MESSAGE TO PERGAMOS

Revelation 2:12-17

In each of the seven churches Christ first addressed their works. At Ephesus they had two works: first was evangelism and second was defending the faith. Both were commended by Christ but he preferred the church return to its first work of loving the Lord Jesus and putting Him before all other things. At Smyrna, Christ again addressed the works of the church which consisted of submitting to tribulation, poverty and death, all without renouncing their Christian faith. Christ did not rebuke the church at Smyrna. Not because it was a perfect church because there is no church that does not have some problems. After all they are all filled with sinners that are saved by the “grace” of God. These people were doing the best they could in a terrible place.

Now at Pergamos, Christ is once again addresses the works of Christians which works are relative to where they live. They lived in the wickedest city on earth where Satan himself had set up headquarters. Here are our Savior’s words to this church: “I know thy works and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is.” The problem the church at Pergamos faced is defined in the city’s name which means “mixed marriage.” As capital of Asia Minor, Pergamos was a city of mixed religions from all over the world and it was a city whose politics were married to the state religion of emperor worship.

Living in Pergamos would indeed test the faith of Christians for a mixed marriage of religion and state is a marriage made in hell!

Jon 2:8 says  They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.

We can see that just as it is in our day, all other religions can go hand and hand with each other and welcome each other with open arms that is all except Christianity. Christianity get’s it’s name from Jesus “Christ” our Lord. We cannot bow to false god’s and neither could these of Pergamos. There is no universal church. There is only the church built on the foundation of Jesus Christ. The world does not agree because the world is of the church that Satan built.

1Jn 3:1 says  Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: [therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not].
1Jn 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

1Jn 5:19 says  And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

When Satan was cast out of heaven, he set up headquarters on the earth. The location of his headquarters had always been at the center of political and military power. So, as one world power conquered another, Satan’s seat moved to the new ascending world power. To control that world power, Satan merged his mystery religion with the state. If people of that nation wanted to prosper they worshiped in the state religion.

We can see that in the time of Nimrod, the time of Solomon, the time of Nebuchadnezzar and all others. I believe we can see such a time when Satan was moving his seat during the time of Daniel.

Dan 10:13 says  But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.

We can see this happening in our world today, even in America!

To understand the wickedness of Satan’s seat is to comprehend the significance of Christ’s commendation of the Pergamos church. Christ’s commendation has two parts: [holding fast to his name and not denying his faith]. The first implies that [the key battleground was once again the deity of Jesus Christ]. In a city devoted to many gods, in a city that demanded emperor worship, to hold fast the name of Christ was indeed commendable. The question “who is god?” was at the heart of the struggle. The resounding answer faithfully preached by the church “Christ is God incarnate, the Lord of all, the king of Kings, his name is above every name!” Holding fast to his name was central to their faith. Pergamos believers never let go of the basic doctrine of Christianity that Christ is God incarnate. I pray that we in the Bible Belt of America hold on to this fact of Christ was God in the flesh.

All those that say we all have the same God but leave out Jesus Christ as that God in the flesh are worshiping some other god, not the God of the Bible!

The second part of Christ’s commendation is that they had not denied his faith even in those days when Antipas was Christ’s faithful martyr. This implies that even under pain of martyrdom the Pergamos church held strong to the faith of Christ. Although the faith of Christ and the deity of Christ are related, there is significant difference between the two. Whereas the deity of Christ centers on who he is, the faith of Christ centers on our unbending trust in him because of who he is. The key word to the faith in Christ is “denied.” The Pergamos church had not denied the faith of Christ. Denied in Greek means “a verbal or written disavowing, rejection or renunciation of the Christian faith.” At what time in church history were Christians faced with a verbal or written renunciation of their faith in exchange for life? Christ gave the answer when he said “thou hast not denied my faith even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr who was slain among you.” Antipas could have been the pastor of the local church at Pergamos but he could have been a leader that stood up to the evil of Satan’s seat. Historically we know that he was the first martyr of Asia Minor. The method by which he met his demise is more barbaric than any mentioned in our previous study. According to tradition he was slowly roasted to death in a bronze kettle during the reign of the Roman emperor Domitian. Domitian began the second wave of persecution in 81 AD. Christians who stood before this savage ruler were given a chance to live if they would renounce their faith. The test was an oath they had to take during renunciation. When they refused to deny their faith in written or spoken word even under penalty of inhumane death, Christ commended them.

