to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of truth listens to My voice.”
Jesus is the firstborn from the dead. Unlike others who falsely claimed to be prophets for God, He died and rose again and appeared to His followers to verify His claims. He is the only founder of a religion who did that! Jesus is the first person to rise from the dead and remain alive forevermore.
Jesus raised the daughter of Jairus, but she had to die again before entering heaven.
In Revelation 1:5, Jesus is “Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood.” This book is dedicated to Him who loved us, loosed us and lifted us.
Jesus especially revealed His love for us by dying on the cross for us and taking away our sins. “Thank You Jesus for dying for our sins.”
Have you ever washed a shirt that had an ink pen in the pocket? The stain would not come out. Sin is like that. The word for “wash” in Greek can mean to wash or to let loose. When Jesus commands our sins away, they must release us.
Some say, “I need to get cleaned up before I come to Jesus.” Does a mother wash a dirty child clean so she can love him? Or does she wash the dirty child clean because she loves him? Jesus washes our sins away because He loves us. He washed our sins away with His blood.
In 1 Corinthians 11:24-26, when Jesus had given thanks, He broke the bread and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.”
To Christ be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
[1-5] Material developed and edited from Matthew Henry’s Commentary
There are seven blessings recorded in the Book of Revelation.
Revelation 1:3: “Blessed is he that reads and they that hear the words of this prophecy and keep these things…”
Revelation 14:13: “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.”
Revelation 16:15: “Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.”
Revelation 19:9: “Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!”
Revelation 20:6: “Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection.”
Revelation 22:7: “Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”
Revelation 22:14: “Blessed are those who do His commandments.”
Revelation 1:3: “Blessed is he that reads and they that hear the words of this prophecy…”
In Matthew 13:16-17, Jesus said, “Blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear. For assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.”
Divine revelation is a gift from God.
Revelation 1:3: “Blessed is he that reads and they that hear the words of this prophecy and keep these things which are written therein…”
In Luke 2:19, “Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.”
In John 13:17, Jesus said, “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.”
Let us live circumspectly of Biblical prophecy.
Revelation 1:3: “Blessed is he that reads and they that hear the words of this prophecy and keep these things which are written therein, for the time is near.”
In Matthew 24:27, Jesus said that His return will happen as suddenly as lightning strikes. In Matthew 24:36-44, He said “Of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” People will be going about life as usual as in the days of Noah. He warned, “Be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
Revelation 1:4: “John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne.”
Revelation 1:4: “John, to the seven churches which are in Asia…” Note: The Lord addressing churches not Israel.
These churches were located in modern day Turkey. These churches were located in modern day Turkey. These churches likely consisted of Gentiles. How wonderful that a Jewish disciple wrote a book for the Lord and sent it to Gentile churches!
The early Church began with Jewish believers in Jerusalem, but by the time John wrote Revelation, the Gospel had spread extensively among the Gentiles. [1]
Revelation 1–3 addresses the churches because the immediate subject is Christ’s relationship with His Church during the present age. Israel is not the focus of these opening chapters. Israel does, however, become very important later in Revelation. [2]
Revelation 1:4: “…Grace to you and peace from Him...”
Revelation begins in Revelation 1:4 and ends with a blessing of grace in Revelation 22:21: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”
Amazing grace! In Ephesians 2:4-5, it is written, “Because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ... it is by grace that you have been saved.”
Here we have an apostolic blessing upon those who give proper attention to this divine revelation. This blessing seems intended to encourage us to study this book and not become discouraged because some parts are difficult to understand. Careful and attentive study will be rewarded. [3]
Revelation 1:4: “...From Him who is and who was and who is to come...” Revelation 4:8: “Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” Revelation 16:5: “You are righteous, O Lord, the One who is and who was and who is to be…” John blesses the churches in the Name of the One who is, and who was, and who is to come. He is eternal.
Revelation 1:4: “...And from the seven Spirits who are before His throne.” Seven Spirits speaks of His perfectness. The seven Spirits are characteristics of our Lord who is anointed by the Holy Spirit. [4]
The Holy Spirit is called the seven spirits. This does not mean that there are seven Holy Spirits. Rather, it speaks of the one perfect and infinite Spirit of God, who works through many different gifts and activities. He is before the throne because God works and governs all things through His Spirit. [5]
Revelation 1:5: “And from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood.”
The Lord Jesus Christ is likely mentioned after the Spirit because John is about to say much more about Christ.
