Jehoshua is on the throne of David in New Jerusalem and He is the King of a New Israel
Revelation Chapter 1
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 [this] 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.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.12and to the angel of the church in Pergamum 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.18And 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 [this] 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.24But 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:27and 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. verse 1, Messiah, the great High Priest, is present and active in His churches (candlesticks). This also alludes to the holy place in the heavenly temple where the seven branch candlesticks is. Jehoshua is now addressing the Church of Ephesus and it's teachers (stars). Verses 2 and 3, contrary to todays institutional churches that say it is judgmental to call out false teachers, Jehoshua actually congratualtes the Church of Ephesus for doing that very thing. Those at Ephesus practiced discernment and tested those who claimed to be apostles (sent ones) of the Messiah. The Church found these false apostles to be liars. The Ephesus Church followed the advice given in scripture by the apostle John: 1 John 4:1 1Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Today's church actually teaches the opposite and says that it is unloving to test the spirits and call out false teachers. Jehoshua praises the Church at Ephesus for their Kingdom labor and works as well as their patience. This Church has endured through whatever trials came their way. Verse 4, Jehoshua then brings a word of correction to the Ephesians by telling them that they have left their first love. One danger that faces all believers is to do the work of the Kingdom solely out of obligation rather than a love for those we serve. Service and doctrine are worthless without love. Verse 5, Jehoshua calls the Church at Ephesus to repent and return to the first works that were motivated by love. He tells them to remember where they have fallen. Each believer must examine him or herself honestly to see if they be in the faith. This should be a daily process. We must search our hearts and repent of any wrong attitudes. "Remove thy candlestick" this is not a threat to take away individuals salvation but rather the Church as a whole in terms of them being illuminated by the Spirit to carry on the laboring of the Kingdom gospel. Verse 6, Jehoshua destroys today's institutional Churches false teaching that to call out and name false teachers and even hate what they stand for is wrong. Jehoshua commends the Ephesians for hating the deeds of false teachers and In fact the Son of God hates them too. It is biblical to have a perfect hatred for false teachers and their doctrine and their deeds. David who was a man after Jehovah's own heart had this type of hatred: Psalm 139:21-22 (ASV) 21Do not I hate them, O Jehovah, that hate thee? And am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?22I hate them with perfect hatred: They are become mine enemies. David also said this: Psalm 119:104 (ASV) 104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: Therefore I hate every false way. Unlike the lukewarm milquetoast churches of today, true men and women of God hate false doctrine and the deeds of false teachers. We are to even hate the wicked false teachers with a perfect hatred meaning to outright reject them. Verse 7 of Revelation 2 "He 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." The Spirit is speaking through the Son of God as Jehoshua has the Spirit fully in Him. "He that hath an ear" the one whom God has granted the spiritual ability to understand the truth. This encouragement to overcome is not just for the Ephesians but for all the churches of all time. Everyone begotten from above in Messiah fights and overcomes sin in this world by Jehoshua's victory on the cross. Notice that the promise the Son of God gives for the overcomers is not an earthly millennial kingdom but rather the tree of life in the paradise of God. Where is the paradise of God, earth or heaven? 2 Corinthians 12:2-4 (ASV) 2I know a man in Christ, fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I know not; or whether out of the body, I know not; God knoweth), such a one caught up even to the third heaven. 3And I know such a man (whether in the body, or apart from the body, I know not; God knoweth),4how that he was caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. Paul identifies paradise as being above i.e. "caught up" and that it is in the third heaven which he also uses the phrase "caught up". The third heaven is obviously the heaven where Jehovah God dwells. How do we know that the reference to the "tree of life and paradise of God" is about heaven? Let's also see what the Son of God says in Revelation 22:14: "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." Jehoshua pretty much echoes what He told the Churches in Rev. 2:7. The promise for overcomers i.e. those who keep His Father's commandments is to eat of the tree of life which is in the paradise of God (Rev. 