194 The seven congregations of Revelatio

The seven congregations of Revelation.

The purpose of prophecy is twofold: Firstly it is given in love to encourage people to repent of their evil ways so they can escape punishment, and secondly it is given for those who don’t repent at first, so that when their punishment comes, they will then acknowledge their sins and repent toward Elohim who will deliver and rescue them, as He promised in Deuteronomy 4: 25 – 31, as follows: “When you become the father of children and children’s children and have remained long in the land, and act corruptly, and make an idol in the form of anything, and do that which is evil in the sight of YHVH your Elohim so as to provoke Him to anger, (26) I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that you shall surely perish quickly from the land where you are going over the Jordan to possess it. You shall not live long on it, but shall be utterly destroyed. (27) And YHVH will scatter you among the peoples, and you shall be left few in number among the nations, where YHVH shall drive you. (28) And there you will serve gods, the work of man’s hands, wood and stone, which neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell. (29) But from there you will seek YHVH your Elohim, and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul. (30) When you are in distress and all these things have come upon you, in the latter days, you will return to YHVH your Elohim and listen to His voice. (31) For YHVH your Elohim is a compassionate Elohim; He will not fail you nor destroy you nor forget the covenant with your fathers which He swore to them.” The covenant spoken about here includes circumcision for men – if we want to return to the land of Israel one day.

The message to the seven congregations in Revelation is therefore a call to repentance. But we need to understand that the seven congregations during the time of the apostles are also representative of the congregation called out of the world, from the time when Messiah commissioned the original 12 apostles until our time today. It has nothing to do with either Christianity or Judaism. Even so, the seven congregations and their characteristics are also present in every generation, since Messiah’s ascension to heaven and the very same characteristics could also be present in individual members in the congregations of today and every generation. In Revelation 2 and 3 Yahshua Messiah sends a different message to each of the seven congregations in the Roman province of Asia Minor, part of modern day Turkey. The number seven shows completeness, similar to the seven days that make up a complete week. The seven messages of Revelation 2 and 3 give us a complete picture of trends that had already started and continued throughout the history of the congregations, since Messiah’s original commission to the apostles in Matthew 28: 18 – 20. The seven messages give us several good reasons why the deep divisions among believers developed and why this divisiveness continued to plague subsequent generations. The seven congregations are represented as seven candlesticks in Revelation 1 and together they represent the congregation and its mission to be a light to the world, as Yahshua taught in Matthew 5: 14. Messiah stands in the middle of the seven congregations as the source of their light and as such He is always present and accessible (almost like the ‘ner tamid’, the ever burning light spoken about in Exodus 27: 20[1]). Yes, Yahshua will remain true to His promise to His congregation in Matthew 28: 20, to be always with us, until the end of the age. However, as is obvious from the messages to the seven congregations, not everyone who comes into the congregation will remain faithful to Him. Each of the seven congregations receives a warning message; but the message to each congregation is also a warning to the other six congregations, since the same or similar conditions could develop amongst them. In each message Messiah cites examples of good points as well as the bad points in each group, showing whom He will bless and whom He will reject. This is similar to the way He expects each one of His ministers (or teachers) to take care of members in the congregation, He lavishes compliments where approval is due, but also criticizes those with faults that threaten their relationship with Him. At the time when these messages were written the congregation was under severe persecution and imprisonment. This is why Messiah encouraged the seven congregations not to lose heart, not to give up, not to compromise their beliefs, and if necessary to die for His sake. He reminds them to focus ahead on the Kingdom of Elohim to come, when they will rule the world under His leadership. Messiah complimented the devoted members in each group for their service, labor, perseverance and faith. But, His criticisms and compliments are revealing. They show that the threat from within the congregation was, and always will be a cause for concern.