The city of Pergamos in Asia Minor set the standard for the broader Pergamos church period for not only was it a city of mixed religions and mixed doctrine, it was also a city where religion and state were married. Here In America where our forefathers wrote into the Constitution that the State could not interfere with free worship has been turned around by Satan’s followers to a lesser and wrong meaning that the true Church cannot influence the nature of government. The forefathers never intended for Christian principles to left out of government and so the battle rages of the evil trying to dominate the good in our nation the U S A. As a Christian I already know good will win out in the end but I’m not sure America will survive until that day. I live in the greatest nation of modern day but also in a nation that get’s further and further from God just as Israel did.

Our Text:

*****Rev 2:12  And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;

What does a sword say?

The typical Asian sword was made with two edges compared to the typical European sword which was made with one cutting edge. The main advantage is obvious as a two edge sword would cut in two directions. Many times in the Bible we can see where many have died by the edge of the sword.

In the Book of Genesis we see a sword that cuts from all sides or all it’s edges.

Gen 3:24  So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

This would be a very destructive sword. It believe we see this sword again in the Book of Revelation.

Rev 19:15  And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

We know the Lord Jesus is coming to make war.

But in our verse we see the two edged sword. There are only a few places in the Bible we see this sword. We know that Christ is speaking to the Church and that being so that He has already judged the church. So we know that here in this verse He is pointing out things to improve the church. Some would say warning the church. Some would say counseling the church. It is probably some of both.

If someone uses an argument that could both help them and harm them, then they are using a two-edged sword sword; it cuts both ways.

We can see that the Lord Jesus Christ is counseling His church but these things are also a warning to some, thus the twoedged sword.

Counseling means: Advising; instructing; admonishing.

The Bible says in Isaiah:

Isa 11:4  But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove 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 shall he slay the wicked.

This is a two edged sword!

Heb 4:12  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

This is using a two edged sword!

The word of God is sharper than this sword, so I believe the Lord Jesus Christ is using His words on this church.

God expects His children to also be familiar with this sword!

Psa 149:5  Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds.
Psa 149:6  Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand;
Psa 149:7  To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people;
Psa 149:8  To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron;
Psa 149:9  To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD.

God is not telling us to murder our enemies. “God is telling us to use the Word of God on the Lost”.

*****Rev 2:13  I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.

We may think we can hide our works from God but that is impossible.

Pro 15:3  The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.

The ways of man:

Pro 5:21  For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings.

None can hide:

Job 34:21  For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.
Job 34:22  There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

There are no secret places to hide from God:

Jer 23:24  Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. [Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD].

Blessings and also the Hickory(the rod of correction) will come from what God sees, not what we think we do!

Jer 32:19  Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men: [to give every one] according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings:

And not Satan nor any other creature can hide from God:

Heb 4:13  Neither is there [any creature that is not manifest in his sight]: [but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do].

Where is Satan’s seat?

Lets look at the definitions of that word “seat”.

1.) Seat: That on which one sits; a chair, bench, stool or any other thing on which a person sits.

2.) Seat: The place of sitting; throne; chair of state; tribunal; post of authority; as the seat of justice; judgment-seat.

3.) Seat: The place where a thing is settled or established. So we say, the seat of the muses,the seat of arts, the seat of commerce.

4.) Everywhere Satan sits becomes an evil place if he remains seated there!

In the Strong dictionary of Greek terms we find this:  “thronos” From   a´  thrao¯ (to sit); a stately seat (“throne”); by implication power or (concretely) a potentate: – seat, throne.

What’s a potentate?  A person who possesses great power or sway; a prince; a sovereign; an emperor, king or monarch.

Now we can know that God our Father knows exactly where Satan is sitting or standing or walking at this very moment. BUT God also knows where Satan has set up his place of business. Satan’s business is to destroy anything that is of God.

We know of some things that Satan is the prince of, (not king of but prince of):

1.) He is the true prince of “devils”.

Mat 12:24  But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but [by Beelzebub the prince of the devils].

2.) He is the prince of “this world”.

Joh 12:31  Now is the judgment of this world: now shall [the prince of this world] be cast out.

3.) He is the “prince of the power of the air”.

Eph 2:2  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to [the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience]:

It is he that works in children that do not obey. This includes all grownups.

Christ our Lord also knew where Satan was at all times!

Joh 14:30 says  Hereafter I will not talk much with you: [for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me].

We find in Pergamos a lot of ungodly things. The symbol of Asklepios was the serpent as it is of Satan(all doctors still have this emblem on their doors and some even on their persons as badges). There was, besides this, a great throne altar to Zeus cut on the Acropolis rock, symbol of “rampant paganism” (Swete) and the new Caesar-worship with the recent martyrdom of Antipas made Pergamum indeed a very throne of Satan. Pergamos was in a center of heathen idolatry. Pergamos was a notorious center of idolatry.

