In Chapter 1 it was established that Revelation was written more for our time now than for any time in the past, and that its central theme are the events surrounding the second advent of Jesus Christ during the great and terrible day of the Lord, as spoken of by the prophets.  It came from our Father to Jesus, Who sent it to John by an angel.  John was instructed to send it to seven churches that were all located in the Roman province of Asia.

Chapter 2 now begins a series of  seven critical messages, one to each of those seven churches.

These seven churches (ekklesia in the Greek - Strong's No. 1577 - church, gathering, assembly, or  throng) were located in a Roman province of western Turkey known as Asia.  Christianity was growing there when John wrote Revelation (circa 96 A.D.) and was gaining converts who were once former adherents to the Jewish faith and the heathen religions.  People were now beginning to embrace this new upstart faith and the Roman authorities were not happy about new ideas causing perturbations in their influence and control over the masses.  You see, religion has always been one of the most used methods to control the thinking and conduct of the people.  Rome was preparing to take retaliatory action against these unsavory Christians, and needless to say, the hierarchies of the other established religions in the area, including Judaism, encouraged and welcomed such action.

When John received this Revelation the Christian churches located in that area had been there for decades and, in a sense, were doing well, or so they thought.  But over time five of them had developed some serious problems of which they were unaware.  Problems that could destroy them.  Jesus wants them to see these things and sends letters to them in which He advises them of their situation.  Their good points and bad points alike.

Now, listen carefully concerning these churches.  Don't assume that what we will study in these letters was applicable only for seven churches located in a Roman province of western Turkey at the close of the first century A. D.  It is important to remember that the information in Revelation is for us today more than anyone living at any other time and it is universal.  Why?  Because the events described therein surround the end time, and we have to assume that is our time now at the beginning of the 21st century.  These seven churches in Asia which existed over l,900 years ago were types for the churches that exist today just prior to and during the day of the Lord.

What are their names?  Their modern names are not known to me, if indeed they have such.  The important thing to remember is that they are examples to reveal the good and bad in the churches, and what God expects of them.

The early Christian churches everywhere had to overcome through some tough times because they were often persecuted and sometimes severely attacked.  There is no telling how many were slain.  The attacks and persecutions were usually head on and brutal and came primarily through orders from Rome, but you can be sure that their main source was none other than the evil one and his children working behind the scenes.  Well, guess what?  Their plots and plans didn't work well because the churches survived the attacks and Christianity continued to flourish.

Why?

Because Christ was looking over them and He would send someone like John to warn them and prepare them as in the case of these seven churches in Asia.  They had serious problems to deal with, but you know what?  They, with all of the persecution and opposition that they encountered, were better off in some ways than the churches that exist today.

What's that you say?  That's ridiculous?

Nevertheless, it is true.  How so?  Because Satan is jealous of the true Son of God and his ultimate aim is to discredit and humiliate Him.  What better way to do this than to slowly, over time, pervert the true Gospel, substitute a fake gospel and Jesus, and take control of the churches through deception?  Satan, or Lucifer (he has many names), is one of the most intelligent and brilliant beings in the entire universe and when he can't accomplish his goals one way he changes his tactics.  He is incredibly subtle and he and his children attack the churches today in a totally different way.  By love, peace, and sweetness while pretending to be so righteous, so religious.

That is the proper concept of Antichrist when you understand it rightly and you can see it all around you today.  A substitute Jesus, a fake Messiah, a false gospel subverting the people.  I hope that you will think on this concept and not lightly cast it aside.  Those who oppose Jesus Christ will do anything to accomplish their agendas.  At this particular time, they cannot openly slaughter and waste the flock because conditions are not right, but there will be persecutions and even murders before it is all over.

Read the first few verses of the eschatological discourses that Jesus made in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21.  His disciples inquired as to what the signs and conditions would be prior to his second advent, and look at the very first thing that He said to them.  He gave them a stern warning     see that you be not deceived!  He then informed them that unrighteous men (and women) would come proclaiming themselves to be His representative and would deceive many.  Friends, Jesus spoke these words to his disciples nearly 2,000 years ago and it has already happened many times since then.  It is very clear to me that Christians today are in great danger because they don't see it and they aren't aware of what has happened.  Unfortunately, they have already been infected by the false doctrines of these deceivers and when Antichrist himself appears de facto on the Earth they will be absolutely enthralled and overwhelmed by his appeal.  They will think that he is Jesus.

