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BY BOBBY GRAPENTHIN

Table of Contents

Location of Patmos and the Seven Churches Map

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The Bema Judgment Seat .. What is a Bema? .. The History of the Bema Seat .. The Judge at the Bema Seat .. What are the Rewards? Five Crown Worksheet Five Crowns 1. The 2. The 3. The 4. The 5. The

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... 12 ... 13 14 17 22 24 28 31 33 39 45 46 51 59 60 69 79 80 90

of Rewards Crown of Glory .. Crown of Life .. Incorruptible Crown .. Crown of Righteousness .. Crown of Rejoicing ..

Seven Privileges From The Bema Seat Worksheet Seven Privileges From The Bema Seat 1. To Eat of the Tree of Life . 2. Not Be Hurt of the Second Death.. Crowns and Privileges of the Bible Worksheet 1 3. A Stone With A New Name . 4. The Morning Star and Authority . Crowns and Privileges of the Bible Worksheet 2 5. Divine Identification Clothed in White Raiment. 6. A Pillar and a New Name Given ... Crowns and Privileges of the Bible Worksheet 3 7. A Throne Given .. Crowns and Privileges of the Bible Worksheet 4..

Test . 91 Prayer of Salvation . 92 References . 93

LOCATION OF PATMOS AND THE SEVEN CHURCHES

WHAT DO YOU GET WHEN YOU ADD 1 BEMA SEAT, WITH 5 CROWNS AND 7 PRIVILEGES?
This is what this study is going to investigate. All three items are mentioned throughout the Bible, but wait till you see what happens when all three of them come together. We will start with the Bema Seat, or what has been translated as The Judgment Seat. The Judgment Seat has been a topic in the Bible that has caused mental unrest in the life of the Christian. We have had so many controversial and negative things said about the topic, that it leaves the person discussing it with a sense of impending doom. People with near death experiences discuss about how their whole life passed before them in their experience. Others say they saw a light and were drawn to it, only to find they began going the opposite direction once they approached it. What we will endeavor to do is to unlock the mystery of this as found in the Bible and uncover what Paul and others were referring to that the early church understood from their eastern mindset, with little explanation from the writers. I think you will be surprised at what will be uncovered. WHAT IS A BEMA? What is a bema? Bema appears twenty-two times in the New Testament and is a Greek word used to describe a platform. The Greek definition found in Britannica Concise Encyclopedia states that it is a raised stone platform originally used as a tribunal where orators addressed the citizens and courts of law. By its definition, bema itself is a raised platform. In 2 Corinthians 5:10 the word bema is repeated twice, followed by the Greek word christos. The translator used this combination to say judgment seat of Christ. Lets look at how this raised platform, a judgment seat, and the judgment seat of Christ all work together. 2 CORINTHIANS 5:6-10 6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. 4

THE HISTORY OF THE BEMA SEAT In the time of Paul, the Greeks and the Romans built coliseums for a form of public sport that involved gladiators that fought to the death, as well as other physical feats. These victorious gladiators would then go to the Bema seat placed at the finish line where a judge would sit and distribute money for each victory they had over their opponent. When the gladiator had an outstanding performance, he received an additional bonus of a laurel crown. After receiving this, he would salute the public as an acknowledgement that these witnesses had observed his outstanding performance. If the defeat of his opponent was an extreme accomplishment, he would receive the greatest prize that could be awarded to him which was a permanent discharge from the obligation to fight again. The symbol he received for this level of accomplishment was a wooden sword. If the victor happened to be a criminal, he could earn his freedom if he survived more than three years of this kind of combat. At the end of the combat, the winner would exit the arena through the Porta Triumphalis gate, while the loser exited through the Porta Sanavivari gate. The Porta Triumphalis was probably used only during triumphal processions that started from here, or, as in the case of the funeral of Augustus, a Roman emperor, for celebrations of major importance. The Roman culture was very enthusiastic when it came to victories. Triumphant victories were publicly celebrated and the government sanctified the military achievements of an army commander who had won great military successes. The triumphing general was ritually elevated to near-divine or nearkingly status for the day of the public triumph and he made the people think he was invincible. In the lives of the Roman citizens, the triumph is considered a Roman ceremony which represented Roman wealth, power and grandeur to those honored by the ceremony. In the competitive games of the Romans, the contestants would be carefully watched by the judges who would make sure that every rule of the contest was obeyed. The judge on the Bema seat, being placed at the end of a finish line, could determine first, second and third place winners easier than in the center of the colisseum. The judges required participants to have knowledge of the rules and the dedication to the necessary training that had to be taken to make a person fit for the competition. Trainees and judges were required to take a vow promising to take part in the events in a moral way and to abide by the rules. Cheating was profoundly discouraged, and anyone found at fault would have to pay a fine.

In the competitive games of Olympia, the competitors were both men and women. The gender was not discriminated against as the women were allowed to compete with other women and the men with men. Most of the competitors were amateurs, but trained to become proven athletes worthy of notice. Olympia trainees were not only educated physically for the competitions, but mentally as well. They were required to undergo a full education in music, arithmetic, writing and reading. The mind was just as important as the muscle in their belief and they employed the finest instructors to develop the full potential of the trainee. The Greeks felt it was important to balance the athlete both mentally and physically. This process, in our current time, could be compared to training for the modern day Olympics. Hours of training under the watchful eye of a coach are required by those who want to go on to the Olympic competition and represent their country. Only the finest are chosen to go all the way, though many train. Not all the prospective trainees are willing to pay the ultimate price to represent their nation. That is why so few appear from each country. In the Christian circles and faith, the athlete is the Christian and the coaches are the Holy Spirit, the Word of God, those in the five-fold ministries, and others that know and impart the ways of God into our lives. These could include parents, grandparents and other Godly family members and friends. Books have been written by those that have studied the Word and have made their findings available to the public. All the training was made available to all who wanted to win the prize. Paul said this training could be compared to that which a soldier would undertake. This is not just a plain soldier, but a chosen soldier. A chosen soldier has potential that is recognized by someone higher than himself, and that is considered a valuable asset to the rest of the troops, though it may not yet be fully developed. To be a chosen soldier is an honor that shows a person has been hand picked. The one that selects this soldier knows the only way to bring out the highest potential, will be through training. Sadly, many drop out before their highest potential is achieved. That is why Paul wrote to Timothy the following: 2 TIMOTHY 2:4,5 4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. 5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.

The affairs of this life do not make this chosen soldier reach his highest potential, but the focus on what needs to be developed in his life will. The affairs of this life are but distractions to the character that has to be developed in the soldiers life. In the military, those that are drafted or enlist, are taken to a training camp that is away from the distractions and pulls of this life. They are put into an environment that will teach them the skills necessary to be the best of all they can be. When they finish their first set of trainings, they will come out with the mindset of focusing on victory, not defeat. They will view themselves as part of a team, with team responsibilities, not as isolated individuals. What Paul was saying was something that not only Timothy needed to be mindful about but then he states this in verse seven: 2 TIMOTHY 2:7 7 Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things. Paul is telling Timothy, This is vital information, dont ignore it, but ask the Lord for the understanding of the fullness of what I am telling you. Paul was familiar with all the Roman traditions and cultures and wove them into his writings when he addressed armor, races, disqualification, witnesses, crowns, rewards and more. The churches he helped to birth would understand the gospel of the Kingdom of God by those things with which they were familiar. The early Christians would be able to translate his analogies into their real life situations. These were all things that were known by the cultures of his day. Pauls references to the competitions pictures the believer as a competitor in a spiritual contest. In the end, the earthly competitor will receive a perishable award, but the Christian will receive an imperishable award. The judge at the earthly bema seat in the arena dispensed a reward to the victor of the competition. How much more will our Great Judge in the heavenly bema seat reward us for what we have successfully been a victor over? The bema seat judges never whipped the participants nor sentenced them to hard labor. The seat was designed for and portrayed as time of reward following the examination, not a time of punishment. That would be inconsistent with the purpose of the seat. Even a loser in the competition viewed the loss of the reward, and did not receive a punishment. It cannot be emphasized enough that the Bema Judgment Seat is designed for the bestowing of reward, not the rejection due to failure. 7

The judgment seat of Christ, the bema seat of Christ, is not a place and time when the Lord will hand out punishments for sins committed by the child of God, but a place where rewards will be given or lost depending on how one has used his or her life for the Lord. The Christian life is like a race, you run it and when you come to the end, you stand before Jesus and He determines what your reward is. This is a valuable truth as it is among the final words of Revelation and is stated in the last chapter as a closing reminder. These rewards will be given for the Christians faithfulness in life, not because he was saved. Salvation is a free gift, rewards are received or lost because of faithfulness. REVELATION 22:12 12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. The choice to serve the Lord and be mindful of what areas of our lives we need to grow in or walk away from is up to every believer. No one can make anyone grow in their relationship with God and other believers, change their character and integrity where it reflects the life of a real believer, or force them to do works fitting for reward. Only an individual can qualify or disqualify themself from the rewards they will receive at the bema seat. Paul knew this and stated that his purpose in life was to let the mighty works of Christ be reflected in his life. COLOSSIANS 1:29 29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily. I CORINTHIANS 9:24-27 24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. This is why we need to live for the day not for today. One day we will all stand in front of the bema seat of Jesus Christ and give an account for the way we lived. This is Biblical stewardship of our life.

THE JUDGE AT THE BEMA SEAT So who will be the judge of the Christian at the bema seat? It will be the Lord Jesus Himself, judging our lives and bringing to light the true nature of our walk as well as our works when we stand before him. Jesus will be the Examiner and the Rewarder at this seat, with the purpose of finding something positive to say about each believer so that they may have praise of God. ACTS 10:38-42 38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. 39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: 40 Him God raised up the third day, and showed him openly; 41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. We have the opportunity to give Jesus something to brag to God about us. We can pick how large or how small those items will be by our faithfulness. There is no believer that will be omitted from this event, everyone will be included. There will be no excused absences. This is why it is of the utmost importance that the believers know the seriousness of this upcoming event in their life. The Word plainly teaches the consequences for rejecting the Word of God in our life and the rewards, not only here on earth but in eternity, for faithfully living according to Gods Word. 1 CORINTHIANS 4:5 5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God. 2 CORINTHIANS 5:10 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Anything that is done as a work of the flesh will be regarded as worthless for reward and anything done in the power of the Holy Spirit and under His guiding will be abundantly rewarded. 9

Works by the Holy Spirit are regarded to be items of gold, silver and precious stones, while those done by the flesh are wood, hay and stubble. To give an easy example of how the wood, hay and stubble got into the gold, silver and precious stones could be put this way. Suppose I have a Thanksgiving Day dinner and have food left over. I decide to take the food down to the homeless shelter to share with the people there. I have just committed an act that will bring gold, silver and precious stones into my reward. However, when I get back home, I call someone and tell them of what I did and they praise me for what I did. Now I have added wood, hay and stubble to my act. It would have been better if I had said nothing after I took the food to the shelter. 1 CORINTHIANS 3:12-15 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. Notice that this scripture states gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble. It does not use the conjunctions and, or, if, or but. The way these six words are placed shows that there is a valid possibility that all six of these categories can be found in each work. The wood, hay and stubble will be burned up but the gold, silver and precious stones will remain. Gold and silver, under the influence of fire may liquefy, but they will not be burned up and can re-solidify. Fire can put a haze on a stone, but even that can be removed. However, wood, hay and stubble, when tried by fire, are consumed and their energy is lost. The original material is destroyed and no longer retains its previous property. Paul says the day will expose these works for what they are. That is why he encouraged them to live for the day not today. There is a day when our works will be unveiled and tested. Not for the sake of punishment but for the sake of approval. Jesus will judge our lives not by outward appearances and shows or displays, but by righteousness. There is nothing that impresses Him when it is 10

done for display. attention.

Only that which is from righteous motives captures His

JOHN 7:24 24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. JOHN 8:15,16 15 Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man. 16 And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me. Before Jesus judges the believer, He is giving each believer the opportunity to judge himself and how he measures up to the Word of God. You have the opportunity to erase those things that would disqualify you from your rewards before they are judged. What an awesome opportunity to get rid of everything that would disqualify you from your reward. This same opportunity also extends into the present life you live. You have a merciful God that wants to remove loss of rewards in the eternal and judgment for sin in the present. Those in the world will undergo a judgment, but you can escape that earthly judgment by confessing and obtaining forgiveness for sin (areas in your life where you missed the mark) now. 1 CORINTHIANS 11:31,32 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. The whole purpose of the Bema Seat of Christ is to evaluate the believers life to find out what is worthy of reward and reject those things that are unworthy of rewards. This evaluation is actually going on every day. We see this in Revelation chapters two and three. The Bema Seat of Christ is where the believer is going to be rewarded for all the good they have done, and they are encouraged to keep on going. There are some negative aspects of the bema seat, but these will be addressed later. 2 Corinthians 5:10 does address this when it said according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

WHAT ARE THE REWARDS? 11

This is where things get exciting. The participant in a competition looked forward to the reward ceremony. When he won, he had a confidence like no other. He knew the spectators in the coliseum were going to see the reward for his victory and he was excited to get it. In the Olympics of Pauls day, rewards were given according to where the games were located and the time of year. These are some of the rewards given in earlier Olympic competitions by the location that the event took place. Olympia Delphi Corinth Nemea Crown of wild olive leaves A Laurel crown A pine crown A Wild Celery crown

The most valuable and prized crown was the one made of olive leaves. It not only represented a victory, but stated that peace was to be given to the wearer for the rest of his or her life. The symbol of the olive leaf became an icon for peace world wide. That is why we see the olive branch representing peace on monuments, flags and coins in many nations. After the Olympic events, lavish banquets were held in honor of the Olympic winners. When these athletes would return to their home cities, they would be met by the cheers of those who lived there. The victors would experience an honor for the rest of their lives and poets would write verses celebrating their feats. They were often given homes, money and other rewards for their efforts in their home towns. When they died, images of their victory wreaths would be put on their tombs as a way of celebrating their successes. We find Paul, Peter and John addressing rewards for the believer. The three of them primarily addressed the victors crown while John, on the Isle of Patmos, revealed the seven privileges that the steadfast believer would be given for his faithfulness to Christ.

