the "lake of fire" series part 8

8/6/2019 The "Lake of Fire" Series Part 8

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CONTENTS

PART VIII: WHERE IS THE CHURCH JESUS BUILT?......................................1

Persecuted and Scattered Abroad.............................................................................1

The Church vs. My Church.................................................................................2

Defining Church.....................................................................................................2

The Called and the Not Called...........................................................................2

Are You Called and Chosen or Just Called?......................................................5

The Church of God from Our Common Era Year 0 A.D....................................5

Jesus Goes to Church................................................................................................5

Unscrupulous Peddlers of Gods Word.....................................................................7

A Quick History of the Church Before Revelation....................................................8

The Church of God in Christ Grows.........................................................................9

Persecution Comes Quickly.......................................................................................9

The Apostle to Israel and the Nations....................................................................10Pauls Twenty-Five Year Gospel Tour....................................................................11

Paul Saw the Handwriting on the Wall.................................................................13

Adulterating Hucksters of Gods Word...................................................................14

Modern TV Religious Sideshow Auctioneers.........................................................15

The Church After Pauls Departure........................................................................16

Who are the False Christs?....................................................................................18

Gods Final Prophecy to, for, and about, the Church of God.................................19

Revelation is to and for the Seven Churches..........................................................20

More Instructions on having Ears to Hear...........................................................22

The Spirit Promises Spiritual Rewards to Overcomers.........................................23

The Church of Ephesus...........................................................................................23

The Church in Smyrna...........................................................................................25

The Church in Pergamos........................................................................................26

The Church in Thyatira..........................................................................................28

The Church in Sardis.............................................................................................29

The Church in Philadelphia...................................................................................31

The Church of the Laodiceans................................................................................32From Glory to Glory................................................................................................32

To Him that Overcomes..........................................................................................34

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PART VIII:

WHERE IS THE CHURCH JESUS BUILT?

Persecuted and Scattered Abroad

Jesus Christ said,

I will build MY CHURCH and the gates of hell[hades/unseen/

grave]shall not prevail[be prevailing]against it(Matt. 16:18).

Prevail means to be of greater strength, to overcome, or to win out. So clearly

from this statement, our Lord is telling us that His church will be under GREAT

ATTACK AND ADVERSITY, however these evil forces will not prevail or be victori

ous in totally defeating His Church or bringing it to naught.

Lets see just how the gates of hell have been attempting to annihilate the

Church of God ever since its inception. And maybe even more important to my read

ers: Will everyone in the Church that Jesus built be in the first resurrection and

rule and reign with Him in His kingdom? I will state right here, that the majority

which make up the Seven Churches of Revelation will, most assuredly not, be in the

first resurrection.

Lets pick up at our parting Scripture from Part VII of this Series:

And Saul[Paul]was consenting unto his[Stephens]death. And

at that time there was a GREAT PERSECUTION AGAINST

THE CHURCH which was at Jerusalem; and they were ALL

SCATTERED ABROAD throughout the regions of Judaea and

Samaria, except the apostles As for Saul, he made HAVOCK

of the church, entering into every house, and hailing men and

women committed them to prison. Therefore they that were

SCATTERED ABROAD went every where preaching the word

1


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2The Lake of Fire Series

(Acts 8:1, 34).

The Church vs. My Church

During Jesus ministry, He spoke of the church and My church. There already

existedthe church(Matt. 18:17), at the very time that Jesus said He would build

MY CHURCH(Matt. 16:18). For fifteen centuries God established Israel as a

church:

This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A

Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your

brethren, like unto me; Him shall ye hear. This is HE, that was

in the CHURCH in the wilderness with the angel which spoke

to him in the mount Sinai, and with our fathers who received

the lively oracles to give unto us: To whom our fathers WOULD

NOT OBEY, but thrust him from them, and in theirhearts

turned back again into Egypt(Acts 7:3739).

We could, of course, trace the church back through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,

back to Noah, and indeed, back to Adam.

Defining Church

Just what is a church?Strongs Greek Dictionary,#1570.ekklesia,acalling out.

(1b)Ekklesia, from ek, out of, and klesis, a calling So the church is those

whom God has CALLED OUT to be His called out ones, hence, Jesus said,So

the last shall be first, and the first shall be last[sorry, dont have time to ex

plain this unique statement of our Lord]: for many be called, but few chosen.I

will take the time to explain this second statement, however.

Notice that the called and the chosen cannot be the same group, as one is

many and the other is few. God has given us a general statement as to whom He

has called and whom He has not called. We already know the number of those called

ismany.Now we will see the two general classifications of those called:

The Called and the Not Called

For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many[some,

but not many]wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not

many noble, are called.


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Part VIII: Where is the Church Jesus Built?3

But God has chosen the foolish things[many translations do not

insert the word things in these verses]of the world to confound

the wise; and God has chosen the weak things of the world toconfound the things which are mighty; And the base things of

the world, and things which are despised, has God chosen, yes,

and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:

that no flesh should glory in His presence(I Cor. 1:2629).

So we see that God calls MOSTLY those who are:weak, base, despised, noth

ings!Are we to believe that God is going to build a SPIRITUAL ARMY of Sons and

Daughters by which He will conquer and SAVE THE WORLD?

Hard to believe, isnt it? I think we can all agree that there is a great deal of

work to be done with and to thesenothings of the worldwhom God is calling to

such a formidable, onceinaneternity task!

But of themany called,we are told,few are chosen(Matt. 20:16). Why is

that? God has intended it to be such. We are given the parable of the sower of seed

where much of the seed fell by the side of the tilled soil, and the birds ate it; some

had no depth and withered in the sun; still more fell among thorns and were

chocked, but some fell upon good soil and produced much fruit. Many seed are sown,but few seed produce good fruit. Seed we see everywhere in the Church; fruit of

Gods spirit is more rare. These few have the added designation of:

These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall

overcome them: for He is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and

they that are with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful

(Rev. 17:14).

These are thevery electwho cannot be deceived any longer by the Great

Whore,Mystery Babylon the Great, Mother of Harlots, and the Abomina

tions of the earth.

One more important verse regarding our calling, that I will cite out of theCon

cordant Literal New Testamentbecause I believe they translate the Greek aorist

tense properly, whereas the King James uses the past tense:

Now we are aware that GOD [it is unfortunate that the King

James leaves out God even though it is in the manuscripts. Mosttranslations do put God in this opening phrase. Things dont just

work together without GOD doing the working]is working all to

gether for the good of those who are loving God, who are[be

ing]called according to the purpose that, whom He foreknew,


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He designates beforehand, also, to be conformed to the image

of His Son, for Him to be Firstborn among many brethren. Now

whom He designates beforehand, these He calls[not called asall are NOT YET called, it is the aorist tense]also, and whom He

calls, these He justifies, also; now whom He justifies, these He

glorifies also(Rom. 8:28:30).

Now, pay attention: All which Godforeknew,He thendesignates beforehand

(He handpicks them, if you will). And therefore, since He has alreadydesignated

them beforehand,when they are born in whatever generation God designates; He

thencallsthem. Now it is true that God calls MANY OTHERS whom He has NOT

designatedto beconformed to the image of His SonAT THE TIME that

each generation appears in history.

There are many more called in each generation than are actually, chosen to

be conformed to the image of His Son at that time.

All that are not chosen will be in the second resurrection/white throne

judgment/lake of fire. These will go thebroad way into destructionfrom which

they will await judgment at the great white throne. But, those which Godfore

knowsanddesignates beforehand, He definitely doescall, but thesedesig

natedones GO ON to beJUSTIFIED AND GLORIFIED.They are not just the

called, but the called AND CHOSEN which will go on toglorificationin service

with Christ, as the manifested Sons and Daughters of God, in the Kingdom of God,

to bring the rest of heaven and earth to SALVATION!

When Jesus says that,

Many will say unto me in that day, Lord, Lord Then will I

profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, you thatwork iniquity(Matt. 72223),

He is not speaking of a minority but a majority. The many NEVER means the

minority!