Note: John had seen Christ on earth. In Revelation 19:11-16, John sees Christ returning in glory. This vision fulfilled what Jesus spoke of in Matthew 16:28 when He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”
In Revelation 1:5, Jesus is the faithful witness. Christ was eternally a witness to all the counsels of God. When He came into the world, He faithfully revealed God’s will to us. We can 100% depend upon Christ’s testimony because He cannot be deceived and cannot deceive us.
Jesus Christ is the faithful witness. In John 18:37, Jesus stood before the judgment seat of Governor Pontius Pilate, and said, “You say that I am a king, I was born for this, and I have come into the world for this: to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of truth listens to My voice.”
Jesus is the firstborn from the dead. Unlike others who falsely claimed to be prophets for God, He died and rose again and appeared to His followers to verify His claims. He is the only founder of a religion who did that! Jesus is the first person to rise from the dead and remain alive forevermore.
Jesus raised the daughter of Jairus, but she had to die again before entering heaven.
In Revelation 1:5, Jesus is “Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood.” This book is dedicated to Him who loved us, loosed us and lifted us.
Jesus especially revealed His love for us by dying on the cross for us and taking away our sins. “Thank You Jesus for dying for our sins.”
Have you ever washed a shirt that had an ink pen in the pocket? The stain would not come out. Sin is like that. The word for “wash” in Greek can mean to wash or to let loose. When Jesus commands our sins away, they must release us.
Some say, “I need to get cleaned up before I come to Jesus.” Does a mother wash a dirty child clean so she can love him? Or does she wash the dirty child clean because she loves him? Jesus washes our sins away because He loves us. He washed our sins away with His blood.
In 1 Corinthians 11:24-26, when Jesus had given thanks, He broke the bread and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.”
To Christ be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
[1-5] Material developed and edited from Matthew Henry’s Commentary
Attached is a link to a power point version of this article which I have recorded on my YouTube channel:
Tuesday, September 1, 2026
The Revelation of Jesus Christ – Revelation 1:1-2
“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John.” Revelation 1:1
Thanks be to God! He reveals Himself to us via His Son Jesus Christ.
In Hebrews 1:1-4, it is written, “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.”
In Amos 3:7, it is written, “Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.”
In Daniel 2:28, it is written, “There is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream, and the visions of your head upon your bed.”
The Book of Revelation is the revelation of Jesus Christ. The whole Bible is a revelation from Christ because all divine revelation comes through Him and points to Him. Especially in these last days God has spoken to us by His Son. Christ, as King of His Church, has shown His church the rules and ways by which He will govern it. As the Prophet of the Church, He has also revealed the things that will happen in the future. [1]
Jesus helps finite-minded people to know God. In Matthew 11:25, Jesus prayed, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes.”
In Matthew 11:27, Jesus stated, “All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.”
The Book of Revelation is a revelation which God gave unto Christ. Although Christ is God and has life and light in Himself, He receives instructions from the Father in His role as Mediator between God and man. Our Lord Jesus is the great keeper and messenger of God’s revelation. Through Him, we learn what we may expect from God and what God expects from us. [2]
In Luke 24:32, a disciple of Jesus remarked, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scripture to us?”
In Luke 24:45, Jesus opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.”
Revelation 1:1 says that Christ sent and signified His revelation to John by His angel. God gave the revelation to Christ, and Christ used an angel to communicate it to the churches. [3]
In Acts 7:53, Stephen testified, “You received the Law by the dispensation of angels…” The Lord dispensed His angels to graciously bring His Word to people. Hebrews 2:2 says, “The Word spoken by angels was steadfast.”
How fitting that the last book of the Bible is entitled, “Revelation” which means to uncover, unveil, and reveal. Satan’s propaganda against God is strong because his time is short. He spreads lies against God and His people. Thus, we need Jesus Christ to reveal the truth to us.