Sad as that is, it doesn't have to be so for everyone.  If we can learn something from the messages to the churches we can take precautions and prepare ourselves, so let's dig in and learn what we can.

Ephesus was an ancient city dating from before 1,000 B.C.  In John's day it was the greatest city in the Roman province of Asia and an important political, commercial and religious center.  It was a city of considerable size with possibly 300,000 or more population.  It's theater is said to have had a capacity of some 25,000 spectators.  In addition, it's magnificent temple of Artemis (Diana) was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.  Artemis was a popular many breasted fertility goddess and her celebrated shrine attracted lots of tourists which contributed to the prosperity of Ephesus.  It was a magnificent city then, which some say was the second largest city in the Roman Empire, but today Ephesus is nothing more than a tourist attraction consisting mainly of broken monuments.

The apostle Paul labored there among the Christian converts, and it was to them that he wrote his letter to the Ephesians found in the New Testament of the Holy Bible.  As a result of his work, and the work of others, Christianity spread from Ephesus into the surrounding area and took converts from other religions which included Artemis worship, Roman emperor worship, magic cults, and Judaism.  This created a general stir, but especially among some of the Jews who actively opposed the spread of Christianity and incited others to do so.

When John wrote the following message to that church it had been established there for over forty years.  This church is okay except in one major all important thing.

Rev. 2:1  Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;

Rev. 2:2  I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:

Rev. 2:3  And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.

The Ephesians No. 1 Problem

Rev. 2:4  Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

Deuteronomy 6:5  And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

Matthew 22:37  Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

38 This is the first and great commandment.

Something needs to be said here concerning the evil one and those who serve him in opposition to Jesus Christ and our Father in Heaven.  It seems that there has always been a controversy between good and evil.  Good being defined as those who love, support, and are loyal to God in Heaven, and evil being defined as those who oppose Him, or don't really care about their fellow man.  Corruption is widespread and deeply entrenched in the world's institutions and cultures.  It has been so for many thousands of years.  But no evil is as blasphemous as those who claim the high moral ground while preaching a false gospel to the people.  They are antichrist even though they use the name of Christ and claim to serve Him.

Now, about that word antichrist.  There is no specific person in the Bible called by the proper name Antichrist.  The apostle John mentioned the spirit of antichrist in his epistles but he was referring to those of his day who did not believe that Jesus of Nazareth was the Christ.  However, the early church believed that an evil person would arise in the last days to subvert the people spiritually and to rule the world.  With these things in mind throughout this book I will refer to the evil one and his beast system both as Antichrist, meaning one who pretends to be Christ and subverts the churches with a false gospel.  That is the greatest blasphemy of all.

The antichrist system, or beast system, has been in place and growing for ages now, and today it is on the verge of being fully mature.  Even if Antichrist, the evil one himself,  has not been revealed de facto yet, the system that he and his offspring have developed over the centuries has succeeded in seducing most of christendom, and virtually all of corporate churchianity in the United States of America.  The churches are the building blocks that make up the temple of God and Antichrist is present there, sitting in that temple, and that is the abomination of the desolator as spoken of by Daniel the prophet and Jesus Christ.  Remember these things.

Rev. 2:5  Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

Remember now, this warning to the church at Ephesus is also for us today at the end time.  Consider what you see around you today.  Can't you see that some churches have fallen away and left the true Christ?  Should homosexuals be priests and lead the people of God?  Does God change in His intentions?  Absolutely not!

Mal. 3:6   For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

2 Thessalonians 2:1  Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,

 2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

1 Corinthians 3:16-17  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?  If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

2 Corinthians 6:16   And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said,  I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Ephesians 2:21  In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

It has?  When and where?  The following may seem to be digression, but it is not, so bear with me for a moment.  .

