“Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.”
1 Corinthians 9:25
In 1963, Canton, Ohio, became the shrine’s location for pro-football players coaches, including franchise owners and front-office personnel. In the life of a football player, it is a high honor to be included in the annual class of inductees, which are typically four to eight people. In a way, these fine athletes are made “immortal” in the sports world of football. At the mention of the city, Canton, the faithful know it signifies fame forever. This shrine is called the Hall of Fame.
The class of 2022 inductees is made up of eight people: six players, a coach, and an official. The players include men whose job was to either protect the quarterback (offensive linemen), tackle the quarterback (defensive linemen), or receive a pass from the quarterback (wide receiver). . The position of every defensive player is to stop the quarterback, while the job of every offensive player is to support the quarterback’s leadership in moving forward.
This 2022 class brings the total to 362 Football professionals in the Hall of Fame. All have contributed to the game and reached the pinnacle of the sport. They will receive a yellow jacket and be remembered for many years to come. They are the few. Almost all of us have no chance of ever becoming a professional football player, much less reaching this level. It requires youth, strength, dedication, training, and genes you and I were not born with.
Did you know God has a Hall of Faith made up of many different people over hundreds, even thousands of years? They were ordinary people like you and me! This Hall of Fame, found in Hebrews chapter 11, has at least fifteen “immortalized” people who demonstrated exceptional faith; all were Old Testament characters! But some groups of people also showed great faith in difficult times. The children of Israel crossed over the Red Sea by faith and brought down the walls of Jericho. “Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.” Hebrews 11: 35
This faith was not in a game but a person: the Lord Jesus. “The Author and Finisher of our faith.” Each person believed in the recorded promises of God, but each one in this Hall of Faith died without receiving the promise of God. “And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise.” Hebrews 11:39.
What was it they were promised? It was a homeland, a heavenly one.
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say, such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And indeed, if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had the opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. Hebrews 12: 13-16
Just as the Football Hall of Famer inspires the football enthusiast, the Faith Hall of Famer inspires each person who has chosen to go all-in for Jesus. This person who says, they are a stranger and pilgrim on earth expresses faith in the promise of a better country. More than likely, each will die before receiving the promise. Nevertheless, a better country awaits those who live by faith. But this is not a spectator life of faith. It is active. It requires dedication, training, and the “measure of faith” that God gives every person who comes into the world. (Romans 12:7). If you are to be in God’s Hall of Faith, Paul gives us this final simple plea.
Therefore, we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses (the Hall of Faith), let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 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 has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12: 1-2
Will you choose to enter the race today? How do you succeed? Only one way. You look to the Author and Finisher of our faith. The Lord Jesus!
I want to invite you to an Answers from Scripture Zoom class called DANIEL AND REVELATION OPENED. It will be facilitated by myself and two other retired men. It will be a verse by study.
We are so sure these classes will benefit you that we will be drawing for a free iPad and other gifts if you attend ten straight classes.
THE ZOOM CLASSES BEGIN 3-1-22 (TUES) AT 7:00 PM CENTRAL AND EVERY TUESDAY NIGHT AFTER THAT. TO SIGN UP SIMPLY SEND YOUR EMAIL TO:
DanielRevelation2300@gmail.com.
You may be asking, WHAT CHURCH IS THIS? The short answer is no church. The facilitators of these zoom classes, Eddie, Larry, and Charlie, are retired family men who share a love for Jesus Christ and are excited by the opportunity to open the Books of Daniel and the Revelation of Jesus Christ again. (These classes were conducted last year for the first time. )
The facilitators have backgrounds across multiple denominations, and in these studies, they check denominational hats at the door and let the Bible speak for itself. It is discussion-oriented. Eddie, Larry, and Charlie have decades of experience in leading in-depth but low-pressure scripture studies, including the companion books of Daniel and Revelation.
You will not be asked to join a church. What you do with the information and material is up to you. Where you fellowship is entirely up to you. The desire of these men is for each person who joins the study to discover Jesus Christ or be strengthened in their current faith. We hope you will join us in this journey to see Jesus revealed, perhaps like you have never seen before!
I hope to see you!
Eddie Armstrong (Author of Answers From Scripture Online)
More deadly than COVID is the plague of lies and deception. This fatal disease infects everyone in the world in one way or another. It is not limited to politicians, rulers, and famous people. Marriages and relationships can’t escape this deadly grip. It is in churches, synagogues, and places of worship. It has become the fabric of advertising, documentaries, and entertainment.
People receive phone calls from scammers telling them lies to steal their identity and hard-earned money every day. Husbands and wives tell lies to cover adulterous relationships. The Church and its leaders have not escaped its tentacles. Pastors, preachers, teachers, and followers deceive when the truth is not convenient or cuts across their desires or traditions. Cult leaders weave truth and lies to create false religions. Why is this?
The Anti-Christ-The Ultimate Delusion
Paul reveals why people (including church members) are easily deceived. He addresses the Thessalonian church concerning the last days and the Anti-Christ (son of perdition, lawless one). The Anti-Christ uses lies and deception to fool the people into following Him because they don’t love the truth. The pleasure of sin and convenience sets them up in a mindless state for strong delusion.
The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason, God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
1 Thessalonians 2: 9-12
Sadly, God’s truth is not respected, mainly because it is inconvenient, as one politician put it, concerning the environment.
Both Jesus and His disciples cautioned the church against lies and deception concerning the return of Christ. Jesus had just told the disciples that the temple would be destroyed. They connected the destruction of the massive temple with the return of Jesus. But Jesus was more concerned about deception than brick and mortar. The first words out of Jesus’ mouth were cautions about deception regarding His return. He used the word “deceive” four times. The entire subject of Matthew’s chapter 24 is to provide clarity about the method, signs of His return, and necessary preparation for His return.
“Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many…. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. For false Christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand.”
Matthew 24:4,11, 25
Lying and Deception’s Connection to All Sin
Aren’t you tired of those who lie so convincingly only to have the truth come out later? What disappointment! God’s word makes it clear that lying is a serious business and it has serious eternal consequences.
What makes lying and deception so invasive is its connection to many other sins. Lying is often the foundation for sins such as theft, adultery, murder, selfishness, pride, and even the worship of God.
It is no wonder then that God forbids it. It is the ninth commandment. But don’t let its position minimize its importance. It is a sin just as deadly as any other sin you can think of. James tells us:
For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.
