Revelation 3:14-22
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Important messages
The
Church in Laodicea
14.
And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The words of the Amen, the
faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.
15.
I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either
cold or hot!
16.
So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of
my mouth.
17.
For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing
that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.
18.
I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and
white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness
may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.
19.
Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.
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 eat with him, and he with me.
21.
The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also
conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.
22.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
The
Amen, absolute authority
 |
| Laodicea, between Hierapolis and Colosse |
It is probably the case of most, if not all, of the cities that we
are studying, that their history goes back farther than that, which we have
described. The cities of the seven churches of Asia Minor are built upon sites
of earlier towns. However, we try to find a time, when these cities developed
some kind of prominence or acclaim in history. Laodicea was earlier called
Diospolis, the City of Zeus, and later Rhodas. Between 261-253 B.C., Antiochus
II Theos, a Seleucid king, rebuilt the town and named it after his wife,
Laodice. (Some of you may remember the Seleucid Dynasty that we studied in the
book of Daniel.) He populated it with 2,000 Jewish families from Babylon,
therefore many of its inhabitants were Jewish. At about the time of Christ and
continuing into the times of the apostles, they sent 20 pounds of gold annually
to Jerusalem for the temple.
Laodicea is the southernmost of the seven churches of Asia
Minor, located 40 miles southeast of Philadelphia, approximately 100 miles east
of Ephesus and only eleven miles west of Colossae. It lies in the valley of the
Lycus River. Laodicea held little importance, until it came under the dominion
of Rome, when it became one of the most important and flourishing cities of
Asia Minor. In fact, it was the judicial center over 25 cities. It produced and
exported fine, black, woolen garments and it was famous for its eye salve. As
in Pergamos, there was a great medical school in Laodicea and not far away, in
Hierapolis (which also had a Christian church, Col.4:13), there are thermal
pools. The nearest modern city, Denizli, is four miles away.
Revelation 3:7-13
Labels:
Important messages
The Church in Philadelphia
7. And to the angel of the church
in Philadelphia write: The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key
of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.
8. I know your works. Behold, I
have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you
have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my
name.
9. Behold, I will make those of
the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie –
behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will
learn that I have loved you.
10. Because you have kept my word
about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming
on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.
11. I am coming soon. Hold fast
what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.
12. The one who conquers, I will
make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and 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 from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.
13. He who has an ear, let him
hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
A history of Philadelphia
 |
| Alașehir, Turkey on the site of ancient Philadelphia |
Before
we consider the historical city of Philadelphia, the message to this church,
and what it means to church history, first I want to write of what is pressing
upon my heart. Just this morning, I watched while our granddaughter, Jessica,
signed to the contemporary Christmas carol,
“Noel”, and I was captured by the simple line, “Come and see what God has done!” Yes, look down upon that new-born
infant in a manger in a cave for animals by Bethlehem’s inn. See in that little
body, Someone that the world had never seen before... Something only God could
do: “The virgin shall conceive and bear
a son, and shall call His name Immanuel” (Is.7:14).
Immediately
after watching Jessica, I opened my Bible to Isaiah 64 to prepare to tape a radio program with expository studies from
that great, inspired prophet. The week before we had studied the last verses of
chapter 63: “Our adversaries have
trampled down your sanctuary. We have become like those over whom you have
never ruled, like those who are not called by your name” (Is.63:18, 19).
Now,
the prophet cries out with a passionate and desperate, “Oh!” “Oh that you would rend the heavens and
come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence – as when fire
kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil – to make your name known
to your adversaries, and that the nations might tremble at your presence!” (Is.64:1,
2). It is a call for revival, for a heavenly visitation upon earth, for days of
heaven on earth. When I finished, I texted the radio technician at the station,
“Pedro, it seems to me that the word for
the church today is revival. At least, that is what I am feeling.”
Revelation 3:1-6
Labels:
Important messages
Chapter 3
The Church in Sardis
1. And to the angel of the church in
Sardis write: The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven
stars. I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are
dead.
2. Wake up, and strengthen what remains
and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of
my God.
3. Remember, then, what you received and
heard. Keep it, and repent. I you will not wake up, I will come like a thief,
and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.
4. Yet you have still a few names in
Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me
in white, for they are worthy.