We will see it conclusively proved from Gods Word that the majority in the

Church today are going thebroad way,and not thestraight and narrow

way.And I am not just preaching to the choir when I say that only aFEWwill

be in the first resurrection and rule and reign with Christ, I am speaking to all thechurch and to myself as well. I know these arent the soft words that tickle peoples

ears, but what I am telling you is a hard saying of the Scripture that is absolutely

true. Jesus Christ Himself said thatTHE MANYmustDEPART from Me.Je

sus doesntknowthe many, in a spiritual relationship, because they are too car


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nal to be spiritual.

Are You Called and Chosen or Just Called?

Let me first state that there is an order in the process of being called to Sonship.

First you arecalled,and then you arechosenfrom among thecalled.And we have

already learned that thechosenare also thefew.Quite frankly, not unlike a

casting call. Many are called to come to the casting rehearsal, but only a relative few

will be chosen for the actual performance. Which are you? I will not be your person

al judge, however, as we progress in this series, you will be confronted with dozens

of Scriptures by which you can JUDGE YOURSELF by the aid of Gods Spirit.

The Church of God from Our Common Era Year 0

A.D.

Actually there never was a year 0there was 1 B.C. And 1 A.D., but no one ap

parently ever thought of a year 0 for the starting point of our Common Era (anno

Domini, The Year of Our Lord). But then again, Jesus was not born on whatwould

have been year zero anyway, do to the fact that Jesus was born a few years BEFORE

our A.D. Or Common Era which means Christ was born B.C. Or (BEFORE Christ).

(My friend, the late Dr. Ernest Martin, wrote a book entitledThe Birth of Christ Re

calculated, which will straighten this all out for you). But, anyway, as our Lord was

growing up in His fathers carpentry shop, there already existed a Church of God in

Judea, headquartered at the temple in Jerusalem.

The church headquarters in the wilderness was a portable Tabernacle. When

they settled the promised land, it was given to Solomon to build a fabulous perman

ent temple in Jerusalem. It went through various reconstructions, one of which was

by king Herod. It was Herods temple that existed at the time of Jesus ministry.

And as we have already clearly seen, Jesus Christ did not speak many kind words

toward the leaders of the church of God headquartered in Herods temple, in Jerus

alem, in the first century AD.

Jesus Goes to Church

Perhaps you never thought of Jesus going to Church, but He did. The first time that

something is mentioned in Scripture, it is often very instructive. Although it was

the habit of Jesus to attend local synagogues during His life, the first time the

Scriptures mention Jesus going to the temple as a adult is in Matt. 21:12:

And they came to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple,


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and began to CAST OUT them that sold and bought in the

temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and

the seats of them that sold doves; And would not suffer thatany man should carry any vessel through the temple. And He

taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be

called of all nations the House of Prayer? But ye have made it

a DEN OF THIEVES[Gk: burglars cave]. And the SCRIBES and

CHIEF PRIESTS heard it, and sought how they might DES

TROY HIM: for theyfearedHim, because all the people was as

tonished at his doctrine(Mark 11:1518).

What a revelation of the church of God we have in these three verses!

Jesus was so angry with the leaders at the temple for turning it into a money

making flea market, that he:

1. cast out them that sold and bought in the temple

2. overthrew the tables of the moneychangers and seats of them that sold

doves

3. suffered no one to carry vessels[of merchandise]through thetemple

Jesus said that theymade the House of Prayer a DEN OF THIEVES!

Say, did you notice that they were buying and sellingin the Temple?Do

you think that just maybe this has anything to do with the fact that,

NO MAN might BUY OR SELL, save he that had the MARK

OR THE NAME OF THE BEAST, or the NUMBER OF HIS

NAME(Rev. 13:17)?

We will cover theMark of the Beastin a later installment.

But this is all ancient history, isnt it? The modern Church of God has not been

turned into aden of thieveshas it? Were the High priests and Scribes, going

against the law of either their own religious beliefs or of Rome? No. No, they weren

t. So they were notthievesaccording to the Church or the Roman government.

But were they thieves, nonetheless? Yes, they were, Jesus Christ SAID THEY

WERE THIEVES, a wholeDEN OF THIEVES!

At least the modern Church of God is not a den of thieves, is it? Im sure not

all; you can be the judge:


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One of the major factors in the Reformation was the disdain over the practice of

the ChurchsellingINDULGENCES.The American Heritage College Dictionary, in

dulgencen.6.Roman Catholic ChurchThe remission of temporal punishment still

due for a sin that has been sacramentally absolved.

Make no mistake about it:

For the love of money is the [Gk. a] root of all evil(I Tim.

6:10).

Before the Reformation, it was thought by some that one could practically buy

ones salvation.

JesusCAST OUT them that sold and bought in the temple.Is there,

buying and selling going on in the Church today? Excuse medoes a cat have a

tail?

Now dont think that I am against money. Jesus Himself used money in his min

istry (but he never sold in the temple, neither did He ever collect a penny in tithe

money).

I couldnt count the number of emails I have received in response to my article

on tithing being unscriptural under the new covenant, in which they ask how theyshould pay their church utility bill if the people dont tithe? I tell them to pay it with

a check backed by money in the bank. All those interested in paying the utility bill

should contribute voluntary offerings of money for that expense. This is not difficult.

But no one under the New Covenant is obligated bylaworconscienceto pay ten per

cent of their salaries to a church! People under the Old Covenant, likewise, were not

under law to pay ten percent of their salaries to the Levites. And, Yes, they did have

money back then.

Unscrupulous Peddlers of Gods Word

After Jesus THREW OUT those whobought and soldin the temple, did they

ever return? Not only did they return to the temple after Christs resurrection, but

they also came into the very Church, which Jesus said HE WOULD BUILD. The

whole temple system in Jerusalem was so utterly corrupt that they corrupted the

people of Jerusalem and Judea as well.

In and around 70 AD the armies of Titus surrounded Jerusalem and there wasan awful slaughter. You can read of these horrible events in the writings of Joseph

us. But even before the temple with its corrupt religious system was demolished, it

had already spread its ugly tentacles into the Church which Jesus built.


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A Quick History of the Church Before Revelation

Jesus Christ said,

And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter[a movable stone],

and upon this rock[Christ, the immovable boulder]I will build

MY CHURCH; and the gates of hell[Greek:hades, the unseen

realm of the dead]shall NOT prevail against it(Matt. 16:18).

What did Jesus mean that thegates of hades would not prevail against

it?This word prevail was translated from the Greek wordkatischuoand it

means, to overpower. It is used but one other time in Scripture and here we shallsee exactly what this word means:

And they[the chief priests]were instant with loud voices, re

quiring that He[Jesus]might be crucified. And the voices of

them of the chief priests prevailed And when they were

come to the place which is called Calvary, there they CRUCI

FIED Him(Luke 23:23 & 33).

The chief priestsprevailed[katischuo] by putting Jesus Christ TO DEATH.But Jesus said that thegates of hades[realm of the DEAD]will not prevail

[katischuo]against it.In other words, His Church would NEVER be overpowered

to death.

And so, the Church that Jesus Christ built is still around today.

On Pentecost, Jesus Christ came back to His disciples just as He said He would.

He came back as the Comforter. Jesus said that they absolutely could NOT receive

the Comforter until He went away. Why? Because Jesus Christ IS THE COMFORT

ER, but not in the flesh, but in THE SPIRIT!

It was on Pentecost that the first members of the Church of Christ received the

Holy Spirit Comforter, just as He symbolized to them when He blew on them, show

ing that He Himself would come to them in spirit by the will of God. Now for the

first time, His disciples were truly converted, baptized in Holy Spirit, possessing the

mind of Christ, lead into all Truth (Jesus) by the ComforterJesus was NOW

BUILDING HIS CHURCH!

But the Comforter[Greek,parakletos,also called theConsoler,and in I John 2:1,Advocatein KJV, andEntreaterin the CLNT]

which IS the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My

name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to

your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you(John


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14:26).

TheAdvocate or Entreaterin I John 2:1 IS theparakletos,The Comforter

orConsolerof John 14:26 IS theparakletos,. and we are told that it isJesus

ChristHimself. Furthermore, theHoly Spiritthat is said to come AS theCom

forteris also Jesus Christ,

Now the Lord IS that Spirit: and where the Spirit OF THE

Lord[Jesus Christ]is, there is liberty(II Cor. 3:17).

