At the end of Saul’s first visit to
Away from
His departure from
And all the ones dwelling at Lydda and Sharon who perceived the healed Aeneas turned back to the Lord [Jesus, see v. 17]. (Acts 9:35 my translation)
Lydda and Sharon form the coastal plain between Joppa and
When Peter arrives at Lydda, he visits the saints, those who had recently responded to the Gospel of the Messiah concerning His death, resurrection, and ascension. Those unbelieving Jews dwelling in Lydda and the plain of Sharon who had perceived the healing of Aeneas included those earlier followers of Jesus who, though turning away from Jesus, had maintained contact with the Saints in Lydda. The healing power of the Apostle Peter, the Apostle of the Circumcision, convinces them of the truth of the Gospel of the Circumcision. Again, the New Israel of Yahweh continues to conquer the powers and authorities of Apostate Israel, liberating another multitude of captive Jews.
Following the successful liberation of many Jews dwelling in Lydda and the plain of Sharon, Peter is called to Joppa by certain disciples concerned over the death of a righteous saint named Tabitha. This woman had been caring for the poor and needy, fulfilling the righteousness of the law. Luke writes,
This woman was full of good acts and alms which she did. (Acts 9:36b CV)
When Peter arrives, all the widows in the community stand before him lamenting and exhibiting the tunics and garments which Tabitha had made for them. Once again, walking in the midst of His righteous people, Yahweh acts with compassion, wiping away the tears of those poor but faithful disciples of Jesus His Anointed Son (see Rev. 7:17; 21:4). Fulfilling Yahweh’s promise to bless the righteous, Peter’s prayer for the restoration of her life is granted. Tabitha is roused, opening her eyes and standing alongside Peter. Summoning the Saints, Peter presents her alive.
As a result of this powerful deed becoming known along the
whole coast of
Remaining a considerable number of days in Joppa (Acts
An uncircumcised fearer of Yahweh (a gentile respectfully
devoted to Yahweh the Elohim of Israel) is ineligible to become a citizen of
the holy nation of Yahweh. Such citizenship required circumcision. Cornelius,
thus, must have been praying for acceptance with Yahweh. The time had become
ripe for such acceptance with Yahweh apart from circumcision. Cornelius is told
to send messengers to Joppa requesting that Peter journey to
As these messengers are nearing the city of
What God [Yahweh] cleanses, do not you count contaminating! (Acts 10:15 CV)
Twice more is repeated this command. After which, the sheet is taken back up to heaven. Bewildered, Peter contemplates upon the meaning of this vision. Engrossed in this enigma, the spirit instructs him to go with the three men about to inquire for him, doubting nothing. The spirit speaking as the agent of Yahweh and Jesus assures him, “I have commissioned them” (Acts 10:20b CV). The three men, arriving and being received by Peter, deliver the following message:
Cornelius, a centurion, a man just and God-fearing [respectively honoring Yahweh the Elohim of
This request on behalf of an uncircumcised gentile would have
been totally unexpected and unacceptable prior to Peter’s vision. The Gospel of
the Messiah had been proclaimed only to
To you first [Jews
in
The Gospel is to be proclaimed first to the Jews in
The proclamation of the Gospel to the gentiles, as the spirit is now directing Peter, had been concealed within the Secret of the Gospel of the Messiah. The Apostles and disciples, therefore, have been faithful in proclaiming the Gospel only to the Jews. But when, now, the spirit directs Peter to go to the household of Cornelius (consisting of uncircumcised gentiles) so they can “hear declarations from you,” (Acts 10:22b CV), something new is being revealed, something shockingly unexpected. Peter begins to make the connection between his vision of unclean animals and the command to declare the message of the Gospel to uncircumcised gentiles.
However, Peter remains bewildered. He obeys the spirit as one
commencing a journey into a foreign, unexplored land. Anxiously, though without
doubting, he enters the household of Cornelius, together with some of the
brethren from Joppa. Cornelius, expecting them on the basis of his faith in the
vision given to him by Yahweh, had gathered together his relatives and intimate
friends. Here is a man who loves Yahweh the Elohim of Israel. He loves the word
of Yahweh, yearning for the salvation promised in the Law and the Prophets. All
these God-fearing gentiles eagerly await the arrival of a holy man of
Peter is overwhelmed by the intensity of the expectation of
these uncircumcised gentiles. Once again, he finds himself in a situation in
which he must depend upon the spirit to speak the appropriate words (see Matt.
10:19-20). First, however, he reminds these gentiles of what they already know
by firsthand experience. It is out of place, according to the traditions of the
fathers, for a Jew to join company with or approach for special fellowship a
person belonging to a tribe outside the twelve tribes of
This tradition began as a result of the Babylonian captivity. Its
purpose was to prevent Jews from making contaminating contact with the false
gods of the nations. It was meant to secure the special, holy identity of
This gathered group of gentiles understands Judaism enough to know very well that something very unusual is taking place. For a Jew to place himself in the position of Peter meant ritual defilement, necessitating the Mosaic instructions for proper cleansing. Of course, the Mosaic Law is not responsible for this traditional interpretation of gentile defilement. The Mosaic Law did not forbid such contact with gentiles. Gentile defilement of an Israelite takes place when an Israelite participates in an abominable, abhorrent practice forbidden by the Mosaic Law. Social contact or visitation in itself does not defile. Jewish custom since the exile had exaggerated the Mosaic Law, although with good intention.
The gentiles gathered before Peter would not qualify as defiling according to the Mosaic Law. However, from the perspective of the Gospel of the Messiah as understood at that time, those gentiles would be excluded. Thus, they would be prohibited from having the Gospel proclaimed to them. For any Jew to proclaim to a gentile that which is strictly addressed only to Jews would be to prostitute the Gospel and defile the proclaimer. Such a proclamation necessitated authorization from Yahweh Himself.
This, Peter now grasps having understood Yahweh’s message of authorization revealed in the vision sent to him while in a spiritual state of ecstasy:
You gentiles are versed enough in Judaic custom to know
how illicitly out of place it is for a man who is a Jew to join or approach a
person from another tribe other than the twelve tribes of
Peter now understands that Yahweh is sending him to an
uncircumcised man, and he is not to consider this man as contaminating or
unclean regardless of Judaic custom. Again, Peter, in his heart, is required to
declare, “One must yield to God [Yahweh] rather than to men” (Acts
Wherefore, without gainsaying [without raising objections], also, being sent after, I came. I am inquiring to ascertain, then, on what account you send after me. (Acts 10:29 CV)
Peter desires to know the reason these gentiles have summoned him. He cannot conceive, even after the vision, the possibility of proclaiming to them the Gospel belonging to the Jews. He has obeyed the command, the voice of Yahweh. However, he is clueless as to Yahweh’s purpose. It is only after Cornelius’ testimony concerning his own Yahweh-given vision that Peter begins to grasp the enormous significance of Yahweh’s present activity. Even, then, however, he is unable to explain Yahweh’s totally unexpected turn of events.
Having reported to Peter the content of his vision, Cornelius concludes,
Forthwith, then I send to you. Besides you do ideally in coming along. Now, then, we are all present in God's [Yahweh’s] sight to hear all that you have been bidden by the Lord. (Acts 10:33 CV)
Hearing this conclusion, Peter realizes these gentiles are expecting to hear from him what his Lord, Jesus the Messiah, has commissioned him to speak concerning the yearning of their hearts. These Yahweh-fearing uncircumcised-in-flesh, yet circumcised-in-heart gentiles perceive themselves as on their knees in the sight of the One and Only Living Elohim of Israel. They anxiously and greedily await a word of blessing from Yahweh, the only true and real Elohim of all humanity.
Peter, opening his mouth, is given by the spirit the only appropriate words possible at this point in time, the only message, the only Gospel, existing at this time for the spiritual Israel of Yahweh, the Gospel of the Messiah, soon to be qualified by a new subtitle, the Gospel of the Circumcision, because of its secret about to be revealed to and through the Apostle to the nations, Saul/Paul of Tarsus. The Gospel of the Messiah would soon be revealed to concentrically incorporate within itself the complementary Gospels of the Circumcision and the Uncircumcision. However, at the present opening of Peter’s mouth, the spirit bids him to proclaim the only Gospel available, the Gospel belonging only to the Jews, the Gospel previously addressed only to the Jews.
Peter initially acknowledges the new truth he has recently been in the process of grasping:
Of a truth I am grasping that God [Yahweh] is not partial, but in every nation he who is fearing [respectfully reverencing] Him and acting righteously is acceptable to Him. (Acts 10:34-35 CV)
By this acknowledgement, Peter understands that Yahweh is
accounting as acceptable every person in every nation (no longer limiting
acceptability to Israel only) who respects, fully reverences Him, and acts
righteously, that is, practices the royal laws of the Sinatic Covenant (love
Yahweh your Elohim with all your heart, soul, and mind, and love your neighbor
as yourself, Deut. 6:5; Ex. 20:3-6, 17; James 2:8; Matt. 22:37-40). For Peter
and his circumcised fellow-saints,
this means the upsetting of their traditional eschatological schemata: the
qualifying gentiles would be blessed as gentiles, receiving such blessing out
of the over-abundant blessings of spiritual
From this perspective, the gentiles would remain outside the holy nation; the faithful gentile would not become a citizen of the Born-From-Above Israel of Yahweh. Thus, the only change in their eschatological schemata would be a matter of time, not place or function. This deficient perceptive-bubble would very shortly burst before the shockingly amazed eyes of Peter and his circumcised fellow-saints.
Concluding his initial acknowledgement, Peter proclaims to
these gentiles the message the spirit of Jesus the Messiah places in his mouth,
the Gospel addressed to
Of the word He dispatches to the sons of
These Yahweh-reverencing gentiles are very familiar with the ministries of John the Baptist and Jesus before His death and resurrection. They are aware that Jesus of Nazareth had been anointed by Yahweh with holy spirit and power. They know of his healings and miracles liberating many Jews who had come under the tyranny of The Adversary, Satan (who had come to have authority over Apostate Israel) and the Jewish authorities and powers serving Satan’s purposes. Jesus had healed both those Jews suffering under the physical and mental tyrannies of The Adversary, as well as the social and religious (covenantal) tyrannies of The Adversary’s representatives governing the affairs of Apostate Israel.
Peter then proclaims the testimony of the Apostolic witness to
all that Jesus had done in the country of the Jews and in
Peter, concluding, declares,
And He charges us to herald to the people [
Here, Peter proclaims the only Gospel which had been committed to him, the Gospel of Jesus the Messiah sent only to the Jews, addressed only to circumcised Israelites. But, now, to his bewilderment, he is commanded to address it to these divinely gathered uncircumcised gentiles.
This Gospel of Yahweh proclaims Jesus of Nazareth as Yahweh’s appointed Judge of the living and the dead. In its proper context, however, the living and the dead refer metaphorically to those Israelites (circumcised Jews) covenantally alive (righteous) and those Israelites covenantally dead (unrighteous). To these Israelites, the prophets, testifying concerning Jesus the Messiah, promise the pardon of sins (committed under the Sinatic/Mosaic Covenant) to every one of them believing into the name of Jesus the Messiah.
Thus, these uncircumcised gentiles should not have qualified for this blessing. But Peter has learned that what Yahweh accounts clean, Yahweh’s people must not account unclean or contaminating. These uncircumcised gentiles are now to be accepted as clean (according to the terms of the New Davidic Covenant), qualifying them to obtain the pardon of sins.
However, these gentiles had not been under the Law of Moses. Their sins, now pardoned, refer to their sins committed as members of the nations which had been given up by Yahweh to the error of their disqualified mind. In blindness and ignorance, they had lived in the darkness of their distorted mind, apart from the light of the truth of Yahweh, offending Yahweh by their corrupt thinking and corrupt behavior.
But these Yahweh-reverencing uncircumcised gentiles, now in
the presence of Peter and his faithful Messianic circumcised brethren, had been
drawn to the light of Yahweh manifested in the statutes and judgments given to
That Yahweh was now pardoning the sins of the nations was one
thing. Though surprising in relation to the timing, it had been expected within
the framework of
the holy spirit fell upon all the uncircumcised Yahweh-reverencing gentiles hearing the word. And amazed were the faithful ones out of the Circumcision, those who had accompanied Peter, seeing that upon the nations also the gift of the holy spirit had been poured out. For they were hearing them speaking in a variety of languages and magnifying Yahweh. (Acts 10:44b-46 my translation)
Beholding the pouring out of the spirit upon these uncircumcised gentiles and hearing them speaking in a variety of languages, Peter and the faithful circumcised saints with him are astounded. They are completely perplexed. This revelation had been totally unexpected. It is an enigma destroying the foundation of their deficient eschatological schemata. These uncircumcised gentiles have now been incorporated into the Born-From-Above Israel of Yahweh by the very spirit of Yahweh and Jesus the Messiah.
The grounds for such incorporation would be explained only
when the Secret of the Gospel of the Messiah
would be revealed, making known to the New Spiritual Israel of Yahweh (the
Ecclesia of Jesus the Messiah) the Gospel
of the Uncircumcision. This revelation would soon be given to Saul, the
newly appointed Apostle to the nations. Though Saul had already been called to
this special Apostleship, he had not yet been sent to the nations. He had not
yet entered into his administration of this Apostleship. He would first have to
be equipped with the special knowledge necessary to successfully perform the
task associated with the administering of his Apostleship. For Saul’s
Apostleship is to affect both the people of
However, at the time of the pouring out of the spirit upon Cornelius and those gathered in his household, Peter and the circumcised saints with him do not have access to the knowledge soon to be revealed through Saul/Paul the Apostle to the Saints and to the nations. Therefore, responding to the pouring out of the spirit upon these gentiles, Peter suggests,
There can not be anyone to forbid water, so that these are not to be baptized, who obtained the holy spirit even as we. (Acts 10:47 CV)
Peter comes to the only conclusion possible under the present
circumstances. These uncircumcised gentiles had heard the Gospel of the Messiah
addressed only to
After the revelation of the Gospel of the Uncircumcision, however, it would be understood that
the requirement of baptism with water would not apply to the uncircumcision. However,
the baptism with water is required of the Gospel of the Messiah addressed to
Both these Gospels, therefore, are complementing truths within the Gospel of Jesus the Messiah (the Gospel of Christ), which Gospel is concentrically set within the circumference of the Gospel of the Kingdom, which in turn is concentrically set within the circumference of the Gospel of God (Yahweh). Thus, the Gospel of Yahweh encloses within its sphere all other Gospels revealed and proclaimed within the Hebrew and Greek Scriptures, thereby completing Yahweh’s all-sufficient eschatological schemata.
At the very center of this Gospel of Yahweh, hidden within the concentric circle representing the Gospel of the Messiah is the Gospel of the Secret of the Messiah, out from which emanates the authoritative power of Yahweh sufficiently energizing the intended effectiveness of all the emanating Gospels. The Gospel of the Secret of the Messiah makes known Yahweh’s ultimate achievement: The All-Inclusive perfection of His image reflected in every member of the Adamic human race (past, present, future). Thus, this Gospel relates to our own present age (though its proclamation is no longer authorized since it had already accomplished its purpose by 70 a.d.) during which the nations have been reconciled to Yahweh Elohim by the previous faithful ministries of Jesus the Christ, the Spiritual Head of the New Jesuic Humanity currently in progress.
When Saul/Paul commences his Apostolic Administration of the
Secret among the nations (including
For Christ does not commission me to be baptizing, but to be bringing the evangel [of the Uncircumcision committed to him] . . . (1 Corinthians 1:17a CV)
Peter and the Eleven could not say this about the Gospel of the Circumcision associated with their Apostleship. They have been commissioned to baptize:
Going, then, disciple all the nations [wherein dwell the Jews], baptizing them [believing Jews] . . . (Matthew 28:19a CV)
Go into all the world [the Sinatic/Mosaic world-order, the household of
Baptism with water, however, would not be mandated by Saul/Paul’s Gospel of the Uncircumcision. His Gospel would be addressed to uncircumcised gentiles. Circumcised Israelites believing into Jesus the Messiah are required to be baptized with water in order to wash away their sins associated with the Sinatic/Mosaic Covenant, cleansing them for service as a kingdom of priests to the nations, the uncircumcised. The Circumcised Saints have superseded the Sinatic Priesthood, becoming a nation of priests after the order of Melchizedek. They are to instruct the faithful uncircumcised brethren in the word of Yahweh and Jesus the Messiah associated with the Mosaic Covenant and the New Davidic Covenant. They are also given the responsibility of evangelizing both the circumcised and the uncircumcised of all those dwelling within the boundaries of the Roman Empire as this empire is associated with the time of Israel’s exile, the time of the domination of the gentiles (the nations) over Israel in accordance with Yahweh’s condemnation of both the Northern Kingdom of Israel (exiled under the authority of the Assyrian Empire) and the Southern Kingdom of Judah (exiled under the authority of the Babylonian Empire).
Having baptized with water Cornelius and all gathered in his
household upon whom the holy spirit had fallen, Peter is requested by these
liberated uncircumcised Gentiles believing into Jesus the Messiah to remain
with them for a time. This he does in accord with his responsibility as
Yahweh’s priest to instruct the members of the Born-From-Above Israel of Yahweh, the New Davidic Nation of
Yahweh’s glory. However, when the Apostles and the brethren in
You entered to men having uncircumcision, and you ate with them! (Acts 11:3 CV)
The uncircumcised gentiles had been universally perceived by the entire Ecclesia, the entire Messianic Nation of Israel, as excluded from the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus the Messiah. They had been, up to this time, considered unclean and, thus, contaminating to the holy nation. Necessity mandates Peter’s chronological and detailed reiteration of all that occurred in association with Cornelius and those gathered in his household. Peter then concludes,
Now as I began to speak, the holy spirit fell upon them, even as on us also in the beginning. And I remembered the declaration of the Lord [Jesus], as He said that John [the Baptist], indeed, baptized with water, yet you shall be baptized with holy spirit. If, then, Yahweh gave them the gift equal to the one He gave to us when believing upon the Lord Jesus the Messiah, who was I to be able to forbid Yahweh? (Acts 11:15‑17 my translation)
Peter, like his fellow-circumcised faithful ones, had been immersed in the traditions of the fathers (adopted since the Babylonian exile). These traditions had led Jews (zealous to maintain their holy distinction from the ungodly nations worshiping and serving alien gods in the darkness of their ignorance) to account the uncircumcised gentiles as unclean, contaminating. The intention was noble, but the concluding judgment had not been required by the Mosaic Law. The tradition had been developed as a protective measure against returning to the worship and service of the alien gods of the nations which had resulted in Yahweh’s execution of the curse written down by Moses in the Torah:
It will come to be if you do not hearken to the voice of Yahweh your Elohim to observe and to do all His instructions and His statutes . . . Yahweh shall conduct you and your king, whom you shall set up over you, to a nation whom you have not known, neither you nor your fathers, and you will serve there other elohim [gods] of wood and stone. (Deuteronomy 28:15a, 36 CV)
Thus came the curse of the Babylonian exile, which exile, in
fact, was in the process of coming to an end with the proclamation of the
Gospel of Jesus the Messiah, the salvation of
Enigmatically perplexing, however, is the disturbing fact that with the pouring out of the spirit upon these uncircumcised Gentiles, these Gentiles are now authorized by Yahweh and Jesus the Messiah not only to enter into the domain of the New Davidic Kingdom, but also to enter into the New Born-From-Above Israel of Yahweh (the Ecclesia of Jesus the Messiah) as joint-citizens with the circumcised faithful ones. This had been totally unexpected. It had been concealed from the New Nation, being hidden cryptically in the Hebrew Scriptures, in the Gospel of Yahweh, in the Gospel of the Kingdom, and in the Gospel of Jesus the Messiah.
At the entrance of Cornelius and those gathered with him in his household, Peter and the circumcised Messianic Nation had not yet received the revelation of this secret. It had remained concealed as to its explanation. The Messianic Nation, remaining enigmatically perplexed and uninformed, could only acknowledge in faith the new reality divinely confirmed by the evangelistic activity of the spirit:
Now, on hearing these things, they remained quiet and
glorified Yahweh saying, “Then also to the nations [uncircumcised Gentiles] Yahweh gave this repentance into [
The uncircumcised Gentiles had now become full-fledged covenantal citizens in the New Born-From-Above Israel of Yahweh, the new conquering spiritual nation sanctified to Yahweh and Jesus the Messiah by the New Davidic Covenant (Eph. 2:19-22). Perplexed, the question remained: What is the meaning, the significance, of this unforeseen event?
Soon after the entrance of Cornelius (and all those gathered in his household) into the Born-From-Above Israel, Saul returns from Arabia, by way of Damascus, making his way to Jerusalem in order “to relate my story to Cephas [Peter]” (Gal. 1:18 CV). Saul’s story answers the question concerning Cornelius. Saul’s Gospel, the Gospel of the Uncircumcision, reveals what has been hidden in the Law and the Prophets concerning Yahweh’s promise to reunite the Southern Kingdom of Judah with the Northern Kingdom of Israel.
Hosea had declared that Yahweh had accounted
However, Yahweh had promised to reunite the stick of
At the same time, Yahweh was about to fulfill His promise to bless all the families of the nations through Abraham’s seed. The Gospel of the Uncircumcision committed to Saul/Paul is the good news of Yahweh concerning Jesus the Messiah as the Seed, the Son, of Abraham. As the Seed/Son of Abraham, Jesus the Messiah is the salvation of the nations, the uncircumcised children of faithful Abram prior to his entering into the covenant of circumcision with Yahweh. Therefore, the Gospel of the Uncircumcision traces the faithfulness of Yahweh back to uncircumcised Abram who is to be a blessing to the uncircumcised nations which had been given up to the darkness of their disapproved/disqualified mind and depraved behavior.
These people (families) had sought to make a name for themselves at
As Abram had been faithful to Yahweh while being uncircumcised, so now, Yahweh was accounting as children of Abraham all the uncircumcised Gentiles who would be believing into Jesus the Messiah as a result of faithfully responding to the Gospel of the Uncircumcision and who would be walking faithfully in accord with the New Abrahamic/Davidic Covenant to the end of the Mosaic Eon, even as Abram had walked faithfully in accord with the covenant Yahweh had made with him. Thus, Yahweh is incorporating into His holy nation all those uncircumcised Gentiles faithfully responding to the Gospel of Jesus the Messiah as expressed in the Gospel of the Uncircumcision and continually reverencing Yahweh, walking in faith as Abraham their father had walked in faith in both uncircumcision and circumcision. As a result, in Christ there is no national distinction between circumcised members (citizens) and uncircumcised members (citizens). All are equally citizens in the Israel of Yahweh. All are equally members in the covenantally corporate Body of the Messiah.
However, the circumcised members or citizens have the additional burden of functioning as a nation, a kingdom, of royal priests instructing and guiding the new uncircumcised Gentiles entering the ranks of the New Davidic Kingdom and Nation. Although all the faithful ones (both circumcised and uncircumcised) in Christ are not under the Sinatic/Mosaic Covenant but under the authority of the New Davidic/Abrahamic Covenant, those of the circumcision carry a greater burden of responsibility. The covenant of circumcision made with Abraham preceded the Sinatic Covenant. Consequently, although the New Nation is no longer under the Sinatic/Mosaic Covenant, the covenant of circumcision made with Abraham remains operative. This means there still remains a distinct elective advantage and obligation for the circumcised citizen of the New Israel of Yahweh. This elective distinction, resulting from Yahweh’s covenant of circumcision made with Abraham, would continue to the end of the Mosaic Eon at which time all the promises made to Abraham would have been fulfilled. The circumcised Messianic Community would, therefore, be metaphorically referred to as the Bride of the Lamb.
Saul/Paul, returning to
Shortly after Saul/Paul’s departure, the
The circumcised saints are not initiating the events resulting
in the expansion of the
Now some of them [circumcised
saints dispersed due to the persecution begun after Stephen’s stoning] . .
. coming into
This evangelization of the Greeks had not yet been authorized
by the Apostles of the Messianic Community in
The explanation for this unexpected turn of events had been
provided by Jesus the Messiah through the revelation given to Saul/Paul in
Decisions being made by human authorities are being guided and influenced by the activity of the spirit. Such decisions result in the faithful response to what had been written in the Hebrew Scriptures but only recently revealed as to the concealed intended meaning. Through Saul/Paul had come an understanding of Ezekiel, chapter 37, and Hosea 1:9-10, as well as insight into the meaning of Amos 9:11‑15 and 2 Samuel, chapter 7. The meaning of these passages is being revealed by the spirit and accounts for the new insights drawn from such passages by the Apostles and disciples of Jesus the Messiah. The Hebrew Scriptures are being opened to the newly Born-From-Above people of Yahweh. Understanding and wisdom are increasing. Thus, the Apostles and disciples continue to write, adding to the Hebrew Scriptures the crowning chapters of the Greek Scriptures. During this period, the Apostle John begins to write, or supervise the writing of, the Gospel of John. Soon, he would receive the visions culminating in the writing of the Book of Revelation.
As a result of the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus the Messiah,
a vast number of the Greeks who believed [into Jesus] turned back to the Lord [Yahweh Elohim]. (Acts 11:21b my translation)
These Greeks, being uncircumcised, had been immersed in the dark traditions of the wayward nations. Believing the good news concerning the accomplishment of Jesus the Messiah on behalf of their salvation from the darkness of their national ways, these Greeks turn back to the One Living and True Elohim, Yahweh the Elohim of Israel.
Consequently, after finally receiving the report concerning
these Greeks in
Barnabas, arriving in
This gracious fellowship between the circumcised and the
uncircumcised faithful ones in Antioch is most likely what Barnabas had
observed, causing him to rejoice in accord with his reputation (like the
patriarch Joseph) as a son of consolation. As Barnabas had mediated the
fellowship between Saul and the Saints
at
Thus, the Northern Kingdom of Israel is in the process of being reunited with the Southern Kingdom of Judah. Salvation is truly of the Jews, for the Jews represent the Southern Kingdom of Judah under the rule of the sons of David, the Davidic kings, through whom the covenant made with David would be fulfilled. The One King under Whom the Northern and Southern Kingdoms would be reunited would be the promised Son of David with Whom Yahweh would make a covenant in fulfillment of His promise to David in 2 Samuel, chapter 7.
Jesus alludes to this promise and covenant when He declares to His disciples,
And I am covenanting a covenant with you, according as My Father covenanted a kingdom to Me, . . . (Luke 22:29 CV)
Thus, Jesus the Messiah, the Anointed One of Yahweh, is the promised King under Whom the divided Kingdom of David would be reunited. This had been a secret concealed in the Hebrew Scriptures but now revealed to the Saints of the New Messianic Israel of Yahweh through the revelation given to Saul/Paul, recently commissioned as Apostle to the Nations, the Uncircumcised.
Such a fulfillment of prophecy had been completely unexpected.
Such a fulfillment of prophecy would also be a stumbling block for both Jews in
general and Jews entering into the New Messianic Israel of Yahweh. Many
believing Jews would cause much conflict within the Messianic Nation,
eventually being unveiled as apostate servants of The Adversary, as disguised
Cainites whose masks had concealed their counterfeit hearts. In the end, these
apostates would turn away from Jesus the Messiah, returning to the unauthorized
and unapproved thieves, usurpers claiming authority and power over Apostate
Israel (see 1 John 2:18-20; 2 Thess. 2; Rom. 13:11-14; Matt. 13:39-42;
Heb. 6:4-8; 1 Tim. 4:1). As a result of the proclamation of the Gospel of the
Messiah to the Greeks in
The victories of the New Davidic Warrior-King continue to add
up, spreading throughout the
Barnabas, having observed the gracious integration of the
circumcised and uncircumcised faithful ones in the
Barnabas, the great reconciler, the patriarch Joseph of the
New Israel of Yahweh, whisks Saul/Paul to
During this year of Sauline/Pauline instruction, a group of
prophets from
Upon hearing of this coming famine in all of Judea, the
disciples in
only that there should be no needy among you, for Yahweh shall bless, yea bless you in the land that Yahweh your Elohim is giving to you as an allotment to tenant it. . . . Since the needy shall not leave off from being within the land, therefore I am instructing you, saying: You shall open, yea open your hand to your brother, to your humble and to your needy in your land. (CV)
Yahweh had begun to chastise Apostate Israel, warning these
apostate Jews of the coming judgment upon those rejecting the Gospel of Jesus
the Messiah. He would, however, provide for the righteous among His people. Those
blessed would share their abundance with those less fortunate because of the
famine sent upon Apostate Israel in the
With the entrance of the uncircumcised faithful ones into the
Ecclesia of Jesus the Messiah (the Born-From-Above
Israel of Yahweh) and the significant revelation committed to Saul/Paul
while in Arabia, the Lord Jesus (with the authorization of Yahweh) reveals to
the Apostle John a series of visions prophetically revealing what is shortly to
occur in relation to His slaves, His spiritual-warriors of the New Davidic
Covenant. This prophecy is to prepare His warrior-slaves for the coming
persecution arising during the spiritual warfare with Apostate Israel. It is
intended to encourage His disciples to remain faithful to the end, for
triumphant victory is already assured. The
The spiritual warfare about to occur will result in much persecution, affliction, and even death. But the New Nation and Kingdom under the courageous and undefeated leadership of Jesus the Messiah, the New Davidic Warrior-King, the Commander-In-Chief appointed by Yahweh Himself, has already been guaranteed complete victory. All those faithful to the end are guaranteed their share in the Celestial Allotment to be rewarded at the end of the Mosaic Eon, the final triumphant victory of the New Davidic Nation and Kingdom.
This revelation (series of visions) is given to Jesus the Messiah by Yahweh. It authorizes Jesus “to show His slaves what must occur swiftly” (Rev. 1:1 CV). Jesus communicates this revelation, this prophecy, this series of visions, to His slave John through the mediation of a celestial messenger. John is to show this revelation to his fellow-slaves in a written record.
