Servias Ministries Blog

John recorded a letter to Smyrna given to him directly by Jesus.

The Beloved Disciple recorded what Jesus spoke in Revelation chapter 2:

8  “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, ‘These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life:

9 “I know your works, tribulation (persecutions), and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

10 Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

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

The word Smyrna comes from the Greek word Smurnaios (Hebrew root “Mur” ie myrrh) which means “death” by being crushed.

The outline of the entire Book of Revelation is provided to us in chapter 1:

19  Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.

The outline (past, present, and future):

Write the things which you have seen,

The Vision of Christ in chapter 1

and the things which are,

The Seven Churches in chapters 2 & 3

and the things which will take place after this.

What follows AFTER the Churches in chapters 4-22 (chapter 4 starts with the Greek phrase which means “hereafter”).

Chapters 2 & 3 impact you and me.  Jesus makes an emphatic statement that must be heeded by all:

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

This is why it is critical for us to focus on the condition of each church listed.  There were many more churches than just these seven.  However, these seven were representative of the various conditions found in churches then and now.  Every one of these letters applied to every church to some extent.

What was right with Smyrna?  Jesus said, “I know thy works” and was pleased.  He knows our works as well and we should keep this in mind each day as we consider what opportunities lie ahead.  Are we producing fruit daily?  By the way, He knows our motivation behind our works.

These people thought they were poor but are actually rich.  This is in contrast to the Laodiceans that thought they were rich but were actually poor.  Jesus was also well aware of their suffering for Him.  He commends them for their faith in Him.

Jesus acknowledges that some will be cast into prison and suffer but He did not suggest that He would spare them of this tribulation.  Instead, He told them to “fear not” and remain faithful.

The crown mentioned here is a victor’s crown.  There are five crowns promised:

Crown of Life for those who have suffered for His sake.  (James 1:12, Rev 2:10)

Crown of Righteousness for those who Love His appearing. (2^nd Timothy 4:8)

Crown of Glory for those who fed the flock. (1^st Peter 5:4)

Crown Incorruptible for those who press on steadfastly.  (1^st Corinthians 9:25)

Crown of Rejoicing for those who win souls.  (1^st Thessalonians 2:19)

Jesus ends with a promise: He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.

Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in 2^nd Timothy chapter 3:

12   Yes, and all who desire to live Godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.

Jesus and Paul warn us of persecutions, and we will not be exempt.  Those who are promoting perversion are attempting to use any means available to persecute the believers.  They are attempting to redefine words in order to support their agendas.  They are weaponizing the system in an attempt to stifle our freedoms.  They want to divert our attention with all forms of entertainment to entice us.  We must overcome all trials and tribulations so that we will receive our crowns.

Jesus wrote seven Epistles to the churches!

The descriptions of each church in their written order give an effective profile of Church history and the current state in some form.  Every church has elements of all seven of these churches mentioned in it.  Jesus is admonishing all of us in varying degrees in His Epistles to the seven churches.  To him that hath an ear, let him hear!

Each church had a theme, a problem, and was given certain recommendations.

The word Ephesus means “the desired one” or “darling”.  This letter is about 35 years after Paul’s departure.  This should be a wake up call that we also can lose our first Love.

Jesus uses the title: “He that holdeth the seven stars in His Right Hand, Who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks”.  This title denotes that Jesus is in control.

Jesus issued seven commendations: 

Revelation 2:2  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: 3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.

His Concern (Nevertheless):

Revelation 2:4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first Love.

They were too busy doing Kingdom work to have time for Our King!  FATHER is more interested in devotion rather than doctrine.  FATHER uses the marriage to communicate HIS most intimate Truths.  The first fruit of THE SPIRIT is Love and we should always keep this reality in mind as we read Scripture… even in the area of judgment.

Jesus’s exhortation:

Revelation 2:5  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.

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

Jesus hated the deeds, not the Nicolaitans.  This name means “rule over the people”.  The fivefold ministry is not meant to rule or control the people but instead is to serve the people. 