FIVE CROWNS
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ACQUIRED BY: ____________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ ACQUIRED BY: ____________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________

ACQUIRED BY: ____________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ ACQUIRED BY: ____________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________

ACQUIRED BY: ____________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________


FIVE CROWNS OF REWARDS 13

Five crowns are referenced in the New Testament. Paul talked about three of them, Peter and John addressed one each. Here is a list of these crowns and how they were acquired. These crowns are available to all believers upon them following the requirements to obtain them. Following the requirements qualifies a person or disqualifies their ability to secure any of them. 1. THE CROWN OF GLORY Awarded for feeding and being an example to the Flock. 1 PETER 5:1-4 1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. In this passage, Peter is exhorting the elders, which today are the pastors of the churches, to feed the flock of God. Peter knew what failure felt like when he denied Jesus three times before His crucifixion. But because of the goal of Jesus to reconcile mankind back to God, He gave Peter the key to reinstating his relationship with God. We find this statement in 1 Peter 5:2 matching what Jesus said to him. JOHN 21:15-17 15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. 16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

Peter exhorts the elders to feed the flock. He is not saying to go feed everyones flock, but the flock that they have in front of them for which they 14

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are given charge. This includes the young lambs, the middle aged and older sheep that are in their charge. Just as John 21:15-17 addresses all age brackets, so does Peter when he gives the elders charge to feed all age brackets. But he goes on to say just feeding them the Word of God is not sufficient. There is more the elder must be aware of and that is the example part. Peter knew what it was like to deal with people and different personalities in the body of Christ. Peter had experienced a loss of relationship with Jesus. He had people leaving him, turning against him, not listening to him and lying about him. He knew these things would discourage a genuine elder. He didnt want that elder to stay with their flock or congregation because of bitterness or anger, but because they wanted to, they loved the people and were willing to do it freely. The financial provision they should receive for being the elder of that congregation should not be the motive they held the position, but because they loved God and his people, no matter what they did to him personally. The quality of love that forgives shortcomings and faults yet still stays on track with the vision God has for that congregation would be an example to those who observed the elders way of life. The works and the words of the elder should be one and the same. He should not be living a double life style. Peter knew the reward for being an elder was not sufficient for the price an elder paid. There was no amount of money that could compensate the elder for what he had to put up with and go through for the sake of loving the congregation. Peter wanted to encourage the elder and the potentially discouraged elder that there is a reward for what they are going through and having to endure. This reward is going to be given when they stand before the presence of the Chief Shepherd. This reward is called a CROWN OF GLORY. Peter is not only ranking himself as an elder over the flock of God, but ranks Christ himself with the pastors, being the Chief Shepherd over the shepherds. This statement in no way states that this reward is a pastors only crown. It is a crown for pastors that feed and are examples to the flock but within the church structure, pastors who work in unity with those pastors above them qualify for the same reward. As a pastor submits to Christ, and the chain of command goes downward, there are those in the congregation that are feeding the flock and 15

not holding the pastor title. They are elders also in the church by what they are doing and not necessarily because they hold the title. This includes all that have been faithful to the interest Christ has in people and souls. This includes all that keep their focus on what Jesus would have them do and not respond to those negative things done to them. I was told one time by a person I highly respect to think of it this way. I am where I am today because of how I treated you, and you are where you are today because of how you treated me. That says a lot. You will be where you are today because of how you treated others by the standard found in the Word of God, not by how they treated you. This is the example we are to set. We treat others by how the Word of God tells us to treat them, not by how we feel. Feelings have no place in the way we treat others. The Word of God is the only pattern we should follow in developing our character and integrity toward others. It should be the only thing that dictates our attitudes and actions when others are not doing what is right in their lives, even when their wrong-doing is directed toward us. Judge your responses to situations like this, If Jesus walked into the room and heard your thoughts or words about someone, or observed your actions, would He be pleased or would you be embarrassed?

2. THE CROWN OF LIFE Awarded to those who are faithful unto death. Also known as the Martyrs Crown. 16

REVELATION 2:8-10 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; 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. 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 Smyrna is a word derived from the name of an herb, which when crushed gives off a sweet aroma. This herb is an ingredient used to embalm the dead and the word has the additional meaning of bitterness. This is a prophetic name for this church because they suffered bitterly. This letter is very short compared to what was written to the other churches and in it, Jesus has no condemnation, only exhortation, for Smyrna. If you professed to be a Christian during this time period, it was the same as signing your own death warrant. If certain people found you to be a Christian you could become entertainment in the coliseum by having to face a gladiator, hungry lions, or some other wild beast. The Romans killed Christians by the millions just for sport. He who is alive forever more tells this church not to fear death; it is not the end. Death is only a phase they must pass through to enter into eternal life. The only place of refuge for Christians in the days of persecution was a tunnel system dug by their hands. The system was called the catacombs and it stretched for several miles underneath the city of Rome. Only the Christians could find their way without getting lost through these tunnels by a set of secret inscriptions showing the way. They lived their lives hiding in a maze of tunnels where they worshiped God and buried their dead. In this passage, Jesus is stating through John, that the church at Smyrna had experienced, by wicked men under the influence of the devil, tribulation and poverty and some of them were going to be cast into prison. This statement is not limited to wicked men of the world, but also includes the members of these churches addressed in chapter two and three of the book of Revelation. He didnt promise them exemption from the suffering but informed them as to how this suffering was going to happen. Suffering will present itself to every believer, but Jesus will turn what Satan meant for evil into a reward greater than the trial. The trial will come to see if your faith is genuine and you are a legitimate believer. You know what kind of person someone is when the heat is on. 17

JAMES 1:11-12 11 For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways. 12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. James mentions this crown of life also as a reward for enduring temptation. The word temptation in the Greek is not of the same root word as the word tempted found in verse thirteen of this passage. The word temptation here means; a putting to proof (by experiment [of good], experience [of evil], solicitation, discipline or provocation); by impl. adversity: What James states is that when a person endures adversity or an experience of evil and successfully overcomes the response the adversary wanted that person to give instead of a godly response, there is a crown of life that will be given for the right response, providing they do not compromise. James says this trial will secure a crown of life for the one being tried. He ties it in with a response a person would see when grass experiences burning heat, or a flower that is cut off from the main source of life, and how the outward perception of the flower is that it is destroyed or died. We know when we leave these earthly bodies we are present with the Lord, so we have not been destroyed or no longer exist, by the definition of man. Everyone has eternal life; the difference is where we will spend it eternally. The word tried in the Greek from verse twelve has a second meaning that would make this passage even more effective to why a crown is being given as a reward. The other word that dokimos means besides tried is approved. This would make the passage read, Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is approved, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. At the bema seat, where rewards are distributed, the approved winner received the crown or reward for successfully completing the competition. He did not receive anything for partially completing it, but for going all the way with what he was tried in. Perhaps it would be better to say, after you have endured something from the adversary and did not compromise, but responded in a godly manner, even if it meant death, you did not lose - you won! And you will receive a reward called the crown of life. 18

In Revelation 2:8-10 John gives us a number as well as a reward. This is significant in the way God used numbers. John goes on to say that the trial will only last ten days. That is a two-fold comment. It means a literal ten days, but in the case of Genesis 24:55, it also is used to represent a few days. GENESIS 24:55 55 And her brother and her mother said, Let the damsel abide with us a few days, at the least ten; after that she shall go. In the study of numbers, the number ten means rebirth. We find many things happening in relationship with the number ten in the Bible. When we consider our numbering system from 0 to 9, we find the number ten is the beginning of a new series of numbers. Ten also is the number that shows the perfection of Divine order. Divine order implies not only mans responsibility, but also his responsibility toward God. In the beginning in the book of Genesis, the first grouping of ten was in the phrase, God said. This phrase appears ten times showing the Divine order of which creation occurred. Noah was the tenth generation from Adam, showing mans responsibility, or lack of it, that caused judgment to fall. Pharaohs heart was hardened ten times before he undertook judgment. The Tabernacle had ten curtains, ten pillars and ten sockets, and its foundation was ten by ten, showing complete redemption. Even the tithe is built upon this number, as it is a tenth. In the case of Rebekah, after ten days she left with Abrahams servant to be Isaacs wife. She had a new life after those ten days and a new responsibility. It was ten years after the Lord said Sarai would bear a son, before she gave up and tried to produce an heir another way, by giving Abraham her servant, Hagar, to produce a promised child. GENESIS 16:2,3 2 And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai. 3 And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife. This trial, which lasted ten years, caused compromise to set in and altered what God intended to give her. She did receive the promise, but it came with strife between her, Hagar and Ishmael. Sarai even admits in verse four that what she did was wrong. How much different would this story be if 19

both she and Abraham had continued to stand on the promise of God without taking matters into their own hands? I found it also interesting that the ten years happened in the land of Canaan. Canaan was a land founded by Kenaan, a son of Ham. His name meant humiliation. The people tested God ten times in the wilderness and He finally withdrew the fulfillment of His promise from that generation and passed it on to another. It is guarantee their lives were never the same after God withdrew from fulfilling His purpose for the generation that left Egypt. NUMBERS 14:22-23 22 Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice; 23 Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it: It is also of great interest that even the antichrists world power is composed of the ten kingdoms and Nebuchadnezzars dream had this symbolized with ten toes while Daniels vision had a beast with ten horns. Even in the parable of the ten virgins, responsibility is enforced. We also find ten declared forms of security that the child of God has when coupled with faith in Jesus in Romans 8:38-39. ROMANS 8:38-39 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. John wants the reader to know above everything else, regardless of the trial, being put in prison and even being put to death, we must stay faithful, and focus on the crown of life we are going to receive for our faithfulness, even to death. Trials and tribulations will come to every believer. Some may even take our lives, even if we are not put in a physical prison. This crown is not for prisoners only. It is for those going through trials, persecutions from wicked men, and those who stay faithful even to the death. It includes martyrs as well as non-martyrs. 20

It is directed in verse nine to everyone that suffers persecution, poverty, or the blasphemy from those that oppose the believer, yet keeps doing the works of God and does not abort their faith. Dont surrender your crown of life in the face of a trial from the adversary. The trial is only temporary, the crown is eternal. What God promises, He can and will deliver to the over-comer.

3. THE INCORRUPTIBLE CROWN striving for mastery. 1 CORINTHIANS 9:25-27

(The Victors Crown) - Awarded for

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25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. Because Paul is familiar with the competitive games found at Corinth he had the knowledge that those who were going to compete in the games of running and wrestling would commit themselves to a strict prescribed diet, both for quality and quantity, in preparation for their event. They did not indulge themselves in gluttony, or any sort of excess, but were temperate in all things, that they might be the winner of the crown for that event; which was nothing but a garland of leaves or flowers. As a parallel, he advised the Corinthians to be very moderate in the use of all worldly things, and to abstain from whatsoever might hinder their running the Christian race and their receiving the incorruptible crown. He sought not worldly honor; but that honor which comes from God. The Corinthians understood that in the competitive games, crowns would be issued made of leaves woven together to form an ornamental crown. The leafy crown received by the victor would begin to die, wither and fall apart. The crown they would get from God would not be influenced by deterioration, but would last for eternity. This kind of crown could not be obtained by living a double lifestyle. It was awarded to those that would strive to master the situation before them. They were not mastered by hardship, but mastered the difficulty in front of them. They were familiar with adversity but not subdued by it. They kept the right attitude and focus and did not take on a defeated attitude. They kept their words and confessions so they lined up with the Word of God and they refused to stop in the face of discouragement. Daniel in the lions den, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariahs (also known as Shadrack, Meshach and Abednego) facing a fiery funace in the book of Daniel, Esther standing in the gap for her people, Jehoshaphat in the face of a multimillion enemy army, and David facing Goliath are all examples of this determination. They wouldnt bow to man, they wouldnt burn in a furnace, they wouldnt abandon the call for their time, they praised when it didnt seem logical and they didnt retreat or give in to intimidation. They remained unmovable, unshakeable, untouched, unbothered, undamaged and unharmed. 22

They mastered their challenges and did not let the challenge master them. They looked to a God that was well able to overcome the adversary, and like Caleb, refused to give an evil report against the direction of God. 2 CORINTHIANS 10:3-5 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations , and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; When adversity comes, we dont jump ship on our confession. We dont change our confession because of what we see. The most powerful voice in our trial is our own voice. We can change our situations but we will have to discipline ourselves now for things that are coming, not once we are in the midst of them. We choose to discipline our own body. Master the emotions that rise up, master the thoughts that fly through our mind, and bring into captivity every thought that rises against the knowledge of what God can and will do for us. We go all the way for the Incorruptible Crown, the Victors Crown!

4. THE CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS Awarded to those who love His appearing. Why would a crown of righteousness be given to those who love His appearing? Doesnt every Christian love His appearing? Apparently not. When Paul was writing this to Timothy there were many Christians that didnt want Jesus to appear. Today there are also many people that would not want 23

Him to appear, as they know what they are doing is wrong, but they think they are getting away with it. 2 TIMOTHY 4:1-8 1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. 6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. This is the easiest crown to receive. There is no excuse for someone not being able to receive this crown if they recognize what it entails to get it. Lets look at the history of what is going on when Paul wrote this letter to Timothy. In the first five verses, Paul is writing to Timothy to be faithful and to get the message out that Jesus is Savior and Messiah, that He died for mankind to restore them to God, and salvation is available through faith in the completed work on the cross and not by observing rituals, rites and ceremonies. There is a tremendous need for Timothy to be faithful as Paul is about to depart this life and is at the end of his ministry. Paul said, "I am now ready to be offered up, and the time of my departure is at hand". Time is short for Paul. He wanted the gospel to continue going out, he wanted Timothy to pay attention to what he was saying. He tells Timothy to, Be instant in season and out of season. Reprove. Rebuke. Exhort with all long suffering and doctrine". In verse seven, Paul says he had fought a good fight. A good fight is any fight you win. Paul doesnt see himself as being a loser, although those in religious circles had branded him as a defector of the Jewish faith, but as being an athlete that had finished his course and did it according to the rules. He had been a good athlete and soldier. He never once failed to carry out that which was entrusted to him. 24

Today, liberalism challenges faith. The infiltration of liberalism encourages and allows anyone to do anything he wants to, and it is done by injecting false teaching into society and the church. Liberalism doesnt build its belief system on the Word and faith, but on whatever creates a user friendly environment. Liberalism focuses on whatever is pleasing to men while faith focuses on pleasing God, and following His Word and His standards. Yet no matter how hard man tries to circumvent God and His Word, this still small voice continues to speak and declare even into the hardest of hearts, the love of God and what is right, and what is wrong. Psychology has labeled this still small voice the sub-conscience, believers call it the Spirit of God. This is why Paul called it a Crown of Righteousness. It is a crown for doing what is right. It is doing what God considers right. Righteousness has already been imputed to you if you have trusted the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior. When you, by faith, make Jesus your Savior, you receive the ultimate righteousness available. You cant take on any higher righteousness than Gods. ROMANS 1:17 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. ROMANS 3:22, 24-26 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Paul tells Timothy, "Now, if you fight a good fight you will receive the Crown of Righteousness". Notice Paul does not say, "If you run a good race, you will receive the Crown of Righteousness" or "If you keep the faith, you will receive the Crown of Righteousness". He says, "If you love His appearing, you will, in spite of the challenges you faced, fighting a good fight, running the race of life, finishing the course and keeping the faith, keep going. None of these obstacles stopped you from loving the appearing of Jesus.

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How can I love His appearing? Think of it like a child waiting for a loving daddy to come home from a business trip. Daddy has promised this child that when he returns, he is going to bring that child a special present. The child doesnt know what the present looks like, only that it is special and it is for them. Once the child has been informed that daddy will be home in the next fifteen minutes, the child stands at the window, looking and watching for the appearance of daddy. The childs full focus is on seeing the returning daddy, not the distracting television, or a dog barking. The child doesnt worry about justifying what went on when daddy was gone, it just wants to see daddy. Nothing else matters to that child than daddys appearing. Now take that same child and if daddy says, If you are not good when I get back, Im going to punish you will that child love daddys appearing? Probably not. The child will probably do all it can do avoid seeing daddy when he appears. This is what has happened to many believers and non-believers. Daddy, to them, has been the abusive, uncaring, disciplinarian that has disappointed them and filled their lives with broken promises. If God is anything like daddy, why should they love his appearing? God is probably just like that male they call daddy. That thought has infiltrated mankinds belief system and made its way to the pulpit. Hurt, wounded and disappointed people have come to believe that God is just like the daddy that hurt, wounded, abused and disappointed them. The Fathers love is so opposite of what a cruel world has dumped on them. He is more excited about seeing them than they are of seeing Him. God is good, Satan is evil. If God was out to fling lightning bolts at us every time we messed up or fell short, then He would have become like Satan. God is ever so frequently labeled as being behind things that the adversary has done. After all, God has been presented as the mean, cruel, father that is waiting to send you to hell for messing up, when in reality, He wants you to come to Him so He can help you clean up what you messed up. When we see what God really did for us through Jesus, we will probably be saying, "Daddy, we never realized the sacrifice you made because you loved us". When we have a relationship with a Father that loves us and just wants to reward us for accepting His Son as our Savior, and wants us to love His appearing, it is hard to imagine anyone NOT wanting Him to return. His return brings rewards, not punishments. Yet that is so hard to believe by what we have been taught in religion and tradition. 26

This crown is the easiest to get and all you have to do is get excited about His appearing.

