Rebellion and Redemption

The Church Militant

Lesson #12 for March 19, 2016

Scriptures: [Revelation 2:1-3:6; 3:14-22; Hosea 2:13; Isaiah 60:14][i].

1.    When Jesus ascended to heaven 10 days before Pentecost, He left a small group of followers with a task that even they-taught by the greatest Teacher of all time for up to three and one-half years-did not comprehended. Read Matthew 28:19-20ii. In the beginning, they thought their work was exclusively to the Jews living in Palestine. Through a variety of circumstances which we have discussed in previous lessons, God finally convinced them that the gospel was to go to all the world. Paul with Barnabas-and later, Silas-carried the gospel to western Asia Minor, now Turkey, and on into Europe. Others, no doubt, were involved as well.

2.    Near the end of the first century, the Roman government attempted to kill John by throwing him into a pot of boiling oil. But he did not die! The same people who had thrown him into the pot of boiling oil had to pull him back out again.

John was cast into a caldron of boiling oil; but the Lord preserved the life of His faithful servant, even as He preserved the three Hebrews in the fiery furnace. As the words were spoken, Thus perish all who believe in that deceiver, Jesus Christ of Nazareth, John declared, My Master patiently submitted to all that Satan and his angels could devise to humiliate and torture Him. He gave His life to save the world. I am honored in being permitted to suffer for His sake. I am a weak, sinful man. Christ was holy, harmless, undefiled. He did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth.

These words had their influence, and John was removed from the caldron by the very men who had cast him in.—Ellen G. White, Acts of the Apostles, 570.1-2.

3.    The Roman authorities decided that they must silence John’s influence by sending him into exile on the Isle of Patmos. While there, he wrote the book of Revelation. Much of the book of Revelation teaches us about the great controversy. Revelation 12:7-12iii explains for the first time how the great controversy started in heaven itself. How do you win victories in a war by “the blood of the Lamb”? If Satan started the war by deceit and lies, the remedy would be to tell the truth! Revelation 13 and 14iv describe how Satan will be almost 100% effective in converting the world to his side; but, through the three angels’ messages, God will use a small remnant who will endure under very difficult circumstances and stand firm on His side of the great controversy to finish the work of the Christian churches through the ages.

4.    In Revelation 2 and 3, we read about the personal approach that Jesus has taken to each of the churches in western Turkey to which John wrote. These were churches with members that John knew personally. Each of them struggled with issues which were challenges to their Christian faith. Unfortunately, it is a story of how many of the churches were trying to straddle the fence between being Christians and being a part of this world. John received a vision while on Patmos concerning issues that affected each of those churches. Jesus Himself was reaching out to them. It is through those churches and the larger groups of Christians that they represented down through the ages that God intends to spread the message of Christianity to the world under the close eyes of the onlooking universe. (Ephesians 3:8-10; 1 Corinthians 4:9)[v]

5.    Read Revelation 2:1-7vi. The church of Ephesus represents the time period between 31 A.D. and 100 A.D. Those were the times of the apostles; but, by the end of that period, none of the apostles were left. The Devil was doing his best to stop the spread of Christianity. It is quite possible that each of the apostles except John died a martyr’s death. Remember that Christianity was an illegal religion in those days. Paul spent years in Ephesus, and so did John. Both of them survived threats on their lives while working in Ephesus. Apollos also worked there as did Aquila and Priscilla. Ephesus was the “publication center” for the early church. Ephesus was a large, wealthy city, possibly the fourth largest city in the Roman Empire at that time. Was that part of their problem?

6.    The church at Ephesus was certainly at the center of Satan’s early attacks against Christianity. Heretics in various forms tried to corrupt the church. While we do not know very much about it, there was a heresy apparently started by Nicolas one of the original seven deacons (Acts 6:5) that had some influence in Ephesus as well as in Pergamum.

7.    In what respect had the early Ephesian church lost its first love? Is that suggesting that the second generation of Christians were not equal in zeal and devotion to the original apostles? Remember that both Paul and John spent a significant amount of time in Ephesus. Did the Christian church in Ephesus gradually settle in and let their zeal die?

8.    Read Revelation 2:8-17vii. To the churches at Smyrna and Pergamum, Jesus introduced Himself as the Creator and Redeemer of the church and the One who died for her salvation and who is now present with a sharp two-edged sword coming out of His mouth. (Revelation 1:16; 2:12viii) A sharp two-edged sword coming out of the mouth of Jesus must describe words of truth that condemn those who believe in error.