James 2:10
The ultimate fate of those who practice lying and deception is tragic. They will be destroyed by fire. They will die what the Bible calls the second death (eternal death).
But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
Revelation 21:8
In the last chapter of the Bible (Revelation 22), there is a description of those raised in the second resurrection. After a thousand years, Satan deceives them to attack the Holy City New Jerusalem from heaven to earth. The city is surrounded, but God sends fire down from heaven, consuming them forever. This is the second death. Among these lost souls are those who practice lying.
But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.
Revelation 22:15
The Origin of Lying and Deception
The first recorded lie in the Bible came from the fallen angel Lucifer who was thrown out of heaven. His lie contradicted the plain word of God to the first couple. If only Adam and Eve had believed God and walked away, things would have been different. But they didn’t. They listened and did not hang up on the deceptive call from the one who had only destruction of God’s creation on his mind. God had said they would die; Satan said they wouldn’t. It is the pattern of lies to bring comfort and assurance to its victim initially. Then they are caught in the snare.
And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ”
Genesis 3:2
Here is where Eve should have hung up on the call from Satan. She should have walked away and continued tending the garden with Adam. But she didn’t. She listened. Here is a lesson for us all: Listening to lies and considering them is never productive. It is best to hold up your hand and refuse to even hear or consider it!
Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
Genesis 3: 4-5
For disobedience, God says death. Satan says, “No!”. The subject of life and death has traveled the course in this world. Their is confusion about the meaning of death. The pagan belief in reincarnation says you never die. Even the Christian church has adopted the idea that a person (soul) never dies. They live in eternal flames or heaven. They claim the soul is immortal, but scripture never once says it is. This first lie explains away the clear passages on death.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 6:23
Death falls upon all men because all have sinned, but the second death (Perishing) by the lake of fire, as described by John in Revelation 21:8, is death that is eternal. It is the final paycheck for those who refuse the invitation of God and desire to live in sin. These have not trusted in Jesus to give eternal life provided at the resurrection when He comes (See 1 Thessalonians 4: 16-18 and 1 Corinthians 15: 51-55). Therefore, only the redeemed will live eternally. The lost will perish.
He who has the Son has [life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
1 John 5:12
The most famous verse in the Bible puts before the reader the two options of life or death (Perish).
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
John 3:16
Belief (trust) in Jesus leads to everlasting life. The opposite (unbelief or not trusting) leads to perishing.
Father of Lies
The self-righteous Pharisees approached Jesus one day and started an accusatory conversation with self-deceived lies about Jesus. Jesus told them how to be free in the truth:
“If youabide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.And you shall know thetruth, andthe truth shall make you free.” John 8:31, 32
Here is the only way to be free from deception, lies, and ultimately death in the lake of fire. We are to abide (live) by “every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” regardless of tradition, convenience, or pleasure.
The soft-spoken Jesus told the religious leaders in plain words their condition. He wanted them to be free. They claimed their pedigree of having Abraham as their father. But Jesus contradicted them and claimed they had another father because they wanted to kill Him.
Their temper was roused, and they alluded to Jesus’ apparent illegitimate birth through the fornication of Mary.
They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.”
Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham. But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. You do the deeds of your father.”
Then they said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father—God.”
John 8: 40,41
Jesus ignores their nasty assertion. He then asks a great question and provides the answer. It is a vital truth that rings down to our time. It has to do with understanding and believing Jesus. Then he reveals that Satan is the father of all lies, their real father.
Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. (We don’t understand Jesus because we don’t listen) You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me.
John 8: 43-47
What Shall We Do?
I am tired of all the lies in our society and in myself. I cannot watch TV without deception and lies from advertisers and Hollywood writers. A friend of mine records all his shows and sports events to skip the commercials. I have tried the same. If the streaming service doesn’t allow it, I simply mute the commercials.
Satan is the father of lies and deception. He desires to deceive even the very elect (if possible) into eternal death. Lies and deceit are dangerous. It can start as a white lie and then get out of control into a forest fire.
The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, sets on fire the course of nature, and set on fire by hell.
James 3:6
If you feel the conviction of the Holy Spirit, repent from the deadly sin of lying and deception and turn to the truth of God’s word. He will never lie to you, and He will change you. Will you join me in asking God to change us…to make us a new creature where lies do not occupy the temple of God? Would you let this be your prayer today?
Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips And from a deceitful tongue.
Author’s note: The following is formatted as an example of the student notes for an upcoming Daniel and Revelation seminar conducted by three facilitators who leave denominational hats at the door. The seminar will be conducted for the benefit of the individual to find reasons for a solid faith in Jesus Christ.
The zoom class is a denominational-free and safe zone for those who want to go verse by verse to understand these two great books about the prophecies that all point to Jesus and His soon return.
About the Facilitators:
The facilitators of these zoom classes, Eddie, Larry, and Charlie, are retired family men who share a love for Jesus Christ and are excited by the opportunity to open the Books of Daniel and the Revelation of Jesus Christ again (This seminar was conducted late in 2020 thru early 2021 every Tuesday night via zoom). The facilitators have backgrounds across multiple denominations, and in these studies, they check denominational hats at the door and let the Bible speak for itself. Eddie, Larry, and Charlie have decades of experience in leading in-depth scripture studies, including the companion books of Daniel and Revelation. You will not be asked to join a church. What you do with the information and material is up to you. Where you fellowship is entirely up to you. Their desire for each person is to be strengthened in the faith of Jesus Christ. We hope you will join us in this journey to see Jesus revealed, perhaps like you have never seen before!
If you want to sign up and have an opportunity to win a free iPad for 10 attendance classes, send your email address to danielrevelation2300@gmail.com
“And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write,
‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword: “I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, [which thing I hate. Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hiddenmanna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stonea new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.”
’ Revelation 2:12-17
Keywords and phrases to understand:
Sharp two-edged sword
Answer:
Satan’s throne. Where Satan dwells (Seat of Authority). Hint: Rome Pagan and Roman Emperor Worship center. Pergamum was the capital city of the Roman province of Asia!
Answer:
Antipas-faithful martyr. Who is he? Hint: what is he known for?
Answer:
Doctrine of Ballam and Balak. Hint: read the story in Numbers 22. What was Ballam’s objective?
Answer:
Stumbling block. Eat things sacrificed to idols, sexual immorality.
Answer:
Doctrine of Nicolaitans. God hates.