Jesus spoke in John chapter 13:

5  After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.

6 Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?”

7 Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.”

8 Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.”

9 Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!”

10 Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.”

11 For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, “You are not all clean.” 12 So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you?

13 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am.

14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.

15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.

16 Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him.

17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

Jesus functioned as a servant to the disciples so that they would do the same for those who we be taught by them.  The clergy were never intended to rule over congregations.  They were called to serve the people as Jesus conveyed as an example and pattern to follow.  Jesus hated the deeds of the Nicolaitans. 

Lastly, Jesus speaks: 

Revelation 2:7 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of Life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”‘

Where is the church of Ephesus today?  It’s gone.

Jesus wrote seven Epistles to the churches!

The word revelation means “the unveiling”.  Jesus is removing the veil to allow us understanding concerning the past, present, and future, as well as His expectations for us who belong to the true church.  He also describes the ramifications of rejecting FATHER’S Love.  We must keep this in mind anytime we study the culmination of The Bible.  This final book is about the unveiling of Jesus Christ: past, present, and future.  It is the consummation and climax of all things.

The Beloved Disciple wrote by The Holy Spirit in Revelation chapter 1:

1  The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him (Jesus Christ) , to shew unto His servants things which must shortly (suddenly) come to pass; and He sent and signified it by His angel unto his servant John

FATHER gave Jesus this revelation to share through His servant John to write unto us!

3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the Words of this Prophecy, and keep those things which are written in It; for the time is near.

This is the only book of The Bible that promises a special blessing to those who read AND hear it!

Jesus spoke in Revelation chapter 1:

8   “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “Who is and Who was and Who is to come, the Almighty.”

And

11   saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”

Why these seven churches?  There were over 100 churches 63 years after the Day of Pentecost.  Jesus is signifying to John to give us representative signs. These churches fit a specific model.

The descriptions of each church in their written order give an effective profile of Church history in advance.  Jesus speaks from His position of “Who is and Who was and Who is to come”.  This allows Him to address the past, present, and future all in the same seven letters to the churches.

Ephesus is the early church that hated evil; Smyrna, the persecuted church; Pergamos, the married church; Thyatira, the medieval church; Sardis is the denominational church; Philadelphia is the missionary church; and Laodicea, the apostate church.

The first three are distinctive in their structure; the promises are given to those who overcome. Each of the remaining four also have promises to those who overcome, as well as specific, explicit references to Christ’s Second Coming.  If Thyatira is the medieval Catholic Church, then Sardis must, by default, be the Protestant denominational churches, and it is one of two churches of the seven that has little good said about it.

Jesus provided us an outline the entire book when He spoke in chapter 1:

19  Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;

The Vision of Christ (hast seen, in chapter 1)

The Seven Churches (which are, in chapters 2,3)

Which follows after the Churches (which shall be hereafter beginning in chapter 4:1 through 22)

The seven lampstands are the seven churches in chapters 2 and 3.

Jesus spoke in Revelation chapter 2:

1  “To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His Right Hand, Who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands:

2 “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars;

3 and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My Name’s sake and have not become weary.

4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first Love.

5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place-unless you repent.

6 But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

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

Jesus had good news, bad news, and a surprise.  Their works were the good news.  The surprise is that they lost their first Love.  The bad news is that if they don’t repent, their lampstand will be removed.

By the way, every church was to pay attention to what was being told to the other churches.  That applies today as well.

What is the status of your lamp?

Jesus spoke in Matthew chapter 5:

14  “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.

15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven.

The Beloved Disciple recorded by The Holy Spirit in Revelation chapter 1:

12Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands,

13 and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the Feet and girded about the Chest with a golden band.

20 The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.

Chapters 2 and 3 in the Book of Revelation are all about the churches.  However, from chapter 4, we no longer find the lampstands on the earth; we find them in Heaven when John arrives in Revelation 4:5.  John models the Rapture for us when he is caught up and treated to a preview of the end of this world.

