The Seven Churches in Prophecy

The mystery of the seven Churches in the Book of Revelation is revealed. The Bible links these seven Churches to some of the most horrific events in all human history, and they also feature prominently in the greatest events of all time – the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

By Neville V. Stevens

New International Version used throughout unless otherwise stated.

Anciently, seven Churches existed in the region of Asia Minor and bore the names of the cities where they were located. Of all the Churches that had been established around the world at that time by Apostles and teachers, only these seven were singled out for special prophetic mention.

The Churches of God referenced in the prophecy of the seven Churches in Asia Minor, and defined by God in the Book of Revelation, are today living amid the increasing domination of Gentile degenerates. God chose to type-cast the seven Churches in Asia Minor as examples for us. And Christ’s instructions to John were: Rev 1:19 “Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now, and what will take place later.” Christ then dictated seven messages to seven churches in Asia Minor. And God set an angel over each of them.

Firstly, let’s consider this: the seven spirits were before God’s throne when this message was delivered, and these specifically sent greetings to the seven Churches: Rev 1:4 “John: To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from Him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and FROM THE SEVEN SPIRITS BEFORE HIS THRONE, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the Kings of the earth.” At the time of John, the SEVEN SPIRITS were before God’s throne, and actually send greetings. And to further complicate this mystery, notice what is recorded in relation to these seven spirits: Rev 4:5 “From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. Before the throne, SEVEN LAMPS were blazing. These are the SEVEN SPIRITS of God.”

We have a serious conflict here unless there is some other explanation. Here God says that the seven lamps and the seven spirits are one and the same thing. To further complicate things, God speaks of seven lampstands: Rev 1:20 “The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the [messengers] of the seven Churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven Churches.”

Well this is quite a mystery! The mystery becomes even more puzzling when you read what else is said in relation to these things.

And right at the outset, Christ says that the Church’s lampstand can be removed: Rev 2:4 “Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.” If the seven lampstands are the seven Churches (Rev 1:20), did Christ mean that He would remove the Church? So this is quite a mystery, isn’t it? And if He speaks of removing the lampstand from its place, what place is this?

The word ‘lampstand’ is used in the NIV, and ‘candlestick’ in the KJV. Strong’s Concordance renders the word from the Greek ‘luchnia’ (3087) with the meaning of a lesser light, that is, a candle or candlestick candelabrum. The word is derived from ‘luchnos’ (3088) with the meaning of a lamp or candle placed on a stand or candelabrum. So the seven golden lampstands or candlesticks are a lesser light, which if placed on a hill can be seen from a distance, but of a lesser intensity than the blazing lamps (‘lampas’ Str. 2985) which are described as ‘a torch, a lamp, the flame of which is fed with oil’. The blazing lamps are the seven spirits before the throne of God (Rev 1:4), and they are also the seven eyes of Christ the Lamb (Rev 5:6).

If this is not complicated enough, we also have the example of a lampstand with seven lamps on it, and this is described in the Tabernacle that Moses built: Ex 25:31 “Make a lampstand of pure gold and hammer it out, base and shaft; its flower-like cups, buds and blossoms shall be of one piece with it.” V37 “Then make its seven lamps and set them up on it so that they light the space in front of it.”

Moses was primarily concerned with the Levite priesthood, and God gave the Levites dominion over the 12 Tribes of Israel. God, through His servant Moses and the Levite priesthood ruled the Tribes of Israel as a holy nation. God communicated His instructions to the Levites directly through the Urim and Thummin, which was mounted on the breastplate with the 12 stones representing the 12 Tribes of Israel. The seven lamps were fueled with olive oil: Lev 24:1 “The LORD said to Moses, “Command the Israelites to bring clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning continually. Outside the Curtain of the Testimony in the Tent of Meeting, Aaron is to tend the lamps before the LORD from evening till morning, continually.” And God had yet another instruction for Moses and His priesthood: Num 8:1 “The LORD said to Moses, “Speak to Aaron and say to him, ‘When you set up the seven lamps, they are to light the area in front of the lampstand.” Aaron did so; he set the lamps so that they faced forward on the lampstand, just as the LORD commanded Moses. This is how the lampstand was made: It was made of hammered gold – from its base to its blossoms. The lampstand was made exactly like the pattern the LORD had shown Moses.”

Well all this happened long ago. Is it still relevant to our time?

In the Book of Hebrews we find the reasons for the great care that Moses took in seeing that everything was done according to God’s pattern. The reason is that the whole structure, together with all the fittings are an exact pattern of the true sanctuary in heaven. Heb 8:1 “The point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a High Priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, and who serves in the Sanctuary, the True Tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by man.” What follows are the duties of a high priest, and we learn that if Christ were on earth He would not be a priest, and when He was on earth, He was not a priest! V3 “Every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices, and so it was necessary for this one also to have something to offer. If He were on earth, He would not be a priest, for there are already men who offer the gifts prescribed by Law. They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven.”

You might consider that when the Book of Hebrews was written, there was no Tabernacle – but there was a Temple. Was the Temple a copy and shadow of what is in heaven? Let me state at the outset that it was not! And neither does the Book of Hebrews imply that it was! Notice that it is speaking of the Tabernacle built by Moses: V5 “They serve at a Sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the Tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”

The point of what the writers are saying (V1) is that Christ ministers in the heavenly Sanctuary, the True Tabernacle and this ministry is superior to the earthly one – and He continues to do so! V6 “But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs AS the Covenant of which He is Mediator is superior to the old one, and it is founded on better promises.” So Christ’s ministry in heaven is superior to the earthly ministry in the Tabernacle, and in a similar manner, the Covenant that Christ administers as Mediator is superior to the Old Covenant. Here we see a link between the Tabernacle ministry and the old and new Covenants. It should be noted that Christ has never abandoned His ministry in the heavenly Tabernacle, and He continues to serve there.