To fully understand the seven messages to the congregations of called out believers, we turn to Revelation 2, where we commence reading Yahshua’s message to the angel of the congregation in Ephesus, in verse 1 to 7, in this way: “The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands (Yahshua), says this: (2) ‘I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot endure evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; (3) and you have perseverance and have endured for My name’s sake, and have not grown weary. (4) But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. (5) Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds that you did at first; or else I am coming to you, and will remove your lampstand out of its place – unless you repent. (6) Yet this you do not have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitians, which I also hate. (7) He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the congregation. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of Elohim.’ When most of us were first called out of the world into the Nazarene Israelite faith, we were like young people in love. We studied as if there was not enough time in the day. We wanted to know everything there is to know about our newly found faith, as soon as possible. However, with time the excitement wore off and we became less zealous. We started studying less and had more time to do other things again. It is almost like a young man when he meets a new girlfriend. Initially he spends many hours trying to please her, but with time he gets used to her and spends less time with her. This is what happened to the congregation in Ephesus, but can also happen to each one of us individually. Yahshua warns that unless we repent and return to YHVH and serve Him again the way we used to do when we were first called, He will remove our lampstand. Even if we have the ability to test apostles to see if they are false, at this time, we need to repent and return to YHVH like a young man in love with his bride – zealous to find out more about YHVH and His plan of salvation for us and all mankind. My fellow believers the time is short and we need to spend much more time studying and praying, if we want to retain our position as first fruits unto YHVH. We will deal with the comment about the Nicolaitians later.

If we stay committed to Elohim to the end, we will be saved, as per the example of Daniel’s three friends, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in Daniel 3. These three men were thrown into a fiery furnace because of their refusal to fall down and worship a false image. They were deeply committed to YHVH and were not prepared to compromise in any way. YHVH came first in their lives and His Torah was their foundation. They knew that the Word of YHVH forbids bowing down to idols in Exodus 20: 4 & 5. In addition to their commitment to YHVH they had faith that He could save them from any situation, if He chooses to do so. Notice that YHVH did not save them from the fire; He saved them in the fire. They knew that even if they died in the fire, they will one day be resurrected, just as we will (as per 1 Corinthians 15: 12 -19). Besides the growing problem of spiritually weak members and teachers, false prophets were infiltrating the congregations and slowly but surely, many doctrinal errors were developing. We continue reading from Revelation 2: 8 – 11, as follows: “And to the angel of the congregation in Smyrna write: The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this: (9) I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. (10) Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. (11) He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the congregation. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.” It appears that this group had to and will again in the future have to go through a period of tribulation, during which time some of their members will be killed for their faith in the true Messiah. However, they are promised eternal life in the first resurrection and as we read from Revelation 20: 6[2], the second death will not have power over them. The reference to those who say that they are Jews and are not, mentioned here has to do with those who usurp the authority that YHVH gave to the tribe of Levi amongst the Jews, regarding their responsibility to proclaim the annual Feast Days of Elohim, as witnessed in Romans 9: 4 and discussed in Malachi 2: 1 – 8. Essentially these are people who usurp the Authority given to the Jews, by deciding for themselves when to keep Elohim’s annual Feast Days. Those who believe that they have been given the oracles, because the Jews were unfaithful are usually also against any custom or tradition found in Judaism, such as for example, the lighting of Sabbath candles and even the observance of Chanukah and Purim which are all Scripturally based.

We find the message to the third congregation in Revelation 2: 12 – 17, in this way: “And to the angel of the congregation in Pergamum write: The One who has the sharp two edged sword says this: (13) I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is; and you hold fast My name, and did not deny My faith, even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. (14) But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit acts of immorality. (15) Thus you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitians. (16) Repent therefore; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth. (17) He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the congregation. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.” YHVH calls people from all walks of life, but more specifically the weak of the world, as may be read from 1 Corinthians 1: 26 – 31. We should not get into a habit a slating other groups, but as watchmen we should warn Elohim’s people about their transgressions, as may be read from Isaiah 58: 1[3]. Yes, as watchmen, we should not ever curse other groups, but continue to write sermons, which we publish on webpages, as warnings to consider and correct their mistakes. We see that in addition to cursing other groups in the way Balak wanted to curse ancient Israel, this group also has some members who hold to the teachings of the Nicolaitians.