The Church of God in Christ Grows

The next mention of the Church that Christ said He would build is found in Acts

2:4647:

And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and

breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with

gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having fa

vour with all the people. And the Lord ADDED to the church

DAILY[3000 in one day, Ver. 41]such as should be saved(Acts2:4647).

Persecution Comes Quickly

Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer

persecution(II Tim. 3:11).

Those are the words of Paul, and he should know, HE WAS THE CHURCHS

BIGGEST PERSECUTOR!

And Saul[Paul]was consenting unto his death. And at that

time there was A GREAT PERSECUTION AGAINST THE

CHURCH which was at Jerusalem, and they were ALL

scattered abroad through the regions of Judaea and Samaria,

except the apostles(Acts 8:1).

And just who was behind this persecuting of the Church of God? Answer: The

other Church of God that was also headquartered in Jerusalem!!!

And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter


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[murder] against the disciples of the Lord[that would be Christs

Church], went unto the HIGH PRIEST[of the OTHER Church of

God, in the TEMPLEremember back in Acts 2:46 where the Church

of Christ was continuing daily with one accord?Yes,that

temple!]

And [Saul]desired of him LETTERS [letters of authorization from the

highest level of Gods Churchthe HIGH PRIEST]to Damascus

Letters for the purpose of continuing his persecution and slaughter of Christs

New Church. I told you it is not pretty picture.

Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not

to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at vari

ance against his father, and the daughter against her mother,

and the daughterinlaw against her motherinlaw. And a

mans foes shall be they of his OWN HOUSEHOLD(Matt. 10:34

36).

Do you think that maybe a mans foes could even be of his OWN CHURCH?

But Jesus Christ, being the Masterful Genius of EVERYTHING THAT HE

DOES, chose His GREATEST ENEMY (Saul), to become His GREATEST

APOSTLE (Paul), and to save time, He converted Paul in about twoandahalf

seconds. ONE FLASH OF BLINDING LIGHT! And todays Church doesnt think

that Jesus can convert such mediocre persecutors such as Hitler in a trillion centur

ies. Just wait until Jesus puts him UNDER THE LIGHT! I dont think he will last

twoandahalf seconds.

How then, after getting rid of the greatest sinner and persecutor and turning

him into a great apostle, does the church fare?

The Apostle to Israel and the Nations

But the Lord said unto him[Ananias], Go thy way: for he[Paul]

is a chosen vessel unto Me, to bear My name before the Gen

tiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will show him

how GREAT THINGS HE MUST SUFFER FOR MY NAMES

SAKE(Acts 9:1516).

Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at

Damascus. And straightway he preached Christ in the syn


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agogues, that HE IS THE SON OF GOD. But they were all

AMAZED But Saul increased the more in strength and CON

FOUNDED the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, PROVINGTHAT THIS IS THE VERY CHRIST(Acts 9:1922).

Pauls TwentyFive Year Gospel Tour

Paul taught BOLDLY in the synagogues of the Jews:

From Damascus, going in and coming out of Jerusalem, down to

Caesarea, to Tarsus, throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, to

Antioch, unto Seleucia, to Cyprus, at Salamis, the isle, unto Paphos, to

Perga in Pamphylia, to Antioch in Pisidia, unto Iconium, unto Lystra, and

Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lies round about,

Pisidia, to Pamphylia, Perga, into Attalia, and back to Antioch, and up to

Jerusalem again, then back to Antioch, through Syria and Cilicia, to Derbe

and Lystra, Iconium, throughout Phyrgia, the region of Galatia, to Mysia,

into Macedonia, from Troas, to Samothracia, to Neapolis, to Philippi,

through Amphipolis and Apollonia, to Thessalonica, at Berea, unto Athens,

to Corinth.

In Corinth,

Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that

Jesus was the Christ. And when they opposed themselves, and

blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your

blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I

WILL GO UNTO THE GENTILES(Acts 18:6).

And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the

Lord with all his house; and MANY of the Corinthians hearing

believed, and were baptized. Then spoke the Lord to Paul in

the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not

thy peace: For I am with you, and no man shall set on you to

hurt you: for I have MUCH PEOPLE in this city. And he contin

ued there a year and six months(Acts 18:810).

Paul continues teaching among the Gentiles,Sailing into Syria, to Ephesus,

at Caesarea, down to Antioch, over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia,

to Achaia, back to Ephesus, and all they which dwelt in Asia heard the


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word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. And God wrought SPECIAL

MIRALCES BY THE HANDS OF PAUL. Paul called unto him the disciples

[in Ephesus], and departed for to go into Macedonia, and when he hadgone over those parts, he came into Greece, into Asia, Troas, from Philippi,

to Troas, unto Assos, to Mitylene, Chios, Samos, Trogylium, Miletus, unto

Coos, unto Rhodes, unto Patara, Phenicia, Cyprus, into Syria,Tyre, to

Ptolemais, unto Caesarea where Paul said, for I am ready not to be bound

only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus, and after

those days he went up to Jerusalem,for the last time.

It is not my purpose to frighten anyone or to discourage anyone. Neither do I

wish to whitewash the difficulties in walking the walk of faith with our Lord. Hope fully we will not all have to endure everything that the Apostle Paul endured, but

rest assured, that if you begin your walk with Christ in earnest, you will have to en

dure considerable hardships and persecutions.

Yea, and ALL that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer

persecution(II Tim. 3:12).

But always remember that there is a promise attached to this suffering:

It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with Him, we shall

also live with Him: If we suffer, we shall also REIGN WITH

HIM(II Tim. 2:1112).

Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to

continue in the faith, and that we must through MUCH TRIBU

LATION enter into the kingdom of God(Acts 14:22).

And this tribulation comes with a promise also:

Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord DE

LIVERS HIM OUT OF THEM ALL(Psalm 34:19).

Twentyfive years Paul preached the gospel of Jesus Christ. Well did Paul say,

From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body

the marks of the Lord Jesus(Gal. 6:17).

Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in

labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons

more frequently, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received


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I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once

was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I

have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in

perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wil

derness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren: In

weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and

thirst, in fastings, often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those

things that are without, that which comes upon me daily, the

care of all the churches(II Cor. 11:2328).

Remember that Paul waschief[preeminent]of sinners.God predetermined

that Paul was to suffer much, and many things for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul

never complained. He rejoiced in his weakness because that is when God used him

mightily.

Paul knew that much of his labor in the gospel would fail to bring most of the

saints to spiritual maturity. Paul came out of the Great Whore Church, the Mother

Church of Judaism. Paul knew that the Church of Jesus Christ would likewise be

come corrupted and commit spiritual fornication with the world. And so, just as

Paul came out of religious Babylon, everyone reared in the daughter harlot

churches, must likewise,Come out of her My people.

Paul Saw the Handwriting on the Wall

Only a few years into Pauls ministry, he told the Corinthian Congregation of the

corruption already in the Church:

For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: butas of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in

Christ(II Cor. 2:17).

Now I hope you all know that I love the King James, and it is true as stated in

this verse that they corrupted the word of God, but this verse tells us much more

than the King James translators present in this verse. Lets read a few other trans

lations of this same verse:

For we are not, as THE MANY, driving a PETTY TRADE withthe word of God(A New Translation,By J. B. Rotherham).

For we are not as the MAJORITY, who are PEDDLING the


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word of God(Concordant Literal New Testament).

For I seek not PROFIT[LIKE MOST]by setting the word ofGod TO SALE(The Epistles of Paul,By Conybeare).

Unlike MANY PEOPLE, we are not in the habit of MAKING

PROFIT out of Gods Message(The Twentieth Century New Testa

ment).

For I am no PEDDLER of Gods message LIKE MOST MEN

(An American Translation,By Goodspeed).

For I am not like MOST, TRAFFICKING in the word of God

(The New Testament in Modern English,By Montgomery).

For we are not like THE GREAT NUMBER who make use of

the Word of God for PROFIT(The New Testament in Basic Eng

lish).

For we do not, like SO MANY,PEDDLE[for profit]an adulter

ated message of God(The Berkeley Version of the New Testament,

By Gerrit Verkuyl).

