Posted by Lou Pilder on February 24, 2008, at 21:10:23
In reply to Re: Lou's reply to Dena-beastoutvthesea-B » Lou Pilder, posted by Dena on February 21, 2008, at 22:42:44
> Ok, Lou (wondering, is it just you and me here, or is anyone else reading along?).
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> I just did a search of the beginning of Revelation, to see what was said by (I call Him Jesus, and I know you don't... do you refer to Him as Y'Shua, or just The Rider?). I'll call Him the Annointed One (interesting that AO also stands for Alpha and Omega!).
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> Lou - first, is there any significance to how all the assemblies are located in Asia (which is now Turkey)?
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> 1. Ephesos. The AO affirms them for their hard work, endurance, how they've exposed false envoys, and have not grown weary. But, He chastises them for letting go of the Agape Feasts, and calls them to repent. He commends them for hating the Nicolaitians, even as He does (note: I've come to believe that Nicolaitians are those who promote the practice of the clergy/laity divide... "over the laity").
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> He tells them "to the one who is victorious they shal eat from the Tree of Life."
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> 2. Smyrna (a wealthy port city). They are oppressed and financially wealthy. Some who claim to be Jews, but who are really a "synagogue of Adversary" will torment them for 10 days; but they are to be faithful to the death, and will receive a winner's crown.
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> He tells them that the one who is victorious will not be harmed by the second death (Lou, is that a reference to the lake of fire?)
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> 3. Pergamon (a center of administration). Adversary's throne is among them; but they did not renounce faith during the martyrdom of Antipas. Some there worship Balaam; some follow the teachings of the Nicolaitians. They're told to repent.
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> He tells them that the victorious will receive hidden manna and a white stone with a new name.
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> 4. Thyatira (a crossroads of commercial routes, and a fertile valley). They demonstrate love, faith, mnistry, enurance - they are doing more than they did at first. But, they tolerate Jezebel (symbolizing idoloty and adultery). He will "strike her offspring dead" (Lou, what does her "offspring" represent?). He searches the hearts and minds, and will repay each one for their deeds (Judgement Day?). Those who see truth hold on.
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> He tells them that those who conquer and do His work will have authority over all the nations, the same authority that His Father gave Him -- they will also receive the morning star. (My take: is this referring to the Millenniel Reign? With those who receive age-abiding life reigning over those who undergo age-abiding correction? And, what is the morning star?)
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> 5. Sardis (gold refineries, and purple dye). They have a reputation of being alive, and yet are really dead. HE tells them to get back to their foundation - what remains is close to death. In God's sight, their actions are incomplete. Hold fast, and repent. A few in Sardis are worthy, and wearing white.
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> He tells them that the one who conquers will wear white and not be blotted out of the Book of Life.
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> 6. Philadelphia (on a trade route). There is an open door in front of them, which will never be shut. They have small power; they hold firmly to the Word, and have not denied His Name. The false followers will be prostrate before them, knowing that God has loved them. They wil be spared the season of tribulation, and the ordeal (Lou, would this be referencing the age-abiding correction of the Millennium, and later the lake of fire?).
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> He tells them that the victorious will be a pillar in the temple of God, and will have a new name.
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> 7. Laodicea (a banking center) They are neither hot nor cold, but lukewarm, and will be vomitted out of His mouth. They claim, "I am rich and need nothing", but He says they are pitied, wretched, poor, naked and blind. He tells them to buy refined gold (which I've learned is the only thing of value on the planet that does not decay or corrupt), white clothing to cover their nakedness, and eye salve, so they can see.
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> He says (& this touches me deeply!), "I indeed rebuke and educate those I love. Be quick to change your minds. I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and we will eat together."
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> He tells them that the one who has the victory, He will give the right to sit with Him on His throne.
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> That's my quick study of what the Annointed One says to the 7 assemblies... which you've said represent all of us, for all time.
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> Lou -- are there 7 categories of people, or do we all tend to go through 7 stages...?
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> I'd like to hear anything you have to say about all of this...my insights, my questions, etc. If I need something "tweaked", or if I'm way off, please tell me how you see this.
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> I'm finding this fascinating!
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> Shalom, Dena
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> "The unanswered questions aren't nearly as dangerous as the unquestioned answers."Dena,
You wrote,[..{he that overcomes will not be hurt by the second death}...is this a reference to the Lake of Fire?...].
In the book called The Revelation, it reads in chapter 2, verse 11,[...He that overcomes will not be hurt of the second death...].
As a Jew, when I read this , I was led to the book called Hosea, the 13th chapter, the 14th verse that reads,[...I will ransom them from the power of hell. I will redeem them from death...].
To those that overcome, the book called Revelation writes that they will not be hurt by the second death. (I will write here later what has been revealed to me as to what the Lake of Fire is and what the second death is.) But as of now, those that overcome will not be hurt by the second death. In a previous post I wrote about the three men in the fiery furnace that were not hurt by the flames. The book called Revelation writes about men being cast into the Lake of Fire. It has been revealed to me that there will be men that will be cast into the Lake of Fire, but that those that overcome, they will not be hurt by it, for death and hell are cast into the lake of fire, which is the second death. It has been revealed to me that the second death is death and hell being cast into the Lake of fire, and the last enemy is death. There will be no more death. Since there will be no more death, then there will be no more carnal minds, for to be carnally minded is death.
Now there are words that people use for centuries that have meanings that may not be clear. One is {hell}. That is the word used in the KJV for English as to represent {Hades} and two other words in the Greek. Hades, is a Greek word for the Hebrew word for sheol or the grave. The ancient Jews used sheol as a word that was different from another Hebrew word for {just the grave}. So sheol could mean more than just the grave, perhaps a form of afterlife existance. But in the Septuagint, sheol is trnalated into Greek as {Hades}. And then someone translated Hades to the English as {hell}.
It has been revealed to me that Hades as the greek equivalent for sheol could be a proper translation but going from Hades in the Greek to Hell in the English is different. Hades in the Greek lore meant the realm of the dead. This may be different from the Hebrew concept of sheol.
But the statement in the book called The Revelation, it reads that death and hell (hades) were cast into the lake of fire which is the second death. Hades being the realm of the dead so it has been revealed to me that the second death is the death of death.
As I stood on the sand next to the sea, the Rider said to me, "The Lord God will swallow up death in victory; and will wipe away tears from off all faces; for O death where is your sting? O grave where is your victory?"
Lou
poster:Lou Pilder
thread:799425
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faith/20070227/msgs/814523.html