The 4 Persons Podcast

THE BOOK OF REVELATION PART 9

9 And the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star fallen from heaven to earth, and he was given the key of the shaft of the bottomless pit;
 
 
 
2 he opened the shaft of the bottomless pit, and from the shaft rose smoke like the smoke of a great furnace, and the sun and the air were darkened with the smoke from the shaft.
 
A very important key for interpretating this chapter and book is given to us right away here. A star falls from heaven and he is given a key. The star represents a person. So, each time you read in this book about the stars falling from the sky, do not be tempted to always understand it as a meteor shower.
 
 
 
The star here is Lucifer, himself, as you will see later. The point is that God is handing over to the dark side, the power to unleash hell on earth, so speak.
 
 
 
The pit is the dwelling place of the serpent.
 
 
 
The darkening of the sun and the air a symbolic of the level of evil unleashed on mankind.
 
 
 
3 Then from the smoke came locusts on the earth, and they were given power like the power of scorpions of the earth; 4 they were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any green growth or any tree, but only those of mankind who have not the seal of God upon their foreheads; 5 they were allowed to torture them for five months, but not to kill them, and their torture was like the torture of a scorpion, when it stings a man. 6 And in those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will long to die, and death will fly from them.
 
These locusts are unlike typical locusts that ravage plants and vegetation. These locusts only torment men. The torture was like a scorpion. It meant that the suffering was very intense but not necessarily a purely physical suffering. The seal on the forehead is the seal of Baptism. the everlasting seal of the initiation into the Christian faith. This will be contrasted later with the mark of the beast, the mark of those who reject Jesus.
 
 
 
7 In appearance the locusts were like horses arrayed for battle; on their heads were what looked like crowns of gold; their faces were like human faces, 8 their hair like women’s hair, and their teeth like lions’ teeth; 9 they had scales like iron breastplates, and the noise of their wings was like the noise of many chariots with horses rushing into battle. 10 They have tails like scorpions, and stings, and their power of hurting men for five months lies in their tails. 11 They have as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit; his name in Hebrew is Abad′don, and in Greek he is called Apol′lyon.
 
As is the case with those who claim that Ezekial's wheel is a flying saucer, many bizarre interpretations have been made here. Dispensationalist fanatic Hal Lindsay saw them as piloted attack helicopters while psycho-killer Charles Manson said they were none other than the Beatles!
 
 
 
As is the case in so many other places, the physical attributes shown is meant to express characteristics of their nature. To understand what you are seeing, you only need to examine from where they came. These are demons.
 
 
 
The prophecies seem to have been fulfilled in the 5 months leading up to the actual siege on Jerusalem. Again, quoting from Barber (page 130)
 
 
 
The prophecy of this demon infested country seems to be confirmed in the accounts of Josephus. Josephus, who saw his own people plummet to the depths of wickedness in ways he could hardly imagine, described how the people of the city had an ''insatiable inclination to plunder, and for the murdering of men and the abusing of women, it was a sport to them''. They devoured whatever they found, even drinking blood. Like the locusts in Revelation, who had ''hair like women'' (9:8), the zealots became transvestites. Josephus listed numerous wicked practices, which out of decency won't be repeated here.
 
 
 
Anyone wanting to draw parallels to our current times, feel free.
 
 
 
 The Hebrew Abaddon and the Greek Apollyon both mean the destroyer. One may take pause at the fact that these demons do not destroy any plant or tree nor do they actually kill the perpetrators of these evil acts. What they bring about is even worse. They destroy these people eternally because of the depravity to which they lead them. God's Justice must allow them to suffer but His mercy is what actually keeps them alive, with the opportunity to repent. Their refusal to repent manifests their evil, seals their fate and ultimately drives them insane to the point of drinking blood and giving themselves over to perversion.
 
 
 
12 The first woe has passed; behold, two woes are still to come.
 
Another pause gives the dramatic effect that we should reflect on what has been and what is to come.
 
 
 
 
 
13 Then the sixth angel blew his trumpet, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar before God, 14 saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphra′tes.”15 So the four angels were released, who had been held ready for the hour, the day, the month, and the year, to kill a third of mankind. 16 The number of the troops of cavalry was twice ten thousand times ten thousand; I heard their number. 17 And this was how I saw the horses in my vision: the riders wore breastplates the color of fire and of sapphire and of sulphur, and the heads of the horses were like lions’ heads, and fire and smoke and sulphur issued from their mouths. 18 By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed, by the fire and smoke and sulphur issuing from their mouths. 19 For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails; their tails are like serpents, with heads, and by means of them they wound.
 
The four horns of the golden altar before God is a curious phrase. It seems to call out both to the 4 living creatures and to the altar under which we saw the martyrs crying out for vengence. That vengeance is about to be unleashed.
 
 
 
 That some of the invading Roman legions came from beyond the Euphrates is a historical fact. This includes the 10th legion that was involved in the siege on Jerusalem itself. It came from north of the Euphrates. What is stark is that the troops of demons are described right along with the troops of Romans as if they are one and the same. We see this often in this book. For examples, the dragon in chapter 7 and the beast in chapter 17. This is the only way to make sense of the number that equals 200 million. The idea of a human army of 200 million crossing the Euphrates river is pretty tough to support in our age of sophisticated and nuclear weapons.
 
 
 
In the gulf war, what was considered a massive military force in this region wasn't even 1% of that number.
 
 
 
 The point of these verses is that Heaven's justice is ordained by God, driven by the demons and carried out by the Romans. The people of the wicked city choose their own destruction by virtue of their wickedness.
 
 
 
20 The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot either see or hear or walk; 21 nor did they repent of their murders or their sorceries or their immorality or their thefts.
 
 
 
This is the bottom line. God gives people the Grace to repent and the space to repent but some will only double down on their wickedness and God is forced to mete out His Justice against them.
 
 
 
Some people will continue to associate these verses with Catholicism because Catholics have images but the comparison is absurd. God Himself allowed- and even commanded- the use of religious images in the Temple and upon the Ark of the Covenant. Catholics have statues and paintings as art. They are focal points and reminders of Jesus and Mary and the reality of Angels and Saints. There isn't a catholic in the world who believes that statues of gold or silver, wood or plaster are alive, much less Divine. Those who fell into idolatry fell into actual idolatry. They worshipped the statues of Zeus and Apollo and the other false gods and thus, gave service to the demons who actually acted through these idols. A Catholic worships the Holy Trinity- Father, Son and Holy Spirit. That's it. Any one telling you different is wrong.
 
 
 
Join us next time for part X

THE BOOK OF REVELATION PART 8

8 When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.
 
 
 
After the dramatic events of chapter 7, and the first 6 seals, chapter 8 essentially begins with a half hour of silence. This silence evokes the idea of reverential awe as a fundamental aspect of worship. Make no mistake, worship is what is taking place. It is the worship of the Old Covenant, fulfilled in the New.
 
 
 
 2 Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.
 
We started with seven seals that deal with the unsealing of truths to be revealed. Now, the Seven Angels are given trumpets to herald coming events.
 
3 And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer; and he was given much incense to mingle with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar before the throne;
 
Once again, it is presented to us in the sense of worship.
 
 
 
Hebrews 9
 
1: Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly sanctuary.   
 
2: For a tent was prepared, the outer one, in which were the lampstand and the table and the bread of the Presence; it is called the Holy Place.   
 
3: Behind the second curtain stood a tent called the Holy of Holies,   
 
4: having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, which contained a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;
 
 
 
Once a year, on Yom Kippur (the day of atonement) The priest would enter the sanctuary to offer incense before the Holy of Holies. In September of 3 BC, this is what Zechariah was doing when one of those 7 Angels (Gabriel) appeared to him. Jesus was born 15 months later on December 25th. Our protestant brothers have some explaining to do. As was the case in chapter 5, we now see the Angels receiving the prayers of 'the saints' (on earth) and mixing them with the incense. Are not these people constantly telling us that the Angels and Saints are not aware of our prayers?
 
 
 
4 and the smoke of the incense rose with the prayers of the saints from the hand of the angel before God.
 
This shows us two absolutely necessary elements of worship that are missing in most non-catholic churches. The first is the use of incense and the second is the intercession of Saints and Angels. Here, in a fascinating revelation, we see that the incense (among the gifts offered by the Magi to the baby Jesus) is fused to the prayers of the saints so that they become combined. We see this in the very next verse.
 
5 Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth; and there were peals of thunder, loud noises, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.
 
The interplay is just stark. Recall in chapter 6 when the souls of the martyrs cried out for justice from beneath the sacrificial altar. We then have the Saints and Angels receiving those prayers and offering them up with incense before the altar. We then see the fire that burns the incense actually used to bring justice, as an answer to those prayers. In every Catholic Mass, incense and prayers are offered up before the altar.
 
 
 
Some may see this as an imitation of this heavenly worship. It's more than that! It is a direct participation in it! Because Jesus is both the Lion and the Lamb, Both the King and the Servant, both the Priest and the sacrifice, Both God and Man, Both the Lord commanding the Priest and the one acting through the Priest, the mystical worship in complete so that the Heavenly worship and the earthly worship are one and the same and inseparable
 
 
 
John Chrysostum, writing in the 5th century, said it so brilliantly:
 
 
 
“When you see the Lord immolated and lying upon the altar, and the priest bent over that sacrifice praying, and all the people empurpled by that precious blood, can you think that you are still among men and on earth? Or are you not lifted up to heaven?” (The Priesthood 3:4:177 [A.D. 387]).
 
 
 
“Reverence, therefore, reverence this table, of which we are all communicants! Christ, slain for us, the sacrificial victim who is placed thereon!” (Homilies on Romans 8:8 [A.D. 391]).
 
“In ancient times, because men were very imperfect, God did not scorn to receive the blood which they were offering . . . to draw them away from those idols; and this very thing again was because of his indescribable, tender affection. But now he has transferred the priestly action to what is most awesome and magnificent. He has changed the sacrifice itself, and instead of the butchering of dumb beasts, he commands the offering up of himself” (ibid., 24:2).
 
“What then? Do we not offer daily? Yes, we offer, but making remembrance of his death; and this remembrance is one and not many. How is it one and not many? Because this sacrifice is offered once, like that in the Holy of Holies. This sacrifice is a type of that, and this remembrance a type of that. We offer always the same, not one sheep now and another tomorrow, but the same thing always. Thus there is one sacrifice. By this reasoning, since the sacrifice is offered everywhere, are there, then, a multiplicity of Christs? By no means! Christ is one everywhere. He is complete here, complete there, one body. And just as he is one body and not many though offered everywhere, so too is there one sacrifice” (Homilies on Hebrews 17:3(6) [A.D. 403]).
 
 
 
To get straight to the point, God shows us what worship looks like. He created it, He formulated it, He instructed it and we are not to deviate from it. From the earthly worship, comes heavenly consequences. If your worship doesn't look like what you have seen in these last 5 chapters, you are going to the wrong church.
 
 
 
The fire lighting the censor that burns the incense is heavenly fire and it is used in the execution of God's Judgement on the nations.
 
 
 
Ezekial 2
 
 
 
2: And he said to the man clothed in linen, "Go in among the whirling wheels underneath the cherubim; fill your hands with burning coals from between the cherubim, and scatter them over the city." And he went in before my eyes.
 
3: Now the cherubim were standing on the south side of the house, when the man went in; and a cloud filled the inner court.
 
4: And the glory of the LORD went up from the cherubim to the threshold of the house; and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the glory of the LORD.
 
5: And the sound of the wings of the cherubim was heard as far as the outer court, like the voice of God Almighty when he speaks.
 
6: And when he commanded the man clothed in linen, "Take fire from between the whirling wheels, from between the cherubim," he went in and stood beside a wheel.  
 
7: And a cherub stretched forth his hand from between the cherubim to the fire that was between the cherubim, and took some of it, and put it into the hands of the man clothed in linen, who took it and went out.
 
 
 
God's action of justice is intimately tied to the incense and the prayers of the saints. It is that justice now being hurled down upon Jerusalem.
 
 
 
I cannot help but wonder who the 8th Angel is but I see no clues in the text.
 
 
 
6 Now the seven angels who had the seven trumpets made ready to blow them.
 
7 The first angel blew his trumpet, and there followed hail and fire, mixed with blood, which fell on the earth; and a third of the earth was burnt up, and a third of the trees were burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.
 
Later in the Book, Jerusalem is compared to Sodom and Egypt because it's fate closely mirrors that which fell on those cities. The 7 Trumpets very closely follow the image of the 7 plagues of Egypt.
 
 
 
Exodus 9
 
 
 
22: And the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch forth your hand toward heaven, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, upon man and beast and every plant of the field, throughout the land of Egypt."
 
 
 
23: Then Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven; and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and fire ran down to the earth. And the LORD rained hail upon the land of Egypt;
 
24: there was hail, and fire flashing continually in the midst of the hail, very heavy hail, such as had never been in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation.
 
 
 
Once again, author Michael Barber does a great job of providing the eyewitness testimony of Josephus, the Jewish historian (coming soon, page 124)
 
 
 
"Truly the very view itself of the country was a melancholy thing; for those places which were before adorned with trees and gardens were now become a desolate country in every way and it's trees were all cut down. Nor could any foreigner who had formerly seen Judea and the most beautiful suburbs of the city, and now saw it as a desert, but lament and mourn, sadly at so great a change..... nor if anyone that had known the place before, had come on a sudden to it now, would he have known it again; but though he were standing at the city itself, yet would he have inquired for it notwithstanding"
 
 
 
8 The second angel blew his trumpet, and something like a great mountain, burning with fire, was thrown into the sea; 9 and a third of the sea became blood, a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.
 
This is a hard text to reconcile with a world-wide event as we would see it today.
 
 
 
It is easy, however, to compare it to the plague on the Nile river in Egypt that we see in Exodus chapter 7, verses 20 and 21.
 
 
 
The greek word for Sea is Thalassa (Strong's 2281) and it can be used in as a Sea in general, but it is often applied specifically to the Red Sea or the Mediterranean Sea. It is singular and cannot apply to all of the seas of the world. Certainly, The Red Sea could not apply here because of location, but the Mediterranean absolutely would. That is where the Roman attack would have arrived from or a significant part of it at least. Josephus historical accounts of the ships under assault and people shot with arrows as they tried to swim to shore is applicable. It had to have been a horrific scene, exactly as foretold here.
 
 
 
10 The third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star fell from heaven, blazing like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the fountains of water. 11 The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died of the water, because it was made bitter.
 
Isaiah 14
 
12: "How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low!
 