1Jn 5:21 says  Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

These believers in Pergamos probably had many reasons to deny their faith. We can see that at least one (Antipas) had been Marty rd by the ruling government of Pergamos. Satan had firmly planted his evilness (his seat) in this government. America is getting worse just as the Bible says but it hasn’t reached that point here yet. But God’s children are Marty rd in many places in this world every day. It is a true statement to say that Satan has a seat in every church on this earth but if we worship as we should “in spirit and truth” then we can at least keep his feet moving toward the door and his thoughts on getting out of there and maybe giving him ulcers and put him on Valium or some pain killer.

Satan can only be in one place at a time but once he entrenches himself in government he becomes an obstacle to the church and we must stand steadfast against all false doctrine and ungodly laws and lawmakers. Our vote is more important that it ever has been. Satan has entrenched himself into most all education of children and we find it harder every day to battle the foolishness of false science and those that control the books used in education. This is another of Satan’s seats that we allow him to much freedom in. Wake up America!

Oh, by the way, it is believed Antipas was slow roasted in the housing of a bull. One legend is that he was burnt to death in a brazen bull. The Bible is not about legends but there are those that will die before they deny the Lord Jesus Christ.

This church did not deny the Lord Jesus Christ. They held fast to His name and did not deny His faith.

James wrote to us by the Holy Spirit that after salvation the born again Christian should be noticeable in the way he lives and serves God.

Jas 2:17  Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Jas 2:18  Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
Jas 2:19  Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
Jas 2:20  But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

We cannot please our Lord without our faith in Him.

Heb 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

*****Rev 2:14  But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

What is the doctrine of Balaam?

The Apostle Paul wrote of these people:

Php 3:17  Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
Php 3:18  (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
Php 3:19  Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

Balaam had the secular world leaders (King Balac) convinced that he could influence the true church because he could gain special favor from God that he could get a special message from God. That is if those needing his service had enough money.

Num 22:7  And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed [with the rewards of divination in their hand]; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak.

God did not allow this and reproved Balaam many times. We know if God reproves someone claiming to be a Christian often enough He will sometimes put and end to it.

Pro 29:1 says  He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, [shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy].

Before the death of Balaam he did give Balak the means to hurt the work of God’s people.

Num 31:15  And Moses said unto them, Have ye saved all the women alive?
Num 31:16  Behold, [these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor], and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD.

The children of Israel had been influenced when Balak(Balac) had sent many women to live among them. This caused inner marriage with them. They brought their religion in to intermingle with the truth of God causing confusion and causing the children of Israel to sin. Even eating things that were sacrificed to Idols.

Not only was there fornication outside the marriage but there was adultery within the marriage and then add to that the worldly influence came into the church.

God had given these words to his children:

Gen 24:3  And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, [that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites], among whom I dwell:
Gen 24:4  But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.

Num 36:6  This is the thing which the LORD doth command concerning the daughters of Zelophehad, saying, [Let them marry to whom they think best; only to the family of the tribe of their father shall they marry].

These words hold true even today in our time because God does not change!

Marriage:

2Co 6:14  Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
2Co 6:15  And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
2Co 6:16  And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
2Co 6:17  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
2Co 6:18  And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Fornication:

Act 15:29  That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

Things sacrificed to Idols:

1Co 10:19  What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?
1Co 10:20  But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.

The church in Corinth had a lot in common with this church in Pergamos as does a lot of the church in 2010. Satan does not have to change his tactics in any age.

Balaam met his bitter end just as God said:

Jos 13:22  Balaam also the son of Beor, the soothsayer, [did the children of Israel slay with the sword among them that were slain by them].

Just as Proverbs 29 had said.

Num 31:8  And they slew the kings of Midian, beside the rest of them that were slain; namely, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, five kings of Midian: [Balaam also the son of Beor they slew with the sword].

He was still hanging out with the enemies of God and trying to fill his pocketbook. The secular church in our day and time is filled with this influence of Balaam because there are still many Balaams who have climbed behind the pulpits of many churches and they hang right with the ruling elite of today trying their best to fill their pocketbooks in any way they can.

Paul warns us again:

Rom 16:17  Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
Rom 16:18  [For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple].

Jude says:

Jud 1:16  These are murmurers, complainers, [walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage].
Jud 1:17  But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;
Jud 1:18  How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, [who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
Jud 1:19  These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit].

