Wrath Of The Lamb: The Revelation Of Jesus Christ

Revelation Chapter 2:

Overview to the Seven Churches: God is Love. I believe that since the beginning of time we have judged between the "most righteous and the least" as we fight war after war, and expose ourselves to danger from sin and unbelief. Now at the end, as we realize how much He does love us, we who are living will be the judge of ourselves as that knowledge is opened to us.

The messages to the Seven Churches are key to understanding Revelation. The Churches are the subjects of all events in Revelation. The sounding of the Seven Trumpets beginning in Chapter Eight announce the founding of each of these 'churches', with characteristics of each noted in the metaphor describing the effect of each trumpet.

The people of Christianity have a tradition of believing they (as a religion) are in control of spreading the Gospel. This it true up to a point since it was the commission Jesus gave Christians - however in so-called 'heathen' lands the willingness of Christians to expose themselves to persecution has been lacking, at least since the Roman Catholic Church era (with the exception of courageous missionaries).

It cannot be stressed enough that racism and bigotry of any kind is anathema to God and Jesus. God has taken care of His people around the world - His 'sheep' - even though Christianity has 'dropped the ball' in many parts of the world. The inspired Scriptures mentioned earlier allowed His poor and oppressed to cope in an increasingly sinful world down through the centuries.

If anyone harbors respect of persons - it's time to stop. Jesus loves the weakest newborn in the remotest part of Africa just as much as He loves you and I. Which is more than humans are capable of loving in these troubled times!

    "If ye fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors." (James 2:8-9 KJV)
     

Ephesus: Judaism

    See Also: First Seal | First Trumpet | First Plague

    "Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God." (Revelation 2:1-7)

    Find out more about this Church by reading about the First Beast of Daniel Chapter Seven.

    • Seven Stars, Seven Candlesticks: Jesus identifies the source from which the Spirits of all Seven Churches, represented by the Seven Candlesticks, originate: the God of Abraham who chose the Children of Israel as a special people.

      The connection with what Jesus says here and with the sanctuary of the Tabernacle of Witness, where the origianal seven-branched candlestick was kept, is enlightening. The Psalmist says:

        "Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God? Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people. Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah." (Psalms 77:13-15 KJV)

      In Revelation Chapter One Jesus explained the meaning of the seven stars in His hand:

        "The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches." (Revelation 1:20)

      Since this message is to Judaism, it's notable that it contains a confirmation that the seven lamps of the candlestick that God designed for sanctuary in the Tabernacle of Witness also stood for the Seven Churches of Revelation, which are also tied to the Seven Spirits of God that John describes as being before God's throne in Chapter 4. Also, the table of shewbread in the sanctuary pointed to the twelve apostles - who would distribute the "Bread of Life", the Gospel, throughout the world in the same way they distributed bread from Jesus' hands when He fed the multitudes.

      The sanctuary and its services pointed to the promise and sacrifice of the Messiah.

    • I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience: Like Muslims, the Jews believe they are still subject to salvation by mainly by the works of following the Ten Commandment Law (which spiritual law is now one with Jesus administered by Grace), though interpreted by men.

      The Jews have labored to stay distinct from the world, study God's word, keep His statutes, and have continued to follow the Old Testament statutes of healthy and righteous living.

      The Jews still patiently await a Messiah whom they believe to be a great political and military Leader. What they don't recognize yet is that the Word of Jesus Christ has been the greatest political and military Leader of the last 2,000 years - empowering and strengthening the meek and humble of mankind to shake off the bonds of oppression.

    • How thou canst not bear them which are evil: Jews do not suffer the existence of evil on their home turf well, an attribute shared by most religions. But this 'intolerance' is particularly strong in Judaism.

    • Thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not: In addition to Jews being aware of errors in the teachings of the Apostles, there is the great paradox: If the Apostles believed in Jesus' miracles and witnessed His teachings to Jews like themselves, they cannot be objective witnesses of Him because they believed.