5. The one who conquers will be clothed
thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life.
I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.
6. He who has an ear, let him hear what
the Spirit says to the churches.
Alive in name, dead in reality
 |
| Sardis, capital of ancient Lydia |
We
learned that Thyatira was on the north border of a territory called Lydia, which
was an important and prosperous kingdom in ancient history, and now we go 30
miles southeast to the city of Sardis. Sardis has a very long history,
beginning about the time of the fall of the Assyrian Empire, surviving the
Babylon and Persian Empires and then was burnt to the ground by the Greeks. It
once was the capital of Lydia and was the first place in the world to mint
silver and gold coins.
Alexander
the Great rebuilt a temple to Artemis (Diana), which still can be seen today. Sardis
became part of the Roman Empire in 129 B.C. and was one of its wealthiest
cities, due to its location on the trade route between the Mediterranean and
the East. It lay 1,500 feet above the junction of five main roads on a plateau
that was almost impregnable, but actually, it was rapidly losing its renown. Romans improved the temple of Artemis and used
it for its Caesar-worshipping cult. However, the temple was never completed. A
modern town of 5,000 called Sart is only a mile away from the ruins of Sardis.
There is not one Christian in the town. May the sovereign Lord move once again
in power over Asia Minor!
Revelation 2:18-29
Labels:
Important messages
The Church in Thyatira
18. And to the angel of the church in
Thyatira write: The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire,
and whose feet are like burnished bronze.
19. I know your works, your love and
faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the
first.
20. But I have this against you, that
you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching
and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food
sacrificed to idols.
21. I gave her time to repent, but she
refuses to repent of her sexual immorality.
22. Behold, I will throw her onto a
sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great
tribulation, unless they repent of her works,
23. and I will strike her children dead.
And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I
will give to each of you according to your works.
24. But to the rest of you in Thyatira,
who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call to deep
things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden.
25. Only hold fast what you have until I
come.
26. The one who conquers and who keeps
my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations,
27. and he will rule them with a rod of
iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received
authority from my Father.
28. And I will give him the morning
star.
29. He who has an ear, let him hear what
the Spirit says to the churches.
A little history of Thyatira
 |
| The stones in the foreground are from the castle, from which Akhisar was named |
It is
interesting to note that Homer ascribed Asia to a small portion of the
territory of Lydia. Later, a large territory was given that name and today, it
names the whole continent east of Europe. The Lord Jesus continues to send His
messages to the churches in Asia Minor, moving clockwise and now pointing to
Thyatira. Thyatira is 38 miles southeast of Pergamos and 32 miles north of
Sardis. It is on the border of Lydia and Mysia, smaller territories within Asia
Minor, and about 35 miles from the Aegean Sea. It it the smallest church of the
seven-candlestick group.
We
studied the Seleucid Empire, called the king of the north, in the book of
Daniel. Their territory included Babylon and Syria, as well as other
territories, reaching into Asia Minor. Seleucus I Nicator was one of Alexander
the Great’s four generals, who succeeded him. Seleucus reconstructed Thyatira
as a military post and the Romans captured the city in 132 B.C.
A modern
city of 25,000, Akhisar, meaning White
Castle, is built over the ancient city. It is still a center of trade and
business in the area, as it was in the time of John, because it was on the road
leading to Pergamos, Smyrna and Ephesus. Thyatira was known for its production
and trade of cloth, particularly purple cloth, which was costly and associated
with the rich. There were no great temples to the gods or to Caesar in the
city. Apollo was the principle god worshiped there, along with Artemis (Diana)
and Asklepius (the healing god).
Ecclesiastes 12
Labels:
Important messages
Chapter 12
1. Remember also
your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years
draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”;
2. before the sun
and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return
after the rain,
3. in the day when
the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the grinders
cease because they are few, and those who look through the windows are dimmed,
4. and the doors
on the street are shut – when the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises
up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low –
5. they are afraid
also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the
grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails, because man is going to his
eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets –
6. before the
silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is
shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern,
7. and the dust
returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
8. Vanity of
vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity.