So what is the new Covenant all about? Well, the Book of Hebrews continues with a description of it: V7-9 “For if there had been nothing wrong with the first Covenant, no place would have been sought for a second. But God found fault with the people and said: “The time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new Covenant with the House of Israel and with the House of Judah. It will not be like the Covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand and led them out of Egypt, because they did not remain faithful to My Covenant, and I turned away from them, declares the Lord.”

So this new Covenant is to be made specifically with the House of Israel and the House of Judah! Then we see a slight change in emphasis; God specifically addresses the House of Israel only: V10 “This is the Covenant I will make with the House of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put My Laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbour, or a man his brother, saying, “Know the Lord” because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”

I think you know that this has not yet been fulfilled! Does the whole House of Israel know the Lord from the least of them to the greatest? Has God forgiven their wickedness and forgiven their sins? God specifically says their guilt is stored up and their sins are kept on record (Hos 13:12).

And the last verse in Hebrews 8 is this: V13 “By calling this Covenant “new”, He has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and ageing will soon disappear.”

But not yet! God has not yet made this Covenant with Israel, and the Old Covenant is still in full force and effect! Even those God called for a special purpose were still under the first or Old Covenant when called: Heb 9:15 “For this reason Christ is the Mediator of a new Covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance – now that He has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first Covenant.” Yes, on repentance, God set free those He has called from the sins they committed under the first or Old Covenant! If these true and faithful Christians were still under the penalty for their sins committed under the Old Covenant, and were set free from those sins, then the House of Israel is certainly still under the Old Covenant. They have not been set free from their sins!

But Christ is the Mediator of a new Covenant! When was this instituted? And who are the recipients of this new Covenant?

Christ spelt it out very clearly! He detailed the meaning at the last Passover before He died. It should be noted that only Christ and the 12 Apostles took this Passover (not the rest of the 120 disciples who had deserted Him). Luke 22:14 “When the hour came, Jesus and His Apostles reclined at the table. And He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the Kingdom of God.” V20 “In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the NEW COVENANT in my blood, which is poured out for you.”

Recall how the 120 disciples left him when He told them they had to eat His flesh and drink His blood, and only the 12 Apostles remained (John 6:53-70). The implications of this were too much for them so they left – and Christ didn’t try to stop them. There are wider ramifications for this but it can wait for another time. Importantly, Christ made a NEW COVENANT with the twelve Apostles – and they alone! And notice what Christ said in John 6:70-71 “Then Jesus replied, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a demon!” (He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray Him.)” And Jesus freely admitted He had chosen this betrayer. He chose him specifically for this purpose in order to fulfill prophecy.

Fifty-five days later there was an outpouring of God’s Holy Spirit only on those who had drunk from the Cup! (Acts 1:13). After 3� years plus 50 days of training, these men received the full portion of God’s Holy Spirit – that is, the addition of the Counsellor – the Spirit of Christ (John 14:25).

So the whole point of the New Covenant is to establish God’s relationship with the whole House of Israel – that is, all 12 Tribes. And the whole purpose of the Church that Christ built is to facilitate the promises God made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. This is why they are inexorably linked. When Christ said, “I was sent only to the lost Tribes of Israel” (Matt 15:24) He meant exactly that! Any Christian who believes that Christ came only to get them saved has a very twisted view of reality! What is more, the very purpose of the Church is set to be activated only when God sets His hand to redeem Israel. This is God’s sworn purpose and His only purpose! The Tribes of Israel alone are the only people on the face of the earth that God has called as His own! There are no others! But Christ indicated that God reaps where He hasn’t sown, and those who are not God’s are given the opportunity to be God’s by being a part of His people Israel, and being grafted into the tree.

The rest of humanity belong to the ruler of this earth – Satan the devil. The reason Christ came is to destroy the devil’s work – all of it! He will destroy everything that has been done, born, or built under the auspices of the devil (1John 3:8).

If Christ was sent only to the lost Tribes of Israel – that is the northern ten tribes, then what of Judah and Levi? Did God cast them away? They answer should be obvious! It was these two tribes that were ALSO sent to the lost Tribes of Israel! Christ did His Work on earth through these two tribes alone – that is, those who are collectively called ‘Jews’ and resided in the Holy Land at the time. The lost ten Tribes had long before been dispersed and scattered through the earth. In the course of time the ten Tribes lost their identity and failed to understand that the day would come when God would again make a Covenant – a New Covenant - with them and restore them to the Land He gave to Abraham.

And this is when the Church will come into their own! This is their purpose! Now, I think every Christian knows he’s supposed to keep his lamp burning brightly. An oil fueled lamp (and olive oil at that) can go out if the oil runs out. If you look around you, Christians are not making a good showing are they? How they could ever believe that their self-centered purpose is God’s Purpose is beyond belief! How petty do they think God is?

God knew in advance that Christianity would be in need of oil to fire up their enthusiasm, and to get their lamps burning brightly. Notice these verses: Zech 4:1 “Then the angel who talked with me returned and wakened me, as a man is wakened from his sleep. He asked me, “What do you see?” I answered, “I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top and seven lights on it, with seven channels to the lights. Also there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.” I asked the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?” The conversation continues in the second half of V10 “(These seven are the eyes of the LORD, which range throughout the earth.)” Then I asked the angel, “What are these two olive trees on the right and left of the lampstand?” Again I asked him, “What are these two olive branches beside the two gold pipes that pour out golden oil?” He replied, “Do you not know what these are?” “No, my lord,” I said. So he said, These are the two who are anointed to serve the LORD of the whole earth.”