The revelation consists of symbolic images signifying coded
truth. This truth would be decoded, explained, by the spiritually endowed
teachers given to the Ecclesia of Jesus the Messiah (the Born-From-Above Israel of Yahweh) by the spirit. This revelation is
given to John in the late 30s of the first century. Its message reveals events
which were to occur swiftly, culminating in 70 a.d. with the destruction of
Thus, John writes,
Happy [Blessed, Honorable] is he who is reading and those who are hearing the word of the [this] prophecy, and who are keeping [obeying] that which is written in it, for the era [season] is near. (Revelation 1:3 CV)
The era, the season, the appropriate time, for the fulfillment of this prophecy is NEAR. Those who hear and obey the message of this prophecy are blessed. They are considered honorable ones. For they will be faithful to the end of the Mosaic Eon and will be entering into the Celestial Allotment promised to those conquering together with Jesus the Messiah.
The written record of this prophecy, this series of symbolic visions, would be read in all the Messianic assemblies by a spiritually endowed teacher able to read and decode, explain, the significance of the symbols to disciples of Jesus the Messiah enlightened by the spirit in order to spiritually understand the symbolic meaning of the visions revealed. The one reading and decoding and those hearing with spiritual understanding are to take heed to the signified portents (forewarnings) and the exhortational visions, because the prophetical events would come within the experiences of their own generation and affect their own personal covenantal destiny at the soon-to-end Mosaic Eon. For the era, the season of the events prophesied, is NEAR, consummating in the termination of the Mosaic Eon and the rewarding of the Celestial Allotment.
That the sayings of this prophecy are near for the hearers, the addressees, is confirmed by the testimony recorded at the conclusion of this prophetic revelation:
You should not be sealing the sayings of the prophecy of this scroll, for the era is near. (Revelation 22:10 CV)
John is not to seal the sayings of this prophecy, for the era of the end is near. This command is contrasted with the command given to Daniel,
Now you Daniel, stop up the words and seal the scroll till the era of the end . . . (Daniel 12:4a CV)
Daniel is commanded to seal his scroll because the era of the end is not near. It would not arrive until a period extending over 500 years.
John’s scroll must not be sealed for it applies to those presently being addressed. The main events described in John’s revelation would occur between the years 64-70 a.d., though certain visions refer the reader and hearers back to the pouring out of the spirit in 30 a.d. and events following this, preparing for the consummation of the eons (the coming together of various ends, 1 Cor. 10:11 CV) begun in 64 a.d., resulting in the knot tying together these loose ends: the consummation reached in 70 a.d. Some of these earlier events had already been experienced by the disciples, while others were about to be experienced some time between the years 41-44 a.d. with the persecution initiated by King Herod Agrippa I.
The Book of Revelation is a prophecy, not a letter. The prophecy begins with verse 4:
John, to the seven ecclesias [assemblies] which are in [the
province of]
John is not commissioned to write a letter, but to record a
prophecy. The seven assemblies in
The Lord [Yahweh] hath made bare his holy arm in
the eyes of all the nations [Cornelius
and the Greeks in
The Apostle Paul would confirm this distinction when writing
to the disciples in
Do not become diversely yoked with apostate Jews. For what partnership have righteousness [faithful ones] and lawlessness [apostate Jews]? . . . For you [the faithful ones in Christ] are the living God’s [Yahweh’s] Temple, according as Yahweh said, that I will be making My home and will be walking among them [see Rev. 1:12-13] and I will be their God [Elohim], and they shall be My people. Wherefore, Come out of their [apostate Jews] midst and be severed, Yahweh is saying. And touch not an unclean thing [an apostate Jew], and I will admit you, and I will be a Father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me, says Yahweh the Almighty One. (2 Corinthians 6:14-18 my translation)
This is figurative language. The Israel of Yahweh does not
geographically sever herself from Apostate Israel. She separates (sanctifies)
herself from the unclean Apostate Israel, consisting of unclean apostate Jews,
by maintaining her faithfulness to Jesus the Messiah and His Gospel. By
symbolically placing the seven (number of spiritual completion) assemblies
geographically in Asia (geographically forming a complete circle), John is able
to designate in code the entire unified and complete Assembly (Ecclesia) of
Jesus the Messiah, the spiritual Israel of Yahweh, the New Davidic Kingdom of
priests, the spiritual warrior-soldiers of the New Davidic Warrior-King. By
symbolically placing the unified and complete Assembly of Jesus the Messiah in
In this symbolic address to the slaves of Jesus the Messiah,
John begins to show them (in accord with verse 1) the things which must occur
swiftly according to the authority coming from Yahweh: “from Him Who is and Who was and Who is coming, and from the seven spirits which are before His throne [Yahweh’s complete
knowledge of the things, the events, occurring swiftly], and from Jesus Christ, the
Faithful Witness [of Yahweh], the
Firstborn of the dead, and the Suzerain of the kings of the earth” (Rev. 1:4b-5a
CV). Thus, this prophecy is authored and authorized by Yahweh the Elohim of
Israel; the Elohim of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David; the Elohim Who is
faithful to His promises to these forefathers; the Elohim Whose Shekinah glory
had been among His people but which had been withdrawn. This Elohim is swiftly
coming to execute the final curse of the Sinatic Covenant upon Apostate Israel
and to reward the promised Celestial Allotment to His holy, faithful nation,
His faithful
Who is loving us and releases us [the faithful members of the Israel of Yahweh] from our sins in the interest of His blood and made us a kingdom of priests to His God [Elohim] and Father, to Him [Jesus, on behalf of His God and Father, Yahweh Elohim] be the glory and the might [dominion, revealed in this prophecy] into the eons of the eons! Amen! (Revelation 1:5b-6 my translation)
John then encouragingly exclaims that this same Jesus, the Authorized and Anointed Agent of Yahweh,
is coming with clouds, and every eye shall be seeing Him (even the ones who pierced Him). And will mourn, on His account, all the tribes of the earth. (Revelation 1:7 my translation)
The “seeing” here is primarily figurative. The coming of Jesus the Messiah will be seen primarily by the eyes of faith belonging to the faithful slaves of Jesus the Messiah. These faithful slaves, hearing and obeying the visions of this prophecy, will intelligently perceive and understand the spiritual significance of the events encoded in these prophetic visions. In these events, properly understood, the faithful will be perceiving the coming of Jesus the Messiah to judge apostate Jews and reward faithful Israelites.
However, the faithful will, in the end, literally see Jesus
the Messiah coming with the clouds to lead them into their Celestial Allotment.
The apostate Jews, the ones who crucified Jesus the Nazarene, will figuratively
see Him in the destructive judgment of the coming events. These apostate Jews,
however, will not mourn on His account. Only His faithful slaves will have the
necessary knowledge making it possible for them to share in the mourning for
His loss (see Matt. 23:37; Lk. 23:26-31). The apostate Jews throughout the
At the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, Apostate
Israel will perceive the darkened storm clouds of the mighty powerful right arm
of the New Davidic Warrior-King coming in the terrible doom of national
judgment (see Jer. 4:13-14; Ezk. 34:12-13). Thus, all the tribes of the Jews in
the land of Palestine and throughout the Roman Empire experiencing and/or
hearing the report of the defiling catastrophe of the Temple and Jerusalem by
their own people in the land, together with the other nations also dwelling in
the land and opposing the Romans, will mourn the loss of temple, city, land,
and fellow-Jews, both those killed and those scattered. With the loss of the
Yahweh’s coming in judgment is thus carried out by Jesus the
Messiah. Yahweh is “the Alpha and the
Omega,” the beginning and the end of all written in the Law and the
Prophets (Rev. 1:8). Jesus the Messiah is “the
First and the Last,” the fulfilling agent of all written in the Law and the
Prophets (Rev. 1:17). He has appeared in the last days of the Mosaic Eon. He is
a covenantal member of the last generation of the Sinatic/Mosaic Covenant. John
writes during these last days as “your
brother and joint participant in the affliction and endurance in Jesus Christ”
(Rev. 1:9a CV). He is a sharer in the sufferings of Jesus the Messiah, the
persecution and affliction coming upon those committed to the Gospel of Jesus
the Messiah, the righteousness of the
John testifies that he came to be in the
When John turns around in the direction from which the voice comes, he perceives seven golden lampstands forming a circle, in the midst of which he perceives one like a son of man. The voice as loud as a trumpet had signaled the approach of a solemn epiphany of a royally divine presence. John has been called by this Eminent Being to be His scribe. This Being symbolically represents Jesus the Messiah in His royal majesty as Priest and King. His head and hair are brilliantly white, signifying His purity and faithfulness. His eyes are like a flame of fire, signifying His qualification to judge righteously, discerning truth and falsehood, righteousness and unrighteousness, faithfulness and unfaithfulness. Thus, His eyes pierce through appearances to the state of the heart and the mind.
His feet are as white bronze fired in a furnace in contrast to
the feet of iron and clay upon which the Roman Empire stands (Dan. 2:40-43). Thus,
His kingdom is strong, stable, endurable, unlike the kingdoms of the
world-order of Adam. His
In His right hand, the hand of rule and powerful authority, are seven stars, explained as representing the seven messengers of the seven assemblies (Rev. 1:20). Seven being the number of completion, the seven messengers and the seven assemblies symbolically represent the complete and all-sufficient rule/reign of Jesus the Messiah over His complete and unified Ecclesia which He is in the process of building. The seven messengers and the seven assemblies (ecclesias) represent the Davidic Kingdom over which Jesus the Messiah reigns and through which He is conquering His enemies and liberating all those sheep (faithful disciples) the Father, Yahweh Elohim, has given Him (Jn. 6:37-40).
Thus, there are not literally seven messengers or seven
assemblies. The seven assemblies represent the Ecclesia of Jesus the Messiah,
and the seven messages (letters) written to the seven assemblies in Revelation,
chapters 2 and 3, are exhortational instructions consisting of praises,
warnings, and promises applicable to all His assemblies located throughout the
Roman Empire, but especially applicable to all His assemblies in Judea,
Samaria, Galilee, Syria, Decapolis, Peraea, and Idumaea located in the land of
Palestine. These territories are soon to be directly under the siege of the
Roman army and under the rebellious revolt of Apostate Israel against Yahweh
and
Apostate
Consequently, as a result of this idolatry, out of the mouth of Jesus the Messiah comes a symbolic “sharp two-edged blade” (Rev. 1:16a CV). This two-edged sword of the word of the Gospel metaphorically slays to covenantal death the distorted, rebellious hearts and minds of apostate Israelites (the children and sons of Cain). Simultaneously, this two-edged sword pierces the hardened hearts and/or deceived minds of blind and ignorant Israelites (children and sons of Abel), wounding these hardened hearts and deceived minds while at the same time melting their hearts and enlightening their minds to the truth of the Gospel, thereby effecting repentance unto covenantal life. Thus, the countenance of Jesus the Messiah appears, in the metaphorical heaven spread across the Roman Empire (the habitation of the entire households of Israel and Judah), as the sun in the zenith of its power (Rev. 1:16b CV), another symbolic representation of simultaneous judgment and salvation, death and life, sorrow and joy: judgment, death, and sorrow for Apostate Israel; salvation, life, and joy for the Israel of Yahweh, the Ecclesia of Jesus the Messiah.
John, falling at the feet of the “One like a son of man” (Rev. 1:13 CV), being totally incapacitated by the majesty of this Being, is endued with strength by the touch of the Being’s right hand. He is then encouraged not to fear, being assured,
I am the First and the Last, and the Living One: and I became dead, and lo! living am I for the eons of the eons. (Amen!) And I have the keys of the death and of the unseen [Hades]. (Revelation 1:17c-18 CV)
John now realizes he is observing, in a state of spiritual ecstasy, Jesus the Messiah.
His Lord declares He is the First and the Last. He is the One Who at the beginning of His ministry proclaimed the Gospel of the Kingdom. Thus, at first He had proclaimed the Gospel and at last He had obediently died a crucifixion death. Being aroused from among the dead, He is the Living One Who now lives “for the eons of the eons.” Time no longer reigns over Him. He now lives through all the procession of Time, death no longer being an obstacle, a terminator. He has conquered both biological death (the death common to all humans) and covenantal death (the death of the Sinatic/Mosaic Covenant, the Second Death associated only with national and covenantal Apostate Israel).
In the mind and purpose of Yahweh, Jesus is the First Man, the model Adam had been designed after, and the Last Man, the goal toward which Adam and the Adamic race is designed to attain. Thus, He is Yahweh’s First intended Man and now, at Last, Yahweh’s achieved man due to Whom all men will attain to His Likeness and Image, the originally intended paragonal prototype predetermined by Yahweh.
Jesus the Messiah is also Yahweh’s First and Last word. He fulfills all Yahweh’s promises recorded in the Law and the Prophets. The Hebrew Scriptures record Yahweh’s First prophetic Word; the Greek Scriptures record Yahweh’s Last prophetic Word.
Jesus the Messiah, as the First and the Last, and the Living One, has the keys of the death and of the unseen (Rev. 1:18b). Possessing such keys, He has the power and authority to unlock and open the dungeon door of the Second Death (covenantal death, the definite article [the death] indicating a specific type of death) as well as the dungeon door of the unseen (Hades, the dwelling place of the dead in Greek mythology; Sheol, the dwelling place of the dead in the Hebrew Scriptures, synonymous with the grave, the abode of the dead body; thus, biological death). Jesus, therefore, is the only one having the power and authority from Yahweh to release those prisoners held captive in the dungeon of covenantal death (the Second Death, the national, covenantal death of Apostate Israel) and those prisoners held captive in the dungeon of biological death, the death common to all humans.
Consequently, John is commanded by Jesus the Messiah, the Living One possessing the keys of the death and of the unseen, to
Write then, what you perceived, and what they are, and what is about to be occurring after these things: the secret of the seven stars which you perceived in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands. The seven stars are messengers of the seven ecclesias, and the seven lampstands are seven ecclesias. (Revelation 1:19‑20 CV)
What John had already perceived refers to this first vision described and recorded in verses 9-18. At the beginning of this vision, John is commanded to write in the scroll given to him (“write into the scroll,” not into “a” scroll, v. 11) that which he presently was observing. This indicates John was to begin writing (in the scroll given to him in the vision) those things he was presently observing in the vision.
Later, when all the visions had run their course, John was to
record them on a real scroll which would become part of the holy Greek
Scriptures already being written and added to the Hebrew Scriptures. This scroll
would then be made available to all saints
presently located throughout Judea,
John had been commanded in verse 11 to send the scroll, upon which he was presently writing the things he was presently observing, to the seven assemblies of the vision, not to any specific seven assemblies which existed outside the vision. The sending of these seven letters to the assemblies existing outside the vision he later fulfills in the real scroll beginning with verse 4, which begins the revealed prophecy proper, directly following the introduction to the work as a whole.
In the vision of his ecstatic experience, he finds himself on
the
You are the light of the world-order [the household of
When Jesus the Messiah commands John to write what John has just perceived, John is commanded to continue writing what he had begun writing in verse 11, since, having fallen as if dead at the feet of Jesus the Messiah, he had discontinued his writing. John is now to complete his account of the things he was presently observing, adding to it what these things signified. For these things could not be understood apart from revelation. And John was being given such revelation, even as Saul of Tarsus had just recently been given such revelation.
This first vision given to John concerned that which was
already present. He was now to write on the scroll in the vision what these
symbolic things he was observing actually represented. The seven lampstands
represent seven assemblies. The seven stars represent messengers of the seven
assemblies (Rev. 1:20b). Messengers communicate messages. What Yahweh is
revealing to His people, He is already revealing through messengers like Peter,
Saul, John, and Philip. These messages reveal the secrets of the Gospel. The
seven stars represent the complete circle of saints to whom Yahweh would be
revealing the secret of the Gospel, messages enlightening the citizens of the
Israel of Yahweh as to His continuing revelations concerning the
administrations of the Gospel of the
Circumcision and the Gospel of the
Uncircumcision: “the secret of the
Christ, which, in other generations, is not made known to the sons of the men [the
elect faithful ones beginning with Abel and ending with John the Baptist] as it was now revealed to His holy apostles
and prophets” (Eph. 3:4b-5 CV modified); “the administration of the secret, which has been concealed from the eons in God [Yahweh] . . .” (Eph. 3:9 CV); “a realization of the secret of the God and
Father, of Christ, in Whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are
concealed” (Col. 2:2b-3 CV). Peter was such a messenger when he was given
his vision and sent to Cornelius. Saul was such a messenger when he was sent to
In the first vision given John, Jesus the Messiah (the
Priest-King) is observed standing in the midst of the seven lampstands (Rev. 1:12-13).
This represents a reality already in progress among the assemblies in
you shall know that the Supreme is in authority in the kingdom of mortals, and that to whom He is willing He is giving it. . . . jurisdiction is of the heavens. (Daniel 4:25b, 26b CV modified)
As Yahweh had given the kingdom of mortals to
So Yahweh will make you to be the head and not the tail, and you will surely be above [metaphorically in the heavens above the nations], and you shall not be below [metaphorically on the earth together with the nations], in case you should hearken to the instructions of Yahweh your Elohim . . . (Deuteronomy 28:13 CV)
Finally, John is commanded to write “what is about to be occurring after these things” (Rev. 1:19), that
is, after the things already observed and revealed in the present vision of
verses 9-18. The things about to be occurring will be revealed in the visions
which follow, beginning with the messages to the seven assemblies, representing
the Israel of Yahweh as a whole in her spiritual warfare against Apostate
Israel. The forthcoming visions will focus primarily on the Jewish revolt against
The messages written to the seven symbolic assemblies apply to
all the assemblies of Jesus the Messiah, to all His disciples making up His
Ecclesia, His One unified Assembly still in the process of growth. These
messages concern the practical affect of events occurring during the last days
of the Mosaic Eon. The messages come from Jesus the Messiah Himself Who is
concerned about the welfare of His people. The messages point out various
strengths and weaknesses among His people in their endeavor to faithfully carry
on the spiritual warfare of the
Their warfare is against Apostate Israel (covenantally rebellious Jews). Their mission is to liberate all Yahweh’s people held captive by Apostate Israel and the foreign nations still walking in darkness. Jesus the Messiah exhortationally warns His people against possible unfaithfulness and actual behavior in need of repentance. He then reminds the faithful ones, the ones conquering, of the present advantages enabling them to faithfully fulfill the mission of Yahweh and the imminent rewards awaiting them at the arrival of His Parousia, if they remain faithful to the end.
These exhortational warnings pertain to present, as well as imminently future, threats to their covenantal welfare. The main focus is on imminently future problematic thought and behavior. All His disciples are to take heed to these prophetic warnings and encouraging promises of crucial provisions enabling the faithful to conquer and to triumph to the end in their spiritual and covenantal warfare.
To the faithful spiritual warriors represented by this Ephesian assembly, Jesus the Messiah addresses His praise for their heroic deeds and strenuous, enduring toil on behalf of the Gospel and against the enemy’s opposition, especially their intolerance of evil men, those individuals who tend to condone sinful behavior in the name of Yahweh’s graciousness. He also commends them for unmasking counterfeit apostles seeking to infiltrate the new Born-From-Above nation in order to sabotage her mission. This commendation is prophetic of a problem to become prevalent in their near future, due to the Judaic antagonism to the recent entrance of the uncircumcised into the new nation. Such identification of counterfeit apostles is vital to the successful campaigns of the Messianic warriors against the opposing forces of Apostate Israel.
However, Jesus the Messiah chastises these saints for not
performing their faithful works with the intense spiritual fervor of first
love. Their enthusiasm in the spirit of first love has been lost. This would
become a problem with the passing of years. Many would become impatient as the
years passed by minus the approach and arrival of the Parousia. Faithful conquests
called for the patient endurance of all the work necessary to liberate all of
Yahweh’s people held captive throughout the household habitation of the
The war is on. Only Yahweh would determine its length in time. The responsibility of the faithful ones is to endure the hardships to the end determined by Yahweh. Here is the glory and the joy of the saints in the service of their Elohim and Savior.
Jesus the Messiah, therefore, exhorts them to “repent, and do the former acts” (Rev. 2:5 CV). The members of this assembly are to repent concerning their impatience with the length of their service, repent of their debilitating expectation of an early Parousia. They are to return to the performing of their works on behalf of their Lord in the spirit and enthusiasm of their first love, for love is the motivating factor in the faithful service of the conquering servant of Jesus the Messiah.
If, however, repentance is not forthcoming, Jesus their Lord would remove their lampstand out of its place. Service apart from the spirit of love is unacceptable. Such service would be rejected, and removal from the Born-From-Above Nation would result. He who conquers to the end must conquer in the love exemplified by Jesus the Messiah Himself. Those leaving their first love would become susceptible to the message of the counterfeit apostles, returning to their previous confidence in the Mosaic Covenant and their part in Apostate Israel.
That this message is meant for the entire Ecclesia of Jesus the Messiah is evidenced by the following exhortational command:
Who has an ear, let him hear what the spirit is saying to the ecclesias. (Revelation 2:7a CV)
The message sent to each assembly is directed to all
assemblies, all communities of saints, wherever they are located throughout the
household habitation of the
As the saints in Ephesus are properly hating the works of the Nicolaitans (a group of Jews zealously committed to conquering in the misappropriated name of Moses and on behalf of Apostate Israel still clinging to the Mosaic Covenant for covenantal life and eschatological hope), so also Jesus the Messiah guarantees,
To the one who is conquering [nikonti, same root form as the word Nikolaiton, Nikolaitans, of whom the Ephesian saints and Jesus are said to be hating because of their works, 2:6b], to him will I be granting to be eating of the log [tree] of life which is in the center of the paradise of God. (Revelation 2:7b CV)
The Nicolaitans refer to Jews opposing Jesus the Messiah, His Gospel, His New Covenant, His New Davidic Kingdom, His New Born-From-Above Nation, and His New People, His Ecclesia, the Israel of Yahweh. These Jews, extremely zealous of the traditions of their fathers, are on the march in their intent to conquer the invading New Nation which is under the reign of Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus praises the Ephesian saints for hating the works of these apostate Jews, but has also warned them of the loss of their first love, which, if not regained (restored), could very well result in the loss of their hatred of the works of the Nicolaitans, causing them to hate the works of Jesus the Messiah Himself and to love the works of the Nicolaitans.
To those of His saints who are conquering in His name, Jesus declares He will be granting each one the authority to be eating of the tree (literally, log) of life located in the center of the paradise of God. Though the future tense is used, this grant, this gift, is presently being provided by Jesus to all those saints currently meeting the required condition of conquering, walking faithfully in His Way, living in accord with the expectations of the New Davidic Covenant, the Law of Jesus the Messiah (see Gal. 6:2). Thus, the future tense being used in this text is the gnomic future, which refers to a performance which whenever met will result in the promised reward. Therefore, as long as each saint is faithfully conquering in the name of Jesus the Messiah, he or she will be authorized to be eating of the tree of life.
This tree or log of life metaphorically refers to the cross Jesus had been nailed to. This cross, this crucifixion death, represents the new covenantal life provided by the New Davidic Covenant. This tree of life is said to be located in the center of the paradise of God. This tree of life, according to Revelation 22:2, 14, 19, is located in the New Jerusalem which symbolically represents the Bride of the Lamb (21:9‑10).
This tree of life represents the covenantal life of the Ecclesia of Jesus the Messiah. All the saints (the circumcised faithful ones) and Gentile believers in the Gospel (uncircumcised faithful ones) continually have access to this spiritual life as long as they walk faithfully. This covenantal tree of life continually provides the spiritual nourishment necessary for the disciples, the spiritual warriors of Jesus the Messiah, to carry out their spiritual service in the warfare against Apostate Israel. All in Christ are figuratively eating of the fruit of this tree. This New Davidic Covenantal Life is found within the New Jerusalem, the Bride of the Lamb (two analogies describing the Ecclesia of Jesus the Messiah, the New Davidic Israel of Yahweh).
John’s Related Vision in Chapter
21: A New Heaven and a New Earth.
John, in chapter 21, is given a vision of “a new heaven and a new earth, for the former heaven and the former
earth passed away, and the sea is no more” (Rev. 21:1 CV modified). The
former heaven and former earth symbolically represent the heaven and the earth
of the world-order of the Sinatic/Mosaic Covenant. According to that
world-order,
This new world-order is the result of the New Abrahamic/Davidic Covenant. It supersedes the world-order of the Sinatic/Mosaic Covenant and is a present reality for John and his readers, as confirmed later by Paul:
So that, if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: the primitive things [of the Sinatic/Mosaic Covenant] passed by. Lo! there has come new things [of the New Davidic Covenant]! (2 Corinthians 5:17 CV modified)
Now that the uncircumcised Gentiles have entered the Ecclesia, the metaphorical sea, separating the circumcised from the uncircumcised within the covenantal nation, no longer exists. Thus, the vision of John in Revelation 21:1-22:5 is not future to John and his readers, but present.
In 21:2 John perceives “the
holy city, new Jerusalem, descending out of the heaven [of this vision] from God, made ready as a bride adorned for
her husband” (CV modified). This new Jerusalem descending out of the heaven
of this vision represents the Born-From-Above
nation of
The old
John’s Related Vision in Chapter 12: A Woman Clothed With the Sun. This is the significance of John’s vision in chapter 12:
And a great sign was seen in the heaven [of this vision]: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon underneath her feet, and on her head a wreath [crown] of twelve stars. And being pregnant, she is crying, travailing and tormented to be bringing forth. (Revelation 12:1-2 CV)
The woman seen in this vision represents Sinatic
The woman,
John then perceives another sign in this visionary heaven:
a great fiery-red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and on its heads seven diadems. And its tail is dragging a third of the stars of the heaven [of this vision], and casts them into the earth [of this vision]. (Revelation 12:3-4a CV)
This dragon represents Apostate Israel ruled over by The
Adversary. Its tail is dragging a third of the stars in the crown of the woman
and casting them into the earth below, the abode of the wayward nations
dwelling within the darkness of the ancient world. These four stars cast down
among the nations represent the geographical territory allotted by Joshua to
the tribes of Judah, Simeon, Benjamin and Dan. The geographical territory
allotted to these four tribes represents the territory of the Southern Kingdom
of Judah after her return from Babylonian captivity. Thus, these four stars
cast down to earth among the nations represent the current
At the time of John’s writing Revelation, Apostate Israel is
collaborating with the
In the second sign seen in the vision of Revelation, chapter
12, the dragon, Apostate Israel, stands before the woman, Sinatic Israel,
waiting to devour her male son about to be born. Here is prophetic
triple-entendre. The vision alludes back to the birth of Jesus and the attempt
by Herod the Great (representing Apostate Israel under the authority of The
Adversary, Satan) to destroy the new-born male son who is perceived by Herod to
be a threat to his throne and kingdom. Jesus is delivered from this threat by
Yahweh His Father. The vision also represents the resurrection of Jesus the Messiah
out of the womb of death and His ascension to the throne of Yahweh His Father. However,
the vision primarily represents and refers to the birth of the Born-From-Above Nation, the new Israel
of Yahweh generated out of the metaphorical womb of Sinatic
This new nation, this male-son, since the entrance of the uncircumcised, is revealed to be a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17), superseding the national male-son, the natural man created at Sinai (see Deut. 5:23-24 CV). This new nation is a new man (Eph. 2:15) consisting of circumcised faithful sons of Abraham and uncircumcised faithful sons of Abraham. Covenantally, and metaphorically, Yahweh, at the birth of this new nation out of the womb of Sinatic Israel, at the pouring out of His spirit upon this new man on the Day of Pentecost, snatched (exalted) this new national man (male-son) to His throne in the metaphorical heaven above the nations. For this new nation, this new man, this new male-son is in Christ, and together with Jesus the Messiah is Yahweh’s New Male-Son, New Holy Nation, New Holy Creation, New Holy Man, covenantally exalted to the place of headship over all nations in accord with the New Abrahamic/Davidic Covenant superseding the Sinatic/Mosaic Covenant.
Thus, Apostate Israel (represented by the dragon and the four
stars in the crown of the woman [Sinatic
John, then, perceives in his vision recorded in chapter 12,
And she [Sinatic Israel] brought forth a son, a male, who is about to be shepherding all the nations [now about to be coming into the Ecclesia, the New Nation, the New Creation, the New Man, as a result of the entrance of Cornelius] with an iron club [the club of the Law of Christ wielded in order to guide the uncircumcised faithful sons of Abraham in the Way of Yahweh and His Messiah]. And her child is snatched away to God and to His throne. (Revelation 12:5 CV)
The Ecclesia of Jesus the Messiah (the Born-From-Above New Nation of Yahweh, now perceived by the saints to have been exalted to the throne of Yahweh in the covenantal/metaphorical heaven above the nations; now perceived by the saints [circumcised faithful sons of Abraham] to have been created a New National Man consisting of both circumcised and uncircumcised faithful sons of Abraham) had become the light of the world-order of Yahweh, the light of the mortal kingdom of men (the Yahweh-authorized Roman Empire wielding the scepter of power over the nations). This New Holy Man, this New Holy Nation, had been exalted by Yahweh into the covenantal heavens, replacing, superseding, Sinatic Israel (the Woman of this vision) who had been deposed (due to her hardened heart caused by her deceived mind) to the lower non-covenantal realm of the earth, until the time when Yahweh would melt her hardened heart and open her blind eyes.
