Approximately 725 BC, the kingdom of Israel - the northern 10 tribes - were conquered by the Assyrians and exiled from Israel. Paul's ministry to the Gentiles led him to the city of Ephesus, then in Lydia [which means strife / travail ]' now on the western coast of Asia Minor, modern Turkey [which means owner] also called [Magyars/Onogur: translated as 'ten tribes')] .
Ephesus is five miles inland of the Aegean sea coast. Ephesus was dedicated to the goddess DIANA [complete light; flow restrained], and a temple had been built in her honor. Many citizens made their living carving idols to her image.
So too, Israel, the Jewish nation, through God's Word, was given complete light, the flow restrained, in part, for the purpose of God's glory to be manifest to all mankind. The Apostle John, after his sojourn on the island of Patmos: [my killing] died in Ephesus. The church of Ephesus was commended for their labor and patience, not being able to bear those who are evil They were able to discern a 'true apostle', such as John or Paul, from a false apostle. When Paul was in Ephesus he went into the synagogues and reasoned with the Jews there [Acts 18]. But of Ephesus Jesus says, repent - - you have left [aphemi] your first love:
aphemi:
to send away to leave, go way from one
to bid going away or depart in order to go to another place
of a husband divorcing his wife to depart from one and leave him
to let go, let alone, let be to himself so that all mutual claims
to disregard are abandoned
to PERMIT, allow, not to hinder, to desert wrongfully
to give up a thing to a person to leave one by not taking him as a companion
Jesus came to write the law on mens hearts. Jesus taught on marriage: the wife is to reconcile (repent / not become lawless/ loveless) - or if she does divorce, to remain unmarried - as she is established in blood covenant - - til death [ICo 7:10-11]. For the 'unrepentant' - it leaves them open to COMPROMISE - to go with the world - to be absorbed with Pergamos, instead of remaining faithful to Christ.
NOTE the rewards and penalties for each church. This sets the tone for the book of Revelation.
Genesis begins with the 'tree of life' and the 'tree of the knowledge of good and evil'. Adam and Eve were put out of the garden for eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, but for the reason of not eating of the 'tree of life' [just judgment] in that state - otherwise they would be forever lost. For those of the 'church of EPHESUS' repentance is rewarded by be given to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.
SMYRNA, the martyrs, are persecuted for the period of the book of Revelation - for 'ten days': Rosh ha Shanah/Yom Teruah (trumpets) [1Tishrei] until Yom Kippur [10 Tishrei] known as 'the days of repentance / days of awe' Overcomers will receive the crown of life and not be hurt by the second death [James 1:12; Rev 20:6; 14]
PERGAMOS, from purgos: TOWER and gamos: MARRIED - or the 'married tower' - has roots of 'Babel - Babylon' and is called the 'compromising church; - greed and immorality being problems. Yet it is said, 'they hold fast 'to My name and don't deny the faith', but they also hold to the doctrine of the Nicolitans: eldership by hierarchical (rank) position and mixing with pagan practices.
Rev 2:16 Repent, or else I will come to you quickly
and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.
17 he who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat.
And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written
which no one knows except him who receives it.
God's people are called to be 'separate / holy', to come out of the mindset of the world. Babel means 'confusion; to mix oneself among the peoples'. The tower of Babel was erected as a 'way to reach heaven', the people being of one mind' - you might say - -to take it by force. Jesus Christ did not take the kingdom of God by force, but in submission to His Father. God foiled the plan of Babel and He will again foil the plan with Pergamos, who has allied herself - 'has married the rebellious tower'.
THYATIRA [odor of affliction] has put into practice what Pergamos taught. They have great works, even more than the first, but they allow JEZEBEL [Baal is husband; unchaste]
Rev 2
21 And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent.
22 Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her
into GREAT TRIBULATION, unless they repent of their deeds.
23 I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He
who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.
24 “Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine,
who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden.
25 But hold fast what you have till I come.
26 And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him
I will give power over the nations—
27 ‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron;
They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’—
They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’—
as I also have received from My Father;
28 and I will give him the morning star.
