King James Version, with Nii Okai's journal notes · 10 notes
1Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
2I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
So other apostles arise after the 12, whose claims were found false.
3And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
4Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
5Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
6But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
8And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;
9I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, ( but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
Synagogue 🕍 of Satan 👿?? 😳 ?? 😳
It's almost like saying the whiteness of black.
A synagogue 🕍 to start with is not of Satan, so how did they get there...
10Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
Having now properly ID'd them as the synagogue of Satan, Jesus minces no words in letting his church know that the devil would cast them into prison.
He could have said that the Jews would cast them in prison, but he knew these were no Jews. They were devils, and rightly so.
There was no point in keeping up appearances. He called those brute beasts out.
11He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
12And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;
13I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.
14But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
This issue of things sacrificed to idols has come again here too.
And the Lord detests eating things offered to idols. He is a jealous God.
Paul addresses a similar issue, and his solution is within a particular context.
We see here that it seems the eating of things offered to idols tied in with their committing whoredom, yet still claiming to be part of the church ⛪.
We see the same in today's church. There is nothing new under the sun ☀.
15So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
16Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
17He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
What will be the purpose of having a name which no man knoweth? It is obviously not a title or appellation to give one some honour whenever it is mentioned.
Like we do have doctors etc.
So to have a secret name may mean it worked like a code, which could open certain doors. So this code will grant privileged access to some places in heaven.
18And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;
19I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.
Wow, this was a good church ⛪, into a lot of works and service.
It kinda reminds me of today's new wine 🍷 church.
20Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
Again we see fornication tying in with idol worship, or at least participating in their food.
And it seemed this woman was preaching that it is OK to be sinning though we are for the Lord.
God is gracious and gave time for them to repent.
Even in the early church a lot of strange things were happening, as is the case even today.
21And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
22Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.
23And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.
24But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.
25But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.
Hold fast till I come.
Hold fast till I come, not hold fast till you come up to me, as is signified in the rapture.
Yes, we will be caught up with him in the clouds, and then we will come down with him to rule and reign with him.
If there is any catching up into the heavens without coming down with the Lord, then it is us being with him at death.
Then we will be caught up to him and will be with him until he comes.
26And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
27And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
28And I will give him the morning star.
29He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.