 
 
The image of the Mountain falling in the Sea and the Star falling from heaven are both stark images of Jerusalem being knocked off it's high horse, so to speak.
 
 
 
12 The fourth angel blew his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of their light was darkened; a third of the day was kept from shining, and likewise a third of the night.
 
 
 
As the Jews used the sun, moon and stars to keep track of time, this dark and foreboding imagery is telling us that time is up and judgement is coming.
 
 
 
13 Then I looked, and I heard an eagle crying with a loud voice, as it flew in midheaven, “Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, at the blasts of the other trumpets which the three angels are about to blow!”
 
Obviously, the Eagle represents a sentinel heralding a warning. When we revisit the interpretation of the 4 living creatures as the gospel writers, we are tantalized by the prospect that the Eagle is this very writer in this very book.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Join us next time for part IX
 
 
 
 
 

THE BOOK OF REVELATION- PART 7

7 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, that no wind might blow on earth or sea or against any tree. 2 Then I saw another angel ascend from the rising of the sun, with the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm earth and sea, 3 saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God upon their foreheads.” 4 And I heard the number of the sealed, a hundred and forty-four thousand sealed, out of every tribe of the sons of Israel, 5 twelve thousand sealed out of the tribe of Judah, twelve thousand of the tribe of Reuben, twelve thousand of the tribe of Gad, 6 twelve thousand of the tribe of Asher, twelve thousand of the tribe of Naph′tali, twelve thousand of the tribe of Manas′seh, 7 twelve thousand of the tribe of Simeon, twelve thousand of the tribe of Levi, twelve thousand of the tribe of Is′sachar, 8 twelve thousand of the tribe of Zeb′ulun, twelve thousand of the tribe of Joseph, twelve thousand sealed out of the tribe of Benjamin.
 
From the rising of the sun obviously means from the east. This is a hearkening to the eucharistic prophecy in Malachi chapter 1. From the east is a foundational expression of our Christian faith as coming from that area of the world. From this term, from the east, we get the word Easter.
 
 
 
Atheists seize on the idea of the four winds or corners as showing that Bible believers are flat earthers. Nothing could be further from the truth. First, the language is symbolic and second, it is symbolic of viewing the earth as a Temple, not as a plate. They believed the Temple in Jerusalem was a symbolic representation of the world.
 
 
 
The harm of the earth and the sea and the tree represents the utter destruction starring down this area. The sealing represents the seal of Baptism, the indelible mark of the Christian. If you are waiting today to see an angel with a giant stamper flying down sealing thousands of people, you are going to be waiting a while. This is a huge allegorical depiction of a tremendous miracle. There were over 1 million people killed during the siege on Jerusalem....
 
 
 
but no Christians. All the Christians survived because they heeded the warning of Jesus and fled.
 
 
 
Those who see this as a futuristic restoration of the Old Covenant Israel have to explain something.
 
 
 
The 12 sons of Jacob were Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, and Benjamin. However, the list here is a little bit different. Dan has been removed and replaced with Mannaseh. Mannaseh was Joseph's son. He was a grandson of Jacob, not a son.
 
 
 
It is true that Joseph's two sons- Manasseh and Ephraim were elevated to the status of full tribes after Jacob's firstborn forsook his birthright after his transgression with Bilhah (Genesis 48:5) but that explanation fails to suffice here for 3 reasons.
 
While both Ephraim and Manasseh were elevated, in honor of their father Joseph, only Manasseh is listed here.
Joseph is placed back on the list.
The son who transgressed was Rueben but he, also, was put back on the list.
The son removed is Dan.
 
 
 
Is this a mistake? An oversite?
 
 
 
It does not appear to be.
 
 
 
Clearly the early church did not think it was a mistake and there are two foundational principles that are drawn from this. Let's deal with them one at a time.
 
 
 
The promised restoration of Israel is a centerpiece of Dispensationalist and Zionist though. The idea that God intends to restore the nation of Israel before the end of days.
 
 
 
Some people believe this occurred in 1948. The truth is that it occurred in 33 AD.
 
 
 
This first principle is that the Catholic church is this restored kingdom of Israel and Jesus is the Davidic King. Paul puts it so well in Romans Chapter 9:
 
 
 
6 But it is not as though the word of God had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, 7 and not all are children of Abraham because they are his descendants; but “Through Isaac shall your descendants be named.” 8 This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are reckoned as descendants. 9 For this is what the promise said, “About this time I will return and Sarah shall have a son.” 10 And not only so, but also when Rebecca had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, 11 though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad, in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of his call, 12 she was told, “The elder will serve the younger.” 13 As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”
 
 
 
 
 
Thus, the 144,000 from every tribe symbolizes the completion and perfection and sealing in Baptism of this new Israel, protected from the coming wrath just as the Israelites of the Old Covenant were protected from the plague of the firstborn.
 
 
 
The Second principle is an interesting one for end-timers.
 
 
 
Early church writers such as Jerome and Augustine, gleaned from Scripture that the removal of Dan from the list here, foreshadows that the anti-christ would be descended from this tribe. When we look at Israel's blessing of his 12 sons (Genesis 49), it is easy to see the Messianic prophecy of Judah.
 
 
 
Judah, your brothers shall praise you;
 
    your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies;
 
    your father’s sons shall bow down before you.
 
9 Judah is a lion’s whelp;
 
    from the prey, my son, you have gone up.
 
He stooped down, he couched as a lion,
 
    and as a lioness; who dares rouse him up?
 
10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah,
 
    nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet,
 
until he comes to whom it belongs;[d]
 
    and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.
 
11 Binding his foal to the vine
 
    and his ass’s colt to the choice vine,
 
he washes his garments in wine
 
    and his vesture in the blood of grapes;
 
12 his eyes shall be red with wine,
 
    and his teeth white with milk.
 
 
 
Who could fail to see these words fulfilled in Christ?
 
Take care then, to heed what he says about Dan.
 
 
 
16 Dan shall judge his people
 
    as one of the tribes of Israel.
 
17 Dan shall be a serpent in the way,
 
    a viper by the path,
 
that bites the horse’s heels
 
    so that his rider falls backward.
 
Not only is the Paul and the early church implying that the "Nation of Israel" as we understood it, would serve the younger church, we have already seen this. Recall that Jesus told the 7 churches that the Synagogue of Satan would bow before them. Now we have some insight to why they are called this. Not only are these new Jews not of the true and authentic Jewish faith but the antichrist will actually arise from them in the future.
 
 
 
9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no man could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits upon the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11 And all the angels stood round the throne and round the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God for ever and ever! Amen.”
 
Isn't it interesting that we have two groups or classes of saints that are shown in heaven. First, we are given a group of 144,000 from the 12 restored tribes. Is this 144,000 a literal number or just a model of perfection- 12 x 12 x 1,000. I don't know.
 
 
 
However, in verse 9, we are shown a different group of saints from every tribe, nation and tongue and this number is such that no one could count it.
 
 
 
What I am going to show you is that the 12 restored sons of Israel represent the 12 Apostles, the 144,000 represent the Priesthood that would follow them by Apostolic succession and the great multitude are the countless millions who would eventually be saved through that church.
 
 
 
This, here, as the immediate events are about to unfold, we are being shown the long-term, future consequences that will eventually culminate in the rise and defeat of antichrist by Jesus' church.
 
 
 
10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits upon the throne, and to the Lamb!”
 
The definitive declaration is that the Old Covenant model is through, and the reign of the Father and Son has arrived and those who oppose it are antichrists (1 John 2:22)
 
 
 
13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and whence have they come?” 14 I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
 
15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night within his temple; and he who sits upon the throne will shelter them with his presence.16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat.17 For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water; and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
 
 
 
There are people who try and get around verses like this by creating a scenario where one set of believers are saved by faith alone but another set are saved by going through, and overcoming the tribulation. The great question is whether we look at this as the great tribulation staring down Jerusalem in 68 AD or the great tribulation of the end times of which we know only sketchy details. The answer is not either /or, it is both /and.
 
 
 
The context of this is important. Concentrate on the what here and not so much the when. God is showing you the bigger picture. There is profound depth here. Concentrate on this profound truth. They have come through tribulation and washed their robes in the blood of the lamb.
 
 
 
That statement should hit you like a ton of bricks.
 
 
 
OUR tribulations apply the blood OF THE LAMB to our robes.
 
 
 
Let me repeat that.
 
 
 
OUR tribulations apply the blood OF THE LAMB to our robes.
 
 
 
They have washed their robes in His blood by their own tribulations.
 
 
 
This cuts to the very core of how we are saved and how the protestant formulations just don't work. Jesus did not come and suffer and die to remove us from the battle and impose salvation on us. Jesus came to join us in the battle and win victory with us. It is just overpowering.
 
 
 
What is absolutely lost on the faith vs works crowd is that Paul and James are both exploring the opposite extremes of facing this question. Opposite extremes that are both manifested by pride. Pride is really an inability to see ourselves truly as we are and how we stand.
 
 
 
On the one hand, we can fall into the trap of believing in our own holiness and commit the sins of boasting and contempt but on the other hand, we can convince ourselves that salvation is given to us like a Christmas present with nothing needed on our part.
 
 
 
The gospels are clear, and so are these passages, that both of those views are very wrong. The true believer becomes crucified with Christ so that He doesn't fight the battle for us nor do we fight the battle for Him but in a mysterious and beautiful synergy and symphony, we fight it together.
 
 
 
Without Him, I can't.
 
Without me, He won't.
 
~ Augustine
 
 
 
The nasty boss who has you so stressed out? The unreasonable neighbor? That nagging illness or injury or even death and grief. They have value. They are the scrubbing that washes your robes in His blood. It is just overpowering.
 
 
 
It is very important that you read clearly what is said.
 
 
 
You cannot hunger no more nor thirst, nor be exposed to the sun or the scorching heat unless you have been hungry, thirsty and exhausted and burdened by the heat.
 
 
 
You cannot have your tears wiped away unless you have tears to be wiped away. Suffering is the cost of discipleship.
 
 
 
Matthew 5
 
 
 
5 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down his disciples came to him. 2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
 
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
 
4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
 
5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
 
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
 
7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
 
8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
 
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
 
10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
 
11 “Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you.
 
 
 
God's declaration of salvation is here. We are not saved by our works- independent from God. We are not saved by God- without our cooperation. We are saved by Grace, received by faith and cooperated with by love.
 
 
 
Join us next time for Chapter 8.

THE BOOK OF REVELATION- PART 5

Now we get to the fun stuff, right? This is the part of Revelation everyone gets so intrigued about. I mean, the first 4 chapters are all well and good but now the action starts. We have seals breaking, bowls of wrath pouring and trumpets blasting and so many believe that these are all the things we are to be looking for in our future. Once again, if you are focused on playing armchair prophet, you will miss what's really going on.
 
 
 
 And I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals; 2 and I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, 4 and I wept much that no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Weep not; lo, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”
 
The scroll that is sealed represents the verdict of the Justice of God. The curse that we were under was sealed up. John wept bitterly at our desperate condition, we were guilty, we were hopeless. One of the elders tells him not to weep for the lion of the tribe of Judah, the son of David the King has conquered.
 
 
 
What has He conquered? Sin and death for those who accepted Him. By His victory, He has reconciled God's justice with His mercy, for those who accepted Him.
 
 
 
For those who accepted Him.
 
 
 
The question is what happens to those who didn't.
 
 
 
 
 
Imagine if you will, two books. The two books are formed by the irrefutable fact that God's justice must be satisfied.
 
 
 
Those who choose the red book, choose the blood book. By virtue of repentance, God's blood and God's Grace satisfy God's Justice with His mercy.
 
Those who choose the black book, the book of eternal death, choose to satisfy God's Justice themselves.
 
 
 
These will satisfy God's Justice eternally in hell.
 
 
 
Here is an example of the two-edged sword we talked about. The same blood that cleanses us, curses them, by their own implacable hatred and rash words.
 
 
 
Matthew 27:15 Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted. 16 And they had then a notorious prisoner, called Barab′bas. 17 So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you, Barab′bas or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18 For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up. 19 Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much over him today in a dream.”
 
 
 
20 Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the people to ask for Barab′bas and destroy Jesus. 21 The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barab′bas.” 22 Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified.” 23 And he said, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified.”
 
 
 
24 So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this righteous man’s blood; see to it yourselves.” 25 And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!”
 
 
 
These people committed the greatest act of evil in the history of the world. They killed God. Some later repented and were shown mercy. Some never did.
 
 
 
At death, the book of mercy close. The book of Justice opens.
 
 
 
What you are about to read in these coming chapters is about what happens to those who accepted Him and what happens to those who did not. It really is that simple. Which Book did you choose?
 
 
 
What you are about to see is the unsealing of the fulfilment of the Old Covenant with the new, the replacement of the old Passover with the new, the destruction of the old Jerusalem and replacing with the new. That is what is about to unfold here in graphic detail.
 
 
 
6 And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders, I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth; 7 and he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne.
 
The first thing that should strike you is the poetic, almost absurd, paradox you see here that was played out. The audience, so to speak, is expecting to see a roaring lion of Judah, a victorious Davidic King dressed in dazzling splendor.
 
 
 
and what do we behold? A slaughtered lamb.
 
 
 
The irony is just stunning! They searched all of heaven and earth and under the earth and could not find one powerful enough, worthy enough, to break the seals until the slain lamb, the meekest of creatures stepped forward.
 
 
 
The meek lamb that had been slaughtered, yet it had 7 horns which represent perfect power and seven eyes that are, again, the Seven Spirits of God. Omnipotence and Omniscience in the form of a slaughtered lamb.
 
 
 
The opposing forces of this image are just incomprehensible.
 
 
 
Remember, v5 calls Him the Lion and the Davidic King who has conquered. He conquered by being slaughtered. When people accuse Christians of inventing our faith, I laugh. No man could create a faith like this. It's too absurd! Victory by defeat. Conquest achieved by being Annihilated.
 
 
 
He now stands between the Throne and the Elders. He stands, literally, as the mediator between God and Man.
 
 
 
The lamb, who was led to slaughter without uttering a word in His own defense, now approaches the Ancient of Days and takes the scroll from His hand.
 
 
 
Now come 3 verses that should throw you for loop.
 
 
 
8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and with golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints; 9 and they sang a new song, saying,
 
“Worthy art thou to take the scroll and to open its seals, for thou wast slain and by thy blood didst ransom men for God from every tribe and tongue and people and nation,10 and hast made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on earth.”
 
 
 
 
 
Image from The Catholic Telegraph
 
Do you have incense in your worship service?
 
 
 
Why not? It's a fixture in the Old Testament worship and here it is in the Book of Revelation. What is striking is what the incense is said to be and who it is offered by.
 
