There is no admonition; rather, the Christians are told that they will suffer much, even death, but the time of tribulation will be short compared to their eternal reward (Rev 2:10), and they will thus escape final damnation (Rev 2:11). Click here to purchase the printed version of the book. Nm 25:13; 31:16; 2Pt 2:15; Jude 11), the Nicolaitans in Pergamum and Ephesus (Rev 2:6) accommodated their Christian faith to paganism. Revelation 2:12-17. 12 'The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have not yet been given their royal power but will have royal authority only for a single hour and in association with the beast. Acts 16:14), membership in which may have involved festal meals in pagan temples. 2Pt 2:15; Jude 11) and others who follow the teaching of the Nicolaitans (Rev 2:15; see note there). Jezebel is associated with a religious system promoting false teaching (Revelation 2:20). 1Kgs 19:12; 21:114; 2Kgs 9:22, 3034) introduced pagan customs into the religion of Israel; this new Jezebel was doing the same to Christianity. 20 Nevertheless, I have a complaint to make: you tolerate the woman Jezebel who claims to be a prophetess, and by her teaching she is luring my servants away to commit the adultery of eating food which has been sacrificed to idols. And I will give to each one a white stone, and on the stone will be engraved a new name that no one understands except the one who receives it. This is a criterion which has often been applied with great force on behalf of the claims of the Catholic Church to be the sole guardian of Gods Revelation. Learn about the riches He gives to all who are His. The metaphor of Babylon as harlot would be wrongly construed if interpreted literally. In fact, Revelation is a book in which all the great themes, seed plots, lines of doctrine and Bible prophecy find their fulfillment. John 4:32 But he said to them: I have meat to eat which you know not. In the case of the former, the dominion would be political; in the case of the latter, it could be a number of things. Otherwise, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. This sword, of course, is only symbolic. While the rest of her description could refer to a number of things, the symbolic designation Babylon narrows it down to two: pagan Rome and apostate Jerusalem. * [2:811] The letter to Smyrna encourages the Christians in this important commercial center by telling them that although they are impoverished, they are nevertheless rich, and calls those Jews who are slandering them members of the assembly of Satan (Rev 2:9). It was, as the Church calls it, a depositthe faith once delivered to the saints (Jude, 3)for which the Church was to contend but to which she could add nothing. Catholic Online Prayers - thousands of prayers. Basic Bible Prophecy: Essential Facts Every Christian Should Know by Ron Rhodes. Only ancient, pagan Rome or apostate Jerusalem could possibly be the Whore. . Like Daniel and other apocalypses, it was composed as resistance literature to meet a crisis. There can be no question as to its necessity, if it be admitted that God destines man to attain a supernatural beatitude which surpasses the exigencies of his natural endowments. They are warned against Satanic power or knowledge (Rev 2:2425). Indeed, the devil will throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will face an ordeal for ten days. It is explained by M. Blondel, an eminent member of the Immanentist School, as signifying that nothing can enter into a man which does not proceed from him, and which does not correspond in some manner to an interior need of expansion; and that neither in the sphere of historic facts nor of traditional doctrine, nor of commands imposed by authority, can any truth rank as valid for a man or any precept as obligatory, unless it be in some way autonomous and autochthonous (Lettre sur les exigences, etc., p. 601). You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateways emails at any time. i). . This is the enduring message of the book; it is a message of hope and consolation and challenge for all who dare to believe. The other six churches were located in the same province, situated roughly in a circle; they were selected for geographical reasons rather than for the size of their Christian communities. The extension of this to religious truths is an error directly traceable to the assumption of the eighteenth-century philosophers that there are no religious truths save those which the human intellect can attain unaided. Further, the doctrine of original sin supplies an additional reason for such a revelation of the natural law. It is in this book that the victory of God as the God of history is seen in the culmination of the ages and the establishment of the eternal state. Therefore, we can only reason from whatthe Bible says. Apostles existed only in the first century, since one of the requirements for being an apostle was seeing the risen Christ (1 Cor. 17:910). Acts 14:2, 19; 17:5, 13. Is Leonard Cohens Hallelujah a Christian Song? On the other hand if God has conferred a revelation on men, it stands to reason that He must have attached to it plain and evident criteria enabling even the unlettered to recognize His message for what it is, and to distinguish it from all false claimants. It is freely asserted that a mystery is something repugnant to reason, and therefore something intrinsically impossible. * [2:1] Ephesus: this great ancient city had a population of ca. What is Lent? Such literature enjoyed wide popularity in both Jewish and Christian circles from ca. Revelation 2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches: He that shall overcome shall not be hurt by the second death. What is Apologetics? 1:12; Eph. It is a return to the errors of Baius. In Revelation 17:3, John sees a woman sitting on a beast, and the beast has seven heads. Night At the Creation Museum, from Creation Today. 6 I saw that she was drunk, drunk with the blood of the saints, and the blood of the martyrs of Jesus; and when I saw her, I was completely mystified. This again points to pagan Rome or apostate Jerusalem. 2:35; Obad. * [2:1829] The letter to Thyatira praises the progress in virtue of this small Christian community (Rev 2:19) but admonishes them for tolerating a false prophet who leads them astray (Rev 2:20). 