Answer:
The Good, The Bad, The Ugly
They hold fast to My name and My faith. (Did not say, to your name or your faith. Why?)
Some within the congregation hold fast to a false and hateful doctrine of Balaam
This doctrine puts a stumbling block to God’s people. Who said they should not eat food sacrificed to idols? God. Who said they should not commit sexual immorality. Why just these two? Satan chips away at reversing what God has said (See garden of Eden). He chips away at what is holy (food dedicated to idols). See the early church’s council to the newly converted Gentiles. (See Jerusalem decree Acts 15: 22-29)
Some within the congregation hold to the doctrine of Nicolaitans. Also, those in the church at Ephesus had the same problem (Rev. 2: 6). But the Ephesus church hated their deeds, as did God. What are the acts and the doctrine of Nicolaitans?
God knows where they dwell. It is a dangerous place to live literally and spiritually (A religious and more climate dangerous to their faith). Do we live in a dangerous place? Why didn’t God tell them to move out away from the city?
Historical Significance
“The experience of the church in Smyrna coincided with the severe persecution of the faithful Christian church throughout the Roman Empire during the second and third centuries. Historicist interpreters have generally applied the “ten days” (2:20) to the notorious intermittent imperial persecution (A.D. 303-313) initiated by Diocletian and taken over by his successor Gallerius. This period was also characterized by further departure from the simplicity of the gospel. In such a way, the church in Smyrna could represent the period in church history from the beginning of the second century until approximately A.D. 313 when Constantine the Great issued the famous Edict of Milan granting Christians religious freedom.” Revelation of Jesus Christ-Stefanovic, p.125
Discussion questions. What is the description of Jesus, and why is it important to this church? What is the Two-Edged sword? (See Hebrews 4:12). The false doctrine can be rooted out through God’s word. What does the sword give the person holding it to do? How does the description of Jesus in each church provide the solution to the literal church, the historic church, and the church of today?
Final Thoughts
Pergamum was a divided church. It was a dangerous place to be inside and outside the church. Some remained faithful to Jesus and His word. Others gave into the false teachings that God hated. They also lived in a city known for false worship of rulers and false gods. Those who remained faithful could be martyred at any time. At any moment, the Roman emperor could have forced them to worship himself or the pagan gods. If they refused, they would be martyred.
While the Roman Emperor had a sword representing the rule of power and ending life if non-compliant, Jesus alone has control over life and death. He has a double-edged sword in his mouth. When He speaks, the dead rise to life. (See 1 Thess 4: 16-18)
Application for Us:
Are we as individuals remaining faithful to Jesus and God’s word? Where is our loyalty? Are we a witness even to those in the church that holds to the doctrines of Balaam and the Nicolaitans?
“To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.’
Revelation 2: 8-11
Jesus
Four Ways to Hear
1.) Understand the church for which the message was originally intended. What was the city, culture, and condition of the church?
2.) How does that church match up with our local congregation? When you hear the issues of the Revelation church, does it ring a bell related to your congregation? For example, is it loveless, lukewarm, etc.?
3.) How does the message speak to me personally? Are you loveless, lukewarm, etc.?
4.) The contemporary significance of each church as a historical marker of the church’s journey through the ages (Historist view). the first church of Ephesus
Regarding question #1. Here is the description of Smyrna at the time of Jesus message to them:
The Church of Smyrna. Who Were They? Is This Us?
1.) A political, religious, and cultural center noted for the science and medicine that flourished there.
2.) Entertainment was king. They were proud of their largest public theater in the province. It seated twenty thousand people!
3.) The city was wealthy and beautiful, claiming the title of “the glory of Asia.”
4.) It had a special relationship with Rome (the government). The first to build a temple of home to the pagan god Roma.
5.) Christians were not popular and minimized. At the time of the book of Revelation, emperor worship became mandatory. Each citizen was required to burn incense on the altar to the godhead of Creaser, then issued a certificate. To refuse could bring death (Rev. 13?)
6.) There was a large and robust contingency of Jews hostile towards Christians. They joined the pagans against the Christians and incited the authorities to persecute them. They slandered the Christians and made false accusations of creating trouble and misery for them (purposeful misinformation?). Jesus depicts these Jews as the “synagogue of Satan.” As Christians, are we quick to minimize and criticize other Christians, not of our particular denomination? In today’s society, we may be our own worse enemy!
Consequently, there was fear among the Christians. What direction did Jesus give them? Did he tell them to become survivalists and store weapons and food to survive? Did he ask them to compromise their faithfulness to Him? No! He said this: “Stop fearing the things you are about to suffer.”
Here is the message to local congregations and individuals in the church. Stop the gloom and doom messages. Be truthful about the destruction of Christ’s return, but stop fearing and believe in God’s protection for those who love Him and His appearing. If suffering is involved, God will provide the strength to endure! The world fears for the things they see coming upon the earth, not the follower of Christ!
Stop fearing and start trusting in Him!
Jesus message to this city is the shortest of the seven .
Jesus introduces Himself as the first and the last, the one who was dead and came to life (2:8; cf. 1:17) This introduction of Jesus is well suited for a suffering church passing through dire, constant persecution.
Revelation of Jesus Christ, Ranko Stefanovic, p.123
The fact that Jesus died and rose to life after three days is the bedrock of the Christian’s hope. Our hope is not in dying and going to heaven. It is the return of Christ and raising us from the dead. Paul makes this clear in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 and the entire chapter of 1 Corinthians 15. Like Jesus, we may be persecuted, but we have this hope that even though we die, we shall live again.
“I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;
Jesus, John 11:25
The Crown of Life
This church was already faithful, but Jesus is telling them to endure and continue to be faithful. The Christian experience of salvation is not a one-time event, but a continued journey.
But he who endures to the end shall be saved. Matthew 24:13
The Crown is given at the return of Christ. Let those “with ears hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
Paul- 2 Timothy 4:18
And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward iswith me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said:
“So, I swore in My wrath,
‘They shall not enter My rest,’”
Hebrews 4:3
The story of Israel’s failure to enter into rest was preserved for future generations…for you and me. Modern man and especially God’s church has a lot yet to learn about the importance of the Lord’s rest.
Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. 1 Corinthians 10:11
In that great book of Hebrews, Chapter 4, Paul gives believers momentous warnings and asks us to compare ourselves with ancient Israel to ensure we don’t make the same mistakes and fall short. Is the church in these last days repeating the same mistakes as Israel of not resting because of unbelief and therefore falling short? Let us not spend a lot of time surmising that the experience of “belief” is to merely acknowledge doctrinal precepts about Jesus and going to church each week. We are told that the devils believe (James 2:19). Belief is more dynamic than we might think.