Adulterating Hucksters of Gods Word

Does anyone have any doubts now, as to what this verse is saying? I hope not. But

there is still more in this verse that does not meet the eye of understanding unlesswe check the Greek. The word from which corrupt, profit, peddling, and traf

ficking was taken, is the Greek wordkapeleou, and it means much more than

simply selling for a profit:Strongs Greek Dictionary of The New Testament:#2585.

kapeleuo(ahuckster); toretail,i.e. (by impl.) toadulterate.This word means to be

a retailer, to peddle, to hucksterize; hence, intentionally to get base gain by dealing

in anything, to do anything for sordid personal advantage. (P. 128). WOW! But wait

heres one more definition:

From Greek-English Keyword Concordance,peddle[kapeleuo],sell at retail,with the insinuation of improper profit, either by overcharging or adulterating(P.

220).

Can you even begin to understand and believe what you are reading? Paul said


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that it was the MAJORITY that were retailing, selling, peddling, huckstering, an

adulterated version of Gods word by overcharging improper profits far beyond ra

tional living expenses for their own base gain and sordid personal advantage! Not

only was this practice CORRUPT, but, it was being done by THE MANY, THE

MAJORITY! Tell me that you cant see this being done in the church today?

Modern TV Religious Sideshow Auctioneers

Turn on your TV. The majority are selling, peddling, hucksterizing an adulterated

version of Gods word for improper profit and personal gain! Your will hear sermons

on such subjects as, Planting Seed, or Seedtime and Harvest, or Making a Fin

ancial Covenant with God, or Becoming a Faith Partner, or Tithing on the

Gross, or Your Welfare Check Belongs to God, or At What Age Should One

Tithe? or Tithing Your Way to Financial Freedom, or best of all, Will a Man ROB

God? etc., etc., etc.

At various times during the show, you will be offered: BOOKS, TAPES, PAMPH

LETS, VIDEOS, STATUES, PINS, TRINKETS, MEMBERSHIP CARDS,

PLAQUES, CANDLES, CERTIFICATES (always suitable for framing), COMMEM

ORATIVE COINS, BAGS OF SALT, VIALS OF OIL, DIRT FROM THE HOLY

LAND, WATER FROM THE SEA OF GALILEE, AND EVERY CONCEIVABLE

PIECE OF RELIGIOUS JUNK AND PARAPHERNALIA IMAGINABLE, all for big

bucks, (plus shipping and handling)!!

Or maybe you could catch one of Pastor Shambachs God Told Me sermons.

Pastor Shambach has been coercing people on international television for the past

several years to send two thousand dollars to TBN. He said that GOD TOLD HIM

THAT EVERYONE WHO IS IN DEBT AND WANTS TO GET OUT OF DEBT

NEEDS TO SEND to TBNTWO THOUSAND DOLLARS(and if you dont have two

thousand dollars, then you are to send it in by smaller installments)! And if you

have money left over, you can go to a thousand web sites where these same religious

hucksters have whole stores of religious accouterments for which you can spend

your money. I opened one site this week just out of curiosity. They boasted over ONE

HUNDRED AND TWENTY THOUSAND items for sale.

Sorry, I got carried away. Continuing:

1. God started the church in the Wilderness by bringing the people of Israel

out of Egypt (out of sin).

2. Only a few entered the Promised Land because of unbelief (they wanted to

go back to Egypt, back to sin).

3. From the Promised Land, God drove both Israel and Judah into captivity


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by the Assyrians and Babylonians respectively.

4. Under Ezra and Nehemiah along with priests and Levites, they returned

and rebuilt Jerusalem.

5. Jesus Himself, tells us how utterly corrupt the religious leadership was in

His day.

6. Paul tells us that it was the MAJORITY in his time that were making mer

chandise out of Gods word, corrupting and selling it for a personal profit!

7. In 70 AD all of Jerusalem including the whole temple system was totally

destroyed, but the Church that Jesus built continued on.

The Church After Pauls Departure

While in Miletus, before going to Caesarea and then up to Jerusalem, Paul gave us

a profound prophetic statement regarding the direction the church would take im

mediately after his departure:

For I have not shunned to declare unto you ALL THE COUN

SEL OF GOD. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to ALL

THE FLOCK[the entire Church of God, and remember that ALL of

Pauls epistles were read and distributed by Peter as well to the Jew

ish saints, II Pet. 3:1617], over the which the Holy Ghost has

made you overseers, to feed THE CHURCH OF GOD, which He

has purchased with His own blood.FOR I KNOW THIS,that

after my departing shall GRIEVOUS WOLVES enter in among

you, NOT SPARING THE FLOCK. Also of your OWN SELVES

shall men arise, speaking PERVERSE THINGS, to DRAW AWAY

DISCIPLES AFTER THEM. Therefore watch, and remember,that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one

night and day WITH TEARS[Paul knew and could see how horribly

deceived the Church of God was to become]. And now, brethren, I

commend you to God, and to the word of His grace, which is

able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all

them which are sanctified(Acts 20:2732).

WOW Not a pretty picture, is it? It gets worse.

Paul knew that just as he had to come out of religious Babylon, those under his

evangelism would also have to one day come out of the New Testament Church of

Gods Babylonian practices. In our next installment we will see just what these


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practices and doctrines of the Seven Churches are, that we mustCome out of

Peter witnessed and prophesied of the same conditions in the Church. Listen to

Peters powerful words of admonition in his last epistle for us:

But there were false prophets[teachers]also among the

people, even as there shall be false teachers AMONG YOU, who

privately shall bring in DAMNABLE HERESIES, even denying

the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift

destruction. And MANY shall follow their pernicious[lascivious,

licentious, wanton]ways; by reason of whom the way of the truth

shall be EVIL spoken of. And through covetousness shall they

with feigned words MAKE MERCHANDISE OF YOU(II Pet.

2:13).

Paul again parrots Peters warning in his last words to Timothy in the very last

epistle he wrote for us:

But evil men and seducers[in the church]shall wax WORSE

AND WORSE, DECEIVING, AND BEING DECEIVED (II Tim.

3:13).

So Paul didnt say that the horrible things already in the Church would get bet

ter and better, did he? No, he said they would getworse AND WORSE!Corrupt

spiritual leaders produce even MORE corrupt leaders as well as followers. Didnt

our Lord Prophecy of this very thing:

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye com

pass sea and land to make one proselyte[convert], and when he

is made, ye make him twofold MORE the child of hell[Gk: Ge henna the realm of the dead, which Jesus here uses to represent the

spiritually dead]than yourselves(Matt. 23:15).

We shall now see that Jesus, Peter, and Paul certainly did tell the truth that

things in the church would get WORSE AND MORE WORSE, or as some transla

tions have it, from bad to worse. Peter says there would be false teachers that

would bring in DAMNABLE HERESIES. ARE THERE DAMNABLE HERESIES IN

THE CHURCH OF GOD? Or did Peter LIE? Paul tells us that evil men and sedu

cers (Gk: wicked men and swindlers) would go from BAD TO WORSE! Did Paul

LIE? Notice how bad Jesus Christ said things would become:

For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets,[a

prophet is also a teacher and prophesying is teaching], and shall


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show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were pos

sible, they shall deceive THE VERY ELECT(Matt. 24:24).

Who are the False Christs?

Who are they who almost deceive the VERY ELECT and DECEIVE MANY? We

read that they are false Christs and false prophets. But WHO are these false

Christs and false prophets? How will we know them? What IDENTIFIES them as

false prophets, liars, and deceivers? I WILL MAKE THIS SO SCRIPTURALLY

PLAIN THAT A TEN YEAR OLD CAN UNDERSTAND IT!

At this time I will give you just two Scriptures where Jesus gives us the IDENTI

FYING SIGNS of the these false teachers, and deceivers:

1. MANY will say to me[Jesus]in that day, Lord, Lord[Master, Mas

ter], have we not:

A: PROPHESIED [taught, preached]in Thy Name[Jesus]?

B: In Thy Name[Jesus]have CAST OUT DEVILS[demons]?

C: And in Thy Name[Jesus]done MANY WONDERFUL WORKS[mir acles]?

And then will I profess[plainly, openly, tell them to their face]I NEVER

KNEW YOU: DEPART FROM ME YOU THAT WORK INIQUITY[law

lessness](Matt. 7:2223).

2. For MANY shall come in my name, saying[that], I[Jesus]am

Christ, and shall deceive MANY(Matt. 24:5).