9.    Smyrna represents the period between 100 A.D. and 320 A.D. when Constantine issued a decree declaring Christianity to be the official religion of the Roman Empire. It was a fairly true church because it was constantly being persecuted. There was a final fierce persecution that lasted about 10 years under Diocletian and Galerius, ending shortly before Constantine made his declaration. Polycarp was one of the early church leaders at Smyrna. After ministering there for many years, he was arrested and burned at the stake by the Romans.

10.    The church at Pergamum represented the period from about 320 A.D. through 538 A.D. when the Bishop of Rome began to exercise both political and military might. By uniting church and state under a single head, he became the first real pope and started the 1260 day-42 months or 3M> years-prophetic period described in both Daniel and Revelation. The church at Pergamum was warned about following the teachings of Balaam and the teachings of the Nicolaitans-followers of Nicolas as mentioned above.

Nicolas and Balaam seem to be parallel terms; Nicolas is a compound Greek word (nikao and laos) and means “the one who conquers the people.” Balaam can be derived from two Hebrew words-am (“people”) and baal (from bela, “to destroy” or “to swallow”), meaning “destruction of people.” —Ranko Stefanovic, Revelation of Jesus Christ: Commentary on the Book of Revelation (Berrien Springs, Mich.: Andrews University Press, 2002), p.111. (As quoted in the Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide for Monday, March 14.)

11.    Read Revelation 2:14-15ix. It was during this time period that most of the corruption entered the Christian church. Many pagan ideas were adopted by many of the Christians in a move we call syncretism. As one example, they changed the holiday dedicated to Tammuz, making it into “Christmas,” a celebration of the birth of Jesus. It was also during this period that Sunday worship became popular, and worship on the true Sabbath gradually died out.

12.    Read Revelation 2:18-3:6[x]. Jesus is introduced to the church in Thyatira as having fiery eyes and feet of polished brass. (Revelation 1:14-15xi) That description was used in Daniel 10:6xii to describe the Messenger that brought Daniel one of the important messages recorded in the book of Daniel. Thyatira represents the time period from 538 A.D. to about 1560 A.D. when the Protestant Reformation had begun in earnest. Thyatira covers the millennium that we refer to as the Dark Ages. Near the end of this period, the process of reformation got its start with giants of faith like Martin Luther, William Tyndale, John Wycliffe, and others.

13.    During much of this time, the Waldensees in northern Italy, southern France, and portions of Switzerland were able to keep alive the light of the gospel truth including a correct understanding of the Sabbath.

14.    The period of Sardis goes from about 1560 A.D. to 1798 A.D. As we know, the Protestant Reformation began very well. It had an enormous impact on Western Europe. Unfortunately, just as what happened in Ephesus in the early church, the followers of the first reformers gradually settled back and just held onto the truths already discovered by their leaders. They stopped making progress in Christian matters.

15.    The end of the period of Sardis was marked by several very important events: 1) The Lisbon earthquake of November 1, 1755; 2) The American War of Independence, 1775-1783; 3) The dark day and the moon turning to blood in northern New England on May 19, 1780; 4) The French Revolution beginning in 1789; and, 5) The end of the 1260 day/year prophecy with the arrest and death of the pope. People began to read their Bibles seriously and noticed that these were signs of the time of the end. The church at Sardis was warned to “hold fast” and “repent.” Christians were challenged to hold fast the teachings that had come from God Himself through the Bible-both Old and New Testaments. They were to repent of their worldliness and, thus, their tendencies to adopt the customs and practices of the world around them. They needed to free themselves from the control of the Roman Catholic Church and needed to begin to seriously study the Bible for themselves.

16.    Read Revelation 3:7-13xiii. The period of Philadelphia was a short one, representing what has been called the great Christian Awakening. It began with the arrest and death of the pope in 1798 and ended with the Great Disappointment in 1844. Bible societies were formed, and they began printing Bibles at a cheap price. For the first time, an ordinary Christian could afford to own his/her own Bible. And Bibles were translated and printed in a variety of languages as well. It was a time when serious Bible students such as William Miller made intensive study of the Bible; the advent movement was the result. It was during this period that the “stars fell” on November 13, 1833. The church at Philadelphia is the only one of the seven churches with no condemnation attached.

17.    The church at Philadelphia was commended for its defeat of the “synagogue of Satan.” What do you think that means? Apparently, they had thrown off some of the last vestiges of Roman Catholicism by returning to a correct understanding of the Sabbath and of many of the prophecies in Daniel. They were told that if they remained victorious, they would become pillars in the temple of God and have the name of God and the name of the city of God’s New Jerusalem written on them. Clearly, Philadelphia was a church that God loved.