29 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”’GREAT TRIBULATION is the last 3 1/2 years - Rev 12 thru 18. TRIBULATION, by definition is: 'cause of great trouble or suffering. Hebrew 'tsarah': trouble, distress, adversity; enemy; a RIVAL WIFE; narrow; straits. Latin 'tribulare': to press; tribulum: threshing board [constructed of sharp points]. Greek 'thlipsis': PERSECUTION, affliction; pressed together, NARROW, straitened, contracted.
In Genesis 2, Adam's wife was taken from his side, his rib. So too, the BRIDE of the Lamb is taken from His 'side' [the Hebrew indicating 'His Passover'.] In Genesis 3 the serpent seduces the woman and mankind not only suffers death, but the woman is told she will bring forth her children in pain: 'itstsabown' - sorrow, labor, hardship. The Jewish nation has done just that, through destruction after destruction, holocaust, and exile. Genesis 4 relates Cain: 'God's possession' killing his brother Abel: breath. In Hebrew, a man's HOUSE is His WIFE. Jesus, the Word made flesh, came to Jerusalem, 'His house, His wife, His possession' and the BREATH of life was crucified [Acts 3].
The 'bride of the Lamb' is disclosed in Rev 21 as having 12 gates - the 12 tribes and having 12 foundations - the 12 apostles. The 'body of Christ' embraces 'this bride', the two becoming one, the bond of 'blood covenant' being the 'proof of the bride's virginity.' But it is the 'two as one' - - who is 'church'.
Note the promise for the repentant of Thyatira - to rule with a rod of iron: Yes, Christ rules with a rod of iron [Psa 2:9], but this promise is also to those of Thyatira (odor of affliction / tribulation) who will rule and reign with him - SPECIFICALLY [Rev 20:4-6] as those who did NOT worship the beast, nor take his mark. The 'rest of the dead' do not live again til the 1000 years are finished. Revelation 12 - the beginning of the GREAT TRIBULATION - the last 3 1/2 years, is the beginning of this group who will refuse to worship the beast or his image nor take the mark of the beast.
4: THYATIRA: ODOR OF AFFLICTION
Lam 1: How lonely sits the city that was full of people!
How like a WIDOW is she who was great among the nations!
The princess among the province has become a slave,
Lam 1: How lonely sits the city that was full of people!
How like a WIDOW is she who was great among the nations!
The princess among the province has become a slave,
she weeps bitterly in the night, her tears are on her cheeks;
among all her lovers she has none to comfort her.
All her friends have dealt treacherously with her;
All her friends have dealt treacherously with her;
They have become her enemies.
1:3 Judah is gone into CAPTIVITY because of AFFLICTION and
because of great servitude: she dwells among the heathen, she finds
no rest: all her PERSECUTORS OVERTAKE HER (in) between the straits.
no rest: all her PERSECUTORS OVERTAKE HER (in) between the straits.
NOTE: BETWEEN THE STRAITS - between the periods of tribulation.
Mark 13:19 For in those days shall be AFFLICTION [thlipsis: TRIBULATION
DISTRESS, STRAITS] such as was not from the beginning of the creation ...
Jam 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the
WIDOWS and ORPHANS in their TROUBLE and to keep himself unspotted
from the world which God created UNTO THIS TIME, NEITHER SHALL BE.
Lam 3:1 I am the man who has seen affliction by the rod of His wrath.
2 He has led me and made me walk
In darkness and not in light.
3 Surely He has turned His hand against me
Time and time again throughout the day.
Lam 5:1 Remember, O Lord, what has come upon us;
Look, and behold our reproach!
2 Our inheritance has been turned over to aliens,
And our houses to foreigners.
3 We have become ORPHANS and waifs,
Our mothers are like widows.
Luk 13:33 for it cannot be that a prophet should perish outside of JERUSALEM.
34 O JERUSALEM, JERUSALEM, the one who KILLS the prophets
and stones those who are sent to her!
Rev 18:24 And in her [Babylon] was found the blood of prophets
and saints and of all who were slain on the earth."
He who OVERCOMES receives the MORNING STAR.
Rev 22:16 I, Jesus .. I am the Root and the Offspring of David,
the 'BRIGHT and MORNING STAR'.
Rev 12:11 THEY OVERCAME HIM by the blood of the Lamb, and the Word
of their testimony, and THEY DID NOT LOVE THEIR LIVES TO THE DEATH.
Selah
Shalom - to be continued
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