The Lamb is Worthy to Open the Scroll – Revelation 5:6-14

Revelation 5:6-7: “And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.”

Please refer to my Bible notes on Revelation chapter four for extensive cross-references and explanations about the four living creatures, and the twenty-four elders.

In a vision, John sees God the Father is on His throne and Jesus the Son amidst the four living creatures and twenty-four elders. Previously, in chapters 1-3, Jesus appeared in His glorious form with white hair, eyes a flame, bright clothing, a golden sash about His chest and feet like burnished brass. He displayed His glory and power. In this chapter, Jesus appears as a Lamb who had been slain, and yet is alive.

In Revelation 6:12-17, people of the world experience things like the sun and moon darkened, stars falling, an earthquake, the sky in upheaval, and mountains and islands disappearing. Their response is to hide themselves in caves and behind rocks of mountains, and exclaim, “Hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?” So, they too, see God the Father on His throne and Jesus the Son as a Lamb in His midst.

In Revelation 7:10, John sees “a great multitude which no one could number.” They are from every geographical location and people group from earth. They cry out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

In John 1:29, John the Baptist said of Jesus, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

In Isaiah 53:7, Isaiah prophesied of the Messiah 700 years before His arrival, saying, “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. He was like a Lamb led to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth.”

John the Apostle sees Jesus with “seven horns and seven eyes which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.” The Lamb is omnipotent. Seven horns suggest perfect and complete power. The Lamb is omniscient. Seven eyes suggest perfect and complete knowing. In

Zechariah 4:10, the Lord explained to Zechariah that the seven eyes of the Lord, “scan to and fro throughout the whole earth.”

In Daniel 7:9-10, Jesus is described as the Ancient of Days and in Revelation 5:6-7, He is the Lamb who had been slain but is alive. In both passages, a scroll is about to be opened. In Daniel 7:10, Daniel sees more than one scroll, in Revelation 5:7, John is focused on one scroll. This is because this particular scroll is relevant to what is to be revealed in Revelation 6-16.

In Revelation 5:1, 7, and Ezekiel 2:9-10, the scroll is held out from God’s hand. It is written on both sides. In Ezekiel 2:10, the words on it are “lamentations, mourning and woes.” In Revelation chapters 6-16, as various seals from the scroll are opened wars, famine, plague and death are released on those who refuse to repent and give God glory. Their need for repentance is mentioned in Revelation 9:20-21. Their need to repent and give God glory is mentioned in Revelation 16:9.

Revelation 5:8: “Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.”

The moment the Lamb takes the scroll, the four cherubim and twenty-four elders bow and worship Him. Various cults deny the deity of Christ, but it would be blasphemy for anyone to worship Jesus Christ if He was not God.

Heavens does not lack musicians. Worship in heaven is accompanied with harp music.

In Revelation 14:1-2, John see the Lamb (Jesus) standing on Mount Zion (Jerusalem) with 144,000 servants with His Father’s Name on their foreheads. At the same time, he hears “a voice from heaven,” and “the sound of harpists playing their harps.” Music and ministry go together.

In Revelation 15:1, it is written that after seven angels release the seven last plagues, the wrath of God is complete. This scene is reminiscent of Joshua 6:1-20, where the priests of the Lord marched around the kingdom of Jericho (representing the kingdom of the ungodly) seven times and blew trumpets and the mighty walls of Jericho collapsed. At this point, John sees those who got the victory over the beast standing on a sea of glass, having harps of God.

The elders present the prayers of the saints to God. God regards their prayer as a sweet-smelling incense, as if set in precious golden bowls.

In Revelation 8:3-5, an angel stands before a golden altar of incense and offers incense mixed with the prayers of all the saints to God. The smoke of the incense and the prayers of the saints ascend before God. The angel throws a censer filled with fire from the altar to the earth, and it causes noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake on earth.

In Psalm 141:2, David wrote, “Let my prayer be set before You as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.” Incense has a pleasing aroma. So does the prayers of God’s people to God.

Incense needs fire to make it work. So do our prayers. In Acts 2:3-4, tongues of fire appeared on the heads of the disciples as the Holy Spirit filled them on the Day of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit is the fire that ignites the incense of our prayer life.

Revelation 5:9-10: “And they sang a new song, saying: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, And have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth.’”

They honor the Lamb for price of redemption: “For You were slain.”
They honor the Lamb for the work of redemption: “You redeemed us.”
They honor the Lamb for the destination of redemption: “You redeemed us to God.”
They honor the Lamb for the cost of redemption: “By Your blood.”
They honor the Lamb for the scope of redemption: “Every tribe, tongue, people and nation.”
They honor the Lamb for the outcome of redemption: “Made us kings and priests to our God.” [1]

In Colossian 2:15, Jesus Christ is the Redeemer “who disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it (the cross).” In John 19:28-30, while on the cross, Jesus cried out, “It is finished.” When Jesus died on the cross, He removed the devil’s gateway to destroy us. Jesus disarmed the devil by removing our sin.

In Luke 19:27, wrath comes upon those who said of Messiah, “We will not have this King to reign over us.” Wrath is stored up for those who reject the Word of God. In John 5:22, Jesus said, “The Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son.”

Jesus saves repentant sinners and judges unrepentant sinners. Some used His Name to curse and others to bless. When we die, we either meet Jesus as a Lamb or a Lion.

Look at your knees. Stick out your tongue. Philippians 2:10-11 states that every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God our Father.

Some politicians persecute Jesus, but they cannot dethrone Him. In Psalm 2:1-4, God sits in heaven and laughs at the coup attempts of kings to overthrow Him. It is impossible to dethrone God. In Revelation 12:7-12, the devil tried and failed.

Revelation 5:11-12: “Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand time ten thousands, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice: ‘Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!’”

Hundreds of year before John received His vision of the Lamb receiving the scroll while many thousands worshipped Him, Daniel received a similar vision of the Ancient of Days. In Daniel 7:9-10, Daniel saw thousands and thousands ministering to Him. “Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The court was seated, and the scrolls [סִפְרִ֥ין] were opened.” These two passages speak of the same Messiah.

The host of heaven are preparing for war on evil. Countless angels join in, declaring the worthiness of the Lamb because of the redemption He accomplished. They don’t mumble praises to God. They praise Him loudly. Millions praise God! They give Him glory and honor!

Revelation 5:13-14: “And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: ‘Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!’ Then the four living creatures said, ‘Amen!’ And the 24 elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.”

Wherever Jesus is present and working, there is praise and worship.