Remember God said this church had these people already inside the church and not outside trying to get in. If you do not have the Holy Spirit inside of you then you are not saved.

*****Rev 2:15  So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.

At the church of Ephesus the Lord had said they hated the the deeds of the Nicolaitans but now this group of people had gained entrance into the church of Pergamos. These are the ones that want absolute rule of the church. The so called perfect ones.

The Apostle John wrote of these:

3Jn 1:9  I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, [who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not].
3Jn 1:10  Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.

These come in the form of members, deacons, and ministers among other things. It is the church that Christ is writing to. It is the church that rules the church with the instruction from Jesus Christ our Lord. The church belongs to Jesus or it is not a church.

Act 20:28  Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, [which he hath purchased with his own blood].

Paul also had this warning which has held true:

Act 20:29  For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, [not sparing the flock].
Act 20:30  [Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them].

Satan will do anything to hinder the work of the church of Jesus Christ.

Note: Read more about the Nicolaitans in the lesson “Message to Ephesus”.

*****Rev 2:16  Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

Repent!

When we look in any direction besides unto God, we are in need of repentance!

Isa 45:22  Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.

We have to turn from unrighteous works to the living God:

Act 14:15  [And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things?] We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you [that ye should turn from these vanities] unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:
Act 14:16  Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.

We have to lay aside all forms of evilness:

Heb 12:1  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Heb 12:2  [Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith]; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Remember that twoedged sword. One side of that sword is counseling to make the church better. The other side of the sword is the rebuke of the Lord, His wrath. God is giving these massages to His church in order that [more lost souls be saved]. This is the purpose of the church, to carry God’s word to the lost. When those Nicolaitans show up in our church, we need to expose them for what they are, give them room to repent and if to no avail we need to turn them over to Satan.

1Co 5:5  To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
1Co 5:6  Your glorying is not good. [Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump]?

It is the Church, those Born Again Saved Souls of Christ, that are to see that the Church goes forward for Jesus!

*****Rev 2:17  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

Again the Holy Spirit encourages all the church of Jesus to listen to these words.

Heb 6:17  Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:
Heb 6:18  That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

What is the hidden manna?

Manna was the food God sent down from Heaven to feed the children of Israel for forty years in the wilderness. Some was gathered at one time and place in the Ark of the Covenant.

Exo 16:33  And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a pot, and put an omer full of manna therein, and lay it up before the LORD, to be kept for your generations.

This Ark was placed in side the Veil of the Tabernacle.

Heb 9:2  For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary.
Heb 9:3  And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;
Heb 9:4  Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;
Heb 9:5  And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.

We find out later that the pot of Manna is missing from inside the Ark.

1Ki 8:9  There was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone, which Moses put there at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt.

So is this now what is called the “hidden manna”.

The Ark has never been located but we know that the Earthly ark was built by a pattern in Heaven.

Rev 11:19  And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and [there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament]: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

Has God taken it all back to Heaven.

We do have these words of Jesus.

Joh 6:31  Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.
Joh 6:32  Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but [my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven].

What is the true bread?

Joh 6:49  Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, [and are dead].
Joh 6:50  This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and [not die].
Joh 6:51  [I am the living bread which came down from heaven]: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

Is this the “hidden manna”? I believe this is the “hidden manna”.

Joh 6:58  This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: [he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever].

The Bible says.

Col 3:2  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Col 3:3  For ye are dead, and [your life is hid] with Christ in God.

Is this the “hidden manna” the word of God hidden in your own heart?

Jesus Christ had these words.

Joh 4:31  In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat.
Joh 4:32  But he said unto them, [I have meat to eat that ye know not of].

There are some mysteries in the Bible.

Mat 13:11  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

God’s children will know most all His secrets.

Psa 25:14  [The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him]; and he will shew them his covenant.

The food from Heaven will satisfy all hunger.

Psa 36:8  They shall be abundantly satisfied [with the fatness of thy house]; and thou shalt make them drink of [the river of thy pleasures].

This food will bring life to the soul.

Pro 3:22  So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.

We will never hunger again.

Isa 65:13  Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry: behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty: behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed:
Isa 65:14  Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit.
Isa 65:15  And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen: for the Lord GOD shall slay thee, and [call his servants by another name]:

That new name will go on that “white stone”!

It is believed that this term the “white stone” comes an ancient voting custom. There were white and black stones. A white stone was cast for approval and a black stone was cast for rejection. We get our phrase “blackballed” from this system of voting. This system may have even began in the arenas where athletes performed. It could also have been a means of the Sanhedrin Court. Listen to what the Apostle Paul says.

