MEANING OF THE LETTERS TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES IN REVELATION PART 2

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I hope you had a chance to view Nelson Walters’s video on the seven churches of Revelation. You will not only understand the purpose and meaning of the letters to the seven churches but you will understand how they complete the story revealed with the opening of the seven seals.

In the first post, I covered the first church Ephesus which faced deception with false prophets and Messiahs. After the deception of the First Year, the world is about to enter a most difficult time.

The Letter to Church at Smyrna, Smyrna means “myrrh or death.” The spice myrrh, which was primarily used for embalming, was the city’s main export. We know from the model we have been constructing for the 70th Week that the Second Year is a year of bloodshed, war, and chaos. Death is the main export of the Second Year.

THE ATTRIBUTES OF JESUS IN THE LETTER TO SMYRNA

Revelation has this to say about Jesus in the Letter to Smyrna: The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this (Rev. 2:8) The statement “first and the last” is a paraphrase of Rev. 1:8 where Jesus claims to be the “alpha and the omega” (the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet). This phrase is highly encouraging to those about to suffer. Jesus created all things and will judge all things in the end; between the two events, he is in control of all things. Nothing will happen to Christians that he does not work for their ultimate good.

The second phrase (“has come to life”) is also encouraging. Jesus has conquered death. It is not what we should fear. Jesus said, “I say to you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him” Luke 12:4-5. Those who have died to Jesus and live in Him have nothing to lose or to fear. We are already “dead” to the old self and to this world and its evil system. We are alive in Him. This should be the attitude of the saints facing the Second Year of the 70th Week as reflected in the attributes of Jesus in the letter to Smyrna.

CONDITION OF THE CHURCH IN THE SECOND YEAR

The condition of the Church in the Second Year is difficult, per the Letter to Smyrna: I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. (Rev. 2:9)

We observed in the section about Ephesus that worship of the Antichrist’s god may be tied to economic prosperity. In this section, we notice that the Christians are economically poor. Unwillingness to compromise may have led to their poverty. We know from the model we are constructing of the 70th Week of Daniel, that there will be worldwide economic problems in year three.

In the previous section on Ephesus, we also saw a focus on Islam as the spiritual challenge for the Church. In Year Two, from Rev. 2:9 we see that apostate Judaism is added. We know from Daniel 9:27 that the Antichrist eliminates sacrifices and offerings at the midpoint of the 70th week. This obviously indicates that prior to that time, sacrifices and offerings were occurring. We know that “ it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins” (Heb. 10:4). Only Jesus’s eternal blood sacrifice will take away sin. So when the Jews begin the practice of temple sacrifices again, it certainly is at the prompting of Satan to take their eyes off their Messiah.

God wants his Church to know these sacrifices are blasphemy. Jesus then gives the Church an encouragement: Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Although the Great Tribulation does not begin until the Fourth Year, the Church experiences tribulation from the Second Year on. In this passage, we are told that many of the faithful will be placed in prison or prison camps. The length of time the Church will have tribulation is curious: ten days. The Days of Awe are ten days from Yom Teruah (Feast of Trumpets) until Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement). These are days of repentance. Jewish tradition teaches that those who repent during the Days of Awe will be written into the Book of Life. The meaning of this time seems such a perfect match with the purpose of the imprisonment (“to be tested”). We have also seen a ten-day period in Daniel 1:12. It is the period of testing (note the similarities) when Daniel and his friends refused the Royal food and trusted God.

A major facet of the Second Year of the 70th Week that is not mentioned in the Letter to Smyrna is warfare. Why is that? The Letter to Smyrna is specifically for the Church, so it may be because Jesus has already instructed the Church in his Olivet Discourse to not be scared when the warfare begins: “You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened” (Matt. 24:6). Jesus wants us to know that the wars of the Second Year are not wars that lead to the invasion of Israel and the eventual Abomination of Desolation.

Next post: The Church of Pergamum

END TIMES BIBLE PROPHECIES PLAYING OUT IN OUR DAY

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Jonathan Cahn shows us that everything is moving towards the Biblical end times prophecies playing out in our day. It is happening at an escalating rate. We are living in the prophesied time just before Jesus returns to Earth.

Generations of believers have wondered about the Book of Revelation, but are we in our generation actually seeing the signs of the approaching Apocalypse even now? Don’t miss as Jonathan Cahn continues to open up the Book of Revelation.