Why would anyone not want to honor Christ? In 2 Corinthians 4:4, the devil “has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”

The proper response to the good news of Jesus Christ according to Romans 10:9-10 is to believe in Him with your heart and to profess that Him with your mouth. He saves those who do so.

In Psalm 49:8-15, David wrote, “The redemption of their souls is costly... that he should continue to live eternally, and not see the Pit.” “Their inner thought is that their houses will last forever, their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names. Nevertheless man, though in honor, does not remain; he is like the beasts that perish.” “But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave, for He shall receive me.”

According to Psalm 50:3-5, God keeps His promises: “Our God shall come and shall not keep silent; a fire shall devour before Him, and it shall be very tempestuous all around Him. He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that He may judge His people: ‘Gather My saints together to Me, those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.’”

Thus, it is good to humbly pray to God as David did in Psalm 51:10-12: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and uphold me by Your generous Spirit.” Amen!


[1] Notes from a sermon by Adrian Rogers

Who is Worthy to Open the Scroll – Revelation 5:1-5

Revelation 5:1: “And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals.”

In Exodus 3:7-8, the Lord did not hand Moses a scroll with woes written on it for Egypt, but He said to Moses, “I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. So, I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land…”

The Egyptians whipped, despised, insulted, cheated, and slew Israel without pity until the Lord intervened with mighty signs and miracles. God delivered His people from their oppressors.

In Exodus 7:5, the Lord said to Moses, “The Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch out My hand on Egypt and bring out the children of Israel from among them.”

Revelation 1:1 states this book is, “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.”

In Revelation 1:2, John states that he is bearing witness to the Word of God, to the testimony of Jesus Christ and to all things which he saw.

In Revelation 5:1, John sees a scroll that is full of words in the right hand of God. These words have been sealed up. Their meaning has not yet been revealed. The events of Revelation chapters 6-16 are contained in the scroll. It is time to open the scroll and reveal its judgments.

In Ezekiel 2:9-3:1, the Lord revealed to Ezekiel a scroll that had writing on the inside and on the outside. The words on the scroll were lamentations, mourning and woe. The Lord said to Ezekiel, “Son of man, eat what you find; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.”

In Revelation 10:8-11, John sees a little book (βιβλαριδιον) in the hand of a mighty one. He is told by a voice out of heaven, “Go, take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the earth.” The angel said to John, “Take and eat it! It will make your stomach bitter, but it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth.” So, John took it out of the angel’s hand and ate it. It was sweet to his mouth, but bitter to his stomach. And then the angel said to John, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.”

John had already wrote down many woes in Revelation chapters 6-9, now he has more woes to proclaim. The woes are not good news for those who love the kingdoms of this world. The woes reveal how Satan and those who serve his purposes will ultimately be cast into a lake of burning fire and brimstone, to be tormented day and night. Thus, God warns people via His prophets.

In Daniel 8:23-26, the Lord revealed that “in the latter time... when the transgressors have reached their fullness, a king shall arise with fierce features, who understands sinister schemes. “He shall cause deceit to prosper.” The Lord tells Daniel to, “seal up the vision, for it refers to many days in the future.” Hidden details of this vision are released in Revelation 12-13 when the Lord reveals to John details of Satan’s war with those who keep the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus. In Revelation 13:7, the Lord reveals to John a beast who is granted power “to make war with the saints and to overcome them.”

In Daniel 12:8-10, Daniel wrote, “Although I heard, I did not understand. Then I said, ‘My lord, what shall be the end of these things?’ And he said, ‘Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.”

In Jeremiah 32:9-15, before Jerusalem was destroyed by the King of Babylon, the Lord told Jeremiah to purchase land in the city because after Jerusalem was destroyed, it would be rebuilt. Jeremiah’s title deed to land in rebuilt Jerusalem is a scroll that contains good news for those who believe God’s Word. God will raze that which is defiled and raise that which is holy. In fact, Jeremiah’s name can either mean “raze” with a “z” (to destroy) or “raise” with a “s” (buildup or resurrect).

Revelation 5:2: “Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, ‘Who is worthy to open the scroll and to remove its seals?’”

“Who is worthy” is the resounding question that the strong angel asks. There is something important written on that scroll. Who can open it? Who can reveal its meaning?

The Lord does not reveal to hypocrites the meaning of the words on the scroll. In Isaiah 29:11, “The whole vision has become to you like the words of a scroll that is sealed, which men deliver to one who is literate, saying, ‘Read this, please.’ And he says, ‘I cannot, for it is sealed.’” In Isaiah 29:13-14, the Lord explained to His prophet, “Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but have removed their hearts far from Me... Therefore, behold, I will again do a marvelous work among this people... the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hidden.”

In some cases, God gives a prophecy at one point in time, but does not make its meaning clear to people until later time. The Lord said in Daniel 12:9, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.” In Revelation 10:4, John was not allowed to share what “seven thunders uttered.” He “was about to write,” but heard a voice say, “Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and do not write them.”

Revelation 5:3-4: “And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it. So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it.”

John wants the scroll to be unsealed. He is intrigued by what the Lord has already revealed to him. He has seen in the right hand of God a scroll with seven seals on it. He wants to know what the Word of the Lord is for the end times. He is weeping because it seems no one in heaven or earth is worthy to open it.

Revelation 5:5: “One of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to remove its seven seals.”

The Heavenly Father has entrusts His Word to His Son to reveal it. In Matthew 11:27, Jesus said, “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.” In John 12:49, Jesus said, “The Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak.”

The Lion of the tribe of Judah and the Root of David are references to Jesus the Messiah!

Hebrews 7:14 says, “For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah.”

The title, “Lion of the tribe of Judah” relates Jesus to a prophecy of the Messiah recorded in Genesis 49:9-10. “Judah is a lion’s whelp... The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh comes; and to Him shall be the obedience of the people.”

In Isaiah 31:4, the Lord said to Isaiah, “As a lion roars, and a young lion over his prey... so the Lord of hosts will come down to fight for Mount Zion and for its hill.” Jesus fulfilled this prophecy when He defeated the power of death and prevailed over it in His resurrection.

The lion is an image of strength, kingliness, vigilance. Dr. Adrian Rodgers said, “Jesus is a lamb to those who believe in Him but a lion to those who reject Him.”

