Extended Absence

During my studies on the Old Testament Prophecies, the pump on the well I get my water from went out. I may be old and slow, but with the help of my eldest son I got a new pump, down the well this time; no more jet pumps.

In the middle of that.y computer went down. I spent hours on it last night setting it back up. I still have some work to do so, I'll not be posting here for a while longer.

Thanks and God Bless to all who read my blog.

Interlude

Before I go further in the Book of the Revelation, I am going to have to brush up on the Old Testament books of Daniel, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Isaiah, and some of the minor prophets.

This might seem like a haphazard way to go about this, but it is the way I am to go. One can not study the Book of the Revelation without the knowledge contained in the books I listed above.

I am doing this on the fly, without extensive use of commentaries, relying heavily on the Bible and the Holy Spirit to guide me. It is not in my nature to write extensive notes, edit, re-edit, revise, and then write. If I have to much time invested, I am tempted to change something I have written to make it more pleasing to men. It is and has been my intent to do what I am doing in the Bible studies I do for the glory of the Lord. That is why I use the pen name of Gadfly, and I feel like it was God who chose this name for me.

Why Gadfly? A Gadfly is an annoying little insect that is persistent in it's purpose to bite and annoy it's victims. For this purpose, it is the Word of God that is the most irritating for many people. The Word of God is the true "Inconvenient Truth". The majority of the world, including many who claim Christ's name as theirs, do not really want to hear that they are sinners, that Christ died for their sins, and that He is the ONLY WAY to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.

Christ Himself said that He was the Way, the Truth, and the Life. There is no misinterpretation of His words on that subject to give any person "wiggle room".

People come to the point of meeting Christ in many different ways, that is their life path, but it is only by acknowleding the truth about one's state of sinfulness and need of the Salvation of Christ to enter into the Kingdom of the Father that we may enter into Heaven. There is, to put it simply and plainly, no other way but Jesus Christ.

A person called and accepted by Christ enters into a personal relationshiop with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, the three in one. No religion of man leads one to a personal relationship with the Creator, only the Faith in God and the one He sent.

Read the Book of John in the New Testament of the Bible if you seek the Truth.

Revalation Chapter 3

3: 1 To the pastor of the Church at Sardis; Christ knows the works of that church, that they have authority and reputation that lives, "and art dead"; the church no longer lives up to it's former reputation as a vibrant church full of the first things of Christ.

3: 2 He warns them to keep watch on the things of the gospel that remain and to strengthen them, returning to their first love, for the church is on the point of death regarding it's usefulness as a Light of Christ. Christ has not found their works to be complete in the sight of God.

3: 3 Our Lord admonishes the Church at Sardis to remember how they first received the gospel and to hold fast to it, repenting of their slide into worldliness.

If they do not watch carefully (return to obedience to Christ only and wait and persevere in anticipation of His return), He will come on them as a thief (not as a precipitous decision to come upon them, but that they will not have any awareness of His approaching coming), they will be caught unprepared, that is in sin and abandonment of the first things.

3: 4 Christ states clearly that it will not be so for the whole church, that there are a few of the church in Sardis who have kept themselves undefiled, and that they will walk with Him in white garments (sign of purity), for they are worthy.

Those who's total fiath is in Christ are counted righteous as was Abraham, they are saved ones, saints.

It would appear then, that the church in Sardis, as are many churches then and today, was full of those who did not truly trust in Christ for their salvation, but were more than likely caught up in some form of legalism, and had not come to a saving grace in spite of receiving the Gospel of Christ.

3: 5 "He that overcometh"

is a phrase much used and much debated in the Scripture.

Many people use this verse to argue for loss of salvation. However, we find assurance in many places that those whom God has given to Jesus Christ shall in no wise be lost, that none can take him form His hand, from the Father's hand.

My studies in the Bible have lead me to conclude that those who overcome are those who are faithful to the time of the return of Christ. Not perfect in the Law, but perfect in placing theri faith in Christ alone, His Grace alone, His blood alone.

A study of Romans, particularly Chapter 7, and Galatians will lead one to conclude that He is faithful to keep us. There are two kinds who fall back on the Law; those who were never converted in the first place, and those who are deceived by the legalists.

The fact of death of this mortal body is by default a time of meeting Christ, as Paul has said that to be absent from the body is to present with the Lord. So those who die prior to His return to Earth, have been faithful to the end, if they were indeed saved.

