9302c

This is Pamphlet #9302c, Study #305 in our series. Much of it taken from ntrevelation2
The truth about:

REVELATION

OF SAINT JOHN THE DIVINE BY JESUS CHRIST

This study begins after the line of red stars ************* below.

But First please note:

Many churches stay clear of the Book of Revelation on a verse by verse study, because they teach;

"You're going to be gone anyway at that time".

They also say;
"It's not to be understood yet".

This is odd because the very word "Revelation"
means to "to reveal" or "unveil" something.

When you unveil anything,

you make it known.

The book of Revelation is a sister book to the book of Daniel in the Old Testament.

Both of these books were written to the people who live in the final generation, of the "latter days".

Daniel was told to, "shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end:" [Daniel 12:4].

He was told by God; "Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand: but the wise shall understand." [Daniel 12:10]

The wise are those who study God's word, line upon line, chapter upon chapter, and all these words are wisdom from God.

This is why the wise should understand.

As we study Revelation, let us take a fresh look at the book, and allow God's Word to speak through us. Let's permit the Holy Spirit to allow His words to speak to our hearts which is our minds with understanding.

This chapter covers a time period that most people living on the face of the earth today will live through, and the wise Christian should understand these teachings.

So, be very cautious of any group that would tell you not to study, or to throw away part of God's word. Those are words Satan would use.

Caution to students of God;s Word - Please remember two things when using our American Wisdom Series studies:
#1. Our commentary is not God's Word. It is only our interpretation or understanding of "His Word" and even though we try our best to be accurate we may or may not be correct. #2. The King James translation, or any other translation, of the original Hebrew text has some words which were given different translations at different places probably because of the interpreters preconceived ideas of what they think God meant to say. For example: According to the notes in the "Drake's Annotated Reference Bible" the Hebrew word hayah in the KJV is Trans. (became) 67 times, (becamest or came to pass) 505 times, (become) 66 times, and (come to pass) 131 times, but for some reason in Genesis 1:2 it is translated (was)! That sure changes the way a person perceives the original creation of the earth, doesn't it? Gen. 1:2 And the earth was (became) without form, ... Having said that, let us continue with our "studies". These studies contain knowledge, we believe, you must have to fully and accurately unlock and understand the Word of God.
May the Holy Spirit be your only guiding light. Sincerely, John Rhine

Revelation 2:17 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.

John 15:26
But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

John 16:13-14
[13] Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. [14] He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

This Bible Study was originally written by Roger Christopherson,
published at http://www.theseason.org/

Without the leading by the Holy Spirit, there is no understanding of the truths, for all the truth of the Scriptures are revealed to us by God's Spirit.

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"Per'-ga-mos" is the type of another church existing in these latter days; compare it now to your Church. The reference to the "sharp sword with two edges", is because Jesus Christ is preparing to do some cutting on some dead wood. A pruning is going to take place. He is going to discipline the Pergamos church.

Revelation 2:13 "I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Sa'-tan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein An'-ti-pas was my faithful martyr [my witness, my faithful one], who was slain among you where Sa'-tan dwelleth."

The Pergamos Church is a very high-minded church. This church had a special high authoritative person they called "savior" [not Christ], and this church believed that you had to go through him, and please him to be saved and approach the Heavenly Father. The symbol of this "savior" was the serpent. This is because of his identification being related back to Ancient Babylonian worship. He was a follower of the serpent [Satan], even though the things he did and said appeared to be good.

Pergamos still carries the true name of Christ, with a strong faith. The time is fixed for us when this church claims to be Christ, but takes an identification with the "seat of Satan". "Antipas" in the Greek, is "Anti-father", or "Antichrist" in the spiritual sense. We are observing this Church of Pergamos in John's vision that takes place "on the Lord's day". This is looking back on the final days of this earth age.

As we will see in Revelation 12:7, Satan is now in heaven as our accuser, until the time when Michael casts him, and his fallen angels to the earth. The actual time of "Antipas" or Satan's coming is set in Revelation 9:1, when the fifth angel sounds the fifth trumpet. These events will be covered in detail in those chapters.