The title, “Root of David” relates Jesus to prophecies of Messiah recorded in Isaiah 11:1, 10. “There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots.” “And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, who shall stand as a banner to the people; for the Gentiles shall seek Him, and His resting place shall be glorious.” While testifying for Jesus, Paul refers to Isaiah’s prophecy in Romans 15:12, “Again, Isaiah says: ‘There shall be a root of Jesse. He shall rise to reign over the Gentiles. In Him the Gentiles shall hope.”

In Revelation 22:16, Jesus says of Himself, “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.”

“Who is worthy to open the scroll?” “Who will reveal its meaning to us?” The resounding answer is our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Four Living Creatures – Revelation 4:5-11

Revelation 4:5: “And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thundering, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.”

God gave John a vision of His throne room in heaven. While there hears loud thunder and voices. He sees flashes of lightning! The visions of thunder and lightning contrast with the beauty and serenity of the emerald rainbow around God’s throne that he saw in Revelation 4:4.

In Exodus 19:16, when God was about to give the Law to Moses, there were thunderings, lightnings, and the sound of a very loud trumpet. Here in Revelation, the Lord is about to judge the world with truth and in righteousness in accordance with His Law.

In Revelation 4:5, John sees seven lamps of fire before the throne of God. They represent the seven Spirits of God. The Lord gave to the prophet Zechariah a similar vision in his book.

In Zechariah 4:2, the Lord showed Zechariah a lampstand with seven lamps. In Zechariah 4:12, Zechariah sees two Anointed Ones providing oil for the lamps. The Holy Spirit and Jesus the Word of God are anointed of the Father to save the souls of people on earth. In Zechariah 4:6, the Word of the Lord is “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit says the Lord.” In Zechariah 4:7, the Lord speaks of a great mountain being leveled into a plain as a capstone comes forth with shouts of, “Grace, grace to it.” The Spirit and Grace refer to the Holy Spirit and to Jesus Christ. Then, in Zechariah 4:10, an angel explains to Zechariah that the seven lamps are “the eyes of the Lord, which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth.”

Revelation 4:5 conveys that God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit are about to intervene in the affairs of creation, and bring about major changes.

Revelation 4:6: “Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal...”

In the Old Testament, before priests entered the temple, they stopped by a large basin of water to wash themselves. The washing represents repentance.

Some congregations have a baptismal font inside the entrance area of their building. They refer to the font as the womb of the church. From this perspective, the crystal sea reminds us of being buried and risen with Christ through baptism.

In Ephesians 4:21-24, Paul speaks of being taught by Jesus to put off the old man’s conduct and to put on the new man which was created according to God in true righteousness and holiness. In Ephesians 5:25, Paul speaks of being washed by the water of God’s Word. All believers are invited to the basin of God’s Word, and to be renewed in the image of Christ by His Spirit.

Revelation 4:6-8: “...And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: ‘Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!’”

In Revelation 4:8, the living creatures are described as being full of eyes around and within. “Their multitude of eyes indicates these living creatures (not “beasts” as in the KJV) are not blind instruments or robots. They know and understand, and have great perception.” [1]

The Lord let John, Isaiah and Ezekiel to see and write about the four living creatures.

After Isaiah saw these six-winged creatures, he wrote in Isaiah 6:1-3, “Above it [the throne of the Lord] stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one cried to another and said: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!’”

Isaiah doesn’t specifically say four seraphim, but seraphim in Hebrew is plural for saraph (שָׂרָף) which means that there is more than one. They cry to one another which indicates that there is more than one. They express the same words as the four living creatures in John’s vision.

Seraphim means “burning ones” or “fiery ones.” These are not naked baby cupids, men in dresses or women with harps, they are mighty worshippers of God.

The seraphim in Isaiah six and the four living creatures in Ezekiel one and Revelation four are described as having similar mannerisms and physical traits. In Revelation four, John's vision blends imagery from Isaiah’s and Ezekiel’s writings. Both groups stand directly around or above the throne of God in heaven. They have six wings. They declare that the Lord is holy. Most scholars view John’s description in Revelation as a prophetic “amalgam”—a combination of both Isaiah’s seraphim and Ezekiel’s cherubim.

Cherubim are angelic beings.

In Isaiah 6:6-7, one of the seraphim touched Isaiah’s mouth with a live coal from an altar in heaven and said to him, “Behold, this has touched your lips. Your iniquity is taken away, and your sin purged.” Then, the Lord asked, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Isaiah replied, “Here am I! Send me.” So, these creatures who proclaim God’s holiness continuously, gave Isaiah the touch he needed to be a preacher of righteousness for the Lord’s glory.

In Ezekiel 1:5-19, Ezekiel describes the four living creatures. In Ezekiel 1:13, he wrote, “As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches going back and forth among the living creatures. The fire was bright, and out of the fire went lightning.” Thus, they could be deemed “fiery ones” or seraphim. In Ezekiel 1:20, he wrote, “Wherever the Spirit wanted to go, they went, because there the Spirit went.” In Ezekiel 1:26-28, the prophet sees them near the throne of God. He sees the Lord brightly shining in their midst with the appearance of a rainbow around about Him.

In Ezekiel 10:18, Ezekiel wrote, “Then the glory of the Lord departed from the threshold of the temple and stood over the cherubim.” God’s glory departed due to the idolatrous deeds that were being done there. In Ezekiel 8:16, he saw “25 men with their backs to the sanctuary of the Lord. They were facing east, bowing low to the ground, worshiping the sun!”

Who are the four living creatures?

Adam Clarke wrote, “They represent all of animate creation, in its utmost excellence. The lion is the mightiest of wild animals, the ox strongest of domesticated animals, the eagle king of all birds, and man is highest of all creation. In Shemoth Rabba, sec. 23, fol. 122, 4, Rabbi Abin says: ‘Each of these has a kingdom and a certain magnificence, and they are placed under the throne of glory, Ezekiel 1:10, to show that no creature is to exalt itself in this world, and that the kingdom of God is over all.’ These creatures may be considered the representatives of the whole creation.” They glorify God!

Some early church fathers and reformation era theologians interpreted the four living creatures as representing the four Gospels. For example, saying, Matthew spoke of Christ’s kingly nature. He is the cherubim with a lion’s face. Mark spoke of Christ’s servant nature. He is the cherubim with an ox’s face. Luke spoke of Christ’s human nature. He is the cherubim with the man’s face. John spoke of Christ’s exalted nature. He is the cherubim with the eagle’s appearance. This is highly speculative and what’s more, the theologians had different opinions about whose face represented whose Gospel. The Bible does not clearly support this interpretation.