Zechariah’s message is closely connected with the building of the Temple (see Zech 6:12). Similarly, this Temple is mentioned in Rev 11:1, and so are the two olive trees. V3 “And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1260 days clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.” I hope you understand that God is the LORD of the earth! Satan is merely a ruler who is about to be deposed! (It’s just that one crazed person insists that Satan is the lord of the earth. This person would make a good Moslem!) Satan is the oak tree, and you can’t squeeze olive oil out of an acorn, even though it looks a bit like an olive.

Even in the Garden of Eden God spoke of a greater and a lesser light. God again refers to these in these terms: Ps 89:35 “Once for all, I have sworn by my holiness – and I will not lie to David – that his line will continue forever and his throne endure before me like the sun; it will be established forever like the moon, the Faithful Witness in the sky.” Christ is that Faithful Witness (Rev 1:6). He is also the Root and Offspring of David (Rev 22:16).

Being like the lesser light in the sky, David was very careful to instruct his son in the building of the Temple. As a king, David was concerned with the Tribes of Israel. He ruled as king over all 12 Tribes of Israel. This is what he said to his son Solomon: 1Chron 28:10 “Consider now, for the LORD has chosen you to build a Temple as a sanctuary. Be strong and do the work.” Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for a portico of the Temple, its buildings, its storerooms, its upper parts, its inner rooms and the place of atonement. He gave him the plans of all that the Spirit had put in his mind for the courts of the Temple of God and for the treasuries for the dedicated things.” V21 “The divisions of the priests and Levites are ready for all the work of the Temple of God, and every willing man skilled in any craft will help you in all the work.”

God appointed the Levites for the work of building the Temple, but He also ensured that David would always have a lamp: 1Kings 11:36 “I will give one tribe to his (Solomon) son so that David my servant may always have a lamp before me in Jerusalem, the City where I chose to put My Name.” The fact is, God left two Tribes in Jerusalem, but gave only one to Solomon. The other Tribe, Levi, He gave to no-one! This Tribe of Levi is God’s own Tribe which He has reserved for Himself always: Num 8:15 “After you have purified the Levites and presented them as a wave offering, they are to come to do their work at the Tent of Meeting. They are the Israelites who are to be given wholly to Me. I have taken them as my own in place of the firstborn, the first male offspring from every Israelite woman. Every firstborn male in Israel is mine. When I struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, I set them apart for Myself. I have taken the Levites in place of all the firstborn sons in Israel.”

You’ll recall that in the Tent of Meeting, the Tabernacle, Moses instructed that a single lampstand be made – with seven lamps mounted on it. That lampstand represented the Levites. The seven lamps were attached to the lampstand and used to illuminate the Way. This lampstand represents one of the witnesses spoken of in Rev 11:4. The other lampstand mentioned in the Book of Revelation is the witness for the Tribe of Judah – the one Tribe that God left as a lamp for David.

In order that no mistake is made in this regard, God tells us plainly that His Covenant continues with Levi (Mal 2:4), and God says this in V5 “My Covenant was with him, a Covenant of life and peace, and I gave them to him; this called for reverence and he revered Me and stood in awe of My Name. True instruction was in his mouth and nothing false was found on his lips. He walked with Me in peace and uprightness, and turned many from sin.”

It’s significant that Solomon’s son was to lose 10 Tribes of Israel (1Kings 11:31). It’s also significant that Solomon installed 10 lampstands in the Temple right in front of the inner sanctuary: 1Kings 7:48 “Solomon also made all the furnishings that were in the LORD’S Temple: the golden altar; the golden table on which was the bread of the Presence; the lampstands of pure gold (five on the right and five on the left, in front of the inner sanctuary); the gold floral work and lamps and tongs….”

This represents a significant departure from the way that Moses set up the Tabernacle. In the Temple that Solomon built, there were ten lampstands before the inner sanctuary. Why ten instead of the one that Moses made?

God gives us a lot more information concerning this in the Book of Ezekiel. God speaks of another Temple that must be built – a Temple that has never been built! Great detail is given in chapters 40 to 48 concerning this Temple. The great detail concerns the structure of the Temple, and great emphasis is placed on the sacrifices to be offered there. And in chapter 48 the allotment of the Holy land to the 12 Tribes is detailed. But there is no mention of lamps or lampstands. When God brings His people Israel back to the land that He promises Abraham, no lamps will be required to light the Way. God’s Laws will be written on their hearts and minds, and Christ Himself will be their lamp. Speaking of the Holy City that will descend from heaven, God speaks of the true light: Rev 21:22 “I did not see a temple in the City, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its Temple. The City does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its Lamp. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendour to it.”

And just prior to the description of the Temple that is to be built in Jerusalem, and in which God will dwell forever (Eze 43:6-7), God explains his position clearly: Eze 39:21 “I will display my glory among the nations, and ALL THE NATIONS will see the punishment I inflict and the hand I lay upon THEM. From that day forward the House of Israel will know that I am the LORD their God. And the nations will know that the people of Israel went into exile for their sin, because they were unfaithful to Me. So I hid my face from them and handed them over to their enemies, and they all fell by the sword. I dealt with them according to their uncleanness and their offences, and I hid my face from them.”

It’s significant that the Temple in Jerusalem will be built at a time of very great trouble, and at a time when God’s face will be hidden from them. A time of great gloom and darkness. It will be a time when men’s hearts will fail them for fear, and all hope will be abandoned. Not only will Israel know that God has sent them into slavery for their sins, the whole world will know it! The House of Israel will be plundered and slaughtered.

But those nations that see all these things and rejoice for a short while until they see the punishment God inflicts when a hand is laid upon them. Then the House of Israel will have their hope restored, and they will know that the Mighty Hand of God has empowered their rescuers.

Continuing in Ezekiel: V25 “Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will now bring Jacob back from captivity and will have compassion on all the House of Israel, and I will be zealous for My Holy Name. They will forget their shame and all the unfaithfulness they showed towards me when they lived in safety in their land with no-one to make them afraid. When I have brought them back from the nations and have gathered them from the countries of their enemies, I will show Myself holy through them in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the LORD their God, for though I sent them into exile among the nations, I will gather them to their own land, not leaving any behind. I will no longer hide My face from them, FOR I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT ON THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL, declares the LORD.”