The Beloved Disciple recorded by The Holy Spirit in Revelation chapter 4:

1 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in Heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.”

2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a Throne set in Heaven, and One sat on the Throne.

3 And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the Throne, in appearance like an emerald.

4 Around the Throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads.

5 And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

The 24 Elders represent the Church. They have golden vials full of the prayers of saints, and they call themselves “kings and priests (Revelation 5:10). Few people in history have been both kings and priests. Melchizedek was a king and a priest.  Israel was not allowed to have a person who fulfilled both offices.  Jesus, of course, was a King and a Priest, and His redeemed in the Church are kings and priests as recorded in Revelation chapter 1:

4John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him Who is and Who was and Who is to come (FATHER), and from the seven Spirits (Holy Spirit) Who are before His Throne,

5 and from Jesus Christ (The Trinity are all here), the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who Loved us and washed us from our sins in His own Blood,

6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

John tells us the 24 Elders worship the Lamb before He receives the Seven Seal Book. Notice this: there are 24 Elders of the Church carrying the prayers of the saints. They fall down before the Lord, the Lamb of God, and worship Him before He receives the Seven Seal Book. The Great Tribulation begins when He, the Lamb of God, Whose Blood was sacrificed to redeem the Church, opens the Seven Seal Book.

This indicates that the Church is in Heaven before the Great Tribulation begins.   We can now begin to see how all this ties together with the 70th Week of Daniel, how everything is determined exactly and precisely all the way to Revelation 19, when the Bridegroom and the Bride have their Marriage Supper.

The five wise virgins had lamps that were trimmed which in turn produce light.  No oil, no light, no invitation to depart with the Bridegroom!

He who has an ear, let him hear!

Jesus gave John, the Beloved Disciple, seven letters to communicate to the churches.  This was after His resurrection.  These letters were to the Church, not to the twelve tribes of Israel.

Jesus spoke in Revelation chapter 3:

10  Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. [11] Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.

12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the Temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the Name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of Heaven from My God. And I will write on him My New Name.

13 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”‘

The Beloved Disciple recorded by The Holy Spirit in Revelation chapter 6:

15  And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains,

16 and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!

17 For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”

The Church is clearly omitted from the wrath of GOD!

Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in 1^st Thessalonians chapter 5:

9  For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation (G4991) through our Lord Jesus Christ,

10 Who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.

11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

The word salvation used here means:

deliverance, preservation, safety, salvation

deliverance from the molestation of enemies

in an ethical sense, that which concludes to the soul’s safety or salvation

of Messianic salvation

salvation as the present possession of all true Christians

future salvation, the sum of benefits and blessings which the Christians, redeemed from all earthly ills, will enjoy after the visible return of Christ from heaven in the consummated and eternal kingdom of God.

There is no mention of suffering wrath but just the opposite!

The disciples asked Jesus about the end times.  In conclusion, He spoke in Luke chapter 21:

34″But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.

35 For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth (earth dwellers).

36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

We escape the Tribulation by our demonstrated reliance on Christ, our Redeemer; we don’t endure the Tribulation.  A few verses earlier, Jesus tells us, “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads, for your redemption draweth nigh.” 

He didn’t warn us to look out, He said to look up. There are no admonitions for the Church to watch out for the Antichrist. She is to look up for His Imminent Return.

Jesus, Paul, and John all recorded FATHER’S Love for the true church, the Bride of Christ.  FATHER will protect His Son’s Bride more so than an earthly father would.  He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

Who is the Restrainer?

Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in 2^nd Thessalonians chapter 2:

1  Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you,

2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come.

In Thessalonica, some of the members had passed away and the remaining members thought they had been left behind.  Paul had to correct their assumptions.  It is clear by his writing in verse 2 that they had received communications to support their assumptions.  He told them that they were being deceived and provides specific details:

3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,

4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things?