More importantly than what they are is what they do. They worship God day and night saying: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come.” Thus, heaven is full of joy and thanksgiving unto God. What a contrast with earth where people take God’s Name in vain!

In 1 Chronicles 6:31, King David brought a sense of heaven to earth when he appointed a multitude of men over the service of song in the house of the Lord. In 1 Chronicles 16:4-6, he appointed them to commemorate, to thank, and to praise the Lord with stringed instruments, harps, cymbals, and trumpets.

Revelation 4:9-11: “Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the 24 elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: ‘You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.’”

As the four living creatures glorify and express gratitude to the Lord, the 24 elders join with them. There is no partisan politics. There is harmony. They all happily glorify the Lord together.

The four living creatures are close to God. They dwell in His presence. What do they have to say about Him? They say, “You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.”

God created us. He sustains us. He redeemed us from our sin. He has a wonderful plan for our future which includes everlasting love, peace and joy. By His grace, though we die, yet shall we live and be forever with the Lord and with all angels, saints and living creatures. Praise the Lord!


[1] Enduring Word Commentary

The 24 Elders in Heaven – Revelation 4:2-4

Revelation 4:2-3: “Immediately I was in the Spirit. And behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald.”

In Ezekiel 1:26-27, Yahweh gave to Ezekiel a similar vision of Himself on His throne. Ezekiel wrote, “He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance.”

In Exodus 28:17–21, Israel’s high priest wore jasper and sardius gemstones along with ten other gemstones on his chest. Each gemstone represented a tribe of Israel. As the high priest wore the tribes of Israel symbolically on his chest, so Jesus, our High Priest carries us on His heart.

Jasper and sardius are the first and last gems, respectively, on the high priest’s garments, thus reinforcing the truth that Jesus is the “first and the last” mentioned in Revelation 1:8 and 22:13. Israel began with God and ends with God.

An emerald rainbow encircles the throne. The green color represents life. Life emanates from God. The rainbow forms an unbroken circle around God’s throne representing life without end.

In Genesis 9:12-13, God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant which I make between Me and you, and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth.”

God showed Noah a rainbow after the flood. John sees a rainbow before the current heaven and earth are replaced by the new ones. He wrote in Revelation 21:23, “The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.”

The rainbow reminds us of God’s grace. Hebrews 4:16 urges us to come boldly to the throne of grace to obtain mercy and grace to help in time of need.

Revelation 4:4: “Around the throne were 24 thrones, and on the thrones I saw 24 elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads.”

The 24 elders represent the 12 tribes of Israel and the 12 apostles. In Revelation 21:12, New Jerusalem is described as having 12 gates with the name of a tribe of Israel written on each gate. In Revelation 21:14, it is described as having walls with 12 foundations with a name of an apostle written on each foundation. The 12 tribes and 12 apostles represent the Old and New Testaments, respectively. Nations have ambassadors who represent them. The 24 elders represent His redeemed people before His throne.

The 24 elders have crowns. The New Testament mentions five specific heavenly crowns. [1] An imperishable crown in 1 Corinthians 9:25 for exercising self-control and spiritual discipline; [2] A crown of rejoicing in 1 Thessalonians 2:19 for winning souls and leading others to Christ; [3] A crown of righteousness in 2 Timothy 4:8 for lovingly longing for Christ’s return; [4] a crown of life in James 1:12 and Revelation 2:10 for enduring trials faithfully even unto death; [5] a crown of glory in 1 Peter 5:4 for elders and church leaders who faithfully shepherd God’s people.

The Lord uses the twelve Jewish tribes of Old Testament and twelve Jewish apostles of the New Testament to faithfully shepherd us through their stories and teachings which are recorded in the Bible.

In Revelation 12:17, the Lord reveals that the devil is at war with those who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. The devil sifted these people like wheat, but Jesus prayed for them and their faith did not fail.

The 24 elders have kingly crowns. In Revelation 1:5-6, tribute is proclaimed to Him who loved us, washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God. In Revelation 5:9-10, the 24 elders sing a new song to Messiah, singing, “You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God.”

The white robes of the 24 elders indicate the righteousness of Christ. They have been sanctified by the blood of the Lamb.

The 24 elders are worshippers of God. They appear when John is in the Spirit and when He sees God on His throne. The 24 elders sit on thrones around the throne of God.

In Revelation 4:10-11, the 24 elders fall down before God and worship Him. They cast their crowns before His throne, and tell Him that He is worthy to receive glory, honor and power because He created all things, and by His will they exist.

In Revelation 5:6, the Lamb of God and the sevenfold Spirit of God are amidst the 24 elders.

In Revelation 5:11-12, the 24 elders join with millions of angels and four living creatures in saying with loud voices, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!”

In Revelation 7:9-12, the 24 elders are on their faces before the throne worshipping God.

In Revelation 7:14, one of the elders explains to John that the great multitude which he sees in heaven standing before the throne and before the Lamb came out of the great tribulation. “They washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”

In Revelation 11:16, the 24 elders fall on their faces and worship God after a seventh angel blows his trumpet, and after it is announced, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”

In Revelation 19:1-4, the 24 elders bow and worship God after He eliminates the great whorish empire of Babylon.

Two things stand out to me about the 24 elders around God’s throne.

The first is that they love and adore the Lamb of God who took away the sins of the world. They magnify His Name and give to God all the glory.

Secondly, they are permanent fixtures around God’s throne thanks to Jesus. Their names are inscribed on the gates and foundations of New Jerusalem. We don’t have fear a regime change in heaven. Our heavenly representatives will always faithfully love and serve the Lord, and give to Him all the glory.

The Rapture – Revelation 4:1-3

Our Lord Jesus opens this book of prophecy with the following words recorded in Revelation 1:1, “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.” In the last chapter of this prophecy in Revelation 22:16, Jesus says, “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches.”

The Book of Revelation is Messiah’s testimony to the churches. The One who gave His life for us on the cross reveals to us the things that shall shortly come to pass.

Revelation 4:1: After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.”

After John receives the Lord’s messages to the seven churches in Revelation chapters 2-3, he sees a door standing open in heaven. The first voice that he hears coming from the open door sounds like a trumpet. The voice says to him, “Come up here.”

John’s experience symbolizes what shall come to pass for those who are raptured to be with the Lord. Our Lord Jesus Christ opens the door of heaven, calls, and they are forever with Him.

In Matthew 24:27-38, Jesus compared the hour of His next return to the days of Noah. At that time, people were eating, drinking, marrying, and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark. After the Lord took Noah and his family out of harm’s way, He released His wrath on those who rejected His words.