Serve God when you are young
Advice continues for the young. Remember that God will go
back to someone’s youthful past, when He begins His judgment. Therefore he gives
the very best counsel to the young person. Spend your youth in the fear of God;
that is what it means to remember, or
to take God into account in all your activities and plans. Remember also that
He is Creator and has creator’s rights. Human rights are secondary and only
come into play, when the rights of the Creator are met. He has made us for His
pleasure, so from childhood to old age, our chief duty is to live for His
pleasure and to fulfill His will. We belong to Him and it is a wonderful
advantage, when a person from early age, seeks to bring glory to God.
While a person is young and strong, he should give his
best days to the Creator. When offering a sacrifice, the Israelite was to pick
out the best of the flock or herd, a young animal, to present to God. They were
rebuked for offering weak or sickly animals (See, for instance, Malachi
1:6-14). From the first verse, Solomon begins to present the disadvantages and
limitations of the elderly, particularly the regret of lost opportunity, which
weighs upon the conscience. Someone is unfit for service to anyone, if he finds
no joy in living. Godly duty must be joyful so, before that time comes close,
let there be pleasant living in the service of the King of Kings.
Revelation 2:12-17
Labels:
Important messages
The Church in Pergamos
12. And to the angel of the
church in Pergamum write: The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword.
13. I know where you dwell, where
Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith
even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you,
where Satan dwells.
14. But I have a few things
against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught
Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might
eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality.
15. So also you have some who hold
the teaching of the Nicolaitans.
16. Therefore repent. If not, I
will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.
17. He who has an ear, let him
hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give
some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name
written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.
Pergamos, Satan’s throne
 |
| The Pergamos Altar in a German museum |
The
glorified Lord Jesus continues to address the churches in order, moving
clockwise another 35-40 miles to the north and slightly east from Smyrna. The
next church is Pergamos, also called Pergamum or Pergamon, about 20 miles
inland from the Aegean Sea, and located northwest of the modern city of Bergama,
a Turkish adaption of the name Pergamos. The old city is located on a
promontory, overlooking the Caicus River from the north. At the time of John,
it was another large city in Asia Minor, with a population of about 150,000.
As
Smyrna, Pergamos became a major cultural center during the Greek period and the
kingdom of Pergamum extended far inland eastward, as well as to the south,
almost to the Mediterranean Sea. In those days, Pergamos was even more powerful
than Ephesus or Smyrna. Pergamos was renowned for its production of parchment, and the name actually was derived
from the name of the city (In English it is not so evident, but in the Spanish
language, sit is called pergamino). Also
renowned was the library of Pergamon, second only to the library of Alexandria
in Egypt. Pergamos was also famed for a shrine to Asclepius, the god of
healing, which became a spa, and fostered a great healing cult. Its medical
symbol was the serpent entwined on a staff, the medical symbol to this day. Galen, second only to Hippocrates as a physician,
was trained at the healing center. The Romans largely maintained the glory of
Pergamos, by constructing large temples, an amphitheater and a large forum.
However, it fell behind Ephesus as a political power in Asia Minor.
We
should know about the Altar of Pergamos, dedicated to Zeus and Athena, the Temple
of Athena neighboring it. The altar was about 120 x 100 feet and was the most
famous structure in the city. Also in
the time of the early church, the city had a temple dedicated to Caesar and was
a promoter of the cult, which granted divinity to Caesar, declaring “Caesar is lord!”
Ecclesiastes 11
Chapter 11
1. Cast your bread
upon the waters, for you will find it after many days.
2. Give a portion
to seven, or even to eight, for you know not what disaster may happen on earth.
Chapter 11 begins with an encouragement towards giving to
those, who cannot return the favor. Of course, the writer is referring, not to
bread literally, but that, which will become bread in the future. He means seed,
such as rice, which is cast into shallow water and sinks into the ground. To
the unknowing eye, it would seem lost, but actually the planter is sure it will
produce in a matter of months. So the one, who trusts in God, knows well that
whatever is given in obedience to God for the benefit of others, He will
certainly return (v.1). Jesus taught it this way: “When you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the
blind… because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the
resurrection of the just” (Lk.14:13,14).
Be generous in giving, as much as you are able. The
number seven implies completeness, which in this case means reaching the full
measure of your ability, in order to fully supply the need. “Even to eight” means to go beyond what
you are able, which suggests giving by faith, trusting God then to meet your
needs. Paul commends the Macedonians, who gave “in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their
extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For
they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord” (2 Co.8:2,3).