Yahshua said that He hated the deeds and doctrines of the Nicolaitians and indicated that there were believers of such teachings in both the groups in Ephesus and Pergamum. We’ve heard about the Nicolaitians for a long time, but have never really understood the meaning of their condemnation, because we have never really known who, or what they were. Many students of the Scriptures have tried to identify the Nicolaitians, without success. Some suggested that they were followers of a certain ‘saint Nicholas’. Then there is the group who supports the teachings of the Schofield Reference Bible, who identify the Nicolaitians, as follows: ‘From Nakao, to conquer, and Laos, the people or laity. There is however, no ancient authority for a sect of Nicolaitians. If the word is symbolic, it refers to the earliest form of the notion of a priestly order, or clergy, which later divided an equal brotherhood into priests and laity. What in Ephesus were deeds (Rev. 2: 6) had become in Pergamum a doctrine (Rev. 2: 15).” This is the best explanation that Christian clergy can give, since they are blinded and cannot see the forest for the trees. Note that they admit that there is no ancient authority to proof their explanation. The truth is that the more orthodox they are, the closer they are in identifying themselves. The Hellenization of the Christian Church displaced the Jewish Messiah with a Greek deity with festivals such as Xmas, Easter and Sunday, replacing the seventh day Sabbath and Feast Days of Elohim. The Nicolaitians were evangelists who conquered or overcame the Jewish congregations. The word Nicolaitians is a combination of the Greek words ‘Nike’ and ‘Laos’. Nike is the name of the Greek goddess of victory and the Greek word Laos is Greek for the English word laity, or worshipers. The King James Version of the Scriptures identifies the Nicolaitians, as the Nike-laity, or Nike Laos of the original manuscript of Yochanan the Revelator. Most of us know this old fellow as Saint Nike-Laos or Santa Claus, who appears once a year in December to keep the birthdays of Nimrod, Baal, Bacchus and others on the 25th of the month. Yes, even though we are told to come out of keeping Xmas, some are even now involved in such paganism when they buy presents for children and grand-children at that time of the year, so as not to upset anybody. In addition, we need to be mindful of the fact that worshipping the Creator-Redeemer by the names of pagan deities is not honoring Him, but giving the honor to pagan deities, which belong to Him. It is perhaps for this reason that YHVH says in Isaiah 42: 8, “I am YHVH that is My name; I will not give My glory to another, nor My praise to graven images.’ A second witness comes from Jeremiah 16: 20 & 21, as follows: “Can man make gods for himself? Yet they are no gods! (21) Therefore behold, I am going to make them know— This time I will make them know My power and My might; and they shall know that My name is YHVH.”

We read the message to the congregation in Thyatira from Revelation 2: 18 – 28, in this way: “And to the angel of the congregation in Thyatira write: The Son of Elohim, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet are like burnished bronze, says this: (19) I know your deeds, and your love and faith and service and perseverance, and that your deeds of late are greater than at first. (20) But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray, so that they commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. (21) And I gave her time to repent; and she does not want to repent of her immorality. (22) Behold, I will cast her upon a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds. (23) And I will kill her children with pestilence; and all the congregation will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds. (24) But I say to you, the rest who are in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not known the deep things of Satan, as they call them—I place no other burden on you. (25) Nevertheless what you have, hold fast until I come. (26) And he who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, TO HIM I WILL GIVE AUTHORITY OVER THE NATIONS; (27) AND HE SHALL RULE THEM WITH A ROD OF IRON, AS THE VESSELS OF THE POTTER ARE BROKEN TO PIECES, as I also have received authority from My Father; (28) and I will give him the morning star. (29) He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the congregation.’ This is talking about a woman in the congregation who believes she is a prophetess, and teaches members of the congregation doctrines contrary to the teachings of Yahshua and the Torah, such as minimalizing the requirement to keep the Sabbath and to eat only kosher foods. This type of teaching is seen by Elohim as idolatry, and should not be taught by true believers of Elohim. We see from verse 24 above that dissent developed from within the congregation, which became a real threat to the congregation. Attending with members of the above two congregations were two types of people. The faithful members ‘who do not hold this teaching, who have not known the deep things of Satan.’ But the implication is clear that others could and did hold this teaching. We find a picture of the congregation near the end of the age: Satan had successfully infiltrated groups of believers called out of the world by Elohim. He lures people away from believing what Yahshua taught, using false prophets to introduce teachings which will get people to observe Feast Days at different times; or finding ways to contradict what Yahshua taught, such as that angels as well as demons (fallen angels) who cannot have marital relations (in Matthew 22: 30), had such relations with people resulting in the so-called Nephilim (or giants) mentioned in Genesis 6: 4; or get people to abhor Torah commanded obligations, such as putting Mezuzahs on the doorpost of our homes and the lighting of candles 20 minutes before the commencement of weekly and annual Sabbaths.