In Exodus 9:4, 11:7, 12:12–13, 14:26–28, God protected His people from incurring the wrath that He gave to the Egyptians.

In Ezekiel 9:4, God ordered His angel to “put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it.” Afterwards in Ezekiel 9:6, He told others, “Utterly slay old and young men, maidens and little children and women; but do not come near anyone on whom is the mark; and begin at My sanctuary.”

The Lord will make a distinction between those who believe in Him in the last days of this world, and those who don’t. We may incur wrath from people who hate the Lord, but He will protect us, thanks to the redeeming blood of His Son over us, from His wrath on sin.

In 2 Peter 2:9, Peter wrote, “The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment.” In 2 Peter 2:5, Peter wrote, “[God] saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly.” Noah and his family were taken out of harm’s way. Those who rejected the Word of the Lord, died in the flood.

In 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, the Apostle Paul wrote, “The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus, we shall always be with the Lord.”

Paul says this is a mystery. 1 Corinthians 15:51-52, “Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”

The door of heaven will be opened, the trumpet will sound, believers shall be with the Lord!

The Heavenly Father will say to His Son, “Go get your bride.”

In John 14:3, Jesus said, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am.”

In Matthew 25, while speaking about the signs of His second coming, Jesus told three parables. In each parable, some people are taken and some are not. He takes 5 wise virgins and leaves behind 5 foolish virgins. He rewards two servants and casts one out. He takes those who did kind deeds for the least of His brethren. He casts the others out.

In Luke 17:34-37, Jesus foretold, “I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left. Two women will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left. Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left.” The disciples asked Jesus, “Where, Lord?” He replied, “Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together.” The rapture will happen wherever there are believers.

Revelation 1:7 says, “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.”

After Jesus comes with the clouds, and people see Him, they mourn. Why? Some people were taken and others left behind. The Lord winnowed the wheat from the chaff. Like a giant metal detector in the sky, those who believed in Him were caught up to be with Him. 1 Thessalonians 1:10 says, “We wait for God’s Son from heaven, Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come.”

In Psalm 78:23, David wrote: “He had commanded the clouds above, and opened the doors of heaven. Psalm 11:4 says, “The Lord is in His holy temple. The Lord’s throne is in heaven. His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men.”

In Isaiah 57:1-2, Isaiah wrote, “The righteous perishes, and no man takes it to heart. Merciful men are taken away, while no one considers that the righteous is taken away from evil. He shall enter into peace...” This prophecy speaks of righteous and merciful people being spared from evil and entering into peace and rest with the Lord.

In Revelation 14:13, John heard a voice from heaven say, “Write blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”

In Revelation 14:14-20, there are two harvests.

In Revelation 14:14-16, during the first harvest, John sees the Son of Man sitting on a white cloud. He has on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. He thrusts in His sickle and the harvest of the earth is reaped. This is the people of God being gathered to the Lord.

In Revelation 14:17-20, he sees an angel with a sickle. The angel thrusts his sickle at the earth and threw the remainder of people into the great winepress of the wrath of God. “And blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses’ bridles.” This is the people who rejected Christ.

Revelation 4:2-3: “Immediately I was in the Spirit. And behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald.”

What will the redeemed of the Lord see when He opens the door of heaven for them, and says to them, “Come up here.” They will see the Lord and hear His voice.

In Revelation 4:4-11, the Lord revealed to John a scene of worship to the Lord in heaven. The Lord is beautiful. His throne room is colorful and bright. There are angels, elders and living creatures worshipping Him. It will be a great joy to be there and to know that we never have to return to a world where pain, crying and death exists.

Are you ready for the Lord’s return?

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.”

“Dear Heavenly Father, please keep us ever mindful of our destiny to come before You, and please let us stand before the Son of Man. In the Name of Jesus, I pray, Amen.”

Sitting With Christ – Revelation 3:14-22

Revelation 3:14: “And to the messenger of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God.”

In Colossians 2:1, Paul mentions that he experienced a great conflict (ἡλίκον ἀγῶνα) for the Christians in Colossae and Laodicea. The word he used for conflict in the original Greek text is ἀγῶνα from which we get our English word, “agony.” Originally, it referred to athletic contests or races in an arena, but it evolved metaphorically to mean a rigorous mental, spiritual, or physical strain. [1]

In Colossians 4:12-13, Paul wrote that Epaphras, a bondservant of Christ, always labored fervently in prayers, that the Colossians and Laodiceans would stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. Epaphras had a great zeal for the Colossians and for the Laodiceans.

Jesus introduced Himself to the Laodiceans as “the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God.” The phrase “Faithful and True Witness” comes from the Greek words pistos (πιστός), alēthinos (ἀληθινός), and martys (μάρτυς). Faithful (Pistos - πιστός) means trustworthy, reliable, and dependable. It describes someone whose actions match their promises and who is worthy of full confidence. True (Alēthinos - ἀληθινός) means real, genuine, and truthful in character. It stands in contrast to what is false or fake. Witness (Martys - μάρτυς) means someone who gives testimony based on personal knowledge or experience. This Greek word is the origin of our English word martyr because early witnesses for Christ often faced death to share their testimony.

Thus, the Laodiceans, like the people of Israel in the days of Jeremiah, had been given a faithful and true witness from the Lord, and were without excuse for their lackluster service unto God.

In Jeremiah 35:15, the Lord said, “I have also sent to you all My servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, ‘Turn now everyone from his evil way, amend your doings, and do not go after other gods to serve them. Then you will dwell in the land which I have given you and your fathers.’ But you have not inclined your ear, nor obeyed Me.” So, what did the Lord do with Israel in Jeremiah’s days? He spewed them out of the Promised Land!

Revelation 3:15-16: “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.”

The name Laodicea means “people rule.” The Laodiceans tasted lukewarm to God. Lukewarm is a metaphor for apathetic. Jesus warned them that He spews such people out of His mouth.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:19, the Lord says, “Do not quench the Spirit.” Why did the Laodiceans lack fire for the Lord? They were more carnal than spiritual. When the Holy Spirit fire came to them, they did not welcome Him. They threw resistance and hardness of heart at Him.

Revelation 3:17-18: “Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.”

Laodicea was famous for worldly gold not spiritual gold. Laodicea was famous for black clothing, not garments made white by holy living. They were famous for physical not spiritual healing.