Revelation 1:1 says that God gave this book to Jesus to share with His douloi. Douloi is the Greek word for bond slaves. Douloi are slaves of their own free will. They want to be bound to their Master! Being a douloi of Jesus is not bad because He takes care of His servants. He reveals truth to His servants that He does not reveal to others. [4]
“Shortly” is the ancient Greek phrase “en tachei” which means ‘quickly or suddenly coming to pass,’ indicating rapidity of execution after the beginning takes place. The idea is not that the event may occur soon, but that when it does, it will be sudden.” [5]
“He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, who bore witness to the Word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw.” Revelation 1:1-2
“He signified it by His angel to His servant John.” “Signified” or Sign-ified – Revelation is a books of signs. Signs of the time! [6]
After John received the revelation, he bore witness to the Word of God, the testimony of Jesus, and the things the Lord showed by way of divine visions. Revelation is the Word of God. It, like all Scripture, testifies to Jesus. In John 5:39, Jesus said, “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.” In Luke 24:44, Jesus said, “All things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.”
The Lord gave John visions of things to come. In Numbers 12:6, the Lord said, “If there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, make Myself known to him in a vision. I speak to him in a dream.” Many words of major and minor prophets came to them via visions. In the Gospels, Zechariah, Joseph and Mary received God’s Word via visions of angels. In Acts, there are words derived from angelic visions. These visions fulfilled God’s promise to Israel recorded in Joel 2:28.
The Book of Revelation is the testimony of the triumph of Jesus Christ over the devil. In the Book of Revelation, light triumphs over darkness. Christ’s Bride – the Church triumphs over Satan’s harlot – Babylon. Revelation gives us a general understanding of how God’s providence and government will work in and around His Church. [7]
John faithfully recorded what was shown to him. Everything came from God and was the testimony of Jesus. John added nothing to God’s revelation, and he left nothing out that God had shown him. He faithfully declared the purposes and counsels of God.
“Thank You Lord Jesus Christ, King of kings and Lord of lords for revealing to us the Father, and for speaking to us concerning the things that are to shortly come to pass.”
[1-3] Material developed and edited from Matthew Henry’s Commentary
[4-7] Enduring Word Commentary
Attached is a link to a power point version of this article which I have recorded on my YouTube channel:
Thanks be to God! He reveals Himself to us via His Son Jesus Christ.
In Hebrews 1:1-4, it is written, “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.”
In Amos 3:7, it is written, “Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.”
In Daniel 2:28, it is written, “There is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream, and the visions of your head upon your bed.”
The Book of Revelation is the revelation of Jesus Christ. The whole Bible is a revelation from Christ because all divine revelation comes through Him and points to Him. Especially in these last days God has spoken to us by His Son. Christ, as King of His Church, has shown His church the rules and ways by which He will govern it. As the Prophet of the Church, He has also revealed the things that will happen in the future. [1]
Jesus helps finite-minded people to know God. In Matthew 11:25, Jesus prayed, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes.”
In Matthew 11:27, Jesus stated, “All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.”
The Book of Revelation is a revelation which God gave unto Christ. Although Christ is God and has life and light in Himself, He receives instructions from the Father in His role as Mediator between God and man. Our Lord Jesus is the great keeper and messenger of God’s revelation. Through Him, we learn what we may expect from God and what God expects from us. [2]
In Luke 24:32, a disciple of Jesus remarked, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scripture to us?”
In Luke 24:45, Jesus opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.”
Revelation 1:1 says that Christ sent and signified His revelation to John by His angel. God gave the revelation to Christ, and Christ used an angel to communicate it to the churches. [3]
In Acts 7:53, Stephen testified, “You received the Law by the dispensation of angels…” The Lord dispensed His angels to graciously bring His Word to people. Hebrews 2:2 says, “The Word spoken by angels was steadfast.”
How fitting that the last book of the Bible is entitled, “Revelation” which means to uncover, unveil, and reveal. Satan’s propaganda against God is strong because his time is short. He spreads lies against God and His people. Thus, we need Jesus Christ to reveal the truth to us.
Revelation 1:1 says that God gave this book to Jesus to share with His douloi. Douloi is the Greek word for bond slaves. Douloi are slaves of their own free will. They want to be bound to their Master! Being a douloi of Jesus is not bad because He takes care of His servants. He reveals truth to His servants that He does not reveal to others. [4]
“Shortly” is the ancient Greek phrase “en tachei” which means ‘quickly or suddenly coming to pass,’ indicating rapidity of execution after the beginning takes place. The idea is not that the event may occur soon, but that when it does, it will be sudden.” [5]
“He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, who bore witness to the Word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw.” Revelation 1:1-2
“He signified it by His angel to His servant John.” “Signified” or Sign-ified – Revelation is a books of signs. Signs of the time! [6]
After John received the revelation, he bore witness to the Word of God, the testimony of Jesus, and the things the Lord showed by way of divine visions. Revelation is the Word of God. It, like all Scripture, testifies to Jesus. In John 5:39, Jesus said, “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.” In Luke 24:44, Jesus said, “All things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.”