Why do you think you are here in the flesh with all of the problems that come with it?  There was a world that was.  Man does not remember, but we once existed in Paradise in the spirit domain, and were part of the Kingdom of God, that is to say, the family of God. The reason we are here in the flesh now is because when we were in the spirit most of us did something that was unacceptable.  We lost our first love, that is our love, loyalty and respect for our Father in Heaven.  We let a cheap, sleazy, con artist whose name is Lucifer seduce us and turn us from the ways of our Father to his ways.  That action presented a strong dilemma for our Father who was left with two choices, destroy the whole bunch, or test us and salvage those who would change back to Him, and prove to be loyal and faithful.  That is why we are here in a nutshell.  The original fall of man came long before Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.  As a matter of fact, they were created as a result of it.

Now, let's get back to the church in Ephesus and their problem.

He tells this church that they must do the first works.  In a sense, our love for God can be measured by the efforts we put forth on His behalf.  Simply professing to love God doesn't prove a thing if it is not backed up by some works.  This church works hard, so what is the problem?  It is so easy to be drawn away by Satan, and to work developing his ideas, his programs, and his institutions.  When this happens the church abandons the true Jesus Christ and essentially is working for, and exists for, a fake sweet Jesus.

With regards to the serious error of a church losing their first love, there may be another fly in the ointment.  Even if a church does not fall and begin to worship the Antichrist, developing church programs and constantly building facilities can easily become the primary focus and soon God takes second place.  God should always come first and all other things second, so be very careful.

The Nicolaitans.

Rev. 2:6  But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

Isaiah 8:20  To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

Matthew 7:15  Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

Whoever or whatever they are, they cause problems in the churches and so we should attempt to discover something about them.  Not so much as who they are but what their deeds and doctrine are.  Let's consider the name because in the Bible the meaning of names can be relevant and it is about the only thing we have to work with.

It has two components, nico - victory, and laitans - people, which can render the following logical choices:  Victory over the people, victory for the people, victory to the people, or victory of the people.  See Nos. 3531 and 3532 in the Strong's Greek Dictionary.

The last three choices can all be considered basically good and what the Nicolaitans do is not good, so the first definition is the obvious choice.  Victory over the people.  Using this definition as a basis, it is reasonable to assume that the deeds and doctrines of the Nicolaitans have to do with controlling the people in a manner offensive to God.

How do men gain control over other men?  There are several ways but the two most common are:  Using brute force to physically overcome them and literally force them to serve their interests, and secondly, by subverting their hearts and minds through brainwashing. Both of these methods have been used extensively throughout all time and still are today by all governments on the Earth, but the latter is used most extensively.  But governments aren't the only practitioners of brainwashing and mind control.  In our western society today the advertising industry has shaped our thinking more than you know, and one of the most successful uses of brainwashing is done by the religious institutions.

Religiously speaking, the most common and effective forms of mind control is through ritual and tradition. Get them involved both mentally and physically.  Assign them duties, have them do something for you on a continual basis.  Let them feel that they are a part of something on a grand scale by encouraging them to contribute their time, money, and efforts to your cause.  Politicians do this very well, but not as well as the churches.  Knowing this, the hierarchies of many religions control their flocks by what the Bible calls the traditions of men.  The Pharisees during Christ's time were a good example of this, for which cause Jesus would upbraid them on many occasions throughout the four Gospels.

There is something else that we must seriously consider here.  Men love to admire, and even worship, other men.  Because of this proclivity we subsequently submit ourselves to them, often totally.  Ouch, big mistake.  The greatest user and grifter of all time is Antichrist.  Wait until he shows up de facto and you will see an amazing con artist.  The greatest organizer and persuader of all time.  Unfortunately, it is all a lie, a grand hoax, the greatest scam ever perpetrated.

Cunning men, knowing all these things, use mind control to bind us with mighty chains which are very hard to break.  Religion is an invention of unrighteous men and Satan, so be like these Ephesians and don't get caught up in man-made religious traditions.  God is not religious, in fact, He hates the religions of men.

Matthew 15:8  This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Colossians 2:8  Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

1 Peter 1:18  Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

At this point it may occur to you, and seem totally incongruous, that this church at Ephesus can be so zealous at testing some men, as in the case of the Nicolaitans, and yet possibly be subverted by Satan and his sweet Jesus routine which obviously has to come through men also.  The answer lies in the fact that Lucifer and his children (who are men and women) are special and incredibly subtle.  They understand the human psyche more than anyone else except God and they take extreme advantage of this.  Ordinary men, in contrast to Satan and his children, can also in their own right be exceedingly cunning, but they are not as talented or persuasive.  Satan can work where ordinary men cannot, it is as simple as that.

