Mobile versionI have heard many debates concerning this, so lets dive into this with the unfathomable splendor of the Holy Spirit.
First: I have been told the letters to the churches were only for the present day churches in John's era, not true. It is clear in his opening statements he is a addressing
a future time.
I will also start with the Revelation Introduction and weave together scripture with scripture.
Letter to the Church of Ephesus (permitted to let go).
Revelation 1:1-4
Introduction and Salutation
1 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must (soon)take place; he made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.
3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of the prophecy, and blessed are those who hear and who keep what is written in it; for the time is near.
4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia:
Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne,
"what must soon take place" is relative and in the perspective of God's time. But there is no doubt it refers to future, not present..
Now, he addresses the letters in coded language, all is not to be taken at surface value. This corresponds with Daniel-
Michael's Deliverance and the End Times Daniel 12:3-5
…3"Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. 4"But as for you, Daniel, conceal these words and seal up the book until the end of time; many will go back and forth, and knowledge will increase." 5Then I, Daniel, looked and behold, two others were standing, one on this bank of the river and the other on that bank of the river.…
John addresses the letter's to the churches that are in (Asia)= Sunrise. This refers to the Woman of Rev.12 (CLOTHED WITH THE SUN). I will weave together the scriptures.
These are the churches who are of the New Covenant.
They are Christians and are given admonishment and esteem in the letters. The letters speak to the spiritual condition of believers and their state of mind. The letters are not entirely to particular Churches per-say but rather, to various Christian conditions. Some churches are mentioned by name because there are sects sometimes within denominations and the whole denomination may or may not need to be addressed. This because -of particular denominations some sects of it may not even be considered to be Christian because too much Dogma has been removed, you know satellite and or cult split offs.
Church- meaning: A group of Christians; church is a biblical word for “assembly.” The assembly of Christian believers all around the world are being addressed in their various conditions
The Beginning of Knowledge Proverbs 1: 5-7
…5A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel, 6To understand a proverb and a figure, The words of the wise and their riddles. 7The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.…
CONTINUING WITH JOHN'S OPENING STATEMENTS:
Revelation 1:5-20
5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
7 Look! He is coming with the clouds;
every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him;
and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail.
So it is to be. Amen.
8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.
A Vision of Christ
9 I, John, your brother who share with you in Jesus the persecution and the kingdom and the patient endurance, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 I was in the spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet 11 saying, “Write in a book what you see and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamum, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”
12 Then I turned to see whose voice it was that spoke to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the lampstands I saw one like the Son of Man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash across his chest. 14 His head and his hair were white as white wool, white as snow; his eyes were like a flame of fire, 15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined as in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of many waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, and from his mouth came a sharp, two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining with full force.
17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he placed his right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I was dead, and see, I am alive forever and ever; and I have the keys of Death and of Hades. 19 Now write what you have seen, what is, and what is to take place after this. 20 As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
The Lampstands are the seven churches, and most importantly are Hebrew in essence , because Christ is . He is the foundation, they are an extension of Him like the Menorah's seven branches. Christ is addressing the 7 condition and states of
being of the Elect who will be of the end time BRIDE!
.The seven angels are: 1 Michael meaning "who is like God?". , 2Gabriel"God is my strength",3 Raphael 'God Heals' 4 Uriel -Phanuel "face of God", 5 Saraqâêl Saraqael (communicants of God-"Prayer of God" ) or Selaphiel , 6.(Remiel) Rameel means 'mercy of God' and 7Barachiel meaning “lightning of God”.
Ephesus meaning (PERMITTED TO LET GO).
The Message to Ephesus Rev.2:1-7
2: “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands:
2 “I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance. I know that you cannot tolerate evildoers; you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them to be false. 3 I also know that you are enduring patiently and bearing up for the sake of my name, and that you have not grown weary. 4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. 5 Remember then from what you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. 6 Yet this is to your credit: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. To everyone who conquers, I will give permission to eat from the tree of life that is in the paradise of God.