Who are the MANY today who, (1) Teach and preach in the name of Jesus

Christ? (2) Cast out demons in the name of Jesus Christ? (3) Do MANY (not a few,

but many) WONDERFUL WORKS (not evils works, but good and wonderful works),

in the name of Jesus Christ? Who? The Russians? The Chinese? The Muslims? The

Hindus? The Confucianists? The Buddhists? The Shintoists? The Zoroastrians? The

Jews? The QUARTER BILLION Ethnic Religionists? The HUNDRED AND FIFTY

MILLION Atheists? Do ANY of these worldwide religionsteach, preach, cast out

demons, and do many wonderful works IN THE NAME OF JESUS

CHRIST?No, they dont!

Well then, WHO ARE THESE MANY who do these things?

DoMANYof the TWO BILLION CHRISTIANS in the world today,teach,

preach, cast out demons, and do many wonderful works IN THE NAME OF


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JESUS CHRIST?Then I would say that we have identified the many that Jesus

warned us about. It is not enough to preach, teach, heal, and cast out demons in the

name of Jesus Christ. One has to also OBEY the commandments and teachings of

Jesus Christ. Jesus said that it is the many who do good works, but are guilty of

iniquitywhich means lawlessness.

Next, who are the MANY today who say that,Jesus IS THE CHRIST, THE

MESSIAH?No, dont be deceived; it is not those few who occasionally claim that

they themselves are Jesus the Christ. They dont deceive the many. Only some

fool would ever be deceived into believing that some carnal idiot really IS the Christ.

Besides, there are NOT many who make such a claim in the first place.

But there certainly areMANYwho say and teach that JESUS is the REAL

CHRIST! And so it is not only those whoteach and preach and cast out

demons and do many wonderful works in the name of Jesuswho are DE

CEIVING THE MANY, but also there is a large group (many) who teach thatJe

sus really IS THE CHRISTand yet Jesus said it would be these that are also

DECEIVING THE MANY!

Millions of Christians have heard these Scriptures quoted all their lives. But,

God forbid that they would pause a minute or two to consider WHO REALLY ARE

THESE PEOPLE THAT JESUS IS TALKING ABOUT THAT REALLY DO THESE

MANY WONDERFUL THINGS AND YET DECEIVE THE MANY!!

Gods Final Prophecy to, for, and about, the Church of

God

Sometime in the second half of the first century, God appears to John on the Island

of Patmos in a vision, and instructs him thus:

What you see, write in a book, and send it unto the seven

churches which are in Asia(Rev. 1:11).

I spent a lot of time in our last installment showing and proving that the Seven

Churches represent the whole church down through all generations of this church

age. It would be

absurd to think that the book of Revelation was written to and for seven

churches in Asia that have virtually disappeared off the map. Most modern maps donot show the locations of these ancient church cities. My Encyclopedia Britannica

World Atlas shows Ephesus and Smyrna, only. Why print billions of Bibles in virtu

ally every language on earth for people to read of seven churches that havent exis

ted for CENTURIES and have no application to our lives today? No, this prophecy


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contains in symbols the spiritual condition of the entire Church of God all through

its history in every generation.

As all of Revelation is a book of symbols, it shouldnt surprise us that the mes sage to the seven churches is also composed of dozens of symbols. But those symbols

represent SPIRITUAL REALITIES. We must compare spiritual with spiritual to de

termine the meaning of these symbols.

Revelation is to and for the Seven Churches

The book of Revelation is to and for the Seven and ChurchesFirst chapter:

What you see write in a book and send it unto the seven

churches(Rev. 1:11),

Last chapter:

I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things

in the churches(Rev. 22:16).

If you are a professing member of the Church that Jesus built, then you need to

know what Jesus has prophesied concerning that very Church.

I dont mean to weary my readers by repeating myself, but I fear that no matter

how many times I say something and quote Scriptures to prove it, there will still be

many who will not have clue as to what God is teaching us.

The words that Jesus spoke were spirit

the words that I speak unto you, they are SPIRIT(John

6:63).

Jesus taught the multitudes in parables only

All these things spoke Jesus unto the multitude in parables;

and without a parable spoke Henotunto them(Matt. 13:34).

All parables have a SPIRITUAL lesson. Not one of Jesus parables was to be

taken literally.

But to understand spiritual parables, and words of spirit, one must HAVE THESPIRIT

for the Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of

God the things of God knows no man but the Spirit of God


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the Holy Spirit teaches; comparing spiritual things with spir

itual But the natural man receives not the things of the

Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can heknow them, because they are spiritually discerned But we

[believers in Christ]have the[spiritual]mind of Christ(I Cor.

2:10,11,13,14,16).

Notice what Jesus said when His disciples asked Him concerning the parables:

And the disciples came, and said unto Him, Why speakest

thou unto them in parables? 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 Therefore speak I

to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing

they hear not, neither do they UNDERSTAND(Matt. 13:10,11,

& 13).

Having ears to hear means having spiritual discernment in UNDERSTAND

ING what one hears. Notice that we mustsee with our eyes, and hear with

our ears, and should understand with our HEART[then God would]con vert us and HEAL[save]us(Matt. 13:15).

I have no doubt that some reading these messages from the Scriptures, are be

ginning to understand. I mean REALLY UNDERSTAND and thank God for this

spiritual understanding. If you are such an one, then GOD IS CALLING YOU! You

are beginning totasteof the good and spiritual things of God.

In Chapter 13 of Revelation God introduces us to,a beast rising up out of the

sea, having seven heads and ten horns with ten crown with the name of

blasphemy, and another beast coming up out of the earth which had two

horns like a lamb, but spoke as a dragon, commanding to make an image to

the beast and caused all to receive a mark or name or number 666 in their

forehead or right hand.

Midway through the chapter God says this:If any man have an ear, LET

HIM HEAR.What does God mean by let him hear? We just read it. Only those

with Gods Spirit can discern spiritual things, and the Book of Revelation is a book

of Symbols, given by Jesus, who always speaks to the multitudes in parables, plusHis words are always spirit.Let him hearmeanslet him SPIRITUALLY UN

DERSTAND!

We already learned that 7 is a number of perfect completeness in Gods Word.


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SEVEN TIMES Jesus says to the Seven Churches,He that has an ear, LET HIM

HEAR(Rev. 1:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22). Here is Gods complete message to the

Church down through the centuries. Those who have ears to hear [to understand]

will understand the spiritual message to these churches.

More Instructions on having Ears to Hear

Who specifically is speaking the words of Christ through John to these Seven

Churches: Notice it, for it is most revealing:He that has an ear, let him hear

what THE SPIRIT says(Rev. 1:7). It isthe SPIRITwhich is speaking to

John and the Seven Churches. How are we going to hear aSPIRITif we dont

have spiritual ears to hear?

I am overwhelmed by the arrogant ignorance of theologians who are constantly

informing me that theunquenchable fire, furnace of fire, gehenna fire,

and lake of fireare physical, material, and literal! Parables, metaphors, allegor

ies, and symbols are NEVER LITERAL! Try this: Jesus Christ (SPIRIT), gives John

this Revelation which God (SPIRIT), gave and signified (symbolizedthings with

SPIRITUAL meanings), by an angel (a SPIRIT), while John was in the SPIRIT, and

wrote Christs words (which are SPIRIT), and were spoke bythe SPIRIT,in a

book, that can only be understood by those with an[spiritual]ear to hear.And

theologians believe that most of this book of Revelation isliteral?

The Spirit speaks to each church congregation individually, starting with Eph

esus and ending with Laodicea. However, notice this: although the Spirit speaks in

dividually to the various congregations, God informs each individual congregation

tolet him hear what the Spirit says unto churches[plural].Herein is a

most profound truth, which I have never heard anyone explain. God is saying, in ef

fect, Ephesus, here are your strong points and your weaknesses, but now it is alsonecessary that you hear what I have to say to THE REST OF THE CHURCHES!

Why should Ephesus be concerned about the problems or virtues of the other

churches? It is because what applies to one applies to ALL. Ephesusleft her first

love.Are we so naive as to think that Pergamos followed the doctrine of Balaam,

and the Nicolaitans, but did NOT leave their first love? Do we think that Laodicea

wasluke warm,but did not leave her first love? Do we think that most of Sardis

art DEAD,but that they didnt leave their first love. Absurd! THEY ALL left

their first love! But evendeadSardishad a few names which did not defiletheir garments[spiritual character].And thus ALL the congregations also had a

few names, not the majority, who had not defiled their garments.