There is also something else to consider here.  This church may not have fallen at all to the sweet Jesus routine of Lucifer.  It may simply have let the things of the world, that is mammon, overcome them and lead them in the wrong direction.  Building church wealth, developing the church infrastructure, and influence in the community may have taken first place with them.  We, as individuals, are all subject to the pulls of mammon, and churches can be also.  Business leaders strive to grow their businesses, and churches today are really corporate businesses.  It would be very easy for church hierarchies to fall into that trap, and soon God takes second place.

Rev. 2:7  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Matthew 13:9  Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?

11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:

15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

John 6:44  No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 6:45  It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God.  Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.

Now, concerning the tree of life in the midst of the paradise of God.  As stated above, we once were children of God, in the kingdom of God, and had the right to eat of the tree of life.  We lost that right when we left our first love and fell from grace long ago.  We are here in the flesh now to overcome through testing and to gain back that right as children of God.  Those of us who overcome will be raised back to that position by resurrection (a raising up) once again.  It is God's will that this be done, He wants to see all of us back in His Kingdom again.  That is the will of God in a nutshell.

John 6:40  And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Smyrna is now modern Izmir, which is the third largest city of Turkey.  In the time of Christ it was one of the most prosperous cities in that area of the world and had been for several centuries. It was famed for it's beauty and magnificent buildings, it had a fine library and a medical school, and was even visited by Roman emperors.  It served as the main port for trade along the Hermus valley.  As in the case of Ephesus, the non-Christian Jews who lived there opposed the spread of christianity just as everywhere else.  It is said that the great Polycarp was martyred there in 155 AD.

Rev. 2:8  And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;

Rev. 2:9  I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.

Unlike the church at Ephesus, this ekklesia at Smyrna is poor and cannot establish any great works even while living amidst prosperity, but they do love God with all their heart.  Another major thing they have to their credit is that they know who the tares are that Jesus talked about in Matthew 13.  These tares are the main source of their opposition and persecution (tribulation), and they may also be the reason that they are poor.  The city was prosperous, why weren't these Christians?  Discrimination in employment or business?  Very possible, and even likely.

Who are these tares exactly?  In the Old Testament they are called Kenites, which being translated means the children of Cain.  Look them up in your Strong's Concordance Hebrew Dictionary (Strong's No. 7014 and 7017).  Who were they then, and who are they today?  Good question.  Concerning them, there is a very interesting verse in 1 Chronicles for us to examine.  Ezra had made a comprehensive census of the Jews returning from captivity in Babylon and look who we find mentioned dwelling among them.

1 Chronicles 2:55  And the families of the scribes which dwelt at Jabez; the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, and Suchathites. These are the Kenites that came of Hemath, the father of the house of Rechab.

Here in verse 9 Jesus says these false Jews are guilty of blasphemy.  They vehemently opposed the spread of Christianity in the beginning but it continued to grow in spite of their best efforts to quell it.  When they saw that they could not stop it, they pretended to become part of it and were successful in forming and developing a huge system of churchianity which they now control.  Today it is so successful and dominant that most Christians unknowingly worship within it.  Consequently, when Antichrist appears the people will already have been spiritually prepared to receive him as the true Messiah.

Friends, that is blasphemy of the worst sort!

Jesus made His church at Smyrna aware of these false brethren and they in turn attempt to publish the knowledge of their existence.  This brings on certain retribution, or tribulation as it is rendered here in verse 9.

Rev. 2:10  Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

The word death usually means cessation of life in the flesh body, so it is entirely possible that some in this church may yet be put to death for their faith.  Such extreme prejudice, but history shows us that it has happened many times before.  They killed Jesus to silence Him, didn't they?  Here, as well as other places, He admonishes us to remain faithful and not to fear the death of our flesh bodies, but to be resolute in our faith believing that we too shall never die.  Another example is found in the gospel of John.