That time is now imminent
as the light of a new day could now, with the eyes of faith, be seen peaking
over the horizon. The new Sun of
Yahweh’s love is rising, bringing to an end the long night of darkness of the wayward nations. Sinatic
The stormy, dark clouds over disobedient, arrogant,
unbelieving Apostate Israel are making it difficult to see the light of the
Gospel toiling agonistically to penetrate through these thick, dark clouds of
covenantal opposition. But the light of the Gospel is triumphing. Many
throughout the
John’s Related Vision in Chapter
20: The Submerged Chaos. In
this vision, Satan is depicted as being bound in chains, limiting his deceiving
activity to the
And I perceived a messenger descending out of the heaven [of this vision], having the key of the submerged chaos and a large chain in his hand. And he lays hold of the dragon, the ancient serpent, who is the Adversary and Satan, and binds him a thousand years. And he casts him into the submerged chaos and locks it, and seals it over him (lest he should still be deceiving the nations) until the thousand years should be finished [might be made complete]. After these things he must be loosed a little time. (Revelation 20:1-3 CV)
“The submerged chaos” (also translated abyss, pit, or bottomless pit) is associated with demons and the depths of a lake. It is first used in the Greek Scriptures in Luke 8:31. Demons speaking to Jesus plead with Him not to cast them into “the submerged chaos.” Leaving the possessed man, they are permitted to enter into a herd of pigs. The herd then stampedes over a precipice into the lake below.
Thus, “the submerged chaos” is associated with the depths of a lake. Symbolically, it becomes associated with “the lake of fire”:
And the wild beast is arrested, and with it the false prophet . . . Living, the two were cast into the lake of fire burning with sulphur. (Revelation 19:20 CV)
In Revelation 20:10, The Adversary also is cast into “the lake of fire” after being loosed
for a short season in order to deceive the nations for the last time. “The lake of fire,” therefore,
symbolically represents apostate
Thus, “the lake of fire”
(the
Thus, in chapter 17, the woman sitting on a scarlet wild beast
represents Apostate Jerusalem “clothed
with purple and scarlet, and gilded with gold and precious stones and pearls,
having a golden cup in her hand, brimming with abominations and the
uncleannesses of the prostitution of her and the earth [the land of
Palestine]” (Rev. 17:4 CV). She is
clothed symbolically with her unclean priestly garments and paraphernalia
associated with the apostate temple worship. She is called “
At the time of the writing of Revelation (39-40 a.d.), Satan The Adversary had been
confined to the
This is the symbolic significance of the binding of The
Adversary for 1,000 years, during which time (the symbolic 1,000 years, about 33-64
a.d.) the faithful, conquering
disciples of Jesus the Messiah, in opposition to the reign of The Adversary,
live and reign with the Messiah (see Rev. 20:4b). As Satan begins his reign
over Apostate Israel while confined to ruling over only the land of Palestine
(about 30 a.d.), he is given (in
64 a.d., the beginning of the
Jewish revolt against Rome) “the key of
the well of the submerged chaos” (Rev. 9:1b CV). This key signifies the
authority given to Satan by Yahweh to wreak havoc in his
And he [Satan] opens the well of the submerged chaos, and fumes ascended out of the well as the smoke of a large furnace, and the sun and the air are darkened by the fumes of the well. (Revelation 9:2 CV)
The sun and the air being darkened represent a kingdom completely immersed in a depraved environment of corrupt thinking and behaving. Absurd thought and behavior are accepted as reasonable and wise. Fools are caught up in their own folly. Yahweh gives Apostate Israel over to her depraved mind and heart to produce her own chaotic destruction.
Poisonous locusts (representing depravity of mind and heart) come out of these rancid fumes. These locusts have license to sting scorpion-like only “the” men (9:4b, Greek text has the article the before the noun men) of the land not having the seal of Yahweh on their foreheads. These men are those who have rejected the Gospel of the Christ. Thus, they are primarily unfaithful Jews committed to the cause of Apostate Israel and her apostate, corrupt, depraved system of worship and service. They are the circumcised unfaithful children of Abraham clinging to the nullified Mosaic Covenant for covenantal life and eschatological promise. The poison administered in the sting of these locusts is therefore the poison of the false gospel of a distorted Moses, the false gospel of the traditions and commandments of apostate Jewish rulers, teachers, and shepherds who oppose Jesus the Messiah. They proclaim a counterfeit gospel of the circumcision, worshiping and serving the god of their own Cainish imagination.
These locusts, however, have no power to inflict their tormenting sickness upon the grass of the land, anything green, or any tree (Rev. 9:4). These three exceptions represent the people of Yahweh: the Jewish Messianics, unbelieving Jews whose hearts are circumcised, and Yahweh-fearing Gentiles.
The tormenting sickness is to be endured for a period of five
months, symbolically representing the five major festivals of
The king reigning over these locusts is Satan, The Adversary himself, who had been confined by chains to operate his destruction only within the land of the Jews. This messenger of “the submerged chaos” has a name in both Hebrew and Greek:
His Hebrew name is Abaddon [destroyer], and in Greek he has the name Apollyon [the waster]. (Revelation 9:11b CV)
He is the spiritual force inspiring the covenantal madness of the authorities and powers seeking to control and direct the revolutionary affairs of Apostate Israel.
John’s Related Vision in Chapter 19: The Warrior King and His Armies—To the One Who is Conquering. Each of the messages written to the assemblies ends with a declaration to the one who is conquering. This is a reference to all the faithful spiritual warriors following their Commander-In-Chief, their Warrior-King, Jesus the Messiah, into the spiritual warfare against the spiritual forces of Apostate Israel. This warfare had begun on the day of Pentecost recorded in Acts, chapter 2. Revelation, chapter 19:11-16, describes these conquering ones as they first go into battle following Jesus the Messiah their Davidic Warrior-King:
And I perceived the heaven [of this vision] open, and lo! a white horse. And He Who is sitting on it is called “Faithful and True,” and in righteousness is He judging and battling . . . And the armies in the heaven [of this vision], dressed in cambric, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. (Revelation 19:11, 14 CV modified)
The heaven of this vision symbolically represents action
taking place in
Thus, “the lake of fire”
refers to
In this heavenly vision, Jesus the Messiah is depicted as the New Davidic Warrior-King coming forth from Yahweh’s presence on behalf of the righteousness of Yahweh. He is the Faithful and True Servant of Yahweh (King in Yeshurun, Deut. 33:5 CV). He comes judging and battling against the rebellious and stiff-necked Cainite Apostate Israel flagrantly opposing the righteousness of Yahweh manifested in the Mosaic Law and in Jesus the Messiah Himself. He comes conquering the enemies of Yahweh and liberating the people of Yahweh held captive by Yahweh’s enemies.
His eyes are figuratively described as “a flame of fire” (Rev. 19:12 CV), discriminately discerning and
separating the tares from the grain. The flame of His righteous judgment has
set Apostate Jerusalem and
The one who is conquering [with Me] may under no circumstances be injured [harmed] by the second death [the lake of fire]. (Revelation 2:11b CV)
In this vision of Revelation 19:11-16, John, continuing to behold the Faithful and True Conquering Warrior mounted on the white horse of righteous vindication, writes,
and on His head are many diadems [crowns], having names written of which no one except Himself is aware, and He is clothed in a cloak dipped in blood, and His name is called “The Word of God.” (Revelation 19:12b‑13 CV)
Jesus the Messiah is a King wearing many crowns, upon which are engraved many names indicating His greatness, His enormous authority and power given Him by Yahweh His Father and His God. Only He, among terrestrial and celestial beings, is aware of these names and their significance, especially in relation to the future coming eons. He is clothed in a royal cloak dipped or dyed in the blood of His crucifixion death and sufferings. Thus, He comes conquering in the authority and power received through His obedience “unto death, even the death of the cross” (Phil. 2:8b CV).
His warriors, His servants, His disciples, His faithful followers share in His crucifixion death and sufferings:
These [clothed in white robes] are those coming out of the great affliction. And they rinse [wash] their robes, and they whiten them in the blood of the Lambkin. (Revelation 7:14b CV)
Happy [Honorable]
are those who are [presently] rinsing
[washing] their robes [in the blood of the Lamb], that it will
be their license to the log [tree] of
the life [of the New Davidic Covenant],
and they may be entering the portals into the city [the New Jerusalem, the
With Christ have I been crucified, . . . (Galatians 2:20 CV)
. . . according as the sufferings of Christ are superabounding in us, . . . (2 Corinthians 1:5 CV)
For I am reckoning [accounting] that the sufferings of the current era do not deserve the glory about to be revealed for us. (Romans 8:18 CV)
to know Him [Messiah Jesus], . . . and the fellowship of His sufferings, conforming to His death [crucifixion death], . . . (Philippians 3:10 CV)
The armies in the heaven of this vision, following Jesus the Messiah (the New Davidic Warrior-King) on white horses, consist of His faithful disciples placing their faith and confidence in His crucifixion death, resurrection, and ascension. They rinse their robes of faithfulness in His blood, thereby making, dyeing, their robes white. This is presently occurring as a result of their continual faithfulness to His commands directing their service in the current warfare against Apostate Israel.
Again, using the gnomic future, John writes of Jesus the Messiah,
Lo! I am coming swiftly, and My wage is with Me, to pay each one as his work is. . . . Happy [Honorable] are those who are [presently] rinsing their robes, that it will be [whenever they are rinsing their robes in His blood, gnomic future] their license to the log [tree] of the life [of the New Davidic Covenant], . . . (Revelation 22:12-14a CV modified)
At the consummating arrival of His Parousia, Jesus would be rewarding all His servants, who had been faithful to the end, their final wage determined by their work produced during the era of the great affliction endured on behalf of the righteousness of the New Davidic Kingdom. In the meantime, all His faithful spiritual warriors are encouraged to continually be washing their robes in His blood, as required by faithful service under the terms of the New Davidic Covenant. The exhortation to faithfulness is the purpose of the Book of Revelation as a whole in relation to those reading and hearing this divinely provided prophetic revelation, this prophecy given to Jesus by Yahweh to reveal to Jesus’ faithful followers (those already having suffered on behalf of Jesus the Messiah, yet about to be suffering much greater affliction because of His name).
John’s heavenly vision continues:
And out of His mouth a sharp blade [sword] is issuing, that with it He should be smiting the nations. And He will be shepherding them with an iron club. And He is treading the wine trough of the fury of the indignation of God, the Almighty. (Revelation 19:15 CV)
The sword issuing out of the mouth of Messiah Jesus the Warrior-King symbolically represents the Word of the Gospel of the Uncircumcision (just recently revealed to His saints through the Apostle Saul/Paul) by which He is to spiritually smite the nations, that is, bring those believing this Gospel under the liberating dominion of the New Davidic Kingdom whose constitution is the New Davidic Covenant. These faithful uncircumcised ones from among the nations are then to be shepherded, guided, instructed, in the Law of The Messiah in order that they might worship and serve Yahweh and Jesus His Anointed One in accordance with that which is right in the eyes of Yahweh, thus manifesting Yahweh’s glory. Jesus as the Word of God proclaims the Gospel of the Circumcision to the circumcised Jews, thus delivering those believing this Gospel from the curse of the Law into the promises of the Law and the Prophets. As the Word of God to the uncircumcised gentiles, Jesus the Messiah proclaims the Gospel of the Uncircumcision, thus delivering them from the darkness of the disapproved mind and behavior of the nations previously given up by Yahweh (after Babel, Gen. 11:1-9) to their disobedient ways. The uncircumcised believing Gentiles, having been immersed in the corrupt ways of the nations, need to be guided with an iron club, a strong hand, strict discipline aligning them with the way of Yahweh and Jesus His Anointed King.
Jesus Himself declares,
And to the one who is conquering and keeping My acts until the consummation [the circumcised Messianics], to him will I be giving authority over the nations; and he shall be shepherding them with an iron club [the strict discipline of the righteousness of Yahweh], as vessels of pottery are being crushed, as I also have obtained from My Father. And I will be giving him the morning star. (Revelation 2:26-28 CV)
Jesus the Messiah has been given authority to proclaim His salvation to the uncircumcised gentiles and discipline them in the truth of The Way, the truth of the New Davidic Covenant. Consequently, He has authorized His circumcised faithful brethren (the saints) to proclaim His Gospel, as it pertains to the uncircumcised gentiles (the Gospel of the Uncircumcision), to the gentiles and to discipline (guide, direct, instruct) them (those believing) in the truth of the Way, the truth of the New Davidic Covenant.
The corrupt ways of these believing Gentiles will be crushed and replaced with the righteous ways of Yahweh’s Law. The corrupt and decadent thoughts and behavior of their uncircumcised minds and hearts will be crushed and discarded, being replaced by the Law of Yahweh written on their hearts by the spirit, thus transforming their minds. This new condition of the faithful uncircumcised disciples of Jesus the Messiah is alluded to by Paul when he writes concerning these faithful uncircumcised disciples:
For whenever they of the nations [uncircumcised believers] that have no law [of their own from Yahweh], by nature [in physical uncircumcision] may be doing that which the law [of Yahweh and His Anointed Son, Jesus the Messiah] demands, these, having no law [of their own from Yahweh], are a law to themselves, who are displaying the action of the law written in their hearts, . . . (Romans 2:14-15a CV)
Thus, the saints (the circumcised faithful ones) are authorized and commissioned to shepherd (guide, direct, instruct, discipline), as the priests of the new nation, the uncircumcised faithful ones entering the New Nation Born-From-Above. To these faithful circumcised priests of Jesus the Messiah, Jesus Himself gives “the morning star,” the light of His rising royal presence, the light of the New Davidic King, Kingdom, Nation, and Covenant, signaling the end of the long night of darkness of the ancient world and the beginning of the long day of the light of the Kingdom of God.
As the sharp sword issuing out of Jesus the Messiah’s mouth slays covenantally His enemies and saves covenantally those believing the Word of the Gospel, the hooves of His conquering royal steed (together with the hooves of the royal steeds of His followers) tread the wine trough of the furious indignation of Yahweh, resulting in the final literal conflagration of Jerusalem, the Temple, and Apostate Israel, figuratively referred to as the Lake of Fire, the Second Death. This treading, of course, is a symbol representing the literal destruction of Jerusalem, the Temple, and Apostate Israel caused by the triumphant, conquering Davidic-Warrior-King and His spiritual warriors, but actually accomplished, carried out, by the Roman army in 70 a.d.
The uncircumcised Gentiles having already entered into the New
Nation (represented by Cornelius and the Greeks in
The reference to “The
one who is conquering” (Rev. 2:11), therefore, refers to the saints (the
circumcised priests of Jesus the Messiah, the King-Priest of the Born-From-Above Nation). These saints,
continually serving faithfully their King-Priest, consist of all those
circumcised followers of Jesus the Messiah located throughout the holy land at
the time of John’s writing this prophecy. Figuratively, this is represented by
the seven symbolic assemblies symbolically located in
Jesus writes to the assembly at
The faithful followers of Jesus the Messiah continue to actively participate in the synagogues located throughout the holy land. Within their synagogues are unbelieving Jews, unconvinced of the truth of the Gospel of Jesus the Messiah. They claim they are the legitimate Jews, contrasting themselves with those renegade Jews claiming Jesus as Messiah. Jesus encourages His followers, “Fear nothing that you are about to be suffering” (Rev. 2:10a CV). His followers are about to be afflicted with more suffering at the hands of those Jews blasphemously claiming to be faithful and authentic Jews in contrast to these scandalous Messianics who testify that Jesus is the Messiah written of in the Law and the Prophets.
Jesus continues His warning and encouragement:
Lo! the Adversary is about to be casting some of you into jail that you may be tried, and you will be having affliction ten days. Become faithful until death, and I shall be giving you the wreath [crown] of the life [of the New Davidic Covenant]. (Revelation 2:10b CV)
Shortly after this revelation is given to John, the Apostle James is assassinated by Herod the king (Acts 12:1-2). Perceiving this as pleasing to the Jews (those boasting that they are faithful and authentic Jews zealously defending the integrity of the Mosaic Law), Herod proceeds to apprehend and jail the Apostle Peter. A celestial messenger from Jesus the Messiah miraculously releases Peter. Both James and Peter, continually acting faithfully, already wear the crown of covenantal life.
The use of the gnomic future guarantees possession of this crown as long as one remains faithful to Jesus the Messiah. James had worn this crown to his death. For his faithfulness even unto death, James is to receive “the wreath [crown] of righteousness” (2 Tim. 4:8 CV), “the unfading wreath [crown] of glory” (1 Pe. 5:4 CV) awarded at the consummation of the Parousia/Arrival of Jesus the Messiah.
In His letter written to the assembly at Philadelphia, Jesus the Messiah exhorts, “Hold what you have, that no one may be taking your wreath [crown]” (Rev. 3:11 CV). He is referring here to the crown of covenantal life which all faithful followers of Jesus the Messiah have a right to wear as long as they continually act faithfully. Turn away from Jesus, continually act unfaithfully, and your crown will be taken from you. Thus, let no man lead you away from acting faithfully, lest, in doing so, that man causes you to lose your crown. James, the brother of Jesus the Messiah, using the gnomic future, refers to the present possession of this covenantal life:
Happy [Honorable] is the man who is enduring trial, for, becoming qualified [by continually acting faithfully], he will be [continually] obtaining the wreath [crown] of the life [of the New Davidic Covenant], which He [Yahweh and Jesus the Messiah] promises [guarantees] to those [continually] loving Him. (James 1:12 CV)
Jesus warns His disciples that they “will be having affliction ten days” (Rev. 2:10b CV). Ten days
symbolically represents being fully tested in the furnace of affliction on
behalf of the righteousness of the
The number ten also alludes to the Ten Commandments (Exodus,
chapter 20), the ten plagues in
Yet your father [Rachel and Leah’s] has cheated me and changed my wages ten times; however, God did not allow him to hurt me. (Genesis 31:7 NASB)
Ten is the number signifying complete trial or testing. Jacob speaks these words to his wives (daughters of Laban) after he discovers the change in Laban’s attitude toward him,
Jacob saw the attitude of Laban, and behold, it was not friendly toward him as formerly. (Genesis 31:2 NASB)
Yahweh then instructs Jacob to go out from Laban and return to the land of his fathers. Yahweh had not allowed Laban’s hostile attitude toward Jacob to hurt Jacob, even though Laban had cheated (afflicted) Jacob ten times, that is, Laban’s affliction of Jacob had reached its fullness, its completeness. Jacob had faithfully endured this affliction and was about to enter the land of his reward at the instruction of Yahweh his Elohim.
As Yahweh had not allowed Laban’s hostile attitude toward Jacob to hurt Jacob, so Jesus promises His disciples (those who faithfully wear to the end the crown of covenantal life given to them at their reception of the Gospel) that
The one who is conquering may under no circumstances be injured by the second death. (Revelation 2:11b CV)
The Second Death symbolically refers to the persecution coming from Apostate Israel, apostate Jews. This rebellious, evil, stiff-necked, Cainish nation clinging to the Mosaic Covenant for covenantal life and blessings is hostile to the Messianic Israelites clinging to the New Davidic Covenant for covenantal life and blessings. This hostility is to become magnified as a result of the entrance of uncircumcised Gentiles into the Messianic ranks.
Thus, this apostate nation is referred to figuratively as the submerged chaos (the abyss). The submerged chaos represents Apostate
Israel in the
This is the second death—the lake of fire. And if anyone was not found written in the scroll of life [the life of the New Davidic Covenant], he was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:14b-15 CV)
the lake burning with fire and sulphur, which is the second death. (Revelation 21:8b CV)
This lake of fire represents the indignation of Yahweh being poured out upon Apostate Israel, the rebellious children of Cain.
This imagery alludes to the judgment of Yahweh against
And now, go [Moses], guide the people to the place [the Promised Land] of which I spoke to you. Behold, My messenger shall go before you, and in the day of My visitation, then I will visit on them their sin. (CV)
This final day, era, season, of Yahweh’s visitation began with
the ministries of John the Baptist and Jesus. Just prior to His crucifixion
death, Jesus announced to Apostate Israel, represented by Apostate Jerusalem,
the
your enemies will be casting up a rampart about you, . . . and they will not be leaving a stone on a stone in you, because you knew not the era of your visitation. (Luke 19:43-44 CV)
Yahweh’s final visitation of
The faithful disciples of Jesus will be protected from the affects of Yahweh’s indignation against Apostate Israel (the Second Death, the death of the Sinatic/Mosaic Covenant), and, though they endure the affliction and persecution resulting from the zealous hatred of those Jews clinging to the Mosaic Covenant, they will be delivered through and from this affliction and persecution into the promised Celestial Allotment. This protection alludes to Yahweh’s protection of Shadrach. Meshach, and Abednego when they are cast into a flaming furnace due to their refusal to worship the golden image set up by King Nebuchadnezzar (Dan. 3:13-30). The furnace is turned up seven times its normal temperature. They are cast into this exceedingly hot flaming furnace, unharmed, unaffected by the flames, while those casting them into this furnace are devoured merely by being exposed to the extreme heat of the furnace.
In the vision of Revelation 19:11-18, the faithful disciples of Jesus the Messiah are depicted as faithful spiritual warriors dressed in white and riding upon white horses as they follow Jesus the Davidic Warrior-King into battle against the enemy, Apostate Israel. Thus, they are depicted as reigning with Jesus the Messiah and participating with their King in His battle against His enemies among Apostate Israelites. This reality began at the Pentecost of Acts, chapter 2.
The Wild Beast and the False Prophet of the Vision of Revelation 19:19-21. In the vision of Revelation 19:19-21, John perceives the enemies of the “King of kings and Lord of lords” (19:16). He perceives
the wild beast and the kings of the earth [the
The wild beast represents Apostate Israel (the nation of
In this vision, the wild beast (Apostate Israel) and its prophet (its spokesman, its spiritual advisor and agent, Apostate Israel’s rabbinic representatives) are arrested and cast alive into the lake of fire (Rev. 19:20‑21). Symbolically, this means Apostate Israel and her spiritual advisors committed to the Sinatic/Mosaic Covenant are delivered up to the final indignation of the fiery covenantal judgment of Yahweh. According to this vision, this false prophet
does the signs in its [the beast’s] sight, by which he deceives those getting [receiving] the emblem of the wild beast, and those worshiping its image. (Revelation 19:20b CV)
The signs by which Apostate Israel’s spiritual advisors deceive apostate Jews refer to their pseudo-interpretations of the Law of Moses, their own traditions and commandments which distort the Word of Yahweh, resulting in a depraved and disqualified mind Cainishly in opposition to Yahweh and His Anointed King. The emblem of Apostate Israel received by those Jews deceived by the pseudo-teachings of the pseudo-shepherds refers to the Mosaic Covenant. Those receiving, clinging to the Mosaic Covenant for covenantal life and blessings (especially blessing in the coming age when the Kingdom would be restored to Israel, exalting her over the nations) figuratively receive the emblem, the flag, the banner, under which Apostate Israel goes to war against Jesus the Messiah and the Israel of Yahweh, that is, the emblem, the flag, the banner, representing the glory of the Mosaic Covenant.
This apostate nation wages spiritual warfare under the
glorious banner of the future hope promised by the Mosaic Covenant. Those Jews
committing themselves to this emblem, this cause, this hope, are figuratively
worshiping the image of the wild beast, the image of Apostate Israel. This
image is the image of Moses which
this Cainite nation, this last evil generation of the Mosaic Eon, has set up. The
worship of the image of the wild beast reflects the same type of idolatry
manifested in the first evil generation’s setting up of the golden calf, which
had been crafted with their own hands and worshiped when, after 40 days and 40
nights, Moses had not returned from the heights of
As the golden calf had been an idolatrous replacement for the
faithful Moses remaining before the presence of Yahweh in the heights of Mount
Sinai, so also the figurative image of Moses exalted in the spirit of Apostate
Israel is an idolatrous replacement for the faithful Moses remaining before the
presence of Yahweh atop
Note, however, that this false prophet deceives. The children of Cain in Apostate Israel are not deceived. Only the seed of the Woman Eve are deceived. Thus, those deceived into receiving the emblem of Apostate Israel (the Mosaic Covenant distorted by the lie, “You surely shall not die!” [Gen. 3:4 NASB] says the serpent to Eve, who being deceived by this lie eats the forbidden fruit) are those like Saul of Tarsus whose heart is circumcised, though hardened through unbelief resulting from an ignorant mind blinded by the false traditions of his fathers, that is, the misappropriation and misinterpretation of Moses. They are deceived by the lying signs of the spokesmen and advisors of Apostate Israel. They are blind and ignorant; they are the children of the Woman Eve; they are not in rebellion against Yahweh, though they have been deceived into thinking and acting in opposition to Yahweh.
This vision concludes:
And the rest [of
those belonging to Apostate
Thus, this vision, like the vision of
Those deceived by the signs of the prophet of the wild beast
are not destroyed in the lake of fire.
They do not experience the affect of the Second Death, the death, the
termination, the telos, of the
Sinatic/Mosaic Covenant. The deceived Jews whose hearts are circumcised will
have their eyes opened at the Parousia/Approach of the glory of Jesus the
Messiah. They will then recognize the deception of the lie and joyfully
acknowledge the truth of the Gospel of the Christ, turning back to Yahweh and
Jesus His Anointed Son and King. Thus, all
The wild beast and its prophet are cast alive into the lake of fire at the very onset of
the spiritual warfare, that is, at the pouring out of the spirit of Yahweh
generating the New Born-From-Above Israel.
Thus, the national birth of the Born-From-Above
Israel recorded in Acts, chapter 2, initiates the spiritual civil war
between the two nations and two kingdoms. At this time, Apostate Israel and her
spiritual advisors, waging spiritual warfare under the flag, the banner, of
Moses and the Mosaic Covenant, are confined to the
Thus, the figurative coming of Jesus the Messiah as the Davidic Warrior-King riding upon this white stallion (Rev. 19:11-16) signifying His role as the Triumphant Conquering One, the King of kings and Lord of lords, represents the beginning of His reign. He reigns and battles together with His New Davidic Covenantal Warriors. He and His disciples reigning with Him wage spiritual warfare wielding the sword of the Word of Yahweh, the Gospel of Jesus the Messiah. The proclamation of this Gospel destroys the apostate sons of Cain while at the same time saving, healing, the faithful children of Abel, the faithful children of Abraham, and liberating the deceived children of the Woman Eve.
Thus, metaphorically speaking, the whole
The Dragon and the Submerged Chaos
of the Visions of Revelation 20:1-3, 7-10. The vision of Revelation 20:1-3 elaborates on the vision of
19:19-21. John perceives a messenger descending out of the heaven of this
vision. He has the key of the submerged chaos (the
The dragon is said to be “the
ancient serpent, who is the Adversary and Satan” (Rev. 20:2 CV). The
Adversary, Satan, had been given authority over the nations when they had
abandoned the One, True, Living Elohim. He had also been given authority over
Apostate Israel as a result of her continual abandonment of Yahweh her Elohim. His
authority is now confined to the
This confinement is figuratively depicted by the number one thousand (1,000). The one thousand
(1,000) years of Revelation 20:2 symbolically represents the most significant
period in
The Adversary is confined to the
He is loosed for a short time in order to deceive the nations for the last time. His last activity of deception will close the door of the Gospel to the nations, thus, bringing to completion the number of Gentiles entering the ranks of the Born-From-Above Israel of Yahweh, the Ecclesia of Jesus the Messiah. The Adversary’s last deceptive activity would result in a final persecution of the disciples of Jesus the Messiah by the nations. This persecution would be of a short duration, ending in the triumphant victory, the conquest of the New Davidic Nation and Kingdom over her gentile enemies.
The Adversary, being “loosed
out of his jail” (Rev. 20:7 CV), is commissioned by Yahweh to go out from
Apostate Israel and the land of Palestine and deceive the nations within the
boundaries of the Roman Empire one last time. Obeying his orders, The Adversary,
Satan, deceives these nations, mobilizing them for battle against “the citadel of the saints and the beloved
city” (20:9 CV). The number of gentiles thus mobilized is said to be “as the sand of the sea” (20:8b CV). This
simile indicates the full extent of this battle, this persecution. The
persecution will occur throughout the territories of the
This persecution is a trial initiated by Yahweh to primarily test the genuineness of the faith of the many uncircumcised followers of Jesus the Messiah, thus separating the goats from the sheep, chaff from the grain among the Gentile followers of Jesus the Messiah. The trial, having achieved its purpose, ends with the figurative destruction of The Adversary’s mobilized army surrounding the citadel of the saints and the beloved city (the New Jerusalem, the Bride of the Lamb, the Ecclesia):
And fire descended from God out of the heaven [of this vision] and devoured them. (Revelation 20:9b CV modified)
Yahweh ends this persecution with the triumphant victory of the Ecclesia of Jesus the Messiah, the Born-From-Above Israel, the Bride of the Lamb: her triumphant ascension with her husband, her Lord, her King, Jesus the Messiah, into the promised Celestial Allotment. The fire from heaven devouring the persecutors of the faithful Bride of the Lamb is a symbolic reference to the failure of the persecutors to destroy the faithful servants of Jesus the Messiah.
The Adversary, Satan, who deceives these nations, is cast once
again into the lake of fire,
symbolically representing the termination, the telos, of his commissioned function as the official, authorized
Adversary appointed by Yahweh. The nations no longer are to be deceived (the
meaning of the devouring fire from Yahweh) by Satan. The nations are no longer
to be estranged from Yahweh. They are no longer to be placed at a
non-covenantal distance from Him, for Apostate Israel is no longer covenantally
drawn near to Yahweh. The Sinatic Covenant which had exalted
The Lake of Fire is
equated with the Second Death. It
symbolizes the termination, the telos,
of the Sinatic/Mosaic Covenant and the elect function of Apostate Israel. This
is why The Adversary is described as being cast into the
The vision described in 20:7-10 concludes,
And they [The Adversary, the wild beast, and the false prophet] shall be tormented day and night for the eons of the eons. (Revelation 20:10b CV)
Again, this is not to be taken literally. It is a symbolic
means of conveying the ultimate ongoing historical significance of the
termination of the function of Satan as Yahweh’s appointed Adversary, of
Apostate Israel as Yahweh’s holy, elect nation, and of the false prophet as
Yahweh’s commissioned spokesman under the Sinatic/Mosaic Covenant. Yahweh, once
again, is the Elohim of the nations, with no difference between circumcised
The citadel (or camp) of the saints (v. 9) symbolically
represents the circumcised disciples of Jesus the Messiah, metaphorically
functioning as the New Covenantal Temple (a kingdom of priests, 1:6) in the
beloved city, the New Jerusalem above, within which the uncircumcised disciples
of Jesus the Messiah have entered and continue to reside. Thus, the entire Born-From-Above Israel, consisting of
both the circumcised and uncircumcised disciples, comes under the persecution
of the nations who now no longer recognize these Messianics as being adherents
of Judaism. Thus, these Messianic disciples of Jesus are no longer protected
under the rights extended to the Jews by the
The Jews themselves recognize this distinction as they prepare
for war against
there is no salvation in any other one, for neither is there any other name, given under heaven among men, in which we [Israelites, Jews] must be saved. (Acts 4:12 CV)
Thus, as a result of the Jewish threat to Roman peace and
order, the Messianic assemblies are perceived by
The Great White Throne of the
Vision of Revelation 20:11-15.