Act 26:10  Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, [I gave] my voice against them.

The Jews were well aware of this system of choosing as they had, had the Urim and the Thummim all these years in their religion.

Exo 28:30  And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be upon Aaron’s heart, when he goeth in before the LORD: and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the LORD continually.

In our Christian dispensation, the high-priest’s peculiar treasure, [consultation of God’s light and truth, belongs to all believers as spiritual priests].

The “white stone”, has been regarded as referring to the pebble of acquittal used in the Greek courts; to the lot cast in elections in Greece; to both of these combined; to the stones in the high priest’s breastplate; to the tickets presented to the victor, at the public games; or, lastly, to the custom of writing on stones.

We know that a “white stone” always means the God has chosen the church through His Son Christ Jesus in this time of grace and in this time of the Church Age.

Let’s pray!

MESSAGE TO THYATIRA

Our Text:

Revelation 2: 18-29

In our study of the book of Revelation we have reached the fourth church. We have seen Ephesus the church that lost it’s first love. Any church that does not have the Lord Jesus Christ as it’s foundation is not really a church but only a meeting place for lost souls. We have been to Smyrna the persecuted church. If you follow the Lord Jesus you will see the hate the world has for the true God of love. We’ve been to Pergamos the worldly church. It is a true statement that the place of a ship is in the water but if the water gets into the ship it will sink. We now come to Thyatira and we will find a place where this church got so lax that they also were giving in to the world.

Thyatira lay about 40 miles to the southeast of Pergamum. It was situated on the postal route between Ephesus and Laodicea. The city was originally formed as a Greek outpost. However, the city was built on flat, unprotected land, so therefore there were no natural fortifications to protect the area. Eventually, around 190BC the Romans took over the area.

We don’t know a lot about the city’s religious or political history. It was not steep in culture or Roman Emperor worship like some of the other cities we have studied. We do know that Thyatira had a “guardian” deity called Tyrimnos. A warrior and protector god that is associated with the many trade guilds found in Thyatira. It is also believed that there was a temple to Apollo, the ‘sun god’.

The one major thing we know about Thyatira is that it was a successful commercial center. Due to its location along the trade routes, it prospered commercially and became economically strong. Along with this prosperity, came the formation of several trade guilds, or what we may relate to as unions. They had guilds representing workers in the wool, linen, leather, bronze, pottery, baking, dying and slave trades. While we don’t know much about the cities overall religious activities, we do know that these guilds involved several forms of pagan worship in their meetings and activities including sacrifices to the pagan gods, eating of sacrificed meat that had been offered to the pagan idols and large sexually immoral gatherings.

We have no history of the start of the church at Thyatira. It is believed that Jewish families flocked to the city because of its commercial success and the Christian church probably formed out of that body. There is no evidence that the Christians of Thyatira were persecuted by the government the way they were in Smyrna and Pergamum, however it seems understood that there were issues with the trade guilds and the impact they had on the holiness of the Christians life.

A European named Lydia was the first one saved from this city though she was at Philippi when this took place.

Act 16:14  And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.
Act 16:15  And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.

Our Text:

*****Rev 2:18  And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;

Again John was to write for the Pastor of this church who was to deliver the message.

(Son of God)

The phrase “Son of God” is used 46 times in the New Testament but only this “one” time is it used in the book of Revelation. Christ wanted this church to know it was the Son of God that gave this message to their pastor.

Mar 1:1  The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;

Joh 6:69  And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.

Rom 8:3  For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

Heb 1:1  God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
Heb 1:2  Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

There is a reason for everything Christ does and we will see why He used this name shortly, but we already know the He wanted it known the source of this message to this church. That source was the “Son Of God”. This speaks of the deity of Christ but also of the Holy Trinity of God.  He does not bear this title in consequence of his miraculous birth, nor of his incarnation, his resurrection, and exaltation to the Father’s right hand. This is a title of nature and not of office. The sonship of Christ denotes his equality with the Father. To call Christ the Son of God is to assert his true and proper divinity. The second Person of the Trinity, because of his eternal relation to the first Person, is the Son of God. He is the Son of God as to his divine nature, while as to his human nature he is the Son of David.

Rom 1:3 says  Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;
Rom 1:4  And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

(eyes like unto a flame of fire)

The phrase “flame of fire” is used exactly seven times throughout the Bible and we know the importance of the number “seven” in in this book. Christ sees everything that happens in His church.

Exo 3:2; Joe 2:5; Act 7:30; Heb 1:7; Rev1:14; Rev 19:12 and in our verse Rev 2:18.