John 11:25  Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

John 11:26  And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

Rev. 2:11  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

The people who make up the Smyrnan ekklesia do indeed have ears to hear and they will be faithful.  Jesus approves of this church and issues no complaints against it, but instead gives comfort and encouragement concerning the trials that they will go through.  It is poor but will have a part to play just prior to and during the day of the Lord.  More on it later when we go through Chapter 11.

Pergamos, or Pergamum, (modern Bergama, Turkey) was the capitol of the province of Mysia and it was an important religious center as well.  On a hill above the city was an immense altar dedicated to Zeus and just outside the city was a shrine and medical school dedicated to Aesculapius, the god of healing or medicine.  In addition, there were temples to Athena and Dionysus, and another in honor of emperor Augustus.  In fact, it was an important center for emperor worship and that was probably a contributing factor for the execution of the martyr Antipas as we shall see.

The writing medium parchment was named after Pergamos (pergamene in Greek and pergamena in Latin), because it was first produced there.  Undoubtedly, it would have been used extensively in the magnificent library that was once located there.  It contained an estimated 100,000 works and was second only to the one at Alexandria, Egypt, but it was destined not to remain in Pergamos.  It seems that the infamous and persuasive Cleopatra decided that its contents should not remain in Pergamos but should be moved to Alexandria in Egypt.  She  made her Roman lover Marc Anthony promise to do so, which he did, and as a consequence it was no longer there when John penned Revelation.

Rev. 2:12  And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;

Rev. 2:13  I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.

It would be very interesting indeed to know the modern equivalent of Pergamos.  Why?  Because the great Greco-Roman cultural and philosophical system that pervaded western civilization then still does so now.  Yes, that's correct, even amongst Christian nations and lands.  Satan's seat could be referring to the leading nation of the Satanic beast system of Revelation 13, or western civilization.  If we knew for sure where the current head of the beast is located, then we could probably identify where Satan's seat is today.  You decide.  Which country within western civilization has preeminence today?

What about this Antipas?

Antipas, his name could imply resistance to worship of the emperor, the father god to the Romans, and other father god figures like Zeus for instance.  Some define Antipas (Greek), or Antipater (Latin), as like the father, but using that rendering here would be error.  The first definition of the prefix anti (Strong's No. 473) means opposite in the Strong's Greek Dictionary, and opposite or opposed to, or against in the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Third Edition. So, instead of like the father, Antipas or Antipater would more likely mean opposed to the father.  Father here could be construed to mean father figures such as the emperor of Rome, Zeus, or even Satan, the father of the tares or Kenites.

This church in Pergamos has several things in their favor, they work hard for God, and are loyal and faithful, but they need to root out a couple of things before Jesus reappears.

Rev. 2:14  But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

You can read all about him in Numbers 22 and 23, which includes the well known part concerning his talking ass.  He was a famous seer, or prophet, who lived during the time that the Israelites were entering the land of Canaan.  His name has not been satisfactorily defined, but some say devouring while others say glutton, and he is certainly associated with greed in the New Testament.

2 Peter 2:15  Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

Jude 11  Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.

Num. 31:16  Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD. 

Anyway, the plan was implemented and it worked to some degree, but only for a short time.  As a result, later on the offenders were all destroyed either by plague or warfare, including Balak and Balaam.  What was the plague among the congregation of the Lord?  I feel very confident in averring that it was a socially transmitted disease      a STD, or veneral disease.  It killed 24,000 of the fighting men of Israel.  Over two full divisions of soldiers in a modern army.

The doctrine of Balaam should be defined as practicing religion for the sake of gain.

Many pastors and evangelists today fit this description, especially those who spend too much time in the moneychanger end of the temple.  Don't get any wrong ideas from this statement, there should be some support for ministers when funds are available, but providing golden parachutes for their retirement and other such extreme benefits are not appropriate.  For example, popular radio and TV evangelists often use luxury automobiles or limousines when they could travel in something more modest.  They claim to represent Jesus but He never chose to travel about in luxury, and there is no evidence that any of the great righteous men of biblical times did so either (with the possible exception of Solomon if you consider him a righteous man).  Jesus walked wherever He went when He could have chosen something luxurious to travel in such as a fancy carriage or a borne litter.  These false preachers are modern Balaams, very intelligent Balaams.  They are religious salesmen, con artists, and panhandlers without conscience, who convince people to send them money for various reasons including selling them on the idea that they have to tithe their wages.