The vision of 20:11-15 elaborates on the vision of 20:7-10 and refers the
reader back to the vision of 20:4-6. In this last vision of chapter 20, John
perceives “a great white throne” (v.
11). The throne is white, indicating the purity and righteousness of the
judgments proceeding from the throne. The greatness of the throne associates it
with Yahweh Himself. The earth and the heaven are described as fleeing from
before the face of Him Who sits upon the throne: Yahweh the Elohim of the New
Davidic Covenant, the
Thus, the reader understands that the world-order, the system (organization), of the Sinatic/Mosaic Covenant is being left behind in favor of the New Heavens and the New Earth referred to by Peter in 2 Peter 3:13. During the demise of the Sinatic/Mosaic Eon taking place between the years 30-70 a.d. (the last days of the operation of the Sinatic/Mosaic Covenant, the descending of the metaphorical Moon of the long night of the ancient world), the Sun heralding the coming of a new day had begun to rise on the horizon of a new heaven and a new earth. This Sun represents Jesus the Messiah and the New Davidic Covenant rising out of the ashes of His crucifixion death and burial. Hence, as the night of the old Sinatic/Mosaic Covenant (the heaven and earth of the world-order created at Sinai) descended toward the western horizon, the new day of the New Davidic Covenant (the heaven and earth of the world-order created at the Pentecost of Acts, chapter 2) ascended on the eastern horizon.
The judgment of the
great white throne comes as the moon of the old
This New Creation refers to the spiritual consummation of Christ and His Bride after the marriage festivities when the two become One. The whole of the Book of Revelation is devoted to the theme of the Bride’s preparation. The Groom and the Bride must rule/reign until their covenantal enemies are defeated. Thereupon, “the wedding of the Lamb” (Rev. 19:7) takes place. At the consummating of the marriage, the two become One, thus, completing the New Creation, the New Man of Ephesians 2:15 and 2 Corinthians 5:17, the Body of 1 Corinthians 10:17; 12:12-13, 27; Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:24. After the consummation of the marriage, Jesus the Messiah and His Body, His Complement, His Wife, ascend into the Celestial Allotment prepared for them (Jn. 14:1-3) in order to rule over the New Heavens and the New Earth, in order to spiritually generate the New Jesuic Humanity, the human race under the Headship of Jesus Christ, the Only-Begotten Son of Yahweh.
John’s vision continues. Before this great white throne stand
the aristocratic and the common dead. These dead ones are not literally dead. They
are those who became dead in Christ by believing the Gospel but who had failed
to remain faithful to the end. These dead refer back to “The rest of the dead” of 20:5. In the vision of 20:4-6, John
perceives “thrones, and they are seated
on them, and judgment was granted to them” (v. 4a). The “they” of this passage refers back to
verses 19-21 of chapter 19 and verses 1‑3 of chapter 20. There John had
perceived the wild beast and the false prophet. They had both been cast alive
into the
John also had perceived The Adversary, Satan, chained and cast into the submerged chaos (Rev. 20:1-3). Satan is confined to deceiving only members of Apostate Israel and members of her covenantal advisors (the wild beast and the false prophet). These three are seated on thrones and granted the authority to judge, to rule according to their disapproved/disqualified judgment. This authority is granted to them by Yahweh, Who, thus, gives them (the wild beast and the false prophet) up to their rebellious, stiff-necked, defiled, covenantally decadent ways inspired by Yahweh’s appointed Adversary to whom the wild beast and the false prophet bow the knee in worship and service. These are thus given authority to persecute the saints.
The saints are referred to as “the souls of those executed [beheaded] because of the testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God”
(Rev. 20:4b CV). This is not referring to a literal beheading. It refers
figuratively to religious, social, and political ostracism from Jewish
covenantal rights and privileges and from Jewish privileges granted by
These saints faithful to the end had been “entombed together with Him [Jesus] through baptism into [His] death” (Rom. 6:4 CV). Thus, they had become dead to sin but alive to God. They had been the faithful ones continually accounting themselves dead to the Law of Sin and Death of Adam and the law of sin and death of Apostate Israel “yet living to God [Yahweh] in Christ Jesus” their Lord (Rom. 6:11b CV). These faithful covenantal warriors of Jesus the Messiah are the ones who live and reign with Him to the victorious end of the spiritual/covenantal warfare (His final, triumphant Parousia/Arrival resulting in the end, the telos, of the Mosaic Eon).
The rest of the dead in Christ who had not been faithful to the end “do not live until the thousand years should be finished” (Rev. 20:5 CV) when they are to stand before the great white throne. These are not physically dead. They are the covenantally dead in Christ (having been previously covenantally alive), those who had failed to share in the likeness of His resurrection life. They had failed to walk in newness of life to the end. They had turned back to the Sinatic/Mosaic Covenant for covenantal life, for covenantal relationship with Yahweh:
We, then, were entombed together with Him through baptism into [His] death, . . . thus we also should be walking in newness of life. For if we have become planted together in the likeness of His death, nevertheless we shall be of the resurrection also, . . . Thus you also, be reckoning [accounting] yourselves to be dead, indeed, to [the law of] Sin, yet living to God [Yahweh] in Christ Jesus, our Lord. (Romans 6:4-5, 11 CV)
The gnomic future, “shall
be of the [His] resurrection,”
becomes a present reality for all those continually meeting the necessary
condition, “be reckoning [accounting] yourselves to be dead, indeed, to [the
law of] Sin [working in the members of one’s body]” (Rom. 7:23), as well as
the law of sin associated with the Sinatic/Mosaic Covenant. The dead standing before the great white throne are those who had
responded in faith to the voice of the Son of Yahweh, yet who had committed the
foul things (Grk = phaulon, Jn. 5:29; plural, phaula, works according to the flesh). Thus,
their resurrection to life becomes a resurrection of judging (see John
The resurrection to the life of the New Davidic Covenant is
called “the former resurrection”
(Rev. 20:5b CV). This former resurrection is the metaphorical covenantal
resurrection of Romans, chapter 6 and Philippians 3:4-21. Those who turn back
to the Sinatic/Mosaic Covenant after having participated in the New Davidic
Covenant “are enemies of the cross of
Christ, whose consummation is destruction, whose god is their bowels, and whose
glory is in their shame, who to the terrestrial are disposed” (Phil.
3:18b-19 CV). They are those who had abandoned “the fellowship of His sufferings” and the “conforming to His death” (Phil.
Not that I already obtained, or am already perfected. Yet I am pursuing, if I may be grasping also that for which I was grasped also by Christ Jesus. Brethren, not as yet am I reckoning [accounting] myself to have grasped, yet one thing—forgetting, indeed, those things which are behind [the terrestrial], yet stretching out to those in front [the celestial]—toward the goal am I pursuing for the prize of God's calling above [the Celestial Allotment] in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:12-14 CV)
For those faithfully participating in the former resurrection to the end, those pursuing the prize of Yahweh’s Celestial Calling to the end, those walking in newness of life to the end, those sharing in the sufferings of Jesus the Messiah to the end, those conforming to His crucifixion death to the end, the Second Death has no jurisdiction (Rev. 20:6 CV). The Second Death cannot harm them (Rev. 2:11 CV). They escape the terminating judgment of the Sinatic/Mosaic Covenant, entering into the Celestial Allotment of the New Davidic Covenant. These are the faithful warriors who reign with Jesus the Messiah, the New Davidic Warrior-King, during His Davidic warfare against Apostate Israel (30-70 a.d.). They are the conquering ones, the ones conquering together with Yahweh’s Anointed Conquering One, the One riding on a white horse judging and battling, the One called “Faithful and True” (Rev. 19:11 CV), Jesus the Messiah, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham, the Son of Yahweh. These conquering Ones attain to the out-resurrection, the ek-anastasin, the out-up-standing of Philippians 3:11.
These faithful warriors participating in the former
resurrection are “priests of God [Yahweh] and of Christ” (Rev. 20:6 CV). As such,
they function as warrior-priests mediating, proclaiming, administrating the New
Davidic Covenant. They reign with Jesus the Messiah as a kingdom of priests
(the
The unfaithful warriors, the metaphorically dead standing before the great white throne, those participating in a resurrection of judgment as a result of covenantally foul deeds (not necessarily morally foul deeds) and cast into the Lake of Fire, the Second Death, signifying the metaphorical death of the Sinatic/Mosaic Covenant (not necessarily physical death), their names having been blotted out, erased (Rev. 3:5), are “not found written in the scroll of life” (Rev. 20:15 CV). Therefore, having forfeited the Celestial Allotment, they are cast into the Lake of Fire, metaphorically/covenantally injured, harmed of the Second Death, thereby coming under the covenantally punitive jurisdiction of the Second Death, the termination, the telos, of the Sinatic/Mosaic Covenant. Thus, they are covenantally judged together with Apostate Israel. Their holy, covenantal, privileged relationship with Yahweh is abolished, nullified, terminated. They are cast back among the unholy, non-covenantal, unprivileged nations.
Yahweh, however, graciously, compassionately, mercifully, reconciles all nations to Himself in the historical arrival of His Kingdom. This Kingdom of God (Yahweh) is inaugurated when Jesus the Messiah, together with His Complement, His Ecclesia, His Body, His spiritual Wife, enters into the promised Celestial Allotment, at which time, obediently bowing before the Majesty of Yahweh His Father, He submits His conquered Davidic Kingdom into the hands of His Father (1 Cor. 15:24-28), thus returning the kingdoms of the terrestrial realm (consisting of all nations) to the direct rule of Yahweh Elohim.
The mediating rule of the Celestial Sons of Elohim under the
administration of The Adversary, Satan, is now terminated. The role and
function of the gods and The Adversary had achieved their purpose. A New Eon
had begun. A New Heavens and New Earth had
been created over which Yahweh reigns jointly with His Only-Begotten Son Who
administrates the
Jesus, writing to the assembly at
The assembly at
The circumcised faithful servants of Jesus the Messiah (the saints) dwelling in
This they have accomplished in spite of the persecution
endured during the days of the martyrdom of Stephen, the first faithful
spiritual-warrior of Jesus the Messiah to become faithful unto death. As Stephen
had held fast, conquering in the name of Jesus the Messiah, so his
In spite of this courageous faithfulness, Jesus has “a few things against you, that you have
there those holding the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a snare
before the sons of Israel, to be eating idol sacrifices, and to commit
prostitution” (Rev. 2:14 CV). Balaam had been a foreign prophet of Yahweh. Balak
attempted to hire him to curse
Jesus warns His disciples dwelling in
This is unacceptable to Jesus the Messiah. These pseudo-disciples,
these present Balaamites, seek only
the covenantal prostitution of the assembly of faithful ones. They seek to
conquer the conquerors and are, thus, one with those teaching the doctrine of
the Nicolaitans (Rev. 2:15). The Nicolaitans refer to those Jews whose
hearts are uncircumcised. They are sons of the Serpent, sons of Cain. They seek
to conquer in the misappropriated name of Moses. They seek the restoration of
the
These present Jewish Balaamites and Nicolaitans are wolves in sheep’s clothing. They are counterfeit disciples, counterfeit shepherds among the sheep, seeking to lead the unsuspecting sheep back to the flock and fold of pseudo-Moses (Apostate Israel). These are those who later would visit the assembly at Antioch, described as coming from James and proclaiming a gospel of another kind, a mixed gospel, a prostituted gospel contaminating the Gospel of Christ, causing Peter, Barnabas, and the rest of the circumcised (Jewish) disciples to separate themselves from the uncircumcised (Gentile) disciples (Gal. 2:11-13). This the Jewish disciples did, according to Paul, “fearing those out of the circumcision” (Gal. 2:12b CV).
These circumcised counterfeit disciples came from James and
the assembly in
Now from those reputed to be somewhat [according to Jewish social and religious standards]—what kind they once were [in Apostate Israel’s social and religious eyes according to the traditions of the fathers] is of no consequence to me (God is not taking up the human aspect [one’s reputation according to the standards of Apostate Israel]—for to me those of repute [according to the standards of Apostate Israel] submitted nothing. (Galatians 2:6 CV)
Paul’s reference to “those
reputed to be somewhat” is not directed at James, John, Peter, and the rest
of the Apostles. There is no division of opinion and belief among the divinely
appointed shepherds of the Born-From-Above
Peter is chastised by Paul in order to bring him back into harmony with the Gospel of Christ, to which Peter is committed. He had fallen victim to the respect of persons of repute to which he had been accustomed to for most of his life. Peter had not been educated in the prestigious learning institutions of his nation. He was a common fisherman. Understandably, then, upon the arrival of such men representing the educational nobility of his people, his fearful reaction of cultural respect for these great men of national repute can be understood.
However, understanding does not excuse condoning such covenantal contamination. Peter is justly confronted and corrected by Paul. That Peter yielded to such correction is supported by the fact that there is no need to make reference to his response. Paul is here defending the Gospel of Christ to which James, Peter, John, and the rest of the Apostles are completely committed. There is no room for debate among the divinely appointed leaders of the sheep belonging to the flock and fold of Jesus the Messiah. All are in agreement as to the teaching of the Gospel of Christ, the instruction pertaining to the New Davidic Covenant, for all are instructed by the spirit of Yahweh and Jesus His Anointed King.
All are obediently submissive to the guidance of the spirit of Jesus the Messiah. The only exceptions to this rule are the counterfeit disciples, the spiritual agents of The Adversary, Satan, those committed to the teaching of Balaam and the Nicolaitans, those worshiping and serving the wild beast (Apostate Israel), those, thus, receiving upon their forehead or right hand the mark of the wild beast, the image of the misappropriated and distorted Moses (see Rev. 13:14-17). These worship and serve the god of the decaying and decrepit Sinatic/Mosaic Covenant, the god of the misappropriated and distorted image of Moses, The Adversary, Satan, to whom they have been given over.
The members of the Assembly at
I am coming to you swiftly and shall be battling with them with the blade of My mouth. (Revelation 2:16b CV)
Jesus is shortly and swiftly coming to covenantally destroy
these pseudo-disciples with the word of His judgment against Apostate
Such disciples of Jesus the Messiah fail to act faithfully to the end. Their resurrection in Christ is a resurrection to judgment, for they commit the foul thing. They fail to produce the good thing. In this case, they are committing covenantal prostitution by mingling, fellowshipping, compromising with the covenantal enemy, thereby polluting themselves and the people of Yahweh.
The Ecclesia of Jesus the Messiah will be cleansed of such covenantal defilement. This cleansing is about to be initiated (1 Pe. 4:17) and will reach its conclusion at the Parousia/Approach of Jesus the Messiah, at which time His saints, His Holy Ones, will be manifested in His regal glory in order to be presented to Him as a Bride without spot (Eph. 5:27; 2 Pe. 3:14).
To the conquering one, the one continually faithful to the end, Jesus gives the hidden manna, the spiritual nourishment provided by the teaching, the instruction, the stipulations of the Gospel of Christ, the New Davidic Covenant, the Law of Christ. This divine spiritual provision is hidden from those outside Jesus the Messiah. What is hidden from the unfaithful, apostate Jews is manifestly revealed to those in Christ. It is revealed in the Word of Yahweh having been written in the Hebrew Scriptures and presently being written in the Greek Scriptures, as well as in the oral proclamation and teaching of the Gospel of Christ. It is made available day by day for spiritual consumption by those disciples of Jesus the Messiah continuing faithfully day in and day out.
This covenantal nourishment edifies each member of the Body of The Christ for faithful worship and service of the One True and Living Elohim. Its goal is spiritual maturity qualifying the conquering one for entrance into the Celestial Allotment. It is metaphorically found in the New Jerusalem descending out of heaven consisting of the Born-From-Above Israel of Yahweh (Rev. 21:2). Within the New Jerusalem is located the river of covenantal life along whose banks are planted the Tree of Life producing twelve fruits spiritually nourishing the faithful disciples (spiritual-warriors) of Jesus the Messiah, the New Davidic Warrior-King (Rev. 22:1-2).
As
Consequently, the New Israel of Yahweh, conquering the temptation presented by The Adversary, Satan, refuses to partake of the fruit of Apostate Israel sacrificially offered to the god of the decadent and decrepit Sinatic/Mosaic Covenant. She will eat only from the Tree of Life associated with the New Davidic Covenant and the One True and Living Elohim. She will drink only the water flowing from the river of life issuing out of the throne of Yahweh and the Lamb, rather than let even a drop of the contaminated, poisoned water flowing from the river of death issuing from the throne of Satan (representing Apostate Israel, the Jerusalem below, the Solomonic Temple, and the corrupted, distorted, decrepit Sinatic/Mosaic Covenant) touch her pure covenantal tongue never having tasted any food or drink defiled by the Mosaic Law as contaminated by the traditions and commandments of the fathers.
As Moses and Phinehas had immediately executed those Israelites committing covenantal prostitution with the daughters of Moab in accord with the seduction devised by Balaam (Numbers 25), so Jesus assures His Ecclesia as a whole (especially His Assembly dwelling in the Jerusalem below, the throne of Satan) that He will execute judgment just as quickly. His judgment will be against the present Balaamites (representing Apostate Israel and the Sinatic/Mosaic Covenant) and those committing covenantal prostitution by condoning these defilers of Yahweh’s New Davidic Covenant and allowing them a place in their midst.
Jesus also gives to the one conquering “a white pebble [stone] and on the pebble [stone] a new name written, of which no one is aware except the one who is obtaining it” (Rev. 2:17 CV). The white, precious stone may allude to the diamond. In any case, it represents a precious and valuable gem. Upon this precious, sparkling gem is inscribed a new name. The gift of a new name is associated with some great honor and blessing. This particular new name alludes to Isaiah 65:15, “Yet He [Yahweh] shall call His servants by another name” (CV). The new name is the Christ:
For even as the body is one and has many members, yet all the members of the one body, being many, are one body, thus also is THE CHRIST. (1 Corinthians 12:12 CV my emphasis)
All the conquering ones are anointed ones. They are identified with the name of Jesus, the Christ, the Anointed One of Yahweh. Only those in Christ are aware of this identification with His name. For only they can share in His sufferings. It is a covenantal honor bestowed upon them by Jesus as authorized by Yahweh.
This new name is associated with His Kingship (Rev. 19:16). For they have been called to be “a kingdom of priests to His God [Elohim] and Father, . . .” (Rev. 1:6 CV). Awareness of this new name comes by faith in the Gospel of Christ and continual faithfulness to its teachings, sharing continually and joyfully in the sufferings of Jesus the Messiah.
This new name inscribed upon this precious, white (indicating covenantal purity), sparkling gem is the possession of each conquering one, identifying each one as a legitimate member of the Body, the Ecclesia, of Jesus the Messiah. As long as one remains a conquering one, he retains possession of this precious gem identifying him as one who shares in the exalted honor and glory of Jesus the Messiah.
Those disciples of Jesus choosing continual covenantal intercourse with apostate Jews, rather than repenting of this defiling covenantal relationship, will be cut off from partaking of the fruit of the Tree of New Covenantal Life, the hidden manna providing spiritual nourishment to those identified with the new name. The precious gem inscribed with the new name will be confiscated. No longer will they be able to identify themselves as legitimate members of the Body, the Ecclesia, of Jesus the Messiah. They will be given over to The Adversary and Apostate Israel for covenantal destruction in the Lake of Fire, the Second Death, symbolically pointing to the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in 70 a.d., signifying the termination, the telos, of the Sinatic/Mosaic Covenant and the Mosaic Eon.
The first three letters have alluded to
Elijah, describing this apostasy, accuses
Jesus, writing to the assembly at Thyatira, introduces Himself
as “the Son of God [Yahweh]” (Rev. 2:18 CV). He is writing as more
than a prophet. He is writing with the exalted authority of Yahweh’s Son. The
assembly at Thyatira is to be severely warned against walking covenantally with
the limp of
Jesus the Son of Yahweh describes Himself as He “Who has His eyes as a flame of fire, and His feet like white bronze” (Rev. 2:18b CV). His penetrating vision, issuing from His wisdom and knowledge, sees through appearances to the very mind and heart of those among His assemblies who are false prophets, false shepherds, apostate intruders disguising themselves as ministers of light. Thus, His eyes search out every evil deed and His burning white bronze feet will trample (in severe judgment) upon the ministers of darkness parading as ministers of light and upon those who choose to follow them, those mixing light with darkness, truth with falsehood, good with evil, grace with license.
These covenantal limpers choose to serve two masters
simultaneously. In doing so, they worship and serve The Adversary, Satan. Like
their master, they shall be terminated in the
The perceptive vision of the eyes of Jesus, however, is also aware of the heart and mind of the faithful ones. He praises these single-minded disciples for their healthy, upright, balanced covenantal walk. Their works, love, faith, service, and endurance are exemplary. Their latest works are even greater than their earlier works. They have spiritually grown stronger, drawing nourishment from the depths, the profound truths, of the Gospel of Christ (the fruit of the Tree of Life).
However, in spite of this glowing report, Jesus announces,
But I have much against you, seeing that you pardon that woman of yours, Jezebel, who says that she is a prophetess, and is teaching and deceiving My slaves so as to commit prostitution and to be eating idol sacrifices. (Revelation 2:20 CV)
Operating in the midst of these praiseworthy, single-minded disciples, covenantally walking upright and balanced, is the prophetess Jezebel, disguised as a prophet of Yahweh. Jezebel symbolically represents a group of false prophets claiming to represent the true teachings of the New Davidic Covenant of Jesus the Messiah. These ministers of darkness cloaked with the mantle of Jesus the Messiah, thereby giving themselves the appearance of a minister, a prophet, a teacher of the light of the Gospel of Christ, attempt to deceptively teach the righteous servants of Jesus the Messiah to commit covenantal prostitution.
Such prostitution comes about by mixing truth with error, good with evil, grace with license. Paul, later referring to these Jezebels, writes,
What, then, shall we declare? That we may be persisting in sin [the Law of Sin operating in the members of the physical body] in order that the grace [of the Gospel of Christ] should be increasing? May it not be coming to that! We, who died to this sin [operating in the members of our physical body], how shall we still be living in it? (Romans 6:1-2 CV modified)
There were those in the assemblies of Jesus the Messiah who falsely and deceptively taught that being under the grace of the New Davidic Covenant liberated the disciples from debilitating restrictions of law of any kind. They taught the disciples that the mark of liberation could only be manifested in the freedom to commit sin. By sinning, the liberated disciple proved that he/she had risen above law. Like Elohim, the disciples of Jesus the Messiah had become elohim (gods), determining for themselves what acts and thoughts were good or evil.
Good and evil acts and thoughts, thus, were relative,
determined by oneself according to one’s circumstances. Committing sin,
therefore, was contributing to the liberating grace of Yahweh, proving one’s
superior status. This teaching is the lie taught by the serpent in
These counterfeit prophets proclaim lawlessness as the badge, the sign, the proof, of true discipleship. The freedom of the Gospel of the Christ, the New Davidic Covenant, transcends all systems of morality. Therefore, all disciples of Jesus the Messiah are neither bound to the moral and cultic principles of the Mosaic Law nor to any other legal system of rules and regulations. To be bound to such a restrictive system is to be a slave to the inferior prison house of the physical body and the terrestrial realm of enslaved humanity.
These false prophets teach that resurrection with Jesus the Messiah liberates one from the lusts of the flesh by declaring all desires of the flesh acceptable, honorable. Thus, the flesh, the physical body, no longer rules/reigns over, enslaves, imprisons the liberated and exalted disciple. In this way, sin no longer can reign, for nothing in itself is sin. The liberated man becomes a liberated god, determining for himself what is right and what is wrong. All that he determines as good is good. All that he determines as evil is evil. He reigns over himself as a god, an elohim. Sin, thus, has been removed from its throne of authority, its power having been nullified. This is the triumphant victory of the resurrection of Jesus the Messiah as proclaimed by the false prophetess Jezebel. Paul warns of this seductive Jezebel,
for I betrothed you to Christ to present you as a pure bride to her one husband. But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if some one [Jezebel] comes and preaches another Jesus than the one we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you submit to it readily enough. I think [Greek = account] that I am not in the least inferior to [pertaining to the interest of] these [pseudo] superlative apostles. (2 Corinthians 11:2b-5 RSV)
These Jezebelite prophets, claiming to be pseudo-superlative apostles of Jesus the Messiah, preach another Jesus, another spirit, another gospel. Paul, being acquainted with the Book of Revelation and the exhortation of Jesus to the assemblies, obediently exposes and challenges the false teaching of his contemporary Jezebel.
The name Jezebel signifies “unchasteness.” As the Jezebel of ancient Israel introduced and supported the worship of Baal among the ten tribes of the Northern Kingdom (1 Kings 16:29–19:18), so the contemporary prophets/apostles of Jezebel introduce and defend a contemporary licentious system of doctrines (for Baalism had been a licentious religion of cultic abominations) calculated (by Satan The Adversary) to defile the disciples of Jesus the Messiah by leading them to commit covenantal prostitution by following idolatrous practices (eating idol sacrifices, Rev. 2:20) authoritatively required by a pseudo-Jesus, a pseudo-spirit, and a pseudo-gospel.
Paul continues his exposure of these agents of Satan, The Adversary,
As the truth of Christ is in me, this boast of mine shall not be silenced in the regions of Achaia. And why? Because I do not love you? God [Yahweh] knows I do! And what I do I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen [fraudulent workers], disguising themselves [literal Greek = the ones reschematizing themselves] as [into] apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself [literal Greek = is reschematizing himself] as [into] an angel [messenger] of light. So it is not strange if his servants also disguise themselves [literal Greek = reschematizing themselves] as servants of righteousness. Their end [telos, consummation] will correspond to their deeds. (2 Corinthians 11:10-15 RSV)
These Jezebelites, undercover agents of Satan, reschematize themselves by claiming to represent Jesus in the power of His spirit by the proclamation of His gospel. They falsify, transform, their inner programmatic schemata (as teachers of licentiousness, agents of darkness, agents of covenantal idolatry) to resemble Jesus, the spirit, and the gospel while reschematizing, transforming, their outward appearance to resemble a messenger, an agent of light, an apostle of Jesus the Messiah.
In fact, however, they represent their own concocted Jesus (an antichrist) inspired by the operation of Satan (an anti-spirit, 2 Thess. 2:9), and they proclaim the gospel of Jezebel (another gospel, an anti-gospel, an idolatrous gospel, a gospel whose appearance is that of light [“you shall be like Elohim”] but whose affect is darkness, death).
The true, authentic Gospel of Christ gloriously irradiates the true, authentic Apostles of Christ as covenantal light illuminating the darkness of the Sinatic/Mosaic Covenantal World-Order (system) while simultaneously producing covenantal life. The false, inauthentic, reschematized gospel (of the apostles of Satan appearing as covenantal light) deceptively administers a lethal poison resulting in the darkness of covenantal death. Paul has faithfully reminded the disciples of Jesus not to pardon, permit, or condone the presence and the teaching of the woman Jezebel dwelling in their midst (the false prophets/apostles of pseudo-grace, pseudo-liberation [freedom] justifying and glorifying an apostate licentious mind and heart encouraging corrupt, defiling, lawless behavior shaming both servant and Master, both man and Yahweh).
Though Jesus announces that He will give this Jezebel time to repent, He already knows she is not willing to repent of her prostitution. She is a child of Cain, and, like Cain, arrogantly chooses to oppose the Way of Yahweh. These false gnostic prophets/apostles cling diligently, defiantly, to the lie of the serpent, believing with their mind and heart the lie to be the truth. They are not deceived or seduced by Satan, The Adversary. They believe their special knowledge comes from a divine source, and they have been divinely initiated into this superior knowledge.
As Jezebel had been cast out of a window, falling to her death, her body being devoured by wild street dogs (2 Kings 9:30-37), so Jesus will cast His contemporary Jezebel into a couch or bed of prostitutional death, a bed of covenantal anguish and judgment. For these gnostic Jews had departed from both the law of the Mosaic Covenant and the law of the New Davidic Covenant. They had committed covenantal prostitution against Yahweh by despising His law mediated by Moses, and they had committed covenantal prostitution against Jesus the Messiah by reschematizing (transforming) His Person, His Spirit, and His Gospel into something completely foreign to the Law and the Prophets (the Hebrew Scriptures) and the Gospel of Christ (the Greek Scriptures).
Those disciples continuing to condone the presence and teaching of the false prophets/apostles espousing lawlessness in the name of Jesus the Messiah and those disciples continuing to consider or, worse, practice such lawlessness will be given over to “great affliction” (Rev. 2:22 CV). This judgment would be immediate. Such lawlessness would not be allowed to continue in the assemblies for very long. Such lawlessness would be dealt with in haste.
This is exemplified in the assembly at
And you [the assembly of disciples] are puffed up [become arrogant], and mourn not rather, that the one who commits this act may be taken away from your midst. For I, indeed, being absent in body, yet present in spirit, have already, as if present, thus judged the one effecting this, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (you being gathered, and my spirit, together with the power of our Lord Jesus), to give up such a one to Satan for the extermination of the flesh, [in order] that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. (1 Corinthians 5:2-5 CV)
This disciple, then, was given up to Satan for the destruction of the flesh. He would be given up to his sin and expelled from the fellowship of the assembly, the Born-From-Above Community, in order that he might be brought to repentance and not have his name erased from the Lamb’s scroll of covenantal life, thereby avoiding the judgment of the Lake of Fire, the Second Death.