He had to reassure them of the Truth he shared by the revelation he was given by Jesus Christ and The Holy Spirit.  Has the son of perdition been revealed as evidenced by the above?  No!  What will happen so that the son of perdition can come forth?  The Restrainer had to be removed:

6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time.

In cryptic terms, Paul identifies the Restrainer Who have been preventing the great delusion from coming forth.

7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way.

Once The Restrainer is removed, Paul explains what will happen next:

8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.

9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders,

10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the Love of the Truth, that they might be saved.

11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie,

12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the Truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

The only entity who has ever restrained sin is God through the Holy Spirit, sent by Jesus.  When the Restrainer is removed, then and only then will the Man of Sin be revealed, because he is no longer held back in his lies and lawlessness.

The Holy Spirit is removed with the Church at the Rapture, leaving no one standing in the way of the man of sin.

This is not a new view of Scripture.  Thomas Ice researched and wrote the following:

Ephraem the Syrian of Nisibis (c. 374-627) was a major writer for the Eastern Church. Many of his hymns and sermons were never translated until recently. One of his sermons was on the end times, and he wrote about the antichrist, saying, “All the saints and elect of God are gathered together before the tribulation, which is to come, and are taken to the Lord, in order that they may not see at any time the confusion which overwhelms the world because of our sins.”

How was Jesus able to restrain the devil during His earthly ministry?

Luke recorded by The Holy Spirit in Luke chapter 4:

1 Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,

When you and I are led by The Holy Spirit, we cannot be deceived for the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth.

Jesus spoke in John chapter 15:

26  “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.

27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.

And in John chapter 16:

13  However, when He, the Spirit of Truth, has come, He will guide you into all Truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.

The son of perdition will glorify himself as the counterfeit and people will believe him.  How?  The Spirit of Truth has been removed!

Don’t count Israel out, FATHER hasn’t. HIS gifts and calling are irrevocable!

I have heard teachings that the church replaced Israel in all the promises directed toward them.  Paul disagrees by revelation given to him by The Holy Spirit.  I am not interested in man’s opinions based on his motives, neither should you.  Paul provides us with sufficient understanding concerning Israel and its future.

Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Romans chapter 11:

1  I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

2 God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying,

3 “LORD, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life”?

4 But what does the Divine response say to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”

People tend to judge matters from their limited knowledge and understanding.  Elijah was not aware of the 7,000 men who formed a remnant, yet he was a major prophet.  This is why it is vital for us to carefully read the Scripture without preconceived ideas and past teachings (aka opinions).  We must be constantly cleansed by The Word.

5 Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

6 And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.

7 What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded.

8 Just as it is written: “God has given them a spirit of stupor, Eyes that they should not see And ears that they should not hear, To this very day.”

9 And David says: “Let their table become a snare and a trap, A stumbling block and a recompense to them.

10 Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see, And bow down their back always.”

11 I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles.

Israel’s failure brought forth the Church and the opportunity for all mankind to be restored to FATHER.

12 Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!

13 For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry,

14 if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them.

15 For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?

16 For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also Holy; and if the root is Holy, so are the branches.

17 And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree,

18 do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.

Do not be critical of Israel or anyone else for that matter.  FATHER is The Judge!

19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.”

20 Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear.

21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either.

22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.

23 And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.

24 For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?

Isaiah prophesied: “There shall be a Root of Jesse; And He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, In Him the Gentiles shall hope.”  Jesus IS the Root, and we receive our Spiritual nourishment from Him.

25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.

26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;

27 For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.”

28 Concerning the Gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are Beloved for the sake of the fathers.

29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

Paul revealed the mystery of Israel’s restoration in the end times.  Israel will be restored AFTER the fullness of the Church has come in!  However, they will once again suffer the judgment of GOD.

Through Scripture, we can resolve the mystery of the saints!

Not all saints are alike. There are different groups of saints.  A fundamental question has been: How can the Antichrist have the power to overcome the saints if the Church can break down the Gates of Hell?