 
 
Ask a protestant what a saint is.
 
 
 
This, from Biblestudy.com
 
 
 
In the Bible, a saint is someone who is set apart for God’s special purposes2. The term “saint” is derived from the Greek word hagios, which means “holy” or “consecrated to God”2. In the New Testament, the word is used to describe believers who have been sanctified by their faith in Christ2.
 
 
 
Well. You have a problem. If the Saints are those consecrated to God, then the consecrated in Heaven are here offering the prayers of the consecrated on earth. They can't offer them if they don't receive them. Too many times I have heard the complaint that we are not to pray to dead saints in heaven because they cannot hear our prayers.
 
 
 
Jesus said in Mark 12:
 
 
 
24 Jesus said to them, “Is not this why you are wrong, that you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God? 25 For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 26 And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God said to him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? 27 He is not God of the dead, but of the living; you are quite wrong.”
 
 
 
So they aren't dead. Obviously, they can hear our prayers because they have collected them. Obviously, they are intercessors because here they are offering our prayers to Jesus.
 
 
 
So, why do we believe the Saints can intercede for us? It is because that is what the Bible shows us! We are literally following the model God gave us!
 
 
 
Further, God not only ransomed men from every tribe and nation by His blood but made them a Kingdom of Priests to reign on earth! Reign on earth? We have seen this before. That means authority. The Elders are literally confirming the authority of the Catholic Priesthood as God's authority on earth. These verses are impossible to reconcile with faith-alone ideology.
 
 
 
Let's review.
 
It's a kingdom. That denotes structure. They are Priests. That means they offer a sacrifice. They reign on earth. That denotes authority. There is no way that squares with Protestantism and the idea of a Bible alone.
 
 
 
11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” 13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all therein, saying, “To him who sits upon the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might for ever and ever!” 14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
 
This concludes our exposition of Chapter 5.
 
 
 
Chapter 6 will follow in the next episode.

THE BOOK OF REVELATION- PART 6

I have said before, and I will say again, that the nearly all the things recorded here refer to events that were not far into the writer's future. About 2 years to be exact. That doesn't mean we can't draw parallels and learn lessons. It is not unreasonable to conclude that the same kinds of dire events are headed for our world if we keep on the path we are on.
 
 
 
This is one of the most famous parts of the Book of Revelation. The 4 Horsemen.
 
 
 
The colors of the 4 horses are White, Red, Black and a Sickly Green, sometimes translated as pale The greek word is Chloros.
 
 
 
6 Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say, as with a voice of thunder, “Come!” 2 And I saw, and behold, a white horse, and its rider had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.
 
Remember Jesus said He was coming with the clouds?
 
 
 
First, let's jump ahead to chapter 19.
 
 
 
11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! He who sat upon it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems; and he has a name inscribed which no one knows but himself. 13 He is clad in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, followed him on white horses. 15 From his mouth issues a sharp sword with which to smite the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron; he will tread the wine press of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name inscribed, King of kings and Lord of lords.
 
 
 
Are these 2 different riders on 2 white horses? I do not think the text supports that. I believe you are seeing Jesus herald the start of the war in chapter 6 and the victory in chapter 19.
 
 
 
Recall that Jesus said "I am coming with the clouds"? Consider this incredible excerpt from Michael Barber's book, citing the words of the Jewish historian Josephus Flavius.
 
 
 
The prophecy of the four horsemen may actually have found a fulfillment in a vision seen by many right before the destruction of Jerusalem. Josephus records signs that occurred in the city, which seemed to signal the coming of the end: "[A] certain prodigious and incredible phenomenon appeared; I suppose the account of it would seem to be a fable, were it not related by those that saw it, and were not the events that followed it so considerable a nature as to deserve such signals, for before sunsetting, chariots and troops and troops of soldiers in their armor were seen running about among the clouds". After narrating this, Josephus goes on to tell about a prophet who warned of a "voice from the 4 winds" which corresponds to what John sees at the beginning of the nest chapter (7:1)
 
 
 
Josephus was a Jewish historian not a Christian zealot so this is pretty incredible stuff.
 
 
 
Bottom line? When Jesus is sent fourth on the 1st horse, the war begins.
 
 
 
3 When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” 4 And out came another horse, bright red; its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that men should slay one another; and he was given a great sword.
 
Jesus first publicly decrees the destruction of Jerusalem at the start of His ministry in 30 AD and promising that it would come to fruition in 1 generation. The word gene means about 40 years. By the time John has his vision in 68 AD, the sequence of events was already unfolding. The widespread civil unrest, and the resulting persecution under Nero, had led to the deaths of both Peter and Paul and the exile of John to the Island of Patmos. This absolute upheaval was well under way. It's dire consequences were about to accelerate.
 
 
 
5 When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” And I saw, and behold, a black horse, and its rider had a balance in his hand; 6 and I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; but do not harm oil and wine!”
 
What follows is straightforward. As the Romans began to formulate their attack on Jerusalem, the first step is to cut off the supply lines. This causes runaway inflation, rationing and obviously leads to more upheaval and crime. A denarius was a day's wage so it literally took a full day of work to buy enough food to last for just that day.
 
 
 
What is staggering is the last line.
 
 
 
but do not harm oil and wine!”
 
Why does the Living creature stipulate that the oil and wine are not to be harmed?
 
 
 
First the oil. You recall the lampstands (Menorahs) mentioned earlier? These were used in the Jewish worship and these visions obviously instruct that this is to continue. The Menorah was lit with pure, consecrated olive oil. The Miracle of Hannukah is a foreshadowing of Christmas, the miracle of light. On December 25th, 165 BC, the Temple lamps were lit with the one day's supply of oil that was not desecrated. Miraculously, the lamps stayed lit for 8 days. The 8 days of Hannukah foreshadow the first 8 days of the life of Jesus from His birth on December 25th to being circumcised and named on January 1st.
 
 
 
Clearly the sacred oil, now used in the Christian worship (The Mass) will not be allowed to suffer desecration. The same is true of the wine. Earlier we were told of the hidden Manna which is the bread that becomes Christ's body, now we are told that the wine that is changed into His blood is also sacred and protected.
 
 
 
The Hannukah miracle is small compared to what happens here. The Christians are preserved from this onslaught by miraculous intervention.
 
 
 
7 When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” 8 And I saw, and behold, a pale horse, and its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed him; and they were given power over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth.
 
The famine and resulting pestilence and violence that naturally follow, are the next phase of the horror. This is another verse people seize on as pointing to the end times and that a quarter of the world's population would die from famine and disease and pestilence and wild animals. First, remember that to the Jews and Christians of the 1st century, Jerusalem and it surrounds were the whole world.
 
 
 
The siege on Jerusalem was part of an operation that lasted about 8 months. Since these verses precede the actual invasion on the city, it would seem to suggest that about 1/4 of the total 1 million deaths occurred by the famine, pestilence and violence leading up to the actual invasion.
 
 
 
9 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne; 10 they cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before thou wilt judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell upon the earth?” 11 Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.
 
In the Old Covenant, the blood of the sacrifice was collected under the altar. Here, under the heavenly altar the newly sacrificed- the martyrs- cry out for vengeance against those of the earth. They are cautioned that the number of martyrs is soon to filled up, triggering the wrath of God.
 
 
 
The words of Jesus are hauntingly familiar from Matthew 23:
 
 
 
29 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, 30 saying, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’
 
31 Thus you witness against yourselves, that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers. 33 You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell? 34 Therefore I send you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from town to town, 35 that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of innocent Abel to the blood of Zechari′ah the son of Barachi′ah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. 36 Truly, I say to you, all this will come upon this generation.
 
37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, killing the prophets and stoning those who are sent to you! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not! 38 Behold, your house is forsaken and desolate. 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”
 
12 When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, 13 and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale; 14 the sky vanished like a scroll that is rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. 15 Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the generals and the rich and the strong, and every one, slave and free, hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, 16 calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; 17 for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand before it?”
 
If you take this language in it's literalist sense rather than it's literary sense, you have to explain how every mountain is removed in verse 14 yet they hid in the mountains in verse 15 and cried out to them in verse 16.
 
 
 
The Sun and the Moon and the stars were used to measure time and the mountains and islands were places of retreat. The mountains will not be available as a place of retreat for the condemned but only for the elect:
 
 
 
 These apocalyptic warnings are exactly the kind Jesus gave in places like Luke 21
 
 
 
20: "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near.   
 
21: Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are inside the city depart, and let not those who are out in the country enter it;   
 
22: for these are days of vengeance, to fulfil all that is written.   
 
23: Alas for those who are with child and for those who give suck in those days! For great distress shall be upon the earth and wrath upon this people;   
 
24: they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led captive among all nations; and Jerusalem will be trodden down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.   
 
25: "And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and upon the earth distress of nations in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves,   
 
26: men fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.   
 
27: And then they will see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.   
 
28: Now when these things begin to take place, look up and raise 
 
 
 
The images of the Sun turning black, the Moon turning Red, The stars falling, the sky rolling up are all a very dramatic way of saying that time is up and God's wrath against Jerusalem is at hand and it would be better to have a mountain fall on you than to face it.
 
 
 
We will see you next time for part 7.
 
 
 
 
 

THE BOOK OF REVELATION- PART 4

One of the most pointed challenges you can give an anti-catholic is this one-
 
Show me your church's worship in Scripture.
 
 
 
When confronting chapter 4 and beyond, you must confront a startling reality. That reality is that John was called up to heaven. John saw what worship looks like so none of what you are about to read is speculation.
 
 
 
When you look at what Catholics call worship and what the Book of revelation shows as worship, you see that they are absolutely identical. There is just no way around it. What you call worship means nothing if it does not line up with what Scripture defines worship to be. The realization that the book of Revelation shows worship, Catholic style, has caused many to join up with us.
 
 
 
At the risk of oversimplification, there are two different views at play:
 
God replaced the Old Covenant with something totally new.
God fulfilled the Old Covenant with something that had been foreshadowed and is now realized.
 
 
 
We will show you that the 2nd option is the correct option.
 
 
 
Revelation 4: 1 After this I looked, and lo, in heaven an open door! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up hither, and I will show you what must take place after this.”
 
Isn't the language strange? John says the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up hither, and I will show you what must take place after this.”
 
 
 
Can it be that John does not know who it is? Even if you are one of those who believe that this is a different John than the Apostle, a different John from the writer of the Gospel, you still could not possibly not know by now, who you are speaking to.
 
 
 
Recall that in chapter 1, John describes Him as a Son of Man who says of Himself, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one; I died, and behold I am alive for evermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. It is just impossible that John did not recognize who it was. The fact that I do believe it is the same John who sat at table with Jesus and who wrote the 4th Gospel and 3 epistles, who stood at the foot of the cross, makes this phraseology even more staggering.
 
 
 
I have a theory and if you will humor me a bit, I think you may find it to be a compelling one and this one absolutely concerns a different John, one that it is even harder to believe could not know who Jesus was.
 
 
 
John the Baptist was the cousin of Jesus. He was conceived in September of 3 BC after Zechariah was visited by an Angel. Baptized in his mother's womb at the greeting of the Blessed Virgin Mary, sometime between March and the end of June. Tradition places his birth at June 24th, almost exactly 6 months before Jesus.
 
 
 
As the families traveled multiple times each year, to Jerusalem, these cousins would have been well acquainted, and John cried out in the wilderness the herald of Jesus coming.
 
 
 
To the bystanders, John identified Jesus as The Lamb of God which was a powerfully prophetic title pointing to Jesus as the true Passover feast. Finally, John baptized Jesus, saw the Holy Spirit descend as a dove and heard the voice of the Father from heaven.
 
 
 
There wouldn't seem to be much chance that John the Baptist did not know who Jesus was. Yet, we are confronted with this puzzling exchange from Matthew 11:
 
 
 
2 Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to him, “Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for another?”
 
 
 
Did John suddenly lose heart after being cast into prison? It's plausible. Perhaps he simply became confused that Jesus wasn't turning out to be the kind of Messiah he imagined. Perhaps, as some have speculated, John was asking the question rhetorically so that Jesus could answer for the benefit of John's disciples.
 
 
 
My personal opinion is that the 3rd explanation is the most plausible and I will tell you why. I believe John knew his end was near and he wanted his disciples to understand why he pointed them to Jesus.
 
 
 
He provided Jesus the opportunity to make the case. When Jesus makes His case, does he admonish John for his lack of faith? Quite the contrary! He exalts John and does a deep dive into describing the significance of his mission.
 
 
 
 4 And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. 6 And blessed is he who takes no offense at me.”
 
 
 
7 As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to behold? A reed shaken by the wind? 8 Why then did you go out? To see a man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, those who wear soft raiment are in kings’ houses. 9 Why then did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is he of whom it is written,
 
‘Behold, I send my messenger before thy face,who shall prepare thy way before thee.’
 
 
 
11 Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and men of violence take it by force. 13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John; 14 and if you are willing to accept it, he is Eli′jah who is to come. 15 He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
 
16 “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the market places and calling to their playmates,
 
 
 
17 ‘We piped to you, and you did not dance;we wailed, and you did not mourn.’
 
18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon’; 19 the Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”
 
 
 
I believe John the Revelator is doing exactly the same thing here. He doesn't want to merely tell you who is the one with the voice of a trumpet, He wants to show you.
 
 
 
Let's follow along.
 
 
 
First, we flash back to Chapter 1.
 
 
 
13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden girdle round his breast; 14 his head and his hair were white as white wool, white as snow; his eyes were like a flame of fire, 15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined as in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of many waters;
 
 
 
John is clearly hearkening back to the prophetic visions of Daniel Chapter 7
 
 
 
9 As I looked, thrones were placed and one that was ancient of days took his seat; his raiment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames, its wheels were burning fire.10 A stream of fire issued and came forth from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened.
 
 
 
11 I looked then because of the sound of the great words which the horn was speaking. And as I looked, the beast was slain, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire. 12 As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.
 
 
 
13 I saw in the night visions,
 
and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him.14 And to him was given dominion and glory and kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.
 
 
 
When you compare those verses in John 1 to what Daniel saw, in Daniel 7, you understand that they are one and the same. John's vision is the fulfillment of that which in Daniel's vision is prophetic. In this context, we can continue.
 
 
 
2 At once I was in the Spirit, and lo, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne! 3 And he who sat there appeared like jasper and carnelian, and round the throne was a rainbow that looked like an emerald.
 
So we have seen, again, the Son of Man and now we see again, the Ancient of Days- the Father.
 
