Jesus authored letters for John to write and send to the seven churches in Revelation chapters 2 and 3 for our personal application, encouragement, and warning.
Each church had a primary focus stated by Jesus Himself.
Ephesus Neglected Priorities
Smyrna Satanic Opposition
Pergamos Worldly Compromise
Thyatira Flee Pagan Practices
Sardis Watchfulness, Diligence
Philadelphia Loyal Ambassadorship
Laodicea Repent & be committed
I have based my life on the reality that The Word of GOD is the absolute Truth in all areas. FATHER means what HE says, and says what HE means!
To allegorize means interpret or represent symbolically. I have heard and read countless positions attempting to totally interpret HIS Truths into allegories. Once you add man’s interpretation to The Word, you will change the Divine Intent and effectively call GOD a liar. You are then walking on thin ice. Are there multiple levels of understanding and application of HIS Word? Yes, but we must not reinterpret The Word to fit our own intent or motive. This is why it is vital that each of us allow The Holy Spirit to be a witness of The Truth when preached.
Embracing Truth is the issue!
At the end of each Epistle to the seven churches, we are given a warning:
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches…”
Jesus spoke in Matthew chapter 13:
10 And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?”
11 He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but to them it has not been given.
12 For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.
13 Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.
14 And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: ‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, And seeing you will see and not perceive;
15 For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.’
16 But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear;
17 for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
Contained within each parable is a Truth to be embraced. If you accept and embrace the Truth, you will be given more Truth. If you reject the Truth given, it will be taken away.
I have a great concern that many believers’ hearts have grown dull and have lost their first Love. They no longer pray in THE SPIRIT and are accepting society’s redefining of Truth. Idol Worship has exponentially grown through the entertainment media. Meanwhile, the poor get poorer, and the rich get richer.
Matthew recorded by The Holy Spirit in chapter 13:
34 All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them,
35 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: “I will open My Mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world.”
The subject of the parables in Matthew chapter 13 are not found in the Old Testament. These Truths had been kept secret from the foundation of the world. This is also true of the final book: The Revelation of Jesus Christ. This final book is the culmination of FATHER’S Plan for mankind. This is why we shall receive a special blessing when we read it.
Paul was given the privilege of revealing the mystery as he wrote by The Holy Spirit in Ephesians chapter 3:
1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles-
2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you,
3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already,
4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ),
5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His Holy apostles and prophets:
6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the Gospel,
7 of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His Power.
The mystery of our adoption was not given to the Jews, for their eyes and ears were shut. You and I have become fellow heirs and partakers of His Promise in Christ. It is imperative that you understand that there are two groups of inheritance: the twelve tribes of Israel and the true church. FATHER has not forsaken Israel or changed HIS Mind concerning HIS covenant with Abraham. Believers have mistakenly taken on Israel’s inheritance as their own. Don’t worry, an adopted child has the same privileges and inheritance as a begotten child.