Revelation 2:8-11
Labels:
Important messages
8. And to the angel of the church
in Smyrna write; The words of the first and the last, who died and came to
life.
9. I know your tribulation and
your poverty, (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are
Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
10. Do not fear what you are
about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison,
that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful
unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
11. He who has an ear, let him
hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be
hurt by the second death.
The history of Smyrna and Polycarp
 |
| Izmir, Turkey, with ancient Smyrna ruins in the center |
Jesus
begins by speaking to Ephesus, the most notable and dominant church of their
day in Asia Minor. The second church that the Lord addresses is Smyrna. It is
35 miles north of Ephesus and slightly east. You will notice that He goes in
order around the crude circle of churches, which we have described.
For
all practical purposes, Smyrna was built by one of Alexander the Great’s
generals, Lysimachus, in the third century before Christ. He controlled Thrace,
which today includes, largely, a part of northeastern Greece, Bulgaria and
western Turkey. Later, it was used by the Romans as a port on the Aegean Sea
and at the time of the apostles, the population reached about 100,000. Between
the city and the port was a public square and its outstanding feature was a
statue of Zeus, the Roman Jupiter and chief of the gods. The second largest
city of Turkey, modern Izmir, stands on the ancient site and only a few places
have been excavated by archeologists. A Roman aqueduct, theater and the agora,
the public square, remain in ruins. Izmir continues to be a major seaport.
Ecclesiastes 10
Labels:
Important messages
1. Dead flies make
the perfumer’s ointment give off a stench; so a little folly outweighs wisdom
and honor.
2. A wise man’s
heart inclines him to the right, but a fool’s heart to the left.
3. Even when the
fool walks on the road, he lacks sense, and he say to everyone that he is a
fool.
4. If the anger of
the ruler rises against you, do not leave your place, for calmness will lay
great offenses to rest.
5. There is an
evil that I have seen under the sun, as it were an error proceeding from the
ruler:
6. folly is set in
many high places, and the rich sit in a low place.
7. I have seen
slaves on horses, and princes walking on the ground like slaves.
8. He who digs a
pit will fall into it, and a serpent will bite him who breaks through a wall.
9. He who quarries
stones is hurt by them, and he who splits logs is endangered by them.
10. If the iron is
blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge, he must use more strength, but wisdom
helps on to succeed.
11. If the serpent
bites before it is charmed, there is no advantage to the charmer.
12. The words of a
wise man’s mouth win him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him.
13. The beginning
of the words of his mouth is foolishness, and the end of his talk is evil
madness.
14. A fool
multiplies words, though no man knows what is to be, and who can tell him what
will be after him?
15. The toil of a
fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city.
16. Woe to you, O
land, when your king is a child, and your princes feast in the morning!
17. Happy are you,
O land, when your king is the son of the nobility, and your princes feast at
the proper time, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
18. Through sloth
the roof sinks in, and through indolence the house leaks.
19. Bread is made
for laughter, and wine gladdens life, and money answers everything.
20. Even in your
thoughts, do not curse the king, nor in your bedroom curse the rich, for a bird
of the air will carry your voice, or some winged creature tell the matter.
The consequences of errors in leadership
Here we have a list of proverbial sayings by the composer
of hundreds of proverbs, these relating particularly to life under the sun. He
begins with one that links to the last verse of the previous chapter: “One sinner destroys much good.” In
this verse, he immediately gives us the meaning, concerning flies in the
ointment: It doesn’t take much foolishness to destroy a pleasant situation
(v.1). It is true in an individual life, as well as in the body of society.
This world is filled with disappointment, because a person’s honor falls easily
to one act of stupidity or one careless moment.
Revelation 2:1-7
Labels:
Important messages
General considerations concerning the churches
Before
we begin the study of the individual churches in chapter 2 and 3, I want to
give an overview of these seven churches in Asia Minor. John is the apostle,
who has outlived all the others and the only one to die a natural death. The
Holy Spirit is intricately involved in all the circumstances, surrounding the
Revelation, in order to carry out perfectly the eternal plan of God. With this
book, the total canon of inspired Scripture is complete and blessed are all
those, who have the privilege of prayerfully studying its pages. Consider this:
eleven apostles did not have this privilege, including the apostle Paul.
