To The Metal

¹² “And to the ^[a]angel of the church in Pergamos write,

‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword: ¹³ “I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. ¹⁴ But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. ¹⁵ Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, ^[b]which thing I hate. 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.” ’

Revelation 2:12-17

The compromising church.  Here in writing to the church in Pergamos, John invokes the sharp two edged sword imagery from the start.  “The word of God, living and powerful, sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, joints and marrow, discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12).

A mighty judgment is coming against this church, and as the word sustained Him in the desert, it would serve to convict this church.  Jesus did not mince words here, He knows where they dwell and it is at the throne of Satan.  The church may have held fast to His name, and did not deny His faith, but they chose their flesh instead of His.

The church is supporting the false doctrine of Balaam and the Nicolaitans, teaching the sin of eating food offered to idols and sexual immorality… A clear conviction of the modern “church” in many places today.  Unrepentant sin abounds in the church at Pergamos as they turn from God and compromise their faith in Him in order to satisfy that which is not of Him.

Jesus does offer them one more opportunity to repent, else He will come quickly and fight them with the word of God.  There’s that two-edged sword again which will absolutely leave no church such as this standing in its wake.  He that overcomes will be fed, and receive a new name only they know as they are handed a white stone and acquitted of their sin.

⁸ “And to the ^[a]angel of the church in Smyrna write,

‘These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life: ⁹ “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a ^[b]synagogue of Satan. ¹⁰ Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

¹¹ “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.” ’

Devotional – Revelation 2:8-11

The persecuted church.  Jesus offers no criticism of the church at Smyrna.  He recognizes their tribulation as well as their works and poverty, and commends them for the treasures they have laid up in heaven.  He knows who attacks them from Apostate Jews ( a synagogue of Satan) to Satan himself.  

Jesus warns them of what is to come and assures them that if they endure and are faithful to the point of death, they will be rewarded with the crown of life.  This church was an example of how to endure and run this race for Him, and Jesus confirmed it several times in these verses.

“He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.”  They would not be separated from God (the second death) after they have overcome persecution.

“To the ^[a]angel of the church of Ephesus write,

‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: ² “I know your works, your labor, your ^[b]patience, and that you cannot ^[c]bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; ³ and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. ⁴ Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. ⁵ Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. ⁶ But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

⁷ “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” ’

Revelation 2:1-7

The loveless church.  Jesus begins by commending the church at Ephesus.  He knows their works, labor, patience, and discernment of evil.  They test the spirits and identify the liars.  They have persevered for Christ and not become weary. However, Jesus chides them for abandoning their first love.  

They became so involved in ministry that they left the Minister behind.  They forgot that spirit which overcame them when they realized their first love – Jesus – loved them first!  He warns them to repent and do the first works (produce fruit in keeping with repentance – Matthew 3:8) lest he return to them and remove their lamp stand, their divine appointment.

Jesus again commends them for righteous hatred of the Nicolatians, heretics who taught false doctrine, a sin that God also righteously hates.  The church was doing a good job in many ways, but its fruit was lacking because they had turned so far from the love of Jesus Christ.

To him who overcomes, God will give to eat from the tree of life in the midst of the Paradise of God.  Ephesus is so close, all they must do now is repent, love Christ, and bear the fruit that comes from that love.

¹⁶ He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp two-edged sword came from his mouth. And his face was like the sun in all its brilliance.

¹⁷ When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead. But he laid his right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last. ¹⁸ I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.^[a]

¹⁹ “Write down what you have seen—both the things that are now happening and the things that will happen.^[b] 20 This is the meaning of the mystery of the seven stars you saw in my right hand and the seven gold lampstands: The seven stars are the angels^[c] of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

Revelation 1:16-20

This book so far uses quite a bit of symbolism as opposed to taking the imagery literally.  It’s clarified by verse 20 where Jesus spells it out for us.  The seven stars in the right hand of Jesus represent the seven angels (divine messengers) to the seven churches which are represented by the seven golden lampstands that represent the body of Christ.

I used to think the two edged sword from his mouth was literal but now understand it as a symbol of the word of God (Hebrews 4:12).  His countenance (the face of God) was like the sun shining in its strength.  God is the source of the glory that had shown upon the face of Moses as he descended Mount Sinai.  Jesus is the light of the world!

¹² For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

Hebrews 4:12

John fell at Christ’s feet as if dead, but Jesus reached down with a merciful right hand, laid it upon John and spoke.  Jesus commanded him to write down all that he has seen, all that is, and all that was to follow.  Jesus was going to be abundantly clear with His church of what’s to come, and was relying on John to record every last detail!

¹² When I turned to see who was speaking to me, I saw seven gold lampstands. ¹³ And standing in the middle of the lampstands was someone like the Son of Man.^[a] He was wearing a long robe with a gold sash across his chest. ¹⁴ His head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow. And his eyes were like flames of fire. ¹⁵ His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice thundered like mighty ocean waves.

Revelation 1:12-15

John turns to see the voice speaking to him and sees a menorah. In the midst of the golden lamp stands, John sees one like the Son of Man, Jesus Christ. As the menorah lit the temple, Christ illuminates the world with His glory.  Clothed in a white robe, girded across the chest with a golden band.

His head and hair were white like wool (Daniel 7:9). His eyes like a flame of fire (Daniel 10:6) I could only imagine the intensity of his stare here.  His feet like refined brass (bronze in Daniel) and His voice like many waters (multitude in Daniel).  What a voice it must be to exude the power of many waters, flowing with eternal life!

