Part Four
But I have
against you that you left your first love.
Then remember from where you have fallen, and repent, and do the first works.
And if not,
I am coming to you quickly, and
will remove your lamp stand from its place,
unless you repent. Revelation 2:4-5
If we analyze the seven assemblies of Revelation Chapters 2 & 3, we find various positive traits, and various negative traits. Each Assembly was analyzed by Yahshua starting with Ephesus.
Yahshua starts the analysis with the statement, "I know your works, and your toil and patience. Works are important! The Ephesians were accredited with labor, works, patience, and the fact of their intolerance of evil men. Also they tested (tried) individuals that were putting themselves forth as apostles. They followed the Biblical instructions found in 1 John 4:1
1John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are of Yahweh; because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Yahshua commended the Ephesians for their patience and their labor for His namesake. They also did not become weary in doing this!
Yahshua then severely chastises the Ephesians for leaving their first love, and then cautions them to repent and return to their former state. The term fallen used here, is not something anyone should take lightly.
Fallen:
From G1537 and G4098; to drop away; specifically be driven out of one’s course; figuratively to lose, become inefficient: - be cast, fail, fall (away, off), take none effect.
Did the Ephesians lose their love and zeal ? Did the Ephesians become cold? When you leave something or someone you love, coldness can develop between the departing person and the source of estrangement! The severity was even more pronounced when Yahshua warned them of the pending removal of their source of light, the lamp stand! Without this source of light guiding the Ephesian Assembly, they would be plunged into darkness. Yahshua tells them to repent!
Closing His message to the Ephesians, Yahshua ends on a positive note. He commends them for hating the works of the Nicolaitans, which He also hated.
Nicolaitan:
The word Nicolaitan is
Strong's Greek G3531, and comes from Strong's Greek G3532 (Nikolaos). It means:
"victory over the people." Nikolaos is a compound word of 2 Greek words: Nike
and Laos (Nike-Laos) (Nicolas).
In Greek mythology, Nike is represented as the g-ddess of victory whose function
was to proselytize or evangelize for Zeus, the Greek deity. If you look in
Webster's International Dictionary under the heading Zeus, you will find a
picture of Zeus sitting on a throne with Nike in back of him, in the act of
putting a crown of laurel upon his head. Saint Nike-Laos or Santa Claus is of
Satan the devil!
This Nicolas is found in the character of Santa Claus today!
NICHOLAS - Name Meaning &
Origin
Last Name Meaning & Related Resources for the Surname NICHOLAS
Definition: From the Latin "Nicholaus," meaning peoples victory. This surname
was very common in medieval times, as shown by the numerous forms of the name
and numerous countries of origin. Nicolas is the most common French spelling,
while Nicholas and Nichols were most common in England. { From about.com }
You can follow the trail from Babylon to our current era, using reference books like The Two Babylons by Alexander Hyslop. You will find a pagan connection and connotation associated with this concept. What did the Nicolaitans believe? They worshipped Nike and this is connected to Zeus and by extension, J-sus! The true people of Father Yahweh will also hate the connection to Ch--stmas also!
Yahshua commends the Ephesians for this! Hating the Pagan works should apply to anyone who loves Yahweh's word!
Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyratira and Sardis follow the Ephesian assembly with the positives and negatives pointed out by Yahshua. From Idolatry to sexual sins, the call by Yahshua was one of repentance. To hear what he was saying, and then to make the needed corrections, was important to the well being of these assemblies in Asia Minor.
This brings us to the Assembly in Philadelphia.
And
to the angel of the assembly in Philadelphia, write: These things says the Holy
One, the True One, the One having "the key of David," "the One opening, and no
one shuts; and shuts, and no one opens:" { Isaiah. 22:22 }
I know your works. Behold, I have given a door being opened before you,
and no one is able to shut it, for you have a little power and have kept My
Word, and have not Behold, I give out of the synagogue of Satan those
saying themselves to be Jews, and they are not, but they lie. Behold, I will
make them come and bow down before your feet, and they shall know that I loved
you.
Because you kept the Word of My patience, I also will keep you out of the
hour of trial which is going to come on all the habitable world in order to try
those dwelling on the earth.
Behold, I am coming quickly. Hold what you have that no one take your
crown.
The one overcoming, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My Elohim,
and he shall not go out any more. And I will write the name of My Elohim on him,
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.
The one who has an ear, hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.
Revelation 3:7-13
The Location of the Seven Assemblies of Revelation:
The Philadelphia Assembly is the assembly everyone wants to be included in. Many say they are the Philadelphia assembly, but their works bring to light the truth of the matter. The true Philadelphia assembly will be doing the good works of Philadelphia. Their lives will reflect the Philadelphia assembly in word and in deed. What are the works of Philadelphia? Let's examine the particulars of Philadelphia.
Begins with an introduction describing the Messiah. He who has the key of David. The key is used for what purpose? To lock or unlock something, right?
The one who controls the opening or closing of the door. What does this mean?
Philadelphia has an open door before them! How and why?
No one can close this door but Him!
Philadelphia has little power.
They have kept His word!
They have not denied His name!