Failure to Believe
Paul outlines the deadly results of the Hebrews’ failure to enter into the rest God had provided. He then acknowledges to his readers that we “who have believed DO enter that rest.” So right away, we see a connection between belief and rest. But there is more.
The “belief” in Paul’s argument is not the kind of experience of the devils. On the contrary, it is all about trusting God even when things look their bleakest, and we feel our weakness; or when we feel strong and confident! It is trusting God against the influence of the world and traditions of people who appear as angels of light. It is sad that a person can be a believer but still live outside God’s will. Here is where Israel failed. They believed in God’s existence, but they didn’t trust God’s promises to protect them from their enemies, and they became disobedient to God.
The failure to trust God will always result in disobedience, excuses, and rationalization about sin, no matter how big or small the offense.
Author
We live in a world where obedience and compliance are signs of weakness. To the modern Christian obeying God’s law has been called legalism in some circles. Somehow, we have been duped into thinking the Grace of God and faith is a license to disobey. In our ignorance about God’s will and His requirement of obedience, we have gone so far as to say things like, “the law of God has been done away with.” We can’t connect the dots between faith, belief, and obedience.
God’s Wrath and His Deadly Oath
Verse 3 of Hebrews 4 is an eye-opening statement. Because of His wrath, God swears that the Israelites will not enter into His rest. What has angered God so much that He makes an oath, a covenant, of prohibiting His people from entering into His rest?
Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them, but the word which they heard did not profit them.” Hebrews 4: 1,2
Did you catch that? The good news (gospel) preached to you and me in 2022 was also preached to them (God’s people in the Old Testament)! The Good News of Jesus! Image that! How many of us think that the Old Testament did not contain the gospel about Jesus! How wrong is that! The sermons they received were not from notes of a preacher behind a podium, but it was taught through the experiences of great patriarchs of old AND daily from a School Master of priestly services. This teacher was the ceremonial laws and services of types and ceremonies God instructed Moses to write down and then give to the people to follow. If followed, it would teach them about Christ, God’s plan of salvation, and the experience of faith. It was meant to change the heart and mind about the nature of God. It was designed to build trust.
Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. Galatians 3:24
The death of an innocent lamb in the sanctuary services was probably the most explicit message of the substitutionary death of the sinless Son of God for our sins. What great news of escape from the wages of sin and death for them and us at the expense of God the Father and Jesus Christ!
The daily services of the priest and sacrifices signified the earned work of Jesus on our behalf in the heavenly sanctuary. It showed us his continual intermediation for all of us!
We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, Hebrews 8:1
Many other services had the gospel of Jesus Christ. They all taught the good news of grace, forgiveness, atonement, and mercy. Those services were “shadows” pointing forward to the nature of Christ and His coming as the sacrificial lamb of God (Hebrews 10:1).
But sadly, the gospel “did not profit them.” It did them no good because they could not find in themselves the desire to trust and obey God. Yes, they were somewhat faithful to follow the forms and ceremonies, but their heart was somewhere other than on the God who rescued them.
They wanted to be like the other nations. So, they began to break God’s eternal law of ten commandments willfully. They had other Gods; they rationalized away others. They put heavy burdens on the one law meant to give rest (The Sabbath commandment). This angered God, and as a result, they failed to enter into His rest. What is this rest? Why is it so important? How does it apply to the modern believer?
Without Faith, God is Not Pleased
But without faith, it is impossible to please Him…Hebrews 11:6
Like the Hebrews of old, many people fail to enter into God’s rest because of unbelief or lack of faith (aka trust). The people of God believed in the existence of their God, but they did not have faith or trust in Him. Their actions proved they did not trust Him. God had made many promises, but they simply did not trust God to perform what He said He would do.
James understood the connection of works (actions) with faith. These “works” are undeniable proof that absolute trust is in the believer’s heart and not merely lip service.
But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. James 2:18
Often, we read this passage from James and think that “works” are good deeds. But, in the context of the book of James, works are equated with belief (trust) and obedience to God’s will as found in the ten commandments.
Abraham’s Faith and Obedience.
And the Scripture was fulfilled, which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works and not by faith only. James 2: 23, 24
How was Abraham’s belief signified? It was not lip-service, but it contained action or obedience. The writer of Hebrews tells us:
By faith, Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.
Hebrews 8:11
Here again, we see the connection between faith and obedience (works).
Now we can see the problem with Israel; They failed to grasp that faith and trust are the same things, and genuine faith will result in corresponding actions of obedience to God’s word. Although they had plenty of proof that God would keep His promises, they let other things of disbelief rule their life. This did not give them rest in their hearts nor from their enemies. Here is the nature of their problem. Their lack of faith led to disobedience, and they did not enter into the promised rest.
“…those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience.”
Hebrews 4:6
Paul’s Argument for Rest
Paul begins to compare the works of God at creation. And He compares His rest on the seventh day as a model for us. Interestingly, the first 24 hours of Adam and Eve were spent in “rest.” This could not be rest as we think of it, i.e., taking a nap. Why would Adam and Eve be physically tired? God does not tire; He doesn’t sleep. This “rest” of God was the rest of the relationship. God set aside weekly time for his creation to have a date with Him. To this day, it gives you an invitation of time for complete attention to a relationship with your creator. “The Sabbath was made for man,” But the jews made it into something else…a religious requirement for God’s acceptance. To this day, many think about the Sabbath in legalistic terms like this, but the Sabbath is all amount relationship and faith if “remembered” correctly.
Although the work of creation didn’t make God tired, it didn’t allow dedicated time for a relationship with His creation. There may have been no need for the Sabbath had there been no humans made in His image.
“…although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all His works”; and again in this place: “They shall not enter My rest.” Hebrews 4: 3-5
Paul partially quotes the “certain place” mentioned here and references the creation story and the seventh day in Genesis. Probably because his audience knew these passages well. The entire wording is:
And on the seventh day, God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made. Genesis 2:2,3
Then Paul quotes from another “place” or passage of Scripture. This time it is from David in the Psalms.
“So, I swore in My wrath,
‘They shall not enter My rest.’” Psalm 95:11
Paul compares the “rest” God desires for the benefit of His people of ceasing from their labors on the seventh-day Sabbath. Right away, we should notice three main points in Paul’s argument regarding rest.