The
Gospel of John is considered to be the most spiritual of the four Gospels and,
when we pore over it, sometimes we find spiritual truth inserted in a rather subtle
form among the events that he recorded. That is one reason, that he is the most
suited of the apostles to write the Revelation. His age and experience are also
to be taken into consideration, as well as the timing of the book, almost at
the end of the first century, decades after all the other New Testament books
have been completed. The apostle John is watching the unfolding of the second
generation of Christianity.
The
Revelation is a fitting end to the canon, because it continues the accounts of
the principles and prophecies of the entire Bible. As I have tried to show, it
also completes the revelation of Jesus Christ, beyond what is revealed in the
Gospels. I want to say with some care, that the book carries many symbols.
Whereas that is true, we still want to take it as literally, as possible. It is
especially true in this book that the Holy Spirit fulfills the role, which
Christ said of Him, of showing things to come (Jn.16:13). There will be no more
Scripture written, but the prophetic Scriptures will continue to live, as their
predictions are fulfilled.
Ecclesiastes 9
Labels:
Important messages
Chapter 9
1. But all this I
laid to heart, examining it all, how the righteous and the wise and their deeds
are in the hand of God. Whether it is love or hate, man does not know; both are
before him.
2. It is the same
for all, since the same event happens to the righteous and the wicked, to the
good and the evil, to the clean and the unclean, to him who sacrifices and him
who does not sacrifice. As the good one is, so is the sinner, and he who swears
is as he who shuns an oath.
3. This is an evil
in all that is done under the sun, that the same event happens to all. Also,
the hearts of the children of man are full of evil, and madness is in their
hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead.
4. But he who is
joined with all the living has hope, for a living dog is better than a dead
lion.
5. For the living
know that they will die, but the dead know nothing, and they have no more
reward, for the memory of them is forgotten.
6. Their love and
their hate and their envy have already perished, and forever they have no more
share in all that is done under the sun.
The hope of the living
I will remind you again that we must think within the
sphere that the preacher is presenting. He has a charge and he is faithfully
discharging it in writing. We will be in serious trouble, if we form spiritual
doctrine around the literal interpretation of some of these earthly
observations. Solomon’s purpose is to awaken the reader to the vanity of living
for anything that is offered under the sun.
The king speaks transparently from his own experience and
he is in a position to do it with authority. Probably no one was ever better
equipped to deliver this message. The opening statement is to be taken into
consideration, before anything else is added. We give all that we cannot see
under the sun into the hand of God, because our human focus is only on the
limited understanding of what we see and know. We learned in the last chapter
that the calamity into which man falls, is not necessary a sign of God’s hatred
for him; nor are his prosperity and health a sign of God’s love. What then is
the lesson? We must live the life of faith, trusting God and laying our lives
and future totally in His hand (v.1).
Ecclesiastes 8
Labels:
Important messages
Chapter 8
Things that we have no power to control
1. Who is like the
wise? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man’s wisdom makes his
face shine and the hardness of his face is changed.
2. I say: Keep the
king’s command, because of God’s oath to him.
3. Be not hasty to
go from his presence. Do not take your stand in an evil cause, for he does
whatever he pleases.
4. For the word of
the king is supreme, and who may say to him, “What are you doing?”
5. Whoever keeps a
command will know no evil thing, and the wise heart will know the proper time
and the just way.
6. For there is a
time and a way for everything, although man’s trouble lies heavy on him.
7. For he does not
know what is to be, for who can tell him how it will be?
8. No man has power
to retain the spirit, or power over the day of death. There is no discharge
from war, nor will wickedness deliver those who are given to it.
9. All this I
observed while applying my heart to all that is done under the sun, when man
had power over man to his hurt.
The apostle Paul was not setting a precedent, when he
counselled the Romans to be subject to the civil authorities. The precedent was
set in the Old Testament and it was not determined by the word of a powerful
king, but it was a divine injunction. It is wisdom to abide by this rule for,
as much as possible, there should be order on earth. Roman rule had its flaws
and injustices, but in the center of its government, Paul commands the church
to be orderly and submissive citizens.