Yahshua loves this assembly! Why?
Philadelphia withstood the attacks of the "synagogue of Satan."
Philadelphia has patiently kept Yahshua's word.
Philadelphia will be kept from the hour of trial.
They hold their crowns as admonished by Yahshua!
Now! A question comes to mind mind concerning the Philadelphia Assembly! How did Philadelphia merit so many blessings? Why did Philadelphia have The Holy One, the True One (with the unlocking key) mention them in relationship to himself? How did they merit the open door? Philadelphia received these many blessing because of their total obedience to Yahweh's word. Philadelphia obeys every law and statute ordained by Yahweh through His Son, Yahshua. So! Anyone claiming to be the Philadelphia Assembly, must be doing the works of Philadelphia! If not! They can be compared to those of the "Synagogue of Satan" instead.
Philadelphia reveres the names of the Father Yahweh and Yahshua the Messiah.
However, the foundation of Yahweh stands firm, having this seal, "Yahweh knew the ones being His;" see Num. 16:5, 7, also, Let everyone naming the name of Messiah depart from unrighteousness. 2 Timothy 2:19
And His servants' seed shall inherit; and they who love His name shall live in it. Psalm 69:36
Anyone confessing these names, can in no way be associated with sin! The true Philadelphia members depart from all iniquity. They will not sin!
The Philadelphia Assembly has the key to understanding the scriptures.
"And
He said to them, To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of
Yahweh. But to these, those outside, all things are being given in parables."
Mark 4:11
Philadelphia has total understanding of the mysteries of the Sacred Word! Do you?
The door is always open to the true Philadelphia Assembly! Remember the door being closed after Noah and those with him were safe in the ark? Sealed? Remember the door was closed to those foolish virgins in Matthew 25? The door was shut to the sinners or lawless people of Noah's time and was shut in the fulfillment of Matthew 25. The door is always open to those who live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of Yahweh.
When anyone sins they deny The Father Yahweh and they deny the Son of Man, Yahshua!
Flee fornication. Every sin that a man does is without (outside) the body; but he that commits fornication sins against his own body. 1 Corinthians 6:18
Let
no one being tempted say, I am tempted from Yahweh. For Yahweh is not tempted by
evil, and He tempts no one.
But each one is tempted by his own lusts, being drawn out and being
seduced by them.
Then having conceived lust
brings forth sin. And sin being fully formed brings forth death.
Jacob (James) 1:13-15
The names and the ways of Yahweh are rejected when anyone professing the names of both the Father and the Son transgress in any way, His laws.
The Philadelphia Assembly will not transgress His laws, because the door would shut on them. They would lose their understanding! They would lose the Messiah! They would lose salvation and any opportunity for this possibility.
Oh! We have seen many groups claiming to be Philadelphia, but by their fruits you will know who is of the true Philadelphia Assembly and who the imposters are!
You will never convince us at Truth On The Net Dot Com that you can willfully violate the laws of Yahweh and call yourself Philadelphia! This is impossible! Oh! You say there were seven assemblies in Revelation and each one had their problems! Perhaps this indicates the seven assemblies were trying to overcome their difficulties and Yahshua understands their problems? Yahshua is only pointing out the sins so each assembly can make the changes! Perhaps you are thinking that you can continue in sin and reference yourself as having the same difficulties as one of the assemblies that received rebuke from Yahshua?
Are you still excusing your sinful behavior because they had sin in such and such assembly in Revelation, but were still included in the overall configuration per se! Still being one of the seven branches enjoins you to the base and lamp stand? Why then does Yahshua threaten the Laodicean assembly with the removal of their lamp stand unless they REPENT? Each assembly that received Yahshua's rebuke was told to repent! Do you remember the passage in Romans about the branches?
Now if the firstfruit is holy, so also
the lump. And if the root is holy, so also the branches.
But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree
were grafted in among them, and became a sharer of the root and the fatness of
the olive tree,
do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, it is not you that bears
the root, but the root bears you.
Romans 11:16-18
Branches were broken off to graft in the wild olive (Gentiles) to the good olive plant. If these branches were broken off... Would Yahweh have the sinners remain in one of the Seven Assemblies of Revelation, or would he remove them?
Behold, then, the kindness and severity of Yahweh: On those having fallen, severity. But on you, kindness, if you continue in the kindness. Otherwise, you will also be cut off. Romans 11:22
You underestimate the power of Yahweh if you think Him to be weak and frail like you are. You think you can remain in a sinful condition, claiming to be following Yahweh's covenant ways, and call yourself Philadelphia? You are in for a very rude awakening!
Those who would be included in the true Philadelphia Assembly will be covenant keeping followers of Yahshua the Messiah!
And
answering, Yahshua said to them, Do you think that these Galileans were sinners
beyond all the Galileans, because they suffered such things?
No, I say to you, But if you do
not repent, you will all perish likewise.
Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell, and killed them, do you
think that these were sinners beyond all men who lived in Jerusalem?
No, I say to you, But if you do not
repent, you will all perish likewise.
Luke 13:2-5
Yours in Yahshua, Hawke
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