3: 6 He that hath an ear...

3: 7 Christ now addresses the Pastor of the Church at Philadelphia; "These things sayeth he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteht and no man openeth;

3: 8 Christ acknowledges the works of the church, telling them that he has set before them an open door that no man can shut: that they have a small amount of strength but have kept his world, and have not denied his name.

Figuratively, they have kept his word through his strength and by their actions in the world have not denied his name, (or blasphemed Him in their behavior).

3: 9 Christ calls some who claim to be Jews to be of the synagogue of Satan, says that they lie, and that He will make them to come and worship at the feet of the Church of Philadelphia and to know that He loved this church.

Do not take this verse as a blanket condemnation of all of the Jewish people. Christ specifies that it is those "who are of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie".

I will not speculate as to which Jews He refers to here, He knows and that is enough for me.

3: 10 "Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of testing (tribulation, adversity), which shall come upon all the world, to try (test or prove) them that dwell upon the earth.

3: 11 "Behold I come quickly (suddenly, not definite in being near future, but by surprise): hold that fast (cling strongly to it) which thou hast (possess), that no man take thy crown.

Do not allow false prophets to deceive you and take from you your crown of faithfulness to the word delivered by Jesus Christ and the Apostles).

3: 12 "Him that overcometh...". Many people who teach a works based salvation use this verse to back up their teaching, but the word nikao (nik-ah'-o) from the Greek that is translated as "overcometh" in the KJV, has four associated meanings as listed in the Strong's Concordance. These are:

conquer

overcome

prevail

get the victory.

The Gospels and the Epistles of Peter and Paul teach us that it is through Christ that we conquer the world, and that it is He who whins the victory while it is we who surrender our will to him.

If you are in Christ, then you have overcome. Your are one of the "Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name".

3: 13 He that hath an ear...

3: 14 Jesus tells John to say to the pastor of the church of the Laodiceans, " These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God:

Jesus Christ is the Amen, because he is in total agreement with God; He is the faithful and true witness, because He obeyed even unto death, and spoke only those things which God told Him to speak; He is the beginning of the creation of God, not because He was the first creation as some teach, but because He was the power of the creation.

Jesus says that He knows their works, that they are neither hot nor cold,( they had no passion for Him and no dedication to any thing but themselves), I would that thou were cold or hot. If they were hot, pouring the heat of His Loved into the works that He had for them to do, they would be glorifying the Father and the Son. If they were cold, they would be useful unto Him, but in what way I can not say.

3: 16 Because they are lukewarm he will vomit them out of His mouth.

In a parallel to the geographical situation of Laodicea, Jesus speaks of hot, cold, and lukewarm water. In the time of the writing of the Revelation, Laodicea received water by aqua duct from two other locations, one which had hot springs, the other cold clear water from the snow melt.

Hot water is soothing for bathing and healing; cold water is refreshing to the thirst and also useful in healing, after heat has been applied to an injury.

The water at Laodicea, coming from the two sources, was mingled before it got there and arrived lukewarm. It is said that this lukewarm water was so disgusting that it would induce one to vomit it back out after drinking it.

The church at Laodicea was full of pew warmers, a term that denotes people who have a tradition of going to services, but doing nothing to serve God's Kingdom or help the lost, the widowed, or the orphaned. They were people who showed up because it was expected by their culture, not because they had a passion for Christ and His work.

3: 18 The Laodiceans were rich due to their merchandise being much sought after, but they were poor in the things of the Spirit, lacking any care for God and His Word. They thought they were in need of nothing because of their wealth, but Christ says unto them "knowest not that though art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind (spiritually), and naked:

These people had the finest of clothing, and the nakedness that Christ speaks of is the lack of robes of righteousness, which come from Christ, and without which we are as naked before God in all of our sin.

3: 18 Christ counsels the Laodiceans to buy of Him gold tried in the fire (this speaks of riches in Heaven gained by doing the works of the Lord, not acts to be seen by men), and tried in the fire (proven to be true works or the Spirit, not selfishly done deeds). That they may be rich (in the things of God and His kingdom).

He also urges them to buy of Him white raiment that they may be clothed and that the shame of their nakedness not be seen (the clothes of righteousness that will cover us before God, so that God will see the righteousness of His Son, not the nakedness of our sins.