We already know that these angels of the church represent the pastors of these churches. In Hebrews we see:

Heb 1:7  And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.

Heb 1:14  Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

But they are also the stewards of God’s word:

1Co 4:1  Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
1Co 4:2  Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

They are also accountable to God:

2Co 4:2  But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

God knows we will be tempted just as his pastors are tempted:

Gal 4:14  And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.

Not only do those eyes of Christ see all these things but He shows us He will be with us through all these things but with these eyes of the Lord Jesus Christ there is also that warning of that devouring flame, that all consuming flame when there is no obedience.

Isa 29:6  Thou shalt be visited of the LORD of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire.

Heb 12:29  For our God is a consuming fire.

Job said:

Job 42:2  I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.

God sees even every thought that we have!

(fine brass)

We already know that this fine brass would be more like sterling silver. Showing how our Lord had spent His time on this Earth sin free, unstained, untarnished and willing to walk us through the flames of purification to refine us.

Mal 3:2  But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap:

John the Baptist said:

Mat 3:11  I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

The Apostle Paul wrote:

1Co 3:13  Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.

These are the eyes of Our Lord that watch over us every day and this is the same Son of God that had this message for these of Thyatira this day.

*****Rev 2:19  I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.

We must not forget that this message was intended for the church. The bride of Christ. Their work of salvation already complete (to believe on the Lord Jesus and Repent their ways). These works are the works done since coming into the family of God.

Rom 6:13  Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, [as those that are alive from the dead], and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

As those that are alive would be those that are “Born Again”. Saved by the “grace” of God. Our works are good only when they are for the love of God and have the “glory of God” as the objective.

Eph 2:10  For we are his workmanship, [created in Christ Jesus unto good works], which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

(charity)

We throw the word “love” around throughout this world but only our English word “charity” can come close to describing the “Agape love” of Christ. This is love based on principle and action. This is love that can have feelings and shared emotions but are not ruled by those emotions. I love my children because they are my children. I’m not going to stop loving them just because they do foolish things. God will never stop loving His children and it shows in His actions. He did send His only Son to save a lost world. He loved us while we were still sinners and lost. We are still sinners but no longer lost if you are Born Again.

1Co 13:4  Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
1Co 13:5  Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
1Co 13:6  Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
1Co 13:7  Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

If I had charity, I would not strap a bomb on myself to go kill other people for “any” reason. Nor would I take a rifle to kill the innocent. There is a difference in a true soldier and a killer terrorist.

(service)

It is because of that “agape love” that these believers at this church could serve a Holy God. The word “service”comes from the word “deacon”. In other words that service would be directed toward others and for their benefit. If a deacon does things for his own glory then he is not serving God.

A Deacon is a person in the lowest degree of holy orders. The office of deacon was instituted by the apostles, Acts 6, and seven persons were chosen at first, to serve and to minister to the wants of the poor. Every child of God is a servant, a deacon, for the church of the living God, though some may be specifically chosen to perform this honor in the church. And God does have some guidelines for those that are chosen.

1Ti 3:10  And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.

The Strong dictionary of Greek terms says this of “service” in the church: “diakonia”: attendance (as a servant, etc.); figuratively (eleemosynary) aid, (official) service (especially of the Christian teacher)

And from “diakonos” (to run on errands); an attendant, that is, (generally) a waiter (at table or in other menial duties); specifically a Christian teacher and pastor: – deacon, minister, servant.

Christian service extends in all directions. Our focus should always be on the unsaved but we should also be of service to our brothers and sisters, our church family is another priority and we cannot forget our service extends to God and our Lord Jesus Christ “first”.

Christ was pleased with the service of these saints at Thyatira.

(faith)

It took your faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ to be saved. It will also takes faith to do the work of God.

Heb 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

These saints at Thyatira served God faithfully because they believed on Him and His word. The worst any situation gets, the more we need our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ!

(Patience)

It is the “agape love” of these saints of God and their saving faith that gave them the patience to be those faithful servants. Patience is being steadfast no matter what Satan throws at you. Remember how Noah preached for 120 years while he built that Ark. He never got a single person to believe on God. That took a lot of patience to preach a saving God and no one ever listened.

2Pe 2:4  For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
2Pe 2:5  And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;

Just because people do not believe the word of God does not make it a lie. When the flood rains from Heaven began those of Noah’s day became instant believers but the door to safety had already been closed.

Gen 6:3  And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.

We have to many examples of the truth of God. We have too many prophesies that have been totally fulfilled and not to forget the work of the Holy Spirit in our own souls to not believe what God says in His word. When you can witness the life saving grace of God in peoples lives and the change that takes place when the best rehabs and clinics fail you know what to be “Born Again” really means.