And God will give them their own land – the land He promised to Abraham, and He will bring them back to their allotted portions. The last chapter of the Book of Ezekiel details the exact allotments to all the 12 Tribes of Israel. But God also includes provision for many Gentiles who are faithful and true to God; people who have become Israelites in their hearts and minds: Eze 47:21 “You are to distribute this land among yourselves according to the Tribes of Israel. You are to allot it as an inheritance for yourselves and for the aliens who have settled among you and have children. You are to consider them native-born Israelites; along with you they are to be allotted an inheritance among the Tribes of Israel. In whatever Tribe the alien settles, there you are to give him his inheritance,” declares the LORD.”

It’s very clear exactly when God intends to pour out His Spirit on the House of Israel. He says it’s when He brings them back from captivity.

So what has all this to do with the prophecies of the seven Churches mentioned in the Book of Revelation?

Far more than you could possibly imagine!

The lengthy parable of the messages to the seven Churches covers the first three chapters of the Book of Revelation. These messages were given to Christ by the Father (Rev 1:1). The beginning of each message begins with ‘These are the words of…’, and in every case, Christ confirms His identity with a short statement. So the Mighty Being that appeared to John, and whose face shone like the sun, and whose eyes were like blazing fires, whose feet were like molten bronze, and whose words were like a two-edged sword, was the Mighty Christ Himself.

Now the message that Christ delivered was for seven Churches, to each of which, God had appointed a spirit being – an angel or messenger. Yet we find the entire message was delivered to John and he was told to take the message to the seven Churches. We could ask the question, ‘Why was the message given to a human being to deliver when there were seven powerful beings before the throne of God, each of which was assigned to a Church, and whose express purpose was to oversee their activities?’

And why John? It was John that sent the greetings from the Father, and from the seven spirits before His throne, and from Jesus Christ. This is the way God required it to be done, and it was done.

And it was Christ Himself that delivered the message to John. And this is how that Mighty Being is described: Rev 1:12 “And I turned round to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone “like a son of man”, dressed in a robe reaching down to His feet and with a golden sash round His chest. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes were like a blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in the furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as though dead. Then He placed His right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of Death and Hades.”

This is a fair and accurate description of the One who was in the beginning with God (or at the First) and what He is at the Last. The appearance of this Mighty One is a little different from the One who ascended into heaven from the Mount of Olives, and in the presence of the Apostles. What the Apostles saw was a man like them with all the wounds of death on His body. Yet the two men (angels) standing next to them said, Acts 1:11 “…. This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven.” This same Jesus had returned on a number of occasions after His resurrection – over a period of 40 days. His appearance still bore the scars of his wounds, which were clearly seen by all. This was the same Jesus they knew and loved.

Many years afterward, Jesus returned in glorified form, but only to John (just as He said He would – John 21:22-23). So Christ has already returned on a number of occasions since His resurrection. Much later, when John saw Him, however, He was not the same Jesus whom they saw go, but a Mighty Being whose face shone like the sun. The two men (angels) who witnessed His departure and said this same Jesus would return were speaking the truth!

Christ Himself confirmed that He would not leave His followers like orphans, but would come to them (John 14:18). Oddly enough, the disciples understood exactly what He meant (even though Christianity today doesn’t): V22 “Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”” It was clear to them that the Jesus they knew and loved would appear to them – but not to the world! And Jesus did appear to them – many times over a period of 40 days. Since then, every follower of Christ has been left as orphans – is this right?

No, it’s not! In the next verse, Christ begins to explain a few things about who His disciples are. These are the ones who listen to Him and obey His commands and His teachings; that is, they hold to His Testimony. It’s these who will not be left as orphans!

John makes this point very clear! This is what he said: Rev 1:9 “I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the Isle of Patmos because of the Word of God, and the Testimony of Jesus.” True followers will know that the Testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy (Rev 19:10). The Word of God, of course, is the Scripture that existed at the time John wrote the Book bearing his name – what we call today, the Old Testament. This Scripture is sacred to all true believers. In fact, John refers to Christ and the Word of God as being one and the same thing (John 1:1). Christ and all the Apostles continually referenced the Holy Scripture – the only Scripture that existed for many years after Christ’s departure.

After the messages to the seven Churches, which were delivered by the Mighty Glorified Christ Himself, John observes another Being that looks like a lamb that has just been slaughtered. The appearance of this Lamb is vastly different from the appearance of the Mighty Being described in chapter one of the Book of Revelation – yet it’s a reference to the same Person. And to complicate things further, this Lamb is first described as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah: Rev 5:5 “…. Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” Did the One who sits on the throne (the Father – V1) have a reason for this role-switching? Yes, He did! It’s not just semantics, but very purposeful. God is revealing a long and complex series of prophecies that will culminate with His Kingdom filling the earth. The problem is the present rulers of this earth, called the rulers of the heavenly realms, zealously guard their domain. While they are aware that Christ has offspring here on earth (Isa 53:10, Acts 17:29), they are confident of handling every situation that develops, even when it involves the offspring of Christ. Satan has a lot of power, but nothing the equal of the Power of God. A long time ago, Satan sought to convert Christ to his reasoning, and to entice Him to worship him. Christ treated him with the contempt he deserved and Satan left. Now was this just a bit of play-acting, or did Satan really believe he might succeed? He certainly saw Christ as a threat to his continued existence. Yet he had no power to harm Him or even to lay a hand on Him. So he plotted to bring this about by proxy using his own offspring. To his utter amazement, he succeeded. Yet he later learned that Christ had triumphed over them! (Rev 5:5, Col 2:15).