Daniel's vision ratified by John's vision. Yet John takes it further. While Daniel refers vaguely and obliquely to many standing and serving and a court in session, John gives us a much sharper image:
 
 
 
4 Round the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clad in white garments, with golden crowns upon their heads. 5 From the throne issue flashes of lightning, and voices and peals of thunder, and before the throne burn seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God; 6 and before the throne there is as it were a sea of glass, like crystal.
 
In 1st Peter, chapter 2, we read:
 
 
 
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
 
 
 
From this verse comes the declaration that we are all Priests (priesthood), Prophets (Those who declare the works of God) and Kings (Royal) and those who declare this are not wrong. However, that doesn't mean that the general priesthood negates the ministerial priesthood or that a hierarchy does not/will not exist.
 
 
 
We are all Priests in that a Priest offers a sacrifice to God and that we can offer our own sufferings in union with those of Christ (Colossians 1:24-25)
 
 
 
We are all prophets in the sense that all of us are called to testify to God's law, will and deeds.
 
 
 
We are all Kings in the sense that we are brothers of the King of Kings and sharers in His Kingdom.
 
 
 
Nevertheless, some will receive the higher calling of Sacred ministry and offer the one-time sacrifice of Christ. Some will be educated and ordained to preach the gospel and some will be elected to those highest positions of authority, through which Jesus exercises Kingship.
 
 
 
What is bound on earth is bound in Heaven, Jesus promised it. What you will see, in the chapters that follow is that the action in heaven have consequences on earth and vice versa.
 
 
 
The word for elder is presbyteroi which actually can be translated as Priest.
 
 
 
 24 Royal Priests on thrones, wearing crowns.
 
 
 
On thrones and wearing crowns of gold.
 
 
 
Many of our protestant brothers and sisters would say that these are the 12 apostles and the 12 sons of Israel. I don't necessarily disagree that they might be right. However, many don't seem to have much to say about what they are doing. Maybe you haven't given it much thought.
 
 
 
So let me be blunt here.
 
 
 
God has called John up to heaven and commanded John to write down what He sees. Would He have done that if what is about to be shown is of little consequence?
 
 
 
These details are all important because they don't just reveal what heaven looks like, they reveal how heaven works. In revealing what heaven looks like and how it works, they reveal to us what worship looks like and how it works. Pay attention. You don't want to miss it.
 
 
 
So picture that there are three levels of vantage with regard to the Throne. There is the Throne, there is the area around the throne, occupied by 24 mini-thrones, so to speak. Then there is the intermediary area between the two, that is called before the throne.
 
 
 
In chapters 1 and 2, we see a couple of references to Jesus and a two-edged sword. In one reference, it is issuing from His mouth, in another it is simply stated as something He has. The two-edged sword is an interesting analogy of a strong weapon that can be very effective if used correctly but you can also cut yourself with it if you aren't careful.
 
 
 
In this analogy, it seems to indicate how God's Word can be our salvation or our downfall depending on the care we show.
 
 
 
The Seven Spirits of God is another example of something to be seen from multiple vantage points. This is now the 3rd reference we see. In chapter 1 recall that we are greeted with Grace and Peace from the Seven Spirits who are before the Throne, along with the Father and The Son. Then, in chapter 3, Jesus speaks as one having the 7 Spirits. Finally, the Seven Spirits appear again before the throne here in Chapter 4 but instead of personified Spirits giving greeting, they appear here as 7 torches. These torches stand lit, before the Throne, between the 24 Elders and the Ancient of Days, as Daniel called Him.
 
 
 
Ponder the fact that a candle or lamp is just a smaller representation of a torch and serve the same purpose- to give light- and then play off the 7 torches before the Throne which represent the 7 Spirits and The 7 Lampstands Jesus walks amongst that represent the 7 Churches. Then ponder that, around the throne, beyond the 7 torches, are the thrones with the 24 Elders.
 
 
 
Before we go deeper, let me address an objection I heard once. It goes like this:
 
 
 
If we agree that the 24 Elders are Apostles and Sons of Israel, where is Mary? Why isn't her place mentioned if she is so special?
 
 
 
I'm glad you asked.
 
 
 
Consider this story from Matthew Chapter 20:
 
 
 
20 Then the mother of the sons of Zeb′edee came up to him, with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. 21 And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Command that these two sons of mine may sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” 22 But Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” 23 He said to them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”
 
 
 
After reading what you have read, consider what Jesus is saying here. He is confirming that someone will sit to His right and left on the throne. On it, not before it, not around it.
 
 
 
On stage, so to speak.
 
 
 
Who would that be?
 
This again, is the beauty of typology.
 
 
 
In 1 Kings, Chapter 2, verse 19, the Queen Mother (The mother of the King) goes in to meet with the King. He bows in respect and places her on a throne to His right. As we have already discussed, Jesus is the Davidic King. That makes Mary the Queen at His right.
 
 
 
I will prove it to you.
 
 
 
Psalm 45 is a prophecy of who?
 
 
 
2 Thou art fairer than the children of men; Grace is poured into thy lips: Therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.
 
3 Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O mighty one, Thy glory and thy majesty.
 
4 And in thy majesty ride on prosperously, Because of truth and meekness and righteousness: And thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.  
 
5 Thine arrows are sharp; The peoples fall under thee; They are in the heart of the king's enemies.  
 
6 Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: A sceptre of equity is the sceptre of thy kingdom.  
 
7 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated wickedness: Therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee With the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
 
8 All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia; Out of ivory palaces stringed instruments have made thee glad.
 
 
 
It is impossible not to conclude that it is Jesus.
 
 
 
Then what of the next verse?
 
 
 
9 Kings' daughters are among thy honorable women: At thy right hand doth stand the queen in gold of Ophir.
 
 
 
Who is this Queen to the right of the King? Any 1st century Christian, former Jew, would have answered without hesitation- His mother. They knew the Old Testament and they knew who the Queen was. That is where she sits- on the right of the King.
 
 
 
Who is on the left? We can only speculate but I would give the 2 most likely options-
 
Peter, the Chief Steward / Prime Minister which means someone else in that 24th throne, so to speak.
Joseph, spouse of Mary and foster father of Jesus.
 
 
 
I would guess Joseph.
 
 
 
Why is this important?
 
 
 
The role of the Queen Mother, as we see clearly in 1 Kings 2: 12-21 was as someone who intercedes to the King, on the behalf of His subjects. The Davidic model on earth is fulfilled in heaven, not just by Mary but by the 24 elders and, as you will see soon- all the saints.
 
 
 
It's how heaven works.
 
 
 
This will be spelled out in more detail as we go but for now, it is important to see that there is a structure to God's governance in heaven and how it is connected to His worship by those on earth. God chooses to act through His creation. He ordains it.
 
 
 
And round the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: 7 the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like a flying eagle. 8 And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all round and within, and day and night they never cease to sing,
 
“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”
 
 
 
 
 
This version is strikingly similar to a vision in Ezekial Chapter 1
 
 
 
5 And from the midst of it came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: they had the form of men, 6 but each had four faces, and each of them had four wings. 7 Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the sole of a calf’s foot; and they sparkled like burnished bronze. 8 Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. And the four had their faces and their wings thus: 9 their wings touched one another; they went every one straight forward, without turning as they went. 10 As for the likeness of their faces, each had the face of a man in front; the four had the face of a lion on the right side, the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and the four had the face of an eagle at the back.11 Such were their faces. And their wings were spread out above; each creature had two wings, each of which touched the wing of another, while two covered their bodies. 12 And each went straight forward; wherever the spirit would go, they went, without turning as they went. 13 In the midst of the living creatures there was something that looked like burning coals of fire, like torches moving to and fro among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning. 14 And the living creatures darted to and fro, like a flash of lightning.
 
The second vision almost seems like an extraction from the first. There is so much detail and so much symbolism that I feel that it's best not to get bogged down in details but address some large themes.
 
 
 
First, I think there are a few different ways of looking at the two visions.
 
 
 
Are they the same 4 creatures manifested is slightly different ways or are they a second 4 which resemble the first 4 in some ways or attributes? Are these actual creatures that actually look like this or are the symbolic representations?
 
 
 
I will say they are symbolic representations that are to show us some very specific things about how God works,
 
 
 
First, in both vision, what we see are creatures. These are not God. They are not Divine. They are Angels or Men or some combination. Both visions show some human appearance and features, particularly the vision in Daniel. In the Daniel vision, the most compelling thing that is said is right here:
 
 
 
12 And each went straight forward; wherever the spirit would go, they went, without turning as they went. 13 In the midst of the living creatures there was something that looked like burning coals of fire, like torches moving to and fro among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning.
 
The creatures were led by the Spirit of God. This statement is reinforced by the image of the torches moving among them. You recall, in the Revelation vision, that the torches represent the 7 spirits of God. Notice also that their wings touch each other. This seems to infer a bond or connection- a chain of support, if you will. With other wings, they shield themselves. The wings clearly seem to indicate Divine power acting through them. It actually appears to possibly represent Grace.
 
 
 
Each of the creatures is identified with a Man, A lion, an Ox and an Eagle. In the Revelation vision, they each, separately, take on these personifications but in the Daniel vision, each creature possesses all 4. This also is very interesting. It would seem to indicate that each creature has a special charism or trait, strongest in himself, but shared among the 4. What could this be?
 
 
 
The early church had an interpretation that can even be seen today in churches like Saint Matthew's Cathedral in Washington DC. I've seen it myself.
 
 
 
The early church saw the 4 creatures as representing the 4 Gospel writers.
 
 
 
Michael Barber, in his work Coming Soon (page 86) said that Matthew is represented by the Man, as his gospel begins with the human genealogy of Jesus. Mark is the lion as he begins with the voice crying out in the wilderness, Luke is represented by the Ox as his gospel begins and end with the Temple where Oxen were slaughtered, and John's is the Eagle because of how the theological and spiritual message soars to the heavens.
 
 
 
Again, these are not my conclusions, nor Barber's. This is the take of the early church fathers.
 
 
 
Let's examine their hypothesis.
 
 
 
If they are what the creatures represent, then the phrase about them following the spirit is a beautiful depiction of the Divine inspiration of the Gospels. It's also an image of synergy.
 
Notice that the Spirit (in the symbolism of torches) doesn't move instead of the creatures. They move together. The first moves, the second follows.
 
 
 
They are in sync but it's cooperation not imputation.
 
 
 
Notice in the Revelation vision, they are covered all over with eyes. This is a representation that they see all things. This would be a supernatural ability, but it is entrusted to creatures and, apparently, to human creatures.
 
 
 
I say apparently because that is the almost humorous intrigue of these apocalyptic writings. As soon as you think you have an interpretation that fits, along comes a curve ball.
 
 
 
The curve ball here comes in the prophetic book of Ezekial. In chapter 10, we see these 4 creatures again from yet another vantage point.
 
 
 
7 And a cherub stretched forth his hand from between the cherubim to the fire that was between the cherubim, and took some of it, and put it into the hands of the man clothed in linen, who took it and went out. 8 The cherubim appeared to have the form of a human hand under their wings.
 
9 And I looked, and behold, there were four wheels beside the cherubim, one beside each cherub; and the appearance of the wheels was like sparkling chrysolite. 10 And as for their appearance, the four had the same likeness, as if a wheel were within a wheel. 11 When they went, they went in any of their four directions without turning as they went, but in whatever direction the front wheel faced the others followed without turning as they went. 12 And their rims, and their spokes, and the wheels were full of eyes round about—the wheels that the four of them had. 13 As for the wheels, they were called in my hearing the whirling wheels. 14 And every one had four faces: the first face was the face of the cherub, and the second face was the face of a man, and the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.
 
15 And the cherubim mounted up. These were the living creatures that I saw by the river Chebar. 16 And when the cherubim went, the wheels went beside them; and when the cherubim lifted up their wings to mount up from the earth, the wheels did not turn from beside them. 17 When they stood still, these stood still, and when they mounted up, these mounted up with them; for the spirit of the living creatures was in them.
 
18 Then the glory of the Lord went forth from the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubim. 19 And the cherubim lifted up their wings and mounted up from the earth in my sight as they went forth, with the wheels beside them; and they stood at the door of the east gate of the house of the Lord; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them.
 
20 These were the living creatures that I saw underneath the God of Israel by the river Chebar; and I knew that they were cherubim. 21 Each had four faces, and each four wings, and underneath their wings the semblance of human hands. 22 And as for the likeness of their faces, they were the very faces whose appearance I had seen by the river Chebar. They went every one straight forward.
 
So now the creatures are Cherubs (Angels) and the face of the Ox has been replaced by the face of angels?
 
 
 
There are 9 levels of Angels according to Scripture and the early church. Cherubim are the 2nd highest behind Seraphim. The others are Thrones, Dominions, Powers, Principalities, Virtues, Angels and Archangels. You can research that yourself.
 
 
 
All of this changing and moving around of divine, angelic, human...All this switching of past, present and future. It's all so confusing. How do we make any sense of it.
 
 
 
They only way to make sense of it is to throw out the linear concepts you are trying to impose on God and on this Book and look at the image as it is being presented.
 
 
 
Things are not moving left to right from God to the Angels to Man, or even from the Top down. There is not a sharply defined street you can point to and say This is where God ends, and the angels begin" or "This marks the end of angels and the beginning of men".
 
 
 
Look at what we are shown. The Spirits are shown in front of the Throne. The creatures are shown around the throne. The multitudes are shown outside of that. God is not at the top, He is at the center. It proceeds outward, not downward.
 
 
 
The ever widening circles blend and blur because the light of God, like the light of the Sun penetrates all the way out for millions of miles. As the earth revolves around the Sun, creation revolves around God.
 
 
 
Seeing all of space through this image is essential to understanding this book.
 
 
 
Now comes the really challenging part.
 
 
 
Just as God is the center of all space, with all of creation spinning around in the outer reaches, the same is true of time.
 
 
 
God is the I AM not the I WAS or the I WILL BE. He sits at the very center of time and all times are present time to Him.
 
 
 
If you view this Book strictly from the standpoint of this happens and then this and then that, you have no hope of understanding it.
 
 
 
So, are the creatures angels or humans? Do they possess Supernatural characteristics and attributes or human? Are they in the past or present or future?
 
 
 
It's not either/or, it's both/and.
 
 
 
The entire point of what you are being showed here is how God's Divine power and Divine Will become infused with His creation like two molten metals being fused together as an element.
 
 
 
How is this possible? It's possible because of the God-Man, Jesus Christ. This does not make Angels into God or men into God. It makes them into lights, plugged into the Divine power.
 
Think of the 4 living creatures as one of the concentric circles through which this energy passes.
 