MEANING OF THE LETTERS TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES IN REVELATION

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This post follows my previous post: Purpose of the seven letters to the Churches in Revelation. It proposes that each of the Seven Churches represents the Church in one of the seven years of the 70th week of Daniel. The first letter is to the Church during the First Year of the 70th Week of Daniel, the second letter is to the Church during the Second Year, etc. Scripture provides multiple other “pictures” of these seven years, particularly the seven seals and Jesus Olivet Discourse. Studying these other scriptures provides a stunningly consistent Pattern of Seven Events: 1) Deception by False Messiahs, 2) War and Bloodshed, 3) Famine, 4) Abomination of Desolation, 5) Martyrdom and Apostasy, 6) Celestial/Earthly Disturbance and Rapture, and then the 7) Wrath of God/Day of the Lord.

THE STRUCTURE OF THE LETTERS

Not only do the letters match the seven-year pattern. they also all have a somewhat complex internal structure consistent among each of the seven letters. This internal structure shared by all the letters helps the reader to compare and contrast how the environment surrounding the Church is changing during each year and how the Church reacts to this changing environment. Let’s look at the basic elements of these seven letters. Each of the church names has a symbolic meaning. Each letter is addressed to an angel in the church. John is commanded to write to the angels. Angels who stand before God himself have no need to have a human write to them. Human messengers need divine revelation, so this highly favors an interpretation that the “angels” are human messengers that relay God’s instructions to his churches. According to Nelson Walters the “angels” of each church are those that bring the message of “overcoming” to the Christians during each year of the 70th Week of Daniel. Many will die and be martyred, so the “angels” may differ from year to year in each of the churches. Each of the letters includes a call to listen, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.” This call to listen is a favourite phrase of Jesus that he included at the end of many of his parables (Matt. 11:15, 13:9, 13:43; Mark 4:9, 4:23; Luke 8:8, 14:35). The extended Parable of the Sower in Luke 8 seems to give the best understanding of this phrase. I believe this is the primary reference Jesus was giving us when he used this phrase in each of the seven letters. By quoting the reference to this parable in each of the letters, Jesus is telling us that only a portion of the Christians will have a receptive heart (good soil) for his message. Notice those with good soil will hear, retain, and persevere. By quoting from this parable (Luke 8:5-8) in each of the seven letters, Jesus is warning us there will be those in each year of the 70th Week that “fall away,” and for Christians to be mindful of the snares the devil will set. Now that we have examined the two common elements—-they are all addressed to an “angel” and they all have the same “call to hear”—-let’s investigate each of the individual seven letters.

If the letters are prophecy, then the name given to each church may be symbolic of the general condition facing believers during that respective year of the 70th Week of Daniel, and the purpose of all of Revelation is to prepare and equip believers to overcome this time of trial.

Concerning the first letter, Ephesus means “the desired one.” This name is highly reflective of the immense spiritual battle about to take place. God and Satan both desire the souls of believers. All of the 70th Week of Daniel will revolve around this battle. In year one Satan’s counterfeit messiah and False Prophet will burst upon the world scene. The conflict for the souls of believers will be between the false messiahs and the true Messiah, Jesus, who is the way, the truth, and the life. The battle lines are drawn for the “desired one.”

The attributes of Jesus’s appearance mentioned in the letter to each church is symbolic. The description of Jesus to the church in Ephesus is: “The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this:” (Rev. 2:1) Jesus himself has defined both of these aspects of his appearance for us. The seven stars are the angels of each church. Human messengers delivering Jesus’s instructions on how to overcome the 70th Week of Daniel. Jesus holds these angels in his right hand. The right hand is the hand of blessing. God’s right hand is also a place of power, “Your right hand, O Lord, is majestic in power, Your right hand, O Lord, shatters the enemy” (Exodus 15:6). Jesus will use these angels to help shatter his enemies by the revelation of His Word, and he will bless these human messengers. The seven lampstands are the seven churches. The Seven Churches are all pictures of the one true Church (as there was only one lampstand in the Tabernacle). Also, it says that Jesus walks among the lampstands. Jesus will be right there with us as we endure and overcome.

In all Seven Letters after the address and the description of Jesus’s symbolic appearance, he briefly describes the Church. For most of the seven years, Jesus provides both positive and negative feedback. This is what our Lord says will be the positive aspects of the church in the First Year of the 70th Week of Daniel: “I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; and you have perseverance and have endured for my name’s sake, and have not grown weary.” Revelation 2:2-3

The primary condition of the world during this First Year will be deception by false messiahs. It appears from this passage that the Church is initially able to test and then recognize the false messiahs and false prophets as liars. Jesus also commends the Church for hating the works of the Nicolaitans: the word “Nicolaitans” means “overcoming the people of God” and it is tied to the actions of the rider of the white horse whose “conquering” in Rev. 6:2 is a spiritual overcoming. By this, we determined the Nicolaitans here are the followers of the Antichrist, most likely Muslims. Jesus also commends the Church for their perseverance. The Greek word for perseverance is HUPOMONE which is also sometimes translated endurance. This is the identical Greek word we just saw in Jesus’s explanation of the Parable of the Sower which is critical to understanding Jesus’s call to hear: But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance (HUPMONE). (Luke 8: 15. Bearing fruit in the coming trial will require endurance. Additionally, the trial will help produce this endurance, “We also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance (HUPOMNE)” (Romans 5:3, emphasis mine). This is one purpose of Daniel’s 70th Week—refining the Bride of Christ.