Some think that Smyrna and Philadelphia had no faults. I have a large chart


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that I purchased in a Bible Book Store that lists the seven churches on the top and

then has categories underneath. For the category labeled Faults, the boxes for

Smyrna and Philadelphia, say: NONE.

Thats not true, the chart is wrong. The churches of Smyrna and Philadelphia

were composed of many whosay they are Jews[spiritually circumcised and

converted in heart], but are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.I dont think

that any church that hasthe synagogue of SATANin their congregation could

be said to have NO FAULTS!

The Spirit Promises Spiritual Rewards to Overcomers

Jesus Christ tells ALL THE CHURCHES to listen and hear [spiritually understand]

what the Spirit says to ALL THE CHURCHES, because everything in the individual

churches applies to ALL THE CHURCHES. It is essential that we understand this.

Allovercomersin each of the Seven Churches are given promises of rewards.

We will now see that when one possesses one of these rewards, he will possess

ALL OF THEM, for ALL of the rewards are the SAME reward! You heard me cor

rectly with your ears, nowhearme with your heart of understanding. All of the

rewards are the same reward for all of the rewards are CHRIST! What is theprizespoken of in the Bible? What is thecrown?What is ourjustification?

What is thehigh calling?What is our hope ofglory?What is it that Paul

wanted towin?They are allCHRIST!

The word overcometh as used in the KJV is a good word and descriptive of

what we are to do. However,conquersis a more precise word, and adds the di

mension of being victorious, as in battle, as our Christian walk is most definitely a

battle.

Notice whatovercomers or conquerersin the Seven Churches are prom

ised:

The Church of Ephesus

To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the tree of life

(Rev. 2:7).

(1)

ThatsCHRIST.

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection and[I am]the


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LIFE(John 11:25).

The KJV translatestreein this verse from the Greek wordxulon.Here isStrongs definition ofxulon: timber (for fuel or material); by impl. Astick, clubor

treeor wooden art. Or substance xulon, wood, a piece of wood, anything made of

wood. The word tree does fit what is spoken of in this verse, but when we come to

Rev. 22:2,tree of lifedoes not seem to fit as well.

In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river,

was there the tree of life(Rev. 22:2).

How do we have one tree of life on BOTH sides of the river?

One translation translates both of these verses aswood of life.Another has,

log of life.Interestingly, one translation has this footnote, Wood is the primary

significance ofzulon,and may here denote, as in Rev. xxii, an aggregation of

dendra, or trees, commonly called awood,orforest;axulonof life, occupying a place

on both sides of the river.

What a marvelous word picture God has presented to us in these words. Jesus

Christ is first and foremost, The [singular] Tree of Life. This is the Tree of Life

spoken of in the Garden of Eden. That tree grew out of the earth, just as Jesus (the

source of lifefrom His Father) came in the flesh (the earth) to bring life (immor

talitydeathlessness, eternal life) to all humanity. Interestingly, the first timexu

lonis used in Scripture is where Jesus said,

For if they do these things in a green[living]tree[Gk:xulon

wood]what shall be done in the dry[dead wood]?(Luke 23:31).

Jesus Christ is thegreen living tree.Jesus met His death by being crucified.

The cross of Christendom was really a post, pole, or upright stake that is fastened

or planted in the ground manuallyit did not grow from that spot. It is not a living

xulonor wood or tree. Jesus died on a DEAD wood or dead tree.

But Jesus is now raised from the dead and is the Live Tree, the Tree of LIFE.

We get atasteof this life when God gives us of His Holy Spirit. But we receive

only theearnestor down payment in this life:

you were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is

the earnest of our inheritance UNTIL[at a later date]the re

demption of the purchased possession(Eph. 1:13b14).

At the resurrection we will be changed:


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Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet ap

pear what we shall be: for we know that, when He shall ap

pear, we shall be LIKE HIM, for we shall see Him as He is(IJohn 3:23).

Jesus also said this:

As Thou[the Father]has given Him[Jesus]power over all flesh,

that He should give eternal life[eonian life, which for the believer

includes immortality]to as many as Thou has given Him(John

17:2).

And so, as Jesus has life in Himself, He will give us that same life. And just as

Jesus is the SingularWood[tree]of life,we too will become the PluralWood of

Lifespoken of in Rev. 22:2. Remember a wood is a gathering of trees as in

woods or forest. Where do we read of such a gathering of living trees?

And He showed me a pure river of water of life[this is Gods life

giving spirit]clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of

God[the Father has life]and of the Lamb[the Father gives life to

Jesus to give to as many as God has given Him]. In the midst of the

street of it, and on either side of the river[of life], was there the

tree[xulon,wood, or woods or forest]of life, which bare twelve

manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month; and the

leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations(Rev 22:1

2).

Jesus is the source of all life because His Father gave Him life to disseminate to

others.

For as the Father has life in Himself, so has He given to the

son to have LIFE IN HIMSELF(John 5:26).

So in Revelation 22 we see the river of life flowing from God and Christ, through

the middle of the forest of trees of life (thats US), and we in returnheal the na

tionsjust as Obadiah prophesied of the coming ofsaviours(plural) to Mt. Zion

(Gods headquarters of government throne) to judge the nations.

The Church in Smyrna

(2)


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He that overcomes shall not be hurt of the second death(Ver.

11).

Thats because they now haveCHRIST, thetree of life who abolishes

death.

Those who are being judged NOW, will not go through the lake of fire judgment,

or be hurt by the second death.

The Church in Pergamos

(3)

To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the hidden manna

(Ver. 17).

ThatsCHRIST, the bread of life from heaven, (John 6:48 & 58). I believe that

even most nominal Christians would be agreeable to the fact that Jesus Christ IS

thishidden manna,and that it certainly is notliteral food for the physical body!

But when we come to things like the lake of fire which is the second death, the

shout goes out, ITS LITERAL; ITS LITERAL. Everything in the Book of Revela

tion is symbolic and spiritual. I will take a little more time on this next reward to

overcomers, just to show how much spiritual teaching and understanding there is in

every single word of Revelation.

And,a white stone.ThatsCHRIST. How is a white stone, Christ? This

stone is SPIRITUAL. Of what earthly (or heavenly) value is a white stone if it is

a literal white stone? It is foolishness to think that these symbols and metaphors

of Revelation are literal! Of what eternal value is a white stone with a name written

in it? First of all, stone is not even the proper translation in this verse. I once

thought it represented Christ, the Stone rejected by Israel, that became the Chief

Corner Stone, but that is not the teaching of this verse.

The Greek word here is psephos and not lithos which is a large stone such as

a millstone, tombstone, or building stone. Apsephosis not a stone per se, but rather

a pebble. Gee, that sounds even less valuable than a stone. Its a SYMBOL! It

stands for something SPIRITUAL AND LASTING OF UNFATHOMABLE VALUE!

This particularpsephospebble was used in casting a secret ballot. Now noticewhat a definition of ballot by theAmerican Heritage College Dictionary:ballotn.6.

A small ball [or pebble] once used to register a secret vote. Next notice this amazing

definition inStrongs Greek Lexicon,#5586.psephos, apebble(as worn smooth by

handling), i.e. (by impl. of use as acounterorballot) averdict(of acquittal) orticket


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(of admission). A BALLOT, a VERDICT OF ACQUITTAL (not guilt) or ticket of AD

MISSION (not rejection)! The opposite of this white ball or pebble of acceptance, is

to be rejected and turned away by being BLACK balled.

Maybe this doesnt excite you, but this little pebble is just pregnant with Scrip

tural and spiritual Truths! Here is an example where the symbols of Revelation

shine like giant beacons in the night. No, this is not just some ordinary stone

promised to the overcomers in the Churches, but a ballot pebble of acquittal and

admission which has a new name written which no man knows (Rev. 2:17), which

isMy[Christs]new name(Rev. 3:12), anda name written which no man

knew(Rev. 19:12).