It was a serious strategic error on Satan’s part. He believed he won the battle by killing the Christ – the Lord of Glory. Satan the devil has no idea about anything to do with God’s Plan. Do you believe this? Notice this instruction: 1Cor 2:6 “We do, however, speak a message of Wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we speak of God’s secret Wisdom, a Wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory.”

And who are these rulers? Eph 6:12 “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Those on earth today have yet to see the rulers and authorities of the dark world unleash their powers! But when they do, you will know that you are dealing with something far greater than human experience.

The rulers of the heavenly realm are fools – but fools with enormous power! But they also know they have no power at all – except that given by God. Christ made this very plain: John 19:11 “Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.”

A prime example of these disgusting rulers of the heavenly realm can be clearly seen in the despots of the Black African States. These evil black beasts have no concern for anyone, including their own people. The hacking to death of women and children mean nothing to them. If it provides entertainment for their soldiers then they are quite happy. They are totally bereft of any type of godly behaviour or decency. And into whose hands did the Tribes of Israel consign 3 million white South Africans? Into the hands of Satan’s evil hordes! Nearly 20 million blacks have now all but destroyed a stable and prosperous nation of South Africa. The United States of America, Britain and Australia took all the credit for this great betrayal. They all boasted of their roles and their achievements. You hear very little about it these days though! They’ve seen the colossal demise of a stable nation reduced to economic ruin – and these arrogant do-gooders are now ducking for cover!

The Israelite nations saw what the blacks in South Africa were really like! They saw them ‘necklacing’ their own people with petrol-soaked car tyres, which were set alight to inflict an agonizing death. Would you want to sit next to someone in a bus that does this sort of thing? The House of Israel saw the seating in a bus to be the greater issue and the greater sin. No wonder God says, in derogatory terms, they are like Canaanites. It was the Canaanites that God instructed Moses to utterly destroy – man, woman and child! Little wonder that God has vowed that no Canaanite will set foot in the House of God (Zech 14:21, last part).

Mainstream Christianity fully supports the madness. They’ve become completely deranged in their support of the blacks over their own blood-relatives. And how unlike Christ they are! Notice what Christ said to the twelve: Matt 10:5 “These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.”

Well, it seems that Christ later changed Him mind in relation to Cornelius, doesn’t it. No, He didn’t! Those whom God chose to cleanse and to call as full Israelites were exempt, provided they were prepared to live as God instructed the Israelites. Cornelius was such a man: Acts 10:1 “At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurian in what was known as the Italian Regiment. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly.” Here was a man who had caught God’s eye as a faithful man. He practiced Godliness. As an Italian soldier assigned to the State of Judah, he had chosen to serve the God of Israel rather than the many gods of the Romans. It’s even possible he was descended from the Spartan warriors who knew they were of the Lost Tribes of Israel: 1Macc 12:20 “Areios king of the Spartans, to Onias the high priest, greetings. It has been discovered in a document concerning the Spartans and the Jews that they are brothers, and of the race of Abraham.”

But certainly, Cornelius, at the end of his tour of duty would return to Italy and take a message to the many Spartans who had infiltrated the land. How do we know this? Well, Paul also wrote to the Romans in Italy, and referred to them not as the true olive tree, but as a wild olive shoot: Rom 11:17 “If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not boast over those branches.” God had a purpose in calling Cornelius.

Then there’s Paul who was not one of the twelve Apostles. He was called for the specific purpose of going to the Gentiles – and to the Gentiles he went! He went to many Gentiles scattered all around the Mediterranean at that time. Perhaps the most notable of all these were the seven Churches in Asia Minor. Notable because it was these seven that God chose to name in the Book of Revelation.

Why only the seven Churches in Asia Minor? What about all the other Churches that existed at that time? There were groups of scattered believers all over the world at that time. Why did God single out these particular groups of people? We can be absolutely certain that the reference to these Churches is prophecy and for a period that was then in the distant future: Rev 1:3 “Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take it to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.” It may be thought that this last phrase is misleading because of the long passage of time that has elapsed since it was written. When it was written, the time for its fulfillment was not near. But when the truth is made known, and those who hear it take it to heart, then the time will be near! To this very day, the words of this prophecy have not been made known.

Long ago, God scattered the Lost Tribes of Israel (the northern Ten Tribes) through many lands and among many people. Their day of disaster began in 721BC. These people were sold into slavery and all but lost their identity. Even today, most don’t know who they are. Some even believe that God cast them away and ceased to honour His promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Yet in Rev 7:4-8 we find this is not true. All the Tribes of Israel are foremost in God’s mind, and His unbreakable promise to the Patriarchs is still His earnest priority. If this should be doubted, then one need only read the words of our Saviour in Matt 15:24.

Christ said a few others things too, which have significance in relation to the seven Churches in Asia. He said of John the Baptist that there was none greater born of women. It’s also recorded that none could understand truth who are not baptized by John. The significance of these things is found in the reference to the leaders of these seven Churches. These were 12 men whom Paul met. In the Book of Acts we find the account of these men, and the commission Paul gave them – and also the dire warnings. The account of their meeting is described like this:

Acts 19:1 “While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard there is a Holy Spirit.” So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?” “John’s baptism,” they replied. Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the One coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. There were about 12 men in all.” (Note the words ‘the Holy Spirit came on them’ because they have significance for a later comment by Paul.)

Well this seems to be a demotion for John the Baptist. The 12 men were baptized by him but didn’t receive the Holy Spirit, and what is more, they hadn’t even heard of it. Of course, Christianity would have a ready answer for this! They would say the Holy Spirit was not given until the Day of Pentecost. Is this true? Notice what the Scripture says: Luke 1:13 “But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the Spirit and Power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the Wisdom of the righteous – to make a people ready for the Lord.”