5. THE CROWN OF REJOICING Awarded to those who win the lost to Christ. The soul-winners crown. 1 THESSALONIANS 2:19 19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? 27

Let us look at this verse in two different translations. scope of understanding.

It widens the

INTERNATIONAL STANDARD VERSION After all, who is our hope, joy, or reason for rejoicing in the presence of our Lord Jesus at his coming? It is you, isn't it? NEW LIVING TRANSLATION After all, what gives us hope and joy, and what will be our proud reward and crown as we stand before our Lord Jesus when he returns? It is you! In this letter to the Thessalonians, Paul does not separate our confidence related to this crown without a reference to people. This crown is directly tied into mans relationship with man. This crown of rejoicing, which we will receive, cannot be expressed without a relationship to people. Paul had referenced this crown to the people in Philippians and stated it was because of people that he was going to obtain this crown. PHILIPPIANS 4:1 1 Therefore, my brethren, dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved. Paul recognizes that they are a present joy to him now and that they will be a crown for him when he stands in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ at His coming. He states to the Philippians and the Thessalonians that both groups gave him joy and were going to be a crown because of the souls that were won there. It is interesting that what Paul is saying is that every person whom he has led to the Lord, every person to whom he has ministered the Word of grace and salvation, will make up his crown when he stands at the Judgment Seat of Christ. This crown is made up of several aspects and emotions. The first aspect and emotion is joy. 1. JOY The Bible says there is great joy in heaven over one sinner that repents. LUKE 15:10 10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. If there is joy in the presence of angels because a sinner repents, imagine when you stand before the Lord with that person in their finished state, how much more that joy will be magnified. In the day-to-day life of knowing that persons short comings, failures and disappointments they may bring to our current life, there doesnt seem to 28

be a lot of reasons to have joy. But those who have been born again because of you, when you stand before the Lord and see them as finished products, there will be joy. 2. BOASTING The Greek word for rejoicing used in this passage is also the same Greek work used for boasting. This crown of rejoicing is a crown that boasts of an accomplishment. Our crown is going to consist of boasting as well. We will be able to boast, not in our own effort, not in what we have done, but we will be able to boast about how gracious and wonderful God's grace was to the lost. In 2 Corinthians 10:13 the word that was translated from the Greek to rejoicing in Luke 15 is used as boasting here. 2 CORINTHIANS 10:12-13,15-16 12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. 13 But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you. 15 Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly, 16 To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand. In the entire 10th chapter, we discover that he is boasting about the fact that he has preached the gospel without any strings attached to it at all. Paraphrased, what Paul is saying is, "No one is going to take my boasting away from me. What I did was not because I was in competition with anyone or was stealing from another mans works, but is because God put you in my life to raise up. This boasting is to bring glory to God, not ourselves. There is a vast difference between boasting of ourselves and boasting of the Lord. This boasting is bragging about the Lord. 3. PAULS CONCERN Paul, and every believer, should have a mindfulness in regard to crowns. The main concern Paul felt concerning this, and the other crowns, was not so much that he would not receive the crown (he had confidence that he would receive it), but his thought was that a possibility existed that the crowns would 29

become tarnished. His apprehension was related to the possibility of the crowns losing some of their glory and some of their sparkle. Paraphrased, he was saying, "You are my crown, so stand fast in the Lord". We as believers are not only to bring the lost in, but encourage them to be everything they were designed to be for the Lord. We are to encourage them to grow and master the challenges before them. We are to be, like the coach at the training center, cheering them on and giving them the tools to be successful, without taking the place of the Lord in their lives. Paul took it upon himself to watch over their growth, to pray for them and to come back to teach and instruct them. When he couldnt make the journey, he sent others in his place to build up the new believers life. He was acting from the position of a concerned father, wanting the best for his spiritual children. Paul did not begrudge any moment that was spent in the energy of the flesh over the people in his care. He was like a jealous parent that tended to all the needs of his child. Yet he knew there were more lost and he desired to bring them into the family. This crown of rejoicing is waiting for anyone who has directed any person to the Lord. If you have never brought anyone to the Lord, dont be too hard on yourself yet. If we are one body then look at Matthew 10:41,42. MATTHEW 10:41-42 41 He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. 42 And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward Supporting ministries that are out there leading the lost to the Lord entitles you to receive the same reward they are receiving for physically doing the work. I think a lot of people are going to be surprised when they see they qualify for this reward and they never left the town they live in. Supporting others in the mission field causes you to have a part in the salvation of multitudes of people whom you have never met and who will be part of your crown when you stand at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

SEVEN PRIVILEGES FROM THE BEMA SEAT

OF LIFE

TREE
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ACQUIRED BY: ____________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________

ACQUIRED BY: ____________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________

ACQUIRED BY: ____________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________


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ACQUIRED BY: ____________ _Keeping your first love and being an overcomer.________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________
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_________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________

ACQUIRED BY: ____________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________

ACQUIRED BY: ____________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________

ACQUIRED BY: ____________

SEVEN PRIVILEGES FROM THE BEMA SEAT


1. TO EAT OF THE TREE OF LIFE. Revelation 2:7 The result of a heart full of love for Jesus
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REVELATION 2:7 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. This is the first of seven privileges that are granted to the believer at the Bema Seat. The current teaching is that we will receive one or more of the five crowns that are awarded but then privileges are awarded also that have not been taught about. This is available to all the churches and believers. In the day Paul taught about the various crowns, they were being compared to things the people understood in their culture. The number one event he compared them to was the Olympics. He used the words like victor and imperishable to describe the achievement and condition of the crown. John, in the book of Revelation, exposes the privileges that went along with obtaining a crown and overcoming obstacles. These were not revealed to Paul. Because they are mentioned primarily in the book of Revelation, they were awarded above and beyond the things that could be obtained in the Old Testament. These were to be given both to the Jew and Gentile believer and not specifically reserved for the Hebrew people only. Reading this in context with the entire verse section, we find that John is writing about the way the Lord is addressing the church at Ephesus. God acknowledged their good works, their good labor, their patience, the way they evaluated and proved things with wisdom and how they wanted nothing to do with evil. They were so set on being upright before the Lord that they even evaluated the Apostles and were able to determine which ones were false and liars. They were quick to identify those that were corrupt in doctrine and practice. Paul especially took the time to warn the Ephesians what would happen to them after he departed in Acts because of their zeal to be righteous. ACTS 20:29-31 29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. Even in the face of trials and hardships, they refused to be a bad example of the type of character a Christian bearing the name of Christ should display. 33
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Yet in all their ability to stand upright in all they did, the Lord had something against them. It was that they were now operating by the guidelines Paul gave them so strictly that it caused them to lose the key ingredient to their Christianity. They lost their first love. It was there at one time as Paul had even complimented them about it. EPHESIANS 1:15-16 15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, 16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; It appears that their zeal had outlasted their love. That happens so easily when we are trying to guard the things of the Lord in our lives. It is a result of isolating ourselves instead of insulating ourselves. When we isolate ourselves, we remove ourselves from those we believe can damage what we possess. When we insulate ourselves, we can stand in the presence of what can hurt us and not be affected by it. In the presence of suffering, love can be lost if we do not insulate ourselves. Much love for the lost is birthed out of revivals. Large revivals were birthed out of Germany, England and Switzerland for the lost and hurting. Godly love came halfway around the world for those in the Americas despite the perils they encountered to get there. The Moravians, an Evangelical Protestant denomination birthed in 1457 in the modern day Czech Republic wanted to evangelize the world. They held a personal commitment to helping the poor and needy despite their persecution. On August 13th, 1727 the community underwent a dramatic transformation when the inhabitants of Herrnhut, Germany "Learned to love one another," following an experience that they attributed to a visitation of the Holy Spirit, similar to that recorded in the Bible on the day of Pentecost. The people of Herrnhut grew rapidly following this transforming revival and became the center of a major movement for Christian renewal and mission during the 18th century. Some of their accomplishments included: 1. Setting up continuous prayer that ran uninterrupted, 24 hours a day, for 100 years. 2. Establishing more than 30 settlements internationally on the Herrnhut model, which emphasised prayer and worship, and a form of communal living in which simplicity of lifestyle and generosity with wealth were held to be important spiritual attributes. 34

3. Starting missionary work. 4. Forming many hundreds of small renewal groups operating within the existing churches of Europe. These groups encouraged times of prayer and worship, Bible study, confession of sins and accountability. These people truly had a love for the believer as well as the lost. The Moravian missionaries were the first large-scale Protestant missionary movement. They sent out the first missionaries when there were only 300 inhabitants in the Herrnhut, Germany awakening. They were not large, but they were powerful in zeal and love. In 1732 they established the first missionary church on the island of St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands. In 1740 they established a church in New York by converting the Mohican Indian people. On Christmas Eve in 1741, David Nitschmann and Count Nicolaus von Zinzendorf, led a small community of believers to found a mission in the colony of Pennsylvania which they named Bethlehem. At their height they were active in 18 provinces, including all of the Americas, the congo, Britian, all the West Indies, all continental Europe, Honduras, Jamacia, Nicaragua, South Africa, Suriname, and all of Tanzania. All this from a group that came from a town of less than 300, motivated by love. In verse five, the Lord reminds the people of Ephesus that they are about to lose their position and light. He exhorts them to return to their first love before it is too late. The Lord was about to extinguish the light of that church, which was an awful warning which Christ eventually was forced to fulfill to the church in Ephesus. That church today is extinct, as are so many other unfaithful churches that existed in the day of Paul and John. In verse six, the Lord addresses a group of people called the Nicolaitanes. They were a corrupt sect that seemed to have turned Christian liberty into licentiousness. The Nicolaitanes taught that the men could have a community of wives, that adultery and fornication were things that could be practiced and that eating meats offered to idols was quite lawful. They mixed several pagan rites with the Christian ceremonies. They are also supposed to have derived their origin from Nicolas, one of the seven deacons mentioned in Acts 6:5. In verse seven, the Lord grants them the right and privilege to eat of the Tree of Life, but under certain conditions. To eat of the tree of life in the earthly paradise was to our first parents the token of immortality. It was clearly stated in Revelation 22:2 that if something was physically out of order, the leaves of this tree could fix it. In it 35

was healing for anyone in any nation that would ever come from the Adamic race. We find in Genesis 2:9 that God made many trees for food, but only one would bring immortality and life to the one that ate it. GENESIS 2:9 9 And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. The fact that God says, I will give in Revelation 2:7, shows that the access to it is no longer available to mankind and can only be obtained by the Lord himself. This tree that once existed in the garden is now safely in the midst of the paradise of God. It was because of Gods love that He removed the tree and did not destroy it. Imagine what it would be like today and the impact it would have on salvation if Adam and Eve had eaten of the tree after the fall. They would have immortality in a fallen state and nothing could be done to change it. They would forever be evil and without redemption. Mankind would have to live eternally cut off from God without hope of escape from the terrible consequences of sin. The Bible doesnt say that they never ate of it in the beginning, the issue is eating it after eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. GENESIS 3:22-24 22 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: 23 Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. 24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life. Gods plan for mankind did not change since Genesis 1:1. He still wants immortality for man, just not in his fallen state. The fact that the over-comer will be able to eat of it states His plan has not changed. He preserved it all these years. By eating the fruit of this tree the immortality of Adam would have been secured. By us eating it, ours will be too. However, I believe God has a much larger purpose for it than just securing immortality. This tree of life is a real tree with a real purpose. The tree of life is mentioned ten times in ten different scriptures in the Bible. In Proverbs 3:18 wisdom is compared to as a tree of life. We find in Proverbs 11:30, righteousness is spoken of as a tree of life as well. Then 36

Proverbs 13:12 puts an interesting comment with the phrase tree of life. It says that when a person loses hope, they become sick, but when that which they hoped for comes to pass, it is like a tree of life bringing healing. Proverbs 15:4 says our words can be like a tree of life if they are wholesome. This is not the wholesome most people think of when they use that word. It means healing, medicine, sound and deliverance. When you speak words of healing, it brings healing. When you speak words of deliverance, it comes to the hearer. Sometimes we are the hearer and need to have our own mouths speak into our own lives. PROVERBS 15:4 4 A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit. Two other places in particular that we will pay attention to in the Bible that this tree of life is mentioned is in Ezekiel 47:12 and the other in Revelation 22:2. EZEKIEL 47:12 12 And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine. REVELATION 22:2 2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. Notice the similarities of the tree. Ezekiel states there are all kinds of trees available where Revelation singles out one of the trees, the tree of life. It may be that God placed one of these trees in the garden with the rest of them being available at a future date. Besides that, since God is a creator and has not ceased to be a creator, perhaps these trees were to be available to other planets as mankind expanded. I believe His intention was to fill the universe with His highest creation, mankind. Why create planets and galaxies and keep expanding the universe if it is to remain dark and uninhabited? Perhaps we need to think outside the box of our tradition and limitations we have placed on an unlimited God. At the end of the age, a blessing is connected to the tree of life. We find it called a right. We find this located just a few verses away from the mention of this tree in Revelation 22:2. Look at Revelation 22:14. God says 37

that those that do His commandments have a right to the tree of life. Plus those that do his commandments have free access to come into the city where this tree is located, without hesitation. This privilege opens the gates into the city to us. REVELATION 22:14 14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. But all of this is conditional and based on two things being an overcomer and not losing our first love. The scriptures did not say, to him that striveth or resisteth will I give to eat of the tree of life, but to him that overcometh. It is not enough that we resist, but we must conquer. That puts a whole different light on things. We must not just resist offenses when they come, but conquer our response to it. We must not just resist getting angry when things are frustrating us, but conquer our wrong responses to it so we dont repeat negative responses continually. Resisting a thing is far different than conquering it. Our character will reflect whether we have conquered an emotional response or not. Trials are not going to be a one-time event either. The fact that the word overcometh ends with a e-t-h means it will have the opportunity to be repeated. Our trial will come again to be repeated in our lives to test our victory over it. Trials are to make us firm and unshaken in our character. When we are firm and unshaken emotionally, we have conquered our trial. As each trial comes, our character should continue to be unshaken so that this privilege will be granted to us when we stand before the Bema Seat of Christ. We need to strive to be one that has the right to eat of the tree of life.