      But if a witness does not believe in miracles - does not believe in Jesus' teachings - how could that witness verify either as from God? By this logic the Apostles are indeed found liars because non-believering witnesses do not back up their claims.

      Jews also dismiss most of the prophecies of the Old Testament that tell the story of a persecuted and meek Messiah. They want independent, non-spiritual verification of a Messiah whose ministry was Spiritual.

    • And for my name's sake hast laboured: This church has laboured for the appearance of the Messiah, as Judaism continues to do.

    • I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works:

        "Ye shall therefore keep all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them: that the land, whither I bring you to dwell therein, spue you not out. And ye shall not walk in the manners of the nation, which I cast out before you: for they committed all these things, and therefore I abhorred them. But I have said unto you, Ye shall inherit their land, and I will give it unto you to possess it, a land that floweth with milk and honey: I am the LORD your God, which have separated you from other people." (Leviticus 20:22-24 KJV)

    • Thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans: The Greek word 'Nicolaitans' is a composite word. Transferred into English it means "conqueror of the laity" or "ruler of the people". Such an idea in religion is anathema to Jesus' structure of the Kingdom of Heaven, which requires each person to have a personal relationship with God - with no human intermediaries.

      One of Judaism's main objections to Jesus Christ being considered as God become Man (the Christian doctrine of the Holy Trinity), is that to do so would be clearly impossible, because God cannot become subject to the physical laws that He Himself created:

        "Christianity Claims G-d became Physical: The notion of G-d becoming physical is an impossibility. He Who created all of physical existences, is the One Being not subject to those laws. G-d governs all physical matter. To suggest G-d can become physical and be subject to His own physical laws, means that He does not control the universe. A clear contradiction and impossibility." (www.mesora.org)

      Thus does Jesus acknowledge Judaism's strong objection to the doctrine of the Trinity. This same theme of the characteristics of the Nicolaitans is reversed in Jesus' message to the Church of Pergamos below. That Church is rebuked for following the doctrine of the Nicolaitans.

Smyrna: Islam

    See Also: Second Seal | Second Trumpet | Second Plague

    "And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death." (Revelation 2:8-11)

    Find out more about this Church by reading about the Second Beast of Daniel Chapter Seven.

    • These things saith the first and the last: Many Christians forget that Jesus was indeed given power over heaven and earth by God when His Kingdom was established:

        "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." (Matthew 28:18-20)

      As earth's King, One with God, Jesus is to bring all earthly kingdoms under God's footstool:

        "But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet." (1 Corinthians 15:23-25)

      For the Christian then, the only explanation for Islam's existence is that God inspired the Prophet Muhammed through Jesus Christ, as the Word of God for Arabic speaking peoples whom Christianity has largely ignored. Jesus did not ignore them:

        "...The Holy Spirit has brought the revelation from thy Lord in Truth, in order to strengthen those who believe, and as a Guide and Glad Tidings to Muslims." (Surah 16:102)

      Those Christians who read the Qur'an objectively will recognize the divine inspiration within it, although the 34,000 forms of Christianity that exist today have been so influenced by paganism and man's traditions as to make many Christians unable to recognize the simple, yet powerful, lessons in righteousness taught by the Qur'an.

      The Qur'an teaches that the Holy Spirit was with Jesus, and also confirms the virgin birth. It teaches that all prophets are equal, as Jesus taught when describing John the Baptist - as indeed Jesus Himself will be when returns the Kingdom to God, and joins us:

        "And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all." (1 Corinthians 15:28)

      The Qur'an also has many Old Testament stories, along with new information about those stories, and poetic interpretations of many.