This is a pebble ballot, cast in secret (The Lord knows them that are His,even if the world doesnt), to pronounce an acquittal. Acquittal means a judgment of

NOT GUILTY! If we are truly, SPIRITUALLY, BAPTIZED into Christs death, then

we areJUSTIFIED from Sin(Rom. 6:37).

AndFreely JUSTIFIED in His grace(Rom. 3:24). Justify means, to de

clare free of blame; absolve.TheologyTo free (a human) of the guilt and penalty at

tached to grievous sin,The American Heritage College dictionary.Thats ACQUIT

TAL! Whom ever possesses this white pebble is ACQUITTED OF ALL SINS AND

ALL GUILT!

This pebble also signified admission. An admission is both the permission to

enter something, and the price paid for the admission or entrance. Again, Jesus

Christ is BOTH! Jesus Christ paid the ultimate penalty for our sins,

But God commended His love toward us, in that, while we

were yet sinners, CHRIST DIED FOR US. Much more then, be

ing now JUSTIFIED by His blood, we shall be SAVED from

wrath through Him(Rom. 5:89).

And we can only gain admission and entrance into the kingdom of God through

Him. Jesus said,I am the DOOR(John 10:7 & 9), and there is no other. Jesus

said to,Enter ye in at the strait[narrow and cramped]gate(Matt. 7:13), and

Jesus is thedoorof that gate.

And so this apparently, insignificant little white pebble takes on enormous spir

itual value. Our pebble is white, signifying the purity of both the Giver (Jesus) and

the recipient (the overcomer). It is like a spiritual ticket that proves the bearer hasbeen washed clean, forgiven, justified, acquitted of all guilt, and has a paid admis

sion into the Kingdom of God, which Jesus verifies and signifies by His Own written

Name! But it is not a literal white pebble with a literal name engraved in itIT IS

A SYMBOL of all of the SPIRITUAL benefits attached to being anovercomer IN


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Christ.

A new name written, which no man knows except he that re

ceives it.[ThatsCHRIST, who]had a name written, that no

man knew, but He Himself and His name is called The Word

of God(Rev. 19:1213).

ThatsCHRIST, Jesus isThe Word of God(John 1:1). The world often treats

Gods saints as if they were heretics. Only those who possess the Name of Jesus

Christ trulyknowwhat the name is and all that it represents. Not all who speak

of the Name, have the name written within them. Mens lips are often far far from

their heart.

I already covered how that name is representative of THE PERSON WHO

BEARS IT. To believe in THE NAME of Jesus Christ is to believe ALL THAT JE

SUS IS! And the reason we have a new name is because all whom areINChrist

areNEW creatures[new creations]: old things are passed away; behold, ALL

THINGS ARE BECOME NEW( II Cor. 5:17). We not only have a new name, but

we become and ARE A NEW NAME as well.

The Church in Thyatira

(4)

And he that overcomes, and keeps my works unto the end, to

him will I give power over the nations(Ver. 26).

ThatsCHRIST, Christ is the power over the nations,

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, ALL POWER isgiven unto Me in heaven and[over the nations]in earth(Matt.

28:18).

And I will give him the morning star.

ThatsCHRIST.

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(Rev. 22:16).


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The Church in Sardis

(5)

He that overcomes, the same shall be clothed in white

raiment[Christs righteousness in His saints, Rev. 19:9 vs. Phil. 3:9];

and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life(Rev.

3:5).

ThatsCHRIST! Jesus Christ IS The Book of Life! This is not a literal, physical

book with names written on pages of paper. No indeed, this is not merely the book

of life, this is the book OF SOMEONES LIFE! Whose life? Lets read it and believe:

And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him [Satan,

the dragon, the devil, the serpent], whose names are not written in

THE BOOK OF THE[the is in the Greek manuscripts]LIFE OF

THE LAMB[THATS CHRIST]slain from the foundation of the

world(Rev. 13:8)!

Your name (thats YOU, your name IS WHO AND WHAT YOU ARE), YOU

must be IN CHRIST, who IS LIFE, or your name isnot written in the book oflife.

Oh how much we lose when translators both translate and interpret wrongly. I

realize that this was not intentional, however, it was wrong of them to leave out the

articlethein this verse, as it is IN the Greek manuscripts. It is not merelythe

book of life of the Lamb,but rather,the book of the life of the Lamb!

WOW! What a difference a simple three letter article makes in the meaning of this

most profound verse! This book is not merely a list of the names of the saints in al

phabetical order or by chronological number. The book of life is the book ofSOMEONES lifeJesus Christs LIFE!

Oh that we would have ears to SPIRITUALLY hear:

Therefore if any man be IN Christ, he is a new creature: old

things are passed away; behold, all things are become new(II

Cor. 5:17).

This is the new, converted, believers lifeIN Christ.And when God comes to

judge the world, we will have no fear of judgment for we are being judged now IN

Christ. Highlight this verse in your Bibles:

And we have known and believed the love that God has to us.

God is love; and He that dwells in love dwells IN GOD, and


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GOD IN HIM. Herein is your love made perfect, that we may

have boldness in the day of judgment: BECAUSE[get ready; here

it comes]As He [Jesus Christ]IS[right now, this minute]SO AREWEin this world(I John 4:17).

And just how is that?

We just read itbecause we live IN CHRIST, and Christ lives IN US!!! Our

names are written inthe book of THE LIFE OF THE LAMBonly if WE TOO

LIVETHE life OF the Lamb,IN THE LAMB!Abide in Me, and I in you

(John 15:4). I pray for God to give you spiritual eyes to see these grand Truths that

have been hid from the blinded eyes of the Church today.

A stern warning: How many does Jesus say through His Spirit, will Henot

blot out his name out of the book of life?Lets read it:

Thou hasA FEW names even in Sardis which have not defiled

their garments; and shall walk with Me in white: for they are

worthy(Rev. 3:4).

Dear readers it is always, just theFEWwho will be in Christ in His glory in the

first resurrection. All of the rest, ALL of them, will come up in the Second Resurrec

tion, and white throne judgment with its lake of fire and second death.

I feel it necessary to show you just how sobering our Lords statement to the

churches really is. Not many escaped the flood that came on the world in Noahs day

because the thoughts of men were only evil continually,

while the ark was a preparing, whereinFEW, that is, eight

souls were saved(I Pet. 3:20).

Are things better now? NO, Paul said things would get worse AND WORSE.

Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads

unto life, andFEWthere be that find it(Matt. 7:14).

So the last shall be first, and the first last: and many be

called, butFEWchosen(Matt. 20:16).

For many are called, butFEWare chosen(Matt. 22:14).


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The Church in Philadelphia

(6)

Him that overcomes will I make a pillar[a position of great spir

itual responsibility]in the temple of my God(3:12).

ThatsCHRIST,

And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and proph

ets, Jesus Christ Himself being the Chief Corner Stone; In

whom all the building fitly framed together grows unto an

HOLY TEMPLE IN THE LORD(Eph. 2:21).

Christ is our Temple for we live in Him as HIS BODY, and we are the temple of

Gods Holy Spirit that lives and dwells IN US, and Christ IS that Spiritabide in

Me, and I in you.

Andhe shall go no more outThatsCHRIST. We are IN Christ, we are

the Body of Christ, Christ is our temple, our house, where we dwellIN Christ.

We abide and dwell in Christ and Christ abides and dwells and lives HIS LIFEin us, so that we willgo no more out,till at the consummations of all the ages,

God may be ALL in All(I Cor. 15:28).

And I will write upon him the NAME OF MY GOD, and the

NAME OF THE CITY of my God, which is new Jerusalem,

which comes down out of heaven from My God: and I will

write upon him MY NEW NAME.

ThatsCHRIST! These are honors and rewards bestowed upon us by Christ. The

144,000 (12 x 12, complete foundational kingdom of Gods government for the new

world) are given the Fathers name in their foreheads (Rev. 14:1 & 22:4). Not a tat

too on the forehead skin, but inside their foreheads, in their hearts and minds.

New Jerusalemis the heavenly Jerusalem spoken of in Heb. 12:22, where the

general assembly and church of the firstborn[Christ and His anointed body of

believers], which are written in heavenis found. It is from New Jerusalem

and heavenly Mt. Sionthat the government of Christ will proceed in bringing Sal

vation to the Earth and the Universe (Isa. 2:2).I will write upon him My new

name.This is the same new name that we discussed in the Church of Pergamos.