So obviously, the Holy Spirit was not unknown to John! He was born with it! John’s commission was to prepare a people ready for the Lord – and the people of Israel in particular. The 12 men that Paul encountered had been prepared for the Lord by John, and had received John’s baptism. It’s significant that these things are recorded.

The testimony of John the Baptist is useless without the Testimony of Jesus. Yet without the testimony of John no one can understand truth, and they certainly cannot understand prophecy!

Since God calls the references to the seven Churches a mystery, we are left with just two options on how to understand this mystery. Firstly, we could try to guess the meaning, or consult with other ‘scholars’ to see what they have to say. Or we could even isolate one of the Churches which most closely resembles the perception of ourselves and call ourselves by that name (this has been done plenty of times). Or the other option would be to look for references to these seven Churches in the writings of the Apostles.

By sheer ‘chance’ we find a letter from Paul to the Ephesians, called the Book of Ephesians. So this Book is a clear reference point to the seven Churches in Asia Minor. Also in the Book of Acts we find some final instructions to the 12 men in the province of Asia, the same 12 men who founded all the Churches in Asia Minor. These final instructions were clearly a message from God. From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for these men (Acts 20:17). The message that Paul gave them was quite severe, and since he was never to see them again, he was quite distressed about telling them what must be.

This is what Paul says: Acts 20:24 “Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone preaching the Kingdom will ever see me again. Therefore I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the Church of God, which He bought with His own blood. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears. Now I commit you to God and to the Word of His Grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions.”

Readers of this website will know that God raised up a shepherd who did not spare the flock. The article ‘Who is the flock marked for slaughter?’ details these things. This shepherd tore them to pieces leaving them maimed and crippled – just like a wolf! The account in found in Zech 11:15-17. God refers to this man as a foolish and worthless shepherd, but still makes the point that He Himself raised him up (V16). What is more, God speaks here of one shepherd – one who would exist at the time when all endtime prophecy would begin to be fulfilled. In the course of nearly two thousand years, no-one has understood the meaning of the seven Churches of the Book of Revelation and neither did the foolish shepherd.

Paul makes the point that savage wolves would come among them and not spare the flock. Let’s not blame Herbert Armstrong for it all – he had plenty of willing helpers who were always willing to turn a ‘blind eye’ to all that went on. And they were just like Armstrong who was also blind in his right eye! Distorting the truth was, to all these men, an art-form that they all cultivated successfully. Did any of these men covet anyone’s silver or gold? Paul makes the point strongly that he didn’t personally, but implied that this was going to be one of the big problems among these seven Churches, and the overseers in particular. In the Worldwide Church of God it was the highest priority. Even Church growth was defined as growth in income!

The Church of Ephesus is the Church that loses its lamp or candlestick (and indeed has lost it!!) Which Church do you know that fulfills this: Rev 2:2 “…. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.” I myself have stated many times that Herbert Armstrong was no apostle! As for Tkach and his successors, they’re scarcely human, yet he, Tkach, and also his son, claim to be an apostles! It seems to be like a contagious disease that afflicts everyone who comes to leadership in that Church.

What is so amusing it the claim by Joe Tkach that he was an apostle! Joe Tkach’s wife (the mother of Joe Tkach jnr) was demon-possessed. Everyone on campus at Ambassador College, Pasadena knew about her. Most of the time she had to be kept locked up and out of sight. Now here was a man who claimed to be an Apostle of God and he couldn’t cast out the demon[s[! Was he really an apostle? Christ has a message for such people: Matt 7:19 “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your Name, and in your Name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from Me, you evildoers.” Tkach never even reached the standard of these evildoers who could at least cast out demons!

In the parable in Zech 11-15-17, God specifically states that He will raise up a shepherd who will not care for the flock. Was God speaking of some obscure shepherd that passed into history virtually unnoticed hundreds of years ago? Or was God specifically speaking of a significant event; one that would be recognized at a very appropriate time. The significance is that God wanted this worthless shepherd to be recognized, so God virtually named him, and identified him by his name ‘arm-strong’.

It just so happens that this shepherd decided to teach that the Worldwide Church of God is the Church in Philadelphia. In this, he has a lot in common with many of the other churches of men, that is, all the churches, which have been established with no authority from God. All these other churches have established doctrine that is opposed to the true Gospel of Jesus Christ, but they also like to think they are the Church described as the Church of Philadelphia.

Ephesus became the headquarters of the seven Churches in Asia. It was from Ephesus that all the other six Churches developed. And while there were Churches springing up everywhere around the Mediterranean, God singled out only the seven Churches in Asia Minor for special mention, and only at the time of the most tumultuous times in history described by the Book of Revelation. What follows the description of the seven Churches is the fulfillment of all prophecy.

It was God’s intention to let everyone know where His seven Spirits would be sent in the endtime.

And so, in seven rather cryptic messages to the seven Churches, God identifies the destination of the seven Spirits that are before His throne. Now some might like to imagine that God is going to send these seven Spirits to all of Christendom, but God makes it clear that this is not so.

All those who were formally associated with the Worldwide Church of God know that great emphasis was placed on the identifying name ‘Church of God’, and they also know that Christ said, ‘Father, let your Name be called on them’ (John 17:11 – see the NKJV, apparently the NIV baulked over rendering this correctly). It was this name, ‘Church of God’ that Paul consistently used. But not just the Church! The Name of God is far more extensive than that! Notice what Paul said in the message to the Ephesians: Eph 3:14 “For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom the whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name.” Would the Church be given any other name but that of the Father?

It would be an extensive task to go through all that Paul wrote in the Book of Ephesians, but we can still reference some of the highlights. And there are some unique passages in this Book. In writing to the Ephesians, Paul was addressing all the seven Churches. Christ also confirmed that the endtime Book of Revelation was to be delivered to the seven Churches, and this is confirmed after the entire message of the Book of Revelation was delivered: Rev 22:16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this Testimony for the Churches.” So obviously, the seven Churches that Christ specifically mentions are to be prominent in the endtime when all is fulfilled. And just as God has identified a certain worthless shepherd in a parable, so He also identifies the seven Churches in a series of seven parables. These are the messages to the Churches – the ones who were associated with the worthless shepherd that God raised up for this specific purpose.