Satan is God's servant, just as Nebuchadnezzar was God's servant in Ancient Babylon. The seat of Satan will be in Jerusalem, and that is where he will dwell. Satan, the Antichrist, will dwell and live in Jerusalem, just as you expect the True Christ to come and reign. That is why we are told in Matthew 24, and Mark 13, that when you see him there, you had better get out of Judea [the nation of Israel today].

Revelation 2:14 "But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the dactrine of Ba'-laam, who taught Ba'-lic to cast a stumbling block before the children of Is'-ra-el, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication."

God has something against this Church at Pergamos, and all the churches like it. What is "Balaam", and just what is the "fornication" that they are involved with?

We are talking about religious activities, and spiritual matters here. This "fornication" is a spiritual act. "Balaam" was a teacher who taught for money. He was so stupid that he couldn't hear when God talked directly to him. In fact he didn't even realize the difference when the ass he was riding spoke to him. This old boy still can't catch on, because all he can think of is preaching, and collecting his money for that teaching.

Where and how does money come into your church with respect to the Word of God? Is their a constant plea for money? When sermons are built around money, and programs are created for the purpose of generating money, then ultimately they are building your spiritual relationship to what you give [they get].

Then your church is comparable to the Church at Pergamos. Your preacher becomes a spiritual beggar at the pulpit.. When your pastor takes your offering, are you getting full value of the Word of God, or just spiritual crumbs from him? Scraps from the table of the Lord do not prepare anyone to stand against the "wiles of the devil".

Revelation 2:15 "So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nic-o-la-i'-tanes, which thing I hate [in like manner]."

If you can't understand the importance of knowing the Kenites, you will worship Baal, and be subject to their salesmanship, as they peddle their distortions of God's Word. These Nicolaitanes are the same ones that plagued the church of Ephesus. There are very few churches today who teach as the Church at Smyrna taught.

Revelation 2:16 "Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth."

If you have money as the center of your life, and place it over the study of God's Word; Jesus is telling you to repent.

Revelation 2:17 "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 man'-na, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knowth saving he that receiveth it."

"Manna" is angel food for the spiritual body, it is what God fed the children of Israel while they were in the wilderness. The "manna" of today is the spiritual truth within the Word of God that feeds your spiritual body and mind. The "white stone" is a stone of victory, it is given to God's elect who are the overcomers. They overcame the deceit of the Antichrist, and the Kenites. If you have an ear to hear, you will understand what the spirit is trying to teach you. This instruction is given for us by Jesus, with John doing the writing.

Christ spoke in parables while on earth, so that many, including the Kenites, would not understand. Then Jesus gave the keys to understanding them to His disciples so His teaching would not be a mystery to them. After Jesus spoke in parables, His disciples asked him why He spoke in parables.

Matthew 13:11 "He answered and said unto them, "Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given."

Matthew 13:12 "For whosoever hath, to him shall it be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath."

Matthew 13:13 "Therefore speak I to them in parable: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand."

Their is a reason for their not understanding, God did not want them to understand for a purpose. These Kenite people are the negative part of the entire plan of God, and it was for their own protection.

Matthew 13:14 "And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Exaias, which saith, `By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:"

Matthew 13:15 "For this people's heart [mind] is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them."

Just as the Key was the understanding that Satan had sexual relations with Eve, and bore the son Cain [not of Adam]. Cain's offspring [children] have plagued God's children throughout this entire earth age. They are not Jews, or from the tribe of Judah, but have taken it over, and assumed the duties of the priests and the scribes. These are the hidden ones who do the dirty work, killed the prophets and Christ, and they will call themselves by whatever name suits their mission. They lie, deceive and confuse wherever they are. When the Jews came out of Babylon of all those returning to Jerusalem to build the temple and reestablish worship, over half of their number were the Nethinims [those given to service], but not of the Levitical priesthood or even of Judah.

Ezra 8:15 "And I gathered them together to the river that runneth to Ahava; and there abode we in tents three days: and I viewed the People, and the priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi."

Here over four hundred years before Christ, and the Levitical priesthood had been taken over by these Kenite Nethinims, for Ezra found not one of the sons of Levi were present with them returning to Jerusalem.