      Muhammed accurately states in the Qur'an several times that its existence is to confirm the Torah and the Gospels that preceeded it. With this basis in the Ten Commandment Law shared by both, there would be no Qur'an. The testimony of Muhammed in the Qur'an is as inspired as the Old Testament, though like the Old Testament it also contains references to traditions and statutes from the time during which it was written. Clearly the voice of God rings True throughout the Qur'an, however. As exemplified below:

        "Whatever is in the heavens and on earth, let it declare the Praises and Glory of Allah: for He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise. To Him belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth: It is He Who gives Life and Death; and He has Power over all things. He is the First and the Last, the Evident and the Immanent: and He has full knowledge of all things. He it is Who created the heavens and the earth in Six Days, and is moreover firmly established on the Throne (of Authority). He knows what enters within the earth and what comes forth out of it, what comes down from heaven and what mounts up to it. And He is with you wheresoever ye may be. And Allah sees well all that ye do." (Surah 57:1-4)

    • Which was dead, and is alive: Here Jesus addresses an issue between Christianity and Islam that shouldn't exist. For centuries the respective leaders of these two religions have fomented distrust between their peoples as each has attempted to distance itself from the other. Some Christians claim that the Qur'an says Jesus did not die, but ascended directly to heaven. Traditionalist Muslims claim that Jesus was taken to heaven without dying, or that a stand-in body did the dying for Him.

      Yet in fact the poetry of the Qur'an is completely in line with the Bible on this issue when both are read in the Spirit of Love:

        "...And because of their saying: We slew the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, Allah's messenger - they slew him not nor crucified him, but it appeared so unto them; and lo! those who disagree concerning it are in doubt thereof; they have no knowledge thereof save pursuit of a conjecture; they slew him not for certain." (Surah 4:157-158)

      "They slew Him not nor crucified him, but it appeared so unto them." Christians claim this verse denies Christ's sacrifice and resurrection - but in reality it is a snare meant to trap the hidden hatreds of those scholars who judge the Word of God without the assistance of the Holy Spirit.

      Jesus' own version agrees with the Qur'an:

        "Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father." (John 10:17-18 KJV)

      Many Christians and Muslims, ignoring the sublime implication of God in the Qur'an, and ignoring Jesus' plain implication in the Bible as well, use Surah 4:157 to divide rather than to acknowledge the wonderful Love of God that would put the blame on no man, especially the Jews whom many Christians still blame for crucifying Jesus - though any society on earth would also have crucified Jesus for His teachings.

    • I know thy works: Like Judaism, Islam still regards righteousness under the Law to be of paramount importance. Faith without works is not sufficient for salvation. The Qur'an especially stresses this in order to see that the poor, widows, orphans and indigent are cared for through alms and charity - the works God cares about most.

    • And tribulation: Most of the people of Middle Eastern Islamic nations are ruled by oppressive dictatorships - many supported by Western governments in order to have a stable oil supply. These governments, to be seen as Islamic, believe in the harsh administration of so-called "Islamic" justice rather than relying on the judgment guidelines and Mercy of God commanded through the Qur'an. Today this tribulation would also include the War on Terrorism, the goal of which is to subdue Islamic fundamentalism itself, introducing a western-style democracy that would destroy the structure of Islamic society. It will not succeed.

    • And poverty, (but thou art rich): Though much of the Islamic world lives in poverty under the oppression of dictators, kings, and non-elected presidents, Islam has established an excellent structure for educating and caring for the poor, orphans, widows, and strangers among its people. This is due largely to the teachings of the Qur'an, wherein God's commandments to look after the poor and to give alms are many and very specific. For example, as part of one's repentance for sin a person may obtain mercy by caring for the poor:

        "Allah will not call you to account for what is futile in your oaths, but He will call you to account for your deliberate oaths: for expiation, feed ten indigent persons, on a scale of the average for the food of your families; or clothe them; or give a slave his freedom. If that is beyond your means, fast for three days. That is the expiation for the oaths ye have sworn. But keep to your oaths. Thus doth Allah make clear to you His signs, that ye may be grateful." (Surah 5.89)

      Because most of Islam faithfully supports this structure by educating orphans and feeding the poor, even though poor themselves, Islam is spiritually 'rich' in God's eyes.

    • I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan: The synagogue of Satan described here is the Apostate state of Judeo-Christian belief systems. Both of these faiths have allowed paganism, mysticism, and/or the traditions of men, to divert the plain teachings of their scriptures away from Kingdom of God under God's Law. From the beginning God intended that all men live equally by His Ten Commandment Law. God and God only was to be the King of each man and woman. Only God knows the intentions of the hearts and reins, thus only God is capable of judging His own creations.