I watched as thrones were put in place
    and the Ancient One^[a] sat down to judge.
His clothing was as white as snow,
    his hair like purest wool.
He sat on a fiery throne
    with wheels of blazing fire,

Daniel 7:9

⁶ His body looked like a precious gem. His face flashed like lightning, and his eyes flamed like torches. His arms and feet shone like polished bronze, and his voice roared like a vast multitude of people.

Daniel 10:6

John stood witness to the glorified Christ.  The broken and striped body is not mentioned here, for this is the Son of God as He appears at the right hand of the Father, seen in His glory with a light brighter and more intense than the sun.

⁹ I, John, am your brother and your partner in suffering and in God’s Kingdom and in the patient endurance to which Jesus calls us. I was exiled to the island of Patmos for preaching the word of God and for my testimony about Jesus. ¹⁰ It was the Lord’s Day, and I was worshiping in the Spirit.^[a] Suddenly, I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet blast. ¹¹ It said, “Write in a book^[b] everything you see, and send it to the seven churches in the cities of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”

Revelation 1:9-11

John has been exiled to the island of Patmos by the Romans for sharing the word of God and testimony of Jesus Christ.  There on the Lord’s day (Sunday?) while under the influence of the Holy Spirit, John would receive and transcribe the revelation of Jesus Christ.

The once humble voice of Jesus is now loud like a trumpet!  Jesus commanded John to write down all he sees and send it to seven churches in Asia.  Each church had specific aspects shared by all churches to this day.  By sending this perfect message to all churches, they can apply the perfect love and judgment of God to themselves.

⁴ This letter is from John to the seven churches in the province of Asia.^[a]

Grace and peace to you from the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come; from the sevenfold Spirit^[b] before his throne; ⁵ and from Jesus Christ. He is the faithful witness to these things, the first to rise from the dead, and the ruler of all the kings of the world.

All glory to him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding his blood for us. ⁶ He has made us a Kingdom of priests for God his Father. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.

⁷ Look! He comes with the clouds of heaven.
    And everyone will see him—
    even those who pierced him.
And all the nations of the world
    will mourn for him.
Yes! Amen!

⁸ “I am the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end,”^[c] says the Lord God. “I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come—the Almighty One.”

Revelation 1:4-8

Greeting the seven churches.  John begins with declaring grace and peace to the seven churches, from God (who is, who was, and who is to come), from the Holy Spirit (the seven spirits – seven meaning perfect as opposed to 7 separate spirits), and Jesus Christ. Grace and peace from the whole of the Holy Trinity.

Jesus, the faithful witness, shares HIs revelation with us, through John.  Verse 7 alludes to the rapture (Matthew 24:30) where Christ will return in the clouds to the sound of trumpet and collect His chosen.  All will see Him, even they who pierced Him (persecutors who don’t believe and attack His body – us).

All the people of earth (all tribes) will mourn because of Him, realizing the truth of what so many had denied.  Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega, beginning and end, who was and is to come, the Almighty God.  Amen!

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must ^[a]shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, ² who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw. ³ Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.

Revelation 1:1-3

This revelation was given by God to Jesus to show His servants.  Sent by His angel to His servant John.  John would bear witness to us through this word of God and the testimony of Jesus of all he saw.  Blessed are those who hear and keep this prophecy, for the time is near.

Every day since the resurrection is one day closer to Christ’s return.  One thing made clear here is the genealogy of this message, this prophecy.  It is from God, to Jesus, and to John through an angel of the Lord.  The time is near reminds me of 2 Peter 3:8: “with the Lord one day is a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”

Soon can be minutes, days, or even decades.  Believers of every generation have proclaimed that the time was near, and indeed from the moment this book was drafted by John it truly has been.  God is outside of time, he sees all of it, start to finish.  Soon to him may be lifetimes to us, but as long as we believe, we will see His kingdom come.

All of this prophecy is made so those who believe can and will pay attention and be aware of its fulfillment.  So many prophecies in the time of Christ were fulfilled and either wilfully ignored or the leaders were simply ignorant to them.  These prophecies are made available to all who believe so there can be no doubt or ignorance.

O Lord, our Lord,
How excellent is Your name in all the earth,
Who have set Your glory above the heavens!

² Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants
You have ^[b]ordained strength,
Because of Your enemies,
That You may silence the enemy and the avenger.

³ When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,
⁴ What is man that You are mindful of him,
And the son of man that You visit^[c] him?
⁵ For You have made him a little lower than ^[d]the angels,
And You have crowned him with glory and honor.

⁶ You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands;
You have put all things under his feet,
⁷ All sheep and oxen—
Even the beasts of the field,
⁸ The birds of the air,
And the fish of the sea
That pass through the paths of the seas.

⁹ O Lord, our Lord,
How excellent is Your name in all the earth!

Psalm 8

The glory of the Lord of creation.  David glorifies the Lord, from His glory above the heavens to what comes from the mouths of babes. He looks over all creation, the heavens, the moon and stars, and wonders what about a man has made the Lord consider him?

Lower than the angels, crowned with glory and honor, with dominion over God’s creations, so many blessings upon the sinful creation that is man.  Truly the Lord’s name is excellent in all the earth!  This psalm reminded me of Moses in Exodus 3:11 – “Who am I?” or Matthew 10:30 “More valuable to God than many sparrows…”  

What makes man so worthy of God’s excellence?  His grace and mercy?  He created us and He loves us!  He loves us so greatly that He sacrificed His only Son to save us!  How excellent is His name in all the earth!  Praise the Lord!