 
 
But what of 1 Timothy 2:5?
 
 
 
It is true, there is one mediator between God and Man- Jesus Christ. How could it be otherwise? In the Divine transfer of this heavenly power, He is the Divine Transformer.
 
 
 
Here is why I think the Transformer analogy is a perfect fit.
 
 
 
A transformer converts a primary source of power into a secondary source. The potential power (voltage) is often stepped down from the thousands of volts on the street to the 120 volts that is used in your house. The primary and secondary voltages do not come in contact with each other but the secondary is created by the magnetic field of the primary.
 
 
 
The amount of electrical flow is calculated in Amps, not volts. The Amps increase on the secondary side as the volts decrease- by the same proportion.
 
 
 
In other words, the amount of work that can be done is equal on both sides.
 
 
 
Think of the current flow as Grace and the Voltage as my will (represented by Voltage) decreases, His Grace (represented by Amps) can do more.
 
 
 
John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
 
 
 
Thus, the secondary power that flows through the Angels, The Saints, The Priests and me, is His power. It's not either/or, it's both/and. It's God's power and His creation cooperates with it.
 
 
 
The Catholic connection?
 
 
 
This is what Mass looks like. In every Mass, we have a Priest seated on the Altar. In every Mass, we have a reading from the Gospels and in every Mass, we sing out Holy, Holy, Holy to our God.
 
 
 
Does your church service look like this?
 
 
 
9 And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever; they cast their crowns before the throne, singing,
 
11 “Worthy art thou, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for thou didst create all things, and by thy will they existed and were created.”
 
Just as we can speculate which 4 angels and which 4 men are represented by the 4 creatures, the same is true of the 24 elders/priests. It is widely speculated that they are the 12 Apostles and the 12 Sons of Israel. Although that is certainly plausible, I see nothing that compels this view.
 
 
 
They could represent them or they could simply be the top 24 saints in church history even some who lived after John. Remember, time is no obstacle for God.
 
 
 
Here are a few things I believe we do need to know about them.
 
They Worship God as GOD. (vs 10 & 11). Again, this counters the "Catholics worship Mary" tripe. An essential element of worship is an assent to Divinity of the person/object worshipped.
These are Men yet they are seated on thrones and wearing crowns. This proves that the saints are involved in the heavenly government.
 
 
 
Much is made in Evangelical circles of the image of them casting their crowns. The image is one of homage, humility and submission to a higher authority. Some in Evangelical circles take this as a repudiation of their crowns in recognition that God did everything and they don't deserve them.
 
 
 
That would be a repudiation of God's Justice and a terrible ingratitude. Reject this view.
 
 
 
We will see you next time with Chapter 5!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

THE BOOK OF REVELATION- PART 3

Revelation 3:1 “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 name of being alive, and you are dead. 2 Awake, and strengthen what remains and is on the point of death, for I have not found your works perfect in the sight of my God. 3 Remember then what you received and heard; keep that, and repent. If you will not awake, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come upon you. 4 Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white, for they are worthy. 5 He who conquers shall be clad thus in white garments, and I will not 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.’
 
 
 
As we enter chapter 3, and the last 3 letters, I am struck by the very mysterious language. It starts with Jesus speaking as possessing the Seven Spirits of God (which we spoke about earlier) but then in verse 2, He speaks as though He is a servant of God. In verse 5, He reestablishes Himself as the Son of God, the Father only to turn around in verse 6, as proclaiming that it is the (Holy) Spirit that is speaking. This parade of changing vantage points within just a few verses had to have been very confusing and mysterious to the infant church It must have seemed to some that Jesus was confused as to whether or not He was God. The only way to even try and penetrate this mystery is to accept that Jesus full Divinity and full humanity are simultaneous, continuous and seamless realities. The Holy Spirit is both within Him and without Him.
 
 
 
To accept this reality is easy. The church taught it, that settles it. On the other hand, attempting to comprehend it is a quick path to a massive migraine. It's just beyond us to imagine that time exists within eternity at the same time eternity exists within time.
 
 
 
What takes it deeper, to levels some fail to penetrate is that this reality of humanity and Divinity extend to the relationship with His church, as shown by the mystery of the 7 lampstands and the 7 stars. Jesus walks among the church yet holds it in His hand. It is a human institution filled with fallen men who often falter and fail while, at the same time being God's Divine instrument on earth through which men receive Grace, Miracles and even Jesus Himself, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. That a human creature can hold Eternity Himself, in his hands, is mind boggling.
 
 
 
This is the great connection that must be made. The churches are always human institutions because they are always run by humans. They become Divine institutions when they are plugged in to Supernatural Grace.
 
 
 
it is that gift of Grace that gives us Spiritual life and only through that Grace is salvation even possible.
 
 
 
Ephesians 2: 8: For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God --  
 
9: not because of works, lest any man should boast.   
 
10: For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
 
 
 
Catechism of the Catholic church: 1997 Grace is a participation in the life of God. It introduces us into the intimacy of Trinitarian life: by Baptism the Christian participates in the grace of Christ, the Head of his Body. As an "adopted son" he can henceforth call God "Father," in union with the only Son. He receives the life of the Spirit who breathes charity into him and who forms the Church.
 
 
 
Only when you understand that Grace is the connection between God's Divinity and our humanity, can you truly understand the letter to the church in Sardis. The connection to Grace is the connection to Spiritual life and without it, we die spiritually and inevitably fall into mortal sin.
 
 
 
In His first letter John deals with the consequences of mortal sin quite emphatically.
 
 
 
1 John 5: 16: If any one sees his brother committing what is not a mortal sin, he will ask, and God will give him life for those whose sin is not mortal. There is sin which is mortal; I do not say that one is to pray for that.  
 
17: All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin which is not mortal.
 
 
 
It is in this context of the spiritual death of sin, that we can understand Jesus words to the church at Sardis
 
 
 
“‘I know your works; you have the name of being alive, and you are dead.
 
Jesus is warning them that He knows their true condition despite what their reputation may be leading others to believe. Some may interpret this as simply a loss of fervor but that interpretation doesn't hold up. Forgetting what they had previously received (Grace) [v3] has led to the soiling of their garments [v4] and that they must overcome to have their garments returned to their whiteness [v5]. Notice that only he who overcomes in this way will not have his name blotted out of the Book of life.
 
 
 
We must participate in our own salvation.
 
 
 
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 shall 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 learn that I have loved you.
 
 
 
It is simply human nature when an American hears the name Philadelphia, to think of the State of Pennsylvania. The truth is that there are almost 2 dozen Pennsylvania place names with Biblical origin including Bethlehem, Nazareth and Damascus to name a few.
 
 
 
Why this churches city name was chosen may be a testament to the patient endurance exemplified in this letter or simply that the name means "brotherly love" (Strong's 5361).
 
 
 
It is ironic that the writings of Thomas Paine and much of the genesis of masonic thought, which is the antithesis of Christianity, come from there.
 
 
 
I digress.... for now.
 
 
 
Let's start with the fact that Jesus begins by referring to Himself holding the Key of David, opening what no one can shut and shutting what no one can open. You may recall that we first encountered the keys in Chapter 1, verse 18 as the keys to death and hades. You may recall also that we showed you that Jesus put these keys into the charge of Peter in Matthew 16. Now, Jesus is saying they belong to David. What is going on here?
 
 
 
Remember when we talked about the 4 senses of Scripture? Now is a good time to focus on the typological sense.
 
 
 
Jesus is showing you the full picture of how it all played out in the history of Israel and the Davidic kingdom. Let's go to Isaiah chapter 22 and have a look.
 
 
 
20: In that day I will call my servant Eli'akim the son of Hilki'ah,  
 
21: and I will clothe him with your robe, and will bind your girdle on him, and will commit your authority to his hand; and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah.  
 
22: And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David; he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.
 
 
 
This is typology here. It is prophecy by shadow.
 
 
 
Eliakim was to be the new Chief Steward in the Davidic kingdom. That makes him 3rd in command in that kingdom. The order of authority is as follows;
 
The King, Himself.
The Queen mother (the mother of the King)
The Chief Steward.
 
 
 
Here, we see Eliakim, as the Chief Steward, is entrusted with the keys to the Kingdom when the king is absent.
 
 
 
It is not enough to think of it merely as a ring of physical keys. Eliakim is given the authority to open that which no one can shut and shut that which no one can open. In other words, he is given the unchallengeable, full authority of David, the king.
 
 
 
In Revelation, 3:7, Jesus shows us that that Davidic authority points to Himself.
 
 
 
This is what Gabriel told Mary in Luke 1:32
 
 
 
32: He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,
 
 
 
Thus, the Davidic King is fulfilled in Jesus.
 
 
 
Who are these other persons?
 
 
 
Well, the Queen Mother is the mother of the King. Obviously, this points to Mary. More on that later.
 
 
 
Who is the Chief Steward?
 
 
 
Well, we would recognize the Chief Steward as being the person Jesus (the King) gives the keys to. That, of course, is Peter. Just as Eliakim opens what none can shut and shuts what none can open, Peter binds what heaven binds and looses what heaven looses.
 
 
 
Matthew 16: 19: I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
 
 
 
Thus, Eliakim exercised an earthly authority, but it pointed to the Divine authority that Jesus would exercise through Peter and his successors.
 
 
 
What you see here is proof for the doctrine of Papal Infallibility, foreshadowed by Isaiah, fulfilled in Peter, confirmed by Jesus to John the Revelator.
 
 
 
This cannot make sense to you if you are stuck in the false "Jesus alone", linear thinking of Protestantism that posits that if Peter has the keys, that means that Jesus doesn't. As we took such great pains to show, Jesus acts in a very mysterious duality here. He is both the Sacrifice and the High Priest that offers it. He is both God and Him who stands before God. The Spirit both speaks through Him and to Him. It is impossible for a human to fully digest.
 
 
 
Jesus acts through the Church under the full power of His Divinity at the same time leaving it's fallible human nature intact. It is an organization of imperfect and often times bungling, humans who are the dispenser of God's grace and caretakers of His authority even as they, as individuals, are stuck in the sinful human condition. It is just mind boggling.
 
 
 
He assures us that He has put before the church at Philadelphia an open door which cannot be shut by humans [the door to salvation] lest we become discouraged by our weak condition, which He recognizes (our little power).
 
 
 
It is not enough to look at it simply as a Divine sympathy, where God feels sorry for us in our weakness. It goes so much deeper than that. So much deeper.
 
 
 
When Paul begged for God to remove the thorn in his flesh (2 Corinthians 12), God responded in an unexpected and truly astounding way;
 
 
 
9: but he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
 
 
 
We cannot allow ourselves to view Grace as merely God's unmerited favor and Salvation as an externally imputed act if we have any hope of grasping what is being communicated here. Grace is a participation in God's power, through which we are able to overcome our trials and sufferings when God, in His good purpose, declines to remove them.
 
 
 
God doesn't always do for us that which we cannot do. He often does through us that which we cannot do.
 
 
 
Need proof?
 
 
 
See the martyrs.
 
 
 
You think Peter faced crucifixion by his own strength? Paul being beheaded? Other Apostles flayed, shot with arrows, dragged behind horses, stoned?
 
 
 
I'm sure that you will readily have to concede that only God's Grace enabled these heroic deaths.
 
 
 
Then how can you discount that same grace as being present in the martyrdoms if Ignatius of Antioch (fed to lions) or Joan of Arc (burned alive) or Cecelia, Philomena and hundreds of others.
 
 
 
In the 20th century, more Christians were murdered for their faith than all other centuries combined according to every reputable historian of note. This includes many non-catholic sources including this one. This of course, flies in the face of some of the sensationalistic trash rabid anti-catholic sites have put out but we will deal with that later.
 
 
 
For now, we need to develop this idea that the blood of the matryrs is mingled with the blood of Christ and the full victory of Christ is something the Book of Revelation shows us as being realized when the full number of martyrs has been reached. We will get into that deeper in chapter 6.
 
 
 
Despite their little power, the church at Philadelphia had kept His Word and not Denied His name. His power was made manifest in their weakness. That is Grace at work.
 
 
 
Jesus said that he who humbles himself will be exalted and he who exalts himself will be humbled. He says this in Matthew Chapter 23 and it is no coincidence that He says the following in the very same chapter.
 
 
 
37: "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, killing the prophets and stoning those who are sent to you! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not!  
 
38: Behold, your house is forsaken and desolate.
 
 
 
The Jews of Jesus time exalted themselves so they had to be humbled. They rejected the Messiah and their house became desolate. By not accepting the entire purpose of the Jewish Faith- the realization of the Messiah- they pretended to be Jews but were living a lie. The Jewish faith was no more and what was not standing in opposition to the Real, New Israel was a Satanic fraud. This fraud, Jesus said would bow before the church. Read again.
 
 
 
 
 
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 learn that I have loved you.
 
 
 
The word used here is the greek word Proskuneo (Strong's 4352) which suggests a prostration of strong reverence, kissing the hand, bowing before someone of superior rank. Jesus is leaving no doubt as to where His authority now resides on earth.
 
 
 
They rejected the Messiah and they were replaced. It's just that simple.
 
 
 
Matthew 21: 42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the scriptures:
 
‘The very stone which the builders rejectedhas become the head of the corner;this was the Lord’s doing,and it is marvelous in our eyes’?
 
43 Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation producing the fruits of it.”
 
 
 
This truth is proclaimed here by Jesus in Revelation chapter 3 as we see it happening in vivid detail as the ensuing chapters unfold.
 
 
 
What follows is a deeply challenging set of 3 verses that absolutely must be put into the proper context. I will provide that context but it's going to take some work.
 
 
 
10 Because you have kept my word of patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial which is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell upon the earth. 11 I am coming soon; hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. 12 He 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.’
 
 
 
The trial which is coming on the whole world is one of those phrases that people seize on to declare that these are end-times events. Perhaps no verse in all of Scripture demonstrates the danger of isolating a verse and reinterpreting it under a context completely alien to it's original audience and intent.
 
 
 
I gladly concede that if you isolate this verse and pretend that it's aimed at a world-wide protestant audience living in the 21st century, about events in their future, you could come to some of the conclusions those folks come to.
 
 
 
 10 Because you have kept my word of patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial which is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell upon the earth.
 
 
 
Sure, If you stipulate all of the following....
 
That word of patient endurance means Scripture alone.
The hour of trial means the tribulation of the antichrist
the whole world is to be understood as the entire inhabited earth in the 21st century.
Keep you from the hour of trial means to suddenly remove you in some dramatic, supernatural and sudden way.
 
...... then you could conclude that this verse supports the doctrine of a pre-tribulation Rapture.
 
