The Apocalypse: Theory and Opinions Revelation 1-3
Before we start we want to make it clear that we are not a prophet, we are not claiming to be a prophet, and everything found within this blog post is a theory and opinions based on that theory.
The theory is that the world ended in 2012, due to the beginning of the apocalypse and we are living out the final chapters of Revelation.
In order to understand this theory fully, you must start with reading Revelation. We will go through all chapters of Revelation, and compare it with our opinions on what’s going on. Please keep in mind that the Book of Revelation is metaphoric, and doesn’t simply mean we are all going to “die”. It just means a new change is coming, the wicked will be punished, and the rest of us will have a life without suffering, with Jesus as our leader.
Keep in mind also, that Revelation came to John in a dream like state, he recorded what he saw, but dreams are metaphoric and jumbled. Things likely don’t take place in chronological order, and some of the events might over lap others.
Revelation 1 opens with:
“1The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show unto his servants, [even] the things which must shortly come to pass: and he sent and signified i by his angel unto his servant John; 2who bare witness of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, [even] of all things that he saw. 3Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things that are written therein: for the time is at hand.”
For those of us who has pondered the meaning of Revelation, and have spent years trying to decode it. This tells us that those of us who “hear the words of the prophecy and keep the things written” will know in their hearts when the apocalypse will be happening. It’s apparent that we are living out these days.
Revelation goes on to tell us:
“4John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from him who is and who was and who is to come; and from the seven Spirits that are before his throne; 5and from Jesus Christ, [who is] the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loveth us, and loosed us from our sins by his blood; 6and he made us [to be] a kingdom, [to be] priests unto his God and Father; to him [be] the glory and the dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”
So, the biggest question is who was the “Seven Churches of Asia,”?
These seven churches were actual churches that existed in Asia Minor (Modern day Turkey)
The churches were Ephesus, Symrna, Pergamus, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.
We need to learn a bit about these churches:
Ephesus: This was known as the “loveless” church. It was located at a major harbor on the Aegean Sea. It was also home to one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, The Temple of Artemis. This was founded by Paul, and was the most prominent church in Asia Minor.
Smyrna: This was home to Homer, and the Temple of Athena, and a beautiful seaport.
Pergamus: This was the location of Rome’s provincial capital. This was a major cultural hub, that housed a library that rivalling the famed Alexandrian Library.
Thyatira: Was founded under Alexander the Great, was remembered for it’s trade, and mostly in purple dye. Lydia one of Paul’s converts came from this region.
Sardis: The ancient capitol of Lydian Kingdom, it was situated on top of a plateau. It was known for it’s series of foreign conquests.
Philedalphia: Was the “Gateway to the East” Known for it’s grapes, Textiles, and Leather goods.
Laodicea: Was the Ancient Capital of Phygia and gained wealth from trade and banking. It was known for it’s medical school and costly fabrics.
Thing is that none of these churches exist today, but we can be sure that their ancestors are out there somewhere, and unfortunately, it’s those ancestors that this prophecy is likely being addressed to. We have no way of knowing who the ancestors of these churches are.
“10I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet 11saying, What thou seest, write in a book and send i to the seven churches: unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamum, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. 12And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And having turned I saw seven golden candlesticks; 13and in the midst of the candlesticks one like unto a son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about at the breasts with a golden girdle.”
We know that the seven candlesticks represent these seven churches, and the eighth candlestick represents Jesus himself. Because he tells us this much:
“14And his head and his hair were white as white wool, i as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;15and his feet like unto burnished brass, as if it had been refined in a furnace; and his voice as the voice of many waters. 16And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth proceeded a sharp two-edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. 17And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as one dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying, Fear not; I am the first and the last, 18and the Living one; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive for evermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades. 19Write therefore the things which thou sawest, and the things which are, and the things which shall come to pass hereafter; 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 are seven churches.”
Now, what does Jesus want said to these churches? Well, this is stated in revelation 2 and 3.
“1To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, he that walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks: 2I know thy works, and thy toil and patience, and that thou canst not bear evil men, and didst try them that call themselves apostles, and they are not, and didst find them false; 3and thou hast patience and didst bear for my name’s sake, and hast not grown weary. 4But I have i against thee, that thou didst leave thy first love. 5Remember therefore whence thou art fallen, and repent and do the first works; or else I come to thee, and will move thy candlestick out of its place, except thou repent. 6But this thou hast, that thou hatest the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. To him that overcometh, to him will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God.”
Here Jesus warns that though he approves of most of the church, their good works, their perseverance, and church discipline, but they still have one flaw. That they abandoned their first “love”. Jesus himself. Jesus gives them a three part solution for this:
Remember
“Remember therefore whence thou art fallen” – Think about what your relationship with Jesus was like when you were first saved. Reflect, and trust in him again.
Repent
Turn away from your present course, and turn back to Christ.
Repeat
Repeating your original good works can help you get back on track. Returning to when you first became Christian, the spiritual disciplines that kept you close to Christ and motivated you to follow them.
From understanding this, we come to realize that the ancestors of the Church of Ephesus, could simple be those of us who were once Christian, but somewhere along the way we lost our faith in Jesus. This could mean both people who still attend church, and go through the motions but have lost all faith and trust in Jesus. It could also refer to those who were once Christian whether they attended church or not, but life and suffering in general have made them “lost” and have abandoned their belief in Jesus and therefore need to find this faith and trust in him, and repent for not following his teachings.