Revelation 1:14-18
Labels:
Important messages
14. The hairs of
his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of
fire,
15. his feet were
like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of
many waters.
16. In his right
hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his
face was like the sun shining in full strength.
17. When I saw
him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me,
saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last,
18. and the living
one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death
and Hades.”
The Glorified Christ
Purity is the first word that comes to mind, when I read, “His head and His hair were white, like white wool, like snow” (v.14). It speaks of moral and spiritual character
without blemish or flaw. Christ is the spotless Lamb of God.
Three qualities
are related to purity. It is unpolluted, undiluted and unalloyed. Jesus came
through earth’s trials morally unscathed. The presence of greedy tax collectors
and filthy harlots never dropped a blotch on his pure spirit. While He
physically walked among them, His character stood aloof. He never compromised,
experimented, nor stooped to relate to their foul ways. He never met them on
equal ground. He stood high above and lifted them out of their stench into the
pure atmosphere of holiness. The devil never found a lodging place for his
unclean thoughts and motives in Christ. Jesus said the devil had “nothing in me” (John 14:30). John
Bunyan’s “Vanity Fair” offered no
attractions to Jesus. The world could not touch the lofty level of His heart.
Ecclesiastes 7
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Important messages
Chapter 7
Sorrow versus laughter
1. A good name is better than precious
ointment, and the day of death than the day of birth.
2. It is better to go to the house of
mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all
mankind, and the living will lay it to heart.
3. Sorrow is better than laughter, for by
sadness of face the heart is made glad.
4. The heart of the wise is in the house of
mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
5. It is better for a man to hear the rebuke
of the wise than to hear the song of fools.
6. For as the crackling of thorns under a
pot, so is the laughter of the fools; this also is vanity.
Solomon has a
fascinating mentality, but we need to remember that he is inspired by the Holy
Spirit. He is seeing things from God’s perspective and that makes his thoughts
profitable to our lives. However, the man, who will preach like this preacher
will not be popular.
The writer begins
this chapter with a statement about a good name and follows with a comparison
between sorrow and laughter. I have to think that this is done with purpose, in
order to show the attitudes toward life that are most likely to bring about a
good name. Names in the Bible have meaning and refer to someone’s character. A
person’s name was changed, when his character was changed. Therefore a good name means a good character which, he says, is better to wear, than precious
ointment. It leaves a better scent behind it, than expensive perfume.
Revelation 1:12-13, 19-20
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Important messages
12. Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and
on turning I saw seven golden lampstands,
13. and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man,
clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest.
19. Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that
are and those that are to take place after this.
20. As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my
right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of
the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
The golden seven-fold
candlestick
Before we begin to
comment, we want to try to picture the scene that John saw, as he turns to face
the One, whose voice was like a trumpet. He sees, first of all seven golden
candlesticks and in the middle of these candlesticks, one like a son of man. He
wears a long robe with a golden sash. His hair is like white wool or snow, and
His eyes are like a flame of fire. His feet are like burnished, refined bronze,
and His voice is like the roar of rushing water. He holds seven stars in His
right hand and a sharp, two-edged sword comes from His mouth. His face shines like
the sun on a clear midday.
This is not something
easy to imagine, but we don’t need a vivid imagination, because what is important
is the ability to catch the significance of John’s vision. We ask the Spirit of
God, who opens the scene to John, to help us see the things that He is
providing for all those, who delve into this book. Our first priority is to see
Christ with the eyes of our heart, as He is depicted here, and also view the
seven churches.
Ecclesiastes 6
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Important messages
Chapter 6
Wealth
without joy and other lessons
1. There is an
evil that I have seen under the sun, and it lies heavy on mankind:
2. a man to who
God gives wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he lacks nothing of all that
he desires, yet God does not give him power to enjoy them, but a stranger enjoys
them. This is vanity; it is a grievous evil.
3. If a man
fathers a hundred children and lives many years, so that the days of his years
are many, but his soul is not satisfied with life’s good things, and he also
has no burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he.
4. For it comes in
vanity and goes in darkness, and in darkness its name is covered.
5. Moreover, it
has not seen the sun or known anything, yet it finds rest rather than he.
6. Even though he
should live a thousand years twice over, yet enjoy no good… do not all go to
the one place?