He goes on to say that they need to anoint their eyes with salve that they may see. When we are lost we are blind to the Truth of Christ and blind to our own sins. The eyesalve is the Word of God, revealing to us the truth and opening or eyes that we may see.

3: 19 God rebukes and chastens those whom He loves. Therefore, covet righteousness, and repent of your sins.

If a man thinks he is a Christian, but is able to sin wilfully without guilt of conscience, he is not being chastened by the Lord.

It is not for me to judge any man's salvation; but it is for each of us to question ourselves. Seek the chastening of the Lord, for a little chastening is painful but a short time, but damnation is and eternity of pain.

3: 20 Behold I stand at the door, and knock, if any man heart my voice and open the door, I will come in and will sup with him, and he with me.

Any man, not a select man; Jesus Christ is knocking at the door of the heart of all, but not all will hear His voice, and of those who hear His voice, not all will open the door of their hearts.

His creation and His Written word are a general invitation to all men. Not all will hear; there are those so bound up in their sins they can not hear. There are those who can hear, but think they have time to repent later. No man knows when it is appointed for him to die, now is the acceptable time of salvation. Only those who open the door in this life will receive Life Everlasting.

3: 21 Again, if we are in Christ, then we are those who will overcome. In addition, Christ promises that will set down with Him in His throne, and with Him in His Father's throne. Throne in this case could imply the place of His power.

3: 22 He that hath an ear....

The word ear used in these messages to the churches of Asia has the meaning of both physical and mental hearing. That is to listen and understand. Strong's Concordance number G191.

Revelations, remainder of Ch 1 and all of Chapter 2

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

Seven stars - I will discuss these in chapter four as there is some background necessary in the first three chapters.

Sharp two edged sword: this speaks of the Word of God ref.: Hebrews 4: 12 " the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercng even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Countenance: his appearance was as the sun in the strength of it's brightness, blinding appearance.

1: 17 John, upon seeing the Lord in his blinding glory falls at His feet as one tha is dead. Christ lays his right hand on the Apostle, telling him " Fear not; I am the first and the last (alpha and omega):

1: 18 "I am he thaat liveth, and waas dead; and behold, I am alive for evermore. (This identifies Him as both God and Christ, for God was the first and is the last. Christ was God incarnate in the flesh, who was alive and died and is yet alive forever more), Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

Since Christ alone holds the keys of hell and death, He is the only one who can open and shut hell and has mastery over death, and by extension, life.

No man on earth can decide who does or does not go to hell, or to Heaven, but Christ alone who is in Heaven.

1: 19Christ tells John to write what he has seen, the things that are, and the things to come.

1: 20 Christ tells John that the mystery of the seven stars and the seven candlesticks (lampstands) which John saw in the right hand of the Lord is this: that the seven stars are the angels/messengers

properly the pastors of the seven churches; and the seven candlesticks are the seven churches.

2: 1 Christ addressed the minister (angel) of the church at Ephesus; “These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in hi right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks.

2: 2 Christ acknowledges their patience (perseverance in the faith), and that they can not bear them which are evil, and that they have tried (tested) those who say they are apostles but are not and have proven them to be liars.

2: 3 And thou hast borne (persevered) and hast endurance (patience) and for my name's sake hast labored (in teaching the word and in good deeds), and hast not fainted.

2: 4 Nevertheless I have some what against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

It would seem that they were no longer doing these things strictly for the love of Christ and in obedience to Him, but in expectation of rewards.

2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen (grace), and repent, and do the first works or else I will come unto thee quickly (suddenly), and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

As he refers to the church as a candlestick, it appears that he is saying that the destruction of the church will come, which in fact happened in past history. Ephesus is in what is now Turkey, and for a period of time, there were no longer any major Christian churches under the rule of the Muslims in Turkey.

2: 6 Nicolaitan - one of a sect in the ancient Christian church, so named from Nicolas, a deacon of the church of Jerusalem. They held that all married women should be held in common to prevent jealousy. They are not charged with erroneous opinions respecting God, but with licentious practices.

For all seven churches, the statement "unto the angel of the church" refers to the bishop or pastor.

Seven Stars refer to the

light of Heaven that shines on each church as seven seven candlesticks or lamp stands refer to the light that shines in each church.

The seven stars and the seven lamp stands are both in reference to the messengers of Christ, the ministers.

Christ first addresses the church at Ephesus.

2: 6 Christ commends them in that they hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, licentiousness.