The Lord gave John visions of things to come. In Numbers 12:6, the Lord said, “If there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, make Myself known to him in a vision. I speak to him in a dream.” Many words of major and minor prophets came to them via visions. In the Gospels, Zechariah, Joseph and Mary received God’s Word via visions of angels. In Acts, there are words derived from angelic visions. These visions fulfilled God’s promise to Israel recorded in Joel 2:28.
The Book of Revelation is the testimony of the triumph of Jesus Christ over the devil. In the Book of Revelation, light triumphs over darkness. Christ’s Bride – the Church triumphs over Satan’s harlot – Babylon. Revelation gives us a general understanding of how God’s providence and government will work in and around His Church. [7]
John faithfully recorded what was shown to him. Everything came from God and was the testimony of Jesus. John added nothing to God’s revelation, and he left nothing out that God had shown him. He faithfully declared the purposes and counsels of God.
“Thank You Lord Jesus Christ, King of kings and Lord of lords for revealing to us the Father, and for speaking to us concerning the things that are to shortly come to pass.”
[1-3] Material developed and edited from Matthew Henry’s Commentary
[4-7] Enduring Word Commentary
Monday, August 31, 2026
Hallelujah – Psalm 150
“Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary! Praise Him in His mighty firmament!” Psalm 150:1
Do we go somewhere special to sing God’s praise? Psalm 150 says to “Praise Him in His sanctuary.” This speaks of putting feet to our confession that God is worthy of our praise. Some people spend a great deal of money on tickets to go to sporting events and concerts. The Lord is worthy of the greatest following. No one’s mighty acts can compare with His.
Where better can God be praised than where He especially reveals His glory and gives His grace? [1] Praise the Lord for houses of worship where people make His praise glorious!
Psalm 150 says to praise God “in His mighty firmament.” The heavens display God’s glory through their vastness, brightness, and beauty. The heavens impact the earth. The angels who dwell in heaven can be thought of as leading us in this great work of praise. [2]
“Praise Him for His mighty acts! Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!” Psalm 150:2
We should praise God Almighty. We see His power in creation, in His care and control of the world, and in the salvation He provides. Let us praise Him for using His might to fight for us. [3]
When we praise people, we often exaggerate their goodness, but it is impossible to exaggerate God’s goodness? He deserves our highest praise. [4]
“Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet! Praise Him with the lute and harp! Praise Him with the timbrel and dance! Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes! Praise Him with loud cymbals! Praise Him with clashing cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!” Psalm 150:3-6
What tools do we use to praise God? Do we have tools to do other tasks that are of interest to us? What about tools or instruments to praise the Lord?
How should we praise God? Psalm 150:3-6 speaks of the instruments that Biblical worshippers used to praise the Lord. They used stringed and percussion instruments as well as their bodies in dance and their voices with singing to praise the Lord.
Our praise should be united and harmonious. Musical instruments sound their best when they play together in harmony rather than compete to be the center of attention. Romans 15:6 speaks of glorifying God “with one mind and one mouth.”
Let us, like musical instruments, offer to God harmony! Our worship should not be careless or halfhearted. The music God values most is praise from a heart that loves Him.
Who should praise God? Everyone who has breath should praise the Lord. In Revelation 5:13, John saw a vision in which “every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth” gave praise to God. However, in Genesis 2:7, God gave to people life in a special way when He “breathed into Adam’s nostrils the breath of life,” and he became a “living soul.” As long as we have breath, let us praise the Lord. Let our praise of Him be as natural as breathing. Every breath brings us closer to our final breath here on earth. Let us prepare to meet Him! [5]
The first sections of Psalms, according to the Hebrew division, end with “Amen and Amen.” The fourth ends with “Amen, Hallelujah.” The fifth and final section ends simply with “Hallelujah.” This is fitting because the last six psalms are completely devoted to praising God. There is no complaint or request in them—only praise. [6]
The Book of Psalms, more than any other book in the Bible, urges us to praise the Lord. Psalm 150 is a glimpse of heaven. In heaven, we will totally enjoy loving and praising the Lord. [7]
Our English word, “Hallelujah” is based on the Hebrew words for “praise the Lord!” “Hallelujah” is the refrain from heaven in Revelation 19:1 after the evil Babylonian empire is destroyed. [8]
Babylon is a code word for a kingdom whose worship directed toward self rather than to God. This is the nature of all who are under the influence of Satan. Satan wants the worship that belongs to God directed toward him. It will be a glorious day when the devil is cast into the Lake that burns with fire and brimstone. After that day, he will never interfere or interrupt the praise of God’s people again. Hallelujah!