18.    But, unfortunately, Philadelphia was not the last of the churches. What do you think happened between the Philadelphian period and the Laodicean period? The Great Disappointment. Once again, Jesus addressed His church on earth. He is the faithful and true witness, the Amen, the beginning of the creation of God. (Revelation 3:14xiv)

19.    Read [Revelation 3:14-22. Compare Matthew 25:1-13]xv. The Laodicean period is the one in which we are living. How does God describe us? The picture is not pretty! If we are not willing to follow God by buying from Him the gold, the white raiment, and the eyesalve, it may be necessary for Him to vomit us out of His mouth. (Revelation 3:16xvi) But, incredible as it may seem, to those who remain faithful, Christ stands at the door knocking, asking an entrance

20.    What is implied by this picture? Christ is asking permission to come into our homes to sit down with us and fellowship with us in one of the most intimate pictures of Jesus in the entire New Testament.

21.    Do we take the message to Laodicea seriously? Do we recognize that Jesus Christ Himself, the divine Son of God, is speaking to us? He is the one who came, lived, and died for us.

Since the divine law is as sacred as God Himself, only one equal with God could make atonement for its transgression. None but Christ could redeem fallen man from the curse of the law, and bring him again into harmony with Heaven. Christ would take upon Himself the guilt and shame of sin-sin so offensive to a holy God that it must separate the Father and His Son.

Christ would reach to the depths of misery to rescue the ruined race.—Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets 63.2; GAG 42.2; RC 50.2. [Bold type is added.]

22.    God Himself came to this earth to make it clear to us what He wants of us and what He is willing to do for us, not only by telling us what to do but also by demonstrating it. By His death Jesus demonstrated several absolutely essential truths.

But the plan of redemption had a yet broader and deeper purpose than the salvation of man. It was not for this alone that Christ came to the earth; it was not merely that the inhabitants of this little world might regard the law of God as it should be regarded; but it was to vindicate the character of God before the universe. To this result of His great sacrifice-its influence upon the intelligences of other worlds, as well as upon man-the Saviour looked forward when just before His crucifixion He said:

“Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all unto [69] Me.” John 12:31, 32. The act of Christ in dying for the salvation of man would not only make heaven accessible to men, but before all the universe it would justify God and His Son in their dealing with the rebellion of Satan. It would establish the perpetuity of the law of God and would reveal the nature and the results of sin.—Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets 68.2; RC 50.3.

23.    When the Great Disappointment took place on October 22, 1844, a large proportion of those who had been “adventists” abandoned the cause and went back to their old ways.

The Seventh-day Adventist Church was not organized until almost 20 years after the Great Disappointment. But, fairly early during that 20-year period, Ellen White gave us this message.

As I have of late looked around to find the humble followers of the meek and lowly Jesus, my mind has been much exercised.

Many who profess to be looking for the speedy coming of Christ, are becoming conformed to this world, and seek more earnestly the applause of those around them, than the approbation of God. They are cold and formal, like the nominal church that they but a short time since separated from. The words addressed to the Laodicean Church, describe their present condition perfectly.—Ellen G. White, The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, June 10, 1852, par. 2.

24.    Serious students of the history of the Christian church and these messages in Revelation 2&3 have recognized that not every Christian living in each of the time periods fits the descriptions of that time period. For example, the description of the church at Ephesus might apply to some of the people living in the times of Thyatira and vice versa. People in our day probably represent the full spectrum of experiences from Ephesus to Laodicea. Which of those church experiences do you think best describes you? Christ is reaching out with His great heart of love to every one of us, warning us of the dangers which are ahead. He has waited 2000 years for a group of people who will stand up faithfully for His side in the great controversy and who will not be deceived or disheartened by the Devil’s attacks. When that final group stands up like a pillar for God’s church, Satan will be defeated.

25.    So, if Jesus were to speak to you or to your church today-and He is speaking to us-what might He say about your spiritual condition? How should we respond when a trusted friend points out some of our problems? As we noted in previous lessons, the church on earth is Christ’s special group, His holy priesthood, His chosen people. Where are those people today? Have we as a Seventh-day Adventist Church left our first love? Are we being attacked by the synagogue of Satan? Are we studying our Bibles as intensely as did William Miller and some others 200 years ago? Will Christ finally be able to point to us and say: “Here are my faithful ones who will stand firm no matter what Satan does to them”? Or, will Jesus have to vomit us out of His mouth?