2. NOT BE HURT OF THE SECOND DEATH - Revelation 2:11 The results of a sound witness
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REVELATION 2:11 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. We find this second privilege being addressed to the church in Smyrna. Smyrna was an ancient city of Ionia, located on the western coast of Asia Minor, about 40 miles to the north of Ephesus. Its name means myrrh which symbolizes the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus starts addressing this church from the fact that He had himself triumphed over death in all its forms, and was now alive forever. He did not want them to fear being put to death, as He had experienced that, but was now alive. Death is not the end of life, but the beginning of a new one. To the degree one is dying, is the degree they are becoming alive in the next realm. We see this demonstrated at the death of Stephen. ACTS 7:54-60 54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. 55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. 57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, 58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. 59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. The word used for sleep means to put to sleep. It was as if God had to put his body to sleep to remove his spirit. His request is that Jesus receives his spirit, but this appeal is followed with God putting him to sleep. It never mentioned Stephen in pain and torture, but Stephen calling upon God not to lay this offense to their charge. This was pure forgiveness in action. It was the same thing Jesus did as part of his last actions on the cross. LUKE 23:34 34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. The commendation given by Christ of this church at Smyrna is large with nothing to lay to the blame of what they were doing with their lives. There 39

were failings in this church, but Almighty God mercifully overlooked them because of their ability to forgive. How do we know they were forgiving? Look at the pattern in verse nine. We find the Lord addressing four areas they had endured for the gospel sake. 1. works 2. tribulation 3. poverty 4. blasphemy The followers of Jesus are never promised to be free from persecution. In fact, the godly in Christ are always persecuted in some way, especially when they are doing a good work. It is easy to become weary in well doing when persecution comes upon you for no other reason than you were doing what is right and good to someone else. And to forgive becomes more difficult the longer the persecution continues. Jesus was fully aware of the tribulation they endured and how it had caused them poverty. Then on top of that, they were being blasphemed by their own people they once had a friendship with. Many were of their own households that were doing the rejecting. These people were highly familiar with loss. retained the ability to forgive. Yet in all of that, they

It says in verse eleven, that he that overcometh would not be hurt by the second death. What did he have to overcome? The wrong response to all that they were going through. It would be easy to blame, get revenge and become angry for the way they were being treated. They could have easily retaliated at those who were against them, but they didnt. To respond to their persecutors with the same vengeance would have made them like their oppressor. What fruit would that have produced? What would God be saying about them then? Could it have directed them into being part of the second death rather than escaping it? We are told not to participate with this evil, but overcome it with good. If that is the case, then the over-comer must not respond to the offense or evil that comes against them in a negative, non-Christ like behavior. Our response must be according to the way the Word of God tells us to respond. We find in Romans 12:21 what the correct response is when offenses come. We should not struggle with making the right choice as this struggle is addressed in the verses that follow Romans 12:21. Even resisting the power of God or his ordinances open the door for damnation. This is not a category a believer wants to fall into. ROMANS 12:21, 13:1,2 21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. 40

13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. Want to know why you have continuous bad days? What are you using to overcome the evil around you with? Are you complaining, being negative, or saying things you should not say about someone or something? Are you operating in independence or inter-dependence? Have you become isolated or insulated against your trials? I had a situation one time where forgiveness was the last thing I wanted to do, much less couple a correct attitude with it. That day, everything went wrong that could go wrong. By the end of the day, I didnt think I could carry anymore weights. That night the Lord told me, If you think today was bad, wait till you see tomorrow! I knew what He meant but I had no motivation to forgive, only exhaustion from the day. He told me that to forgive those who were behind the attacks that day was not me saying they were right and I was wrong. It didnt mean I was right and they were wrong. It meant I was forgiving and releasing them from the punishment they deserved. I had to choose to lay the offense aside. I had to choose of my own free will to lay it aside and omit it from my life. Like Stephen was forgiving them from the punishment they deserved for attacking and stoning him, I was to release those from what they did to me that day. Feelings were not to be calculated into the response. Out of obedience, I chose to forgive them. When I refused to let my emotions dictate my obedience, I knew I was released from the assignment Satan had on my life for the next day. For me to have continued in holding my offenses against others would be like me drinking a poison and waiting for someone else to die. It says in Matthew 18 that we are to forgive a person seventy times seven times. Then he gives an example of a person who was forgiven, but did not apply that to someone else. MATTHEW 18:21,22, 21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. Look at the story from Matthew 18:23-32 and see how it concludes for the unforgiving person. 41

MATTHEW 18:33-35 33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? 34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. 35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses. The direct result of you not forgiving and not overcoming an offense with the right response is torment. According to this, the punishment for not overcoming an offense WITH THE RIGHT RESPONSE is being turned over to the tormentors BY THE LORD. That should be motivation enough to release a person from the punishment we feel they deserve. Who wants to know the Lord turned them over to the tormentors! Therefore, the over-comer is going to be released not only from the torment they will receive now, but also from the second death. What is the second death they are being released from? The second death is eternal torment in the lake of fire from which there is no escape. Lets look at Revelation 20:14. REVELATION 20:14 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. "The second death" and the "lake of fire" in this verse are identical terms. It is "second" in relation to the preceding physical death. The first death is physical death; the second is to be cast into the lake of fire. Jesus was telling John to tell the people of Smyrna, that they would escape this place if they continued to walk in forgiveness and not pick up offenses. Those who operated in forgiveness and were without offenses were called overcomers. These overcomers would not have to be concerned if they were going to end up in the lake of fire. That is why Stephen was so quick to forgive those who stoned him before he died. As much as he operated in the power of God during his short life as a Christian, it was still an option to end up here by not being forgiving toward others. This was not the place where only the non-overcomer would be found but others as well. REVELATION 20:14,15 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. 42

The second death is addressed four times in the New Testament and none in the Old Testament by that phrase. It is alluded to but not translated second death. In Revelation 21:8 a list is given of those who are not found written in the book of life. Here is the list. REVELATION 21:7-8 7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. We will expound upon who makes up this list and give a better definition of what they are. A. FEARFUL The Greek word here means timid and faithless. A timid person shrinks back from dangerous or difficult circumstances or is hesitant to step forward for a belief. A faithless person, on the other hand, is untrue to his obligations, is disloyal, and lacks trust or confidence in a person or cause. A faithless person knows about Christ and what the Word says, but chooses to reject it. B. UNBELIEVING This Greek word means a person that is untrustworthy, believes not, and is an infidel. Infidel is used a lot today with little understanding of what it really means. It means a person that has no religious beliefs about Christianity or Islam. This person does not believe in any religion, especially Christianity. They do not know what the Bible says, so that is why they dont believe in the God of the Bible or what He says. C. ABOMINABLE The Greek word used here also translates to stink. An abominable person stinks before God. They are people who are detestable, loathsome, repulsive, monstrous, offensive and vile. God can not allow this odor in heaven. D. MURDERERS - This word does not limit itself to criminals. The Greek word combines a criminal that murders with one that slaughters another. It is a much larger word as it includes one that slaughters another with words as well as weapons. Its intent is to kill and destroy another unlawfully in action as well as words. E. WHOREMONGERS This Greek word covers three categories; prostitution, a fornicator, and those having sex outside of being married to each other. 43

F. SORCERERS This Greek word used here is pharmakon where we get our root word pharmacy or drug. It is used to describe a spellgiving potion or by one being a poisoner of another through the use of drugs. These drugs are not for the treatment of an ailment but result in the destruction of another person. It leaves it open as to how far this applies. It can refer to the one dealing the drug as well as the user of the drug. G. IDOLATERS The Greek word here references one that worships something else. In the case of a Christian, his worship or devotion is to the Living God. Worshipping anything but our Lord and Savior is grounds to be called an idolater. To worship and be devoted to acquiring material things causes a person to fall into the idolaters category. H. ALL LIARS This is a category that starts with an entire selection. It uses the word all to show that every one that has made this a lifestyle is included. A liar is fraudulent, a pretender, an impostor, and a hypocrite. A person can impersonate a Christian without being one. This is a fearful state to be in. It qualifies this person to be an imposter and a liar. The cure for this category is to repent, ask God for forgiveness and have a relationship with Jesus and the Word of God. Revelation 21 ends on a good note for the over-comer. It holds great promises and rewards for the one that over-comes offenses and walks in forgiveness. REVELATION 21:5-7 5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. When we stay faithful to Christ, walk in forgiveness and not hold grudges against those who offended us until the time we depart from this body, we shall never fear the second death. We can never be hurt again. When this body dies, there is no more the enemy can do to us. If we are made fun of or criticized for believing in Jesus Christ or doing good works in His name, we should be happy for our sakes but sad for their sakes. We have something to look forward to; they have something they dont want to look forward to.

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Name_______________________________________________ CROWNS AND PRIViLEGES OF THE BIBLE


WORKSHEET 1

1. How many crowns are spoken about in the Bible? ___________ 2. Name each crown and how it is acquired. A. _______________________________________________ _________________________________________________ B. _______________________________________________ _________________________________________________ C. _______________________________________________ _________________________________________________ D. _______________________________________________ _________________________________________________ E. _______________________________________________ _________________________________________________ 3. What phrase makes up the first grouping of ten in the Old Testament? ____________________________________________ 4. What is a bema? ____________________________________ 5. What is a bema seat? _______________________________ 6. What happens at the bema seat for the believer? _________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ 7. What event was Paul using as a guideline for the rewards given to the believer? _________________________________________ 8. The easiest crown to receive is the crown of ________________ 9. What crown is also known as the Martyrs Crown? ___________ ______________________________________________________ 10. How many privileges are going to be awarded? ____________ BONUS QUESTIONS: (For the studious student) A. What earthly thing is against faith? _______________________ B. What does eth mean at the end of a word? _______________ ______________________________________________________
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3. A STONE WITH A NEW NAME - Revelation 2:17 The results of holding fast to His name and not allowing false doctrine into the Body of Believers
REVELATION 2:17 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. This privilege is not only one that is given to the Church at Pergamos but also the Churches and is a fulfillment of a prophecy in the Old Testament regarding Zion and Jerusalem. In the Old Testament, it is connected with the Jewish race and their city. This is referred to as the wife of God. In the New Testament, it is also given to the bride of Christ. We find this prophecy in Isaiah 62:1-3. It is also connected to the crown of glory in the Old Testament. ISAIAH 62:1-3 1 For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth. 2 And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name. 3 Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God. The history behind this church that is being written about starts with its very own name - much marriage. The people there had been zealous for the Lord in the beginning and were even continuing in their good works, but some were found reverting to previous lifestyles. They had begun to marry into some things where were against Christianity. In Revelation 2:12 John states that Jesus has a sharp sword with two edges; proceeding from his mouth. The fact that it has two edges means that it can have favorable as well as unfavorable consequences for the person that encounters it. REVELATION 2:12 12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; In comparison with a straight sword which is restricted to slashing and thrusting, the two-edged sword was capable of thrusting in and pulling back out. A two edged sword is also ceremonially a symbol of power and authority. 46

The first record of a sword in the Bible was when it guarded the entrance to the Tree of Life. It was there to keep man out of the garden after the fall lest he return and eat of this Tree of Life and forever be evil. This two-edged sword is referred to in Hebrews 4:12 as the Word of God and is to keep sin out of mankind. HEBREWS 4:12 12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. In verse thirteen, John goes on to state that these people live where the seat of Satan dwells. This was a real object called by the Christians and Jesus Himself as the seat of the being Satan. To the occupants of Pergamos, it had a different name. It was called the Altar of Zeus where he ruled from using his most dangerous weapons, thunder and lightning. REVELATION 2:13 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. Historically, it is believed the high Babylonian mystical priesthood established this altar and moved it from Babylon to Pergamos in 133 B.C. At the time of this writing in the book of Revelation, we find the mystical Babylonian priesthood in Pergamos. Perhaps these are part of the group the Lord is addressing in verse fourteen. In 313 A.D. this high Babylonian priesthood moved its headquarters to Rome, where it taught that Virgin-Born Tammuz who had the sign of the cross, was born on December 25th. Here in Rome, the people were shocked but gradually accepted the practices of this cult, which included the bizarre rite of castrating men to turn them into women with long, bleached hair and heavily made up faces in honor to the goddess Cybele. In exchange for alms, the followers would tell peoples fortunes. Cybeles worship was associated with a black meteorite that had fallen from the sky. This stone was moved from the city of Rome to Mecca and set up for the Arabs to worship. Archeologists have searched in the ruins of Roman excavation for the stone but have been unable to locate it. That is why it is agreed upon that the one in Mecca is the one they are looking for. The current day Vatican was built on top of the ruins of the Temple of Cybele, and the black-robed priest are still found there. 47

When Constantine incorporated the Christian Church with the World at the council of Nicea and brought the church and state together (as you find it in the Vatican today), he blended the mystical Babylonian religion into the church structure. His attempt to delete Jewish customs and practices from Christianity and blend a religion founded by Nimrod, started here. Days of worship, holidays and other Jewish practices were deleted or blended with pagan gods and rituals. Nimrods religion, also referred to as a Babylonian religion, had been exposed in the Old Testament. We will find out when we get to Revelation 2:20 that this religion of black-robed priests which were addressed by the title "father," is as old as 1800 B.C. and has nothing in common with Christianity. In verse thirteen, John mentions Antipas as a faithful martyr in Pergamom. The name Antipas is a blended name made up of the words anti and papas, which means anti-father (papas). He was against these black-robed priests and lost his life because of it. It was from this seat, that the base was formed to deceive and corrupt the true believer. It was located in Pergamom, Turkey and used as the sacrificial center of all of the pagan worship in the ancient world. This elaborate seat was constructed by Eumenes II between 197-159B.C. as a memorial of the victory against the Galation invasion. The Altar was constructed in the shape of a horseshoe and composed of four parts. The reliefs, which were made from sculpted marble panels, describe a mythical war between the rebellious giants (who were the sons of the mother earth) and the Greek gods. The reliefs have many figures on them including Apollo, the Titaness Phoebe, Zeus, Athena, Triton, Aphrodite, the gods of the sea, what is called the Beisser Groups of unknown deities. Later, the German engineer, Carl Humann, carried it to Germany, logging every part of it so it could be reconstructed exactly as it appeared in its home town. Inside Pergamom, there is a Temple to Serapis built for the Egyptian gods. Today it is called the Red Courtyard by the locals. This Temple was built in the 2nd century A.D. It wasnt until the 4 th century that this building, which is shaped like a basilica, was converted into a church dedicated to John, the writer of the book of Revelation. When Islam came into Turkey, they wanted it moved elsewhere. That is why in 1902 under the leadership of Kaiser Wilhelm II, Germany had no trouble acquiring it. In 1913, Germany began to bring the actual gates of Babylon to be set up in what is today, the Pergamom Museum in Berlin, Germany. These gates are over forty feet tall and show oxen, lions and other creatures in a walking position facing the ornate blue and brown gates. 48

In 1934, after Hitler became dictator, he ordered the construction of the Tribune at Zeppelin Field in Nuremberg, Germany for his Nazi rallies. It was designed to be a model of the Pergamom Altar. He had his pulpit located in the center of the Tribune, also known as the upper altar courtyard. His podium and its location was a direct mockery of God and the Holy of Holies. In 1939, he started World War II and attributed his mystical powers to the credit of the seat of Satan. In 1948, Russia captured the Pergamom Altar, or seat of Satan. In that same year it was removed from Germany and Israel became a nation again in the land of Israel. In 1958, ten years later, it was returned to Berlin, Germany, where it is today. There is currently a petition filed at the international court by the Turkish government to get this altar returned to them. When Barrack Obama went to Berlin, Germany, to address the German people during his campaign, he stood at the monument in the center of the Tiergarten, (a vast network of tunnels built for Hitler when he wanted to declare Berlin as the Capitol of the World) to give his speech. When he made his rousing speech launching his Democratic candidacy, he stood in front of a replica of this altar and the seat of Satan. In verse fourteen, Jesus addresses this blending of religions which caused the foundation for gentile conversion to be defiled. REVELATION 2:14 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. Two of the four things Paul addressed the gentiles to follow in order to be grafted into Christianity with the Jews were not to eat things sacrificed unto idols and not to commit fornication. The list is found in Acts 15:20. ACTS 15:20 20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. The rebuke from the Lord didnt stop there. It also addressed that they were incorporating some of the beliefs of the Nicolaitanes. They held that all married women should be common to prevent jealousy and licentious practices were permitted. 49