 
 
The problem with this type of eschatological engineering is that the pre-tribulation rapture doctrine was invented in the 1800s and no church father or historian or even any pre-1800 protestant ever mentions it. It was a new doctrine that was created as a result of a young girl's dream and it is buttressed here by superimposing other man-made doctrines. It is literally fiction supporting fiction, masquerading as interpretation.
 
 
 
Bible interpretation must confront the text, as is, and in context.
 
In the context of:
 
The language used
The audience intended
The meaning intended
The Biblical supports and cross references.
 
 
 
Period. Full stop.
 
 
 
The idea of inventing interpretations and juxtaposing them onto John's visions has to stop.
 
 
 
We must apply the 5 questions here:
 
Who? To the church in Philadelphia.
 
 
 
This is not a letter to 21st century American evangelicals. This is a letter to the church in Philadelphia.
 
 
 
What? an hour of trial coming to those who dwell upon the earth. Those who dwell, not those who will dwell at some future date. Strong's 5723 establishes this as present tense. These events are foretold for people living on the earth at the time of the writing of the letter to the church in Philadelphia.  This is just more proof, like we gave you in chapter 1, that the very eyes of those who pierced Christ would witness these things. This is not to deny that there will, in fact, be an antichrist nor the fact that he will one day threaten the whole world. What it denies is that that is what John was writing about in the letter to the church in Philadelphia.
When? Jesus says in v11 that He is coming to carry these things out soon. This is at least the 3rd or 4th time you have heard this and we are not yet through Chapter 3. You must lose the insistence of these events as far off from John. The warning of the urgency and imminence rings stronger and stronger until it will get to a point when they are so urgent that they are even spoken of rhetorically as past events comparable to the modern expression your goose is cooked!
Where? The whole world? Does that mean America too? No! There was no America in 68 AD. It was wilderness. In 68 AD, the whole world consisted of the Kingdom of God (Israel) and the Kings of the earth (The Gentile Nations). One great city was identified as having dominion of the Kings of the Earth (17:18) as it was the city of God. That city, however, played the whore with those Kings (17:2) and earned the wrath of God as a result. That wrath would rock their world so to speak.
How? A cataclysmic day of terror in which the beast of the earthly world would wage war on the whore and devour her with fire.
 
 
 
That story is yet to come.
 
 
 
It is that horrific hour that the church of Philadelphia is spared from, not something happening in the 21st century. The church in Philadelphia (as well as the other 6) fell to Muslim invaders centuries ago.
 
 
 
Pay careful attention to the wording. After promising them to be kept from the coming trial, He admonishes them to hold onto what they have, lest they lose their crown.
 
 
 
Are you following? They were protected from the coming trial but then, later, lost their crown.
 
 
 
Jesus is promising a trial that will come soon followed by a New Jerusalem for those who overcome. How could Jesus make this promise to the church in Philadelphia if they would not have an opportunity to see it?
 
 
 
You will see this become clearer as we go.
 
 
 
14 “And to the angel of the church in La-odice′a 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 cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing; not knowing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 Therefore I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, that you may be rich, and white garments to clothe you and to keep the shame of your nakedness from being seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and chasten; so be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. 21 He who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I myself 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.’”
 
 
 
There exists something today that has come to be known as the prosperity gospel aka name-it, claim it. It was the natural end of an ideology of self-interpretation run amok. After all, if I can promise you the nutritional benefits of liver while still eating McDonald's Big Macs and chocolate chip cookies, there isn't a chance in the world I can get you to eat the liver.
 
 
 
The idea that we can have heaven on earth and then heaven in heaven is certainly attractive. As attractive as sugar-coated rat poison.
 
 
 
In Matthew 7, Jesus famously said:
 
 
 
 
 
13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
 
 
 
Very, very easy to understand.
 
Very, very difficult to accept.
 
 
 
Excessive wealth leads to complacency and self-reliance. Complacency and self-reliance lead to waning spiritual diligence. Waning spiritual diligence leads to the loss of Grace and eventually, inevitably, to spiritual death.
 
 
 
Quite a graphic analogy that God will actually spit us out of His mouth.
 
 
 
So why is the complacent (lukewarm) sinner even worse than the serious (cold) sinner? Why would God even prefer the cold sinner to the lukewarm sinner?
 
 
 
The answer is in verse 17
 
 
 
17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing; not knowing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.
 
 
 
I am reminded of a parable of Jesus (Luke 18)
 
 
 
9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank thee that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for every one who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
 
 
 
Just like drugs or alcohol may anesthetize our physical pain and give the temporary illusion of health, money and comfort can numb us to the reality of our wretchedness and need. God's most compassionate act sometimes is to allow us to feel the consequences of our actions in order to save us. He humbles us now, so that He may later exalt us.
 
 
 
He can save the sinners we are but He can't save the saints we pretend to be.
 
 
 
God contrasts the Gold of the world with the gold refined by fire that He offers but there is just something about the idea of seeking out reproval and chastisement (v19) that is naturally repugnant to us as humans. We cannot escape the message that God chastises those He loves. This is, again, a repulsive concept to us.
 
 
 
It is so repulsive, in fact, that Martin Luther created an entirely new religion that divorced the crown from the cross. It was only a matter of time before someone took it to it's full conclusion that God only wants us to be happy and financially prosperous.
 
 
 
 
 
and so we ignore Biblical admonitions like the one to the church in Laodicea, to our own detriment and ruin.
 
 
 
It is not that God wants us to be miserable. Far from it.
 
 
 
God wants us to be truly, fully and eternally happy with Him.
 
 
 
To the church He offers chastening, reproval and refining fire, He does so out of love that they may be purged of their complacency and sloth. He invites them (and us) to allow Him to enter in to share in the unifying supper which is another clear allusion to the Eucharist. Then He makes the astounding offer that we will share a place on His throne.
 
 
 
That fancy car and 15-bedroom house doesn't look so good compared to that.
 
 
 
Up next, Chapter 4.
 
 
 
 
 

THE BOOK OF REVELATION- PART 2

The 7 letters to the 7 churches certainly contain themes and morals that can be applied to all of us but that cannot take away from the fact that they were actually 7 actual letters written to the churches in 7 actual cities of John's mission route.
 
 
 
 
 
Source: Wikipedia
 
Not only could John have walked from one city to the next (and almost certainly did), the order of the 7 churches make sense from the standpoint of someone who had just been released from Patmos. This is true whether he delivered the letters or dispatched someone else.
 
 
 
Ephesus would be the logical first stop, followed by Smyrna and Pergamum. He would then reverse course back towards the starting point and hit Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.
 
 
 
Lo and behold, that's the exact itinerary that has been laid out here.
 
 
 
The point is that it must be understood that these 7 letters must be read in the same context of the 14 letters attributed to Paul. They are current letters to current audiences, addressing current issues. The reason I cannot stress this enough is because there is such a tendency to far-futurize things contained in these letters when the context doesn't support it.
 
 
 
Why is God choosing to warn these specific 7 churches? The answer is seen in the warning and in the results. These churches were warned that they needed to correct some shortcomings, or they would suffer the consequences. As we will show, the consequences added up to God removing His blessing and Divine protection. In their future (but long before ours), all 7 of these churches would be conquered by Muslim invaders. This disproves the once-saved-always-saved ideology of some and that true faith is a constant and diligent battle, lest we fall prey to the enemy.
 
 
 
That the journey starts at Ephesus is appropriate for John. He lived in Ephesus with the Mother of Jesus until her death circa 44 AD. This would obviously be the church John was most familiar with.
 
 
 
1 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.
 
2 “‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear evil men but have tested those who call themselves apostles but are not, and found them to be false; 3 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. 4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. 5 Remember then from what you have fallen, repent and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. 6 Yet this you have, you hate the works of the Nicola′itans, which I also hate. 7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’
 
 
 
First, the Angels cannot be understood as heavenly angels. Could a Heavenly Angel lose it's first love for God and repent of it? The word Angel means messenger and these messengers must be understood as the Bishops over the churches of the cities they represent. This makes even more special the words that Jesus walks among their churches (the lampstands) and holds them in His hand (the stars).
 
From Christianbook.com
 
 
 
The Lampstand is the Menorah. It was one of the sacred articles that was placed in the temple for worship. The original Menorah was fashioned with 7 candle holders (lamps) as we have already discussed.
 
 
 
Later, the 7- lamp Menorah was replaced with the Hannukah Menorah which has 8 lamps in honor of the Hannukah miracle that took place when the temple was rededicated.
 
 
 
Interestingly enough, protestant Bibles omit the books that talk about the rededication of the temple, even though we know Jesus celebrated the anniversary of this dedication (John 10:22)
 
 
 
 
 
In verses 2 and 3, the Ephesians are commended for holding up in trial and hardship and for patient endurance and for testing the credentials of alleged apostles.
 
 
 
Let's deal with the last point first. How were they tested? by Scripture alone?
 
 
 
Not likely.
 
 
 
By 68 AD, quite a few of the New Testament books hadn't even been written yet. Those yet to be written would include all 4 of John's other books.
 
 
 
The word Apostle means 'one who is sent'. No one would have been recognized as an Apostle if they couldn't prove they were sent by another Apostle. Apostolic succession. We will deal with this more later but this is a strong argument against Protestantism. Being sent means being ordained. Do-it-yourself sending is not Biblical.
 
 
 
The Ephesians are commended for suffering toil, and bearing hardship and persevering. This is, of course, the first test of discipleship.
 
 
 
Luke 9: 23 Then he said to them all, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.
 
 
 
However, we must always be on guard that the toils and hardships of life cost us our first love.
 
 
 
Matthew 13: 20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. 22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is he who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the delight in riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is he who hears the word and understands it; he indeed bears fruit, and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”
 
 
 
The Ephesians have lost the diligent exercise of the faith because of the toils of the world and unless they return to these works and repent of their worldliness, they will lose the lampstand that stands before Jesus. To repent means to turn away from. Notice Jesus is directly conditioning His presence among them to their diligent work in the exercise of their faith. Of these, certainly are the works of worship including Mass, the sacraments, prayer but also those acts of love toward neighbor that Christ counts as acts of love unto Himself (Matthew 25:31-46). These are conditions of salvation.
 
 
 
The Ephesian church fell, like the others. We should all be warned here.
 
 
 
The Nicoliatans were one of the many early cults. Nicolas was one of the chosen disciples mentioned in Acts 6:5. They fell away into a heresy that promoted sexual impurity among other vices. This is just another example that even the chosen can fall away if they do not stay on their guard.
 
 
 
In his 2nd letter (chapter 2), Peter pounds this home.
 
 
 
 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their licentiousness, and because of them the way of truth will be reviled. 3 And in their greed they will exploit you with false words; from of old their condemnation has not been idle, and their destruction has not been asleep.
 
 
 
4 For if God did not spare the angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of nether gloom to be kept until the judgment; 5 if he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven other persons, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly; 6 if by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomor′rah to ashes he condemned them to extinction and made them an example to those who were to be ungodly; 7 and if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the licentiousness of the wicked 8 (for by what that righteous man saw and heard as he lived among them, he was vexed in his righteous soul day after day with their lawless deeds), 9 then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trial, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment, 10 and especially those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority.
 
 
 
Bold and wilful, they are not afraid to revile the glorious ones, 11 whereas angels, though greater in might and power, do not pronounce a reviling judgment upon them before the Lord. 12 But these, like irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and killed, reviling in matters of which they are ignorant, will be destroyed in the same destruction with them, 13 suffering wrong for their wrongdoing. They count it pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their dissipation, carousing with you. 14 They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They have hearts trained in greed. Accursed children!
 
 
 
15 Forsaking the right way they have gone astray; they have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Be′or, who loved gain from wrongdoing, 16 but was rebuked for his own transgression; a dumb ass spoke with human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.
 
17 These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm; for them the nether gloom of darkness has been reserved. 18 For, uttering loud boasts of folly, they entice with licentious passions of the flesh men who have barely escaped from those who live in error.
 
 
 
19 They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption; for whatever overcomes a man, to that he is enslaved. 20 For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overpowered, the last state has become worse for them than the first. 21 For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. 22 It has happened to them according to the true proverb, The dog turns back to his own vomit, and the sow is washed only to wallow in the mire.
 
 
 
 
 
Notice that the Ephesians rejected the wicked works of the Nicoliatans and they rejected the false apostles. Notice that they persevered through hard work and toil and endured and persevered. Yet, Jesus was still displeased with them to the point of threatening to remove their candle stand from before Him. Why?
 
 
 
When one becomes slack in his devotions and prayers, works of mercy and other religious works, he cuts himself off from the lifeline of grace. This spiritual starvation grows slowly, often unnoticed until a cataclysmic fall occurs. He who prays much can be saved. He who prays little is in danger. He who ceases praying is teetering on the edge of damnation.
 
 
 
To eat of the Tree of life is promised to he who overcomes. This is the first of many allusions to the bread of life- the Eucharist. The true Tree of Life was the Tree of the cross. Tradition holds that it stood in the same place as that that stood in Eden. Without the eating of the fruit of this tree, there is no life.
 
 
 
John 6: 52 The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” 53 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; 54 he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 56 He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread which came down from heaven, not such as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live for ever.”
 
 
 
This becomes clearer as we go.
 
 
 
 
 
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. He who conquers shall not be hurt by the second death.’
 
 
 
The Synagogue of Satan?
 
 
 
They say they are Jews and are not and are a synagogue of Satan. This term appears again, later in this book. Who is John talking about and what would separate a true Jew from a false one?
 
 
 
Many zealous anti-Catholics search diligently in the Book of Revelation for clues they hope to use to tie Catholicism in general, and the Pope in particular, to the identity of the antichrist. However, the author of the Book of Revelation identifies the antichrists in a couple of his other New Testament Books.
 
 
 
1 John 2: 18 Children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come; therefore we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out, that it might be plain that they all are not of us. 20 But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all know. 21 I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and know that no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.
 
 
 
2 John: 7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, men who will not acknowledge the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh; such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist.
 
 
 
As every serious Bible believer knows, the antichrist is the offspring of the devil, foretold in Genesis 3:15. Here, John is saying that anyone who denies Christ is an antichrist. In other words, they are of Satan. They are members of his synagogue, so to speak.
 
 
 
Many people will react in horror and revulsion to this assertion and they will protest that Jesus and the Apostles were Jews. They are correct. Jesus and the Apostles were Jews but they are no longer.
 
 
 
In his famous prophecy to Daniel, the Angel Gabriel predicted the end of the Jewish religion with the coming of the Messiah.
 