2:7) and inside the gates of the city. The phrase "enter in through the gates of the city" is the key to understanding our destination after the Lord's second advent. While much of Christendom awaits a literal thousand year millennium on earth with earthly Jerusalem as it's capital, Jehoshua says that our destiny is to enter in through the gates of the city and eat of the tree of life which is in the paradise of Jehovah. As Paul mentioned the paradise of God is in the third heaven, obviously eliminating any possibility that when Jehoshua speaks of the paradise of God He is talking about an earthly millennium with earthly Jerusalem restored. The final nail in the coffin for earthly millennialists is to identify what city is Jehoshua referencing in Revelation 22:14. The context of this verse overwhelmingly supports this city, in which the tree of life is located, to be New Jerusalem. See chapter 21 and the first five verses of chapter 22 for confirmation. There is no way Jehoshua is talking about a refurbished earthly Jerusalem. Even the book of Hebrews confirms this to be true: Hebrews 13:13-14 (KJV) 13Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.14For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. The writer of Hebrews makes it clear that we as Messianics have no continuing city here meaning that our home is not in earthly Jerusalem as that is the context of above the verses. The author is saying that earthly Jerusalem bears no hope for us and that we should not look to it for hope. As believers in the Son of God we seek a city that is not here yet as our present and future hope, basically our inheritance. What city is that? Let's let the author answer that: Hebrews 12:22-23 (ASV) 22but ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable hosts of angels,23to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, Here the author is making the comparison of the old covenant which earthly Jerusalem represented and the new covenant which heavenly Jerusalem represents. This city of the living God which is the heavenly Jerusalem is the very city the author of Hebrews describes as being the city that we seek to come (Heb 13:14). The author of Hebrews says that we as new covenant Israel don't approach mount Sinai which represents the old covenant but rather approach to heavenly mount Zion which represents the new covenant. The new covenant Israel has it's census taken in New Jerusalem not earthly Jerusalem as that is the Headquarters of the Church: "general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven" Whereas the earthly Israelite kings reigned from earthly Jerusalem, the heavenly Israelite King Jehoshua reigns from New Jerusalem where He has His throne (Hebrews 1:8-9). The for the new covenant Israelite, earthly Jerusalem is of no consequence and we shouldn't even look to it. We have no hope in earthly Jerusalem. Our hope according to the new testament writers including the Son of God is new Jerusalem the heavenly mount Zion. Let's go back to Revelation chapter 2 and look at verses 8 and 9: 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. Jehoshua describes Himself as the first and the last which He also said in Revelation 1:17. In both instances the context refers to His being dead and then living. He is referred to as the firstborn from the dead in Colossians 1:18 which is connected to Him being given preeminence in all things. This is what makes Him "first". He is also last as He is described as the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). Jehoshua will also end this age at His second coming making Him the "last" and usher in the new heavens and new earth. Jehoshua is called the father of eternity (Isaiah 9:6) which also makes Him the "last". In verse 9, Jehoshua talks about those who say they are Jews but are not and says they are a synagogue of Satan. Jehoshua calls their claims to be Jews blasphemous. This likely refers to the Messiah rejecting Jews of the pharisaical synagogue system which is existed at the time of the writing of Revelation. In today's time, it also refers to rabbinic Judaism which rejects the Messiah of Israel. These rabbinic Jews teach doctrines of men as the commandments of God and speak evil of the Messiah Jehoshua. Paul the apostle made it clear, a Jew is one who is inwardly so not outwardly: Romans 2:28-29 (ASV) 28For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh:29but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God. Being an Israelite is not about religious forms and ceremonies but rather having Jehovah's moral law written on your heart. Being an Israelite in the new covenant is not about the flesh or outward rituals but rather putting on the new man created after the image of God and conformed to the image of His Son. Jehoshua is addressing the Messiah rejecting Jews who only have an outward form of godliness while not being circumcised in the heart. Jehoshua calls them the synagogue of Satan which is a swift rebuke to modern rabbinic Judaism, which heavily relies on their ethnic identity and religious forms as a way of being righteous before God. Dispensationalists of all stripes have joined themselves to the synagogue of Satan