2: 7 Christ says : to he that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches. Those who overcome will He give to eat of the tree of life in the midst of the Paradise of God.

Who are those who overcome? They are not the bench warmers who are in church by family tradition, but those of the church who surrender to Christ and the will of God, knowing there are no works righteousness that will suffice to gain them entry into the gates of Heaven, but that they are totally dependent on the grace of God who spared not His only begotten son, but sent him to the cross to atone for us.

2: 8 He now addresses the church at Smyrna. He acknowledges their tribulation and poverty, but then he says they are rich. There is no contradiction, He speaks of their actual poverty

and the persecution they suffer, but points to their richness in the grace of God.

2: 10 he exhorts the members of this church not to fear the things that man can do to them, prison and death; reminding that those who are faithful unto death will receive a crown of life.

2: 11 Reiteration that those who can hear the words the Spirit says unto the churches, or in other words, the true believers, shall not need to fear the second death; the eternal separation from the Glory of God's light and Being.

2: 12 Christ now addresses the minister and curs of Pergamon. He reminds them that he has the sharp two edged sword, then proceeds to their works.

He first praises them for standing faithful in the city where Satan's throne was, for holding fast His name and not denying His faith even in the day that one of their number, Antipas by name, was slain by those who persecuted the church.

He now proceeds to the things in which they area failing. They have among their membership those who hold the doctrine of Salaam the Old Testament prophet who sought wealth in the use of his ability to prophesy. He told King Balak, an enemy of the children of Israel how to weaken the Israelites by sending their women to the men to seduce them and divert them to worshiping the false gods of Balak's people.

Another strike against them was that they also had among the congregation the Nicolaitanes.

2: 16 Christ ends with a warning to them that if they don't repent, He will come and fight against them with the sword of His mouth, the Word of God.

2: 17 Again He repeats the phrase about he that hath an ear to hear, but the promise this time is that he that overcometh He will give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone with the persons new name, known to none except the one receiving it.

2: 18 Christ now turns his attention to the minister and the church at Thyatira. He first describes himself as The Son of God, with eyes like flames, and feet like find brass.

2: 19 Next He describes the good they have done: charity and service, faith, patience, and again their works, pointing out that their latter works are more in number than their first works.

2: 20 Never the less, He says, He has a few things against them, because they allow a false prophetess named Jezebel to teach and seduce His servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed to idols.

2: 21-23 Christ tells John that he gave Jezebel time to repent, but she did not.

He then describes her end, and the ends of those who follow her.

2: 24 Christ says that to as many in Thyatira as have not known, or studied, the deep knowledge of Satan, He will place no other burden.

2: 25 He exhorts them to hold fast that which they have, the true Gospel and their Faith until He comes.

2: 26 A promise; To he that overcometh and is faithful to the end, H will give power over the peoples.

2: 27 The ones who receive that promise will rule the people with a rod of iron, speaking of the power of their rule; that they will break the powers and governments of the nations, even as with the power that Christ has received form the Father.

2: 28 Christ says He will give them the morning star, which is one of the names of Christ, and so I believe he speaks of giving them Himself, as in Christ is our reward.

2: 29 A repeat of the formulaic let him who has and ear....

Revelation Chapter 1

Here I present the first chapter of my study in the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John the Apostle.

1: 1 John the Apostle introduces the book that he is writing as the Revelation of Jesus Christ.

It is commonly in error called the Revelation of John.

It is the direct Revelation of Christ to John.

1: 2 John identifies himself as one who bore witness of the Word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and all things which he, John had seen.

1: 3 A blessing pronounced for those who read and those that hear the words of the prophecy herein revealed, and keep (preserve) those things which are written therein.

1: 4 John addresses the seven churches in Asia, and pronounces a benediction on them; "Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is to come (Jesus Christ), and which was, and which is was, and is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;

The word used here for Spirits is is pneuma, the word usually used for spirit.

1: 5 (continuing from verse 4) And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood.

Christ is the true witness of the Word of God, as much as He is the Word of God. All of His words are true, because as he taught the disciples, He said and did only those things which the Father revealed unto Him. (John 5: 19-30).

1: 6 Christ has not just washed us in His blood fro the redemption of our sins, but he has made us kins and priests unto God and his Father. A doxology follows, John saying to him (Jesus) be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen

1: 7 Behold, he cometh on clouds; (clouds speak of judgment and retribution). and every eye shall see him,and they also which pierced him: and all tribes of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

Those who belong to him will not wail at his coming, but rejoice, so it appears that at this point in time, the church will already have been raptured off the earth.