      The leaders of both Judaism and Christianity instead attempt to interpret God's Law for themselves, in order that they may exalt themselves over others by virtue of the knowledge they gain from reading scriptures using human wisdom. These human-inspired interpretations allow traditions and other beliefs foreign to God's real Word to be imported into religions, and added to whatever truth that religion has.

      In this way Judaism ended up expecting the Messiah to be a human King who would politically and militarily lead the Jews to lead the world to God. Christianity has become a mystical divided religion with a wide range of differing interpretations of God's Word, mixed in with the traditions of pagan and apostate men of both faiths.

      Of all the religions believing ing the God of Abraham, Islam is indeed the most righteous and closest to what God intended when He tried to lead the Children of Israel to righteousness. Nevertheless, Islam has also imported many traditions from men - and no religion has yet understood the Love of God and His goal for His creations spelled out as the Plan of Salvation.

    • The devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: This 10 days in prison is the 10 years which many of the Al-Ikhwan Al-Muslimun (The Muslim Brotherhood) were sentenced to by Nasser in 1954. These included Sayyid Qutb, the most influential thinker of fundamentalist Islam, from whom Osama bin Laden got many of his ideas on Islamic fundamentalism.

    • He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death: Fear of The Day of Judgment (or The Day of Resurrection) is a prime factor in motivating many Muslims to obey God and His Messenger. The same consuming fire of the Bible is the punishment for unbelievers and evil-doers when that Day comes.

    Islam is the fulfullment of God's covenant with Abraham to bless his son Ishmael by fathering twelve princes from whom a great nation would result. Ishmael was included in the covenant of circumcision, the covenant of the Law, but not of the Promise made to Abraham for Isaac.

Pergamos: Hinduism / Buddhism / Taoism / Confucianism

    See Also: Third Seal | Third Trumpet | Third Plague

    "And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it." (Revelation 2:12-17)

    Find out more about this Church by reading about the Third Beast of Daniel Chapter Seven.

    • The sharp sword with two edges: The twoedged sword in this case means to expect high metaphor and symbolism from Jesus - prepare for the unexpected!

    • Where Satan's seat is: See below for the location of the seat of Satan...

    • Thou holdest fast my name, and has not denied my faith: To the Church of Philadelphia, which is the church of the scattered children of God who become the 144,000, Jesus makes the promise:

        "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, and the name of the city 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." (Revelation 3:12)

      I believe the new name Jesus means in the verse above, and the name held fast by this Church of Pergamos, are one and the same. His new name is Maitreya, who will be the next 'Buddha' to appear on earth. To understand how Buddhism was changed during the 1st century AD after Jesus crucifixion, read about the Third Beast of Daniel Chapter Seven.

      When Mahayana Buddhism grew during the 1st century AD, so also did the idea of a special Buddha who would appear sometime in the future - Maitreya, the Buddha of loving-kindness. Maitreya's arrival is awaited by many in the East as Jesus' arrival is awaited by Christians.

        "Another important new concept in Mahayana is that of the bodhisattva or enlightenment being, as the ideal toward which the good Buddhist should aspire. A bodhisattva is an individual who has attained perfect enlightenment but delays entry into final nirvana in order to make possible the salvation of all other sentient beings. The bodhisattva transfers merit built up over many lifetimes to less fortunate creatures. The key attributes of this social saint are compassion and loving-kindness. For this reason Mahayana considers the bodhisattva superior to the arhats who represent the ideal of Theravada. Certain bodhisattvas, such as Maitreya, who represents the Buddha’s loving-kindness, and Avalokitesvara or Guanyin, who represents his compassion, have become the focus of popular devotional worship in Mahayana." (Encarta)

      The Maitreya expected by Religions of the East will be Jesus when He returns.

    • Even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr:  Antipas means "like the father". Mahatma Gandhi is "my faithful martyr Antipas". Among the well-known, Ghandi's character most closely resembled God's own in modern times, at least as far as we can attain here on earth.