By administrating such an immediate judgment, Jesus declares that “all the ecclesias [assemblies] shall know that I am He Who is searching the kidneys [minds] and hearts. And I will be giving to each of you in accord with your acts [works, deeds]” (Rev. 2:23 CV). Jesus would be continually judging His disciples in accord with their faithful or unfaithful works. This discipline would remain operational policy throughout the course of the spiritual civil warfare against Apostate Israel. The spiritual warriors of the New Davidic Warrior-King would be held accountable daily for their covenantal conduct in carrying out (executing faithfully) the orders of their Commander-In-Chief.
To the one conquering, to the one obediently keeping, executing, the works of the New Davidic Covenant until the consummation, the telos, the end, of the covenantal warfare, the end of the Mosaic Eon, Jesus is giving authority to share with Him the shepherding of those uncircumcised Gentiles (members of the nations) responding in faith to His Gospel. He and they (the circumcised faithful ones, the saints) soon would be shepherding these uncircumcised-in-flesh Gentiles with an iron club of covenantal discipline, for many would be coming out of a heritage of cultic and social immorality originating from the time of the Tower of Babel. Their immoral heritage would be crushed, liberating them from the immorality practiced by the nations walking in darkness into the moral conduct practiced by the faithful Israelites walking in the light of Yahweh’s Law enhanced and magnified by the Law of Christ.
To the conquering ones shepherding these uncircumcised-in-flesh sheep presently entering the New Jerusalem (that metaphorical/covenantal city having descended out of heaven) and presently circumcising their hearts in faithful commitment to the Gospel of Christ, Jesus also gives “the morning star” (Rev. 2:28), the glorious light of the Gospel of Christ illuminating the sky of the new heaven and the pathway of the new earth created by the New Davidic Covenant. Along this brilliantly lighted pathway, the newly circumcised-in-heart Gentile sheep would be led, directed, disciplined, protected, by Jesus the Chief Shepherd and His associate shepherds, into the safety of Yahweh’s new fold, the New Jerusalem, the city of Yahweh and His Anointed Son.
Again, this letter alludes to ancient
Jesus addresses the assembly at
Jesus writes that He is aware of their works. They have a reputation of being alive in association with the New Davidic Covenant. They claim to march under the banner of the Gospel and under the authoritative name of Jesus the Messiah. This is true, but they have become dead in relation to their works as James, the Lord’s brother, is later to write,
Now are you wanting to know, O empty man, that faith apart from works is dead? . . . by works a man is being justified, and not by faith only. . . . For even as the body apart from spirit is dead, thus also faith apart from works is dead. (James 2:20, 24, 26 CV)
They had begun the spiritual warfare bravely. Their covenantal works against the enemy had been effective. But they had grown weary of spiritual battle with its accompanying hardships and persecutions. They had expected an earlier Parousia of their Lord and King. Thus, they had abandoned the works of faithfulness. They had departed from the worship and service associated with the New Jerusalem and the New Davidic Covenant. They had neglected their covenantal military duty and were about to abandon the covenantal battlefield.
Jesus warns them to “Become watchful” (Rev. 3:2 CV). Return to duty! Strengthen your resolve! Commit yourselves once again to the remaining works yet necessary to achieve complete covenantal victory,
establish [strengthen] the things [the works] remaining which are about to be dying; for I have not found that your works have been completed [perfected] in the sight of My God [Elohim]. (Revelation 3:2b my translation)
These saints have
become impatient. Their will to endure the persecution on behalf of the
righteousness of the Gospel has waned. It is about to die completely, thus
returning them to the camp of the enemy, Apostate Israel. They cannot serve two
masters. They cannot withdraw to a position on the fence. They must either
march into battle as spiritual warriors in the army of the
These saints have stopped walking in the faithfulness of Abraham. They have forgotten the way exemplified by Abraham their covenantal father. They must now be called to remember the example of Abraham:
Abraham, our father, was he not justified by works when offering up his son Isaac on the altar? You are observing that faith worked together with his works, and by works was faith perfected [completed]. (James 2:21-22 CV)
Their faith, apart from obedient works, is dead. Jesus has
called His disciples to spiritual/covenantal warfare. Jesus has called His
disciples to “work out your own salvation
with fear and trembling” (Phil.
for to you it is graciously granted, for Christ's sake, not only to be believing on Him, but to be suffering for His sake also, having the same struggle such as you are perceiving in me, . . . (Philippians 1:29-30a CV)
These saints must, therefore, continue the military struggle against the enemies of Yahweh and Jesus the Messiah. They must return to the works of faithfulness, completing them by continuing them to the end of the Mosaic Eon, which, though being imminent, had yet to run its course which would not exceed the duration of the present generation. Unlike the Northern Kingdom of Israel which had refused to heed the warnings of the prophets, these present sleeping saints must take heed to the warning of the Son of Yahweh Himself, the Anointed Davidic Warrior-King, the Commander-In-Chief over all the assemblies, over all the warriors participating faithfully in the struggles and hardships endured under the banner of the New Davidic Kingdom and Covenant. Jesus, then, commands these saints to
Remember, then, how you have obtained [the enabling power of the spirit] and heard [the trumpet call to spiritual battle]. Obey [this equipping call] and repent. (Revelation 3:3a my translation)
They had obtained the empowering of the spirit in order to
faithfully discharge their covenantal duties as citizens of the Born-From-Above Nation and
spiritual/covenantal warriors in the spiritual/covenantal army of the
Rouse! O drowsy one, and rise from among the dead, and Christ shall dawn upon you! (Ephesians 5:14 CV)
They are to watchfully engage the enemy, faithfully executing their orders until the consummation of the civil war, as Paul admonishes,
awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. (Romans 13:11 NASB)
If they continue to sleep (abandon their post), Jesus will
arrive against them in judgment as a thief in the night (Matt. 24:42-44). They
will then have their part in the
However, Jesus indicates that among these covenantal sleepers
who have polluted their white garments of faithfulness, there are “a few names in
Prophetically, the gnomic future is again used to indicate that as long as the condition of faithfulness is met, the one whose garment remains white continues to walk worthily together with Jesus in His warfare against Apostate Israel. Those repenting of their lack of covenantal works, confessing their sins, wash their polluted garments in the blood of the Lamb, restoring their whiteness, signifying their return to faithful works of covenantal obedience (see Rev. 22:14; 7:14).
The one conquering continues clothed in white. He remains obediently pure. Under no circumstances will his name be erased from the scroll of life. Jesus will continually be advocating his name in the presence of His Father, Yahweh, and in the presence of His messengers, as Paul later declares in his second letter to Timothy,
Faithful is the saying: “For if we died together, we shall be living together also; if we are enduring, we shall be reigning together also; if we are disowning, He [Jesus] also will be disowning us; if we are disbelieving [acting unfaithfully], He is remaining faithful—He cannot disown Himself.” (2 Timothy 2:11-13 CV)
The faithful disciple metaphorically shares in Christ’s death in order to share in His resurrection life. Sharing in His resurrection life means enduring, sharing in His sufferings which signifies one’s reigning with Him in His New Davidic Kingdom. If one denies (disowns) Jesus the Messiah, Jesus will deny (disown) the one denying Him. If one acts unfaithfully, Jesus will warn, discipline, chastise, hoping to redirect the erring disciple into the path of faithfulness through repentance. Thus, He remains faithful to His own.
However, His faithfulness also necessitates judgment against those who disown Him, returning them to the ranks of the apostate ones. Paul describes these disowning ones as follows:
They are avowing [advocating] an acquaintance with God [Yahweh], yet by their acts [works] are denying it, being abominable and stubborn, and disqualified for every good act [work]. (Titus 1:16 CV)
Those who deny their Lord are denied by their Lord. Their
works reveal whom they, in fact, serve. He who is authentically acquainted with
Yahweh produces works pleasing to Yahweh, thus revealing the character of
Yahweh. To claim acquaintance with Yahweh while not producing the appropriate
works is to be an apostate. To avow Jesus as Messiah with the mouth but to deny
Him in deeds is to be antichrist, warranting destruction in the
The letter written to the saints
at
Jesus addresses the saints
at
With this key, Jesus is the One “Who is opening and no one shall be locking, and locking and no one shall be opening” (Rev. 3:7b CV), a direct quotation taken from Isaiah 22:22, where Yahweh gives the key of David to Eliakim. Jesus has complete authority to open or lock the door of the Temple-Kingdom, thus controlling who enters and who does not enter. He also has authority to expel one who has been allowed entrance but has not remained faithful. These unfaithful ones are expelled, the door being locked behind them.
The key of David opening the door of entrance into the New
Jerusalem and participation in the worship and service of the
Jesus writes to the saints
dwelling at
I am aware of your acts [works]. Lo! Before you have I granted an open door, which no one is able to lock, for you have a little power, and you keep My word and you do not disown My name. (Revelation 3:8 CV)
The courageous deeds of these spiritual warriors make them an
elite company in the warfare against Apostate Israel and the liberation of
Yahweh’s people. Jesus honors their valiant effort in His service. So honorable
does He consider their gallant military accomplishments on behalf of the Gospel
and the
This elite company of circumcised commandos is described as
having a little power. This little power is relative to the great power of the Twelve Apostles
dwelling in the assembly occupying
These commando saints
loyally obey the word of their Lord and Commander-In-Chief. They do not depart
from His instructions, His orders, either to the right or to the left (see
Josh. 1:7; 1 Chronicles, chapter 12). They do not disown His name, faithfully
advocating His name before both circumcised and uncircumcised men. They
courageously jeopardize their lives, enduring much persecution (especially from
the Jews) and hardships in their evangelistic invasion into
Their enemies will come from “the synagogue of Satan” (Rev. 3:9 CV). These enemies will deny the legitimacy of those Jews proclaiming Jesus as Messiah, claiming they themselves represent authentic Jews. Yahweh declares them to be liars, for they represent apostate Jews, denying Yahweh’s voice and His messengers.
These pseudo Jews claiming to worship and serve Yahweh, in fact, worship and serve The Adversary, Satan. These Jews claiming to be children of Abraham are in fact children of Cain. They cling to the Mosaic Covenant while denying the testimony of Moses concerning Jesus and the New Covenant He has established. Their circumcised flesh contradicts their uncircumcised heart. Their zealousness for the traditions of their fathers contradicts their hatred of the Law and the Prophets as fulfilled by Jesus and His Ecclesia. Claiming to walk in the light of Yahweh’s word, they stumble in the dark over the WORD of Yahweh made flesh.
Referring to these Jews, members of the synagogue of Satan, Paul exclaims,
the ones having killed the Lord Jesus as well as the prophets and drove us out and are not pleasing to God [Yahweh] and are contrary [hostile] to all men, forbidding us to speak to the nations in order that they [individual gentiles] might be saved, resulting in the continual filling up of their [apostate Jews of the synagogue of Satan] sins. But upon them came the consummating indignation [of Yahweh]. (1 Thessalonians 2:15-16 my translation)
This last, evil, crooked generation of Apostate Israel is bringing her sins to completion. She is filling up her cup of iniquity, warranting the final indignation of Yahweh presently coming down upon her to her terminating destruction, even as the nations in Canaan had filled up their iniquities at the time of Israel’s invading entrance under Joshua, thus enduring their own terminating indignation from Yahweh, Whose patient endurance of their wicked ways had come to its justified end (see Gen. 15:16).
These brave warrior-saints associated with the
This is the significance of the vision given to Peter in Acts,
chapter 10, the momentous significance of the entrance into the New Davidic
Kingdom of Cornelius, those in his household, and the Greeks in
In that day will I raise up the fallen booth [Tabernacle, House] of David, And I will dike [wall up] with stones its breaches, And its demolished places will I raise, And I will build it as in the days of the eon [the Davidic Eon, age, period], That they [the Northern Kingdom having become Lo-Ammi, not My people, uncircumcised, members of the nations] may tenant the remnant of Edom, And all the nations over whom My name is called, (averring is Ieue [Yahweh], the Doer of this). (CV)
It is also the fulfillment of Hosea 1:10b-11:
And it comes to be in the place in which it was being
said to them, Not My people are you, There shall it be said to them, Sons of
the living El. And the sons of
Paul later substantiates the mission to the nations as the fulfillment of this prophecy of Hosea when he writes, in Romans 9:23-25 CV,
that He [Yahweh] should also be making known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He makes ready before for glory—us, whom He calls also, not only out of the Jews, but out of the nations also. As He is saying in Hosea also: . . .
Thereupon, he quotes from Hosea 1:10-11.
In honor of His own mighty men of valor, Jesus assures His courageous, loyal warrior-saints that those of the synagogue of Satan (opposing apostate Jews)
will be arriving and worshiping, before your feet, and they may know that I love you. (Revelation 3:9b CV)
Metaphorically, this assurance pronounces, thus guaranteeing,
the defeat of the cause of the pseudo-Jews, the enemies of Jesus Himself. These
enemies who had instigated the persecutions driving the mighty men of
Gospel-valor out of one city into another would be defeated by the very
persecutions these enemies themselves had instigated. Thus, metaphorically,
they would bow before the triumphant and glorious cause of the Gospel of Christ
proclaimed to both circumcised and uncircumcised. Apostate
In reciprocation for keeping the word of His endurance (enduring the suffering of the cross of Christ faithfully to the end, Rev. 3:10a CV), Jesus assures His warrior-saints that He would be keeping them
out of the hour of trial which is about to be coming
upon the entire inhabited household of
These valiant warriors of the Gospel are guaranteed
preservation through this period of trial upon apostate Jews dwelling
throughout the territories of the
This hour of trial symbolically refers to the Day of the Lord (the day of Yahweh’s ultimate visit for
judgment). It is described as an hour
in order to indicate its momentous eonian significance. It therefore refers to
the period of the Jewish revolt against
The Gospel of Matthew refers to this period as the “great affliction” (Matt. 24:21 CV);
Paul, in his letter to the disciples dwelling in
James refers to the last years of this period when he exhorts his readers to “be patient; establish your hearts, for the presence of the Lord is near” (James 5:8 CV). Peter refers to this period when he writes, “Now the consummation of all [that which is written in the Law and the Prophets] is near” (1 Pe. 4:7a CV). John refers to this period as “the last hour” (1 Jn. 2:18a CV) at which time the disciples “heard that the antichrist is coming, now also there have come to be many antichrists, whence we know that it is the last hour. Out of us they come, but they were not of us, . . .” (1 Jn. 2:18b-19a CV).
Jesus then encourages these valiant warriors:
I am coming swiftly! Hold what you have, that no one may be taking your wreath [crown]. (Revelation 3:11 CV)
They are to continue valiantly fighting the spiritual/covenantal battle in the cause of liberty to the end of the Mosaic Eon, to the terminating judgment against this final evil, crooked, apostate generation. The Parousia of their Commander-In-Chief is imminent. His final arrival in judgment will occur swiftly.
His loyal mighty men of valor are to remain intensely watchful in order that no deceiving or seducing enemy agent might subvert their faith and faithfulness. They are to continue reigning in covenantal life in order that their names might not be erased from the scroll of life. This means waging the battle loyally, honorably, and valiantly to its gloriously triumphant consummation. Having done so, each will maintain possession of his crown of life, but each, in addition, will gain the crown of righteousness,
I have contended the ideal contest. I have finished my career [course]. I have kept the faith. Furthermore, there is reserved for me the wreath [crown] of righteousness, which the Lord, the just Judge, will be paying to me in that day; yet not to me only, but also to all who love His advent. (2 Timothy 4:7-8 CV)
Thus, the one conquering is the one reigning together with
Jesus the New Davidic Warrior-King during the forty-year (30 A.D.–70 A.D.) invasion against Apostate Israel throughout the
inhabited household of her people scattered throughout the territories of the
Roman Empire. This conquering one, so long as he remains faithful, is
accounted, by Jesus his Lord and King, a pillar in the Temple of Yahweh (Rev.
3:12a). This
The conquering one will always remain a citizen of this holy
city, participating as a member of the
I will be writing upon him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, the one which descends out of the heaven [of the vision of chapter 21] from My God, and My new name. (Revelation 3:12b my translation)
Thus, the conquering one is identified with Yahweh, the New
Jerusalem, the
The letter ends, as usual, with a commanding call to all the assemblies:
Who has an ear, let him hear what the spirit is saying to the ecclesias [assemblies]. (Revelation 3:13 CV)
All the figurative letters contain messages vital to the
faithfulness of all the disciples, all the servants, all the faithful followers
of Jesus the Christ, the Anointed
One, the Messiah, the New Davidic Warrior-King. These messages are directed, at
the time of the writing of the Book of Revelation, to those disciples of Jesus
dwelling in the numerous assemblies located in
This last letter refers the reader back to Judah (the Southern
Kingdom) just prior to her expulsion from the land under the Babylonian
conquest. Unlike
The saints in
As long as
Bring your worthless offerings no longer. Incense is an
abomination to Me. New moon and sabbath, the calling of assemblies—I cannot
endure iniquity and the solemn assembly. I hate your new moon festivals and
your appointed feasts. They have become a burden to Me. . . .
Jesus addresses this passionless assembly as “the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Epitome [Greek, arkee, chief, beginning] of Yahweh’s creation” (Rev. 3:14b my translation). He is the “Amen” since He is the One perfectly advocating the will of Yahweh, His Father. He is Yahweh’s enthusiastic “Amen!” Let it be so! He precisely echoes the Will, the Word, the Purpose of Yahweh.
As such, He is the Faithful and True Witness to all that
Yahweh intends for humanity. He is Yahweh’s Faithful and True Witness to all
Yahweh’s promises contained in the Law and the Prophets. He is the Epitome of Yahweh’s creation, that is,
the part which represents typically the whole. He is the crowning achievement
of Yahweh’s purpose and design for mankind. He is the zenith, the summit of
Yahweh’s intentional purpose for mankind. He is the Chief Representative of
Yahweh’s predetermined design for
Thus, Jesus is the enthusiastic, passionate, zealously active
Amen, Advocate, of Yahweh’s will. He exemplifies that which these saints at
I am aware of your acts [works], that neither cool [cold] are you nor zealous [hot]! Would that you were cool or zealous! Thus, seeing that you are indifferent, and are neither zealous nor cool, I am about to spew you out of My mouth. (Revelation 3:15-16 CV)
These spiritual soldiers have not reported for duty! They have
enlisted themselves in the covenantal army of the
Jesus warns them that He is about to spew them out of His mouth. The distastefulness of their lukewarmness when descending into the stomach causes acute nausea. They are neither cold (apostate, opposing, passionate children of Cain) nor hot (faithful, advocating, zealous children of Abel). Jesus and Yahweh respect passionate opposition and zealous advocation when both arise out of a commitment to one’s integrity. But indifference, lukewarmness, lacks integrity and honor. It breeds a contemptible shamelessness.
A passionate enemy opposing in his integrity is not contemptible. Such an enemy, when being defeated and enlightened by truth, will honorably concede his error, acknowledging the shamefulness of his opposition and repenting of his misconceived opposition. However, one who is unemotionally indifferent is not easily affected by truth, since he does not passionately love truth. His indifference shields him from authentic shame, while numbing him to the invasion of truth.
Cain’s opposition to Yahweh is respectable. He opposes Yahweh in his commitment to his own sense of integrity. He passionately opposes Yahweh in the name of that which he conceives to be truth. He is an honorable and worthy opponent of Yahweh since he zealously believes in his cause, his own understanding of righteousness and justice. He stands up in his armor wielding his weapons ready to valiantly engage in battle. He is not indifferent. He is not shameless. He understands shame, considering it an enemy. He engages Yahweh in combat in the cause of his honor. He has misconceived truth, but nevertheless respects and honors truth.
Consequently, his very engagement with Yahweh in combat will be the means by which he will be defeated by truth. This will result in his acknowledgment of his shamefulness and his repentant, zealous commitment to the truth appropriately conceived. Such a zealously committed enemy will quickly become a zealously committed advocate.
The indifferent saints
at
Rich am I! . . . Rich have I become, and of nothing have I need! (Revelation 3:17a CV)
They consider themselves rich in that they possess the new
life of the New Davidic Covenant guaranteeing them participation in the coming
Celestial Allotment. They have no further need of anything. Their present and
future is secure. They are at peace with the world, and, thus, at peace with
the enemy. They are citizens of the New Jerusalem of peace and safety. They
participate in the worship and service of the
you are not aware that you are wretched and forlorn [pitiful] and poor and blind and naked. (Revelation 3:17b CV)
They are unaware of their true condition. They are pitiful because they perceive themselves as rich but are in reality poor. They confess Him with their lips but deny Him in their hearts. They have not put on the white robe of righteousness, the royal robe of priestly service, the military attire of spiritual combat signifying their reigning together with Jesus the Anointed Warrior-King. Disrobed, they go about their business blind to their covenantal nakedness. Blind to their nakedness, they are unaware of their covenantal shame. Devoid of zealousness for the truth of the Gospel, they parade their naked shame before the world-order to the dishonor of Yahweh, Jesus, their covenantal brethren, and themselves. Jesus advises them to
buy of Me gold refined by the fire, [in order] that you should be rich, and white garments, [in order] that you may be clothed and the shame of your nakedness may not be made manifest, and eye-salve to anoint your eyes, [in order] that you may be observing. (Revelation 3:18 CV)
The gold refined by fire alludes to Psalms 19:7-10 where it refers to Yahweh’s Law, testimony, precepts, commandments, judgments and statutes. Possession of these makes one covenantally rich. The white garments refer to the righteousness of the saints (see Rev. 19:8) bought with the costly price of faithful works, gallant and courageous deeds in covenantal battle against the enemy. Valor in battle is costly,
Therefore take up the panoply of God [Yahweh, in order] that you may be enabled to withstand in the wicked day [the present evil eon, Gal. 1:4], and having effected all, to stand. Stand, then, girded about your loins with truth, with the cuirass of righteousness put on, and your feet sandaled with the readiness of the evangel of peace; with all taking up the large shield of faith, by which you will be able to extinguish all the fiery arrows of the wicked one. And receive the helmet of salvation [deliverance from the curse of the law and the harm of the Second Death] and the sword of the spirit, which is a declaration of God [Yahweh]. (Ephesians 6:13-17 CV)
The indifferent, unzealous saints
at
These saints must
share in the sufferings of Christ, enduring the persecution and affliction on
behalf of the righteousness of the
Jesus rebukes these indifferent saints associated with the new name because He is fond of them. They bear His name and, thus, belong to Him. He exposes and disciplines those who are His servants. Thus, He commands them to “Be zealous, then, and repent!” (Rev. 3:19 CV). He graciously stands at the door of their tents, knocking. To those opening the door and standing in battle array, He would enter, restoring them to honorable military standing. Those failing to hear His voice and open to Him, He would spew out of His mouth.
However, like the Southern Kingdom of Judah, He would not
abandon them. He would go with them in their exile from the New Heavenly
Jerusalem. Though they would forfeit their part in the Celestial Allotment, He
would endow them in the terrestrial realm with the authority to proclaim His
name under the banner of a new religion, Christianity.
This new religion would destroy the ancient world of the gods, confirming both
the termination of the Times of the
Gentiles and the inauguration of the
Thus, Christianity
should have proclaimed the all-inclusive
Christianity would
proclaim the One Living God (Elohim) and His Only-Begotten Son to the nations,
to the entire Hellenistic world-order, during the last three decades of the
first century a.d. and through
the remaining centuries of the
The circumcised and uncircumcised unfaithful followers of Jesus the Messiah, whom Jesus spewed out of His mouth, would be electively set aside by Yahweh to spread the accomplishment of Jesus the Son of God throughout the new world-order of Jesuic humanity, the New Heavens and Earth. The Celestial Realm (represented by Jesus the Messiah and His Ecclesia) would rule over the terrestrial realm (represented by the new Christian religion and the remainder of humanity). These spewed-out disciples would be jolted out of their complacency and indifference as a result of the persecution and affliction sent upon them by Yahweh after the Parousia of Jesus the Messiah had been completed and the Born-From-Above Israel of Yahweh had entered her Celestial Allotment. These spewed-out ones would be given over to much persecution in consequence of their unfaithful indifference and complacency resulting in their failure to participate in the Royal Warfare of Yahweh and His Anointed Warrior-King against Apostate Israel and on behalf of the liberation of the people of Yahweh.
Though they would fail Yahweh and Jesus, Yahweh and Jesus would not abandon them. They would lose their part in the Celestial Allotment, but they would be assigned an elective role in the terrestrial realm on behalf of Yahweh and Jesus Christ. This role would continue to identify them with Jesus Christ, but not in association with His Ecclesia (His Church), which would be dwelling and serving in the Celestial Realm.
Their identity with Jesus Christ would be the inferior, temporal, and relative identity of a new religion. When this new religion will have fulfilled its purpose, it, along with all other surviving religions, would be terminatingly transcended. Mankind will have finally come of age, reaching his predetermined mature state of being.
This final letter to the assemblies belonging to Jesus also concludes with a guarantee of promise to the conquering one:
The one who is conquering, to him will I be granting to be seated with Me on [literally, in the sphere of the interest of] My throne as I, also, conquer, and am seated with My Father on [in the sphere of the interest of] His throne. (Revelation 3:21 CV)
Again, the conquering one, as long as he continues to faithfully conquer in the name of Jesus, is to be presently reigning together with Jesus in His New Davidic Kingdom. As Jesus’ Davidic Reign necessitates the conquering of His enemies in spiritual warfare, so also His faithful royal-warriors necessarily must follow Him into spiritual battle, continually engaging and conquering the enemies of their Lord and Warrior-King while simultaneously enduring the hardships and wounds of battle. As Jesus reigns in the interest of His Father’s throne, so also His loyal royal-warriors, the conquering ones, reign together with Him in the interest of His Davidic throne.
Consequently, to those hearing and obeying “what the spirit [of Yahweh and Jesus, the spirit poured out initially at Pentecost] is [presently] saying to the ecclesias” (Rev. 3:22 CV), Jesus gives assurance that they are to continue to be presently reigning jointly with Him. In association with this reigning, Jesus has also guaranteed the following advantages to all the ones conquering together with Him (see list on the next page).
Having completed his vision concerning the seven assemblies,
John is carried back, in vision, to the coronation of Jesus as Davidic
Warrior-King. The vision of chapters 4-5 does not follow chronologically the
vision of chapters 1-3. The letters written to the seven symbolic assemblies
located in symbolic
The vision of chapters 4-5 only literarily follows
consecutively the previous vision of chapters 1-3. John writes, “After these things I perceived” (4:1
CV). “After these things” refers to
the vision of chapters 1-3. He is now instructed, “Come up here! and I will be showing you what must be occurring after
these things” (4:1b CV). John is to be shown that which he is to write down
next, not what happens next. The chronology of the events being revealed is not
under consideration. What is emphasized is the order in which John is being
shown these visions, “what must be
occurring” in the vision about to be given him, which vision literarily
follows consecutively the previous vision which has been referred to as “after these things.”
In the next vision of chapters 4 and 5, John perceives an
opened door in the heaven of his vision. This heaven is symbolic. It
symbolically refers to the heaven belonging to the terrestrial realm. This
heaven is located above the earth. It is a metaphoric heaven figuratively
designating Yahweh’s rule over
The opened door symbolically invites John into the theatre of the vision he is about to be permitted to perceive. This opened door does not lead either into heaven or into the celestial realm. John, in spirit, is going to be snatched up to the metaphoric heaven above the metaphoric earth upon which he presently stands. There, he will enter through the opened door leading into this theatre in which he will be permitted to perceive his next vision.
The voice of invitation heard by John is described as the sounding of a trumpet. The trumpet is associated with a call to arms, a call of alarm. Jesus the Messiah is about to ascend the throne of David as the New Davidic Warrior-King executing the judgment of Yahweh against Apostate Israel in the cause of liberation, the deliverance and the arming of the people of Yahweh for spiritual warfare against His enemies.
In spirit, John finds himself in this visionary heaven. Entering
through the opened door, he perceives a throne. Upon this throne sits Yahweh. This
is the throne of Yahweh as King in Yeshurun (Deut. 33:5 CV), King over His
covenanted nation
In the days of
In response to Saul’s failure, Yahweh raises up David to sit with Him in the interest of His throne. Thus, the throne of David essentially represents the throne of Yahweh as King in Yeshurun. David conquers the enemies in the land in the name of Yahweh Who declares David a man after His own heart.
Promises
to the Conquering Ones in the Ecclesias
|
|
Ecclesia |
Promise |
Reference |
|
1. |
|
Eating of the Tree of Life (drawing spiritual life
from the Word of the New Davidic Covenant) |
2:7b |
|
2. |
|
The crown of life (sharing in the resurrection life
of Christ, thus, walking in newness of covenantal life) |
2:10 |
|
3. |
|
Protection from the harm of the Second Death
(deliverance from the covenantal destruction of Apostate Israel clinging to
the Sinatic/Mosaic Covenant) |
2:11b |
|
4. |
|
The hidden manna (spiritual nourishment provided by
the teaching, the instruction, the stipulations of the Law of Christ) |
2:17b |
|
5. |
|
The New Name (identification with Jesus the Messiah
and the New Jerusalem, His Ecclesia) |
2:17b |
|
6. |
Thyatira |
Shepherding the nations (teaching, guiding,
instructing, disciplining the uncircumcised faithful ones) |
2:27 |
|
7. |
Thyatira |
The Morning Star (the glorious light of the Gospel
of Christ) |
2:27 |
|
8. |
|
Clothed in white garments (the righteous robe of the
faithful warrior-priest reigning with Christ) |
3:5 |
|
9. |
|
Name not erased from the Scroll of Life (one’s
continued righteous standing as an honorable warrior) |
3:5 |
|
10. |
|
Their advocation by Jesus before the Father
(Honorable acknowledgment before Yahweh) |
3:5 |
|
11. |
|
A Pillar in the |
3:12a |
|
12. |
Laodicea |
Seated with Jesus on His throne (reigning and
conquering together with Jesus in the warfare against Apostate Israel) |
3:21 |
Note. All these advantages are experienced by all the saints who qualify as conquering ones during the New Davidic Kingdom invasion from 30-70 a.d.