REVELATION 2:15 15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate. In verse sixteen, the Lord tells them what His expectations are of them and says he will fight against them with the sword of his mouth. This sword will bring judgment against them. Yet in verse seventeen, the Lord shows them the way to avoid this and what the reward will be to overcome the state they are in and repent. REVELATION 2:16,17 16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. 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. A white stone was a precious stone if you received one. On this stone figures and inscriptions were cut and were often used by ancient princes, as gifts and badges of honor to the one they gave tribute to. What is being implied here by the custom of that time is that to him that overcame, the Savior would give him a token of his favor which would have some word or name inscribed on it, and which would be of use to him alone. It may only be intelligible to him so that no other man would be able to see or comprehend what is said on the stone, much like a secret inscription, but it would be a token of the favor of the Lord upon him. It would be the evidence that he overcame the accusations and repented. In the Greek culture, two stones were given to vote by. A white stone showed approval and a black stone was condemning and showed disapproval. At the Olympic Games, the emperor would toss a white stone to the winner of the competition that he was particularly fond of with a name on it that the others didnt know. On this stone was a word written for the exclusive use of the winner so that he would be able to obtain whatever was written on it. It could be corn, or clothing, or some other material object, that just by presenting it, he would receive that free of charge for life. The expense of what he received would be paid for by the emperor. Either way, it brought prosperity and good fortune to the recipient if it was a white stone. The opposite was the case if a black stone was tossed. Condemnation came to the black stone recipient. Christianity gives us a white stone; Islam gives its people a black stone. 50

4. THE MORNING STAR AND AUTHORITY - Revelation 2:26-29 The results of avoiding the worlds lies
REVELATION 2:26-29 26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: 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. 28 And I will give him the morning star. 29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. The themes of the privileges so far have been to the overcomers in one way or another. Different obstacles had to be overcome to acquire the privilege. This privilege was announced to the church at Thyatira. Thyatira was situated on the boundaries of Lydia and Mysia, near the river Lycus, between Sardis and Pergamos. The art of dyeing purple was particularly developed at Thyatira and appears on an inscription recently found there; and it still sends the purple die to Smyrna, sixty miles southwest. Today Thyatira is known as Ak-hissar, and is a poor town with six thousand inhabitants, chiefly Turks. In the book of Revelation, Thyatiras works, charity (love), service, faith, and patience were commendable and were even increasing. Unlike Ephesus, this citys last works were better and did exceed and excel the first works done there. The works done in Thyatira grew to become better and greater than what was done in the beginning, whereby the works done in Ephesus decreased over time. Even with this increase being noted, Jesus was revealed to them with eyes of fire and feet of brass. This is not a vision of a loving, shepherd, but of a being that rules with supreme authority. REVELATION 2:18 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; John is communicating that with Jesus, nothing can be hidden away from his view. He is able to observe his enemies and deal with His enemy with his fiery indignation and fierce wrath. Since it is a reference to the Son of God as being able to penetrate the secret places of the heart, there was a problem with what they were allowing into their heart and he was totally aware of it and was going to address it. 51

The first introduction of Jesus with this appearance is found in Revelation 1:14-15. REVELATION 1:14-15 14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; 15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. John was familiar with the scriptures or the Torah and other writings of the Jews, so he probably remembered Daniels introduction to a person with the same characteristics. In Daniel 10:6, it is said that the man who appeared to him on the banks of the river Hiddekel, had eyes that were "as lamps of fire." Daniel also described his feet like polished brass. DANIEL 10:6 6 His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude. Ezekiel had the Lord appear to him in a like manner. There are several references to fire being one of the characteristics of the Lords appearance in the Bible. EZEKIEL 1:27-28 27 And I saw as the colour of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about. 28 As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake. John was not unfamiliar with this phenomena as he had seen Jesus transfigured before him once before and described what he saw concerning the appearance of the face of Jesus. MATTHEW 17:1-2 1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, 2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. This is the Jesus Satan is familiar with. When Satan looks at Jesus, he does not see a baby in the manger. He does not see a thirteen year old boy wandering away from his parents, nor does he see a Jesus hanging on a cross. 52

What Satan sees is a risen, glorified, powerful God that he is totally incapable of defeating. He does not see a weak, infantile, pathetic Jesus but a supreme authority he is absolutely powerless against. This is not the type of person you want to see in a dark alley! This is not the Jesus that Satan wants you to know about either. As long as you are satisfied with knowing Jesus as a sweet, loving, gentle shepherd, you will never see Him as He is now. He doesnt look like the westernized pictures of Him we see, although He is referenced as the Good Shepherd. He is like a shepherd to His people, but NOT to his enemies. He does not appear to His enemies like he does to His people. He loves His people; He executes vengeance on His enemies. If we ever get a vision of how Jesus appears to Satan, we would never again walk in fear of the adversary. Jesus deserves our utmost respect for the position He has chosen to take in our lives as the destroyer of the works of evil against us. We need to change our vision of who He really is and what He really appears as. The Greek word used here in Revelation 2:18 as like fine brass is only found here and in Revelation 1:15. Both times it is actually defined as white brass. The other words used translate clear brass. White brass was undeniably a species of brass distinguished for its whiteness. It would have had to been alloyed with silver to get the color. It was known about in Johns day, but the alloying proportions have been lost over time. Brass itself is an emblem of His stability and durability, brass being considered the most long-lasting of all metallic substances or compounds. In Revelation 2:20-21 we see the heart of the problem Jesus had with this church, even though he started addressing them with what they were excelling in. REVELATION 2:20-21 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. 21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. The church at Thyatira was careless and negligent in her duty of reproving, censuring, and excommunicating vile seducers such as the Gnostics, and Nicolaitans, the disciples of Simon Magus, and his lewd Helena. Jesus also referenced Jezebel, (whosoever she was,) who called herself a prophetess, and taught it was lawful to commit fornication and eating things offered to idols. 53

Gnostics, who had infiltrated the Thyatira church, were a sect of philosophers that arose in the first ages of Christianity, and who pretended they were the only men who had a true knowledge of the Christian religion. Simon Magus may have been the originator of this religion in the city of Thyatira as well as his companion and possibly his wife, Helena, which may have been the one Jesus was referring to as Jezebel. She was not a true prophetess, although she called herself one. She had taken on a title that was not given to her by God. Although she was a prophetess to a false god, she convinced the church that she was a prophetess ordained by the true God. Unless God gives a person the title, it is best to steer clear of it, unless a person is willing to undergo the judgment for using the title and office incorrectly. The original Jezebel was an idolater, and persuaded her weak husband not only to agree and assist her with introducing the worship of her native idols, but to become an idolater himself. Either way, her works paralleled what Jezebel did when she ruled with Ahab. In Pergamos, the people were rebuked for following Balaam, whose seductions first enticed the people into idolatry, and afterwards into fornication. Here in Thyatira, they seemed to be first enticed into fornication then idolatry. This woman addressed as Jezebel was given opportunity to repent, so she must have been confronted by a representative of the Lord Jesus or by He Himself concerning her actions. He had probably given her some direct and serious warning concerning the evil of her ways with sufficient time to change but she would not. Punishment was delayed as long as it could be, but now Jesus was going to have to correct this situation. Since she had no intention of changing, it had become necessary that He should rise in His anger and cut her down. Jesus discloses the punishment; He says he will cast her into a bed with her followers. REVELATION 2:22 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. The harlot's bed and a sick bed are thus brought together. Her bed is one of pain and sickness. He calls this sickness a great tribulation. A great tribulation translates great suffering; disease of body or tortures. In this type of sickness the organs do not perfectly perform their natural functions, which causes great pain. There are no cures and nothing brings relief. We 54

find incurable world-wide epidemics springing up where idol worship is at its greatest. God says that He will destroy her children in verse twenty-two. This word is a word that can be used to mean literal children as well as followers. It is believed that both are being addressed. REVELATION 2:23 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. The Bible backs that thought up with Numbers 14 showing the iniquities of a father being placed upon the children to the third and fourth generation. NUMBERS 14:18 18 The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation. This truly is a generational curse being passed on when repentance is avoided. These iniquities are a direct result of unrepentant sin and rebellion. The person knew they needed to change what they were doing but chose of their own free will not to change. God cannot ignore these types of actions. God is forced to judge each one of them in relationship to their works and compensate them accordingly. Here He is referring both to the children of iniquity residing in the churches (more than one) as well as those who repent. To the rest that have not participated nor become contaminated with the iniquity being addressed, Jesus was not going to add anything else on them. Perhaps it was because they were doing good works in spite of what was going on against and around them. They were maintaining the faith and their works proved it. REVELATION 2:24-25 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. 25 But that which ye have already hold fast till I come. This is a commendation to the ones that remained unblemished by the teachings of the Gnostics in the church. These people would partake of the final triumph and glory of the Lord. It does not say that they would have exclusive power over the nations or that they would hold offices under Him during a personal reign on the earth; but the meaning is that they would be associated with Him in His future glory. 55

In the next two verses, Jesus exhorts the people to stand strong and continue as overcomers. REVELATION 2:26-27 26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: 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. We find a parallel verse to this in Psalms 2:8-9. PSALMS 2:8-9 8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. 9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. In Psalms 2, the phrase Ask of me means, Claim or demand it of me, as thy right by my promise, and thy birth and purchase. These loyal subjects will be able to rule over the rebellious people of various nations with a rod of iron. We will see more and more of this in various nations as the age closes. When Jesus comes back to set up his millennial rule, He is coming back to rule over a group of people that are the surviving remnants of the wrath of God. Their heart and life reflect absolute rejection of the Savior, the Holy Spirit and God Himself. These are people that decreed war against the Almighty One. Their hearts are not repentant, but are stubborn. It will take a rod of iron, in a figurative sense to get them to do what is right in the sight of God. They will not be willing. They have been on the side of the enemy for so long they dont know or believe in any other way. They will need this power over the nations to correct what is out of order on earth. They will need an overwhelming power which will work on only those who will not otherwise submit. The Lord is stating that those who overcome the infiltration of foreign, user friendly doctrine that teaches against the holiness of God will be given authority on this earth over nations. They overcame the temptation to be contaminated by worldly beliefs and doctrines, they overcame seductions to compromise and lies and continued in doing good when the opportunity to be selfish presented itself. These overcomers did not deviate from the truth regardless of what their fellow believers, or so-called fellow believers in the church did. They remained loyal in all areas to the Lord and the Word. These overcomers will have the privilege of operating in Godly power on this earth and in the ages to come and they will receive the morning star. Verse twenty-eight cannot be separated from verse twenty-seven. 56

REVELATION 2:28 28 And I will give him the morning star. The morning star is one of the most beautiful objects in nature, and is the subject of a great variety of uses for illustrations. This star appears as the darkness passes away; it is an indication that the morning comes; it is intermingled with the first rays of the light of the sun; it is used to be a herald to announce the coming of that glorious light; it is a pledge of the faithfulness of God and it denotes a bright and brilliant ornament. This phrase denotes something with which he who "overcame" would be adorned with, and it resembles the bright star of the morning. It would seem to be here to indicate a bright and brilliant ornament being given to the overcomer. The idea seems to be, that the Lord would give him something that would resemble that morning planet in beauty and splendor. On a much larger futuristic thought, the Lord could give him a planet to rule over that has the same effect we find as the morning star to planet Earth. Another thought on it was given in Adam Clarks Commentary of the Bible, where he said: He shall have the brightest and most glorious empire, next to that of Christ himself. And it is certain that the Roman empire under Constantine the Great was the brightest emblem of the latter day glory which has ever yet been exhibited to the world. It is well known that the sun, moon, and stars are emblems, in prophetic language, of empires, kingdoms, and states. And as the morning star is that which immediately precedes the rising of the sun, it probably here intends an empire which should usher in the universal sway of the kingdom of Christ. This is quite probable since we find Jesus referring to Himself in Revelation 22:16 as the morning star. REVELATION 22:16 16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. This star that appears right before the morning sun comes into view is believed to be the planet Venus. In mythology, Venus was the goddess of love and beauty. In Christianity, Jesus is the personification of Gods love and splendor, and there is nothing mythological about Him. He is real. He is the bright and morning star. As Christ shines above all other creation, God desires to make the overcomers shine above all others. As we stay focused on pure faith and do not mingle our beliefs with the beliefs of the world, He will not have to address us in the same manner as He addressed this church. 57

We need to remember that what we have traditionally believed about His current appearance may not be totally correct. He has eyes like fire and feet like white brass. He is a flame from His waist on up and a fire from his waist on down. Out of His mouth proceeds a two-edged sword which is the Word of God. He will come back riding a white horse to execute vengeance upon His enemy. He is all powerful, almighty, omnipresent, omnipotent, prince of peace, king of kings and lord of lords. He is the alpha and omega, the beginning and the end, and Satan trembles at the thought that we would recognize the risen Savior in His current status and appearance. What we see in paintings and poems is so inferior to what He is really like. Just the mention of His name triggers supreme power to work in our behalf. He remains undefeated and His victory is unchallenged. If this picture gets into our spirit, we will be able to say with all confidence: What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)

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Name_______________________________________________ CROWNS AND PRIViLEGES OF THE BIBLE


WORKSHEET 2

1. Name the first four privileges. A. _______________________________________________ B. _______________________________________________ C. _______________________________________________ D. _______________________________________________ 2. We find the privilege of receiving the morning star and authority because we avoided ______________________________ 3. In Revelation 2:18, how did John describe Jesus? (What did he look like?) _____________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ 4. In the church of Thyatira, what woman had worked her way into the church that made Jesus angry? _________________________ 5. In the Greek culture, at the Olympic Games, the emperor gave his favorite winner a _________________ stone. On this stone was a _____________________ written that no one but the recipient knew. It would allow him to have ___________________ _______________________________________________ for life. 6. Where is the seat of Satan currently located? _______________ 7. What did the black robed priests call themselves in Pergamos? __________________________________ 8. What is another name for the second death? ______________ ____________________________________________ 9. The ______________________ missionaries were the first large-scale Protestant missionary movement. We find their works associated with the tree of life. 10. Where is the tree of life today? _________________________ ______________________________________________________ BONUS: For the studious student What features do we find about the tree of life comparing Ezekiels vision with John and Genesis?______________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________
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5. DIVINE IDENTIFICATION CLOTHED IN WHITE RAIMENT Revelation 3:5 The results of a pure walk
REVELATION 3:5 5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. In ancient times, white raiment was a sign of dignity and honor. To the overcomer in this privilege, dignity is recognized and honor is being bestowed upon him. The word that was translated white is far beyond just identifying a color of the garment. Per Jamieson-Fausset-Browns Commentary, it means, Not a dull white, but glittering, dazzling white emitting beams of light reflected from Him. This Him is the Lord Jesus Christ. We again are going to have to overcome an obstacle to receive this privilege. It will be a privilege to be clothed in white raiment by the Lord. Lets look into what the root is that is being addressed in this statement. The obstacle starts in Revelation 3:1 with the church in Sardis being addressed by the Lord. In this passage the Lord appears to them as the one that has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars. REVELATION 3:1 1 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. The city of Sardis was located about 50 miles east of Smyrna and 30 miles south east of Thyatira. Sardis was a wealthy city and most of the citys residence practiced pagan worship, mystery cults and they had secret religious societies. The magnificent temple to Artemis, the ancient Greek goddess of the hunt, wild animals, wilderness, childbirth, virginity and young girls, was located there. In Roman mythology, her name is Diana and she is often depicted as a huntress carrying a bow and arrow and running with a deer. Per Dr. Walvoord, Sardis people were idolaters and worshipped the mother goddess, Cybele, which was also noted in Pergamos. This religion later moved its headquarters to Rome and the Vatican sits on the ruins of Cybeles temple. Worship of Cybele included orgies during festivals held in her honor. The inhabitants of Sardis thought they were safe from their enemies but twice in the history of Sardis the city had fallen to their adversaries due to lack of caution by its defenders. There is nothing to praise this city for because they had done nothing to commend. The church at Sardis was marked as being "dead". 60