26.    The real question is really one of priorities and choices. Are we going to choose God’s side and remain faithful to Him, making Jesus Christ the first priority in our lives? Or, will we cozy up to the world around us, pretending to be Christians but truly being enemies of God?

27.    Clearly, God’s churches down through the ages have been the targets of Satan’s special attacks. It will take more than ordinary faith to survive those attacks and represent God correctly and clearly at the end. Are we up to that task?

© 2016, Kenneth Hart, MD, MA, MPH. Permission is hereby granted for any noncommercial use of these materials. Free distribution of all or of a portion of this material such as to a Bible study class is encouraged.    info@theox. org

i-Revelation 2:2  To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, he that walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks:

2 I know thy works, and thy toil and patience, and that thou canst not bear evil men, and didst try them that call themselves apostles, and they are not, and didst find them false;

3 and thou hast patience and didst bear for my name's sake, and hast not grown weary.

4 But I have this against thee, that thou didst leave thy first love.

5 Remember therefore whence thou art fallen, and repent and do the first works; or else I come to thee, and will move thy candlestick out of its place, except thou repent.

6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. To him that overcometh, to him will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God.

8 And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These things saith the first and the last, who was dead, and lived again:

9 I know thy tribulation, and thy poverty (but thou art rich), and the blasphemy of them that say they are Jews, and they art not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

10 Fear not the things which thou art about to suffer: behold, the devil is about to 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 the crown of life.

11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

12 and to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These things saith he that hath the sharp two-edged sword:

13 I know where thou dwellest, even where Satan's throne is; and thou holdest fast my name, and didst not deny my faith, even in the days of Antipas my witness, my faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwelleth.

14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there some that hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit fornication.

15 So hast thou also some that hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans in like manner.

16 Repent therefore; or else I come to thee quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of my mouth.

17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. To him that overcometh, to him will I give of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and upon the stone a new name written, which no one knoweth but he that receiveth it.

18 And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like a flame of fire, and his feet are like unto burnished brass:

19 I know thy works, and thy love and faith and ministry and patience, and that thy last works are more than the first.

20 But I have this against thee, that thou sufferest the woman Jezebel, who calleth herself a prophetess; and she teacheth and seduceth my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed to idols.

21 And I gave her time that she should repent; and she willeth not to repent of her fornication.

22 Behold, I cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of her works.

23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he that searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto each one of you according to your works.

24 But to you I say, to the rest that are in Thyatira, as many as have not this teaching, who know not the deep things of Satan, as they are wont to say; I cast upon you none other burden.

25 Nevertheless that which ye have, hold fast till I come.

26 And he that overcometh, and he that keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give authority over the nations:

27 and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are broken to shivers; as I also have received of my Father:

28 and I will give him the morning star.

29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches.

3  And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars: I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and thou art dead.

2 Be thou watchful, and establish the things that remain, which were ready to die: for I have found no works of thine perfected before my God.

3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and didst hear; and keep it, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

4 But thou hast a few names in Sardis that did not defile their garments: and they shall walk with me in white; for they are worthy.

5 He that overcometh shall thus be arrayed in white garments; and I will in no wise blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches.

3:14 And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God:

15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

16 So because thou art lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spew thee out of my mouth.

17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and have gotten riches, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art the wretched one and miserable and poor and blind and naked:

18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold refined by fire, that thou mayest become rich; and white garments, that thou mayest clothe thyself, and that the shame of thy nakedness be not made manifest; and eyesalve to anoint thine eyes, that thou mayest see.

19 As many as I love, I reprove and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

21 He that overcometh, I will give to him to sit down with me in my throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with my Father in his throne.

22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches.

Hosea 2:13 And I will visit upon her the days of the Baalim, unto which she burned incense, when she decked herself with her earrings and her jewels, and went after her lovers, and forgat me, saith Jehovah.

Isaiah 60:14 And the sons of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee The city of Jehovah, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.

ii-Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit:

20 teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.

iii-Revelation 12:7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels going forth to war with the dragon; and the dragon warred and his angels;

8 And they prevailed not, neither was their place found any more in heaven.

9 And the great dragon was cast down, the old serpent, he that is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world; he was cast down to the earth, and his angels were cast down with him.

10 And I heard a great voice in heaven, saying, Now is come the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, who accuseth them before our God day and night.