The message to the congregation in Sardis is recorded in Revelation 3: 1 – 6, as follows: “And to the angel of the congregation in Sardis write: He who has the seven Spirits of Elohim, and the seven stars, says this: ‘I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. (2) Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My Elohim. (3) Remember therefore what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. If therefore you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come upon you. (4) But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white; for they are worthy. (5) He who overcomes shall thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before the Father, and before His angels. (6) He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the congregation.” This group has been going for a long time and its members have become weary of doing the things they learned. They keep the Sabbaths, but only to a fashion and are beginning to lose their interest in the things they once knew. Yahshua calls them to repentance, to return to the things they learned and to be ready for His imminent return.

Next we read about the congregation in Philadelphia from verses 7 – 13 of Revelation 3, in this way: “And to the angel in Philadelphia write: He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this: (8) ‘I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name. (9) Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews, and are not, but lie – behold, I will make them to come and bow down at your feet, to know that I have loved you. (10) Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell upon the earth. (11) I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, in order that no one take your crown. (12) He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My Elohim, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write upon him the name of My Elohim, and the name of the city of My Elohim, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My Elohim, and My new name. (13) He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’” The members of this group are fully Torah observant, and are as a result aware of the two house teachings in the Scriptures, knowing that the house of Judah and the house of Israel will one day get together when Messiah returns (as recorded in Ezekiel 37: 15 - 28). They are promised protection during the great tribulation. They also understand Elohim’s plan of salvation for all mankind and honor the Set-apart Names of YHVH and His salvation, Yahshua. They keep the Feast Days of Elohim, ordained by Moses and as prophesied by Yahshua those who say they are Jews and try to usurp the authority of the Jews, to determining the Feast Days of Elohim, will at His return come and bow down at their feet.

The message for the congregation at Laodicea is recorded in Revelation 3; 14 – 22, as follows: “And to the angel of the congregation in Laodicea write: The Amein, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of Elohim, says this: (15) I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I would that you were cold or hot. (16) So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. (17) Because you say, “I am rich and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing.” And you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, (18) I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire, that you may become rich, and white garments, that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see. (19) Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; be zealous therefore and repent. (20) Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with Me. (21) He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcome and sat down with My Father on His throne. (22) He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the congregation.’” This is talking about a group who has lost their zeal for the work of Elohim. Because of their lukewarm attitude they are not prepared to do the work of watchmen; to warn fellow believers of things that they might be doing wrong. They attend services, but only to warm seats and are accordingly warned to become either hot or cold, or to finally be rejected by Yahshua . They are admonished to get back to studying the Scriptures and to clean up their lives accordingly.

We see from Messiah’s messages to His congregations that two distinct classifications of believers emerged from the congregations over the centuries. One group was faithful, the other consisted of people who for many reasons, were moving further and further away from the true way of Elohim. Many were unfaithful and eventually departed from the truth. They are the ones spoken about by Yochanan in 1 John 2: 19, in this way: ‘They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, in order that it might be shown that they all are not of us.’ The problem with these trends in the congregation of Elohim is that if it goes unchecked it could result in demise of those who hold to the faith once delivered to the saints. This is why Yahshua posed the question in the second part of verse 8 of Luke 18, saying: “However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” Think about it!

[1] Exodus 27: 20, “And you shall charge the sons of Israel, that they bring you clear oil of beaten olives for the light, to make a lamp burn continually.”

[2] Revelation 20: 6, ‘Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of Elohim and His Messiah and will reign with Him for a thousand years.’

[3] Isaiah 58: 1, “Cry loudly, do not hold back; Raise your voice like a trumpet, and declare to My people their transgression, and to the house of Jacob their sins.’