David conquers
Therefore, the throne of Yahweh, perceived by John in its metaphorical/covenantal exalted location in Israel’s heavenly rule over the nations, represents the throne of David reserved for his future glorious Son. Around the throne is an emerald rainbow. The rainbow alludes to Yahweh’s covenant made with Noah and humanity after the flood. It is an emerald rainbow because it represents Yahweh’s life-enhancing care for the nations of the earth as the One True Living Elohim.
Surrounding this throne of Yahweh are twenty-four thrones upon which are seated twenty-four elders. These twenty-four elders represent the remnant of faithful Israel worshiping and praising Yahweh in association with Jerusalem and the Temple during the generations preceding the present evil generation of John’s day. They are clothed in white garments, symbolizing their righteousness. On their heads are crowns of gold, indicating their faithful reigning with Yahweh under the Mosaic Covenant.
This remnant represents Yahweh’s faithful nation of priests sharing in His sufferings at the hands of Cainite Israel. They had suffered faithfully to the end, making them conquerors under the persecution and affliction endured in the spiritual battle with Apostate Israel. Thus, they represent a kingdom of priests faithful to Yahweh’s rule in Yeshurun before and after the rejection of Yahweh in exchange for the reign of Saul, a king after the likeness of the nations.
Issuing out of this throne of Yahweh are “lightnings and voices and thunders” (Rev. 4:5a CV). A storm of
judgment is brewing. Yahweh is about to pour out His final indignation upon
Apostate Israel. His patience, longsuffering, and compassion are reaching their
consummation. His enemies will receive just retribution for their refusal to
repent of their evil deeds. His faithful servants, after sharing in the
sufferings of Jesus the Messiah, will enter into their promised Celestial
Allotment. The Day of Yahweh has arrived, the day of His ultimate visitation of
His people,
Seven torches of fire are burning before the throne of Yahweh.
They are said to be the seven spirits of Yahweh, symbolically referring to the
complete, the perfect, operation of the spirit of Yahweh in relation to the
terrestrial realm of the heaven and the earth of the vision. Before the throne
is a “glassy sea, like crystal” (Rev.
4:6), corresponding to the brazen
The twenty-four elders, before being seated on the twenty-four thrones surrounding Yahweh’s Davidic throne, had to cleanse themselves for the priestly service by enduring figuratively the refining process in the manufacture of clear glass, represented here by the glassy sea alluding to the persecution and affliction through which they themselves had been refined in order to be qualified to approach Yahweh’s throne and occupy the twenty-four thrones of honorable service. The refining process for manufacturing clear, crystal-like glass represents the refining process of persecution and affliction purifying Yahweh’s faithful saints, holy ones, the faithful remnant under the Mosaic Covenant.
Stationed at the circumference of Yahweh’s circular throne
platform are four animals full of eyes and each possessing six wings. These
animals represent the all-seeing eyes of Yahweh King over Yeshurun and the
nations. Nothing escapes the eyes of Yahweh. He perceives all that takes place
in the figurative heaven of
The first animal is said to be like a lion. Yahweh, like a lion, dominates the affairs of mortals by His mighty strength and terrifying roar (His sovereign authority) with which He confronts these mortals when they become arrogant and overconfident in themselves. Yahweh is not to be trifled with. He is to be feared and reverenced.
The second animal is said to be like a calf. The calf has been
described as the benevolent offspring of the strong ox. Yahweh, like the gentle
calf, addresses with much kindness, mercy, and compassion the mortals governing
in
The third animal is said to possess a face like a human. Thus, Yahweh will extend to mortal men a final chance to repent and conform themselves to His truth. He will engage them face to face, as exemplified when He spoke to Moses “face to face” (Ex. 33:11); when He spoke to Israel “face to face” (Deut. 5:1-4); and when He spoke to Israel, the nations, all humanity face to face in the face-to-face revelation of Himself in the face of His Only-Begotten Son, Jesus the Messiah the Anointed “King of kings and Lord of lords” (Rev. 19:16). When, however, Yahweh’s longsuffering is extended no longer, He hides His human-like face (Isa. 64:7). He then turns to mortal men His face after the likeness of an eagle.
The fourth animal is said to be like an eagle. The eagle is a mighty bird of prey. He dwells in the highest cliffs of the mountains. He soars to great heights in the heaven, but just as magnificent is his swift descent of attack. Yahweh, like the eagle, will swiftly and fiercely descend upon His enemies.
Such is the symbolic message of the four animals stationed at
the four corners of Yahweh’s throne platform. Judgment is shortly to proceed
from the Davidic throne of Yahweh against Apostate Israel and those nations
committing covenantal prostitution with her. The finality of this judgment will
occur swiftly (Rev. 1:1; 3:11; 22:6, 20).
The fact that each animal has six wings also indicates judgment. Seven, the
number of completeness, minus one, equals six, the number of incompleteness,
the number of falling short of the goal. Apostate
The fact that the number of animals is four (4, the number
representing creation) indicates that the coming judgment proceeding from the
Davidic throne is against Yahweh’s creation at Sinai. The number 4 is, in this
instance, the combination of 3 and 1. Three is the number denoting Divine
perfection. Divine perfection (3) plus one (1) equals Yahweh’s creative work. In
the present case, the work referred to is Yahweh’s creation at Sinai, the
nation
These four symbolic animals (lit., living ones) continually
testify to Yahweh’s holiness in relation to
Holy! holy! holy! Yahweh Elohim the Almighty One, the One Who was and the One Who is and the One Who is coming! (Revelation 4:8 my translation)
Yahweh has divinely set Himself apart as the Elohim of Israel.
As such,
These four symbolic living ones (animals) represent the Word of
Yahweh, reflecting His character, His glory, and His purpose in relation to
mankind,
Whenever these living ones offer glory, honor, and thanks to Yahweh sitting on His Throne, the One Who is living for the eons of the eons, the twenty-four elders (representing the faithful remnant of Israel under the Sinatic/Mosaic Covenant) bow down before Yahweh casting their golden crowns before His throne, thus acknowledging their dependence and loyalty in humble adoration. The living ones continually give praise to Yahweh in honor of His attributes. However, a special demonstration offering glory, honor, and thanks causes a special outburst of adoration to Yahweh.
In the present scene of John’s vision, such a magnificent
outburst takes place resulting in the twenty-four elders magnifying the honor
shown to Yahweh by bowing before His throne and adoringly casting their golden
crowns of faithfulness at His feet. This awesome outburst is due to the
worthiness of Yahweh in His recent reception of glory, honor, and power
resulting from the obedience of The Son of David, the Only-Begotten Son of
Yahweh Himself. This Son has manifested Yahweh’s glory, honor, and power by
accomplishing the redemption of Yahweh’s creation at
Worthy are You, our Lord and Elohim, to receive the glory and the honor and the power [associated with the world-order created at Sinai] because You created all these things [of the Sinatic/Mosaic Covenant, the Law and the Prophets, the nation Israel as a light to the nations, the kingdom in Yeshurun] and because of Your will they existed, and were created [anew]. (Revelation 4:11 my translation)
Yahweh is presently being gloriously honored for the work of His Son in redeeming, creating anew, His nation which was created as a national man at Sinai. He is, thus, glorified as the Living True Elohim Who had created the all and had redeemed the all. The word panta (all) is preceded by the definite article the, indicating a specific all, not a general or universal all. In addition, the word panta is plural.
The text, thus, refers to all the things pertaining to the
creation of
All these things He created by the power, the authority, of His will. And His will had prevailed. His Will had been implemented and would continue to be implemented.
The three-dimensional hologramic images projected into the space of the heaven of this vision continue. Yahweh has been praised, honored, and glorified as a result of the redemptive work of His Son, the Son of David. His Son has been faithful unto death. He has been resurrected out from among the dead and has ascended into the Celestial Realm to be seated in the sphere of the interest of His Father’s Throne.
John is about to perceive a visionary enactment of the inauguration of Jesus as Davidic Warrior-King. Christ’s ascension into the Celestial Realm had been literal. His inauguration perceived in the following vision is figurative. It takes place in the metaphoric heaven of the terrestrial realm where the throne of David dwells authoritatively. Jesus the Messiah has conquered death and now ascends the throne of David to conquer as the New Davidic Warrior-King reigning as Yahweh’s Regent-King over the New Israel of Yahweh about to be Born-From-Above. The throne of David also endows Him with authority over the nations.
Thus, all that occurs in the heaven of this vision is
associated with the terrestrial realm, the heaven and earth inhabited by
mankind. The heaven and the earth of all the visions contained in the Book of
Revelation are, therefore,
metaphorically concerned with real events occurring on the earth: the
The heaven of these visions always refers to the covenantal
superiority of
In the present vision of the throne in heaven, John perceives a scroll in the right hand of Yahweh Who is sitting on the throne. The scroll is written upon both front and back. It is sealed with seven seals. Thus, this scroll contains the final events whereby the Law and the Prophets will be brought to their fulfillment. These events are hidden from mankind. The seven seals indicate complete security of the secrets contained in the scroll. The information contained within the scroll will significantly enlighten the slaves of Jesus the Messiah to the meaning of those passages in the Hebrew Scriptures pointing to the events resulting in the end of the age. This information will also illuminate the understanding of the then present saints assigned the task of writing the Greek Scriptures which will form the crowning chapters of The Book of Yahweh’s revelation to His saints, His Holy Ones.
For these events to take place, someone must have the authority to break the seals and execute the plan of Yahweh contained within this scroll. John, then, hears a strong messenger herald with a loud voice,
Who is worthy to open the scroll, and to loose its seals? (Revelation 5:2 CV)
John, then, observes,
And no one in heaven [the present saints,
The scroll, being written by Yahweh Himself and containing His
Wisdom, is holy, set apart, excluded from even being looked upon by any man. Yet
the scroll contains information necessary to the destiny of
Consequently, John weeps tears of disappointment over the fact that no man is to be found worthy to open the scroll, let alone look upon it. But John weeps prematurely. What he is not aware of in this heavenly scene, the elders are aware of: the presence of “The Lion out of the tribe of Judah” (5:5 CV), the One Who has conquered death, the One Who has already ascended the throne of David. Thus, this vision takes John back in time to the ascension of Jesus to the throne of David. It takes John back before the Festival of Pentecost of Acts, chapter 2.
John is now comforted by one of the elders (representing the
faithful remnant of ancient
Do not lament! Lo! He conquers! The Lion out of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, is to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals! (Revelation 5:5b CV)
Jesus the Messiah is the conquering One. He has conquered Sin and Death. As the Lion of the tribe of Judah (Gen. 49:8-10), He is about to mount His white stallion and go forth as the conquering Davidic Warrior-King leading His soon-to-be equipped royal-warriors into battle against the enemy of Yahweh, Apostate Israel (Rev. 19:11-18).
Ceasing to weep, John’s eyes follow to the throne of Yahweh the
directing finger of the comforting elder. Standing in the center of the throne
at the right hand of Yahweh, John perceives a Lamb as though slain. The Lamb’s
seven horns represent His full and complete authority to rule as King and
conquer as the Lion out of the tribe of
Like David, the Lion out of the Tribe of Judah begins His
reign by ruling over the house of
Taking the scroll out of the right hand of Yahweh, the Lamb now
possesses the course of action determined by Yahweh. Receiving His orders from
His Elohim and Father, His Commander-In-Chief, the Lamb prepares Himself for battle as the Lion out of the tribe of
The four Living Ones now praise and honor the Lamb with the same attributes addressed to Yahweh. The Lamb reflects the characteristics and the WORD of Yahweh His Father. His will has always been to do the will of His Father (Jn. 4:34; 8:29). He has been revealed as the Word become flesh (Jn. 1:14).
The twenty-four elders, each possessing a lyre and golden
bowls, humbly bow in honor of the Lamb Who, in accord with the word of Yahweh,
having taken upon Himself the iniquities of His people, had delivered His
people from their sins. Their worshipful praise and honor also foreshadows His
coming triumph as the Lion out of the tribe of
The identity of these twenty-four elders as representatives of
the faithful remnant of ancient
The incense offered to Yahweh in the metaphorical
These twenty-four elders begin singing a new song in contrast
to the old song sung by
Thus, the twenty-four elders sing also on their own behalf, since the completion of the present redemption and exodus issues in their own reward in the Celestial Allotment about to be entered by the redeemed of the Lamb. The blood of Jesus the Lamb of Yahweh, though not shed on behalf of the ancient faithful remnant under the Mosaic Covenant, does justify Yahweh’s passing over the sins committed under the Mosaic Covenant on the basis of the Passover lamb and the various animal sacrifices (Rom. 3:24-25). The blood of Jesus the Lamb is necessary to the fulfilling of the Law and the Prophets. Without His shed blood the hope of the faithful remnant under the Mosaic Covenant would go unfulfilled. It is the shed blood of Jesus the Lamb which opens entrance into the Celestial Allotment.
Therefore, the twenty-four elders sing the following new song:
Worthy are You to be taking the scroll and to open its seals, because You were slain and made a purchase, to the interest of Yahweh, with Your blood, out of every tribe and language and people and nation, and made them to the interest of our Elohim a kingdom and a priesthood, and they shall be reigning upon the earth. (Revelation 5:9-10 my translation)
The Lamb of Yahweh is declared to be the only one worthy to
take the scroll in the right hand of Yahweh and break open its seals. He alone
is worthy because, in obedience to the command of His Father, He had been slain
on a cross, and His blood became His asset by which He made a purchase to His
Father’s interest. That purchase had been the New Israel of Yahweh, the
Ecclesia (Assembly of called-out ones) of Jesus the Messiah. This New Born-From-Above Nation consisted of
people called out of every tribe (the twelve tribes of
This New Israel of Yahweh included the circumcised and the
uncircumcised. The circumcised consisted of those Jews dwelling in the
This New Nation purchased in accord with the predetermined
purpose of Yahweh Elohim is made, appointed, authorized, commissioned to
function as a kingdom, a nation of priests to worship and serve Yahweh’s
prophetic Will in the course of
sharing in the reign of Jesus the Lion out of the tribe of
This purchased nation would reign covenantally over all the
territories of the Roman Empire through her individual royal priests dwelling
throughout the territories of the
The new song having been completed, John perceives and hears the voice of the celestial inhabitants proclaiming in unison their confirmation of the Worthiness of the Lamb Having Been Slain to receive power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory and blessing (Rev. 5:12). These inhabitants of the Celestial Realm realize that the Lamb worthy of receiving these seven attributes, representing His Royal Character and Divine Lineage, is about to act as the Lion out of the tribe of Judah. He is to act in accord with these attributes of perfection and on behalf of the Will of Yahweh His Elohim and Father.
This adoration addressed to the Lamb/Lion by the celestial
inhabitants is now followed in response by an additional declaration of praise
to both Yahweh and His Beloved Son, the Lion/Lamb. This additional response of
praise is proleptically assigned to every creation metaphorically dwelling in
the heaven (the faithful circumcised community), metaphorically dwelling on the
earth (the faithful uncircumcised community), metaphorically dwelling underneath
the earth (Apostate
All the ones belonging to these four human groups proleptically are heard reverentially proclaiming,
To Him Who is sitting on the throne and to the Lamb be the praise and the honor and the glory and the might, into the eons of the eons! (Revelation 5:13 my translation)
This reverential proclamation of praise to Yahweh and Jesus the Lamb/Lion by all human beings dwelling within the territories of the Roman Empire at the time of this writing implies the universal salvation (a justification of life after the death common to all humanity) of all members of the human race, including those belonging to Apostate Israel about to be judged covenantally in the metaphoric Lake of Fire, the Second Death. This is the significance of this reverential praise enduring throughout “the eons of the eons.” Yahweh and His Beloved Son accomplish Their blessing on behalf of every human being. This blessed (honorable) state will endure throughout all future eons, thus, the use of the phrase “eons of the eons.”
(Return to Table of Contents, Page 2)
As the seals on the scroll are broken, the content written on
the scroll is visually projected into the heaven of John’s visionary
experience. Hologramic images come forth depicting in symbols the general
outline of the course of events orchestrated by Yahweh for the purpose of
judging His servants: the unfaithful and the faithful. These events have been
orchestrated to fulfill the Law and the Prophets. These events are to justify
the Word and the Work of Yahweh in relation to
The events symbolically revealed begin in 30 a.d. with the pouring out of the spirit
upon the disciples of Jesus the Messiah and end with the destruction of
(Return to Table of Contents, Page 2)
When the Lamb breaks the first seal, a thunderous voice speaks, signifying the ominous import of coming judgment. The thunderous voice announces the coming storm of Yahweh’s judgmental presence. The voice of one of the Living beings (animals, creations) thunderously commands “Come!” (6:1b CV).
Consequently, out of the scroll comes an image of a galloping white horse. Upon this horse sits a rider possessing a bow and wearing a crown. Here is depicted hologrammatically the Lion of the tribe of Judah coming forth from the presence of Yahweh as the Conquering One authorized by Yahweh to conquer the enemies of Yahweh and the enemies of His Born-From-Above Holy Nation, the New Israel of Yahweh. He conquers the enemies while liberating the faithful servants of Yahweh.
Here is the same imagery described in more detail in the
vision of chapter 19:11-18. The emphasis in the present vision, however, is on
the conquering of His enemies with
the bow. Thus, the vision portrays the general purpose, the overall purpose, of
Jesus the conquering Lion of the tribe of
(Return to Table of Contents, Page 2)
At the breaking of the second seal, the voice of a second
Living being commands “Come!” (Rev.
6:3). Out from the scroll comes another galloping horse. This horse is “fiery-red” (6:4 CV). Its rider wields “a huge sword” (6:4 CV). This horse and
rider symbolically represent slaughter, plunder, and pillage. This rider is
authorized to take peace from the
Revolt had already permeated the air of
(Return to Table of Contents, Page 2)
Breaking the third seal, a black
horse races out of the scroll into the spacious heaven of John’s vision. Upon
this black horse sits a rider holding in his hand a pair of balances. This
horse and rider represent the famine and scarcity brought upon Apostate Israel
in the land as she opposes the Israel of Yahweh and
The scarcity authorized here is against Yahweh’s enemies: the uncircumcised-in-heart Jews committed to the Mosaic Covenant as distorted and misrepresented by the traditions and commandments of their relatively recent fathers and pseudo-shepherds. These Jews, citizens of Apostate Israel, blaspheme Yahweh by opposing Yahweh’s Anointed One, Yahweh’s Gospel, Yahweh’s newly Born-From-Above Nation. They stubbornly refuse to repent, serving the god of their own choosing and making (The Adversary, Satan).
This black horse and rider are ordered not to be injuring or
harming the oil and the wine (Rev. 6:6). The oil symbolically represents the circumcised faithful disciples of Jesus
the Messiah. The wine represents the uncircumcised
faithful disciples of Jesus the Messiah. Famine and scarcity would ravage the
wicked servants of the contaminated covenant of Moses, but such famine and
scarcity coming from Yahweh would not be allowed to touch the righteous members
of the Ecclesia of Jesus the Messiah, the Israel of Yahweh, who faithfully wage
spiritual warfare against the apostate
Do not grow hot because of evildoers; Do not be jealous over those doing iniquity. For like grass, they shall quickly be snipped off, And like green verdure, they shall decay. Trust in Yahweh, and do good; Tabernacle in the land, and graze in faithfulness. . . . So He will make your righteousness shine forth like the light, . . . I was a youth, and now I am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken Or his seed seeking bread. (Psalms 37:1-3, 6a, 25 CV modified)
In the day of Yahweh’s calamitous visit to His people dwelling under the banner of His covenant, the righteous would not be forsaken. In Yahweh’s authorized famine and scarcity against the unrighteous, the righteous would not suffer from lack of bread. This is confirmed by the record of the Book of Acts:
Agabus [a
prophet] . . . signifies through the spirit, the great famine which is
about to be on the whole inhabited earth [the
whole inhabited household of
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The fourth seal being broken, a pale or greenish horse bolts forth from the scroll, racing furiously across the heaven of the vision. Upon this horse is mounted Death. Hades, on foot, follows in the dust of death’s greenish horse. This greenish, pale horse resembles the ashen hue of a corpse.
The death here administered is the result of open warfare
against
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When the fifth seal is broken, John perceives a vision of an
altar underneath which are the souls
of those having been slain on behalf of the word of Yahweh, the Gospel of the Christ, to which they had faithfully
given testimony. These slain ones are not slain by the enemy. They are
persecuted and afflicted by the enemy, and some are actually killed. But these
souls have been slain because of the word of Yahweh. They share in Christ’s
death, resurrection, and suffering because of their faith in the Gospel and
their faithful service to Yahweh and Jesus their Lord and King. They rinse or
wash their robes, whitening them in the blood of the Lamb (Rev. 7:14). They are
not literally dead. They are living sacrifices (
The word soul (psuchos) refers to the five senses of the physical body (sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste). These souls are those who have destroyed their souls on Christ’s account in order to gain their souls:
If anyone is wanting to come after Me, let him renounce himself and pick up his cross and follow Me. For whosoever may be wanting to save his soul shall be destroying it. Yet whoever should be destroying his soul on My account shall be finding it. . . . For the Son of Man is about to be coming in the glory of His Father, with His messengers, and then He will be paying each in accord with his practice. (Matthew 16:24-25, 27 CV)
These are the ones who, dedicating themselves to Jesus the Messiah by taking up their cross and bearing it, discipline the senses of their bodies, consecrating these bodily senses to the cause of the Gospel, the righteousness of the Kingdom. Thus, in losing their souls, they gain their souls for service to Yahweh and Jesus their Lord and King. These are those who obey the words of Jesus their Teacher and Lord:
A disciple is not above his teacher, neither a slave above his lord. . . . And what you are hearing in the ear, herald on the housetops. And do not fear those who are killing the body, yet are not able to kill the soul. Yet be fearing Him [Yahweh and His Anointed King], rather, Who is able to destroy the soul as well as the body in Gehenna. (Matthew 10:24, 27b-28 CV)
These disciple-warriors faithfully proclaim the Gospel, fearing not the apostate enemy who is able to kill the body but cannot destroy the soul. The destruction of the soul is not physical. It is spiritual/covenantal and has to do with one’s covenantal relationship to Yahweh. The loss of one’s soul, the destruction of one’s soul, is in the hand of Yahweh.
The destruction of the soul is spiritual, covenantal. It is
being cut off from the covenantal people of Yahweh. It is losing one’s right to
the Celestial Allotment. It is being harmed of the Second Death. It is being cast into the
These disciples, these souls underneath the altar in John’s vision cry in a loud voice to Yahweh, asking for the avenging of their blood (Rev. 6:10). In requesting that their own blood be avenged, they seek the avenging of the blood of Jesus the Messiah in which they are continually rinsing their righteous robes.
Apart from the blood of Jesus, their souls are contaminated, excluding them from the worship and service of Yahweh and Jesus. Apart from this blood, they remain under the curse of the Mosaic Law and their souls are lost. Only by means of this blood are they delivered from the curse and death of the Mosaic Law and Covenant. Only by means of this blood can they regain their souls, wash their robes white in the blood of the Lamb, qualifying them as righteous in the eyes of Yahweh and, thus, fittingly equipped with the righteous armor of the faithful royal-warrior under the command of the New Davidic Warrior-King.
Having been slain because of their faith in the Word of Yahweh, they have been given the white robe of covenantal righteousness identifying them with the blood of the Lamb. These covenantally living warriors are to patiently await the completion of their number, continuing to patiently and longsufferingly engage in the holy warfare to which they have been called. Their number would be completed by those Jews yet to hear and respond in faith to the Gospel (their fellow slaves) and those circumcised-in-heart Jews remaining callous to the Gospel (like Saul of Tarsus) until the Parousia/Approach of Jesus the Messiah, at which time His glory would be revealed in His faithful disciple-warriors, melting the callousness of these Jews (brethren) to the Gospel.
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When the Lamb breaks the sixth seal, the heaven of the vision
is shaken by a great cataclysm causing the sun to become black, the full moon
to become as blood, and the stars to fall upon the land below. This is the
metaphoric language of the prophets depicting the final destruction of
A day of trouble and distress, A day of destruction and desolation, A day of darkness and gloom, A day of clouds and thick darkness, A day of trumpet and battle cry, . . . And I will bring distress on men, So that they will walk like the blind, Because they have sinned against the Lord [Yahweh]; And their blood will be poured out like dust, And their flesh like dung. (Zephaniah 1:15-17 NASB)
Describing the wrath of Yahweh against
Behold, the day of the Lord [Yahweh] is coming, Cruel, with fury and burning anger, To make the land a desolation; And He will exterminate its sinners from it. For the stars of heaven and their constellations Will not flash forth their light; The sun will be dark when it rises, And the moon will not shed its light. (Isaiah 13:9-10 NASB)
Neither Zephaniah nor Isaiah described Yahweh’s judgment
literally. They wrote metaphorically, making use of poetical and symbolic
imagery. Such, also, is the language of the Book of Revelation. The sun
becoming black, the moon becoming as blood, and the stars falling to the land
below describe metaphorically the overthrow of national
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Before the breaking of the seventh seal, John is given two
further visions. The first of these two visions concerns the sealing of the
faithful slaves of Yahweh. John perceives four messengers standing at the four
corners (the four points of the compass) of the
Thus, this present vision takes the reader back to the day of
Pentecost and the pouring out of the spirit upon the disciples of Jesus, the
slaves of Yahweh. This is the day the
Lion out of the tribe of
However, John perceives another messenger ascending from the east. He has the seal of the Living Elohim, Yahweh. He orders the four messengers (the rider on the white horse, the rider on the fiery-red horse, the rider on the black horse, and the rider on the ash-green horse) not to be injuring the land, the sea and the trees “until we should be sealing the slaves of our God [Elohim] on their foreheads” (Rev. 7:3 CV). This seal is to identify the slaves, the warrior-priests, of Yahweh and His Anointed Warrior-King, Jesus The Son of David. Paul refers to this seal as “Yahweh acknowledges those who are His” (2 Tim. 2:19 my translation). This seal protects the royal-warriors from the harm about to be inflicted on Apostate Israel by the messengers holding back the four winds from racing devastatingly throughout the holy land.
The seal is placed on the forehead, indicating faithfulness of mind, commitment of the will to worship and serve only Yahweh and His Anointed Only-Begotten Son, Jesus the Messiah, the New Davidic Warrior-King. John hears the number of those sealed, “a hundred forty-four thousand” (Rev. 7:4a CV). This number is the product of twelve squared times a thousand (122 times 1000). It symbolically represents the complete number of those proleptically belonging to the Born-From-Above Israel of Yahweh, those citizens of the New Jerusalem remaining faithful to the end, those royal-warriors reigning and conquering with Jesus the Conquering King throughout all the persecution and affliction of holy warfare. Each and every one of these faithful slaves is sealed with the spirit of Yahweh and His Christ: “you are sealed with the holy spirit of promise” (Eph. 1:13b CV).
Twelve thousand are sealed out of each of the twelve tribes of
the sons of
The
However, his [Manasseh’s] younger brother shall be greater than he. And his seed [Ephraim’s] shall become a complement of the nations. (Genesis 48:19b my translation)
Paul alludes to this prophetic blessing of Jacob when writing
concerning the time when the remaining circumcised-in-heart Jews would have
their callousness toward Jesus the Messiah and His Gospel removed, “that callousness, in part, on Israel [those
Jews being accounted by Yahweh as the spiritual seed of Abraham, see Rom.
9:6-8] has come, until the complement of the nations may be
entering. And thus all Israel [the Israel of Yahweh, the Born-From-Above Israel] shall be saved, . . .” (
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The vision concerning the sealing of the 144,000 being concluded, another vision begins. John perceives a vast throng which no man can number. In the previous vision, John only hears the number of those being sealed. He is not given a vision of those being sealed, only an oral report.
In the present vision, John actually perceives a vast multitude of people that he cannot number during the course of the vision. The vast throng consists of individuals “out of every nation and all tribes and peoples and languages” (Rev. 7:9b my translation). Thus, John perceives both circumcised Jews and uncircumcised Gentiles. He perceives now that which he had only heard in the previous vision. He had heard symbolic numbers. He now perceives living people.
These people stand before the throne of Yahweh and before the Lamb. They are clothed in white robes and are praising Yahweh and Jesus the Lamb. John is told by one of the elders,
These are those coming out of the great affliction. And they rinse their robes, and they whiten them in the blood of the Lambkin. Therefore they are before the throne of God [Yahweh] and are offering divine service to Him day and night in His temple. And He Who is sitting on the throne will be tabernacling over them. They shall not be hungering longer, nor yet shall they be thirsting any longer; no, neither should the sun be falling on them, nor any heat, seeing that the throne-centered Lambkin shall be shepherding them, and shall be guiding them to living springs of water, and every tear shall God [Yahweh] be brushing away from their eyes. (Revelation 7:14b-17 CV)
The sealed 144,000 and this vast multitude of people that John
cannot number are one and the same group. The seal symbolically represents them
as belonging to Yahweh and the Lamb, protecting them from Yahweh’s judgments
against the apostate ones bearing the mark of the wild beast. The people making
up the vast number stand before Yahweh, Who is sitting on His throne, and
before the Lamb standing at His right hand. They are proleptically identified
as those coming out of the great
affliction, which refers to the eschatologically significant affliction
associated with the persecution and affliction on behalf of the righteousness
of the
Coming through the great affliction amounts to sharing in the
sufferings of Jesus the Messiah to the end of the Mosaic Eon near at hand. These
righteous warriors of the Lion out of the tribe of
This is the
During this time (30-70 a.d.), Yahweh satisfies their spiritual hunger and thirst for righteousness (see Matt. 5:6). The scorching sun of the curse of the law and the terminating death of the Sinatic/Mosaic Covenant (the Second Death) do not affect them as a result of the protective shield of the New Davidic Covenant. They are no longer shepherded and guided by Moses. They are now shepherded and guided by the Lamb Who leads them daily to living springs of water, the spiritual water of the word of the Gospel, the word of the New Davidic Covenant.