11 And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb, and because of the word of their testimony; and they loved not their life even unto death.

12 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe for the earth and for the sea: because the devil is gone down unto you, having great wrath, knowing that he hath but a short time.

iv-Revelation 13:1 and he stood upon the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns, and seven heads, and on his horns ten diadems, and upon his heads names of blasphemy.

2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his throne, and great authority.

3 And I saw one of his heads as though it had been smitten unto death; and his death-stroke was healed: and the whole earth wondered after the beast;

4 and they worshipped the dragon, because he gave his authority unto the beast; and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? And who is able to war with him?

5 and there was given to him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and there was given to him authority to continue forty and two months.

6 And he opened his mouth for blasphemies against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, even them that dwell in the heaven.

7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and there was given to him authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation.

8 And all that dwell on the earth shall worship him, every one whose name hath not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb that hath been slain.

9 If any man hath an ear, let him hear.

10 If any man is for captivity, into captivity he goeth: if any man shall kill with the sword, with the sword must he be killed. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

11 And I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like unto lamb, and he spake as a dragon.

12 And he exerciseth all the authority of the first beast in his sight. And he maketh the earth and them dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose death-stroke was healed.

13 And he doeth great signs, that he should even make fire to come down out of heaven upon the earth in the sight of men.

14 And he deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by reason of the signs which it was given him to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast who hath the stroke of the sword and lived.

15 And it was given unto him to give breath to it, even to the image to the breast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as should not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

16 And he causeth all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free and the bond, that there be given them a mark on their right hand, or upon their forehead;

17 and that no man should be able to buy or to sell, save he that hath the mark, even the name of the beast or the number of his name.

18 Here is wisdom. He that hath understanding, let him count the number of the beast; for it is the number of a man: and his number is Six hundred and sixty and six.

14:1 And I saw, and behold, the Lamb standing on the mount Zion, and with him a hundred and forty and four thousand, having his name, and the name of his Father, written on their foreheads.

2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and the voice which I heard was as the voice of harpers harping with their harps:

3 and they sing as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four living creatures and the elders: and no man could learn the song save the hundred and forty and four thousand, even they that had been purchased out of the earth.

4 These are they that were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they that follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were purchased from among men, to be the firstfruits unto God and unto the Lamb.

5 And in their mouth was found no lie: they are without blemish.

6 And I saw another angel flying in mid heaven, having eternal good tidings to proclaim unto them that dwell on the earth, and unto every nation and tribe and tongue and people;

7 and he saith with a great voice, Fear God, and give him glory; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made the heaven and the earth and sea and fountains of waters.

8 And another, a second angel, followed, saying, Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, that hath made all the nations to drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.

9 And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a great voice, If any man worshippeth the beast and his image, and receiveth a mark on his forehead, or upon his hand,

10 he also shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is prepared unmixed in the cup of his anger; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:

11 and the smoke of their torment goeth up for ever and ever; and they have no rest day and night, they that worship the beast and his image, and whoso receiveth the mark of his name.

12 Here is the patience of the saints, they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

13 And I heard the voice from heaven saying, Write, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth: yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; for their works follow with them.

14 And I saw, and behold, a white cloud; and on the cloud I saw one sitting like unto a son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand sharp sickle.

15 And another angel came out from the temple, crying with a great voice to him that sat on the cloud, Send forth thy sickle, and reap: for the hour to reap is come; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.

16 And he that sat on the cloud cast his sickle upon the earth; and the earth was reaped.

17 Another angel came out from the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.

18 And another angel came out from the altar, he that hath power over fire; and he called with a great voice to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Send forth thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.

19 And the angel cast his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vintage of the earth, and cast it into the winepress, the great winepress, of the wrath of God.

20 And the winepress are trodden without the city, and there came out blood from the winepress, even unto the bridles of the horses, as far as a thousand and six hundred furlongs.

v-Ephesians 3:8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, was this grace given, to preach unto the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

9 and to make all men see what is the dispensation of the mystery which for ages hath been hid in God who created all things;

10 to the intent that now unto the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places might be made known through the church the manifold wisdom of God,

1 Corinthians 4:9 For, I think, God hath set forth us the apostles last of all, as men doomed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, both to angels and men.

vi-Revelation 2:1  To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, he that walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks:

2 I know thy works, and thy toil and patience, and that thou canst not bear evil men, and didst try them that call themselves apostles, and they are not, and didst find them false;

3 and thou hast patience and didst bear for my name's sake, and hast not grown weary.