      Consider the following praise of Ghandi from Christianity Today Magazine:

        "When I read the history of Mahatma Ghandi alongside the history of the Christian church, I cannot help wondering what went wrong. Why did it take a Hindu to embrace the principles of reconciliation, humility and vicarious sacrifice so clearly modelled by Jesus himself? Ghandi credited Jesus as his source for these life principles, and he worked like a disciplined soldier to put them into practice. What has kept Christians from following Jesus with the same abandon?" (Philip Yancey, Christianity Today)

    • Who was slain among you: In January 1948, at the age of 79, Ghandi was killed by an assassin as he walked through a crowed garden in New Delhi to take evening prayers.

    • Where Satan's seat is... where Satan dwelleth: The Bible describes the sin that caused the fall of Lucifer (Satan) as self-exaltation. He felt that the system of Love, under which God's government of brotherhood operates, prevented him from being exalted over others. His eventual wish was to be exalted over the angels and man - even God if possible.

      India's caste system is the perfect example of how oppressive the system that Lucifer promoted could become. People were born into their position in society, and they could not change what they were or advance themselves. Those at the bottom of the caste system, called "Untouchables", had dark skin.

        "The traditional caste system of India developed more than 3000 years ago when Aryan-speaking nomadic groups migrated from the north to India about 1500 bc. The Aryan priests, according to the ancient sacred literature of India, divided society into a basic caste system. Sometime between 200 bc and ad100, the Manu Smriti, or Law of Manu, was written. In it the Aryan priest-lawmakers created the four great hereditary divisions of society still surviving today" (Encarta)

      The castes were:

      • The priestly class who created the system, or Brahmans.

      • The the warriors, the Kshatriyas.
      • Then the farmers and merchants, the Vaisyas.
      • The fourth caste were the laborers, born to be servants, the Sudras

      The lowest caste, limited completely to menial tasks and kept outside of the social order, were the dark-skinned "Untouchables", and were oppressed mercilessly. In the 1930s Mahatma Gandhi applied the term "children of God" to this group.

        "These were the Dravidians, the aboriginal inhabitants of India, to whose ranks from time to time were added the pariahs, or outcasts, people expelled for religious or social sins from the classes into which they had been born." (Global Volunteers)

      India, where first Hinduism and then others observed the caste system which successfully denied rights to millions, is described by the twoedged sword as "the seat of Satan".

    • Them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication: The "doctrine of Balaam" followed by Balak is described in the book of Numbers. As it is usually read, using beautiful Midianite women the doctrine involved introducing sexual immorality into Israel. A terrible plague of disease resulted from this action that is not identified in the Bible.

      The doctrine as referred to here references the influence of the Kama Sutra, which brings sexual pleasure into the realm of worship, but encouraging multiple partners and adulterous trysts.

      Unlike the Kama Sutra, the Lotus Sutra was clearly written using the twoedged sword, and includes parables similar to Jesus' parables in the New Testament

    • So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate: The Greek word Nicolaitans is a composite word. Transferred into English it means "conqueror of the laity" or "ruler of the people". Such an idea in religion is anathema to Jesus structure of the Kingdom of Heaven which requires each person to have a personal relationship with God - with no human intermediaries.

      This holding of the Nicolaitan doctrine here by Pergamos is contrasted with the hatred for that doctrine held by the Church of Ephesus, or Judaism, mentioned above.

      The Hindu religion requires that people who desire to obtain enlightenment do so through a person called a satguru, who is supposed to teach the searcher about God

        "A satguru is someone who is considered to be merged with God and is in their final life. A satguru is someone who has had knowledge passed down through a traceable lineage of satgurus and who uses the Vedas as divine authority. Satgurus most often identify with a chosen form of God, such as Siva. Devotees of satgurus say that they can feel their satguru's spirit sheltering them like an umbrella during their daily life." (www.hindunet.org)

      The point of Mahayana Buddhism, under the Lotus Sutra doctrine of strengthening common people, was to offer a spiritual relationship with God to the common man. The satguru, besides making the blasphemous claim of being one with God, complicates God's relationship with the people themselves. Many were - and still are - led astray from the simple path of Hinduism to whatever the their satguru taught.