 
 
Daniel 9:
 
24 “Seventy weeks of years are decreed concerning your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place. 25 Know therefore and understand that from the going forth of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again with squares and moat, but in a troubled time. 26 And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off, and shall have nothing; and the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its[d] end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war; desolations are decreed. 27 And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week; and for half of the week he shall cause sacrifice and offering to cease; and upon the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator.”
 
 
 
Without getting into some of the current bizarre speculations such as the 'stopped stop watch' theory, I will make it simple. When the anointed one (literally, 'the Christ' in the Douay version) is cut off, the end of the Jewish religion is decreed. When Jesus died on the cross, the veil in the temple was torn in two, signifying the end of the Old Covenant.
 
 
 
Many people call this "replacement theology" and declare it false.
 
 
 
It's not "replacement theology", it's "fulfillment theology" and it is exactly what Scripture presents- both as prediction and realization. As I said before, the Old Testament is the New Testament concealed and the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed. The Old Covenant must give way to the new because that was it's entire purpose.
 
 
 
Hebrews 9: 11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) 12 he entered once for all into the Holy Place, taking not the blood of goats and calves but his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. 13 For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies for the purification of the flesh, 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
 
15 Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred which redeems them from the transgressions under the first covenant.
 
 
 
Since the entire purpose of the Jewish faith is to prepare the way of the Messiah, the fulfillment of the Jewish faith is manifested in Him.
 
 
 
Matthew 5:17
 
“Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them.
 
 
 
In this context, anyone in 68 AD, claiming to be a Jew, is actually an imposter (though he may not realize it). Anyone who was truly of Abraham, accepted Christ. (Matthew 3:9, John 8:39-59)
 
 
 
Those who were the fulfilment of Judaism were actually being victimized and persecuted by people acting as Satan's agents in the respect that they were carrying out his work in the name of Judaism, all while the back story was building which would be the final exclamation point to the end of the old covenant. That event would happen 2 years later.
 
 
 
The letter to Smyrna ends with an echo of Matthew 24:12 and a refrain we will hear often. He who conquers will be saved from the second death (hell).
 
 
 
Once again, faith alone ideology is abolished. Notice also, the promise of a crown. This is a theme we will see a lot.
 
 
 
12 “And to the angel of the church in Per′gamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword.
 
13 “‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is; you hold fast my name and you did not deny my faith even in the days of An′tipas my witness, my faithful one, 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, that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice immorality. 15 So you also have some who hold the teaching of the Nicola′itans. 16 Repent then. 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 him 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 which no one knows except him who receives it.’
 
 
 
There is a great temptation amongst sensationalists to focus on the references to the throne of Satan and where Satan dwells as some sort of insider information that we need to solve. There are very plausible archeological cases being made for the throne of Satan reference and this is just one I found.  The rest of scripture does not support a case of Pergamum being a place where Satan dwells exclusively or even predominantly, as opposed to others. The best way to interpret this is to look at Pergamum as a place where Satan dwells rather than the place. The church there is dealing with the same kinds of groups, such as the Nicoliatans, as the others.
 
 
 
What is very important is to focus on what amounts to an even more strongly enunciated promise to he who overcome. In the letter to the church at Ephesus, the promise is made that those who overcome will eat of the tree of life. This is an allusion to the Eucharist but not as clear as the one to the church at Pergamum.
 
 
 
Jesus description of eating of the hidden manna is clearly reminiscent of the words recorded by the same writer in the 6th chapter of His gospel. It is impossible that John did not make the connection.
 
 
 
John 6: 28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” 30 So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see, and believe you? What work do you perform? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” 32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven, and gives life to the world.” 34 They said to him, “Lord, give us this bread always.”
 
 
 
35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me; and him who comes to me I will not cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me; 39 and this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up at the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that every one who sees the Son and believes in him should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”
 
 
 
41 The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, “I am the bread which came down from heaven.” 42 They said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” 43 Jesus answered them, “Do not murmur among yourselves. 44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Every one who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me. 46 Not that any one has seen the Father except him who is from God; he has seen the Father. 47 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that a man may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh.”
 
 
 
52 The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” 53 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; 54 he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 56 He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread which came down from heaven, not such as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live for ever.”
 
 
 
To fail to see that the real Prescence of Jesus in the Eucharist is being shown here would be to purposely defy the text. As Jesus says, "He who has an ear, let him hear".
 
 
 
Some have pointed out that the white stone was a token presented to someone who has been found innocent of a crime, that the new name hearkens to the soul made new and that the fact that only you will know it refers to the fact that no one else can understand your life story.
 
 
 
This is a beautiful interpretation that is certainly plausible if we focus on one detail. God cannot declare someone innocent if they are, in fact, guilty. God is just and He is not a liar. This exposes the lie of imputed righteousness. God does not ignore the guilt, He removes it. Whether or not this interpretation of the white stone is correct, we will see in time.
 
 
 
 
 
18 “And to the angel of the church in Thyati′ra 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 the woman Jez′ebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and beguiling my servants to practice immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. 21 I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her immorality. 22 Behold, I will throw her on a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her doings;
 
23 and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches shall know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you as your works deserve. 24 But to the rest of you in Thyati′ra, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay upon you any other burden; 25 only hold fast what you have, until I come. 26 He who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, I will give him power over the nations, 27 and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received power 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.’
 
Jezebel is not to be understood as a literal name here but someone whose actions are analogous to the wife of Ahab (1 Kings 21). The issue of sexual immorality has been addressed ad nauseum so there is no need to revisit it here, but I want to address the other issue which has now been brought up several times and I want to draw a contrast with a few false accusations made against Catholics.
 
 
 
The issue being brought up here is the issue of food sacrificed to idols. This was raised as an issue to the church at Pergamum and now, again, at Thyatira. It is a serious issue and one dealt with by the very first church council, the Council of Jerusalem. (Acts 15:19-20)
 
 
 
 We have been shown a clear contrast between the food of God, called the food of the tree of life and the hidden manna, and food sacrificed to idols. This is not the only place where Scripture recounts that you cannot partake of both and live.
 
 
 
1 Corinthians 10:14 Therefore, my beloved, shun the worship of idols. 15 I speak as to sensible men; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. 18 Consider the practice of Israel; are not those who eat the sacrifices partners in the altar? 19 What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be partners with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. 22 Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?
 
 
 
1 Corinthians 11:23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is for[c] you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
 
 
 
27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For any one who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself.
 
 
 
Here is shown an essential component of worship and, conversely, an essential component of idolatry. The sacrifice.
 
 
 
The Mass is the pure, one-time, sacrifice made by Jesus at Calvary, being made perpetually offered and made present as such. Among the churches that John and Paul ministered to, this sacrifice was being made to compete with the sacrifice to idols. As Paul put it, people wanted to eat both from the table of God and the table of demons.
 
 
 
This is idolatry because the sacrifice is an act of worship.
 
 
 
Some people make the mistake of thinking that prayer- in and of itself- constitutes worship and thus, prayer to Mary and the Saints constitutes worship of them. Nothing could be further from the truth. We will deal with this in depth as we go, but I will touch on one of their frequent accusations to prove the case.
 
 
 
Anti-Catholics assert that referring to Mary as the Queen of Heaven proves that we worship her because this title has been condemned by the prophet Jeremiah.
 
 
 
Catholics would assert that this only proves the contrast from the one who is rightfully called the Queen of Heaven, in proper context (we will make that case later) and from the false diety given that title improperly.
 
 
 
Dealing with only the 2nd half of the argument at this time, lets read what Jeremiah has to say about her.
 
 
 
Jeremiah 7: 16 “As for you, do not pray for this people, or lift up cry or prayer for them, and do not intercede with me, for I do not hear you. 17 Do you not see what they are doing in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? 18 The children gather wood, the fathers kindle fire, and the women knead dough, to make cakes for the queen of heaven; and they pour out drink offerings to other gods, to provoke me to anger.
 
 
 
The very proof that these people are committing idolatry is that they recognize this false queen of heaven as a goddess and offer sacrifices to her. That is worship. Catholics do not recognize Mary as Divine and they offer no sacrifices to her. We simply ask her to pray for us. Not only is this not worship, it is exactly what Scripture shows us we should be doing.
 
 
 
We will get more into that later.
 
 
 
The second accusation I want to deal with is this issue of tolerance. There is a view among religious liberals that love, and tolerance are synonymous and thus, tolerance is the highest virtue.
 
 
 
Tolerance of persons can be an act of love in the sense that we are patient with them. Patient teaching of a frustrated person would be a perfect example of this. This would be an example of tolerance that is an act of love.
 
 
 
Tolerance of a person's self-destructive actions, however, are the antithesis of love. Worse yet is tolerance of the actions that are destructive to others. By no means, should society be tolerant of the actions of murderers, rapists, child predators, swindlers and arsonists.
 
 
 
For years we have been told the lie that pagan and occult practices, gay marriage, abortion, pornography, contraception and promiscuity are victimless crimes that we have no right to criticize. Many believe that if we are not direct partakers in these kinds of things, that is enough.
 
 
 
Live and let live, they say.
 
 
 
The folks in Thyiatira found out different and we would be well advised to pay attention. Jesus is not rebuking the church for partaking in sexual immorality and idol worship but for even tolerating it happening in their midst.
 
 
 
The protestant revolt shattered the image of a church called to rule on these things and to be a tower of authority. The phenomenon of ever fractioning denominations, sub denominations and non-denominations, has placed the individual's own biblical interpretation as the only authority he is subject to.
 
 
 
Jesus paints a very different picture.
 
 
 
Notice that Jesus says to the church at Thyatira, "I have this against you". After warning of the very dire consequences facing this woman and her bed-mates- including the deaths of their children- Jesus says I will give to each of you as your works deserve. He is commanding the church at Thyatira to confront and counter those engaging in these acts and teaching others to do so. He is promising consequences if they don't.
 
 
 
Is this intolerance? Is this an act of love?
 
 
 
What could be more unloving than to know that someone's actions could lead to their death and /or the deaths of their children, and not warn them?
 
 
 
Of course, this non-toleration of evil in our churches does not end with a simple admonition. Responsibility denotes authority and authority denotes action and consequences and this is a very different model of what the church looks like when we compare it to the faith-alone, scripture-alone, autonomous model.
 
 
 
Here we have yet another example of God wielding His authority through His church.
 
 
 
I do not think any reader or listener here would argue that Psalm 2 is a Messianic Psalm.
 
 
 
2 Why do the nations conspire, and the peoples plot in vain? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and his anointed, saying,3 “Let us burst their bonds asunder, and cast their cords from us.”
 
 
 
4 He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord has them in derision.5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying,6 “I have set my king on Zion, my holy hill.”
 
 
 
7 I will tell of the decree of the Lord: He said to me, “You are my son, today I have begotten you.8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.9 You shall break them with a rod of iron, and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”
 
10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise;  be warned, O rulers of the earth.11 Serve the Lord with fear, with trembling 12 kiss his feet, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way; for his wrath is quickly kindled.
 
 
 
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
 
 
 
Have you noticed that the "kings of the earth" are not merely at war against the Lord but also against His anointed. Who are they?
 
 
 
Let me repeat these 2 crucial verses.
 
 
 
26 He who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, I will give him power over the nations, 27 and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received power from my Father;
 
Here, Jesus is saying- explicitly- to the church in Thyatira, that they will exercise the very authority to rule that Jesus received from His Father, as shown in Psalm 2.
 
 
 
I cannot count the times in which I have been told that it is blasphemy for the Catholic church to assert that it speaks and acts with the authority of Jesus yet here, you have Jesus saying it Himself!
 
 
 
He then makes another very curious statement.
 
 
 
I will give him the morning star. What does this mean? It means that Jesus is promising to give them His very self.
 
 
 
Peek ahead to 22:16 and see for yourself.
 
 
 
We will pick up with Chapter 3 in the next episode.

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THE BOOK OF REVELATION- PART 1

A TRUE UNDERSTANDING OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION- PART I
 
INTRODUCTION- VERY MUCH OF WHAT YOU THOUGHT YOU KNEW IS WRONG
 
 
 
When I was a kid, I was taught a method for understanding a story was to apply the "5 questions" approach. The 5 questions are who, what, when, where and how. That is a very strong basis for understanding (or misunderstanding) the Book of Revelation. I would argue that perhaps no other Biblical book is more misunderstood because no other Biblical book has been more misinterpreted through the eyes of novel ideology. Particularly pervasive had been novelties emerging from the 20th century.
 
 
 
So let's examine the who, what, when, where and how of this book with respect to how it was understood by the early church compared to how it is understood by much of modern society. After we do this, we can examine why the early church had it right.
 
 
 
Early Christian understanding Modern Christian understanding.
 
The church existing in the 1st century  WHO                    Those alive in the end times
 
The end of the old covenant and the
 
      emergence of the new  WHAT                   A play by play of coming events
 
Overwhelmingly fulfilled by 70 AD   WHEN   Now, and to the end
 
Out from Jerusalem  WHERE                 Back To Jerusalem
 
A tapestry of all time  HOW                  A linear time-line of events
 
 
 
The interpretations we are going to present are going to seem strange at first but you will soon see that our approach is to throw imaginative speculation away and remain faithful to the text in it's proper context. Some call our approach preterist but that's not correct. A preterist is someone who upholds the belief that all Biblical prophecies have been fulfilled. We do not hold to that view. However, we do reject the futurist mindset that believes that all prophecy is yet to be fulfilled. We hold to following what the text says, period.
 
 
 
This of course allows for the possibility of multiple layers of fulfilment but we again, don't go beyond what is written.
 
 
 
The forced imposition of 21st century themes on 1st century realities have gotten many people way off track. A working assumption began to emerge from around the 1970s, that "John the Revelator" was being shown almost exclusively end-times events in either fully symbolic visions or in real visions he could not comprehend because of their futuristic content, or in some combination of the two. The facts will show that John understood the themes he was projecting in this book, just like in his other 4 works and that this work is a beautiful tapestry revealing, in bold strokes, the emergence of the Catholic church as the New Jerusalem and bride of Christ and the power and majesty of Catholic worship.
 
 
 
Contrary to popular belief, the Book of Revelation is largely understandable and not open to any interpretation you choose. We think you may be shocked that, far more often than not, the text actually takes you where you need to go if you will only take the time to listen. We will be pressing that point boldly as we go.
 
 
 
This presentation will draw upon a number of sources which may be cited as we go. I want to start by citing some of primary importance that I will draw from.
 
 
 
Coming Soon: Unlocking the book of Revelation by Michael Barber
 
Ascension Catholic study Bible RSVCE by Ignatius Press
 
The Collegeville Bible Commentary.
 