Today these Kenites control the four hidden dynasties [will be discussed later], and those dynasties are education, economy [commerce, trade and banking], religion, and politics. These people are the final authority in the "New World Order", [the United Nations], with it's 10 major world controlling agencies. Our national leaders have sold you and America to them, so you see we are now into the fourth seal and most Christians don't even know it. This will be discussed later in this book in detail.

The sons of Satan through Cain, are identified in the Strong's Concordance, #7014, "Qayin, kah'-yin; Kajin, the name of the first child, also a place in Palestine, and of an oriental tribe, Cain, Kenite." Today these Kenites are setting up the one world system, changing doctrine within churches, confusing the truth of God's Word through their well placed "higher critics", and laying the platform for your acceptance of their father, Satan, to be your God. When a Kenite comes to the saving knowledge of Christ and repents, they are no longer a Kenite, but a son of the Living God, Jesus Christ.

The word "stone" in verse 17 is #5586 In the Strong's Concordance it means; "a pebble worn smooth in counting." This is also part of Revelation 13, where we are told "to count the number of the beast." That number of the beast is the number of man. The word "count" is not like counting numbers 1, 2, 3, and so on; but comes from an outdated Greek word "Stigma". In the Greek, Strong's #5585, "Psephizo, psay-fid-zo; from 5586; to use pebbles in enumeration, to compute, to count".

Strong's #5586, "Psephos, psay'-fos; a pebble [as worn smooth in handling],i.e., to use as a counter or ballot, a verdict of acquittal or ticket of admission; by vote-stone". The Kenites use their skills in controlling the majority, in determining right or wrong, who is in power, and the bases of their world system through the United Nations. This is exactly how we are going to lose national sovereignty, and be brought under control of this satanic system, at the ballot box, by the polls, and through the Demotrcratic process of the numbering of the people.

In the "Song of Moses" , in Deuteronomy 32:30-31 it is clear that Satan is presented as a "rock", or stone. To the overcomers that are aware that; "this rock is not like our Rock", where most Christians do not know the difference between the two rocks. The Church of Pergamos did not know the difference.

Though in the English the words "stone", and "count" are far apart, however in the Greek they were not. They have the same prime root meaning. So by giving the number 666, that number has the same root meaning as counting and identifying stones, or rocks. The whole idea of taking a number, like the branding on ones body of a tattoo and have it commit you to Satan is out-right ignorance. For by force, anyone can be branded, and as such, not one child of God loses his or salvation. This will be discussed in detail in a later chapter.

Jesus is telling John that the Key to being acceptable to Him, is when you are able to know the difference between the two rocks; the true Rock being Christ, and the fake rock is the Antichrist. We are to be able to count those pebbles [666], and know those fakes [the Kenites]. The Kenites will deceive you if you lack the "hidden manna", the truths in God's Word.

American Wisdom Series Editor's Note: We are going to stop here in this "Revelation of Jesus Christ" study to review some commentary from verses 12 through 17 in an earlier study we published on the "Revelation of Jesus Christ." I don't believe you will find much difference in the general opinion of these 2 authors, but to read another person's perspective of events that did and will take place may prove helpful in our understanding of Jesus' revelation. Also, our introduction #9300 was taken from this earlier study so keep your eyes open for study tips and rules to help simplify your grasp of Jesus' end time revelation.

Historically the Permagosians (can that be a word?) were worshippers of Apollo to whom the title of soter, which means "savior", was given and whose emblem was a serpent. "Some even trace the Babylonian pagan priesthood as removing to Pergamos." (See note on Rev. 2:12 in the Companion Bible). In any event, they had adopted a great many pagan rituals into their worship. Ever see that in today's churches, easter eggs, bunnies, etc.?

However, remember where John has been taken to, the day of Lord, the first day of the Millennium, which is yet future.

Rev. 2:12
And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith He which hath the sharp sword with two edges;

This church is reminded right away of His sharp sword that has two edges, i.e. His word that proceeds out of His mouth. The church in Pergamos is about to get a "tongue lashing" with the sharpest tongue in the universe.