Why would God call a man to be a shepherd, when God Himself predicted that he would be a foolish and worthless one? In the Book of Ephesians Paul makes some important points in this regard. Firstly he says this: Eph 3:2-5 “Surely, you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy Apostles and Prophets.” Paul speaks of this mystery, which is also mentioned in the messages to the Churches of God. Here Paul also makes it clear that this mystery is revealed through the holy Apostles and Prophets. The men in Ephesus, whom Paul is addressing, would later claim to be apostles (Rev 2:2), and even in the Book of Ephesians, he specifically says that the holy Apostles and Prophets were others, not them!

Christ Himself makes this point in Rev 2:2 “I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.” There you have it! In these verses these people are the grassroots flock of God who cannot tolerate wicked men (who rule over them like wolves) and who claim to be apostles in order to lord it over the flock. These members of the flock have tested these wretched men and found them to be false. And notice that these messages are addressed to the Churches; that is, the people not the leaders! It’s the flock that must test those who are false, and who teach false doctrine and who claim to be something they are not!

In these verses (Eph 3:2-5), Paul identifies God’s grace, which was given him by revelation. This was on the road to Damascus. Paul was an absolute beast, who breathed fire and brimstone, and reigned down death on all Christ’s people. He was stopped dead in his tracks and blinded, and Christ said, “Saul, why do you persecute Me?” Paul never forgot God’s grace that was given to him on that day. God removed his sins and set him on a course of faithful service. ‘Grace’ is a legal term which means to extend mercy for sins committed. There could be no greater sin than to murder God’s people – the very Body of Christ – hence the question ‘Why do you persecute Me?’ This is what Paul was guilty of, and it was for this that God extended grace to him.

Just before his death the worthless shepherd Herbert Armstrong decided to restore 18 spccific ‘truths’ (sic). Foremost was his determination to claim that he runs the government of God on earth. He was still asserting his preposterous claim to being an apostle! How unlike Paul this man was! Notice what Paul says: Eph 3:8 “Although I am less than the least of all God’s people…” And Paul said this knowing full well that he was a real Apostle! To the Church in Ephesus, Paul continually taught personal humility, because he recognized the appalling arrogance of them. Yet he loved them, and felt deeply for them; he realized that the end for them would be horrific. This is reflected in Acts 20:36-38.

But let’s quote in full what Paul said in Eph 3:8 “Although I am less than the least of all God’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God who created all things. His intent was that now, through the Church, the manifold Wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to His eternal purpose which He accomplished in Jesus Christ our Lord.”

And just so there is no confusion about what he meant regarding the rulers and authorities of the heavenly realms, Paul made it abundantly clear to the Ephesians: Eph 6:10 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His Mighty Power. Put on the full armour of God so you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

So in Eph 3:10 we are told that it was God’s intent, that through the Church, His Wisdom would be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms. The problem is, what could the present Church reveal to the rulers and authorities of the heavenly realms that they don’t already know? Nevertheless, Paul tells them to be strong and to equip themselves with the armour of God in order to take their stand against the devil’s schemes.

God makes it known that the devil will have plenty of schemes when he goes out in fury against the offspring of the woman who gave birth to Christ (and this woman is not the Church!). The offspring will need to be fully equipped with the armour God is giving them if they are going to be able to stand. Paul’s choice of words reflect the condition of the flock as described in Zech 11:16 where the flock has had their hoofs torn off. Paul further says in Eph 3:15 “…and your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the Gospel of peace.”

Paul knew what was required of them! They must adhere to the Gospel of peace, and go as sheep to the slaughter – just as Christ did! God has not called the Church to take the Kingdom of God by force. This task has been given to others. But many of those in the Churches will see the Kingdom of God established and will live in hope of God’s redemption. And their hope will be vindicated if they faithfully endure. God gives this hope in Rev 2:26 “To him that overcomes and does My Will to the end, I will give him authority over the nations – ‘He will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery’ – just as I have received authority from My Father.” So those in the Church that do truly overcome, and who faithfully do God’s Will to the very end will be given the power over the nations to rule them with an iron club. For those of you who think this is alien to God’s Way, you have never understood the Wisdom of God and the Power of God, which is Jesus Christ (1Cor 1:24) – the Mighty Ruler under God the Father. It’s through the Testimony of this Mighty Wisdom of God that the nations will understand their fate.

And God even taunts them! Notice: Psalms 2:1 “Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against His anointed one. “Let us break their chains,” they say, “and throw off their fetters.” They obviously don’t like being dominated by God’s anointed one. And God’s response to their remarks? V4 “The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the LORD scoffs at them. Then He rebukes them in His anger and terrifies them in His wrath, saying, “I have installed My king on Zion, My holy hill.” Yes, God has a sense of humour! He laughs at the stupidity of human beings who think they can dictate to Him. Then we find the same verse, which was quoted in Rev 2:26, in Ps 2:9 “You will rule them with an iron scepter; you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”

God makes it very clear that Satan will unleash his fury on those who are responsible for his demise from power. Unfortunately for Satan, God takes the object of his fury (the woman) out of the way, and he must be content to pursue their offspring (Rev 12:17). The offspring are those who will finally have the Testimony of Jesus (which is the Spirit of Prophecy – Rev 19:10), and they will also keep the Commandments of God. In this regard, at least, Herbert Armstrong equipped them with the understanding of obedience to the Commandments of God. He was never able to equip them with the Testimony of Jesus because he never understood prophecy!