In Mark 8:36, Jesus asked us a question to help us get our priorities right. He asked, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” Worldly speaking, the Laodiceans were rich and finely clothed. In their minds, they had mastered the art of how to be followers of Jesus and enjoy the pleasures of the world at the same time.

Jesus looked into their souls with His eyes a fire, and described to them the condition of their souls. The five Greek words Jesus used to describe them are as follows:

ταλαίπωρος (talaipōros): Wretched, miserable, or distressed.
ἐλεεινὸς (eleeinos): Pitiable, miserable, or inspiring compassion.
πτωχὸς (ptōchos): Poor, destitute, or beggarly.
τυφλὸς (typhlos): Blind.
γυμνός (gymnos): Naked, poorly clothed, or stripped. [2]

Incidentally, the English word gymnasium is derived from the Greek word γυμνός which means “naked” or “nude.” Ancient Greek athletes traditionally competed and exercised completely in the nude. Perhaps, the Laodicean Christians joined in this practice.

How many Christians nowadays are rich with worldly pleasures, but poor in their spiritual souls?

In John 9:40-41, when some Pharisees (people steeped in Bible knowledge) heard the words of Jesus, they asked Him, “Are we blind also?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.” Because they quenched the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives, they had no conviction of sin in their consciences, thus, their sin remained, and if they did not come to their senses, they would be eternally lost.

The Lord provides a good word for us about our need for ongoing spiritual discipline in Hebrews 12:7-11: “If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”

In 1 Corinthians 9:26-27, Paul spoke of keeping the flesh in check so that the soul may prosper. He wrote, “Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.”

In Galatians 5-6, Paul speaks about how the flesh and the Spirit struggle for control of a person’s mind. In Galatians 5:16-17, Paul wrote, “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.

In Galatians 5:24, Paul wrote, “And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” And then in Galatians 6:8, he adds, “For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.”

In 1 Peter 1:7, Peter speaks of having the genuineness of our faith tested by fire, “so that it may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” It is one thing to say with our mind and our mouth that we believe in Jesus, but another thing to speak for Him to others. When we profess and serve Jesus before our peers, and encounter opposition and persecution from them for His Name’s sake, we learn the true nature of our soul’s condition.

Revelation 3:19: “ As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore, be zealous and repent.”

William Barclay wrote, “Jesus’ great love was expressed in His rebuke. It is, in fact, God’s final punishment to leave a person alone.” Laodicea was the worst of the seven churches, but Jesus still loved them. Therefore, He brought to light the condition of their souls before Him.

In 1 Corinthians 11:3, Paul wrote, “When we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.”

Revelation 3:20: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”

In Luke 12:36, Jesus urged us to be like men who wait for their master... “that when He comes and knocks they may open to Him immediately.”

May the Lord help us to be like the lover in Song of Solomon 5:2, saying, “I sleep, but my heart is awake. It is the voice of my Beloved! He knocks, saying, ‘Open for Me, My sister, My love, My dove, My perfect one...” The Lord wants a close relationship with us.

In Jeremiah 2:2, the Lord commanded Jeremiah to, “Go and cry in the hearing of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord: I remember you, the kindness of your youth, the love of your betrothal, when you went after Me in the wilderness, in a land not sown.” In the early days of their relationship with Him, they loved God fervently, but by and by their fire for Him went cold.

In Jeremiah 13:11, the Lord said, “For as the sash clings to the waist of a man, so I have caused the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah to cling to Me, says the Lord, that they may become My people, for renown, for praise, and for glory; but they would not hear.” The Lord wanted His people to be as close to Him as a beautiful article of clothing about His body, but they were defiled by their love of the world, and became a source of shame to Him.

In John 14:23, Jesus said, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My Word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.”

In John 15:5-6, 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. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.”

Jesus received no respect from the Laodiceans. They left Him on the outside of their gatherings. They did not talk about Him during their personal conversations with one another.

Jesus had to knock and urge them to let Him in. The text does not say, “If the Church will open the door.” It says, “If anyone hear My voice and open the door.” It must be done by individuals. The Church gets right with God as each Christian gets right with God. Jesus told them to open their hearts to Him and He would come and sup with them.

Revelation 3:21-22: “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

In Matthew 19:28, Jesus told His disciples, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

The one who overcomes apathy, compromise, and self-reliance, gets to sit with King Jesus. Laodicea is the worst of the seven Churches. Thus, enthronement with Christ is promised to the faithful witnesses for Christ in this Church.

[1-2] Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance

Jesus is Holy and True – Revelation 3:7-13

Revelation 3:7: “And to the messenger of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens.”

The name Philadelphia means brotherly love. Jesus had nothing to say against Philadelphia. In fact, He promised to make those who were of Satan to bow down at their feet and acknowledge that He loved them.

Have you ever met someone who hates Christians? Once, after I meekly mentioned the Name of Jesus to a man, he began to rant and rave about all the atrocities “Christians” had committed. I listened to him until he was done speaking. Then, the Holy Spirit led me to say, “I don’t know about all those people you spoke of, but I know Jesus has me in your country helping orphans, loving and serving your people. Jesus has not led me to intentionally hurt anyone.” After that, he parted ways with me and said no more. When a man threw his worse self at me, the Holy Spirit led me to express brotherly love. Love is stronger than hatred. Light overcomes darkness.

In Revelation 3:7, Jesus refers to Himself as holy and true. In John 14:6, Jesus told His disciples that He is the truth. In Revelation 6:10, heavenly martyrs address Jesus as “Lord, holy and true.”

In 1 John 5:20, John wrote, “We know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.” When we listen to Jesus, we listen to the holy One who only speaks truth.

The devil, on the other hand, is a scammer. He scammed Adam and Eve out of paradise. In Genesis 3:3-4, Eve spoke the truth when she told the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden, but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’” The devil lied when he said, “You will not surely die.” Sadly, both Adam and Eve listened to the devil and lost their purity and happiness.

In John 10:10, in reference to the devil, Jesus said, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

In 2 Corinthians 11:14, Paul warned us that “Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.” We must beware of imposters.

In John 5:43, Jesus said, “I have come in My Father’s Name, and you do not receive Me. If another comes in his own name, him you will receive.” In Matthew 24:5, Jesus said, “Many will come in My Name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.”

In 1 Kings 13:11-32, a young prophet who spoke God’s truth to a king in one moment, was deceived by an old prophet in the next. The old prophet said to him, “I too am a prophet as you are, and an angel spoke to me by the Word of the Lord, saying, ‘Bring him back with you to your house, that he may eat bread and drink water.’ (He was lying to him.)” The young prophet listened to the old prophet and ended up being killed by a lion.