[13] 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.

It looks like this church has "made their bed" right where Satan dwells. I'm sure they believe he is the real thing, for most of the world will! When Satan appears at the six trump (which we will learn about in this Book of Revelation), he will claim to be Jesus Christ, the Messiah.

You should remember from kindergarten (or Sesame Street) that the number 6 comes before the number 7. It is at the 6th Trump that Satan is cast out of heaven onto this earth (Rev. 12:7-9), to play the role of the spurious messiah. We don't gather back to Christ until the 7th Trump, the very last one! The apostle Paul WARNS us what will happen before we gather back to Jesus at the 7th Trump.

2 Thes. 2:1
Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2 Thes. 2:3
Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

The "that day" is the day we gather back to Christ. And the son of "perdition" is the son who will "perish" (in the lake of fire). That's Satan. He's as good as dead which is why he is also called "Death".

[4] Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

Satan will sit in temple of God claiming that he is God. He's a supernatural archangel and he will put on quite a show in the sight of men!And the name he will go by is "Jesus". Do you know what this means? There are two Jesus', the real and the imposter. Most people don't know the difference. Do you? Will you at that time?

Well, there will be one person in the church of Pergamos who will know the difference between the two and he will be martyred. His name, not doubt derived from his reputation, is Antipas which means "anti-father", and yet Jesus calls him His faithful martyr. He is faithful in telling the Biblically illiterate of the church of Pergamos that the dude who sits in the temple claiming to be God "Ain't the Father". Six comes before seven, don't you know?

Note: At the time of the crucifixion the people were given the choice to release one of two prisoners, Jesus, the Son of the Father, or Bar-abbas, which means "son of the father" (bar = son, abba = father). Two sons of two different fathers. Amazing, isn't it? They chose the latter.

1.) They've got the "Balaam Syndrome". Balaam was a true priest of Israel all right, but if one takes the time to read the account they will find he preached to Balac, i.e. the Moabites, for MONEY. Know any churches like that? Do you know any churches that concentrate on fund raisers, pledges of money, pass the plate, building funds, etc, etc.

In fact at one point Balaam had his ass so loaded with "donations" that God intervened with an angel and had the ass speak to Balaam to bring him to his senses.

You know, it seems like every time I hear a sermon on TV by certain "will readers", I learn how blessed I'll be if I send money to them. Balaam lives on!

Here is a word of wisdom! If there is one person in this universe you don't want to get into a sword fight with, it's Jesus Christ. I don't care if your name is Zorro or Luke Skywalker!

What is this manna spoken of here? Manna is the angel's food that our Father fed His children with in the wilderness of Sinai. It is symbolic of the truth, i.e. the bread of life, which our Father feeds His children in today's wilderness, during this time of the great famine spoken of in Matthew 24 and Mark 13.

"What?.. I don't see a great famine!" Maybe you also need "eyes to see". Look into the Book of Amos and "see" what is revealed concerning the famine of the end time.

Now, notice in Rev 2:17 that there is "hidden" manna, i.e. hidden truth. Some will ask, "Why is it that truth is hidden in the Bible?" The answer is, "So that when you go looking for it, you can find it!" Actually, all you need are "eyes to see" and "ears to hear" and it becomes revealed, uncovered, as it is right here in the great Book of Revelation.

We will address the white stone and the new name in a subsequent study. Meanwhile, here's some good advice, "Get out of Pergamos".

Let's review where we are in Revelation, this Book of the Uncovering. So far we've learned that the "Revelation" is from Jesus Christ and is written to His servants. He has transported John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, in the spirit to the day of the Lord, which is the Millennium, to record for those servants the things which must "shortly come to pass", at that time, not 96 A.D.

We then learned the simplicity of the use of symbology, which allows us to see in Picture Format that which Christ would have us know. However, it only makes sense if we allow the Bible to do the explaining and not "mystify" what is being revealed with our own runaway imaginations.

Jesus Christ then began to address the seven churches and "reveal" their doctrines. This is a very serious matter, for if one finds himself to be a part of any church other than Smyrna or Philadelphia, he or she has big problems. Why? They don't align with His Word!