7. All the toil of
man is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not satisfied.
8. For what
advantage has the wise man over the fool? And what does the poor man have who
knows how to conduct himself before the living?
9. Better is the
sight of the eyes than the wandering of the appetite: this also is vanity and a
striving after wind.
10. Whatever has
come to be has already been named, and it is known what man is, and that he is
not able to dispute with one stronger than he.
11. The more
words, the more vanity, and what is the advantage to man?
12. For who knows
what is good for man while he lives the few days of his vain life, which he
passes like a shadow? For who can tell man what will be after him under the
sun?
Revelation 1:8-11
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Important messages
8. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is
and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
9. I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the
kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called
Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.
10. I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me
a loud voice like a trumpet
11. saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the
seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to
Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.”
The main purpose of
Scripture
The Scriptures are
about who God is; they are a revelation of His person. It is not primarily
about the human race, and He is the one that His true people want to know. They
have known Him personally from the beginning of their Christian experience, but
they are continually looking into His word with hungry hearts, seeking to learn
a little more of His personality.
In verse 8, God has
given us something, upon which we can meditate. There are so many things, which
can be used to describe Him and yet, we still must recognize the limitations of
human language and everything known to man, to fully unveil His infinite
essence and nature. The Greek alphabet becomes the tool in this text. Not only
words, but letters, will help to open our understanding, and the Lord God uses
the first and last Greek letters, Alpha and
Omega. God is in every minute detail
of written truth.
Ecclesiastes 5
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Important messages
Chapter 5
The vanity of talk
1. Guard your
steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to
offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil.
2. Be not rash
with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for
God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few.
3. For a dream
comes with much business, and a fool’s voice with many words.
4. When you vow a
vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what
you vow.
5. It is better
that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.
6. Let not your
mouth lead you into sin, and do not say before the messenger that it was a
mistake. Why should God be angry at your voice and destroy the work of your
hands?
7. For when dreams
increase and words grow many, there is vanity; but God is the one you must
fear.
Five times in the biblical books of wisdom an almost
identical statement appears: “The fear
of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” This is the point, at which vanity
ends and wisdom begins. In the midst of his discourse on life under the sun, a
negative report to be sure, Solomon interjects some jewels. One is found in
verse seven, “God is the one you must fear”,
and it is the secret to life beyond the sun that has lasting value. It is the
theme of the first seven verses. Though these gems may be few and far between in Ecclesiastes,
they carry more than enough weight to tip the scale of earth’s value system in
the right direction for the person, who knows how to measure and appreciate
them.
A reverent fear of God is beyond price, and it is a rare
asset in today’s society. When the time comes to approach the things of God,
see to it that it is done with the highest regard for his honor and worthiness.
Guard your steps… remove your shoes, when you come to the holy place of
encounter with the Almighty. Religious pretense is an enemy; it is not only
deceitful, it is evil.
Revelation 1:4-7
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Important messages
4. John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace
from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who
are before his throne,
5. and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead,
and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our
sins by his blood
6. and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory
and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
7. Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even
those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him.
Even so, Amen.
Grace and Peace from the Trinity
 |
| Isle of Patmos |
“Grace and peace”, was Paul’s
salutation in all 13 of his letters to the churches, as well as to Titus.
Curiously, he added “mercy”, when writing to Timothy. Peter uses “grace and
peace” in his second epistle and Jude adds mercy and love to peace. John in his
second letter also adds mercy, but now in Revelation, he gives the simple greeting,
which we find most commonly in the epistles. I simply want to point out that it
is important to understand that in the Word of God, these greetings are not
just customary, but carry the full weight of divine blessing.
This book is addressed
directly to seven churches in Asia Minor and they are literally the first
recipients of it. However, it is worth noting that there were more than seven
churches in this Roman province in John’s day. Given the symbolism and the
prophetic nature of the book, we can easily surmise that only seven were chosen
to serve a wider purpose. Seven is the number of perfect completeness and I
believe that these churches represent the church of all ages. I think that
their characteristics are the same as those we find in different churches in
every period of history. I also tend to think that each one represents a
dominant type of church in seven historical periods, the Laodicean church
standing for the dominant church of our times. I will write more about this, as
we come to chapters two and three.
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