But they are not alone in failing to understand prophecy. The fact is that neither Satan nor his demons understand either. Paul made this clear in 1Cor 2:8 “We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we speak God’s secret Wisdom, a Wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” What Paul makes clear here is the fact that Satan and his demons do not understand anything to do with the Wisdom of God. If they did, they would certainly not have crucified Christ! It was a stupid, strategic blunder on their part! But it had to be that way otherwise prophecy would not have been fulfilled (Matt 26:53-54).

But notice these words in the above verses: ‘destined for glory before time began’. With all the evidence of the Wisdom of God being unattainable by the rulers of the heavenly realms, and the relationship of the ‘offspring’ and the ‘woman’, we find that Paul wrote some other very enlightening comments in the Book of Ephesians: Eph 1:4 “For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight.” V9 “And He made known to us the mystery of His Will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times have reached their fulfillment – to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one Head, even Christ.” So all these things were to be put into effect when the times have reached their fulfillment! And when would that be? Well God destined these things for our glory before time began, and in the Garden of Eden, God established certain elements of time, these were the seven days of the week. When the times have reached their fulfillment means after the six millennial days that usher in Millennium Seven. For the entire habitation of humanity on earth, God has ensured that they always remember that there remains a day of rest. This rest reflects the absence of the arch-rebel of the universe that has ruled as a tyrant over all the inhabitants of the earth. He will be locked away in chains for the millennial day of rest.

Those who hate God’s Sabbath cannot ever understand God’s Purpose and Will. It’s the observance of the Sabbath that is a constant reminder of God’s Purpose.

The leaders of the Church in Ephesus received the Holy Spirit after they had been baptized and had Paul’s hands laid on them. Paul explains to them, in his letter, that this was the earnest or down-payment of the Holy Spirit. But he adds more! He tells them that they still lack the Wisdom of God. He earnestly prayed that God would grant them this understanding. Yet they never received it at that time. Notice what he says: Eph 1:17 “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of Wisdom and revelation (prophecy), so that you may know Him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably great Power for us to believe.” These people had serious deficiencies! They did not understand the purpose of God because they lacked the Spirit of Wisdom and revelation (prophecy). And all Paul’s requests to the Father to grant this were denied! And when Paul saw them for the last time in Miletus, he said they would not see him again. At this meeting he told them plainly what would happen in the course of time. It did not bode well for them. But all that he said came true. And this same spirit pervaded the latter fulfillment of all that he said in relation to these seven Churches, and God Himself confirms this in the Book of Revelation.

Nothing much had changed when Paul wrote this letter. He had not seen them for many years prior to writing the letter, and as he said, they would not see him again. So this letter was a final contact. And Paul was still telling them of their deficiencies. He continued to pray that they might experience the Power of God’s Spirit, and that they might be established in the same love that existed with all the other saints: Eph 3:16 “I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with Power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” Again, in the Book of Revelation, God confirms that this was not the case with these people – they had a severe lack of the Godly gifts. In the message to the Church in Ephesus God warns them to get their act together or He would remove their lamp altogether (Rev 2:5). Paul recognized their many deficiencies when he saw them for the last time; hence the severe warnings (Acts 20:27-32).

The Churches in Asia Minor were completely insulated from the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. Because of the distance separating them and the Holy Land it didn’t affect them. Yet Paul gives this advice: Eph 4:4 “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Paul also holds out to the hope to them that they might become mature, and attain the whole measure of the fullness of Christ (Eph 4:13). (You might even contrast this with the fullness of the Gentiles). And contrary to all you may have believed in the past, these people did not attain this! They only received the down-payment or deposit of the Holy Spirit: Eph 1:13 “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the Word of Truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s Possession – to the praise of His glory.” Don’t treat these words lightly! Christ Himself spoke of another Spirit which would come: John 16:12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of Truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.” This Spirit of Truth is to be added to the Holy Spirit to complete the full measure of Christ. The ‘he’ who is mentioned here is Christ – that is, His very Spirit!

Christ was even more explicit: John 14:15 “If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counsellor to be with you forever – the Spirit of Truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him or knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” What Christ was describing was His own Spirit, the Spirit that God gave Him without measure. This is further confirmed in John 14:25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my Name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”

Without this Counsellor you don’t have the full measure of the Holy Spirit! And without it you cannot understand prophecy. It’s this Spirit that tells us ‘what is yet to come’. This is the Spirit that will be given to all the House of Israel when God’s Laws are written in their hearts. Those who have this Spirit of Truth have greatly enhanced perception of evil, lawless men. They are easily disgusted by the cunning, crafty methods adopted by those who hate the Father and His eternal Laws. The whole Book of Revelation tells us ‘what is yet to come’, yet Christianity in these present days has never understood. Some Christians today love to imply they have this Spirit of Truth by claiming they have the Laws of God written in their hearts. They know they don’t – and neither do they understand ‘what is yet to come’. If they understood, then they would know that the Testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy (Rev 19:10) – by which means we will know ‘what is yet to come’. And most Christians today know they have believed all manner of ‘prophecy’ devised by men – which has not come true!

There have been many Christians down through the ages who had the down-payment or deposit of God’s Holy Spirit. They lived their lives in faithful obedience to God and His Laws, and without ever knowing the final outcome of all that God will do. Their reward will be according to what they have done: Rev 20:12 “I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. The dead were judged according to WHAT THEY HAD DONE as recorded in the Books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and Death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to WHAT HE HAD DONE. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. If anyone’s name was not written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” (Note: Death and Hades are mentioned in Rev 6:8). So judgment will be from what is recorded in the Books, but the most important record is the one in the Book of Life! If your name is not recorded in this Book, then you will be cast into the lake of fire.

It should come as no surprise that those who seek to beguile the people of God insist that you must do nothing! According to them you must not obey God because His Laws are a curse, and you are under a curse if you keep them.

Daniel also spoke of this time of judgment: Dan 12:1 “At that time