[1-8] Material developed and edited from Matthew Henry’s Commentary
Do we go somewhere special to sing God’s praise? Psalm 150 says to “Praise Him in His sanctuary.” This speaks of putting feet to our confession that God is worthy of our praise. Some people spend a great deal of money on tickets to go to sporting events and concerts. The Lord is worthy of the greatest following. No one’s mighty acts can compare with His.
Where better can God be praised than where He especially reveals His glory and gives His grace? [1] Praise the Lord for houses of worship where people make His praise glorious!
Psalm 150 says to praise God “in His mighty firmament.” The heavens display God’s glory through their vastness, brightness, and beauty. The heavens impact the earth. The angels who dwell in heaven can be thought of as leading us in this great work of praise. [2]
“Praise Him for His mighty acts! Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!” Psalm 150:2
We should praise God Almighty. We see His power in creation, in His care and control of the world, and in the salvation He provides. Let us praise Him for using His might to fight for us. [3]
When we praise people, we often exaggerate their goodness, but it is impossible to exaggerate God’s goodness? He deserves our highest praise. [4]
“Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet! Praise Him with the lute and harp! Praise Him with the timbrel and dance! Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes! Praise Him with loud cymbals! Praise Him with clashing cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!” Psalm 150:3-6
What tools do we use to praise God? Do we have tools to do other tasks that are of interest to us? What about tools or instruments to praise the Lord?
How should we praise God? Psalm 150:3-6 speaks of the instruments that Biblical worshippers used to praise the Lord. They used stringed and percussion instruments as well as their bodies in dance and their voices with singing to praise the Lord.
Our praise should be united and harmonious. Musical instruments sound their best when they play together in harmony rather than compete to be the center of attention. Romans 15:6 speaks of glorifying God “with one mind and one mouth.”
Let us, like musical instruments, offer to God harmony! Our worship should not be careless or halfhearted. The music God values most is praise from a heart that loves Him.
Who should praise God? Everyone who has breath should praise the Lord. In Revelation 5:13, John saw a vision in which “every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth” gave praise to God. However, in Genesis 2:7, God gave to people life in a special way when He “breathed into Adam’s nostrils the breath of life,” and he became a “living soul.” As long as we have breath, let us praise the Lord. Let our praise of Him be as natural as breathing. Every breath brings us closer to our final breath here on earth. Let us prepare to meet Him! [5]
The first sections of Psalms, according to the Hebrew division, end with “Amen and Amen.” The fourth ends with “Amen, Hallelujah.” The fifth and final section ends simply with “Hallelujah.” This is fitting because the last six psalms are completely devoted to praising God. There is no complaint or request in them—only praise. [6]
The Book of Psalms, more than any other book in the Bible, urges us to praise the Lord. Psalm 150 is a glimpse of heaven. In heaven, we will totally enjoy loving and praising the Lord. [7]
Our English word, “Hallelujah” is based on the Hebrew words for “praise the Lord!” “Hallelujah” is the refrain from heaven in Revelation 19:1 after the evil Babylonian empire is destroyed. [8]
Babylon is a code word for a kingdom whose worship directed toward self rather than to God. This is the nature of all who are under the influence of Satan. Satan wants the worship that belongs to God directed toward him. It will be a glorious day when the devil is cast into the Lake that burns with fire and brimstone. After that day, he will never interfere or interrupt the praise of God’s people again. Hallelujah!
[1-8] Material developed and edited from Matthew Henry’s Commentary
Sunday, August 30, 2026
Battles Won by Praising the Lord – Psalm 149
“Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, and His praise in the assembly of saints.” Psalm 149:1
Praise the Lord for those who compose new songs to the Lord. Praise the Lord for musicians who fine tune their skills and rehearse frequently, and yield all of this to the Lord for His glory. Praise the Lord for lyrics that help us express our hearts to God, and His heart toward us.
I especially appreciate songs that recount the compassion of Christ to save us from our sin.