In the history of the world there have been both Old Testament saints and New Testament saints. You and I belong to the latter category as true believers, members of Christ’s body saved through faith. There is a third type of saint yet to come: the Tribulation saints. These are servants of God who die during the Tribulation, who are seen under the altar when the Fifth Seal is opened in Revelation 6.

John recorded by The Holy Spirit in Revelation chapter 6:

9  When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the Word of God and for the testimony which they held.

10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, Holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth (earth dwellers)?”

11 Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.

It is important to understand the Biblical use of the term “Church” – an ecclesia. It is not a structure, nor a denomination, but those all over the world who belong to Jesus Christ, who will be raptured when Christ returns for his Bride. Other people will still be saved after the Church is gone; these are the saints who will experience the Tribulation.  The Church has a unique purpose as The Bride whereas all others will go through the tribulation period at the time of GOD’S wrath toward the unrighteous. There will be those who repent during the Great Tribulation as well as those who are of Israel that will finally accept Jesus Christ.

Also in Revelation chapter 13:

4 So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?”

5 And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months.

6 Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in Heaven.

7 It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation.

8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Yet Jesus spoke in Matthew chapter 16:

13  When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”

14 So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in Heaven.

18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock (revelation) I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

19 And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in Heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in Heaven.”

Are these Words of Jesus contradictory to what is revealed in Revelation 13:7?  Not at all!  The Church has authority over the adversary whereas the saints in the time of Jacob’s Trouble are subjected to war with the beast.  Let us not confuse the two groups.  Otherwise, you may assume that the Beloved Church must endure harsh times associated with the Great Tribulation.

There are three general areas of study when we seek to understand the Scripture!

Principles used to interpret the Bible is call Hermeneutics.  Do we treat Scripture as an allegory, or do we see it as literal?

Allegorical interpretation of the Bible is an interpretive method that assumes that the Bible has various levels of meaning and tends to focus on the spiritual sense, which includes the allegorical sense, the moral sense, and the anagogical sense, as opposed to the literal sense.

After fifty years of study, I view Scripture in the literal sense and let It interpret itself.  I believe FATHER means what HE says and says what HE means.  If you allow man to interpret the Scripture for you, the interpretation will be filled with opinion and personal orientation.  FATHER does not need man’s help

The only sound approach to Bible study is to let the Bible interpret itself. (1 Peter 4:11). Two things are evident: Either God gave us a book that we cannot understand and therefore left it up to us to decide what he had in mind, or God gave us a book that we can study and come to a knowledge of the truth.

Peter wrote by The Holy Spirit in 1^st Peter chapter 4:

11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the Oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to Whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

The Old Testament is the New Testament concealed and the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed.

The study of the Church is called Ecclesiology.  It differs from the focus of Israel.  Eschatology is the study of end times, of last things.  The problem here is that most Christians haven’t done their homework in these areas of understanding the Word. A great majority don’t make a habit of thinking about God’s purpose for His Church, the Bride of Christ.  If you don’t understand intent, then you will have difficulty in understanding and embracing what is said.

 Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Ephesians chapter 5:

22  Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.

23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.

24 Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.

25 Husbands, Love your wives, just as Christ also Loved the church and gave Himself for her,

26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the Word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be Holy and without blemish.

28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who Loves his wife Loves himself.

29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church.

30 For we are members of His Body, of His Flesh and of His Bones.

31 “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”

32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

33 Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

It is important to recognize that Paul is illustrating our honored and beloved position as the Bride of Christ. He highlights our destiny to be claimed by Him when He returns, to be presented sanctified, pure and Holy to God the Father.

And in 1^st Thessalonians chapter 5:

9  For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

10 Who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.

We should begin to see how the Church is distinct from the rest of mankind and expressly exempted from the judgment God will inflict on the rest of the unbelieving world.  No Loving Husband would even consider subject His wife to any form of wrath!