Following faithfully the Lion of the tribe of
calling the apostles to them, and lashing them, they charge them not to be speaking in the name of Jesus, and release them. They, indeed, then, went from the face of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they were deemed worthy to be dishonored [to suffer shame] for the sake of the Name. (Acts 5:40-41 CV)
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As the Lamb breaks the seventh seal, an awesome hush occurs in
the heaven of John’s vision. This period of solemn silence endures for half an
hour, which number symbolically represents a significant pause. This awesome
pause reflects the solemness of the visions of the seven trumpets about to
reveal in greater detail the judgmental events occurring during the Jewish
revolt against
Prior to the blast of the seventh trumpet, which would
announce the final triumphant victory of Yahweh and His Anointed Son/King over
Apostate Israel, John is commanded to take a tiny opened scroll in the hand of
a messenger and eat it. Upon eating the scroll, John discovers its sweetness
while in his mouth, but its bitterness when reaching his stomach. He is then
told he must prophesy again, that is, after the writing down in a book the
visions given him, he would continue to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus the
Messiah. This proclaiming would be sweet to his taste because of the mercy,
compassion, and longsuffering of Yahweh and the assurance of the triumph of the
Ecclesia, the Born-From-Above Israel of
Yahweh, the
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Having eaten the tiny opened scroll containing the devastating
judgment of Yahweh against Apostate Israel and the great persecution and
affliction yet to be endured by the Born-From-Above
Israel of Yahweh (the Ecclesia of Jesus the Messiah, the warrior-priests of
the Lion out of the tribe of Judah), John immediately is given “a reed like a rod” (Rev. 11:1) with
which he is to measure the Temple of Yahweh, the altar, and those worshiping in
the Temple. This
The altar (of Jesus’ sufferings) refers to the cross upon which he had been crucified. His royal-warriors, metaphorically having been crucified with Christ (Gal. 2:20), share in His crucifixion sufferings at the hands of the apostate Jews whose hatred of Jesus the Messiah, the Gospel, and the Truth compels them to instigate the wrath of the uncircumcised and lawless gentiles against these Messianics perceived by Apostate Israel as blasphemous heretics.
John is commanded to wake up out of the stupor brought on by
the bitterness of the pronouncements contained in the digested tiny scroll and “measure the
That which is measured by John identifies the possession of
Yahweh, the Born-From-Above Israel of
Yahweh. Apostate
This prophecy does not attribute the treading of
In association with the treading down of
Under the Mosaic Law, to put a man to death two witnesses were
necessary. Yahweh assigns two witnesses to testify against Apostate Israel. Their
testimony will warrant the death of this unholy nation. These two witnesses
will prophesy judgment through the proclamation of the Gospel. All
The two witnesses represent the Ecclesia of Jesus the Messiah,
the saints of the Born-From-Above Israel of Yahweh, the
Apostles and Prophets of the Lion of Judah. These two witnesses stand for Peter
and Paul, who each represent an olive tree. Peter, the Apostle to the
circumcision, represents the cultivated olive tree of
These two olive trees are two lampstands which stand before the Lord of the earth (Rev. 11.4). As lampstands, they manifest the light of the spirit of Yahweh and His Anointed Son/King in their proclamation of the Gospel. Incorporated within the Gospel is the prophetic word of salvation and condemnation. This prophetic word is likened to fire issuing forth from their mouth. Both speak the same prophetic word; therefore, they have only one mouth. The arguments put forth by their enemies to refute the prophetic word of these two witnesses are devoured by the fire of the witnesses’ words alluding to the following passage: “And they [the enemies of Stephen] were not strong enough to withstand the wisdom and the spirit with which he [Stephen] spoke.” (Acts 6:10 CV).
These two witnesses prophesy for a period of 1,260 days,
during which time their testimony cannot be refuted and cannot be hindered. This
number (1,260) is, again, figurative. It corresponds to the forty-two months of
the treading down of
Like Elijah and Moses, these two witnesses have authority and power over their enemies in Apostate Israel. The word of their testimony/prophecy can neither be refuted nor hindered from achieving success:
These have authority to lock heaven, that there may be no shower of rain for the days of their prophecy [the opposing word and teaching of the enemies produce no life-giving rain for the fields figuratively representing Yahweh’s people]. And they have authority over the waters to be turning them into blood [the spiritual teaching and rule of their enemies are made bitter and unattractive in contrast to the teaching and rule of the witnesses], and to smite the land with every calamity, as often as they will [the testimony of the two witnesses warrant Yahweh’s judgmental calamities upon the holy land]. (Revelation 11:6 CV)
These two witnesses are identified with the successful appeal
of Moses and Elijah on behalf of the people of Yahweh and on behalf of the
proper worship of Yahweh. Yahweh’s vengeance on behalf of His saints takes place even as He seeks to
bring the sheep of
When the testimony of the two witnesses is completed, the wild
beast ascending out of the submerged chaos (Apostate Israel as
energized and inspired by The Adversary, Satan) engages them in battle,
conquering them (by the instigation, lies, false accusations, and covetousness
of apostate Jews) and killing them (persecuting and afflicting them to the
maximum by turning the lawless nations of the
Figuratively, the dead bodies of the two witnesses will be
left in the square (the center) of the
great city, the
Those members of the nations having participated in the persecution and affliction of these two witnesses will be, figuratively, observing their corpses (the termination/completion of the proclamation of the Gospel to the nations) for a period of three and one half days. Combined with the 1,260 days (three-and-one-half years) of their prophetic ministry, this period of three-and-one-half days equals seven, the number of successful completion.
Figuratively, these peoples, tribes, and languages refuse to
allow the corpses to be entombed. Thus, they deny the Ecclesia of Jesus the
Messiah any legal or social standing. These Messianics, followers of a
crucified Anointed One, are perceived and treated as haters of humanity. Those
adversaries of the two witnesses dwelling on the earth, that is, in the
After three-and-one-half days, Yahweh’s spirit of life enters
their corpses, and they ascend into heaven, signifying their complete
triumphant victory. They have completed successfully their course, their
mission. Figuratively, they ascend into heaven, signifying the reality of the
Ecclesia’s literal entrance into her Celestial Allotment (see 1 Thess. 4:13-18;
1 Cor. 15:51-52). Their enemies behold them ascending, but only figuratively. Enduring
the abhorrent abominations taking place in the literal
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As stated earlier, the
Woman clothed with the sun, the moon underneath her feet, and a crown of
twelve stars on her head symbolically represents Sinatic Israel before her worship of the golden calf. Here is a
picture of the covenantal wife of Yahweh. Historically, this woman represents the faithful remnant of Yahweh’s people,
the seed of the Woman crowned at
Sinai as the covenantal Queen of Heaven. This national woman, like Eve, has
been deceived by the false teachings of pseudo-shepherds inspired by The
Adversary, Satan. She is, thus, blind though in her heart loyal to Yahweh. Therefore,
she represents the circumcised-in-heart nation of
In her innocent blindness, immersed in the darkness of
deception, this Woman (Sinatic
The loyal
This elect, beloved people is protected for a period of 1,260
days, a period of three and one half years associated with the two witnesses,
with the Ecclesia of Jesus the Messiah, and with the successful completion of
the number seven. This people is, thus, contrasted with Apostate Israel and is
associated with the salvation represented by the male-child snatched away to
the throne of Yahweh. The mother shall be redeemed, delivered, saved, rescued
from enslavement within Apostate Israel. Her blindness and callousness to the
Gospel will be healed. Her eyes will be opened and her calloused heart will be
melted. All
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At the ascension of the Ecclesia to the throne of Yahweh in
the heaven of this vision, a battle occurs. With the dethronement of Sinatic
The Woman being removed from her position in the heaven causes
the Dragon to lose his authority in the heaven of the New Davidic Covenant. The
battle that then occurs is between Jesus the New Davidic Warrior-King (together
with His Ecclesia) and The Adversary (together with his apostate Jewish
servants represented by the Jewish Sanhedrin). Michael figuratively represents
Jesus the Davidic Warrior-King going forth to conquer as the Lion out of the
tribe of
With the preaching of the Gospel at Pentecost, Jesus and His
Ecclesia, the Born-From-Above Israel of
Yahweh, covenantally replace The Adversary and Apostate Israel in the
metaphorical/covenantal heaven of the
Apostate
Just now came the salvation and the power and the
kingdom of our God, and the authority of His Christ, for the accuser [the Dragon representing Apostate
With the preaching of the Gospel at Pentecost, the elect
children of the Woman who had been in bondage to the deceptive teaching of
Apostate Israel begin to be liberated from the kingdom of darkness, entering
into the
Therefore, make merry, ye heavens, and those tabernacling in them! Woe to the land and the sea, for the Adversary descended to you having great fury, being aware that brief is the season that he has. (Revelation 12:12 CV)
Those commanded to “make merry” are not celestial beings dwelling literally in the heavens, but those children of Abraham scattered under the metaphorical heavens of the nations who will be responding in faith to the Gospel. These will be “tabernacling,” dwelling, in the sphere of the interest of the figurative heavens of the covenantal life issuing forth from the New Davidic Covenant consecrated by the blood of the Lamb.
But woe to the land and the sea! The land figuratively refers
to apostate Jews. The sea (the
Woe to apostate Jewry who have been given up to the madness of their rebellious and stiff-necked way. As they have chosen to distort Yahweh’s Word, Yahweh has chosen to deliver them up to the distorted image of their idolatrous worship and service, the idol image of The Adversary whose rule will drive them into madness. This idolatrous elohim, having been cast out of the covenantal heaven of his previous authority, descends into the figurative darkness of the Dead Sea transforming it into the submerged chaos (the abyss, the bottomless pit) within which is located the figurative Lake of Fire, symbolically referring to the Second Death—the death of the Sinatic/Mosaic Covenant.
Woe to apostate Jewry, for
the Adversary descended to you having great fury, being aware that brief is the season that he has. (Revelation 12:12b CV)
This brief season began in 30 a.d. and would end in 70 a.d. During this period, he is authorized by Yahweh to inflict covenantal madness upon Apostate Israel, transforming her into a wild, ferocious, monstrous beast:
Yahweh shall smite you with madness, with blindness and with derangement of heart; . . . (Deuteronomy 28:28 CV)
The Dragon (The Adversary, Satan), now cast into the earth (being stripped of covenantal authority in the heaven) persecutes, antagonizes, the Woman (the national mother of Jesus and His Ecclesia) into opposing Jesus the Messiah, His Ecclesia, and His Gospel. This antagonizing persecution hardens her heart against the truth. In spite of this antagonizing persecution, Yahweh protects the Woman from being swallowed up into the submerged chaos and the Lake of Fire of the apostate nation, which nation is now covenantally prowling about seeking to devour members of the Ecclesia in the madness of the serpent’s poisonous bite.
The Woman is given the wings of a large eagle (figuratively representing the love of the Word of Yahweh in the heart) with which she flies into her designated place of protection in the wilderness of Apostate Israel. There she is nourished (by her love of the Law and the Prophets) for “a season, and seasons, and half a season” (Rev. 12:14b CV). This is figuratively equated with the 1,260 days of the two witnesses and the “appointed time, two appointed times and half an appointed time” of Daniel 12:7 (CV) associated with “the end of the marvels of which you [the prophetic messenger] speak, and this cleansing” (Dan. 12:6b CV). The Woman’s cleansing will come during the last years of the Mosaic Eon. Thus, her figurative period of protection in the covenantal wilderness of Apostate Israel (the wilderness of the nullified Mosaic Covenant) is associated with the number seven, the completion of prophetic time during which the deceived Israel of Yahweh will be saved, will be cleansed, healed of her blindness and calloused heart resulting from the deceptive antagonism of The Adversary, Satan, carried out by Apostate Israel. The Woman is, therefore, protected from the face, the poisonous bite, of the serpent.
The Dragon (The Adversary, Satan), now symbolized by the serpent, casts the water of the distorted word of Moses against the Woman, seeking to swallow her up in the river of Apostate Israel’s hatred of Yahweh and His Anointed Son/King. However, the earth (figuratively representing Apostate Israel) helps the Woman by swallowing the water of the rushing river. Thus, Apostate Israel absorbs, swallows, the river of rebellious hatred against Yahweh and His Word accurately understood. This corrupt and contaminated nation, like a dry, droughted land, soaks up the bitter water of the contaminated traditions and commandments of the recent pseudo-fathers, the flood of false teaching covering the land as a result of the fury of the Dragon, The Adversary, Satan.
The Dragon, unable to inject the Woman with his poisonous venom of hatred against the truth of Yahweh contained in the Law and the Prophets, turns his fury toward her children, those faithful servants of Yahweh testifying to the Gospel of Jesus the Messiah. The civil war begun at Pentecost by the offensive attack of the warrior-priests of Jesus the New Davidic Warrior-King now is to unleash the first major counterattack by the deranged apostate nation. This attack had already taken place historically (before the writing of the Book of Revelation). It began with the assassination of Stephen and continued under the instigation of Saul the zealous Pharisee with the authorization of the Sanhedrin.
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John now perceives the Dragon standing on the sand of the
This wild beast pollutes the land with its venomous hatred of
the truth of the Gospel, turning the
The Dragon (Satan) imbues this wild beast (Apostate Israel)
with pseudo covenantal power to enforce a pseudo Mosaic gospel throughout the
John, then, perceives one of the seven heads of the beast “as if it had been slain to death” (Rev. 13:3 CV). This is the same language used of the Lamb standing “as though slain” (5:6 CV). Thus, we have here a counterfeit messiah, a pseudo-king over Apostate Israel, a king who is slain (assassinated) and replaced later by another more lawless pseudo messiah/king.
This, figuratively, points to the leader of the
ultra-extremist Sicari, Menahem, who,
in the summer of 66 a.d.,
becoming the leader of the revolution, as a symbolic act went into the Temple
to pray having attired himself in royal robes after the High Priest, Ananias,
had been murdered by the revolutionaries. At that time, civil war had broken
out in
Having defeated this army and the moderate Jews concentrated in the upper city, the revolutionaries set fire to the house of Hananiah the High Priest, the palaces of Agrippa and Bernice, and the public archives containing the records of money-lenders (thus preventing the recovery of debts). The Sicari then murdered Ananias, the High Priest. Menahem, shortly after presenting himself as Messiah-King, was assassinated by the people who were following the leadership of Eleazar the son of Simon (Josephus 75-80 a.d./1957, WARS OF THE JEWS, BOOK II, chapter XVII).
This death blow to
one of the heads of the wild beast is shortly cured or healed by the ascendancy of John of Gischala to messiah/king-like power and authority in
“Who is like the wild beast?” and “Who is able to battle with it?” (Revelation 13:4b CV)
What nation, what kingdom is superior to
The wild beast, inspired by The Adversary, Satan, is “given a mouth speaking great things and
blasphemies” (13:5a CV). These great things which are blasphemies against
Yahweh and His covenant consist of the doctrines of demons opposing the
doctrines of the spirit. The doctrines of demons are those teachings which call
all
These Cainite teachings exalt Moses, his law, and the Sinatic Covenant, clinging to the misconceived confidence in the elective advantages of the Sinatic/Mosaic Covenant for covenantal life and the restoration of the Kingdom of David. In clinging to Moses and David, the apostate Jews oppose, reject, and hate Yahweh’s chosen prophet greater than Moses, Yahweh’s elective greater son of David, Jesus the Messiah, the Anointed Son/King of Yahweh Himself. In clinging to Moses rather than Jesus the Messiah, these apostate Jews cling to death, both physical and covenantal. In clinging to David rather than David’s greater Son, they worship and serve The Adversary, their spiritual father, rather than worship and serve the One Living Elohim, Yahweh, the Elohim of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David, and Jesus the Nazarene. In clinging to the Sinatic/Mosaic Covenant, they cut themselves off from the Life and Allotment of the New Davidic Covenant.
This wild beast (Apostate Israel) is given authority to carry
out its blasphemous, abominable will for a symbolic period of forty-two months,
indicating its coming far short of its intended goal. The wild beast is
permitted to temporarily conquer the saints,
but it will unsuccessfully execute the battle to the end. It will proclaim a
pseudo-gospel amounting to blasphemy against Yahweh. The wild beast’s gospel of
Moses, with its false confidence in the Sinatic/Mosaic Covenant and its
distorted application of Yahweh’s statutes and judgments, defiles the apostate
nation while blasphemously opposing doctrinally and persecuting socially,
economically, politically, religiously, and physically the Ecclesia of Jesus
the Messiah, the Born-From-Above Israel
of Yahweh. Apostate
Apostate
The Dragon, then, gives Apostate Israel the authority to stir
up the tribes, the peoples, the languages, and the nations of the
Thus, the wild beast temporarily conquers the Ecclesia of
Jesus the Messiah. The Ecclesia is persecuted and afflicted throughout the
Consequently, all those apostate Jews dwelling in the land of Israel, those whose names are not written “in the scroll of life of the Lambkin slain from the disruption [casting down, establishment, creation] of the [a] world [the order or system established at Sinai]” (13:8b CV), will be worshiping the wild beast because of its apparent success against its (apostate Israel’s) enemies (the Ecclesia of Jesus the Messiah and Rome as enslaving ruler over the elect, sacred Sinatic/Mosaic nation of Israel covenantally bound and protected by Yahweh its Elohim). The readers of the Book of Revelation are then exhorted,
If anyone has an ear, let him hear. If anyone is for captivity, into captivity he is going. If anyone will be killing with the sword, he must with the sword be killed. Here is the endurance and [the] faith [fullness] of the saints. (Revelation 13:9-10 CV)
This exhortation is directed primarily to the saints (the circumcised faithful ones). They are to take heed to the prophecy of this book. He who is committed to captivity (clinging to the old, decrepit, Sinatic/Mosaic Covenant) is himself doomed to the captivity of the Second Death.
Those turning from Jesus the Messiah back to Moses are to be taken captive, enslaved to the old guardian (the Mosaic Law), which guardian had been appointed to lead out of bondage into the freedom of the New Davidic Covenant (The Law of the Christ). Thus, if anyone would be killing with the sword (the gospel of Moses), with the sword (the Gospel of Jesus the Messiah) he would be killed (spiritually, covenantally slain). The faithfulness of the saints necessitates enduring the persecution and affliction coming upon those proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus the Messiah. One must proclaim the truth of the Gospel and obey its teaching faithfully to the end. There can be no turning back, for turning back to Moses is spiritual/covenantal death. Turning back to the Guardian is to refuse to go on to Sonship. It is to stubbornly remain in covenantal childhood, which would end in covenantal death, in a cutting off from the people of Yahweh, a participation in the Second Death, the death of Apostate Israel, the termination of the Sinatic/Mosaic Covenant. In this truth, in this reality, is manifested the endurance and faithfulness of the saints.
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As the vision continues, John perceives another wild beast
ascending out of the
This wild beast represents the apostate (antichrist) priests and religious leaders of Apostate Israel. They proclaim the gospel of Moses. This gospel is inspired, energized, by the Dragon, The Adversary, Satan. These apostate priests and religious teachers exercise “all the authority of the first wild beast in its sight” (13:12 CV). They symbolically perform the role of prophet to the wild beast, national Apostate Israel. Their authority is based upon the Sinatic/Mosaic Covenant and its distorted, misconstrued understanding of the Law of Moses.
These apostate priests and religious leaders proclaim a
commitment to
This prophetic wild beast performs great signs. Like Elijah in
ancient times, this national prophet causes fire to descend from heaven into
the earth (the
Judaism is, thus, given the appearance of the true faith of the Law of Moses. The Jesus sect within Judaism is repudiated as blasphemous. The official stature of these pseudo-shepherds is a potent force expelling these Jesus Messianics from the legitimate ranks of Judaism in the eyes of national Apostate Israel.
The text records that this national prophet performs his great
signs “in the sight of the men”
(13:13b CV). The definite article the
is used before the noun men,
indicating a specific group of men, Jews. Thus, this wild beast directs its
activities at Jews, not all men. It deceives “those dwelling on the earth [
More specifically, it deceives
those Jews in the land who represent the blind and ignorant Woman who had given
birth to the Jesus Messianics (the Born-From-Above
This second wild beast is appointed to perform its signs in
the sight of the first wild beast. The national false prophet serves the
interest of the national Apostate Israel whose interest is rebellion against
This alludes to a counterfeit death and resurrection which
cannot compare substantially with the death and resurrection of Jesus. The
death of Menahem, an inferior
pretender to Davidic kingship, gives rise to a stronger, more vibrant, more
substantial pretender to Davidic kingship committed to the Sinatic/Mosaic
Covenant. The image of the wild beast
(Apostate Israel) figuratively refers to Moses whose distorted and misplaced
exaltation becomes the banner beneath which the apostate nation goes to holy
war against unholy
This wild beast ascending out of the land is given authority
to energize, revitalize, the figurative image of Moses (the gospel of Moses). Commitment
to Moses, the Sinatic Covenant, and the holy history and destiny of
The faithful one is to be distinguished from the unfaithful one by a figurative emblem or mark placed on either his right hand or forehead. This figurative mark or emblem represents the gospel of Moses to which the faithful one is committed to the death. Thus, Apostate Israel receives a counterfeit mark or emblem distinguishing her from the Ecclesia, the Born-From-Above Israel of Yahweh, which Ecclesia bears the “seal of the living God” (Rev. 7:2 CV). Those without the mark or “emblem of the wild beast, or its name, or the number of its name” (13:17b CV) will not be able “to buy or sell” (13:17a CV). Those unfaithful Jews refusing to join the holy cause of the holy nation will be ostracized, and, thus, excluded, covenantally exiled religiously, socially, economically, and politically.
This vision of the wild beast ascending from the land also concludes with an exhortation addressed to the saints:
Here is wisdom. Let him who has a mind calculate the number of the wild beast, for it is the number of mankind, and its number is six hundred sixty-six. (Revelation 13:18 CV)
Wisdom is to be found through a qualified mind. The qualified mind of the saints is exemplified by the mind or disposition of Jesus the Messiah:
For let this disposition [mind] be in you, which is in Christ Jesus also, Who . . . humbles Himself, becoming obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (Philippians 2:5-8 CV)
This qualified mind of the saints is to calculate the significance of the number of the wild beast. Its number is the number associated with the failure and rebellion of mankind, 666. Three sixes indicate the ultimate coming short by Apostate Israel of the divine goal of Yahweh. Six hundred sixty-six is the symbolic number representing the ultimate failure of apostate rebellion against the revealed will of Yahweh.
In this particular case, it refers to the antichrist rebellion
of Apostate Israel. The saints are to
recognize those Jews falsely claiming to be Yahweh’s people and falsely
claiming to be proclaiming Yahweh’s word. These Jews represent the synagogue of
Satan and are doomed to the judgment of the
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The wild beast visions having now been completed, John is
given a vision of the Lamb standing on
These are the ones bought from among the men, from among the men of
These are they who were not polluted with women, for they are celibates. (Revelation 14:4a CV)
They faithfully follow the Lamb (Jesus the Messiah) wherever He should be going.
Thus, they faithfully obey the voice of their Lord, worshiping
and serving Yahweh in accord with The Law
of Christ, the requirements of the New Davidic Covenant. In their mouth is
no falsehood, for they confess Jesus the Messiah with their mouth and obey His
Gospel from the heart. They are flawless because they continually wash their
robes in the blood of the Lamb; they act faithfully in all they do and say. Thus,
they remain celibate (like the ancient patriarch Joseph in the household of
Potiphar) rejecting the enticement of Apostate Israel (the Great Whore,
As John beholds the Lamb and His 144,000 servant-soldiers, he
perceives a messenger flying in mid-heaven. This messenger announces the
judgment of “
Jerusalem and her children, those Jews receiving the emblem or
mark of the wild beast (Apostate Israel here represented by the sacred city
Jerusalem) and, thus, worshiping Apostate Israel and her image (the
pseudo-gospel of Moses), would be enduring the wrath of Yahweh, represented
figuratively by the Lake of Fire (the destruction of
Jerusalem and the Temple) and the Second
Death (the Sinatic/Mosaic covenantal death of Apostate Israel). The
figurative fumes of their figurative torment would ascend figuratively “for the eons of the eons” (Rev. 14:11 CV).
In psychic time, the universal significance of this judgment would be
remembered by humanity, for significant historical events remain indestructible
facts in the psychic experience of time recorded in the collective memory of
humanity. Those specific apostate Jews undergoing the literal actuality of this
judgment in
Having this prophetic knowledge, the saints are to faithfully endure the persecution and affliction on behalf of the righteousness of the Gospel and the Kingdom (Rev. 14:12b). Those saints (the dead in Christ, those dead to their offences and sins, Eph. 2:1) who are dying (sharing in the sufferings of Jesus the Messiah) in the interest of their Lord during this excruciating period are accounted blessed, honored, for they shall all be justly requited, “they will be resting from their toil [their sufferings], for their acts [their deeds, their faithful service] are following with them” (Rev. 14:13b CV). There is an appointed time for suffering and an appointed time for rejoicing. The appointed time for joyful celebration of triumphant victory and just reward is imminent for the conquering saints following Jesus (the Lamb, the Lion out of the tribe of Judah, the Conquering Son of David, the New Davidic Warrior-King), those “who are keeping the precepts of God [Yahweh] and the faith of Jesus” (Rev. 14:12b CV).
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In the 15th chapter of Revelation, John perceives another sign
in the heaven of his vision. Seven messengers having the last seven calamities
stand ready to pour out their vials, consummating the fury of Yahweh against
Jerusalem, the Temple made with hands, and the apostate nation of Israel
according to flesh. When the seventh messenger pours out his vial (Rev. 16:17-21),
a great earthquake occurs. Such an earthquake had not occurred since the men of
The great city (
This abominable, abhorrent, defiled city is symbolically
called “
And every island fled, and the mountains were not
found. And hail, large as a talent weight, is descending out of the heaven on
the men [of Apostate
By their continual, stubborn resistance, these men, apostate Jews, are said to “blaspheme God [Yahweh]” (16:21b CV), refusing to recognize and acknowledge this great calamity as Yahweh’s judgment upon their reckless and arrogant disobedience. Rejecting repentance, all hope of salvation is gone. They are abandoned to the promised curse.
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Having poured out their vials, one of the seven messengers speaks to John saying,
I shall be showing you the sentence of the great prostitute . . . (Revelation 17:1b CV)
John is taken in spirit into a wilderness where he perceives
the great prostitute sitting on many waters. This prostitute represents
apostate
O Jerusalem, wash your heart from wickedness, that you
may be saved. How long shall your evil thoughts lodge within you? For a voice
declares from Dan and proclaims evil from
Thus, Apostate Jerusalem sits on many waters, figuratively
referring to her political and economical sources of revenue and support coming
from her covenantally illicit relations with foreign kings and peoples. In the
present situation of John’s vision,
As a result of her covenantal prostitution with foreign kings
and peoples, the people of
The ministry of John the Baptist had brought back to
This same
The Woman whom John perceives is located in a wilderness. Symbolically, this is the wilderness of Israel’s abominable history of disobedience and rebellion, alluding to the 40-year wandering in the wilderness of the first stiff-necked and rebellious generation doomed to die in this wilderness, thus, forfeiting entrance into the Promised Land. John perceives this Woman (Apostate Jerusalem) sitting on a scarlet wild beast. This wild beast is branded with numerous names of blasphemy. It possesses seven heads and ten horns.
This scarlet wild beast is none other than Apostate Israel. The
royal/priestly city,
The nation’s history of abominations against Yahweh and His covenant is symbolically depicted in the numerous names of blasphemy branded upon the hide of the scarlet wild beast. Its seven heads symbolically represent the fullness, the completion, of its apostate antagonism to the rule, the kingship, of Yahweh in Yeshurun. In this wild beast the reader perceives the last and final rebellion of the last and final evil generation of Apostate Israel.
Its ten horns represent its ultimate and most powerful
opposition to Yahweh’s claim to kingship over
John perceives the Woman (Apostate Jerusalem) sitting on the scarlet wild beast (Apostate Israel) clothed (royally arrayed) in purple and scarlet and bedecked with adornments of gold, precious jewels, and pearls which originally represented her royal/priestly anointed function under the covenant made with David. However, with the passing of Solomon, this royal/priestly role had progressively become defiled and contaminated, resulting in her becoming a prostitute. Thus, her royal robe and priestly adornments had been exchanged for the gaudy, ostentatious, seductive garment and adornments of the brash, haughty, shallow, vulgar, shameless prostitute.
This Woman was holding in her hand a golden cup “brimming with abominations and the
uncleannesses of her prostitution” (Rev. 17:4b my translation).
Her abominations amounted to a history of shame and dishonor. She
had failed to glorify her Elohim and had failed to enlighten the nations. Instead,
she had become an adulteress in relation to Yahweh and a seductive prostitute
in relation to the people of
On this Woman’s forehead was written a name (Rev. 17:5):
Secret
the mother of the prostitutes
and the abominations
of the earth.
The prostitution of exalted
On her priestly forehead had been written “Holy unto Yahweh” (Ex. 39:30 EB). In her prostitution, she had
substituted unholy unto Yahweh,
becoming figuratively associated with the corrupt ways of
Here is the wisdom of the saints.