1.) Jesus, our Creator (See John 1), rested from His work. He is our example of rest. We don’t see Jesus taking naps on the Sabbath; we see Him going about the work of salvation. If we follow his example, it is less about physical rest and more about focusing on a relationship with Him through service. For it to become a “do nothing” day is not the spirit of the Sabbath.
2.) God blessed the seventh day for a reason. The seventh day is blessed and sanctified (set aside) by God Himself as a witness to His creative powers and the concept of spiritual rest. Every Sabbath testifies that God made the heavens and earth. This should have an impact on evolutionary thinking. There is no reason for an astronomical-related seven-day week other than the fact that God made the cycle of six days of work and one day of rest. The process always begins, as with the example of the creation week, with the first day and ends with the seventh day. Therefore, the cycle of work and then rest is not a day of our choosing, reasoning, or convenience but the one God blessed and sanctified at the beginning for all mankind.
“…Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it…Genesis 2:3
3.) Those who fail to enter His rest are because of unbelief and disobedience. This Israel did when they disobeyed God and followed “strange gods.”
God desires to give His people rest that is physical, spiritual, and also a testimony. The gift of the Sabbath rest, planted in the heart of the Ten Commandments, demonstrates that they trust God. Keeping the Sabbath made no sense to the world because they didn’t acknowledge God as Creator. Since God is the Creator, He knows how crucial physical rest can be. Why do Christians fail to believe that God desires His people to prosper and be in health even as the soul prospers? 3 John 1:2
Jesus is the rest we need, both physically, spiritually, and as a testimony. Jesus used Sabbath language when he said,
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28
He can give both physical and spiritual rest because He was the one who claimed to be the Lord of the Sabbath.
And He said to them, “The Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.” Luke 6:5
Israel’s Failure to Trust God
The literal and spiritual rest God wanted for Israel was to have their own land and to live peaceable lives. This rest was to testify to their loyalty to the true (and only) Creator God. If they obeyed God, it would demonstrate the power of obedience and faith in the living God to the world. By obedience to Him, they would be a stark contrast to the rest of the world. They would bring a knowledge of the only true God even to the Gentiles.
“Arise, shine, for your light, has come,
and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth.
And thick darkness over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you,
and his glory appears over you.
Nations will come to your light
and kings to the brightness of your dawn. Isaiah 60: 1-3
But Israel failed to enter into this rest! God brought them to the borders of the promised land and desired to end their wandering in the desert; God was ready to give the land promised them and rest from their enemies:
See, I have given you this land. Go in and take possession of the land the Lord swore he would give to your fathers—to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—and their descendants after them.” Deuteronomy 1:8
At God’s direction, the people left Horeb and reached the hill country at Kadesh Barnea. Again, God tells them to take the land as He had promised and not be afraid or discouraged by what they see!
“See, the Lord your God has given you the land. Go up and take possession of it as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, told you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 1:21
But the people said, “hold on. What is the hurry?” Instead of believing God and moving forward as God directed, they wanted to spy out the land, so they came up with the idea to send spies to scope out the land.
“Then all of you came to me and said, “Let us send men ahead to spy out the land for us and bring back a report about the route we are to take and the towns we will come to.” Deuteronomy 1:22
Like today, we think forming a committee to determine the “route we are to take” is very practical. But, instead of moving forward at the Lord’s command by faith and what He has already assured us, we look for human ways to move forward.
Moses sent spies into the land as they requested. All but two spies (Joshua and Caleb) gave stories that created fear and doubt in the people’s minds. This should be a clear message to leaders in the church today. Messages should be one of faith and trusting God. If God says to move forward, spies are not needed. Joshua’s message was the right one,
“…do not rebel against the Lord, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the Lord is with us. Do not fear them.” Number 14:9
Here at Kadesh Barnea, the people rebelled against God because of a lack of trust in Him and His word. They went so far as to accuse God of hating them and seeking a way to destroy them!
But you were unwilling to go up; you rebelled against the command of the Lord your God. You grumbled in your tents and said, “The Lord hates us; so he brought us out of Egypt to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us. Where can we go? Our brothers have made our hearts melt in fear. They say, ‘The people are stronger and taller than us; the cities are large, with walls up to the sky. We even saw the Anakites there.’” Deuteronomy 1: 26-28
Because of this rebellion, God took away the promised rest because they failed to trust and obey Him.
When the Lord heard what you said, He was angry and solemnly swore: “No one from this evil generation shall see the good land I swore to give your ancestors,
Deuteronomy 1:34, 35
But here is where they made another mistake. When they heard that they were not going to “see the good land,” they decided to move forward as God had said originally. But it was too late. They moved without the blessing or command of God.
“We have sinned against the Lord. We will go up and fight, as the Lord our God commanded us.” So every one of you put on his weapons, thinking it easy to go up into the hill country. Deuteronomy 1:41
They assumed God would support their works, their fight, and be with them. The Lord told them not to go and gave them a promise of defeat. But they went anyway.
But the Lord said to me, “Tell them, ‘Do not go up and fight because I will not be with you. Your enemies will defeat you. You rebelled against the Lord’s command, and in your arrogance, you marched up into the hill country. The Amorites who lived in those hills came out against you; they chased you like a swarm of bees and beat you down Deuteronomy 1: 42-44
Israel had failed to hear and obey God. They were fearful and afraid because they did not trust in the command and promises of God. They didn’t believe God. Some of God’s people kept their faith and trusted God. A list of these can be found in Hebrews 11. But even those of faith could see further than just land on this earth. They looked to the heavenly land. They have not received this promise to this date because the ultimate promise is heaven, not a piece of land on earth.
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them , and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth…. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. Hebrews 11: 13,16
Looking back at this story, meant for us, what can we learn? What is the rest we are to enter? Is there a land promised to us to free us from our enemies…to be safe…to have a relationship with Jesus after all the work has been completed? Yes! As mentioned above in Hebrews 11:13, it is a heavenly country
The promises of God were canceled by those who did not trust God…those with unbelief. They trusted in their own efforts and did not take God at His word. Paul brings us to a conclusion:
Israel and Us-Rest or Not?
Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience, again He designates a particular day, saying in David, “Today,” after such a long time, as it has been said:
“Today, if you will hear His voice,
Do not harden your hearts.”
For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day. There remains, therefore, a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.