Bull!

Don't you dare believe them.  The tithing requirement on Israel ended when Jesus was crucified, and if that is not sufficient, absolutely with the dissolution of the Levitical priesthood at the destruction of the Temple in 70 A.D.  Tithing is not required today like it was during old times, and the world is no longer on an agrarian economy.  The rule given to Israel was:  as God gave you increase in your fields and flocks, you were to tithe it to those He had chosen, the Levites and the priesthood.  They were essentially the government in Israel that provided various services to the people, including religious, legal and medical.

Today we work for fees or wages and the governments that rule over us tax those wages and fees.  The tax system has supplanted the tithing system.  Unfortunately, in the United States, and presumably other countries as well, when you figure up all of the taxes we pay it can be the equivalent of about five tithes.

Search the New Testament for instructions on tithing and prove me wrong if you can.  Tithe if you want to but be aware that it is not required now like it was in Israel during Old Testament times.  Freewill offerings, although not required either, are needed by the churches for necessary expenses and for the poor.  Give as much as you like for these causes, but don't let anyone con you into believing that you have to give specific amounts of your hard earned money to support other men in sumptuous style while you and the poor do without.  Beware of prosperity preachers and privileged church hierarchies.

When asked about tithing and other charitable contributions, I discourage giving to organizations and tell them to find some poor soul who is truly in need and to give it to them personally, and to others like them.  Many charitable institutions today are not what you think they are and you should be very careful.  Check them out thoroughly before giving them your substance.  Enough said, you get the message.

Rev. 2:15  So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.

Rev. 2:16  Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

Rev. 2:17  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

1)  He that hath an ear, let him hear, as already stated this is said to all the churches, and we have explored it's meaning in detail above.

2)  Hidden manna, what is that?  When the Israelites left Egypt they soon ran out of vituals to eat and would have starved to death without God's miraculous intervention.  Well, they were called His people and He did a truly remarkable thing.  He sent a nourishing substance from Heaven each night which they called manna.  They didn't know exactly what it was and called it that because it resembled the produce of an indigenous plant that was also called manna.  They gathered it every morning, except on sabbath days, and prepared it for consumption in several ways including making bread from it.  It sustained them for 40 years as they wandered in the wilderness, but as soon as they entered Canaan it stopped coming because other food was then available for sustenance.

When you consider the amount of people concerned here, possibly several million souls, this manna thing is quite extraordinary.  Let's assume that there were two million men, women, and children.  Let's further assume that they consumed one pound per day per person average, which is probably a low figure.  That would be two million pounds per day minimum, or one thousand tons.  God provided a minimum of one thousand tons of manna per day, every day of the year for 40 years.  That is one thousand tons per day at the beginning of the exodus.  Their population may have increased as they wandered in the wilderness, and so this figure may have grown much larger.  Astounding!

There are other things to consider also.  What about water for them in a possible desert like environment?  Assuming just two gallons per day for each, which also is probably conservative, that would be four million gallons of water per day, every day for 40 years.  And what about their animals?  Think about the incredible logistics involved here to get these people into the land of Canaan.  And it went on for 40 years.  Downright mind boggling!

Later, when the Tabernacle was set up and the Ark of the Covenant was to be placed in the Holy of Holies God instructed Moses to place several items inside of it.  Manna was one of those special and meaningful things placed inside the Ark, and so it was hidden.  In the Gospel of John some 1,500 years later we find Jesus Christ equating manna with bread, and most importantly, with Himself as the Bread of Life.

John 6:31  Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.

John 6:32  Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.

John 6:33  For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

John 6:34  Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.

John 6:35  And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

John 6:41  The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven.

John 6:48  I am that bread of life.

John 6:49  Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.

John 6:50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.

John 6:51  I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

John 6:58  This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.

1 Corinthians 5:7  Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:

Matthew 26:26  And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.

Mark 14:22  And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body.

Luke 22:19  And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.

3)  What is the meaning of a white stone?  This alludes to the ancient practice of judgment by using black and white stones as the method of pronouncing innocence or guilt.  In this case, the over comer will receive a white stone proclaiming their innocence (a black stone proclaimed guilt), and the name written in the stone will be that of God.