Praise the Lord for the freedom to assemble together and worship Him. Praise the Lord for places of worship in our neighborhood. Praise the Lord for people who put time, treasure and talent into building and maintaining places of worship in our communities.
God reveals His presence as saints assemble and worship Him. As the number of worshippers increases, the assembly begins to reflect worship in heaven. The primary reason we gather together as God’s people is to worship and praise Him. [1]
“Let Israel rejoice in their Maker. Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.” Psalm 149:2
God identified Israel as His creation, His children and His kingdom. His presence among them set them apart from the other nations. Thus, Israel has a good reason to rejoice in God and be joyful in their heavenly King. [2]
The original wording says, “Let Israel rejoice in his Makers.” Some understand the plural “Makers” as pointing toward the mystery of the Trinity, since God said, “Let us make man.” [3]
We express our joy in the Lord by verbally praising Him among people. Our praise is a profession of delight in God’s character, and our relationship with Him. It is our privilege to be among those who rejoice in God. [4]
Jesus Christ is our King. Zechariah 9:9 is a prophecy about Jesus: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! for behold thy King comes.” Jesus is our King, and He is the King above all other kings.
“Let them praise His Name with the dance. Let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp.” Psalm 149:3
Dance, timbrel, and harp were used to praise the Lord in the Old Testament. The first recorded incident of a timbrel being used appears in Exodus 15:20. Miriam led the women of Israel to dance to the Lord and play timbrels after the Lord helped Israel to escape from Pharoah’s army. In 2 Samuel 6:14, David danced to the Lord when the Ark of the Covenant returned from its captivity among Israel’s foes. The first incident of someone playing a harp is documented in Genesis 4:21: “Jubal... was the father of all those who play the harp and flute.”
“For the Lord takes pleasure in His people. He will beautify the humble with salvation.” Psalm 149:4
The Lord takes pleasure in our worship, our well-being, and in our fellowship with Him. What an encouraging thought! God delights in us. [5]
“He will beautify the humble.” Humble refers to people who realize that their existence, their wholeness and their eternity totally depends on God’s grace, forgiveness and love for them, not any works that they can do to impress Him.
Proud people tend to mock and mistreat humble people, but God beautifies them. God helps onlookers to see that He honors those who honor Him. In John 12:26, Jesus said, “If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.”
God beautifies the humble with salvation. Sometimes this includes earthly deliverance. When God dramatically delivers His people, those who were once lowly can be lifted up and honored. As Psalms 68:13 says, “Though you lie down among the sheepfolds, you will be like the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.” [6]
But the greatest salvation is eternal salvation. On the day when Christ returns, the righteous will be glorified and “shine forth as the sun.” Because we have this hope, we can praise God even during the darkest times. [7]
“Let the saints be joyful in glory. Let them sing aloud on their beds.” Psalm 149:5
At one point in my life, I was placed in charge of a ministry that was deeply in debt and the church building was run down and in need of many repairs. When I would lay down to sleep at night, my mind would race with thoughts of all of the problems that I was not able to resolve that day. A that time, the Lord taught me to refocus my mind on my blessings that day. Did I eat, did I have clothing, did I have a bed to sleep on underneath a roof in a house, and did I still have a wife by my side? Yes, I did. “Thank You Lord!” Every night I went to sleep thanking the Lord for what I have instead of thinking about unfinished business.
In Psalms 119:62, David wrote, “At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You, because of Your righteous judgments.” David thanked God for making His Word to be a reality in his life.
“Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand.” Psalm 149:6
We are to praise God while we fight the battles He commands us to fight. David was famous for worshipping the Lord, but he was also the commander of Israel’s army. In 2 Samuel 1:17-18, “David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son, and he told them to teach the children of Judah the Song of the Bow.” He wrote a song about what was memorable and valuable about Saul and Jonathan after they died in battle rather than focus on evil.