Hebrews 4: 6-9
The conclusion of the story of Israel, who failed to enter into rest, is very perplexing to the modern follower of God. These phrases confuse us because we don’t want to hear what we think we are hearing.
“Since therefore it remains that some must enter it.” (Some of us have not entered God’s rest). Like Israel, our unbelief or lack of faith keeps us from rest.
Some will not enter into God’s rest from their enemies “because of disobedience.”
We can talk about grace, mercy, faith, and eternal security all day long, but if some of us disobey God, we will not enter into the land promised by God.
He designates a particular day. Paul connects this phrase with what David said in Psalm 95:8
We are asked to “not harden our hearts.”We are to” hear His voice”!
For if Joshua (Jesus) had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day.
Hebrews 4:8
Moses brought them to the borders of the promised land, but it took Joshua (Jesus) to lead a new generation into the promised land finally. Moses represents the law that can bring conviction of sin, but faith in Jesus completes the trip into the promised land.
We are confused because of our eerily similar failures. We stand on the border looking at the land promised to us (heavenly). We are much like Israel, which failed to move forward because of unbelief. We don’t trust God. We don’t have faith in His promises. We don’t have a testimony to the world.
We think the Sabbath commandment is legalistic and only for the Jews, while the other nine do not fall into that category. Why? It is because resting in God is not convenient and misunderstood. It cuts across the tradition of the church. It threatens the modern church. God says, “Remember.” The church says to forget. The commandment says the seventh day; the church says the first day.
Tradition, routine, and the works of our hands constrict our trust. We say we trust God, but our actions speak otherwise. When God tells us something in scripture that cuts across tradition and feelings, we balk. We form committees to discuss the “route we should take” instead of listening to the simple command to “hear His voice.” When God says go, and we wait, we miss the opportunity to be empowered by God’s Spirit and His promises of victory.
The story of God’s salvation, the gospel, and what Paul wants us to hear does not profit us if we fail to trust God and move forward at His command. Our testimony is of no effect if we are like the other nations around us.
But if we can find rest in Jesus both physically and spiritually, a testimony of our belief will shine. “Nations will come to your light and kings to the brightness of your dawn.”
There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God Hebrews 4:9 NIV
There is no doubt that the candlesticks of Revelation represent the churches and their responsibility to be a light to the world. First, the seven churches represent each local church of Asia Minor made of individuals and collectively. Jesus had a message for them. But each church also describes the conditions of local churches of today. Even further, they represent the historical events of the church’s journey through time. Next, we can see ourselves in the council given each church.
So we have an individual responsibility to respond to the council.
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
This phrase is made to each of the seven churches. How vital, then, is the message to individuals? The ultimate purpose of God the Father, Jesus, and The Holy Spirit is to improve and correct each church, each individual.
“The mystery (hidden truth) of the…seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.” Revelation 1:20
The oil that feeds the lamp represents the church’s dependence on the work of the Holy Spirit to provide the light of the truth as found in Jesus Christ. Each church experiences different manifestations of the Holy Spirit because each has different situations and needs. Jesus walks among them, serving each of the churches individually and meeting them where they are.
The Holy Spirit manifests the reality of Jesus’ presence among the churches. The churches must pay heed to the message and recognize the authority of the One speaking to them.
“As the various churches are weighed and discussed, the living Christ is seen in action among His own people. They do not appear to them as the terrible sovereign on the throne or the conqueror riding to battle. He walks among them as a Lord who seeks to command their virtues even more than exposing and punishing their faults. These letters are His particular warning and counsel to the church of all time as the various aspects appear under the guise of the seven historic places.” Merrill C. Tenney
The strong appeal of the book of Revelation to Christians today is to follow the Lord’s way in proclaiming the gospel message to the world. It is, therefore, the sacred duty of the church to present Jesus Christ—his character and ministry—in a way that meets the people where they are. The symbolic representation of the church as the seven-branched lampstand denotes that the church has the full support of the Holy Spirit and a full task to perform. The first duty is to be the light to the world—to proclaim Jesus in words and action.
“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
Matthew 5:14
Through the church today, Christ meets people with aspects of Himself which correspond to their own life circumstances and relate to their individual needs. The church is the only light that Jesus shines through. For the church to fail in her role is to lose her reason for existence; her lampstand will be removed.
“Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.” Revelation 2:5
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
A church or individual who does not let the light of Jesus flow through them is as worthless as salt that has lost its flavor. The resources of heaven are at the church’s disposal to rectify the shortcomings of all things. But it is of little consequence if we don’t repent and turn from our excuses to behold the One who walks among the candlesticks.
The two books of Daniel and Revelation are related in a unique way. Both John’s first vision (Revelation 1:12-20) and Daniel’s last vision (Daniel 10-12) are divine scenes where both describe the risen Christ’s vision.
I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. Revelation 1:18
Daniel outlines the four great monarchies that would persecute God’s people, but he goes beyond the fourth kingdom (Rome) in his last vision. This is precisely where the prophecies of Revelation begin. A resurrected Rome (deadly wound healed) and its spiritual persecution becomes the high point of the chiastic chain of last-day events in Revelations 13 and 14.
Below is an illustrative chart to compare the closing scenes of Daniel’s vision and the beginning of the vision John.
Daniel 10:5-12
Revelation 1: 12-18
A certain man
One like a son of man
Clothed in Linen
Clothe in a robe reaching to the feet
Girded with a belt of pure gold
Girded with a golden girdle
His eyes were like torches of fire
His eyes were like a flame of fire
His feet like polished bronze
His feet like burnished bronze
His voice was like a roaring multitude
His voice like the sound of many waters
No strength, face to the ground
John falls at his feet as dead
Hand touches Daniel
Hand laid on John
“Fear Not!”
“Fear Not”
Repeat and Expand
God’s merciful principle of “repeat and expand” works within each book and together to prepare them for things they are “not able to bear,” for the time is near.
“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. John 16:12
I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdomand patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, saying, I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”
Patmos-Brothers and Companions
In these opening verses, John sets the stage for the remainder of the book. First, he identifies with his audience by referring to himself as a brother and companion. In the context of the teachings of Jesus, believers and followers are a family of brothers and sisters (Matthew 12:48-50). This spiritual relationship continues to this day in the universal body of Christ. As the family of God, it is of great importance to edify each other who are “in Christ.” But this does not discount or diminish our responsibilities and love to all our blood relatives and the other human beings on this earth.