To the observer, Sardis looked spiritually vibrant on the outside but was spiritually lifeless. The church was Christian in name only and that is where it stopped. G.R. Beasley-Murray says: "The appearance [of the Sardis church] is that of a beautifully adorned corpse in a funeral parlour, and the Lord is not deceived". Sardis had convinced on-lookers that it was the place to be. It had the best of all that Christianity could offer. They had a name and a reputation for outward profession and form of religion. Sardis was famed among the churches for spiritual vitality. G.B. Caird names Sardis as, "The perfect model of inoffensive Christianity" (A Commentary on the Revelation of St. John the Divine, p. 48). They were religious, but denied the power of God. This church was a community of living dead and didnt even know it. They were so content concerning the peace and lack of persecution that they were unaware that something was wrong. Everything was going well as far as they were concerned, yet they had been contaminated by the world. They had become user friendly and moved away from being God focused. All this was not slipping by the attention of the Lord. Outward appearances and actions do not necessarily reflect the state of the heart. They needed the power of God to bring them back to life. Christ therefore gave Sardis a jolting command to "Wake up!" Sardis was about to get a wake-up call from God in a serious way. Jesus is being addressed in this scripture as being the one that has the seven Spirits of God. These spirits are found several places in the Book of Revelation which give us the link to Jesus. Notice in Revelation 5:6 Lamb is with a capital L. REVELATION 4:5 5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. REVELATION 5:6 6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. The identification of the seven Spirits of God varies by how you look at it. The three main beliefs are that they could be: A. The seven spirits of God are symbolic of the Holy Spirit. B. The seven spirits of God refer to seven angelic beings, possibly the seraphim or the cherubim. 61

C. The seven spirits of God could be based on Isaiah 11:2 as: (1) Spirit of the LORD, (2) Spirit of wisdom, (3) Spirit of understanding, (4) Spirit of counsel, (5) Spirit of power, (6) Spirit of knowledge, (7) Spirit of the fear of the Lord. ISAIAH 11:1-2 1 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: 2 And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; The first and third definition are the most widely accepted because of a previous classification made in Revelation, chapter one, which almost eliminates the second from being a possibility. The identification of the seven stars was defined in Revelation 1:20. John knew the exact reference Jesus was making when Sardis was addressed so there is no mystery to what it was. The seven stars are angels. REVELATION 1:20 20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches. There are interesting facts about seven and the relationship that number has to stars. Some little recognized facts are: A. The Big Dipper is made up of seven stars. B. Amos identified seven stars and Orion. AMOS 5:8 8 Seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night: that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD is his name: C. The Hebraic value for wisdom is the number seven. D. the Khema are a group of seven major stars found in the constellation of Taurus known today as the Pleiades. Thousands of years ago, Egypt was known as the Land of Khem which is where they got their name. They appear in the November skies and are located above Orion's left shoulder. 62

E. If a star map is superimposed over the Earth with the North Star placed over the terrestrial North Pole, we have a celestial clock making one revolution daily. The noon point of that map (like Greenwich) is the Great Pyramid of Giza. If the map is placed with the Khema over the Land of Khem (Egypt)-specifically, directly over the apex of the Great Pyramid- then Taurus falls over the Taurus Mountains of southern Turkey; Ursa Major, the Great Bear, rambles over Russia; the head of Draco the Dragon coils up over China; Orion (the warrior) over Iran/Iraq; Aries the Ram over Rome, and Capricorn (identified with the god Pan) falls over Panama, Panuco, and Mayapan (the old name of the Yucatan). Aquila the Eagle spans the United States. The analogies are obvious, and quite impressive. This is one of the clearest examples of the law of 'As Above, So Below.'" (Beyond Prophecies & Predictions, Moira Timms)

In Revelation 3, verse two, the Lord lets them know that some of the things that were to their credit are about to die. There is still time to recover what was lost, but that time is running out. REVELATION 3:2 2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. 63

The Lord tells this body of believers to go back and remember the things that caused them to be established. The church must go back to that first love experience and remember how they received and heard the message. When Jesus tells them to remember, this is a command He is giving them to never allow themselves to forget. Websters Dictionary says that to remember is to bring something back to our mind that was once there before. We are to recall previous ideas and events. This use of remember was to be coupled with evaluating how their current condition compares to the way they started out. If it didnt match, they were to hold fast to the foundation of their first love, and relinquishment of any practice that was offensive to God. There are three steps He is giving them here. He is saying the way to turn this around is to: A. Remember B. Hold fast C. Repent. REVELATION 3:3 3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. On the flip side, the Lord lets them know that there was going to be a consequence come upon them if they didnt change. There would be a special judgment on them as a Church. It would be with the same secrecy and as unexpectedly as His visible second coming. A thief does not announce when he is going to steal from you. You know he was there after the fact when things are missing. The definition of a thief is often confused with the word robber. There is a difference. A thief takes the property of another privately; the robber by open force. Jesus is not going to come to them with open force. This would make Him like Satan in character. He is not a thief. He is going to come as a thief. The assets they feel they possess, they will find gone and will disappear while they are concentrating on other things. They wont even know when it left. The existence of a Church is not to have popularity, personality, programs, and possessions. The life of the Church is in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ and the working of the Holy Ghost with power. In this verse, He is describing His coming in special judgments on this church. They are in a desperate condition and desperately needed reviving. Their condition then is the condition the church was in when Evan Roberts started the revivals in Wales, England. 64

Roberts unified the body of believers to pray daily, Come Holy Spirit, for Christs sake. Once he received the baptism of the Holy Spirit himself, he had a passion for revival and in the first year of his ministry he had over 100,000 converts. He based his revival on the steps given here in Revelation 3. His secret to getting the power of revival to permeate England was summed up in these four steps: 1. 2. 3. 4. Confess all known sin. Deal with and get rid of anything doubtful in your life. Be ready to obey the Holy Spirit instantly. Confess Christ publicly.

Sardis was struggling with whether they were going to have their way, or God was going to have His way. They thought time was on their side, but it wasnt. In all this, the good thing the Lord announces to this church is that not everyone had yielded to the contaminations of the world. There are some that caught His attention that they remained strong to their first love. REVELATION 3:4 4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. The Lord says they have not defiled their garments. He is saying, They had kept themselves free from the prevailing corruption. Because a white garment meant honor and dignity, He is also saying that they have not soiled their honor, His honor, or the dignity of either of them. White garments, white robes, fine linen, bright and clean, all reflect upon the saints and their holiness. This is holiness, not piety. Holiness is far beyond what piety can convey. Holiness means you are consecrated to God and set apart for His use whenever and however He decides to use you. Piety shows reverence, but can be coupled with the letter of the law and has a tendency to overlook love. REVELATION 3:5 5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. The first part of this promise is made not only to those in Sardis who should be victorious, but to every believer in every age and every land in the future. They will be honored, given dignity and recognized for the way they did not defile themselves with the compromises of the world. Isnt it amazing how white is so symbolic of the ways of God, that even wedding garments are white. 65

The rapture of the believing church is viewed with a "marriage supper" of the Lamb as well. These clothed in white linen are in stark contrast with those in verse four who had "defiled their garments" (or soiled them). The second part of this promise has to do with the book of life. Since the white raiment and the withholding of a persons name from being blotted out of the book of life are joined by the word and, then the two cannot be separated from each other. This is a joint reward. It is also a controversial subject and it is difficult to think that a Christian can have their name blotted out of a book of life, however, this is what it says. In the Old Testament, the Book of Life is the book or log book of God, in which all the people created are recorded for life. God has such a book, and to be blotted out of it, signifies death. Not having your name exist in this book would mean that you would be cast into the lake of fire. It is a serious thing to have your name blotted out of the Book of Life. REVELATION 20:15 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. The Book of Life is referred to six times in the Book of Revelation and once in Philippians. It is also referenced in Psalms 69:28, the book of Daniel and Exodus 32:32. We get the most information about the Book of Life though, in the accounts in the book of Revelation. Apparently the book was written from the foundation of the world. REVELATION 17:8 8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. The Hebrew book known as the Book of Jubilees states there are two heavenly tablets or books: a Book of Life for the righteous, and a Book of Death for those that walk in the paths of impurity and are written down on the heavenly tablets as adversaries of God. If a person dies as a believer his name is retained in the book of life, if he dies unsaved he is blotted out. Also recorded in the Book of Jubilees, any person who contrives evil against his neighbor will be blotted out of the Book of Remembrance of men, and will not be written in the Book of Life. The Book of Remembrance is entirely different from the Book of Life. 66

The Pharisees taught and believe that on the first day of each year (Rosh ha-Shanah) God sits in judgment over His creatures and has the Books of Life and Death opened, together with the books containing the records of the righteous and the unrighteous. This would compliment their belief in the resurrection of the dead, angels and spirits. In the Jewish tradition, Yom Kippur, the name given to the Day of Atonement, is the most sacred of the Jewish holidays. It is the "Sabbath of Sabbaths". Forty days before Yom Kippur the days of repentance begin with the first of Elul. In these days, the believer is to repent of their offences before God. On Rosh Hashanah, God has judged most of mankind and has recorded his judgment in the Book of Life. On Yom Kippur, the Book of Life is closed and sealed. Those that have repented for their sins are granted a good and happy New Year. Those that have not repented will not have all go well with them. Since Yom Kippur is the day to ask forgiveness for promises broken to God, the day before is reserved for asking forgiveness for broken promises between people. This is foreign to the Christian way of thinking, but a powerful act none the less. Forgiveness prevents a person from being turned over to the tormenters by God as found in Matthew 18:34. Perhaps we should re-introduce this into the Christian practices. The Book of Life is often confused with the Lambs Book of Life. This again, is another book. Everyone not in the Lambs Book of Life will follow the Beast, yet these same names are found in the Book of Life that records everyone who is born. In Revelation 3:5, we have the overcomer receiving white raiment, his name is not blotted out of the Book of Life and the Lord makes a third statement as to what he will also be rewarded with. It is the Lord confessing his name before the father and the angels. Jesus himself will acknowledge that this person is His true disciple and a member of His body. There isnt a higher recommendation you can get than this. It is believed that this statement of Jesus confessing this persons name before the Father references the early traditions and customs of registering citizens. Names were entered into books, according to their condition, tribes, family, etc.; and when they were deceased, or had by criminal acts forfeited their right of citizenship, the name was blotted out, or erased from the registers. This would make sense and be consistent with why Jesus would confess them before the Father. It would be to authenticate their citizenship in the Kingdom of God. 67

In conclusion, Jesus tells the churches that are willing to listen to hear what the Spirit is saying and make the necessary changes. REVELATION 3:6 6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. He is exhorting them that He wants to grant them the privileges and blessings due an overcomer but they need to pay attention to all that He said, not just part of it. Your name is written in the Book of Life, but it will be transferred into one of two other books as well. When you receive Jesus as your Savior, your name goes into the Lambs Book of Life. If you deny Him, it will be blotted out of the Book of Life. You will not retain your citizenship in heaven. It is a good practice to check yourself and see if you have departed from your first love of God. In comparison to your salvation experience, have you grown to love the Lord more or are you just going through the motions? Does your heart line up with your actions, or are your actions just mechanical? If you had to give yourself a report card on your walk with the Lord, would you pass or would you fail? These are areas we all need to evaluate ourselves by daily so we dont miss the privilege of being clothed in white raiment of honor and dignity. Check your level of love by whether this things are active in your life. 1 CORINTHIANS 13:4-7 4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

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6. A PILLAR AND A NEW NAME GIVEN Revelation 3:12 The results of holding to the things of God
REVELATION 3:12 12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. This privilege was announced in relationship with the church at Philadelphia. This church, above all other churches, is the faithful and true missionary church that displays the gospel character at its finest. There is not one word of condemnation or rebuke in the entire letter to the church at Philadelphia. Philadelphia is living up to what its name means - brotherly love. Philadelphia is located in Lydia, twenty-eight miles southeast of Sardis and was built by Attalus Philadelphus, the king of Pergamos, who died A.D. 138. It was nearly destroyed by a great earthquake during the reign of the Roman Emperor Tiberius in A.D. 17. Emperor Tiberius had compassion on the city and sent a generous relief package to the city to help with rebuilding efforts, which resulted in Philadelphia later changing its name to Neocesarea. Several years after the great earthquake and at the time John is writing the letter to Philadelphia, it is a very multi-ethnic city. However, the people still lived in constant apprehension and state of worry of what lay ahead for them. They were still suffering emotionally from the trauma of the earthquake, fearing another one of that magnitude would happen again. Philadelphia is on a major trade route in the heart of the country having every kind of language and culture coming through it. It was a perfect place for a missionary outreach without ever leaving the city. The ancient city, now called Alasehir, was located in what is modern day Turkey. Philadelphia was a city of 18,000 inhabitants, had a Turkish name, had five churches located in it and a Christian population of about 3,000. It is the sixth church mentioned and was a historical church that represented certain types of churches that appear in every age that are faithful and Christ-honoring. In this letter, Jesus won't come to the church at Philadelphia in judgment. His character is completely different to this church.

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REVELATION 3:7 7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; In verse seven, Jesus addresses himself as holy and true. These two titles, holy and true, are generally recognized as descriptions of God in the Old Testament. By Christ using this description upon himself in the New Testament, would not be possible had he not been truly and really God. Jesus statement that he was holy is something Peter also expounded upon in 1 Peter 1:15-16. 1 PETER 1:15-16 15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. In 1 Peter 1:15, Jesus is labeled holy. Then as He is so labeled, we are to live the same type of holiness that He did, but notice the reference to the type of holiness Peter is targeting. It is one of conversation. It is not limited to conduct, although that is part of it. A persons beliefs are displayed in their conversation. What is inside of a person is reflected by what comes out of their mouth. The statement is that we are to imitate his holiness; and it would be evidenced by our conversation. Jesus addressed this evidence in Matthew 12:34 and Luke 6:45. MATTHEW 12:34 34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. LUKE 6:45 45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. Jesus had to watch carefully over his words. With him operating under the dynamite power of the Holy Spirit and what ever he spoke was going to happen, he could not speak negative about anything, even when a persons actions were 99.9% negative. Jesus never addressed the negative qualities of the believer with the intent of canceling out their positive qualities. A classic example of that was when Peter wanted to walk on the water. 70

MATTHEW 14:26-31 26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. 27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. 28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. 29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. 31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? In verse thirty-one, Jesus states that Peter had little faith. If he had little faith, and doubt is the opposite of faith, what Peter had was big doubt. Yet paraphrasing what Jesus said was, Peter, I recognize you have faith. It is little, but it is there. Why did you let a thing called doubt override your faith. If your little faith was powerful enough that it could produce you walking on water, imagine what would have happened if you did not let doubt slip in! This is a facet of the holiness God wants us to walk in. He wants us to strive to make our conversation line up with His words and His truth. What ever the Bible says is the truth, should become not only our truth, but the words we speak when fear tries to override our faith. As we read on in verse seven of Revelation, we see Jesus as having the key of David. Keys are symbols of authority. What we find in Revelation, and in Isaiah 22:22 which also makes reference to the key of David, is a single key, not a grouping of keys. ISAIAH 22:22 22 And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open. There are several meanings to the phrase key of David. One meaning refers to possessing legitimate authority to rule Israel, the holy nation of God. This was promised to Abraham and manifested in the rule of David. Another meaning to the use of the phrase the key of David is that this is the key that unlocks Scripture, and it gives the ability to understand the writings of King David, a man after Gods heart. Because of the worship that went before the Ark of the Covenant, David became a man who used the outside/inside movement of Hebraic poetics to simultaneously reveal and conceal knowledge. 71