      This issue has parallels in Christian church hierarchies, but Christian ministers, pastors, or priests do not claim the status of divine perfection, as having attained Oneness with God, as satgurus must yet as only Jesus has done.

    • I give to eat of the hidden manna: The Hidden manna, or 'bread' as in Word of God, is the Lotus Sutra. Used with Jesus teachings this scripture is an excellent tutor of discipleship.

      To those of Eastern religions who aren't familiar with them, the Hidden manna would be the Gospels of the New Testament, describing in-depth the coming Buddha Maitreya!

    • Give him a white stone: The Greek word translated here as "stone", psephos, actually means "pebble". Tibetan Buddhism is the only religion that has a consistent teaching illustrated by the use of a "white stone" or "white pebble":

        "The early Buddhists of Tibet were known as the Kadampas — they were simple people, herders and carpenters and small farmers, who took to the new ideas like fish to water, in their simple but exquisite way. They carried around a small bag of pebbles, half white and half black. Whenever they had a very good thought, or said something very positive to another person, or did someone else a kindness, they would take a white pebble out and put it say in their left pocket. Every time they had a negative thought about someone else, or said or did something unkind to another person, they would take a black pebble out of the bag and put it in their right pocket." (Michael Roach - The Diamond Cutter)

        "There was once a shepherd who was determined to improve himself so he went to a wise hermit to ask his advice. The hermit told him to take two bags of pebbles, one with black pebbles, one with white. While sitting looking after his sheep, he should watch his thoughts: if a negative thought came in his mind, he should take a black pebble and put it on one side. If a positive thought came in his mind, he should take a white pebble and put it on the other side. The shepherd did this, and after a while, he saw that the pile of black pebbles was really growing high, while the white one was very small. He was a little worried, and went back to the hermit to ask what he should do. The hermit answered, "It doesn't matter. Don't bother. Just keep on as you are." After a while, slowly, slowly, the two piles became similar, and after some time, the white pile became bigger than the black one." (Ringu Tulku Rinpoche - Four Ways of Changing the Mind)

        "There was a tradition amongst the Kadampa Lamas who usually decided to spend all their time practising Dharma, to keep a collection of white and black stones. They would sit and watch their minds and whenever a virtuous thought such as Bodhicitta or renunciation came, they would place a white stone. If a delusion would arise, they would place a black stone. At the end of the day they would check how much virtuous activity and how much non-virtuous activity and delusions were involved in their day. They would practice accordingly if the virtues were many or do purification and confessions if the non-virtues were greater." (Lama Ribur Rinpoche - Dharma in Daily Life, 1998)

    • And in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it: The new name refers to a personalized Mantra. Mantras are words or syllables that are chanted during meditation. It is believed that the soothing vocal vibrations caused by chanting mantras have spiritual benefits.

        "Throughout history, cultures have believed in the sacred power of words, and have believed that uttering certain words or names could control the external world, or control the unseen forces, like gods or spirits, that they believed acted upon the world..."

        "This was particularly so for the words that we call "names". In ancient India it was believed that if you knew the true names of the gods, then you could call upon them and compel them to do your bidding..."

        "Although early Buddhism used chanting as a means of practice, and used the recitation of verses as a way of cultivating an awareness of the qualities of the Buddha (Buddhanusati), the use of mantras doesn't seem to have come into Buddhism until the rise of the Mahayana traditions, which incorporated elements of the non-Buddhist approach to spirituality known as 'Tantra.' Tantra made extensive use of mantras as ways of communing with and influencing the gods..." (www.wildmind.org)

      Mantras were adopted in the late 50s by the TM - or the Transcendental Meditation™ people. Remember Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and the Beatles?