“8And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These things saith the first and the last, who was dead, and lived [again]: 9I know thy tribulation, and thy poverty (but thou art rich), and the blasphemy of them that say they are Jews, and they art not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10Fear not the things which thou art about to suffer: behold, the devil is about to 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 the crown of life. 11He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.”
Two Churches received no rebuke from Jesus, and Smyrna was one of them.
He simply tells them to be fearless in the days to come, and to have faith in Jesus, and in the end all will be okay.
“12and to the angel of the church in Pergamus write: These things saith he that hath the sharp two-edged sword: 13I know where thou dwellest, [even] where Satan’s throne is; and thou holdest fast my name, and didst not deny my faith, even in the days of Antipas my witness, my faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwelleth. 14But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there some that hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit fornication. 15So hast thou also some that hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans in like manner. 16Repent therefore; or else I come to thee quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of my mouth. 17He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. To him that overcometh, to him will I give of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and upon the stone a new name written, which no one knoweth but he that receiveth it.18”
Had been nicknamed “Satan’s City” because of it’s practices of Paganism and Idolatry. Professing to Jesus was a sever punishment in this church. They yoked the Gospel with Paganism which is why Jesus tells them to repent.
The churches of today try so hard to be relevant, that they become irrelevant, as stated in Timothy 8-10.
So, could it be possible that this warning is to “ALL” Modern day churches, no matter the religion? That if you stray so far from the teaching of Jesus, that you practice things like Paganism and completely abandon the Gospel, that you will have to repent, and seek forgiveness for straying from Jesus?
“18 And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like a flame of fire, and his feet are like unto burnished brass: 19I know thy works, and thy love and faith and ministry and patience, and that thy last works are more than the first. 20But I have i against thee, that thou sufferest the woman Jezebel, who calleth herself a prophetess; and she teacheth and seduceth my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed to idols. 21And I gave her time that she should repent; and she willeth not to repent of her fornication. 22Behold, I cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of her works. 23And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he that searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto each one of you according to your works. 24 But to you I say, to the rest that are in Thyatira, as many as have not this teaching, who know not the deep things of Satan, as they are wont to say; I cast upon you none other burden. 25Nevertheless that which ye have, hold fast till I come. 26And he that overcometh, and he that keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give authority over the nations: 27 and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are broken to shivers; as I also have received of my Father: 28and I will give him the morning star. 29He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches.”
On the surface the church of Thyatira were commendable for it’s love, faith, service, and patience. But, Christ recognizes their flaw. Their belief in immortality among them. For it only took one self proclaimed prophetess, to corrupt this church.
The warnings in this passage are simple those led astray by this “church” will suffer. We’ll get more into this later. Let’s take a look at the next “church”
“1And to 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 thou art dead. 2Be thou watchful, and establish the things that remain, which were ready to die: for I have found no works of thine perfected before my God. 3Remember therefore how thou hast received and didst hear; and keep [it], and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. 4But thou hast a few names in Sardis that did not defile their garments: and they shall walk with me in white; for they are worthy. 5He that overcometh shall thus be arrayed in white garments; and I will in no wise blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. 6He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches.”
The church with the power of the Holy Spirit missing. With this church there was no praise at all. Only Condemnation. We must remember God’s true word, and falling away from this leads to Spiritual death. Not only be awake but be watchful.
Repent by turning back to God and God’s word.
“14And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God: 15I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16So because thou art lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spew thee out of my mouth. 17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and have gotten riches, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art the wretched one and miserable and poor and blind and naked: 18I counsel thee to buy of me gold refined by fire, that thou mayest become rich; and white garments, that thou mayest clothe thyself, and [that] the shame of thy nakedness be not made manifest; and eyesalve to anoint thine eyes, that thou mayest see. 19As many as I love, I reprove and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 20Behold, 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. 21He that overcometh, I will give to him to sit down with me in my throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with my Father in his throne. 22He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches.”
These were the harshest words directed at a church. He hated this church, it was compromising, conceited, and Chirstless. They were financially wealthy, and spiritually bankrupt as they lacked Spiritual riches which can only be found through Christ.
They pretended, and therefore came off as “naked” to Jesus, as in defeated and humiliated. These are referred to as the “blind” and because they had lost spiritual perception.
Theory and Opinion:
Who are the Ancestors of these churches? We are.
If you look closely, you either know someone who fits one of these seven categories, or fall multiple if not all of them. Jesus is not speaking to “Churches” he is speaking to Humanity as a whole. Jesus is telling you if you fall into one or more than one of these categories in most cases you need to repent for your sins and find him again. Otherwise, the events of Revelation will be horrible for you. Because you lack his protection.
This is a warning to Humanity to find Christ before it’s too late. Before the entirety of Revelation unfolds, and Christ returns to us.
North Pole in Relation to God and the Bible.
Location of Mount Zion and Eden:
Eden was said to be beneath Mount
Zion, and the location of Eden is described in the Book of Genesis as
the source of four tributaries.
But, these ancient maps, tell a different story.
_-_Geographicus_-_NorthPole-mercator-1606.jpg)
They reveal the position of the true Mount Zion, and the Garden of Eden beneath it. The United Nations, knows we are in the end of times, and because most of them fit into the Church of Pargamus, and therefore don’t want humanity finding Jesus, and following his word. They want to stray the minds of humanity and cause as much corruption as possible. To hide the truth, that the Garden does indeed exist on Earth in the center of all continents, means to keep the truth from us. This makes perfect since to the fact of rumors' that Noah’s Ark was found on an Arctic Island.
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