Approaching the key of David from a musical-worship approach has tremendous revelation attached to it. At the level of worship that went on around the Ark of the Covenant during the era David ruled, sealed and secret prophecies were unlocked. This worship was able to reveal the mysteries of God and to hide these secret things of God from the natural nation of Israel that saw only with eyes and heard only with ears. In Psalms 22, the events of the crucifixion are recorded way in advance of them actually happening. The Psalmist was able to see events and have words revealed to him that would not be spoken for 28 generations (Matthew 1:6-16) concerning the crucifixion events. PSALMS 22:1,8,14-16,18 1 To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me ? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? 8 He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him. 14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. 15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death. 16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have enclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. 18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture. In Revelation 3:7 and 8 Jesus tells John that he opens doors that no man can shut as well as closes doors that man cannot open. In verse 8 he particularly focuses on the door he opened and no man could shut. REVELATION 3:7-8 7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; 8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. Another word in the Greek for door is portal. A portal is an entrance way and in relationship to worship; it gives us an entrance to the realm of God. Open doors, or open portals in the Bible caused a kingdom invasion to happen. That happened to David in Psalm 22 and several other Psalms, and it happened to Jacob at Bethel. 72

GENESIS 28:12-19 12 And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. 13 And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; 14 And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 15 And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of. 16 And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not. 17 And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. 18 And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it. 19 And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first. In worship, as David found out, is the key that unlocks the heavens. It moves one into a dimension that accesses the heavens and angelic activity thru open doors also translated gates and portals. The worship of Jesus as the door of all doors should be our focus as Christians. He is the one that will open it and the one that will close it for our benefit. Jesus said: JOHN 10:7-9 7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. In the Greek, the word used for door also translates portal, entrance. It is by him we go in and out without limitation. In verse eight we also find that the people at Philadelphia had little strength. These are the Greek words that mean small in quantity, size or number dunamis. Dunamis is violence, mighty (wonderful) works. Their works may not have been up to the level of some of the other dynamic churches, but that didnt stop them from evangelizing those that came to the city. 73

In verse nine, we find a reference to the synagogue of Satan. This seat of Satan had appeared in the letter to the church at Smyrna. In Smyrna, the people were told the seat of Satan would not prevail against them. In Philadelphia, something different is going to happen to the followers of the synagogue of Satan. Not only will they not prevail, but some of them are going to be converted. These converts will have been Jew impersonators when in reality, they were Satans loyal followers. REVELATION 3:9 9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold , I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. What Jesus is saying is that these converts will have a willingness to take the very lowest place in the Church and would do servant hood honor to those whom once they persecuted. In Revelation 3:10, Jesus uses the phrase word of my patience. These people had experienced so much trouble and persecution, and yet they did not turn aside from the right response they were to give under these trials. They were to count it all joy and they did. REVELATION 3:10 10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. These people didnt get angry, pick up offenses or strike back at those from the synagogue of Satan. Their response was joy. Joy is not happiness. Happiness is based on happenings. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit. It is supernatural in origin. Only submitting to the response the Holy Spirit wants us to display can bring real joy. JAMES 1:2,3 2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. From the words in Revelation 3:11, volumes could be written about what is being said here. Some scholars think this is referring to the persecution that would come upon all Christians living under the Roman Empire. There was a persecution of the believers under the Roman Emperor Trajan in 98-117 AD and they say this is where this scripture was fulfilled. REVELATION 3:10 10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. 74

Although this was an hour of temptation (or trial), it was limited in its territory. It was not upon the entire world. All the world is just that. It is all, not some or part, but totally encompassing. The word world is inhabited earth. There were Christians living outside of the Roman Empire so they were not under the persecution of Trajan. Again this would make that theory that this scripture had been fulfilled not possible. The Greek words for hour and temptation when combined give us the phrase the time or season of the adversary. This gives a different perspective to what is being said. It is the time or season of the adversary. That time has yet to be fulfilled on the whole earth and come upon all the world. The phrase to try means to tempt and discipline in the Greek translation. This tempting and discipline again will be on the entire earth. It is difficult to believe this tempting and disciplining time was going to come on all believers except for the church at Philadelphia. If that was the case, Philadelphia was an exception to the rule and anyone outside of Philadelphia who lived Godly was going to be disciplined. This would make God a respecter of persons, which He isnt. Not all believers in Philadelphia were perfect Christians. Taking this a little further, the test was going to be on them that dwell upon the earth. In the Greek, two words were used to make this phrase. The only two words actually used were dwell and earth. The translators added the rest. The trials were for earth dwellers. They are the permanent inhabitants that are earthly. Christians should not be earthly. We are told to be heavenly minded, not earthly carnal. In the parable of the wheat and the tares, Jesus never told the tares to be like the wheat. He told the wheat not to be like the tares. Christians are to behave like the wheat, as the tares end up being bundled and thrown into the fire. Therefore, this phrase has a much larger scope than protecting the Christians from the persecution of the Roman Emperor. It is to protect all believers world wide from the discipline that will come upon Gods adversary and those that are earth dwellers who will not serve Jesus as Lord. This protection is being offered to believers everywhere that will respond correctly to the hardship they endure with the Word of his Patience and not act out of agitation with what occurs in their lives. In the next two verses, there is a crown and a privilege both being given to the overcomer. 75

REVELATION 3:11-12 11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. 12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. In verse eleven, the crown here is the crown of life. Jesus is encouraging them not to surrender the crown to anyone. That crown of life is worth hanging on to despite what goes on around you and certainly no man is worth giving it up for. There should never be anyone that comes against you that is worth surrendering your crown of life for. The people of Pergamos who were at the Seat of Satan were told not to surrender their crown of life and now the people at Philadelphia, who endured those who said they were Jews but were from the synagogue of Satan are being told the same thing. What a prize for Satan when he can steal the crown of life God wants to so freely give you. This is one crown worth fighting the flesh to keep. In verse twelve, it looks like the overcomer is going be made into a pillar in the temple, or so it seems. This is not really what it going to happen. We have a problem understanding this in light of our traditions and customs. Because this revelation is being given to John in terms that were culturally understood at the time, John understood that the overcomer was not going to be made into a physical pillar. Pillars are also used in the Olympics as icons. Just as there are flames, flags, rings and medals displayed at the Olympics, there were pillars or columns of honor. In Olympia, military events were recorded in public inscriptions on stone pillars giving honor to great accomplishments. Some valuable political deeds were recorded at Olympia on bronze pillars. This carried over to the passage used here in Revelation. However, instead of this pillar being made of stone or bronze, it is a pillar in the temple of God. It is a pillar of honor to the overcomer. Such a pillar or column was partly for ornament and partly for support. The picture that Jesus is trying to give is that in that temple the overcomer would contribute to its beauty and would at the same time be honored as if he were a pillar which was necessary for the support of the temple. On these pillars would be the accomplishments of the overcomer for all onlookers to see. If this is the case, the born again believing overcomer would be able to show the generations to come the pillar that bears the inscriptions describing all of their accomplishments. This honor would never deteriorate by the influences of time. 76

In Old Testament times, historians tell that Hiram, the architect sent by King Hiram of Tyre, cast a pair of hollow bronze pillars that stood on the outer portico of Solomons temple. 1 KINGS 7:21 21 And he set up the pillars in the porch of the temple: and he set up the right pillar, and called the name thereof Jachin: and he set up the left pillar, and called the name thereof Boaz. 2 CHRONICLES 3:17 17 And he reared up the pillars before the temple, one on the right hand, and the other on the left; and called the name of that on the right hand Jachin, and the name of that on the left Boaz. One pillar was finished in silver and the other in gold and studded with emeralds. Standing in the north, the pillar of silver represented the pillar of smoke that led the Israelites out of Egypt and was called Boaz, which signifies strength. Standing in the south, the pillar of gold and emeralds represented the pillar of fire which in Hebrew history, was the other manifestation of the divine presence of God delivering his people from Egypt and was called Jachin, which signifies establishment. Both these pillars were erected to remind the people of the power and deliverance of their God. Over time, this has carried forward into Masonic symbolism and you will find these two pillars represented in front of Masonic lodges. Monolithic pillars are being found today in archeological excavations which give us clues to languages and cultures. Although it is only 45 high, the Rosetta stone was used to break the code to ancient hieroglyphics. The Albert Barnes notes on the Bible states the following concerning the relationship of the overcomer to the pillar in the temple of God. And I will write upon him the name of my God . Considered as a pillar or column in the temple. The name of God would be conspicuously recorded on it to show that he belonged to God. The allusion is to a public edifice on the columns of which the names of distinguished and honored persons were recorded; that is, where there was a public testimonial of the respect in which one whose name was thus recorded was held. The honor thus conferred on him "who should overcome" would be as great as if the name of that God whom he served, and whose favor and friendship he enjoyed, were inscribed on him in some conspicuous manner. The meaning is, that he would be known and recognized as belonging to God; the God of the Redeemer himself-indicated by the phrase "the name of my God." 77

And the name of the city of my God . That is, indicating that he belongs to that city, or that the New Jerusalem is the city of his habitation. The idea would seem to be, that in this world, and in all worlds wherever he goes and wherever he abides, he will be recognized as belonging to that holy city; as enjoying the rights and immunities of a citizen of the kingdom of God. To be a pillar in the temple of God is an extremely high honor given by God. In Johns day, the temple pillars were overlaid with gold and were breathtakingly beautiful. 2 KINGS 18:16 16 At that time did Hezekiah cut off the gold from the doors of the temple of the LORD, and from the pillars which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid, and gave it to the king of Assyria. To this overcomer, the one that operates in the word of His Patience, wonderful privileges are in store. God is not like a man that would forget our good works, but he is a rewarder to those who remain faithful to him. We may not be able to understand or comprehend the magnitude of what he has prepared for us as overcomers, but one thing is for sure, we will not be disappointed. Like the church at Philadelphia, we need to pay attention to what the Spirit is saying to us. REVELATION 3:13 13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

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Name_______________________________________________ CROWNS AND PRIVILEGES OF THE BIBLE


(Privilege #5)
WORKSHEET 3

1. White raiment is a sign of __________________ and _________________ 2. The people of Sardis worshipped the mother goddess _________________ 3. Name the seven spirits of God. A. ___________________________________________________ B. ___________________________________________________ C. ___________________________________________________ D. ___________________________________________________ E. ___________________________________________________ F. ___________________________________________________ G. ___________________________________________________ 4. The seven stars are the seven _________________________ of the seven _________________________________. 5. What are the three steps Sardis must do to turn around from their dead state? A. ___________________________________________________ B. ___________________________________________________ C. ___________________________________________________ 6. People who do not have their name written in the ____________________ of _______________________ will be cast into the lake of fire.
(Privilege #6)

7. Philadelphia means ______________________________ _____________ 8. Peter said we were to be holy in our _______________________________ 9. The most powerful Key of David is ________________________________ 10. The pillar in the temple of God is a pillar of _________________________ 11. The people in Smyrna were at the ______________ of Satan. In Philadelphia, they were attacked by the people from the ___________________ of Satan. 12. In the temple of God, the pillars were overlaid with _________________. FOR THE STUDIOUS STUDENT: What were the names of the two pillars in Solomons portico? A. _________________________ B. _________________________ 79

7. A THRONE GIVEN - Revelation 3:21 The result of a fervent and pure heart. REVELATION 3:21
21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. The seventh privilege is being extended to the church at Laodicea. Laodicea is mentioned in the book of Colossians, a town 11 miles away, and there was a medical school in the city where a famous ophthalmologist practiced. The so-called "Phrygian powder", an ingredient found in eye-lotions, or eye salve, was supposed to have originated here. The city was established in the third century B.C. by the ruler Seleucid Antiochus II and the city was named after his wife Laodice. The town was originally called Diospolis, "City of Zeus" prior to the third century and suffered repeated minor earthquakes. The city was so wealthy that it minted its own coins. On the coins, there are inscriptions which show evidence of the worship of Zeus, Asclepius (the god of medicine healing, rejuvenation and physicians) Apollo, and the emperors. The rod of Asclepius, a snake-entwined staff, remains a symbol of medicine today. It is a parallel to when Moses lifted up the rod with the serpent in the wilderness and the people were healed. Moses act was to be a forshadowing of Christ being lifted up on the cross for us. It was turned into a heathen symbol by the Greeks. NUMBERS 21:8-9 8 And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. 9 And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived. Doctors take what is called the Hippocratic Oath which begins with the phrase "I swear by Apollo the Physician and by Asclepius and by Hygieia and Panacea and by all the gods, all the goddesses, to keep according to my ability and my judgment, the following Oath and agreement. It requires a new physician to swear upon a number of healing gods that he will uphold a number of professional ethical standards. In the twelfth century, this oath was written in the form of a cross. The church of Laodicea was begun by Epaphras, whom Paul converted on his two-year trip in Ephesus. (Acts 19:10) 80

This town, like Sardis and Philadelphia, had been devastated by the same earthquake in 60 AD that hit those two cities. Rome had offered them the same assistance to rebuild the city, but the pride of the people refused their assistance. They said they would rather build it back by their own resources. They distained the Roman help and flaunted their independence and wealth to provide from their own riches. To this overcomer, the right to sit with Christ in His throne is being offered. This is the throne belonging to Jesus himself and not the Father. There is a difference in the two thrones. The throne of God is also known as the Mercy Seat. The golden covering of the Ark of the Covenant, located in the Holy of Holies in the Temple, was regarded as the resting place of God. It was from this seat that God forgave the people of Israel their sins once a year on the Day of Atonement and where He gave commandments to the people. EXODUS 25:17-22 17 And thou shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof. 18 And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat. 19 And make one cherub on the one end, and the other cherub on the other end: even of the mercy seat shall ye make the cherubims on the two ends thereof. 20 And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be. 21 And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark ; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee. 22 And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony , of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel. A throne is the official chair or seat upon which a monarch, king, ruler, or deity is seated on state or ceremonial occasions. Thrones date back to ancient times to lift up the leader of a territory higher than the other people attending an event. Thrones were places of coronation and protocol stated the one being coronated must not be above the one bestowing the honor. This protocol was also part of the procedures God used when giving commandments to the children of Israel, since he communed with them from above the Mercy Seat. 81

The Greeks (according to the writer Homer) were known to place additional, empty thrones in the royal palaces and temples so that the gods could be seated when they wished to be. The most famous of these thrones was the throne of the mythological deity Apollo in Amyclae, located southwest of Sparta, Greece. This throne is actually a temple complex errected in the sixth century from where Apollos could rule. The word throne appears 176 times in the Bible and the plural thrones appears nine times. Thrones are commonly associated with royal power. In the Old Testament, King David and Solomon had great thrones constructed. Solomons throne must have been magnificent according to the description found in 1 Kings 10. 1 KINGS 10:18-20 18 Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with the best gold. 19 The throne had six steps, and the top of the throne was round behind: and there were stays on either side on the place of the seat, and two lions stood beside the stays. 20 And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other upon the six steps: there was not the like made in any kingdom. Artistic depiction of Solomon on his throne from Wikipedia Encyclopedia. The ivory in the biblical description of the Throne of Solomon was interpreted as representing purity, the gold representing divinity, and the six steps of the throne stood for virtues, or qualities regarded as morally excellent and honorable. The greatest virtue would be love. PSALMS 45:8-9 8 All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad. 9 Kings' daughters were among thy honourable women : upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir.