In Luke 8:15, Jesus that the seed (His Word) that “fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the Word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.” Jesus taught us to be deeply rooted not shallow in God’s Word.

In Revelation 3:7, Jesus has the key of David. This is a reference to Isaiah 22:22, where Yahweh said to His prophet about Messiah, “The key of the house of David, I will lay on his shoulder. So He shall open, and no one shall shut, and He shall shut, and no one shall open.”

In Matthew 16:19, Jesus told His disciples, “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

In Matthew 12:29, Jesus speaks of binding a strong man and plundering his goods in connection with setting people free from demonic bondages. In Matthew 8:16, Jesus casted “out the spirits with a word” that is evil spirits. In Matthew 10:1, Jesus “called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out. In Matthew 10:8, He commanded them “to cast them out.” In Luke 10:17, Jesus had 70 disciples return to Him with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your Name.” Acts 16:18 and 19:11-15 indicate that Paul casted demons out of people in the Name of Jesus.

The Name of Jesus is the Name above all names. In His Name doors open and shut.

But not just anyone should use the Name of Jesus to cast out demons. In Acts 19:11-15, when the sons of Sceva attempted to use the Name of Jesus as an incantation to cast out a demon, “The evil spirit answered and said, ‘Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?’ Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.” We must be anointed and led by the Spirit of Christ to overcome the works of the evil one.

Revelation 3:8: “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it. For you have a little strength, have kept My Word, and have not denied My Name.”

In Acts 14:27, Paul and Barnabas reported to their home base that the Lord had “opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.” This is the type of door that Jesus opens for those who love Him and love His Word... a door to lead people to faith in Him. Praise the Lord!

In 1 Corinthians 16:9, Paul wrote, “A great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.” Just because Jesus opens the door for us to serve Him, it does not mean that all will be smooth sailing for us. We will likely encounter opposition as we share His Word.

However, Jesus gave to us this promise in John 8:51, “Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death.” Even if our earthly body is killed, our soul will be with the Lord.

Revelation 3:9: “Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.”

The Lord helped Job, Daniel, and Esther overcome plots against them as they abided in Him.

In Isaiah 43:4, the Lord says to us, “Since you were precious in My sight, you have been honored, and I have loved you, therefore I will give men for you, and people for your life.” Some people, like the synagogue of Satan in Philadelphia, will seek to sabotage our work and destroy our credibility, but the Lord is our defender. He turns around evil for our good and for His glory.

In Isaiah 49:23, the Lord says, “Kings shall be your foster fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers. They shall bow down to you with their faces to the earth, and lick up the dust of your feet. Then you will know that I am the Lord, for they shall not be ashamed who wait for Me.”

In Psalm 86:9, David wrote, “All nations whom You have made shall come and worship before You, O Lord, and shall glorify Your Name.” What we really want is for nations to worship Jesus.

Revelation 3:10: “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.”

Most Bible scholars see “the hour of trial” as the Great Tribulation. This “test” phrase is used nine times in the Book of Revelation. In 2 Peter 2:9, Peter wrote, “The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment.”

The test is a refining process to remove that which diminishes value so that only that which is of value remains. The people of Philadelphia had already been tested by those of the synagogue of Satan. After the test, all that remained in them was a desire to profess the Name of Jesus.

Revelation 3:11: “Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.”

Jesus also promises to come quickly in Revelation 22:7, 12, 20. In Revelation 22:7, He adds, “Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” In Revelation 22:12, He adds, “My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.”

Jesus said to “hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.” In 1 Corinthians 9:25, Paul wrote, “Everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.” In 2 Timothy 2:5, Paul wrote, “If anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.”

Paul knew that the Lord would crown him after he finished his race. In 2 Timothy 4:8, he wrote, “Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”

In 1 Thessalonians 2:19, Paul described our crowns. He wrote, “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?” The souls that we influence into the Lord’s presence are the crowns which cause us to rejoice.

What did the twenty-four elders before the throne of God do with their crowns? They cast them down before Him who sits on the throne. Jesus Christ deserves all the glory!

Revelation 3:12: “He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the Name of My God and the Name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new Name.’”

Pillars hold up rooftops. They strengthen a building. They don’t let things fall down upon us.

In Jeremiah 1:18-19, the Lord said to Jeremiah, “For behold, I have made you this day a fortified city and an iron pillar, and bronze walls against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, against its princes, against its priests, and against the people of the land. They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you. For I am with you, says the Lord, to deliver you.”

Spiritually speaking, a pillar is someone who stands up for the Lord and His Word and does not compromise with compromisers of the Word.

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.” The Church stands for the truth in a world full of lies.

In Galatians 2:9, James, Cephas, and John were noted as pillars among the early Christians.

Jesus promises to write on such “the Name of My God and the Name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new Name.” In Ezekiel 48:35, the name of the Lord’s city is “THE LORD IS THERE.” In Revelation 21:3, God and people dwell together in harmony. There is no greater identity or belonging than to be with God forever and for Him to want to be with you.

Revelation 7:15 speaks of people being before the throne of God. Revelation 14:1 speaks of believers having the Father’s Name written on their foreheads.

Revelation 3:13: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

In Acts 13:1-2, certain prophets and teachers ministered to the Lord and fasted, and as they did, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Let us listen to what the Spirit is saying to us because He is telling us the way to go, and where He leads, He will anoint us to bring glory to God, which will bring joy to our hearts.

Professing Christ – Revelation 3:1-6

Revelation 3:1: “And to the messenger of the church in Sardis write, ‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.”

Jesus introduces Himself to Sardis as the One who has the seven Spirits of God, that is the fullness of God’s Spirit. In John 3:30-31, John the Baptist testified that he wanted Jesus to increase. He said that He who comes from heaven [meaning Jesus] is above all. Then, in John 3:34, he said, “For He whom God has sent speaks the Words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure.” In Matthew 3:11, John testified that Jesus is the One who baptizes people with the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the source of spiritual supply for His churches.

In Revelation 1:20, Jesus described the seven stars as the seven messengers of the seven churches that He is addressing in this book.

Sardis had a name – a reputation – as being alive to Christ, but Jesus called them dead.

What are dead works? In Hebrews 6:1, the Lord urges us to be mature in Christ and not lay again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God. In other words, don’t remain at the starting line. Praise God, you are a new believer, but don’t remain an infant, grow up in Christ.

In Hebrews 5:12-14, the Lord says, “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.”