They are not to be deceived by this adulterous Woman, this prostitute by night
disguised by day as Yahweh’s holy priestess. The secret is no longer hid from
the eyes of the Ecclesia of Yahweh and Jesus the Messiah. This Woman, this
prostitute, this high priestess of the synagogue of Satan, this contemporary
Jezebel, is perceived by John to be “drunk
with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus”
(Rev. 17:6a CV). The
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Having perceived this abominable Woman, John is utterly astonished. He is aghast at her arrogant shamelessness and degrading defilement. Beholding his horror, the messenger reveals to him the secret of the Woman and the wild beast which is bearing her. John is told,
The wild beast which you perceived was, and is not, and is about to be ascending out of the submerged chaos [abyss], and to be going away into destruction. (Revelation 17:8a CV)
This wild beast represents Apostate Israel. It represents the
defiled and contaminated
Imprisoned in
However, John is told this Cainish, wild beast of a kingdom is about to be ascending out of its imprisonment in the submerged chaos during Roman rule. Thus, it was in the past, is not in the present, but would soon be nationally resurrected and return in great insane anger seeking vengeance against its past and present captors.
Those Jews dwelling in the
The messenger informs John that the seven heads of the wild
beast represent seven kings. Five of those kings have fallen. They have already
appeared, four belonging to the ancient past. These four kings represent the
last kings of the Southern Kingdom of Judah (the wild beast of the past). These
kings had been apostate, defiling the people and the land with their rebellious
policies and disregard for Yahweh’s Law. The last four apostate kings of
After the return from Babylonian captivity, this kingdom was
represented by Herod the great under the rule and authority of
The messenger then reveals,
Five fall, one is, the other came not as yet; and whenever he may be coming, he must remain briefly. And the wild beast which was, and is not, it also is the eighth, and is from among the seven, and is going away into destruction. (Revelation 17:10-11 CV)
The five kings having already ruled are Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, Zedekiah, and Herod the great. Herod
Agrippa I, the sixth king, is already on the scene and about to be
authorized by
The seventh king has not yet arrived. He would not be
appointed or authorized by
This seventh apostate (and counterfeit) king, Menahem, would set himself up as a king
in the
The eighth apostate king (see 17:11 CV, see section titled “The
Wild Beast Out of the Sea, Revelation 13:1-9”) being the second and final
counterfeit king over Apostate Israel, comes to power in 70 a.d. He is John of Gischala, a tremendously lawless man who pollutes
exceedingly the city, the people, and the
The ten horns on the wild beast are ten kings (counterfeit
self-appointed leaders, generals) who are of the same opinion of John of
Gischala, self-appointed king over the wild beast, Apostate Israel. These minor
kings (rulers, generals) seek the independence of
These ten kings, together with John of Gischala king over the
wild beast (Apostate Israel), though claiming to represent the best interest of
And the ten horns which you perceived, and the wild beast, these will be hating the prostitute, and they will be making her desolate and naked, and they will be eating her flesh, and they will be burning her up with fire, . . . (Revelation 17:16 CV)
The rebellious and lawless armies within the walls of
for God [Yahweh]
imparts to their hearts to form His opinion [judgment],
and to form one opinion [revolt against
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In vision, John is now taken back chronologically to the
beginning, or initiation of the rule of Jesus the Messiah on the throne of
David. Having received the full revelation of visions assuring the saints of the final outcome of the
spiritual warfare, John is given a final perception of the coming of the new heaven and the new earth initiated at the Pentecost of Acts, chapter 2, with the
pouring out of the spirit of Yahweh. Thus, chapters 21 and 22 of Revelation
correspond to Revelation chapters 1-3. The vision of Jesus the Messiah in the
midst of the seven assemblies (ecclesias) and the letters written to these same
assemblies provide a symbolic picture of the active role of the Ecclesia of
Jesus the Messiah, the New Jerusalem, the Bride of the Lamb, as she shares in
the sufferings of the Christ (see Phil. 3:10). Her active participation in the
spiritual warfare of the
In chapter 21, John perceives “a new heaven and a new earth” (v. 1a CV). This new heaven consists
of the enthronement of Jesus and His Ecclesia in the metaphorical heaven of the
New Davidic Covenant. The new earth perceived is the metaphorical location of
Apostate Israel and the nations placed under the authority of Jesus the Messiah
(the New Davidic Warrior-King) and His Ecclesia. This new heaven and new earth
represent the final spiritual/covenantal warfare between the Israel of Yahweh
(the Saints) and the
The former heaven and the former earth of the Sinatic/Mosaic
Covenant have passed away (Rev. 21:1b CV), superseded by the New Davidic
Covenant. The kingdom of the flesh, the kingdom of the sons of Cain, the
unfaithful Saulite kingdom, has been superseded by the kingdom of the spirit,
the kingdom of the sons of Abel, the faithful
They will not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain [the New Jerusalem], For the earth [the entire inhabited household of Israel, the entire territories of the Roman Empire] will be full of the knowledge of the Lord [the Gospel of Jesus the Messiah, the Gospel of the Kingdom of Yahweh] As the waters [of the Gospel] cover the sea. (Isaiah 11:9 NASB)
Having been given a vision of this new heaven and new earth
within which there is no longer a sea (no longer a distinction between Jew and
Gentile in the proclamation of the Gospel), John perceives within this vision “the holy city, new Jerusalem, descending
out of heaven from God” (Rev. 21:2a CV). This new Jerusalem figuratively
represents the Ecclesia of Jesus the Messiah, the
This refers to the Ecclesia’s sharing in, participating in,
the sufferings of Jesus the Messiah, the sufferings on behalf of the
righteousness of the
Beholding the Bride in all her glory (the pure, white robe of
the New Davidic Covenant), John hears a loud voice coming out of the throne
within the new, holy city
Lo! the tabernacle of God [Yahweh] is with the men, and He will be tabernacling with them, and they will be His peoples, and God [Yahweh] Himself will be with them. (Revelation 21:3 CV modified)
Yahweh is not tabernacling with humanity (all men). He is tabernacling, indwelling, actively dwelling within the holy city, new Jerusalem, the Ecclesia of Jesus the Messiah, the Israel of Yahweh, the Bride of the Lamb, soon to become in the conjugation of marriage, the Body, the Complement, the Wife of Jesus the Messiah (the Second Man, the Head of the New Jesuic Humanity). This is the reason the Greek text uses the definite article before the plural noun “men.” The gnomic future (“He will be tabernacling with them,” “they will be His peoples”) indicates the present reality as long as the condition of faithfulness (purity, covenantal righteousness) is met.
During this present time of spiritual/covenantal warfare,
Yahweh “will be brushing away every tear
from their eyes” (Rev. 21:4a CV). The period of exile is over for the
faithful saints of Yahweh’s
By the streams of
Those lamentations, those solemn tears had now begun to be wiped away from the eyes of Yahweh’s faithful people.
The new
As a result of the new life of the New Davidic Covenant, the word of Isaiah was presently being fulfilled:
I will also rejoice in
Thus, the figurative tears of the exile, the figurative tears of the Sinatic/Mosaic Covenant, were presently being wiped from the eyes of the faithful saints, citizens of the holy city, new Jerusalem, those together (circumcised and uncircumcised) forming the Bride/Wife of the Lamb. This was to be the character of the New Jerusalem prophesied by Isaiah:
And on this mountain [New Jerusalem] He will swallow up the covering [the veil of blindness] which is over
all peoples [the circumcised faithful
ones and the uncircumcised faithful ones], Even the veil which is stretched
over all nations [including
Jesus the Messiah is the salvation of
You then, also, now, indeed, will be having sorrow, yet I shall be seeing you again, and your heart shall be rejoicing, and your joy no one is taking away from you. (John 16:22 CV)
This is the joy that comes from salvation, from imminent expectation of ascension into the promised Celestial Allotment (see 1 Thess. 4:13-18). The figurative tears are brushed away for those who faithfully trust in Jesus the Messiah and His Gospel, for such trust results in the confidence of triumphant expectation, the sure expectation of Christ’s Parousia. Faith in the resurrection, ascension, and enthronement of Jesus the Messiah results in the wiping away of every tear from the eyes perceiving the spiritual reality of the Gospel of Jesus the Messiah, the spiritual reality of the New Davidic Kingdom and Covenant.
The loud voice of Yahweh continues,
And death will be no more, nor mourning, nor clamor, nor misery; they will be no more, for the former things passed away. (Revelation 21:4b CV)
This is figurative language. Physical death is not removed,
for many saints are to suffer death
for their testimony, even as Stephen had already endured. It is covenantal
death which is removed, nullified, abolished. The faithful saints possessing the life of the New Covenant cannot be harmed of
the Second Death associated with the curse of the law, the verdict of Yahweh
regarding the death, the termination, of the Sinatic/Mosaic Covenant. The
conquering one is protected from the figurative fiery flames of the
The former things (of the Sinatic/Mosaic Covenant), since the enthronement of Jesus the Messiah on the seat of David His father and the pouring out of the spirit, have passed away. The old covenant (the Sinatic/Mosaic Covenant, world-order, heavens and earth) had been superseded by the New Covenant (the New Davidic Covenant, world-order, heaven and earth). Before Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension, Jesus had been known according to flesh (the Mosaic Covenant). After Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension, He had to be known according to spirit (the New Davidic Covenant). Therefore, Paul would later write,
So that we, from now on, are acquainted with no one according to flesh. Yet even if we have known Christ according to flesh, nevertheless now we know Him so no longer. So that, if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: the primitive things [of the old covenant] passed by. Lo! there have come new things [of the new covenant]. (2 Corinthians 5:16-17 CV modified)
Thus, the death, mourning, clamor, and misery associated with the Sinatic/Mosaic Covenant are abolished, done away with, for all the faithful saints associated with the New Davidic Covenant.
Yahweh, sitting on the throne in the midst of the heavenly
Lo! New am I making all [plural]! . . . Write, for these sayings are faithful and true. (Revelation 21:5 CV)
Yahweh is in the process of making all things associated with
the Sinatic/Mosaic Covenant new through the implementation of all things
associated with the New Davidic Covenant. All the sayings of John’s prophetic
book about to be written and made known to the saints, the faithful slaves of Jesus the Messiah, are faithful and
true. These sayings and the accompanying visions are to be an encouragement to
endure to the end the persecutions and afflictions on behalf of the
I have become the Alpha and the Omega, the Origin and
the Consummation. To him who is thirsting I shall be giving of the spring of
the water of life gratuitously. He who is conquering shall be enjoying this [plural]
allotment [the allotment of all the
things associated with the New Davidic Covenant], and I shall be a God [Elohim] to him and he shall be a son to
With the triumphant victory of Jesus the Messiah as the Son of David, the Son of Abraham, the Son of Adam, the Son of Yahweh, Yahweh has become the beginning (Alpha) and the telos (Omega) of the Sinatic/Mosaic Covenant and the Originator and the Consummator of the Law and the Prophets. The visions and sayings of the Book of Revelation unveil the imminent events which will bring to a successful consummation both the Mosaic Eon and the Adamic Eon.
During the eschatological final years of the Adamic/Mosaic Eons,
those faithful slaves (of Yahweh and His Anointed Son/King Jesus) who
continually thirst for righteousness will be given continual access to “the spring of the water of life,” that
figurative water of life flowing abundantly from the recently opened figurative
spring of the New Davidic Covenant located in the midst of the new, holy,
heavenly city of Jerusalem (see Rev. 22:1, “a
river of water of life . . . issuing out of the throne of God [Yahweh] and the Lambkin”). This spiritual water
had already been given to the saints.
They are to continue drinking from this spring to the end of the Mosaic Eon. Thus,
their continual thirst for the righteousness of the
The conquering one (described in chapters 2-3) shall, during
the eschatological final years of the Mosaic Eon, be continually enjoying the
allotment of all the new things associated with the New Davidic Covenant. These
new things consist of the following: a new Israelite Ecclesia (the Israel of
Yahweh, Gal. 6:16); a new covenantal man (Eph. 2:15); a new life (
In accord with the prophetic word of Zechariah (8:8), Yahweh declares He is now the Elohim of these conquering ones, who, as a result of their faithful conquering, are now acknowledged by Yahweh as His sons. Under the Mosaic Covenant, the faithful ones were acknowledged as children (minors). They were under guardians and administrators until the establishment of the New Davidic Covenant. With the pouring out of the spirit, Yahweh’s Law became written on the fleshy tablets of the heart. Minorhood had come to an end. Sonship had begun. The conquering faithful ones were no longer under an escort. They were no longer under law, rather, as full-grown sons, they stood alongside their Father (Yahweh) and alongside His law, keeping His law as an adult son reflecting from within the character of the Father apart from the guidance and discipline of guardians and administrators (see Gal. 4:1-7). Paul alludes to the reality of this declaration of Yahweh in his second letter to the Corinthians where he combines Zechariah 8:8 with passages from 2 Samuel and Isaiah:
For you [plural, all of you] are the temple of the living God, according as God [Yahweh] said, that I will be making My home and will be walking in them, and I will be their God [Elohim], and they shall be My people. Wherefore, Come out of their midst and be severed, the Lord is saying. And touch not the unclean, and I will admit you, and I will be a Father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me, says the Lord Almighty. (2 Corinthians 6:16b-18 CV)
In contrast with the conquering ones, Yahweh now describes the apostate Israelites and their end (Rev. 21:8). These apostate ones consist, first of all, of those who fearfully shrink from choosing either Yahweh or The Adversary. They fear becoming involved in the covenantal conflict demanding a decision for or against Jesus the Anointed One of Yahweh. These apostate ones also consist of those described as unbelievers, unfaithful, those who, like Cain, prefer their own wisdom rather than the wisdom of Yahweh. They oppose what they consider the unjust way of Yahweh, preferring their own understanding of the just way.
The abominable apostates commit what the Law of Yahweh describes as abominable, abhorrent acts in the name and cause of Yahweh, believing that the cause justifies the means. Those accused of being murderers are those Israelites according to the flesh who justify the killing of the prophets and the faithful remnant of saints throughout the Mosaic Eon in order to maintain national survival and security. The paramours are those apostate Israelites who participate in covenantal prostitution with the wild beast, Apostate Israel. They cling to the Mosaic Covenant for life and blessing. They worship Yahweh under the banner of their own distorted image of Moses, rather than worshiping and serving Yahweh under the Anointed Kingship of Jesus the Messiah and His New Davidic Covenant. Then there are the enchanters, those Jews who mix the Mosaic Law with sorcery and idolatrous activities, shaming the very honor and glory of Yahweh Who prohibited such practices associated with the decadent ways of the nations.
Finally, Yahweh concludes His catalogue of apostate ones with
those described as false ones, pseudo-shepherds deceiving the sheep on
behalf of their own welfare and honor, wolves
disguised as sheep, hirelings claiming to be Yahweh’s appointed shepherds. All these
apostate ones have their part in the figurative
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The covenantal destinies of the faithful ones and the apostate ones having now been clearly assured, one of the messengers associated with the vials “brimming with the last seven calamities” (Rev. 21:9 CV) speaks to John,
Hither! I shall be showing you the bride, the wife of the Lambkin. (Revelation 21:9b CV)
John is then carried away in spirit to a huge and high mountain from which he beholds “the holy city, Jerusalem, as it is descending out of [the] heaven [of this vision] from God [Yahweh]” (21:10b CV). This new heavenly Jerusalem, the Jerusalem above, figuratively representing the Bride of the Lamb, is reflecting the glory of Yahweh as figuratively represented by its “luminosity . . . like a stone most precious” (v. 11 CV); its huge and high walls, each stretching out in all four directions approximately 1,400 miles (thus, symbolically filling the whole world-order of the Roman Empire and alluding to the kingdom of the stone severed from a mountain range by the hand of Yahweh, described by Daniel as “the stone that collides with the image [of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream] becomes a vast mountain range, and fills all the earth [land],” Daniel 2:35b CV); its twelve gates inscribed with the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel; its twelve foundations supporting the walls, each foundation inscribed with a name of one of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb.
This holy city is not built by the hands of men, but by Yahweh
Himself. It is the city of
Thus, this kingdom of Jesus the Son of David (the heavenly Jerusalem) is exalted through this metaphorical marriage to the status of Kingdom of God (the Celestial Jerusalem), restoring the nations and humanity to the direct rule of Yahweh Elohim. However, Yahweh’s rule would no longer be in association with the dominion of Adam, but in association with the dominion of Christ, no longer in association with the procreation of Adam and Eve, but in association with the spiritual procreation of Christ and His Ecclesia, His Celestial Complement, His Celestial City of Living Stones, the Holy City, Celestial Jerusalem. The new heaven and new earth of Revelation 21:1 now becomes the New Heavens and the New Earth of the Celestial Kingdom of God (Yahweh Elohim), the New Heavens and the New Earth Peter wrote about in his second letter (2 Pe. 3:10-13), the New Heavens and New Earth which had not yet become a reality at the time of Peter’s writing of this letter.
Beholding this vision of the holy city,
for the Lord God [Yahweh Elohim] Almighty is its temple, and the Lambkin. And the city has no need of the sun nor of the moon, that they should be appearing in it, for the glory of God illuminates it, and its lamp is the Lambkin. (Revelation 21:22-23 CV)
The Jews, having treated the
Figuratively, this new, holy city,
Whenever I may be in the world-order [of Moses], I am the Light of this world-order. (John 9:5 my translation)
The spirit of Jesus the Messiah dwells within His Ecclesia,
and His Ecclesia is covenantally in Jesus the Messiah. Therefore, the light of
the New Davidic Covenant illuminates the Ecclesia, which in turn illuminates
the whole inhabited household of
Arise, shine; for your light has come, And the glory of the Lord [Yahweh] has risen upon you. For behold, darkness will cover the earth, And deep darkness the peoples; But the Lord [Yahweh] will rise upon you, And His glory will appear upon you. And nations will come to your light, . . . No longer will you have the sun for light by day, Nor for brightness will the moon give you light; But you will have the Lord for an everlasting [eonian] light, And your God [Elohim] for your glory. . . . For you will have the Lord for an everlasting [eonian] light, And the days of your mourning will be finished. Then all your people will be righteous. They will possess [rule] the land forever [during the eschatological final days of the Mosaic Eon], the branch of My planting, The work of My hands, That I may be glorified. (Isaiah 60:1-3a, 19-21 NASB)
This holy city, heavenly
And the nations shall be walking by means of its light, and the kings of the earth are carrying their glory into it. (Revelation 21:24 CV)
The gates of this city would not be locked (see Isa. 60:11),
since there would be no night, only day. During the eschatological years of the
proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus the Messiah, the light of the Gospel would
continually illuminate the darkness of Apostate Israel and the nations. The
city would not know (figuratively) the setting of the sun of the Gospel. There
would be no intervening night obstructing the illuminating light of the Gospel
of covenantal salvation and blessing. Many circumcised Jews and uncircumcised
gentiles would be drawn to the light, entering the city through faith-obedience
to the Gospel of Jesus the Messiah, thus becoming citizens of the new
commonwealth of the Israel of Yahweh (see Eph. 2:19-22). Only those having
their names written in the Lamb’s scroll of life would be given entrance into
this holy city. No contaminated person producing covenantal abominations and
acting deceptively would be allowed entrance into this holy city, heavenly
In this figurative city is “a
river of water of life” (Rev. 22:1a CV). This river of invigorating spiritual
water is “issuing out of the throne of
God and the Lambkin” (22:1b CV). This invigorating spiritual water
figuratively represents the new Davidic covenantal life flowing from the
proclamation of the Gospel. The ones faithfully responding to the Gospel of
Jesus the Messiah, thus, symbolically drinking of this life-giving water, enter
into the salvation of this holy city, continually having access to this
invigorating water of covenantal life. In addition, these faithful ones
entering the central square of the city have access to the twelve fruits of the
tree of covenantal life. Thus, their spiritual thirst and hunger are satisfied
from the spiritually nutritious reception of the spirit of Yahweh and the
spiritually nutritious instruction of The
Law of Christ (see Jn. 7:37-39;
In this holy city, the heavenly
And His slaves [faithful warrior-priests] shall be offering divine service to Him. And they shall be seeing His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. And night shall be no more, and they have no need of lamplight and sunlight, for the Lord God [Yahweh Elohim] shall be illuminating them. And they shall be reigning for the eons of the eons. (Revelation 22:3b-5 CV)
The faithful slaves of Jesus the Messiah offer divine service by their proclamation of the Gospel and their sharing in the sufferings of Jesus the Messiah, enduring the persecutions and afflictions inflicted during the spiritual warfare against Apostate Israel. Under the Sinatic/Mosaic Covenant, the face of Yahweh’s gracious presence had been hidden behind the veil marking the holy of holies off limits to all Israelites. Under the New Davidic Covenant, the face of Yahweh’s gracious presence is no longer hidden behind a veil. The holy of holies is no longer off limits to Yahweh’s faithful slaves. Jesus the Messiah, the Son of Abraham, the Son of David, the Son of the Sinatic/Mosaic Covenant, has delivered His circumcised brethren from the Sinatic/Mosaic Covenant and the curse of the law (Gal. 3:13). Jesus the Messiah, the Son of Adam, the Son of Yahweh, has delivered all men from the verdict of death pronounced against Adam and passed on to his progeny (see Rom. 5:18).
Being redeemed from the curse of the law, the saints now had direct access to the face
of Yahweh’s gracious presence. But, having been purchased by Jesus the Messiah,
and, thus, ransomed by Yahweh, the faithful ones associated with the New
Davidic Covenant now belong to Yahweh, having His name on their foreheads. As
such, they are the elect seed of Abraham manifesting Yahweh’s glory and soon to
be reigning in His Kingdom for the eons of the eons as the Celestial Jerusalem enjoying her Celestial Allotment and Queenly
Throne as the Wife, the Complement,
the Ecclesia of Jesus the Messiah, the Second Man, the Head of the New Jesuic
Humanity, which humanity is presently in the process of being spiritually
generated through His metaphorical conjugal relationship with His covenantal
Wife. Such has been the role and function of the Ecclesia in the Celestial
Realm from 70 a.d. to the present
time. The terrestrial realm (the present literal heavens and earth) has for the
past 2,000 and some years been under the jurisdiction and cultivation of the
holy city, Celestial
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The faithful slaves of Jesus the Messiah (the New Heavenly Jerusalem, the Bride of the Lamb, the Ecclesia of Jesus the Messiah) have now been informed of events soon to come. They have been encouraged to remain faithful to the end, knowing the triumphant consummation of the proclamation of the Gospel. The conquering ones are to faithfully follow the orders of their Commander-In-Chief, Jesus the Messiah, the New Davidic Warrior-King. At the consummation of His Approach/Arrival Parousia, each conquering one would enter, together with Jesus the Messiah, the promised Celestial Allotment. At that time, the Bride (the Heavenly Jerusalem), having been given in covenantal marriage to the Lamb (Jesus the Messiah), is adorned with the royal, queenly robe of the Wife of the Warrior-King (Jesus the Messiah). As Wife (the Celestial Jerusalem), she is escorted into the Celestial Realm where she is exalted to the throne of her Lord and King, her Husband, Jesus the Messiah, the Son of Yahweh. All this, of course, is a metaphorical depiction of a spiritual reality literally existing and operating in the Celestial Realm.
John is then, once again, informed that the events revealed in the visions shown him “must occur swiftly” (22:6b CV). Jesus the Messiah then declares that He is coming swiftly (22:7a CV). Those faithful slaves, the conquering ones, obeying the exhortations and warnings contained in the seven-sealed prophetic scroll opened by the Lamb would be blessed. The events depicted in this prophecy are, thus, imminent. This is confirmed by the messenger who solemnly commands,
You should not be sealing the sayings of the prophecy of this scroll, for the era is near. (Revelation 22:10 CV)
This corresponds with the opening testimony of the prophecy revealed to John:
Happy [Blessed, Honorable] is he who is reading and those who are hearing [obeying, heeding] the word of the prophecy [revealed in this book], and who are keeping [obeying] that which is written in it, for the era is near. (Revelation 1:3)
Daniel had been commanded to seal up his visions, for the time of their fulfillment remained distant (Dan. 12:4, 9). The visions of the prophecy of the Book of Revelation were written for the saints of the first century. The prophecy revealed pertained to the events occurring between the years 30 and 70 a.d.
These events were near, imminent, for those reading and hearing the word of John’s prophecy. The entire prophecy revealed in this book was fulfilled in the very same generation of those to whom the book was addressed:
The Unveiling of Jesus Christ, which God [Yahweh] gives to Him [Jesus the Messiah], to show to His [Jesus’] slaves what must occur swiftly . . . (Revelation 1:1a)
John received this revelation shortly after Cornelius and his
household and the Greeks in Antioch of Syria entered into the Israel of Yahweh,
the
John’s Book of Revelation, therefore, was written and dispersed among the saints approximately about the year 39 a.d. Herod the Great was the fifth head of the wild beast of Revelation 17:9-11. His grandson, King Herod Agrippa I, from 41-44 a.d. ruled over the reassembled kingdom of his grandfather. He was to become the sixth head of the wild beast of Revelation 17:9-11. The Jewish establishment, which hated but courted the favor of Herod the Great, loved his grandson, King Herod Agrippa I. Herod Agrippa I was to reward such love.
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In 37 a.d.
Caligula bestowed the title “king”
upon Herod Agrippa I. In 41 a.d.
Claudius added Judea and
Herod the Great had attempted to murder the Messianic child,
Jesus, murdering many infant sons of
Perceiving that this pleased the ruling Jewish aristocracy, Herod the king arrested the Apostle Peter, “intending after the Passover to lead him up to the people [those Jews sympathetic to the religious view of the Jewish aristocracy]” (Acts 12:4b CV). Thus, the wild beast, still chained and imprisoned in the metaphorical submerged chaos of the apostate nation and land, is being prepared for its wicked, wild, abominable release. King Herod Agrippa I, therefore, is the sixth head of the wild beast, “Five fall, one is” (Rev. 17:10a CV). However, he is tame compared to the two kings (heads) still to come, when the wild beast is unleashed to devour the apostate nation and land.
Herod’s intention is frustrated when Peter is delivered from
his imprisonment by a celestial messenger sent under the command of Jesus the
Davidic Warrior-King, the Commander-In-Chief of the warrior-priests of the
Israel of Yahweh. This spiritually accomplished release is symbolically
significant as it is contrasted with the imminent
spiritual release of the wild beast. The power and authority of Apostate Israel
against the Ecclesia of Jesus the Messiah are temporary and superficial. The
Apostate Wild Beast, energized by The Adversary, is itself under the authority
and power of Yahweh and the Lion out of the tribe of
The opposition of the Wild Beast against the Israel of Yahweh,
the Ecclesia, after its release, will be frustrated, failing to destroy the
Ecclesia while effecting the abominable contamination and destruction of the
apostate nation and land. Apostate
Peter, bewildered during the escape, realizing he is beyond the reach of the soldiers guarding him, declares,
Now I truly am aware that the Lord delegates His messenger, and extricates me out of the hand of Herod and all the hope of the Jewish people [the Jewish religious aristocracy and those Jews sympathetic to their opposition to the Messianics]. (Acts 12:11b CV)
Yahweh and His Anointed Son/King rule in the kingdom of
mortals (see Dan. 5:20-21 CV). Neither King Herod Agrippa I (representing the
kings of the Wild Beast ascending out of the
Report these things to James and the brethren. (Acts 12:17b CV)
In spite of the increasing antagonism of the Jewish religious
aristocracy (and their sympathizers) toward the Messianic saints, Jesus the New Davidic Warrior-King is triumphantly
conquering in the name of His Elohim and Father, Yahweh Elohim of Israel. As
Peter had been extricated out of the
hand of Herod and the apostate Jews, so the Ecclesia would be extricated out of
the hand of The Adversary and his abhorrent, pseudo-kings about to be unleashed
upon Apostate Israel with the release of the Wild Beast from the prison of the submerged
chaos. This Wild Beast when released would furiously infect the apostate
goats of
The defeat of the Wild Beast and its abominable kings is
symbolically depicted in the death of King Herod Agrippa I. Herod, dressed in
royal attire, had addressed a disgruntled crowd of Tyrians and Sidonians. His
elegant speech caused the crowd to retort, “A
god’s voice, and not a man’s!” (Acts 12:22 CV). Assuming himself to be
Yahweh’s king, since he ruled over the Jews, but arrogantly accepting this
divine honor for himself, he is immediately smitten by a celestial messenger of
Yahweh with a flesh eating disease causing his death. As representing Yahweh
the Elohim of Israel, Herod had taken for himself the honor which belongs to
Yahweh only. He should have given the glory to his Elohim, properly directing
these gentiles (Tyrians and Sidonians) from their superstitious beliefs to the
One Living Elohim of Israel. Thus, Apostate Israel, assuming it worshiped and
served Yahweh Elohim alone, would be struck down by Yahweh for dishonoring and
shaming Yahweh, taking for itself that which belongs to Yahweh alone. Thus, as
Herod Agrippa I had struck down the Apostle James, so Yahweh had struck down
Herod Agrippa I, who had been assuming himself to be Yahweh’s anointed king (in
defiance of the authorized Anointed King, Jesus the Messiah), even as Apostate
Israel assumed itself to be Yahweh’s holy, elect, anointed nation. With the
death of Herod Agrippa I, an epoch is ended. The Herodian line of rule in Judea
had now been consummated, being replaced by a series of inefficient procurators
whose decisions contributed to the rise of the Wild Beast and the revolt
against
The text of Acts, chapter 12, then records, “Yet the word of Yahweh grew and was multiplied” (12:24 my translation). The written Greek Scriptures which increased in size as inspired holy writings, such as the Book of Revelation, were added to the Hebrew Scriptures, even as testified in the record of Acts 6:7. The word not only increased in size, but multiplied in effectiveness. The Israel of Yahweh continued to conquer and liberate.
Chapter 12 of Acts ends with an account of the return of
Barnabas and Saul to