CHRIST'S TITLE AS JUDGE: " HE WHO HOLDS THE STARS AND WALKS AMONG THE SEVEN GOLDEN LAMPSTANDS"
In the celestial bodies the 7 main stars of Orion's belt represent Christ's use of the angels in admonishing and esteeming. The angels in the Holy Spirit bring the 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit to His churches they are: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. All times and symbolism are present in God's time piece.
The celestial bodies do not govern man, God does. They are just for giving signals concerning appointed times of His will.
The Fourth Day: Sun, Moon, Stars Genesis1:13-15
13There was evening and there was morning, a third day. 14Then God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years; 15and let them be for lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth"; and it was so.…
As I said they do not guide as lording over, like some practice, but as an alarm and signal to God's children.
Job 38:31-32
31"Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades, Or loose the cords of Orion? 32"Can you lead forth a constellation in its season, And guide the Bear with her satellites?…
Answer to the question in Job is NO! Can you loosen the reins of Orion?= Can you force the will of the True Shepherd? ( To the ancient Hebrews Orion' and his belt represents): "The Will of The true Shepherd". This as to when His action against earth will come! Nothing happens before its time.
"Can you bind Pleiades chain"s= Put false churches and beliefs in chains.
The answer
Only at the appointed time as God wills. The True Shepherd will demand it! It is that time because the sign of Rev.12 has appeared in the celestial bodies. September, between the 23rd-24th 2017, and concluded over Israel.ESTEEM
Rev.1:22 “I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance. I know that you cannot tolerate evildoers; you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them to be false.This has to do with, the false doctrine known as: (Apostolic Succession)-ap·os·tol·ic suc·ces·sion Not that there is not an Apostolic Succession but the understanding and meaning of it is not correctly defined.And even laity can come into it. It is not the right of only a privileged Hierarchy.
noun: apostolic succession; plural noun: apostolic successions .
noun
(in Christian thought) the uninterrupted transmission of spiritual authority from the Apostles through successive popes and bishops, taught by the Roman Catholic Church and Orthodox but denied by most Protestants, and means something different to the Orthodox- they believe it is only passed to the Bishop-this too is wrong.The only succession their is , is in time and throughout time the 12 are the only apostles . This is the succession- it began with them, is in them and ends with them. They are the only apostolic names in the foundation, they bring about through the succession of time, followers.
suc·ces·sion
səkˈseSHən/
noun
noun: succession; plural noun: successions
1.
a number of people or things sharing a specified characteristic and following one after the other.
This does not mean, those whom they bring to faith to continue the legacy are (Apostles) like some protestant sects claim. This simply means they continue in the Apostolic Order- meaning, stay within the teachings laid down by the Apostles whose names are written in the foundation. The followers are obedient to the Order!
The New Jerusalem Rev.21:13-15
…13There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south, and three on the west. 14The wall of the city had twelve foundations bearing the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 15The angel who spoke with me had a golden measuring rod to measure the city and its gates and its walls.…
Rev.2:2
2I know your deeds, your labor, and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate those who are evil, and you have tested and exposed as liars those who falsely claim to be apostles.
The issue is the play on words and their meanings, I know the true meaning of Apostolic Succession. It does not mean a succession of many apostles, but many who uphold and share the specified characteristics in following, one after the other, staying within the Order. An Order in the case of spiritual discipline,it is an established practice instituted by a particular belief system. This is the meaning of Apostolic Succession. I do not care what men not guided by the Holy Spirit say. The scriptures do not lie, and is the only authority because it is the WORD OF GOD.
John1:1-4
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
And the Word is the sole authority. The Bible is a set of rules in which to govern ones life? God is the author, and interpreter . How does man interpret the language of Heaven, by his own power or by the Holy Spirit? Who is the first authority above all by which men acquire authority to teach the Word passed down? The Word! Is the Father, the Son (the WORD) and the Holy Spirit one authority, can you have one without the other to be guided? No!
Apostle in translation has lost it meaning. In Hebrew “Apostle” is שולח (shole'ahh), meaning to (send). Unfortunately in our English translation it has gotten mixed up with disciple. Disciple in Hebrew is (limmud)
and means (taught) or to( learn). An apostle is (sent ) .God (sends) them to teach or make disciples . All whom which follow the Apostles are therefore perpetual students to the (TRUE DOCTRINAL fathers)=elders. Anything, any disciple teaches has to be found in the Elders teachings, the 12 apostles are part of the 24 Elders.