Thyatira was a city of industry and several trade guilds were located there.  Membership in a guild was mandatory to work in a particular trade and this created a problem for the Christians because heathen ritual was practiced by the guilds.  This practice began in the days of Nimrod and ancient Babylonia.  Thyatira produced garments, works of brass, and was famous for a particular red or purple dye.  Apollo was the main deity but there was a famous temple of Artemis (Diana) there also.

Rev. 2:18  And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;

Rev. 2:19  I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.

Rev. 2:20  Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.

There was a woman called Jezebel in the Old Testament and she was the type for this Jezebel, but before we get into that let's take a look at the meaning of her name.  The exact meaning is not clear but it is generally considered to mean unchaste.  Other possible meanings could be not exalted, or not a dwelling, but in any case her name and image are not good.  Even today we sometimes still call an unrighteous and unfaithful woman a "Jezebel".

Jezebel lived during the time of the great prophet Elijah.  She was the daughter of Ethbaal, king of Sidon and Tyre, and they were a murderous family.  They were almost certainly descendants of Cain who was the first murderer mentioned in the Bible.  Ethbaal was the king of Sidon and he became king of Tyre only after he killed his brother and took his kingdom.  She, true to form like her progenitors, killed a neighbor so she could seize his land for her husband Ahab, and she tried her best to kill Elijah.

Ahab, a king of Israel, was a fool who violated the commandment against adultery by marrying her, and she dominated him totally.  She firmly established the worship of Baal (Apollo?) and Astarte (Artemis or Diana?) within Israel.  Elijah fought against her turning Israel away from God to idol worship and she hated him with a passion.  The story of her ungodly acts and how she died are found in the books of 1st and 2nd Kings.

She was the literal offspring of Lucifer through his evil son Cain, and she became the Old Testament type for his children today to whom Israel has become spiritually married.  In a similar manner, her Israelite husband Ahab is the Old Testament type for the modern children of Israel, or Jacob, if you prefer.  He was stupid for marrying her and paid dearly for it, and we of western civilization today also pay dearly in like manner because we are deeply involved with her kin, the Kenites, or descendants of Cain.  In fact, they rule over us without our knowing it because they have slowly and carefully shaped the way we live.  How?  By constructing or gaining control over every major institution in western civilization.  Jesus called them tares in Matthew 13, but they are one and the same, the literal offspring of Lucifer through his son Cain.  Needless to say, she is the enemy of God and the people who worship Him in truth.  She is typical and representative of that great false cultural and religious system that the tares have set up in the world, especially within western civilization.

Contrary to some commentators, Revelation 2:20 does not say that this Jezebel is part of the church at Thyatira, but that she is allowed by its leadership to seduce some in the church.  She is doing the same thing in this church at Thyatira that she did in Israel when she caused Israel to worship idols.  What can this mean for us today?  Well, I gotta tell ya, that western civilization is the beast mentioned in Daniel and Revelation, and Jezebel is the great whore who rides the beast. She was then, and is now, that great false cultural and religious system that rides and controls western civilization.  In that capacity, she was, and is, allowed to seduce some in the church at Thyatira by its leadership.  They weren't then, and aren't now, doing their job by exposing her and fighting against her like Elijah did.  Evidently, they are not Elijahs.  If you can hear what I am saying, you be like Elijah and fight back.

You will find this ungodly tart discussed in greater detail later in Revelation 17.  She is the great whore with whom the kings (leaders or rulers) of the Earth commit fornication.  Indeed, she is the hand that guides that great false religious and cultural system that pervades western civilization today.

Rev. 2:21  And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.

Rev. 2:22  Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.

Rev. 2:23  And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

Additionally, notice in the last clause that it states that our works determine the reward He will give us.  What you do, or don't do, will determine your fate ultimately.  As the apostle James stated:  "faith without works is dead" (James 2:22, 26).

Rev. 2:24  But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.

Rev. 2:25  But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.

Rev. 2:26  And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:

Rev. 2:27  And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.

Rev. 2:28  And I will give him the morning star.

Rev. 2:29  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

God bless with understanding of His word.