Jesus has one rebuke for the Church, and it’s a big one: But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place—unless you repent” (Rev. 2:4-5). Bringing the Bride of Christ back into a love relationship is the main purpose of the 70th Week of Daniel. Jesus is clear that the Church will cease to be the Church if they don’t repent and act accordingly. They will fall away and apostatize.

Entering the trial, the Church will do “works” and will “toil,” for the Lord says, “I know your deeds and your toil” (Rev. 2:2). The Church will be expending effort, but it will not be done through the love of Jesus. Just a few verses later, we learn the Church’s works are not adequate. Jesus wants the Church to “do the deeds you did at first” (Rev. 2:5). Even though Jesus is aware of the effort the Church is expending in “good deeds,” these deeds are not done in the right spirit.

Next post we will look at the church in the second year of tribulation, the church at Smyrna. Nelson Walters’s video is excellent but you will need 2 hours and 51 minutes to watch it.

PETER GIVES US THIS AMAZING END TIMES SCRIPTURE: CREATION/FLOOD/JESUS SECOND COMING/THE END

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“You should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, knowing first of all that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.” 2 Peter 3:3-10

This is a section of scripture where the Apostle Peter is clearly instructing us on Jesus’ Second Coming. First, he shows us how in the last days there will be mockers who doubt that the return of Jesus is imminent. These mockers are non-believers and some are believers. Much of the church acts as if Jesus’ coming is not close at hand. This includes believers who are living as if they have their whole, normal lifetimes in front of them. Most pastors are not preparing their flock for the trials that lie ahead. Peter then helps us understand why the mockers mock: they don’t understand God’s way of telling time! The modern Church has focused on the verse that says that God wishes all to come to repentance. This is a wonderful picture of God’s grace, and we should focus on it. But before that verse is the phrase that explains it all. “One day is like a thousand years.” This is the key to this entire passage, but it has been misunderstood. This is not some general statement like: “God is eternal so long periods of years are like a day to Him.” No, this is a specific instruction. It means when we see the word “day” in the account of creation, it refers to a thousand years prophetically! Notice that before this instruction about the thousand-year equivalent, Peter carefully mentions creation, “by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water.” Why does Peter mention the creation? What does it have to do with the return of Jesus? The Creation account is mentioned so the reader will understand that the day-equals-a-thousand-years formula is to be inserted into it. If Peter did not mean for us to insert the formula into the creation account, why did he mention the creation? This is an awesome key to understanding. It helps show us in the scriptures how God tells time.

Peter validates that the reason scoffers don’t understand when Jesus will return is that they don’t understand that the creation narrative gives us the approximate timing of the Lord’s return. They don’t understand that the principle of a day = a thousand years is to apply prophetically to the creation account.

This Earth has had 6000 years under Satan’s rule, next is Jesus’ Millennial Kingdom. Jesus will rule the nations from the nation God established for His purposes: Israel, with a new Jerusalem as the capital city of the world.

 In the Millennium, 13 tribes will inherit a parcel of land.  The portion given to the tribe of Levi is called a holy section.  It will be a parcel 50 miles by 50 miles and will be situated between the land inheritance given to Judah and Benjamin.  Both the city of Jerusalem and the Temple will be in this section of land, called the “sacred district” As described in Ezekiel 45, the land around the Temple is divided into three large parcels of land – The Sanctuary, open space around it and homes for the Levite priests.

King David shall own the land on both sides of the holy district and the property of the city.

JERUSALEM – A NEW CITY, A NEW NAME – THE LORD IS THERE

Jerusalem will be the Capital of the World on the Highest Summit

PERSECUTION COMES WITH THE TERRITORY

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Speaking your beliefs as a Christian now can result in a mixed bag of anger, frustration, hostility, and many people who decide they can “no longer associate” with someone like you.

Some of the beliefs that will trigger these sentiments are as follows:

1. Life begins at conception. Abortion is murder.

2. There are only two genders, and we don’t get to pick between the two.

3. Marriage is designed to be between one man and one woman and sex is confined to husband and wife. Homosexuality is an abomination to God.