Rev.4:44
Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and on these thrones sat twenty-four elders clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads
So it is most correct to say Apostle means-" teacher made by God whom He (SENDS) to teach the message of Christ to the world."
The Great Commission Matthew 28:18-20
…18Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”…
Since disciple means to be (taught) or to (learn) they are never apostles-(teachers from the foundation) but perpetual students of it....... if not, Christ would have said make Apostles of all nations. All disciples must follow what the apostles taught for they teach of Christ FIRST before anyone else. No one else is an Apostles except for the 12. Today there are some who believe they are apostles. They are liars! Those of the mind frame Ephesus never believe there are other Apostles. They know the foundation only has the twelve apostles names, and no one else can claim that authority.
The New Jerusalem Rev.21:13-15
…13There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south, and three on the west. 14The wall of the city had twelve foundations bearing the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 15The angel who spoke with me had a golden measuring rod to measure the city and its gates and its walls.…
No other names , with exception to the twelve names of the twelve tribes also present in the twelve gates. The foundation however has just the 12 Apostles therefore they are the only "Doctrinal Father's" because the older shall serve the younger. I will explain that point another time.
Unlike what hierarchy believes, succession does not only include those of hierarchy but all those who love and believe in the teaching's of Christ through His Apostles. Hierarchy has No authority over the Word, and they too are only disciples.
ADMONISHMENT:
Rev.2:4 4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. = The love you first had for Christ. First love is the best, it is clear that a discontentment has occurred. Not that this mind frame has gone to another faith but has become complacent. This church ( assembly) hasn't grown much! The laity have become complacent and have accepted only what hierarchy has said as bond, without question. WE ARE ALL CALLED TO KNOW GOD FROM THE LEAST TO THE GREATEST
Mourning Turned to Joy Jeremiah 31:32-34
…32It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt—a covenant they broke, though I was a husband to them,” declares the LORD. 33“But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD. I will put My law in their minds and inscribe it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My people. 34(No longer will each man teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ because they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD). For I will forgive their iniquity and will remember their sins no more.”…
People have fallen asleep and have stopped having a personal relationship with Christ.
Rev 2:5 5 Remember then from what you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.
Meaning - finish what was started and show some zeal for learning for yourself in Christ and start preaching the gospel!
ESTEEM :6 Yet this is to your credit: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. To everyone who conquers, I will give permission to eat from the tree of life that is in the paradise of God.
Nicolaitans: This is a belief that Pastoral supremacy is over laity or the little ones. It believes that the Word is for only the hierarchy to wield and lord over. It believes it should govern the people. Ironically though- Nicolaitan also means "Victory
of the People" , not just OVER the people, as some scholars have claimed. The name Nicole derives from it and it means: "victory of the people". Those who view the account in Revelation 2 as literal- treat the word "Nicolaitan" not as based upon an individual's name, but as a compound descriptive word and state of being of hierarchy. Break down of the name: Nico- means "victory" in Greek, and laos means "people" or, more specifically, "the laity". Hence historical, scholars take the word to mean "lay conquerors" or "conquerors of ...! Not so..... the letter to the Church of Ephesus is saying it will be the Victory of the( Laity), which shall prevail! The laity or little ones will be the ones to preserve the faith in these end days. This because it is the will of " THE TRUE SHEPHERD"!
Ephesus: ( Permitted) - to let go of doctrines like
Papal Infallibility and the belief that only hierarchy- pastors , priest ex..... have answers. Jesus is your personal Shepherd! Those of the Ephesus state of being must take it upon themselves to study, and learn, and share in humility! Humility is something hierarchy has lost. Remember your first love and build upon that love with Him , Jesus Christ!REWARD: To eat of the Tree of Life!
ANGEL OVER THIS CHURCH: Gabriel=" God is my strength". He will give those of this mindset the strength to let go of their denominations "doctrinal fathers" The only doctrinal father's there are, are the Apostles. All others are disciples.
Interpretation By Danielle Niccole ,