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The Church of the Laodiceans

(7)

To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with Me in My

throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My

Father in His throne.

And, of course, thatsCHRISTalso. Sitting with Christ in His thronethis is

the ultimate in rewards for the overcomer. This means that we share Christs Priest

hood, Lordship, and Kingship over all the universe!

And SAVIOURS[plural]shall come up on mount Zion to judgethe mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORDS

(Obadiah 21).

Savioursthats US, if we areovercomers.We will be saviours (as He is,

so are WE in the world) with our Lord from heavenly Mt. Zion and New Jerus

alem!

From Glory to Glory

There is a progression in the rewards promised to the conquering overcomers in the

Churches that is vital for us to see and understand. If one is saved (past tense, fin

ished, completed, with absolutely no possibility of losing that salvation at any time

before we die), then there are indeed some Scriptural contradictions to such a the

ory.

We need to get very serious for a moment. Salvation culminates for the believer

in the First Resurrection to spiritual life and immortality. However, before thattime, during the life of each believer, there are warnings in the Scriptures about

ways that one can become disqualified from being in the first resurrection. Lets no

tice just a few of them:

1. Wherefore let him that thinks he stands take heed LEST HE

FALL(I Cor. 10:12).

2. If they should FALL AWAY, to renew them again unto

repentance(Heb. 6:6), and

For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge

of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins. But a certain

fearful looking for of JUDGMENT and fiery indignation[the lake of


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fire]which shall devour the adversaries(Heb. 10:2627).

3. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justi

fied by the law; you are FALLEN FROM GRACE(Gal. 5:4).

4. Looking diligently lest any man FAIL OF THE GRACE of God

(Heb. 12:15).

5. They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the

word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe,

and in time of temptation FALL AWAY(Luke 8:13).

6. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come,

except there come a FALLING AWAY first(II The. 2:3).

7. But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that

by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should A

CASTAWAY[Gk: disqualified](I Cor. 9:27).

8. Now the Spirit speaks expressly, that in the latter times some

shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and

doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their con

science seared with a hot iron(I Tim. 4:1).

9. For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through

the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again

entangled therein, and overcome, the LATTER END IS WORSE

WITH THEM THAN THE BEGINNING [before they were converted].

For it had been better for them not to have known the way of right

eousness, than, after they have known it, TO TURN FROM the holy

commandment delivered unto them(II Peter 2:2021).

10.And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the

plough[having begun to follow Christ]and looking back[desiring his

old sinful life again]IS FIT FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD(Luke 9:62).

Dont think that these verses were written in vain. Jesus said that many would

say to Him in that day,Lord, Lord,but Jesus will tell them todepart.It is

not enough to accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour and go no further. You must con

tinue growing spiritually. We must CONTINUE following Christ all the days of our

life.

Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him, If you

CONTINUE in My word, then are you my disciples indeed

(John 8:31).


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There are some encouraging words in the Scriptures, however, that tell us that

there is a way to know in your walk with Christ whether you are SAFE from ever

falling away, and the message to the Seven Churches contains this same teaching.

Peter tells us how we can be SURE that we will NEVER FALL:

And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue;

and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to

temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godli

ness brotherly kindness; and to brother kindness charity

[LOVE] Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to

make your calling and election sure: for IF YOU DO THESE

THINGS, YOU SHALL NEVER FALL(II Pet. 1:57 & 10).

In closing we will now look at this same teaching in the rewards to the Seven

Churches.

First I want to call your attention to a most important fact concerning the word

overcomethin the KJV. Notice that it is not in the past, as in has overcome or

overcame. It is in the Greek aorist tense. It shows a CONTINUING ACTION. The

Greek is to the overcoming or to the one overcoming or to the one conquering. I

point out this continuous action to show that Christ does not want any to start andthen stop. We must always continue conqueringand overcoming.

We have learned that when we repent and turn to Jesus Christ, He gives us of

His Holy Spirit (the earnestthe start, the beginning, the down payment, if you

will). Look now at the first reward promised the Churches:

To Him that Overcomes

To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the tree of LIFE

(Rev. 2:7).

That is the beginning of real spiritual life. If we continue in this new spiritual

life, we will not be hurt by the second death which is the the lake of fire.

He that overcomes shall not be hurt of the second death(Rev.

2:11).

Now we are safe, right? We can now rest on our laurels, right? Wrong.

To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the hidden manna

(Rev. 2:17).


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We cant grow spiritually unless we eat SPIRITUAL FOOD. When we eat of

Christs spiritual body, we grow spiritually; when we stop eating spiritual food we

spiritually starve and spiritually die. If we eat spiritual food, we grow, we mature,

we arecontinuing in Christs wordand Christ word is spirit and therefore

spiritual food.

What is our next reward if we continue overcoming?

and will give him a white stone and in the stone a new

name(Ver. 17)

Now we learned that this stone is really a pebble which is a symbol for a ballot,

which acquits us of guilt and justifies us, allowing for our admission or entrance

into the Kingdom, signed and signified by Jesus Himself. If we continue to over

come, this white signed, ballot stone of entrance into the Kingdom is waiting for us

with OUR NAME on it. Remember as Jesus is, SO ARE WE His name is OUR

name. If we continue to overcome, we will be given another great reward.

And he that overcomes and keeps my works unto the end, to

him will I give power over the nations(Ver. 26).

Say, did you notice that most important phrase,keeps my works UNTO THE

END?Do you suppose there was a purpose for adding those words at this place in

the rewards? You know there was. We must keep on, keeping on. We cannot look

back. We cannot fail to continue in Christs words and works. We must take up our

cross. We must suffer persecution. We must fight the good fight. We must keep

the faith. We must pray without ceasing. And we must make it to the end,

And you shall be hated of all men for my names sake: but he

that endures TO THE END SHALL BE SAVED(Matt. 10:22).

THEN we will be qualified to havepower over the nations.But reigning re

quires that we be RIGHTEOUS. We must reign the nations with spiritual power, not

with military might. Our motives and our love must be PURE.

He that overcomes, the same shall be clothed in white

raiment(Rev. 3:5).

The white raiment is the sameclean white, fine linenof Rev. 19:8,forfine linen is the righteousness of the saints(Ver. 8). When we attain to this

degree of overcoming, God makes an absolute promise to us:

I will NOT blot out his name out of the book of life(Ver. 5).


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Just how high do the rewards of Jesus to the overcomer go?

Him that overcomes will I make a PILLAR IN THE TEMPLE

OF MY GOD(Ver. 12).

A pillar is a main support in a temple. It speaks of a position of GREAT DISTIN

GUISHED RESPONSIBILITY at the Spiritual Headquarters of the entirety of the

universe in Mt. Zion. But if He is going to give us ALL THAT HE HAS, He expects

us to do as He DID and become what He IS.

To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me on My

throne, EVEN AS I also overcame, and am set down with my

Father in His throne(Ver. 21).

We are to overcome even as Jesus Christ conquered and overcame. What was it

that Jesus Christ overcame? John 16:33,

These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me you might

have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation: but BE OF

GOOD CHEER;I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD !

Jesus Christ overcame EVERYTHING IN THE WORLD, INCLUDING THE

WORLD! And here is Gods command to the believer who would become an over

comer and conqueror in Christ Jesus:

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world, If

any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of

the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the

world[which MUST be overcome and conquered!](I John 2:1516).

We are to also overcome the world just as Jesus did. Not by ourselves, but by

JesusChrist IN us, the hope of GLORY.Christ lives His life IN the believer,

and in the believer Christ will,overcome the world,over and over again in each

new believer. And then one day, Jesus Christ will say toYOU,Sit with Me on My

throneWe are going to save the Universe together.

We already read in Romans 8 that the whole creation is groaning for the mani

festation of Sons and Daughters (saviours) to free this world from its vanity and cor ruption.

And so, there is ONE church, and all overcomers from that church receive ONE

reward, the SAME reward, and that reward is CHRIST and all that His many sym


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bols and names represent, all that He IS (as He is, so are WE in the world),

and in the Kingdom of God as well. These are the highest and most glorious honors

ever to be bestowed upon a man or woman of the human race!

He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the

churches.

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the "lake of fire" series part 8

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