by exalting ethnic Jews as being the elect children of God simply due to their ethnicity. They have yoked themselves with secular Messiah rejecting Geo-political Israel supporting their agenda no matter how immoral it may be. Unfortunately more and more, Christian's/Messianic's feel the need to sit at the feet of Messiah rejecting Jews to learn how to be more Jewish all the while ignoring Paul's words that a true Jew is one who is so inwardly not outwardly. What would Jehoshua say to the dispensationalists, Messianic Jews and Hebrew roots folks who join themselves and/or support Geo-political Israel which is the modern day synagogue of Satan? Also in verse 9, Jehoshua also tells the Church at Smyrna that despite their tribulations and financial poverty that they are rich in faith and in the things of the Kingdom. This is a stern rebuke to today's modern 501 C 3 Church system which teaches the exact opposite. Today's typical 501 C 3 American Church often teaches that tribulation and financial poverty is likely a sign that God is judging you or not with you or that you lack faith. Yet this goes against what our King and Saviour taught which is that we as His disciples will be hated and suffer persecution in this life. All over the new testament, believers in the Son of God are promised tribulation, persecution, hatred and sometimes confiscation of goods. Yet we are also promised spiritual, invisible and eternal riches in Messiah. Just to show how wicked the teachings are of the modern Church system, the bible teaches the exact opposite of what it means to be rich in this life and blessed by God. Let's read: Hebrews 10:32-34 (ASV) 32But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were enlightened, ye endured a great conflict of sufferings;33partly, being made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, becoming partakers with them that were so used.34For ye both had compassion on them that were in bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of you possessions, knowing that ye have for yourselves a better possession and an abiding one. The early Church was able to suffer losing their earthly possessions joyfully because they knew that they had an enduring possession in heaven. Ephesians 1:3 (ASV) 3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. Our riches as believers in the Son of God are in the heavenly places as we reign with the Messiah as kings and priests. The reference to the heavenly places speaks of the most holy place in the heavenly sanctuary where the Messiah sits at the right hand of God the Father. God the Father has made us fit to reign with His anointed King who is the Son of God (Colossians 1:12-14). Ephesians 2:4-6 (ASV) 4but God, being rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,5even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace have ye been saved),6and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus: We now as believers in the Son of God, have been raised up (past tense), sit with Him on His throne in the heavenly places i.e. the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary. These are the riches that have been bestowed on us as Messianic's. Being rich in God's economy has nothing to do with material blessings but rather spiritual ones. Verse 10 of Revelation 2 10 Fear 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. Jehoshua encourages the Smyrna Church to not fear the persecution that is at their door. This is an exhortation for all Messianic's of all ages. We are not to fear suffering persecution and affliction for our Lord Jehoshua. Today's American Church system barely utters a word anymore about suffering for the faith. In fact, in today's twisted version of Christianity suffering for the faith would deem you as one who had lost favor with God. Jehoshua even tells the Smyrna Church that the devil will cast some of them into prison in order that their faith may be tried and tested. Can you imagine a pastor telling his congregation that from the pulpit? Half his Church would be empty at the next service. Instead of promising material wealth and health to the Church, Jehoshua promises them affliction and trials even to the point of being cast into prison. There is no prosperity gospel here but rather raw and gritty Apostolic Christianity. Jehoshua is encouraging this Church to not fear going to prison and that during this 10 day (symbolic) tribulation they are to be faithful even if it means dying for their faith. Those who are faithful unto death will receive the crown of life which is given to God's spiritual athletes as the reward of grace to those who persevere. The Messianic/Christian is called to be a sold out soldier willing to lay down his or her life on the line and to do so having no fear of anything other than fear of God. Verse 11 of Revelation 2 He 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. The Holy Spirit is speaking through the Son of God as He encourages, exhorts & rebukes the Churches. Those who overcome will not suffer the second death in the lake of fire. This verse shows us that the lake of fire is not eternal torment but rather destruction.
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