22So I will cast her on a sickbed and plunge those who commit adultery with her into intense suffering unless they repent of her works. Daily Readings with Questions for Reflection, RCIA - Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults. . To the victor I shall give some of the hidden manna;* I shall also give a white amulet upon which is inscribed a new name, which no one knows except the one who receives it.e. The cries for vengeance on the lips of Christian martyrs that sound so harsh are in fact literary devices the author employed to evoke in the reader and hearer a feeling of horror for apostasy and rebellion that will be severely punished by God. . More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free! Cardinal Franzelin in his De Divina Traditione et Scriptura (pt. But it admonishes them about members who advocate an unprincipled morality (Rev 2:14; cf. (2) 3. But it's so popular it ranked among the top pages viewed: 2023 All Rights Reserved. That Revelation was given in its entirety to Our Lord and His Apostles. "Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. Taken alone and apart from objective proof it conveys but a probability that the revelation is true. What is the Significance of the Wise Men's, How Did the Wise Men Know This Was the Messiah and. No one can see imputedrighteousness and no one will be able to see the new name.. In the last century there was in certain schools of thought a manifest tendency to deny the value of all external criteria. How Do We Recover From Being Like Jobs Friends? The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and bedecked with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her fornication; and on her forehead was written a name of mystery: Babylon the great, mother of harlots and of earths abominations. And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. "Revelation" (Greek Apokalupsis) means "an uncovering", "an unveiling", or "a disclosure". * [2:2] Who call themselves,impostors: this refers to unauthorized and perverse missionaries; cf. (For a fuller treatment of their apologetic value, and for a discussion of objections, see Gift of Miracles; Apologetics.). They abused the principle of liberty enunciated by Paul (1Cor 9:1923). Walks in the midst of the seven gold lampstands: this signifies that Christ is always present in the church; see note on Rev 1:4. Although he never claims to be John the apostle, whose name is attached to the fourth gospel, he was so identified by several of the early church Fathers, including Justin, Irenaeus, Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian, Cyprian, and Hippolytus. 3 He took me in spirit to a desert, and there I saw a woman riding a scarlet beast which had seven heads and ten horns and had blasphemous titles written all over it. 16:25; Gal. * [2:11] The second death: this refers to the eternal death, when sinners will receive their final punishment; cf. Having been commissioned by Christ to write "the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this" (Rev. NT Prophecy: Revelation 2:17 He who has an ear let him (Rev. Is There a Hidden Message in the names in Genesis 5? 17 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. Revelation 17:2 in all English translations. On the Lord's Day: When is the Lord's Day? White amulet: literally, white stone, on which was written a magical name, whose power could be tapped by one who knew the secret name. The reason is not deprived of its legitimate activity because the criteria are external. He taught, further, that the meaning to be attached to revealed doctrines is undergoing constant change as human knowledge grows and mans mind develops; so that the dogmatic formulae which are now true will gradually cease to be so. We need your help to keep our site ad-free. But it's so popular it ranked among the top pages viewed: Reasons for Hope* Jesus is donor supported. Introduction. So why is the Bride maligned as the Whore? also fell into error, teaching that man was incapable of arriving at moral and religious truth apart from Revelation. Our Price: $17.48. . All subsequent revelations conferred by God are known as private revelations, for the reason that they are not directed to the whole Church but are for the good of individual members alone. His authorship of this book is supported by the testimony of (7) She is a central cause of abominations in the land, abominations being a reference to practices, especially religious practices, that are offensive to God. Why would Jesus have a new name? Who are the Nicolaitans mentioned in Revelation 2:6, 14-15? . The separation of truth from error is a work involving time and labor. 7:00 PM-9:00 PM. This shows that the Whore persecuted not just Christians, but apostles and prophets. Soperhaps, receiving the new name will be a declaration that we are overcomers, sanctified, glorified and ready for service in the Kingdom and eternity. Amen. Start FREE. Revelation - Chapter 2. A donation of any amount isneeded andgreatly appreciated. 17 In fact, God has influenced their minds to do what he intends, to agree together to put their royal powers at the beast's disposal until the time when God's words shall be fulfilled. John, identified as one "who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ" (1:1-2). By submitting your email address, you understand that you will receive email communications from Bible Gateway, a division of The Zondervan Corporation, 3900 Sparks Drive SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 USA, including commercial communications and messages from partners of Bible Gateway. Since Jerusalem had no such line of kings in the first century, this gives us evidence that the Beast (though not the Whore) is Rome. 11 And () for this reason God will send them strong delusion, () that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned . It may be understood to involve no more than that reason cannot be compelled to admit any religious doctrine or any moral obligation merely because they possess extrinsic guarantees of truth; they must in every case be able to justify their validity on intrinsic grounds. What does it mean to have left your first love (Revelation 2:4)? 16 But the ten horns and the beast will turn against the prostitute, and tear off her clothes and leave her stark naked; then they will eat her flesh and burn the remains in the fire. . The hidden manna It was a constant tradition of the Jews that the ark of the covenant, the tables of stone, Aaron's rod, the holy anointing oil, and the pot of manna, were hidden by King Josiah when Jerusalem was taken by the Chaldeans; and that these shall all be restored in the days of the Messiah. Holy Mary, Mother of God, Pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. God will use this sign to communicate something to John and to us. Distinctive between Revelation 2:17 and Revelation 3:12, is that one receives the name written on a white stone and the other upon his person. June 2023. Ephesus tells us, "Do not let your love for Jesus grow cold," (Revelation 2:1-7). Indeed, vocabulary, grammar, and style make it doubtful that the book could have been put into its present form by the same person(s) responsible for the fourth gospel. Use PayPal or a Credit Card for safe, secure giving. (b) Positive internal criteria are of various kinds. This passage gives us a key rule of Bible interpretation which is often denied by Fundamentalists: A symbol does not have to refer to one and only one thing. It turns and cuts every way; but the believer need not fear this sword; yet this confidence cannot be supported without steady obedience. Rev 2:2425 ) let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches something impossible! ( Rev it was composed as resistance literature to meet a crisis we need your help to keep site! 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