Next, John tells his audience another reason why he is a brother and companion. It is because of the trials and tribulations of the day. He further references the patience of Jesus Christ; a virtue much needed during the times he found himself. In the final days, it will not be churches, denominations, or organizations that bring unity among the brethren, but rather their testimony of Jesus and the trials and troubles which are sure to come upon the body of Christ. The word and idea of “patience” will appear five more times in the message of Revelation:
1.) As part of the message of recognition to the nature of the people in the churches of Ephesus and Thyatira and
2.) Twice to the people living at the end of time:
“Here is the patience of the saints….
Revelation 13:10
Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
Revelation 14:12
Perhaps nothing brings more unity to the body of Christ than to be persecuted for Jesus. At a time of persecution, petty differences and dogma fade quickly in the unity of the brethren.
Patmos-John’s Platform
There has been some debate about whether Patmos was a penal colony or not. Still, the fact remains there was a reason why John was on this small sixteen-square-mile island some fifty miles off the coast of Asia Minor (modern Turkey). This Alcatraz-type island was situated in the middle of the Aegean Sea because of His firm stance on the Word of God and His testimony about Jesus. Patmos (Now called Patino) was the perfect place for Roman authorities to quiet the tongue of John…or at least they thought.
John’s patience and duress for the the “Word of God” is a reference to Jesus Himself. In his gospel, John describes Jesus as “The Word of God.”
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:1, 14
So John was not on a Sabbatical at a resort island. Whether it was a penal colony or not, the fact is that He was placed there against his will to silence him. But God transcends any situation where the enemy would discourage or make of none affect our testimony. The Patmos experience of His followers turn the night into day and amplify our testimony. God often takes what was meant for evil and turns it into good (Genesis 50:20) as was the case for the trials of Joseph and others. Their testimony was written to encourage us who were to come after.
For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that through patience and through comfort of the scriptures we might have hope Romans 15:4
Spiritual Setting
John has described his physical setting and his identification with those of like-faith. Next he turns to the spiritual setting. He was:
“…in the Spirit on the Lord’s day…
The phrase “in the Spirit” indicates the involvement of the third member of the Godhead. As shown in the opening verses, the vision came from God the Father through an angel to John. But, John is “in the Spirit,” which would suggest The Holy Spirit was inspiring (not dictating) him in the writing of the scroll regarding the revelation of Jesus. This is consistent with how the Holy Spirit worked with writers of Scripture in times past.
“…for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit..”
2 Peter 1:21
John put in his own words what he saw but under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Note that neither angels nor the Holy Spirit dictates; they show and reveal and move individuals to talk or write in their own words. As we read words that were written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, it should likewise inspire and move us as hearers.
Next John tells us the time and space from which He wrote. He states it was on “The Lord’s Day.” The Greek for this phrase is kyriakoshēmera. It is used nowhere else in the Bible. Why would John give us the time of the vision? What importance can it be? There are five proposals as to its meaning. We will examine only three. The last two I will briefly mention.
The Lord’s Day
1.) Most commentators say the Lord’s Day refers to Sunday (the first day of the week set aside in honor of the resurrection). They propose that early Christian writings connect these two dots: Lord’s day equals Sunday and then connects first-day meetings as a change in their habit of meeting and worshiping on the Sabbath.
The most substantial evidence for this view is found in extra-biblical works, Didache and the letter of Ignatius of Antioch to the Magnesians (The Apostolic Fathers p. 154-155). But they don’t use the Greek phrase of kyriakoshēmera (Lord’s Day) but ratherkata kuriaken (according to the Lord.) This insinuates that the term “Lord’s Day” was not intended, but rather He was in the Spirit “according to the Lord”.
But, another extra-biblical source (the apocryphal book of The Gospel of Peter) uses kyriakoshēmera (Lord’s Day). The first church father to use the Lord’s day for Sunday was Clement of Alexandria (ca. A.D. 190).
This early writing appears almost one hundred years after Revelation. This alone is not admissible as evidence for understanding this phrase. A sound exegesis of this text is to compare similar Biblical words and phrases regarding the fact that Lord has a day.
2.) Probably the least palatable with modern churches, particularly those steeped in tradition, is that the “Lord’s Day” means Sabbath, the seventh day of the week. The phrase Lord’s day states God has a day. It shows exclusive possession. It belongs to no one but Himself. At the same time, the Lord’s day is never used elsewhere; similar phrases are. Here are a few. Here is where proponents of the seventh day Lord’s Day find their basis:
“…the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God…”Exodus 20:10
The fourth commandment makes explicit reference to the beginning of time and the creation as the start of the Lord’s Day:
For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it. Exodus 20: 11
Other than the seventh-day Sabbath, no other day of the week comes with a blessing for a particular reason from God.
Other passages indicate the seventh day Sabbath as belonging to God Himself.
“If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, From doing your pleasure on My holy day, And call theSabbath a delight,
Isaiah 5813
Jesus, who co-created with God the Father (See John 1), refers to Himself as in possession of the seventh day Sabbath when He and His disciples are accused of desecrating the Sabbath by walking through grain fields and eating grain. The legalistic Sabbath guardians (Pharisees) accused the disciples of some sort of weird unbiblical prohibition about thrashing and eating grain on the Sabbath.
But Jesus’ defense of their actions was very profound to His religious listeners. The Pharisees, perhaps, thought of it as blasphemous, but to His followers, it further solidified Him as the “Son of God.” It also meant, He possessed a day of the week for a good reason; He was (an is) its author:
For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” Matthew 12:8
Again, Jesus (The Lord) indicates possession of the Sabbath, and for a good reason.
Massynberde Ford, who struggles with the meaning of the expression, admits: “most probably the Christians would still be keeping the Sabbath, the Seventh-day.”
3.) A number of scholars avoid the debate of the Sunday vs. Saturday argument by placing the phrase in the context of the eschatological day of the Lord (hemera tou kuriou or hemerera kuriou). The phrase “the day of the Lord” is often used by prophets n the Greek translation of the Old Testament (Joel 2:11, 31; Amos 5:18-20; Zeph. 1:14, Mal. 4:5). Here is an example. Notice its clear reference to the end of time.
For the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; Who can endure it?…The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. Joel 2: 11, 31
Peter quoted Joel in his famous sermon of repentance to the vast crowds in Jerusalem. The entire sermon can be found in Acts 2.