4. Children deserve two parents — a mum and a dad — who are there for them.

5. There’s only one true God. There’s only one way to God, and it’s through Jesus Christ.

6. Jesus made it possible for our Heavenly Father to send the Holy Spirit to be our counsellor, teacher, helper, and comforter.

7. With the Holy Spirit and the word of God, we have all we need to live a Christian life. The word of God, being inerrant and infallible, is the source of all that is good, true, and beautiful.

Redemption, for the Christian, is the freedom we have in Christ. But it was not free, for it cost Christ His life.

Isaiah revealed to the Pharisees and the Sadducees, the religious leaders of the day 700 years before Jesus Christ, their Messiah was born that he would die so that their sins could be forgiven and this is not the end of the story read what else God revealed to Isaiah.

“But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed... he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people… Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him;
he has put him to grief… For a brief moment I deserted you, but with great compassion I will gather you. In overflowing anger for a moment I hid my face from you, but with everlasting love I will have ompassion on you,” says the Lord, your Redeemer.” Isaiah 53:5-6, 8, 54:7-8

My concern is that just as the religious leaders of Jesus Day did not heed the prophecies of Jesus’ first coming, the religious leaders of our day are not heeding the many prophecies of Jesus’ second coming.

The Fall: Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden of Eden for disobeying God and eating from the tree of Good and Evil.

The Bible is full of these beautiful depictions of the reality of our redemption. We are free because Christ restored what was lost in “The Fall” through His death, burial, and resurrection! And so, with all this in mind, we understand what redemption is and can now rightly live out our faith.

Christians must understand how crucial it is to speak the truth in love. We’re called to extend a loving hand to our enemies. We must bring back healthy dialogue with our neighbours, and Christians should lead the charge! We were never meant to be silent or sit back in the face of adversity. Under a hostile government, we can understand the need to stand firm. 

TURKEY INTENT ON REESTBLISHING ITS OTTOMAN EMPIRE

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Turkey just delivered a major blow to Russia, putting Putin in a tight spot over Crimea and shifting the balance in the Black Sea region. Erdogan’s recent call for Crimea’s return to Ukraine is a strategic move, one Putin didn’t see coming. This isn’t just about land—control of Crimea is crucial for dominance in the Black Sea. With a long history of rivalry and Erdogan’s assertive neo-Ottoman vision, Turkey is challenging Russia like never before. Will Erdogan’s power play pay off?

A significant Biblical end-times prophecy is that Turkey (the Goat of Daniel 8) will be successful in re-establishing a revived Ottoman Empire but only for a short period and then it will be broken into four nations. My guess is that it will be the United Nations that will not countenance a revived Ottoman Empire that they do not control so it breaks it up into four nations.

“Then the goat became exceedingly great, but when he was strong, the great horn was broken, and instead of it there came up four conspicuous horns toward the four winds of heaven.
Out of one of them came a little horn, which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the glorious land.” Daniel 8:8-9

Before the above, we are yet to see in Biblical prophecy Turkey (Sunni) putting down Iran (Shia, the Ram of Daniel 8). Iran is already doing what Biblical prophecy says it will do push westward, northward, and southward with its proxies Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, and groups Iraq, Syria, and Bahrain. So next in Biblical prophecy is Turkey exerting its dominance in the Muslim world by putting down Iran.

“I saw the ram (Iran) charging westward and northward and southward. No beast could stand before him, and there was no one who could rescue from his power.” Daniel 8:4

“And the goat (Turkey) had a conspicuous horn between his eyes. He came to the ram (Iran) with the two horns, which I had seen standing on the bank of the canal, and he ran at him in his powerful wrath… And the ram had no power to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground and trampled on him.“ Daniel 8: 5-7

It is out of one of these four nations that the little Horn (Antichrist) arises. “Out of one of them came a little horn, which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the glorious land.” Daniel 8:9

We can use these prophecies to evangelize (apocalyptic evangelism). God has revealed these future events so that we know He is in control but also to use this information to bring others to a knowledge of Him and the truth.

WHAT TRUMP’S WIN MEANS FOR CHRISTIANS

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Ray Comfort of Living Waters (http://www.livingwaters.com) makes it clear to Christians that Trump’s win is not going to save anyone only preaching the Gospel, as Jesus commanded us to do, will save people from God’s judgement.

Trump is not going to turn back the clock and restore Judaeo-Christian values. Jesus and in fact even the O.T prophets particularly Daniel make it clear that Jews and Christians are going to experience intense persecution, tribulation, and great tribulation in the time up to Jesus second coming to Earth to defeat the Antichrist army in the battle of Armageddon and usher in His Millennial Kingdom.

“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. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” Matthew 24:9-13