“To execute vengeance on the nations, and punishments on the peoples! To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron! To execute on them the written judgment—this honor have all His saints.” Psalm 149:7-9
David and the armies of Israel fought battles that God had commanded them to fight. They defeated nations that had oppressed God’s people. 2 Samuel 8:1 says, “After this it came to pass that David attacked the Philistines and subdued them.” [8]
God’s judgment was carried out through people such as Joshua against the kings of Canaan, Gideon against the princes of Midian, and Samuel against Agag. In 2 Chronicles 20:23, Jehoshaphat's army went into battle with “the high praises of God in their mouth and a two-edged sword in their hand” and God gave them the victory. [9]
Someone might wonder how humble people defeated kings and nations. The answer is found in the phrase “the judgment written.” They were not acting from personal hatred or a desire for revenge. They carried out God’s specific commands and judgment. In Revelation 17:16-17, the kings who destroy Babylon “execute the judgment written.” [10]
However, we must not use such passages to justify the use of lethal force to gleefully destroy people. In Hebrews 4:12, the Word of God is called a “two-edged sword” and in Ephesians 6:17, the Word of God is called “the sword of the Spirit.” Christ urges us to use the sword of His Word to spread His Gospel that saves souls not to use swords made of steel to send them to hell. While we have “the high praises of God” in our mouths, we should also have the olive branch of peace in our hand. [11]
The first preachers of the Gospel used God’s Word to achieve great spiritual victories. The false gods of nations were cast down when people who worshiped them converted to Christ. Even powerful people were shaken by God’s Word, such as Felix when Paul preached to him. [12]
God’s Word helps us defeat personal sin. We use His Word to cut down sinful desires. God’s Word puts to death selfish ego and helps us to love God and our neighbor. “This honor have all the saints.” Every believer can experience victory over sin through the power of Christ. [13]
Complete victory will happen when Christ returns to judge the world. Jude 1:14-15 says that “the Lord” will come “with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment upon all.” 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10 states that when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, He will take flaming fire vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey His Gospel. “These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe.”
Kings and rulers who reject Christ’s authority will not be able to escape His final judgment. In 1 Corinthians 6:2, it is written, “Do you not know that the saints will judge the world?” [14] So we believers in Christ will be in total agreement with Him when He makes His final judgment.
The Book of Psalms begins with a word of encouragement to meditate on God’s Word day and night. As the Book of Psalms comes to a close, it speaks of praising the Lord for the victories that He gives to us who trust in Him. Praise the Lord!
[1-14] Material developed and edited from Matthew Henry’s Commentary
Praise the Lord for those who compose new songs to the Lord. Praise the Lord for musicians who fine tune their skills and rehearse frequently, and yield all of this to the Lord for His glory. Praise the Lord for lyrics that help us express our hearts to God, and His heart toward us.
I especially appreciate songs that recount the compassion of Christ to save us from our sin.
Praise the Lord for the freedom to assemble together and worship Him. Praise the Lord for places of worship in our neighborhood. Praise the Lord for people who put time, treasure and talent into building and maintaining places of worship in our communities.
God reveals His presence as saints assemble and worship Him. As the number of worshippers increases, the assembly begins to reflect worship in heaven. The primary reason we gather together as God’s people is to worship and praise Him. [1]
“Let Israel rejoice in their Maker. Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.” Psalm 149:2
God identified Israel as His creation, His children and His kingdom. His presence among them set them apart from the other nations. Thus, Israel has a good reason to rejoice in God and be joyful in their heavenly King. [2]
The original wording says, “Let Israel rejoice in his Makers.” Some understand the plural “Makers” as pointing toward the mystery of the Trinity, since God said, “Let us make man.” [3]
We express our joy in the Lord by verbally praising Him among people. Our praise is a profession of delight in God’s character, and our relationship with Him. It is our privilege to be among those who rejoice in God. [4]
Jesus Christ is our King. Zechariah 9:9 is a prophecy about Jesus: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! for behold thy King comes.” Jesus is our King, and He is the King above all other kings.
“Let them praise His Name with the dance. Let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp.” Psalm 149:3
Dance, timbrel, and harp were used to praise the Lord in the Old Testament. The first recorded incident of a timbrel being used appears in Exodus 15:20. Miriam led the women of Israel to dance to the Lord and play timbrels after the Lord helped Israel to escape from Pharoah’s army. In 2 Samuel 6:14, David danced to the Lord when the Ark of the Covenant returned from its captivity among Israel’s foes. The first incident of someone playing a harp is documented in Genesis 4:21: “Jubal... was the father of all those who play the harp and flute.”
“For the Lord takes pleasure in His people. He will beautify the humble with salvation.” Psalm 149:4
The Lord takes pleasure in our worship, our well-being, and in our fellowship with Him. What an encouraging thought! God delights in us. [5]
“He will beautify the humble.” Humble refers to people who realize that their existence, their wholeness and their eternity totally depends on God’s grace, forgiveness and love for them, not any works that they can do to impress Him.