4 But I have this against thee, that thou didst leave thy first love.

5 Remember therefore whence thou art fallen, and repent and do the first works; or else I come to thee, and will move thy candlestick out of its place, except thou repent.

6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. To him that overcometh, to him will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God.

vii-Revelation 2:8 And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These things saith the first and the last, who was dead, and lived again:

9 I know thy tribulation, and thy poverty (but thou art rich), and the blasphemy of them that say they are Jews, and they art not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

10 Fear not the things which thou art about to suffer: behold, the devil is about to 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 the crown of life.

11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

12 and to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These things saith he that hath the sharp two-edged sword:

13 I know where thou dwellest, even where Satan's throne is; and thou holdest fast my name, and didst not deny my faith, even in the days of Antipas my witness, my faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwelleth.

14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there some that hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit fornication.

15 So hast thou also some that hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans in like manner.

16 Repent therefore; or else I come to thee quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of my mouth.

17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. To him that overcometh, to him will I give of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and upon the stone a new name written, which no one knoweth but he that receiveth it.

viii-Revelation 1:16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth proceeded a sharp two-edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.

2:12 and to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These things saith he that hath the sharp two-edged sword:

ix-Revelation 2:14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there some that hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit fornication.

15 So hast thou also some that hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans in like manner.

x-Revelation 2:18 And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like a flame of fire, and his feet are like unto burnished brass:

19 I know thy works, and thy love and faith and ministry and patience, and that thy last works are more than the first.

20 But I have this against thee, that thou sufferest the woman Jezebel, who calleth herself a prophetess; and she teacheth and seduceth my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed to idols.

21 And I gave her time that she should repent; and she willeth not to repent of her fornication.

22 Behold, I cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of her works.

23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he that searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto each one of you according to your works.

24 But to you I say, to the rest that are in Thyatira, as many as have not this teaching, who know not the deep things of Satan, as they are wont to say; I cast upon you none other burden.

25 Nevertheless that which ye have, hold fast till I come.

26 And he that overcometh, and he that keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give authority over the nations:

27 and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are broken to shivers; as I also have received of my Father:

28 and I will give him the morning star.

29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches.

3  And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars: I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and thou art dead.

2 Be thou watchful, and establish the things that remain, which were ready to die: for I have found no works of thine perfected before my God.

3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and didst hear; and keep it, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

4 But thou hast a few names in Sardis that did not defile their garments: and they shall walk with me in white; for they are worthy.

5 He that overcometh shall thus be arrayed in white garments; and I will in no wise blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches.

xi-Revelation 1:14 And his head and his hair were white as white wool, white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;

15 and his feet like unto burnished brass, as if it had been refined in a furnace; and his voice as the voice of many waters.

xii-Daniel 10:6 his body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as flaming torches, and his arms and his feet like unto burnished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.

xiii-Revelation 3:7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth and none shall shut, and that shutteth and none openeth:

8 I know thy works (behold, I have set before thee a door opened, which none can shut), that thou hast a little power, and didst keep my word, and didst not deny my name.

9 Behold, I give of the synagogue of Satan, of them that say they are Jews, and they are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

10 Because thou didst keep the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of trial, that hour which is to come upon the whole world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

11 I come quickly: hold fast that which thou hast, that no one take thy crown.

12 He that overcometh, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go out thence no more: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God, and mine own new name.

13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches.

xiv-Revelation 3:14 And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God:

xv-Revelation 3:14 And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God:

15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

16 So because thou art lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spew thee out of my mouth.

17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and have gotten riches, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art the wretched one and miserable and poor and blind and naked:

18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold refined by fire, that thou mayest become rich; and white garments, that thou mayest clothe thyself, and that the shame of thy nakedness be not made manifest; and eyesalve to anoint thine eyes, that thou mayest see.

19 As many as I love, I reprove and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

21 He that overcometh, I will give to him to sit down with me in my throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with my Father in his throne.

22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches.

Matthew 25:25  Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

2 And five of them were foolish, and five were wise.

3 For the foolish, when they took their lamps, took no oil with them:

4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

5 Now while the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

6 But at midnight there is a cry, Behold, the bridegroom! Come ye forth to meet him.

7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are going out.

9 But the wise answered, saying, Peradventure there will not be enough for us and you: go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

10 And while they went away to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage feast: and the door was shut.

11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.

12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

13 Watch therefore, for ye know not the day nor the hour.

xvi-Revelation 3:16 So because thou art lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spew thee out of my mouth.

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