The 'Faith Database' software platform
 
 
 
This project is the exclusive property of The 4 Persons, Inc and will be completed in audio, video and book form for public consumption at a reasonable cost upon completion.
 
 
 
Distribution will be through the Bible Catholic network and it's affiliates.
 
 
 
 
 
PART 1- THE SEAMLESS GARMENT, REVELATION CHAPTER 1
 
The Collegeville Bible commentary gives a useful outline of the structure of the book, noting how one set of visions is announced while another is still ongoing. The groups of sevens seem to demonstrate God's plan of perfection as seven is the number of perfection.
 
 
 
I reproduce their outline for your use:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Catholics apprehend the Book of Revelation as we do all the Books of the Bible- in the context of it being part of a whole, seamless garment. The idea of isolated proof-texting is something we simply do not accept. You cannot wrench the sentence from the verse, the verse from the chapter, the chapter from the Book and the Book from the whole of Scripture and expect to grasp the proper meaning. This can be difficult at times, to be sure. Different books of the Bible are written in different styles or genres and cannot be read in the same way. The Books of the law, such as Leviticus read in a radically different way than do poetical books like the Psalms. Likewise, the Book of Revelation reads differently from even John's other writings- the Gospel and his 3 letters.
 
 
 
That does not mean we won't find elements in Revelation that echo elements in John's Gospel or in the Psalms or even in Genesis and the Books of the Law. They are all present, they only need to be fleshed out.
 
 
 
The Old Testament is the New Testament concealed and the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed. ~ Augustine.
 
 
 
This is the framework by which all Scripture must be understood. The word Revelation means to remove the veil. This book unveils the whole of God's plan in it's complete grandeur and it displays the tenderness of His mercy and the terror of His wrath.
 
 
 
All the Books in the Old Testament are the blueprints of what the coming Kingdom of God will look like. Everything in the New Testament is the formation of the Kingdom, sometimes violently portrayed1.
 
 
 
Scripture cannot be properly interpreted without respect to the culture of the people of the audience to whom it is being written. The little idioms and sayings of the time are important to understand. The nuances of the languages- Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek and Latin also hold great sway.
 
 
 
Finally, the 4 senses of Scripture.
 
 
 
Literal Sense: This refers to the straightforward meaning of the text—the historical context, events, and facts described.
Allegorical Sense: Here, we look beyond the literal to find deeper spiritual or theological meanings. For example, events in the Old Testament may prefigure or symbolize aspects of Christ’s life in the New Testament.
Moral Sense: This focuses on ethical lessons and practical guidance. It asks how the text applies to our lives and behavior.
Anagogical Sense: This points to the ultimate goal or destiny—often related to eternal life or heavenly realities.
 
 
 
You may find elements of all of these senses in all the Biblical books and Revelation certainly is very heavy in the Allegorical sense. The truth is that the best approach to understanding scripture must include the church- especially the early church.
 
 
 
What we will be doing here is not so much a new and novel approach to understanding this book but rather, a trip back to how it was understood before the new ideologies began to be imposed on it.
 
 
 
Let's get started.
 
 
 
 CHAPTER 1
 
 
 
1 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants what must soon take place; and he made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. 3 Blessed is he who reads aloud the words of the prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written therein; for the time is near.
 
 
 
What must soon take place....for the time is near. In the first 3 verses of this book, John tells us twice that the things to be portrayed here will happen very soon. It is rash to quickly dismiss this or rationalize it away by assuring yourself that soon could mean 2000 years.
 
 
 
It is true that Peter said that with God a day can be as a thousand years and a thousand years as day2. ,so I fully understand the temptation to put soon and near in the context of eternity and conclude that John is referring to end-times events.
 
 
 
This is the first example where I will simply implore you to let the text speak to you. Do not impose pre-conceived judgements or interpretive models. You will soon see clearly that John is speaking with a genuine and literal urgency and that this book, written in 68 AD, is now foretelling events that happen very soon after that.
 
 
 
In his work "Coming soon", Michael Barber recounts that the Syriac version of the Book of Revelation places it's writing around the time of Nero3. That is, about 68 AD. I think other evidence supports this conclusion including (as we will later show) the text itself.
 
 
 
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 first-born 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
 
 
 
Notice that John asserts himself as the authority God works through, as the writer to the seven churches. He is acting as the messenger and one who speaks by the authority of God, A Priesthood, over all 7 churches. This, of course, follows the model of John as a Bishop of the Catholic church- and history proves that to be so. This first argument for this understanding may be uncompelling by itself but as the chapters unwind and the pages turn, the case for a Catholic message becomes more and more impossible to dismiss. You will see.
 
 
 
 You also cannot miss the fact that this is a current message for John's time, set in his own time, to 7 churches that are currently in Asia, in John's time. It is a present tense message. None of these 7 churches survived to our present time. It is ok to extrapolate it, in a general way to all of us in the same way that all scripture applies to all of us. However, in the specific, literal sense, it cannot be missed that John is not addressing a future group of churches but people in his own time. He addresses real issues they were facing at that time.
 
 
 
The seven spirits reference from verse 4 is the first of many very challenging ones. Obviously, we are used to thinking of the third person of the Trinity as a Spirit rather than 7 Spirits.
 
 
 
This verse refers to the one Holy Spirit, expressed by His seven gifts, as seven spirits. They are of course; wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. As 7 is the number of completion or perfection, this would be the one Spirit manifested by the perfection of his gifts.
 
 
 
There is something more at play here. The Seven Spirits extend us greetings, Grace and Peace so they are obviously of the Divinity. At the same time, they stand before God, in the appearance of a servant role.
 
 
 
This strange duality is the entirety of the mystery of Jesus, the one mediator between God and Man5. This expression of the Divinity as 7 spirits appears in Isaiah Chapter 11, in one of the most beautiful prophecies of the coming of Jesus.
 
 
 
11 There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.2 And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.3 And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.
 
 
 
He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear;4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked.5 Righteousness shall be the girdle of his waist, and faithfulness the girdle of his loins.
 
 
 
6 The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid,and the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them.7 The cow and the bear shall feed; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.8 The sucking child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder’s den.9 They shall not hurt or destroy 
 
 
 
We are revisited by this curious turn of phrase 3 more times, in chapters 3, 4 and 5. Only by working through these usages will you be able to fully appreciate the full context and understand just what is being said. We don't want to simply answer the riddle but do so in a way that is going to have an impact and change your way of thinking. As Isaiah 11 shows, and as these 3 future references will show, the Seven Spirits of God phraseology is a deep penetration of Jesus, simultaneously on both sides of the equation, as Son of God and Son of Man and how deeply mysterious that is.
 
 
 
In Isaiah 11, the Seven Spirits are shown as resting particularly on Him and in Revelation 1, they are shown as the binding tie between Father and Son
 
 
 
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 first-born of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.
 
 
 
It is a fascinating penetration of the Trinity and of the two natures of Jesus.
 
 
 
6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, every one who pierced him; and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.
 
 
 
and here we see two early points raised in more specific detail. First, that Jesus has raised up the Priesthood- a Kingdom of priests- to serve Him and the Father. Our protestant brothers and sisters believe that God abolished the Old Testament, hierarchal, ministerial priesthood and replaced it with an invisible one that lacks authority, hierarchy, liturgy and a sacrificial offering. They could not be more wrong and there is really no evidence to support their position, Biblically or historically.
 
 
 
What God did was end the temporary priesthood, with it's temporary sacrifice and replace it with the perpetual priesthood that would offer the perpetual sacrifice of Christ. This is what Scripture foretold.
 
 
 
Exodus 29:9
 
and you shall gird them with girdles and bind caps on them; and the priesthood shall be theirs by a perpetual statute. Thus you shall ordain Aaron and his sons.
 
 
 
Malachi 1: 11 For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name is great among the nations, and in every place incense is offered to my name, and a pure offering; for my name is great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts.
 
 
 
This will become clearer as we go on.
 
 
 
The second point is to make manifest that the message of His coming is of imminence. Every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him.
 
 
 
John is sounding the alarm that this coming of Jesus is not to be understood as being His coming at the end of days. This is something that the current generation of people are going to witness in the flesh. This is not the second coming proceeding the final judgement. This is something imminent.
 
 
 
This warning was made many times in the gospels. Jesus promised vengeance against the current generation, the very people alive at that time.
 
 
 
Matthew 16:28
 
Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.”
 
 
 
Mark 9:1
 
And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power.”
 
 
 
Luke 9:27
 
But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.”
 
 
 
Matthew 12:45
 
Then he goes and brings with him seven other spirits more evil than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first. So shall it be also with this evil generation.”
 
 
 
Matthew 23:36
 
Truly, I say to you, all this will come upon this generation.
 
 
 
Matthew 24:34
 
Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away till all these things take place.
 
 
 
Mark 13:30
 
Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away before all these things take place.
 
 
 
Luke 11:50
 
that the blood of all the prophets, shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation, 1 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechari′ah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, it shall be required of this generation.
 
 
 
Luke 21:32
 
Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away till all has taken place.
 
 
 
Acts 2:40
 
And he testified with many other words and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.”
 
 
 
At the risk of belaboring the point, that the coming of Jesus into His Kingdom and the manifestation of his power would be something the living of His time would see is manifestly clear. Equally clear, from the words of chapters like Matthew 23 and 24 were the words that Jerusalem's destruction would occur within a generation.
 
 
 
Matthew 24:  Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. 2 But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another, that will not be thrown down.”
 
 
 
3 As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the close of the age?” 4 And Jesus answered them, “Take heed that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places: 8 all this is but the beginning of the sufferings.
 
 
 
9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation, and put you to death; and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. 10 And then many will fall away, and betray one another, and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because wickedness is multiplied, most men’s love will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, as a testimony to all nations; and then the end will come.
 
 
 
15 “So when you see the desolating sacrilege spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains; 17 let him who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house; 18 and let him who is in the field not turn back to take his mantle. 19 And alas for those who are with child and for those who give suck in those days! 20 Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a sabbath. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. 22 And if those days had not been shortened, no human being would be saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. 23 Then if any one says to you, ‘Lo, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false Christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. 25 Lo, I have told you beforehand. 26 So, if they say to you, ‘Lo, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out; if they say, ‘Lo, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of man. 28 Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together.
 
 
 
29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken; 30 then will appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory; 31 and he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
 
 
 
32 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 34 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away till all these things take place.
 
 
 
The word is Genea (Strong's 1074) that gives us Generation. It is a word that denotes a time period of about 40 years. Jesus ministry began in 30 AD and a generation would take us up to about 70 AD.
 
 
 
Notice a few things;
 
Jesus uses the same apocalyptic imagery of Himself coming with the clouds, as Rev. 1.
That imagery is in an answer to a direct question regarding Jerusalem's temple being destroyed.
In Rev 1, it is predicted that the eyes of those who pierced Him will see it.
Jesus, Himself tells us that all this will happen within 40 years (a generation).
 
 
 
The message of the imminence and urgency of these passages is just too strong to ignore. Jesus, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are simply hammering the point too relentlessly for us to dismiss it.
 
 
 
The dismissal of imminence is not tenable from a linguistic point of view but rises from a simple misunderstanding of apocalyptic language and it's deep symbolism.
 
 
 
People believe that Matthew 24:1-34 hasn't been fulfilled because they haven't seen this:
 
 
 
29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken;
 
 
 
People in our time have not seen the heavens shake and the stars fall and the sun and moon go black so they think these things have not come to pass yet. Yet, Jesus does not speak of the Second coming as happening until after these events.
 
 
 
36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. 37 As were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of man. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39 and they did not know until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of man. 40 Then two men will be in the field; one is taken and one is left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one is taken and one is left. 42 Watch therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the householder had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have watched and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready; for the Son of man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
 
 
 
You have to ask yourself this. Why would you tie these former events to the second coming of Jesus when He specifically divides them? Why would you insist they are related when we know the former had to have happened within 40 years but of what happens after verse 34, no one knows when they occur?
 
 
 
Remember, the same event is prophesized in Revelation 1:7 as in Matthew 24:30. As we go, it becomes clearer. In time, you will understand the deep symbolic meanings conveyed in this ominously symbolic language.
 
 
 
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, who share with you in Jesus the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance, 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 Per′gamum and to Thyati′ra and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to La-odice′a.”
 
 
 
It cannot be emphasized enough that John is being told to write to the churches (dioceses) of 7 specific cities under his jurisdiction. The idea of the totally autonomous, local church is abolished here. That has never been the Biblical model.
 
 
 
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 girdle round his breast; 14 his head and his hair were white as white wool, white as snow; his eyes were like a flame of fire, 15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined as in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of many waters; 16 in his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth issued 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 upon me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one; I died, and behold I am alive for evermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. 19 Now write what you see, what is and what is to take place hereafter. 20 As for the mystery of the seven stars which 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 imagery is just stark. These 7 churches on earth are represented by 7 lampstands that the glorified savior walks amongst and the 7 Bishops of those churches, whom John will address by letter are referred to as Angels (messengers) and stars that He holds in His very hand. Jesus is giving us a startling image of His intimate union with His church.
 
 
 
The seven lampstands hearken back to Zechariah chapter 4 and the image closely compares to these 7 Bishops as God's eyes in the world.
 
 
 
 And the angel who talked with me came again, and waked me, like a man that is wakened out of his sleep. 2 And he said to me, “What do you see?” I said, “I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold, with a bowl on the top of it, and seven lamps on it, with seven lips on each of the lamps which are on the top of it. 3 And there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.” 4 And I said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?” 5 Then the angel who talked with me answered me, “Do you not know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.” 6 Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerub′babel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts. 7 What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerub′babel you shall become a plain; and he shall bring forward the top stone amid shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’” 8 Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 9 “The hands of Zerub′babel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also complete it. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. 10 For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerub′babel.
 
“These seven are the eyes of the Lord, which range through the whole earth.”
 
 
 
The verses clearly show the connection between God's heavenly and earthly kingdoms.
 
 
 
Finally, it cannot be missed that Jesus says I have the keys of Death and Hades (v18) because of the words Jesus said to Peter in Matthew 16.
 
 
 
18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
 
 
 
To those with too linear a view of God, these verses seem to contradict each other. People just keep losing sight of Jesus as both a Divine and Human person and thus, they keep losing sight of His church as both a Divine and human institution. It is such a difficult construct but an absolutely Biblical one.
 
 
 
God's salvific action is through His church. They are one.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FOOTNOTES
 
Matt. 11:12
2 Peter 3:8
Coming soon, page 4
The Book of Tobit (part of the full canon of Scripture)
1 Timothy 2:5