This church at Thyatira had patience!

(more than the first)

Because of their patience this church persevered in the work of God. These saints started well and continued in the race to the finish line.

Heb 12:1  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

These saints were not on again, off again Christians. They continued to grow spiritually and in theirs works of the church! Christians should never become complacent in their work for God nor should we ever feel satisfied of the work we are doing.

1Sa 12:24  Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: [for consider how great things he hath done for you].

*****Rev 2:20  Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.

You know the saints of God sitting in the pews have a responsibility! We cannot allow any teaching that goes against the word of God!

(sufferest)

The Strong dictionary of Greek terms says of the word sufferest: to let be, that is, permit or leave alone:

Suffer in the Webster dictionary says: To allow; to permit; not to forbid or hinder.

Eph 5:11 says  And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

1Ti 5:20 says  Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.

Tit 2:11 says  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Tit 2:12  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Tit 2:13  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Tit 2:14  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Tit 2:15  These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

(Jezebel)

Who was Jezebel?

The dictionary says of this name Jezebel:  An impudent, daring, vicious woman.

Vicious means:  Addicted to vice; corrupt in principles or conduct; depraved; wicked; habitually transgressing the moral law.

You know when a real name “Jezebel” has it’s own definition in a book of word meanings, then she must have fit that desription.

There was another Jezebel in the Bible.

1Ki 16:31  And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him.

This wife of Ahab who worshiped Baal.

Who was Baal? An idol among the ancient Chaldeans and Syrians, representing the sun. The word signifies also lord, or commander; and the character of the idol was varied by different nations, at different times. Thus Baal Berith is supposed to signify the Lord of the Covenant; Baal Peor, the Lord of the dead, Baal Zebub, the god of flies, etc.

She killed God’s prophets.

1Ki 18:4  For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD,

She installed her own prophets who Elijah proved were false.

1Ki 18:21  And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
1Ki 18:22  Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men.
1Ki 18:23  Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under:
1Ki 18:24  And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.

Jezebel made vows to her own false god.

1Ki 19:2  Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time. (She would kill Elijah)

Jezebel controlled her husband Ahab.

1Ki 21:7  And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel? arise, and eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.
1Ki 21:8  So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles that were in his city, dwelling with Naboth.

This woman Jezebel did everything she could to make the children of Israel worship a false God. We can see that this Jezebel defied everything about God. She had placed everything on her on false beliefs. She had become a Queen being in her beliefs and now she answered to no one. She even dominated her husband the King of Israel. She was proven to be a pagan and murderous wife. She condoned immorality in her own family. (Ahab had seventy children). This Jezebel of Thyatira was so named of our Lord because she resembled the ways of the wife of Ahab.

There is a pretty good chance this woman at Thyatira was not named Jezebel even though she could have been, but she had the qualities of a Jezebel. Though some say that she was the wife of the Pastor, even that may not be true but it makes sense.

It is more than likely that this Jezebel was a person of some degree from the worship of Apollo, who was in this city, the sun god just as Baal. We can be sure she was not saved but a person as defined who would take charge if so allowed and it was happening at this Church at Thyatira.

1.) It seems she was being allowed to teach men or more probably young men or young adults.

1Ti 2:12  But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
1Ti 2:13  For Adam was first formed, then Eve.
1Ti 2:14  And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.

2,) She was teaching immorality and idolatry!

Idolatry is anything we put between us and God. Immorality is every action which contravenes any divine precept, or which is contrary to the duties which men or women owe to each other.

Luk 10:27  And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; [and thy neighbour as thyself].

The word “fornication” is used here in this verse and “not adultery”. This tells me this Jezebel may have been teaching young single adults. We know that this is the doctrine of Satan. Get them hook on sin while they are still young. We see in our own school systems where abstinence is not being taught but that it is OK to indulge in these immoral things. It was bad then and bad now. She taught that it was acceptable for Christians to engage in fornication. Remember King Ahab had, had at least 70 children. This was a common practice in these guilds, these unions of Thyatira and their pagan rituals. This philosophy still lives in our humanistic and atheist societies. Many today believe that business is business and we have to go along with business to get along in this world. When we teach the young people of this world to live immorally, they carry that wrong all the days of their life.

Every evil doctrine or false science, sinful ways seems to find it’s way into the schools. We cannot allow it in our Church!

God says?

Jer 17:5  Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.

God’s arm is never to short to take care of His children.