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In the book of Isaiah, we find Jesus being mentioned and it flows into mentioning no end being decreed on the throne of David. To get the fullness of what Isaiah was saying, feel free to look up the rest of the scriptures around the one listed in this teaching. ISAIAH 9:6-7 6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. The angel Gabriel also refers to this throne in the book of Luke. LUKE 1:31-33 31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. The church at Pergamos had to deal with the throne of Satan where the church at Laodicea was being offered to sit on the throne of Jesus. Wickedness was dispensed from the throne of Satan where mercy was given from the Throne of God. The Throne of Jesus is also referenced as the throne of Grace where Jesus administers help to the believer that comes before Him. This grace is bestowed on the believer from Jesus priestly office and not his privileges as our Savior. The fact that we have made Jesus our Savior is what gives us the right to come boldly, not timidly, with our request. HEBREWS 4:14-16 14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God , let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. However, this privilege is extended only to the overcomer that had to overcome even as Jesus had to overcome. Just because you are saved, doesnt 83

automatically give a person the right to sit on His throne. It is a privilege, not an automatic right. The people who live in England do not get the right to sit on Queen Elizabeths throne just because they are citizens of the kingdom. It is reserved for those that have a legal right to sit there. In studying what gave a person the right to sit on a throne, I discovered there are procedures to acquire the right to sit on a throne. This procedure is called the coronation process. The first king of Israel to sit on a throne was Saul. Israel had never had a king before so this procedure was new to their culture. Samuel had to write a book for Saul so that he would know what his responsibilities were as a king and what procedures he had to follow in that office. Samuel also prepared the charter of the kingdom to be established and also wrote this in the book. 1 SAMUEL 10:21-25 21 When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was taken, and Saul the son of Kish was taken: and when they sought him, he could not be found. 22 Therefore they inquired of the LORD further, if the man should yet come thither. And the LORD answered, Behold, he hath hid himself among the stuff. 23 And they ran and fetched him thence: and when he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward. 24 And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom the LORD hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted, and said, God save the king. 25 Then Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before the LORD. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house. The custom of kings during that time had been that when a leader had died, his death was to go unannounced until they put a new ruler in his place. They would then place his son or heir on the throne and crown him immediately that very day. Only after the son's reign and coronation had been announced by proclamation, would they give a ceremonial burial to the dead king. The closest leaders to the departed king conducted the royal installation service and crowned him. A statement was read to the new king as to what his duties would be to defend and protect the nation he represented. Without the coronation ceremony, he was not legally recognized as king even though he was an heir to the throne. This was the case with Absalom, Davids son. 2 SAMUEL 16:16 84

16 And it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, was come unto Absalom, that Hushai said unto Absalom, God save the king, God save the king. Without going through the proper procedures to acquire the throne, Absalom lost his life. Even though he was anointed for the position, the title had not legally been transferred to him. David was also anointed to be king, but did not receive the position until years later when the coronation occurred. 2 SAMUEL 19:10 10 And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why speak ye not a word of bringing the king back? It is interesting to note that when an anointing occurred, a sacrifice was required by the one being anointed before they are put into the position they are anointed for. Today we want the anointing but dont want to give the sacrifice required to go with it. Anyone that wants to receive the position the anointing gives, will be required to sacrifice something to the Lord. Jesus became his own sacrifice from the time he quoted The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me (Luke 4:18A) We find the anointing followed Samuel anointed Israels first king. by a sacrifice from the time

1 SAMUEL 10:1,8 1 Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance? 8 And thou shalt go down before me to Gilgal; and, behold, I will come down unto thee, to offer burnt offerings, and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings: seven days shalt thou tarry, till I come to thee, and show thee what thou shalt do. 1 SAMUEL 11:15 15 And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal; and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before the LORD; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly. Jesus will go through the coronation ceremony to receive the title King of Kings. Jesus received an earthly crown made of thorns before he was crucified. The next crown He will receive will be a heavenly one. This kingly one will be made of gold, not thorns. REVELATION 14:14

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14 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. When we read on in Revelation 19, Jesus is now crowned with many crowns. The transfer of authority and the ceremonial process has had to occur in order for him to go from one crown, the golden crown, to many crowns. Something took place in heaven that expanded his right to rule more than just heaven since he gave the keys of the kingdom to mankind after the crucifixion. Perhaps the kings Jesus is King over have given him something they could have kept for themselves; perhaps these are their crowns. REVELATION 4:9-11 9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, 10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. REVELATION 19:11-16 11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written , KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. As a side note, although it is believed in some religions that Mary will sit on a throne with Jesus, this is not Biblically documented and therefore cannot be regarded as truth.

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In Revelation 3, Jesus addresses the church at Laodicea that he was aware of their works and that they were being criticized for their neutrality or lack of zeal. They had taken an indifferent attitude toward the gospel. REVELATION 3:15 15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. Archaeology shows Laodicea had an aqueduct that probably carried water from a hot mineral spring some five miles south of the city. By the time the water would reach Laodicea, it would have gone from boiling hot to lukewarm. Jesus is not saying hot is good and cold is bad, but hot water and cold water are both useful, but lukewarm is not. They seemed to care little whether heathenism or Christianity prevailed. This is a fatal condition for a believer to be in. Lukewarm or tepid water tends to produce sickness at the stomach, and an inclination to vomit. The image is extremely strong, and conveys deep disgust and hatred at the indifference which prevailed in the church at Laodicea. Jesus is warning them that they would be utterly rejected and cast off as a church if they remained in this condition. REVELATION 3:16 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. In verses seventeen, we see the root demonstration of their overconfidence in regard to spiritual wealth. They were operating in pride over their religious and earthly accomplishments. They had a vain attitude over the worldly prosperity that they had achieved and were unable to recognise their physical and spiritual bankruptcy. Of the seven churches mentioned in the book of Revelation, this one was the richest of them. It could be seen by the people in Hierapolis and Colosse. The book of Colossians, chapter 4, verse 13 suggests that Epaphras was the pastor of the Laodicean church, and perhaps he was its founder. REVELATION 3:17 17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods , and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: A large part of the city's wealth came from the manufacturing of a highgrade raven-black wool, glossy, soft and dark, from which the town's factories made at least four different kinds of garments marketed all over the world. This is why Jesus counsels the church to buy of Him white raiment to wear to hide the shame of their nakedness. 87

Because they were rich in goods, they concluded that they were rich in grace and spirituality. They were living under a false security. They had received blessings from God but became lazy in their relationship with the one that blessed them. Their indifference concerning the gospel, reaching the lost, praying for the sick and the other things the great commission required, exasperated the Lord. He is addressing them out of pity, not anger, because of His love toward them. The citizens of this town believed they didnt need any help from God or man. The attitude of the town had infected the people in the church. The deadly complacency of wealth had settled on the church. Even Satan saw no reason to attack them. They were no threat to his kingdom and by their indifferent attitude, he had rendered them ineffective for the gospel. REVELATION 3:18 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. Due to the medical school located in Laodicea, they would have understood what Jesus was saying about eye salve. Jesus wanted them to see the state they had fallen into and seek him as to how they could turn their lukewarm state around. REVELATION 3:19 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. The proof that Jesus loved them was the fact that he didnt want them to go astray. The very confirmation of His love for them is shown by His word to them: "All whom I love, I discipline." His discipline was the fact that he had to address them before a greater judgment fell on them. No child likes to be addressed for doing something wrong, especially when they dont think anything is wrong. Then He gives them the solution, Repent. All they have to do is stop doing what they are doing and turn to Him for how to fix what is wrong. One of the symptoms of spiritual laziness is that we lose altogether the power to see how serious our condition is. Like a numb leg, it only tingles when feeling is returning to it. They had no feeling. If they would get zealous for the Lord, the feeling would return. REVELATION 3:20

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20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. Jesus tells this church that he is knocking on the door of their heart. The person doing the knocking is doing it with a vigorous motion, a repeated motion. Jesus is knocking again and again. This gradual motion is at first more gently, then it becomes stronger and louder; however, He will not always continue knocking. If they do not answer, He will turn His back and go away. On the other hand, if they open the door to their heart, He will come in and fellowship with them once again. This act of opening the door has to be by the persons own free will, and not because they were pushed into it. Jesus is knocking, not barging in. He has to be invited into a situation to change it. He is not going to break in and make you change it against your will. He wants to make an exchange here. He is saying, I will come to you and you will come to me. In verse twenty-one, the same group of people whom Jesus had just before threatened to spue out of His mouth, is now offered a seat with Him on His throne! The highest position in the Kingdom of God is being offered to those who had sunk the lowest spiritually, all for the price of repenting and becoming zealous for the Lord again. The reward outweighs the correction. The generosity of the Lord is far beyond what we have to change in our lives to acquire it. This is the crowning promise of the Lord. The Laodicean church is the worst of the seven Churches, and yet the most important of all the promises are made to it. This shows that the person who has fallen into the worst condition of life may repent, conquer, and attain even the highest state of glory in the Kingdom of God. So, as John ends the privileges promised the overcomer in the book of Revelation, remember his last words: REVELATION 3:22 22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. CONCLUSION In the beginning the question was asked, What does one bema seat, with five crowns and seven privileges equal? The answer is: The place and the rewards Jesus will give the overcoming believer. The answer to the question, What do you get when you add one bema seat, five crowns and seven privileges? is the reward system of God. When 89

we all stand before the reward seat, will we be excited about our rewards, or grieved when we see what could have been ours. I hope each person that reads this decides to overcome all the obstacles in their lives so that they walk away from the Bema seat with joy knowing they were an overcomer.

NAME ___________________________________________________________

CROWNS AND PRIVILEGES OF THE BIBLE


WORKSHEET 4

1. Who was Asclepius _____________________________________________ __________________ (a) What special object did he have and (b) what is it a symbol of today? (a) ___________________________________________________ (b) ___________________________________________________ 2. What does the Hippocratic Oath require new physicians to do? __________ _______________________________________________________________ 3. The Throne of God is also known as the _______________ ____________ 4. The throne of Jesus is also referenced as the ______________ of _______ 5. The first king of Israel was _______________________________. 6. After a king was anointed he had to give a __________________________ 7. The problem with Laodicea was that they had become _________________ 8. Name two things Laodicea produced or was famous for. (a) _______________________________________________________ (b) _______________________________________________________ 9. What phrase did Jesus use to show His love for the people of Laodicea? _______________________________________________________________ 10. Even though the Laodicean church is the worst of the seven churches, it received ________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ FOR THE STUDIOUS STUDENT A king did not legally become a king until what happened? ________________ 90

_______________________________________________________________

Name _____________________________________

TEST
1. What is a Bema? ______________________________________________ 2. What event was Paul using that the Greek world understood in his description of the purpose of the Bema Seat? __________________________ 3. Who will be the believers judge at the Bema Seat Judgment? ___________ 4. How many crowns are available to the believer? ____________________ Name them: ________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ 5. What is the easiest crown to receive? ______________________________ 6. How many privileges are there for the believer? ______________________ 7. Name the privileges. ___________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ 8. In what book of the Bible do we find the privileges? ___________________ Who wrote this book? _____________________________________________ 9. What is the second death? _______________________________________

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10. What type of person appears in all of the churches and in all the privileges? ______________________________________________________ BONUS QUESTION: What was your favorite part of this lesson and why? _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

PRAYER OF SALVATION
If you have never made Jesus the Lord of your life, or are not sure if you died tonight where you would go, then I encourage you to pray this prayer out loud. Lord Jesus, I ask you to come into my heart and be my Savior. I confess that I have been a sinner and I repent for my sins. I ask you to forgive me for my offenses against you and I cover them with the blood of Jesus. I thank you for dying on the cross for me so that I might have eternal life in your kingdom. Now Lord, I ask you to arrange my life so that I can complete the assignment that you have for me to do on this earth. I ask that you put me with Godly men and women that will help me to grow in the knowledge of Jesus and the Word of God. Open up my understanding of your kingdom, the power of the blood of Jesus and help me to develop Godly character. I thank you Lord for giving me salvation and making me part of your family. In Jesus name, Amen Now if you prayed that prayer, please write us and let us know so that we can welcome you into the family of God. God Bless You! Bobby

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SUGGESTED READING: Gods Promises for your Every Need By A.L. Gill, Published by Gill Ministries, PO Box 6969, Big Bear Lake, CA 92315

OTHER PUBLICATIONS AVAILABLE BY BOBBY GRAPENTHIN 1. Broken Covenants and Vows This is an explanation of covenants and vows that are made in our behalf
or that we have made. It shows how a curse can be traced to the breaking of covenants and vows. Steps to reverse these curses are given.

2. Armor of God Understanding the Battle We talk about putting on the whole armor of God but
what do we do with it once its on? This teaching gives an understanding of each piece of the armor and what the battle is all about. Sometimes the battle is being fought with the wrong piece of armor.

3. Fasting This is a simple study on fasting to get results. There are three parts to fasting to make it effective;
two are commonly known but many overlook the third element. Without it, fasting is not complete.

4. Fruits of the Spirit - Most people have the list memorized but in this study the reader is shown how to
profit from them... If you want God to trust you with signs, wonders and miracles, then He requires the character necessary to handle them wisely. There is much insight into character development in this manual.

5. Gifts of the Spirit, a Hands-On Manual This is a hands on manual. Many people would operate in
the gifts if they just knew how to. This course had been proven to stir up prophecy in people that never prophesied, the gifts of healings for those who have never healed the sick and much more.

6. The Beatitudes The beatitudes are blessing attitudes which bring on extreme blessings from God. These
are blessings that exceed the norm. and bring on higher rewards.

7. Ye Are - This manual investigates the Ye Ares of the Bible. Ye are the salt, the light, the temple of God,
witnesses, a chosen generation, the branches, gods and unleavened, are all covered in this teaching. There was a reason for each of these things that Jesus called us.

8. Prayer that Changes Things This is a powerful book on how to pray specific prayers for specific
purposes. Many people pray shot-gun prayers and wonder why they never see results. This book changes all that and gets results.

9. What do you get when you add One Bema Seat, Five Crowns and Seven Privileges? This
book answers questions concerning the Judgment Seat of Christ, where Paul came up with some of the phrases he used in his letters, what the rewards are for the believing overcomer and parallels found in the book of Revelation with the Greek and Roman Olympics.

BOLD BELIEVER SERIES


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BROKEN COVENANTS AND VOWS ITS THE LAW THE SPOILERS THE TRIBUTE THE SEED AND THE SOWER BREAKING AWAY INTO THE KINGDOM FINANCIAL SYSTEM FOR ORDERING ANY OF THE PUBLICATIONS CONTACT: BOBBY GRAPENTHIN, Living Water Christian Fellowship, 5337 Rosewood Court, Sheffield Village, Ohio, 44054, (440) 934-4552 www.lwcfellowship.net or tgrapenthin@centurytel.net References: 1. www.abovetopsecret.com - The Seat of S.a.tan. Where Was It? Where Is It Now? Why It Must Be Restored. 2. White stone vs Islams black stone, By Apostle Moshe Yoseph Koniuchowsky 12-15-07 3. www.allaboutgod.com The Bema Seat Chart by Dr Walter D. Huyck, Jr. 4. BRITANNICA CONCISE DICTIONARY 5. Wiki.Answers.com 6. William Burkitts Expository Notes 7. J Calvin, Commentary on Genesis (Banner of Truth Trust, 1965), p.184 8. The Bema Seat Chart By Dr. Walter D. Huyck Jr. 9. www.livingwater.dornaslighthouse.com - Letter to the Church at Smyrna 2009 10. A Commentary on the Revelation of St. John the Divine by G.B. Caird. 11. Revelation by G.R. Beasley-Murray, p.95 12. Archeological/Historical Background of Philadelphia in Revelation 3:7-13 by Matthew O. Walker, July 2004 13. The Two Pillars by John A. Mongiovi May 4, 2003 14. www.theformerthings.com 15. Read more: www.jewishencyclopedia.com 94

16. www2.eis.net.au/~paulh/rn107lla.htm 17. Crown of Righteousness: For Love of Christ's Return Lesson 4 in the series The Five Crowns by Dr. Joe Temple

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