But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:…The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. Acts 2: 16, 20
Despite this, John does not use the Greek for “the day of the Lord” but rather “the Lord’s day“.
4.) A few scholars think that “the Lord’s day” refers to “Easter Sunday as an annual event rather than a weekly Sunday. But again, the evidence for this is extra-Biblical and based on a tradition of a much later time (2nd century) than at the time of John’s writings. As such, it cannot be used as proof for a much earlier usage of the phrase from the book of Revelation.
5.) Some authors think that the reference is to the Emperor’s day.” Adolf Deissman shows that the word kuriakos was current in the first century, denoting what belonged to the Roman emperor who claimed the title kurious (‘lord”). Although inscriptions confirm that Egypt and Asia Minor had a day known as Sebaste, which was devoted to the Roman emperor, it is difficult to see a connection between “Lord’s day” and “Sebaste day.” First of all, the two phrases are completely different; no conclusive evidence has been discovered indicating that the phrase kuriake hemera was used for an imperial day honoring the emperor. Also, it is unlikely that John referred to the Emperor’s day in Revelation 1:10 at the time when Christians in Asia were persecuted for refusing to call the emperorkuriosand to worship the emperor.
So, when did John receive the vision? Sunday as the Lord’s day is doubtful because it cannot be supported by biblical or first-century extra-biblical evidence. Stronger biblical evidence favors the seventh-day Sabbath as the Lord’s day. Again, as mentioned before, this does not set well with most people who have traditionally designated Sunday as the Lord’s day.
On the other hand, the eschatological character of the book, as a whole, is also in favor of the eschatological day of the Lord (See Rev. 1:7). Perhaps there is a double meaning related to John’s recognition of the time and space as the Sabbath and the end time day of the Lord. A time of rest in the day belonging to the Lord, even during the stressful events that surely must come to pass at the day of the Lord.
Andwhen this comes to pass—surely it will come—then they will know that a prophet has been among them.” Ezekiel 33:33
To this writer, we mustn’t get hung up on this “gnat,” as it were, forgetting there is a whole camel to examine in the remainder of the book. Even more important is where we started in this writing. John seeks to identify with believers in their persecution for their witness and thereby unify us all in the Lord. While some will disagree with some of the conclusions regarding the “Lord’s day,” let us agree to disagree and move on to the “weightier matters of the law.” The arguments in this phrase pale when compared to the entire message of the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
Of utmost importance in reading the messages to the seven churches is grasping how they should be understood and to whom they are addressed. The book’s contents indicate a particular time and place (The Seven Churches in Asia Minor). Nevertheless, in Revelation 1:19, it states it is also prophetical
“Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now, and what will take place later.” Revelation 1:19
It can be said that the messages were for both the churches at that time but also for those who would come after, particularly those in the last days. Interestingly, the letters have an additional application for the different modern churches and individuals. As you are reading, you may see yourself in one of the churches. All of the messages end on a very personal level,
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
Revelation 3:22
Notice, the plural is not used, but instead, John uses the singular. It doesn’t say “ears,” but rather “ear.” Each person should therefore read as it talks to you directly. While the message is to a congregation, it does no good if we look at the message as applying to someone else.
Layers of Application
The beautiful aspect of these seven “letters” and their audience is the layers of application. We have seen above that one layer is the literal churches of Asia Minor. Next, we must keep in mind if it is prophetical. Third, the messages can be for almost any modern church. There are examples of the kinds of things that can go wrong in any church. Finally, and the most important, is the message to the individual. After all, the body of Christ is not limited to buildings and denominations. A congregation made of solid and committed followers of Christ individuals will result in a robust and productive church for servitude.
The messages were not sent out separately but rather as a whole book. This indicates the value of each church reading and understanding the trials of each congregation. Here is where empathy (not judgment) can go a long way to “enduring to the end.”
But there is still yet another layer of application dealing with its prophetical message of “…what will take place later.”
The History of The Church
We live in a modern society where there are attempts to destroy history because of the bad things that have happened years ago. If this is the reason for killing history, little history would remain.
Memorials of the past are judged by whether they were pure or not. But individuals and organizations are more effective if they can objectively look back and appreciate the struggles and mistakes of those who went before us. One writer suggested the importance of learning from the past in these words.
“We have nothing to fear for the future, except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us and His teaching in our past history.” E. G. White
The writing of the entire Bible is based on learning from the journey of God’s people, both the good and the bad, to not only learn but to have hope.
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide, we might have hope. Rom 15:4
Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did.1 Corinthians 10:6
God has laid out an underlying revelation of how the church would fare during different points of history. The book of Revelation claims to be a prophecy and must be approached as prophecy and messages to churches and individuals (1:3, 22:7, 10, 18-19). Like bookends, Revelation starts with the prophetic platform and ends with the same (1:3, 22:7, 10, 18, 19)
And he said to me, “Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand.
Revelation 22:10
Therefore, it is appropriate to view the messages to the seven churches as prophetical for John’s perspective. Here is another layer that many Christians would like to avoid because it forces us to see the bad things done in the name of Christ throughout the aging of the church. At the time John wrote the letters, the course of the church was unknown to him. But God knew the trials yet to come for His people. Despite the trials and tribulation, it gives us hope for the future of God’s people. We must remember, these messages didn’t come from John. They came from God the Father.
As we get deeper into the study of Revelation and begin to look back at the history of the church, we will see there are seven eras in church history as symbolized by the characteristics of each of the seven churches:
Church
Era
Ephesus
1st Century of Christian Era
Smyrna
Persecution of the 2nd and 3rd centuries
Pergamum
Church of Compromised 4th and 5th centuries
Thyatira
Middle ages
Sardis
Reformation and Post-Reformation
Philadelphia
Missionary movements of the late 18th century
Laodicea
End of time church
Summary
The messages to the churches are multi-dimensional. It has layers of information and application. First to the believers for which it was originally written (inclusive of all the churches in the area not addressed in the book: [Colossae (Col 1:2) Hierapolis (Col. 4:13), Troas (Acts 20:5, 2 Cor. 2:22) And Miletus (Acts 20:17)]
Next, the message is for all churches of all ages, but particularly for those at the end of time. Most importantly it is for individuals (those who have an ear), regardless of the organized church they associate with or identify themselves. Lastly, it gives us a two-thousand-year-old history of the challenges of the church from John’s time to ours. By looking backwards, we can see clearer those things “yet to come.”