Jer 32:17  Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:

If business principles collide with Christian principles then most people will set aside their Christian belief to make what they call a living. The truth is we don’t have a clue to what would happen if we totally yield ourselves to the Lord.

King David wrote in his time:

Psa 37:23  The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
Psa 37:24  Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.
Psa 37:25  I have been young, and now am old; [yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread].
Psa 37:26  He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.
Psa 37:27  Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.

Jesus Christ held the church responsible for the teaching of this evil woman. The saints of God have a responsibility even when we are sitting in those pews. This church needed to stand up against this teaching. When we violate the authority of God’s word, then God is no longer in control of our lives and we are in deep sin. If whatever you are living for and whatever makes you happy is not centered around the Lord Jesus Christ “then you have a new god”.

Notice she made her own self a prophetess. We already know that their are no more prophets in our day nor were there in this day of Jezebel.

One of the purposes of the Book of Revelation is to show us that it was Christ who was the last prophet of the coming future and He alone. There are no more prophets after Jesus who is our only Saviour!

This woman Jezebel still has followers today. This is another reason God gave us this wonderful book, to show us Satan never changes and sadly he does not have to. His old methods still work. They have for 6000 years.

Christ said her followers would go through the great tribulation. Billy Graham once said that 85% of those sitting on church pews were not saved. Another preacher said 97%. The truth is the first Sunday after the Rapture of the church many will go to church as they always have and will not realize that the church is already in Heaven. Many will slide off the church pew straight into Hell.

Jesus also said that this woman had children which means she had many that had converted to her doctrine. These will suffer at the White Throne judgment seat. This is the “death” of all unbelievers. This is the only sin that will put you in front of Jesus at the White Throne. (The Sin Of Unbelief).

Rom 6:23  [For the wages of sin is death]; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

3.) This woman was totally unrepentant!

The Jezebel of the Bible, wife of Ahab was still flirting with danger when Jehu came to town.

2Ki 9:30  And when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she painted her face, and tired her head, and looked out at a window.
2Ki 9:31  And as Jehu entered in at the gate, she said, Had Zimri peace, who slew his master?

She was eaten by the dogs at the bottom of a high window!

The name Jezebel still represents sinful ways in our day.

What is “doctrine”? In a general sense, whatever is taught. Hence, a principle or position in any science; whatever is laid down as true by an instructor or master.

Man’s doctrine will not work in Heavenly matters.

Only the doctrine of the gospel are the principles or truths taught by Christ and His Apostles.

Gal 1:8  But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

Jesus Christ told this church to continue in the works and even to improve. He recognized that just to hold on in such a wicked place would be enough of a challenge for these believers.

In the time of Paul, the Apostles had given some details of salvation to the Gentiles:

Act 15:28  For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;
Act 15:29  That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

Christ our Lord still gives these details to the church of Thyatira.

The Bible says:

Luk 18:7  And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
Luk 18:8  I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. [Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?]

To be steadfast in God’s word and being a doer of that word should be the goal of every believer no matter what obstacles Satan places in our path. We are going to fail from time to time but God will pick us up and dust our pants and set us back on His path.

What is the depth of Satan?

1Ti 4:1  Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
1Ti 4:2  Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
1Ti 4:3  Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

If your conscience is seared with a hot iron, then you will not have one!

Satan seeks to destroy the church from within. A house divided cannot stand.

Mar 3:25  And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.

Churches can be divided over such mundane things as traditions and politics. But if Satan can get a false Preacher, Pastor, or any Teacher in a church they can take a congregation away from Biblical Doctrine and insert their own doctrine that may never be corrected before the house falls. It is important for every church to be based on the written word of God and [not some ones opinion of that word]. The best way to avoid these things is to take God’s word and study it for yourself.

God’s word says what it means and it means what it says!

What’s our challenge?

1.) Be an over-comer.
2.) Keep the word of the Bible(KJV).
3.) Be steadfast in the work of the Lord!

What is His promise?

To rule over these nations with a rod of iron. This rule will be to obey the word of God. A pot broken in shivers cannot be repaired, it would have to be replaced. This is the rule of Jesus during the Millennial Kingdom.

Psa 2:7  I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
Psa 2:8  Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
Psa 2:9  Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.
Psa 2:10  Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.
Psa 2:11  Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
Psa 2:12  Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

What is a morning star?

Rev 22:16  I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

It is Jesus Christ our Lord! He gives Himself to everyone that believes on Him.

Joh 14:23  Jesus answered and said unto him, [If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him].

He’s coming again and it will be soon. If you have the Morning Star within you now you will come with Him when He returns the second time!

It seems so simple because it is!

Let’s Pray!