        "The TM movement claims that its secret mantras are chosen specifically for the individual, who must not reveal his or her mantra to anyone else, or even discuss their meditation practice." (www.wildmind.org)

      The mantra (name) given by Jesus no doubt will be truly individual to each person who overcomes, as He promised here.

    The Eastern Religions that are the Church of Pergamos are also referenced in the Bible, the clearest reference being that of the Magi who visited Jesus after a two-year journey, following a bright Star in the night sky as also recorded in the Lotus Sutra:

      Our palaces display a brilliance
      never known before.
      Is it because of the birth of some heavenly being of great virtue,
      or because the Buddha has appeared in the world?
      We have never seen such a sign
      and with a single mind we seek the reason.
      Though we must travel a thousand, ten thousand, a million lands,
      together we will search out the cause of this light.
      Likely it is because a Buddha has appeared in the world
      to save living beings in their suffering.

Thyatira: Catholicism

    See Also: Fourth Seal | Fourth Trumpet | Fourth Plague

    "And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass; I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first. Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden. But that which ye have already hold fast till I come. And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. And I will give him the morning star. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." (Revelation 2:18-29)

    • Who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire: Eyes that see all, the fire of conviction, repentence, and sanctification.

    • His feet are like fine brass: A reference to the Catholic doctrine of eternal hell, consisting of an eternally tormenting fire in which sinners dwell. In Revelation Chapter One John describes the feet of Jesus as "...feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace", referring to the fiery furnace of the book of Daniel where "one like the Son of man" saved Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Catholicism teaches a hell similar to that furnace.

    • And thy works; and the last to be more than the first: The most recent works of Catholicism are much better than its first works of the Roman Church from which it has evolved, which included forced conversion, oppression of the poor, and the Crusades - at least in the West - to name but a few.

    • Thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess: Jezebel is the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, practically raising her over Jesus Himself. "Calleth herself a prophetess" refers to the spiritual powers now associated with Mary.

    • To teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication: Forcing celibacy on monks and priests, then putting images and statues of the virgin Mary throughout their living quarters and their church was at cross purposes, and needlessly exposed God's servants to a temptation forced upon them by their very beliefs.

    • And to eat things sacrificed unto idols: Teaching "to eat things sacrificed unto idols" refers to the Holy Eucharist, the Catholic version of communion in which the bread representing Jesus' body is believed to actually turn into His flesh when ingested.

    • And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not: The space to repent lasted until 1854 when Pope Pius IX made his "Declaration of Immaculate conception of Mary", forcing all believers to acknowledge Mary as Holy.

    • Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds: The "great tribulation" refers to the sexual scandals over the last 40 years or so regarding affected priests.

    • And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works: All the churches shall know: Look at what the Roman Church has done with its strange doctrines. It has made His name into a laughingstock - clinging to pagan beliefs and practices and ignoring just judgment of the poor and righteousness in world affairs. Roman leaders strut around in fancy churches poking their fingers at their parishioners over ancient pagan rituals they have no business performing in the first place.

      Next time they cry for an aborted baby they should recall that they have made religion and moral behavior so repugnant to people because of their strange and confusing doctrines, unconfirmable in God's Word, that people have more and more turned to atheistic unbelief. The Roman Church so defiled His Word and doctrine before the world that the "Moral Authority" it claims from Him is treated as a mere remnant of ancient tribal superstition.

      The God who searches the hearts and reins will reward all according to their works.

    • And unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak: This statement acknowledges the Episcopal/Anglican Church, and Eastern Orthodox Christian Church.

    • And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father: Here Jesus confirms again that the Church represented as Thyatira evolved from the Roman Empire, and so today is the Catholic Church. See the comments on Daniel Chapter Two, describing the Kingdom of God represented by iron and clay which cannot be held together.

        "Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel." (Psalms 2:9 KJV)

      The "rod of iron" is similar to the twoedged sword. Armed with it, and with His all-conquering love, the person who overcomes will participate in returning believers to the teachings of Jesus.

    • And I will give him the morning star: Jesus is the morning star:

        "I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star." (Revelation 22:16 KJV)

 

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