1: 8 I am the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is , and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. Almighty is used in the sense of the all ruling, that is, God (as absolute and universal sovereign):-A;mighty, Omnipotent.

1: 9 John identifies with the recipients of the letter as their brother and companion in tribulation (persecution, not the Great Tribulation to come), and in the kingdom and patience (patient continuance, waiting) of Jesus Christ, and tells them that he was exiled to the Island of Patmos, for his teaching of the word of God, and for bearing witness to the Good News of the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

John was being punished for standing firm in the word of God and His Son Jesus Christ.

Patmos means "my killing", and is a rugged and bare island in the Aegean Sea.

1: 10 I was in the Spirit (the connotation of the Greek being that he was at rest in the Spirit) on the Lord's day, and heard a great (loud) voice (sound) as of a trumpet,

Often the term voice of a trumpet means the communication of the Lord or one of his angels to someone.

1:11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last; and what thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven Churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

1: 12 And I (John) turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;

As we continue in the book, we find that the candlesticks are the seven churches by way of their being the Light shining the Word of God into their respective regions of Asia.

1: 13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps (chest) with a golden girdle.

1: 14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire (figuratively as a flashing of fiery lightning);

1: 15 And his feet like unto fine bras, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.

Brass speaks of judgment, figuratively, he carries judgment wherever he goes, and a fierce, inflamed with anger at that, for the wicked who have refused to bow down to him and especially for Satan and his fallen angels.

The sound of many waters speaks to his judgment being heard and understood by all nations, literally overwhelming them like rain.

I just realized that I have left off a few verses, so I will add them when I post chapter 2.

The Underground Church

The following is and excerpt from the book written by Rev. Richard Wurmbrand; published by Living Sacrifice Book Company; P.O. Box 2273, Bartlesville, Ok 74005

"The Underground Church works under very difficult conditions. Atheism is the state religion in all the Com­munist countries. They give relative freedom for the elderly to believe, but children and youth must not believe. Everything in these countries and other kinds of captive nations—radio, television, cinema, theater, press, and publishing houses—has the aim of stamping out belief in Jesus Christ.
The Underground Church has very little means of opposing the huge forces of the totalitarian state. The underground ministers in Russia had no theological training. There are Chinese pastors today who have never read the entire Bible."

As China prepares for the Olympics, they are putting on their best face and showing more tolerance for the underground churches. There is only on recognized official Church in China, and that is the Three Persons Patriotic Movement. As recently as just a few months ago, the Chinese government persecuted underground churches and their members, arresting pastors and some members anad spying on the members to intimidate them.

The whole world is looking at China as the countdown to the Olympics ticks away. They don't want a ral Public Relations problem because of their usual treatment of the underground church movement which is Evangelical in nature.

The question is this, "What will the Communist Government do concerning the underground churches after all the foreign officials, athletes, and tourists have departed China"?

They may crack back down, and even more harshly, or, there is a possibilty that they may realize how good it is for China to have these brave Christians as citizens, who are obedient in all ways, except for meeting illegally. This they do because a Christian is to be obedient to the government, unless the government orders them to commit an act that is contrary to Gods will.

At least one former Communist Party member has left the Party and joined the underground church, and is now a pastor.

Pray for these brave Christians, that they will have greater freedom to worship as they choose, and that the Communist Party leaders have their eyes opened to the fact that the Evangelicals are sober, not stealing, run their businesses by Christian standards, and generally make a valuable contribution to China.

Alfred Edersheim

Alfred Edersheim (March 7, 1825 – March 16, 1889) was a Jewish convert to Christianity and a Biblical scholar known especially for his book The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah (1883).

Edersheim was born in Vienna of Jewish parents of culture and wealth. English was spoken in their home, and he became fluent at an early age. He was educated at a local gymnasium and also in the Talmud and Torah at a Hebrew school, and in 1841 he entered the University of Vienna. His father suffered illness and financial reversals before Alfred could complete his university education, and he had to support himself.

This I give for the purpose both of introducing readers to Alfred Edersheim, and putting the statement in the 1st Chapter of 1800 "years ago". Edersheim rounded off the number to 18oo years, as many writers are prone to do in citing large periods of time.