Proud people tend to mock and mistreat humble people, but God beautifies them. God helps onlookers to see that He honors those who honor Him. In John 12:26, Jesus said, “If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.”
God beautifies the humble with salvation. Sometimes this includes earthly deliverance. When God dramatically delivers His people, those who were once lowly can be lifted up and honored. As Psalms 68:13 says, “Though you lie down among the sheepfolds, you will be like the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.” [6]
But the greatest salvation is eternal salvation. On the day when Christ returns, the righteous will be glorified and “shine forth as the sun.” Because we have this hope, we can praise God even during the darkest times. [7]
“Let the saints be joyful in glory. Let them sing aloud on their beds.” Psalm 149:5
At one point in my life, I was placed in charge of a ministry that was deeply in debt and the church building was run down and in need of many repairs. When I would lay down to sleep at night, my mind would race with thoughts of all of the problems that I was not able to resolve that day. A that time, the Lord taught me to refocus my mind on my blessings that day. Did I eat, did I have clothing, did I have a bed to sleep on underneath a roof in a house, and did I still have a wife by my side? Yes, I did. “Thank You Lord!” Every night I went to sleep thanking the Lord for what I have instead of thinking about unfinished business.
In Psalms 119:62, David wrote, “At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You, because of Your righteous judgments.” David thanked God for making His Word to be a reality in his life.
“Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand.” Psalm 149:6
We are to praise God while we fight the battles He commands us to fight. David was famous for worshipping the Lord, but he was also the commander of Israel’s army. In 2 Samuel 1:17-18, “David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son, and he told them to teach the children of Judah the Song of the Bow.” He wrote a song about what was memorable and valuable about Saul and Jonathan after they died in battle rather than focus on evil.
“To execute vengeance on the nations, and punishments on the peoples! To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron! To execute on them the written judgment—this honor have all His saints.” Psalm 149:7-9
David and the armies of Israel fought battles that God had commanded them to fight. They defeated nations that had oppressed God’s people. 2 Samuel 8:1 says, “After this it came to pass that David attacked the Philistines and subdued them.” [8]
God’s judgment was carried out through people such as Joshua against the kings of Canaan, Gideon against the princes of Midian, and Samuel against Agag. In 2 Chronicles 20:23, Jehoshaphat's army went into battle with “the high praises of God in their mouth and a two-edged sword in their hand” and God gave them the victory. [9]
Someone might wonder how humble people defeated kings and nations. The answer is found in the phrase “the judgment written.” They were not acting from personal hatred or a desire for revenge. They carried out God’s specific commands and judgment. In Revelation 17:16-17, the kings who destroy Babylon “execute the judgment written.” [10]
However, we must not use such passages to justify the use of lethal force to gleefully destroy people. In Hebrews 4:12, the Word of God is called a “two-edged sword” and in Ephesians 6:17, the Word of God is called “the sword of the Spirit.” Christ urges us to use the sword of His Word to spread His Gospel that saves souls not to use swords made of steel to send them to hell. While we have “the high praises of God” in our mouths, we should also have the olive branch of peace in our hand. [11]
The first preachers of the Gospel used God’s Word to achieve great spiritual victories. The false gods of nations were cast down when people who worshiped them converted to Christ. Even powerful people were shaken by God’s Word, such as Felix when Paul preached to him. [12]
God’s Word helps us defeat personal sin. We use His Word to cut down sinful desires. God’s Word puts to death selfish ego and helps us to love God and our neighbor. “This honor have all the saints.” Every believer can experience victory over sin through the power of Christ. [13]
Complete victory will happen when Christ returns to judge the world. Jude 1:14-15 says that “the Lord” will come “with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment upon all.” 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10 states that when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, He will take flaming fire vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey His Gospel. “These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe.”
Kings and rulers who reject Christ’s authority will not be able to escape His final judgment. In 1 Corinthians 6:2, it is written, “Do you not know that the saints will judge the world?” [14] So we believers in Christ will be in total agreement with Him when He makes His final judgment.
The Book of Psalms begins with a word of encouragement to meditate on God’s Word day and night. As the Book of Psalms comes to a close, it speaks of praising the Lord for the victories that He gives to us who trust in Him. Praise the Lord!
[1-14] Material developed and edited from Matthew Henry’s Commentary
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