According to Revelation 5:10, the Lord has made us “to be a kingdom of priests to serve our God.” In Leviticus 10:10, the ministry of priests is to “distinguish between the holy and the common, between the clean and the unclean.” When we abide in Christ, He helps us to see clearly between right and wrong, and between helpful and harmful.

Dead works are sinful works that the Lord does not accept. Dead works are the fruits of a dead branch. Such a branch does not honor the Lord. In John 15:16, Jesus said, “I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit.” When the Lord says that the Church of Sardis is dead, He is saying that they are not bearing the fruits of true repentance. They are, perhaps, asking His forgiveness only so they can keep on sinning.

Revelation 3:2: “Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God.”

Jesus said to the Christians in Sardis, and says to all of us, “Watch” and “Strengthen!” “Your works are not perfect before God.” Don’t turn a blind eye to the obvious deficiencies in your walk with God!

In Matthew 25:14-30, Jesus doubled His provisions to the servants who multiplied the talents that He gave to them, but He cast the worthless servant “into the outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

In Jude 1:20, the Lord says, “Dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith praying in the Holy Spirit.” Jesus has the fullness of the Holy Spirit. He baptizes people with the Holy Spirit. In Acts 2:4, after the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit they spoke with new tongues. In Acts 4:8, Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit as he spoke to his persecutors. In Acts 4:31, those who prayed were “filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the Word of God boldly.” In Zechariah 4:6, we read, “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty.”

Why do some “Christians” speak against people who are filled with the Holy Spirit! Is it really crazy to love the Lord and serve Him wholeheartedly? What is the Spirit saying to “Christians” who live carnal lives instead of lives filled with His Spirit?

Revelation 3:3: “Remember therefore how you have received and heard! Hold fast and repent. Therefore, if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.”

Jesus uses the metaphor of a sudden invasion by a thief when He wants people to realize that they are not ready for His return.

In Matthew 24:37-39, Jesus described the mindset most people have when He returns. He said, “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.” People will only be thinking about this present life and not be thinking about eternity.

In Matthew 24:42, Jesus says, “Keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.” In Revelation 16:15, Jesus says, “Behold, I come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed.”

Revelation 3:4-5: “You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.”

In Jude 1:23, the Lord says, “Save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.”

Sardis had a few people who were actively making efforts to save others.

Jesus gives white garments (garments of righteousness) to those who believe in Him and profess Him. White was also the color of triumph to the Romans. In Matthew 5:8, Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they see God.”

Jesus promised overcomers that their names would not be blotted out of His Book of Life. Get your sin stains removed and I won’t place a stain over your name in the Book of Life.

The Book of Life is mentioned in Exodus 32:32-33, Psalm 69:28, Daniel 12:1, Malachi 3:16, Luke 10:20 and in Revelation 13:8, 17:8, 20:12, 21:27, 22:19.

In Exodus 32:32-33, Moses said to the Lord: “If You will not forgive their sin; blot me out of Your book which You have written.” The Lord responded to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book.”

Psalm 69:20-28 refers to the betrayal of Messiah by Judas Iscariot and the priests in Jerusalem. In these verses, those who gave gall for food and vinegar to drink are to be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous. Peter quotes Psalm 69:25 in Acts 1:20 as a reference to Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.

Daniel 12:1 says that everyone found written in the book shall be delivered.

Malachi 3:16 says that “those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord listened and heard them. So a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and who meditate on His Name.”

In Luke 10:20, Jesus told His disciples to rejoice because their names are written in heaven.

Revelation 13:8 says, “All who dwell on the earth will worship him [the beast], whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”

Revelation 17:8 says that those whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world will marvel at the beast, that is, the end times antichrist.

In Revelation 20:12, John sees the Book of Life. The dead were judged by the things written in this book.

In Revelation 21:2, only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life will be allowed to enter the New Jerusalem.

In Revelation 22:19, “If anyone removes words from this prophecy, God removes his part from the Book of Life.”

In Revelation 3:5, Jesus said, “He who overcomes... I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.” Hearing Jesus speak our name before His Father and His angels should be our primary objective in this life.

In Matthew 10:32-33, Jesus said, “Whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.”

“Lord Jesus, please help us by Your Holy Spirit to confess You before people.”

In Romans 10:9-10, Paul wrote, “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

Revelation 3:6: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Are we listening to Jesus? Our eternal happiness depends on Him.

What did Jesus convey to the Christians in Sardis and what is He saying to us in Revelation 3:1-6? He is telling us that He loves us and wants us to be with Him for all eternity. How much do we want to be with Him? May the Lord by His grace and by the power of His Holy Spirit help us to be branches that bear good fruit for His glory. To confess Him before people! Amen!

My Bright and Morning Star – Revelation 2:18-29

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!

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 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. In 1 John 4:4, it 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 held 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.[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. According to tradition, Antipas was martyred because he publicly denounced idolatry. In 92 A.D., idolators executed him by placing him into a metal bull and roasting him alive.[3]

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.”

Nicolaitans taught that Christians could maintain their faith while participating in pagan practices. They abused the doctrine of God’s grace, claiming that in Christ they were free to indulge their sinful nature. In Revelation 2:14–15, Jesus links their teaching to the biblical story of Balaam, who enticed the Israelites into idolatry and sexual immorality. The early church father Irenaeus condemned their arrogant behavior.[4]

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 lost sinners and that without a relationship with Christ we perish.

Jesus is the Word of God personified. We need to align ourselves with His Word to avoid being aligned with the world. James 4:4 says, “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” We cannot have it both ways.

Jesus urged those who aligned themselves with the doctrine of the Nicolaitans to repent.

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.”

In ancient Greece, jury members would cast a white stone to signify an acquittal, whereas a black stone proclaimed the defendant guilty.[5]

Following Olympic Games, a winner arriving back in his native city was presented with a white stone that bore his name. Possessing such a stone entitled him to be maintained at the public’s expense for the rest of his life.[6]

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.

Attached is a link to a power point version of this article which I have recorded on my YouTube channel:

https://youtu.be/FZZN4SfZCz4

[1] desiringgod.org/interviews/how-much-authority-does-satan-have-in-the-world
[2] Various articles linked to gotquestions.org/Christian-martyrdom.html
[3] Dr. James Hastings, Dictionary of the Apostolic Church, vol. 1, p. 71
[4] samstorms.org/all-articles/post/article-10-things-you-should-know-about-the-nicolaitans
[5] GotQuestions.org
[6] Plutarch: Life of Pericles, 64.