JESUS WAS BORN IN BETHLEHEM EPHRATHAH

CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY

 "But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,

Too little to be among the clans of Judah,

From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel.

His goings forth are from everlasting,

From the ancient days.”

Therefore He will give them up until the time

When she who is in childbirth has borne a child.

Then the remainder of His brothers

Will return to the sons of Israel.

And He will stand and shepherd His flock

In the strength of Yahweh,

In the majesty of the name of Yahweh His God.

And they will remain

Because at that time He will be great

To the ends of the earth."

Micah 5:2-4 LSB Legacy Standard Bible

LETTER GREETINGS

REVEALING JESUS

The REVELATION of JESUS CHRIST, 

which God gave to Him to show to His servants things which must soon take place. He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John,  who bears record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.  Revelation 1:1-2 MEV 

PROMISE OF A BLESSING

Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy and keep those things which are written in it, for the time is near.  Revelation 1:3 MEV 

LETTER TO SEVEN CHURCHES IN ASIA

John, To the seven churches which 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 who are before His throne,  and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.  To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood,  and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.   Revelation 1:4-6 MEV 

THE INTIMATE RETURN OF JESUS CHRIST.

JESUS WILL RETURN LIKE A THIEF IN THE NIGHT.  LIKE THE PARABLE OF THE 10 VIRGINS, WE NEED TO BE READY WHEN THE GROOM RETURNS FOR HIS BRIDE, THE CHURCH.

Look! He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”  Revelation 1:7-8 MEV Modern English Version

VISION OF JESUS

 REVEALING JESUS

JOHN IS THE WRITER

It is I, your brother John, a fellow sufferer for the Lord’s sake, who am writing this letter to you. I, too, have shared the patience Jesus gives, and we shall share his Kingdom!

WHERE: John on the island of Patmos.

WHEN: On the Lord's Day. The first day of the week.  (1 Corinthians 16:1-2)

WHAT: John was preaching Jesus and worshiping God. 

WHO: John heard a loud voice like a trumpet saying, I am the Alpha and Omega.

WHY: John was instructed to write down all the "THINGS WHICH YOU HAVE SEEN."

I was on the island of Patmos, exiled there for preaching the Word of God and for telling what I knew about Jesus Christ.  It was the Lord’s Day and I was worshiping, when suddenly I heard a loud voice behind me, a voice that sounded like a trumpet blast, saying, “I am A and Z, the First and Last!” And then I heard him say, “Write down everything you see, and send your letter to the seven churches in Turkey: to the church in Ephesus, the one in Smyrna, and those in Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.” Revelation 1:9-11 TLB

JOHN SEES JESUS HOLDING SEVEN STARS, AMONG SEVEN GOLDEN CANDLESTICKS

When I turned to see who was speaking, there behind me were seven candlesticks of gold. And standing among them was one who looked like Jesus, who called himself the Son of Man, wearing a long robe circled with a golden band across his chest.  His hair was white as wool or snow, and his eyes penetrated like flames of fire.  His feet gleamed like burnished bronze, and his voice thundered like the waves against the shore. He held seven stars in his right hand and a sharp, double-bladed sword in his mouth, and his face shone like the power of the sun in unclouded brilliance.  Revelation 1:12-16 TLB

JOHN BOWS DOWN TREMBLING

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead; but he laid his right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid! Though I am the First and Last, the Living One who died, who is now alive forevermore, who has the keys of hell and death—don’t be afraid! Write down what you have just seen and what will soon be shown to you.  Revelation 1:17-19 TLB  The Living Bible

JESUS REVEALS THE MEANING  

Here is the secret of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and the seven golden lampstands: The seven lampstands are the seven churches, and the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches.  Revelation 1:20 NCV  New Century Version

GOD HAS ANGELS WATCHING OVER HIS CHURCH

JESUS TO THE CHURCH IN EPHESUS

 REVEALING JESUS

WHERE IS YOUR FIRST LOVE?

“To the angel of the church of Ephesus write,

‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands:" 

JESUS WHO HOLDS THE SEVEN STARS, COMMENDS THE ASSEMBLY IN EPHESUS.

“I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary." 

Revelation 2:1-3 NKJV

JESUS GIVES HIS CORRECTION

"Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.  But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate."  Revelation 2:4-6 NKJV

THE CHURCH WAS INFLUENCE BY THE NICOLAITANS; PARTICIPATING IN SEXUAL IMMORALITY, GNOSTIC BELIEFS, AND EATING FOOD OFFERED TO IDOLS.

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”   Revelation 2:7  NKJV New King James Version
OVERCOMERS WILL EAT FROM THE TREE OF LIFE, IN THE MIDST OF GOD'S PARADISE.

JESUS TO THE CHURCH IN SMYRNA

 REVEALING JESUS

HAS MYRHH MADE YOU RICH?

JESUS WHO WAS FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH, AND ROSE BACK TO LIFE HAS A MESSAGE OF CORRECTION FOR THE ASSEMBLY IN SMYRNA.  

SMYRNA'S NAME MEANS "MYRRH."  WISEMEN GAVE MYRRH TO THE INFANT JESUS.  AND MYRRH WAS USED AS A BURIAL SPICE FOR JESUS' BODY.

“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this:" 

Revelation 2:8 NASB

THE ASSEMBLY FACED PERSECUTION FROM THE JEWISH COMMUNITY IN SMYRNA  AND THE ROMANS.

POLYCARP, A DISCIPLE OF THE APOSTLE JOHN, WAS MARTRED AT THE AROUND 156 AD.

‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.  Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. Revelation 2:9-10 NASB

BELIEVERS FAITHFUL UNTIL DEATH WILL BE REWARDED WITH A CROWN OF LIFE.

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.’  Revelation 2:9-11 NAS  New American Standard 1995

OVERCOMERS WILL NOT BE HURT BY THE SECOND DEATH.

JESUS TO THE CHURCH IN PERGAMUM

 REVEALING JESUS

ANTIPAS, BISHOP OF PERGAMUM 

WAS MARTYRED

"Write this to Pergamum, to the Angel of the church. The One with the sharp-biting sword draws from the sheath of his mouth—out come the sword words:"    Revelation 2:12  MSG

JESUS IS THE ONE WITH THE TWO EDGED SWORD, DRAWN FROM HIS MOUTH.

HE COMMENDS THE ASSEMBLY IN PERGAMUM FOR NOT DENYING HIS NAME, WHILE LIVING UNDER PRESSURE IN THE MIDST OF GREEK AND ROMAN PAGANISM.

“I see where you live, right under the shadow of Satan’s throne. But you continue boldly in my Name; you never once denied my Name, even when the pressure was worst, when they martyred Antipas, my witness who stayed faithful to me on Satan’s turf."   Revelation 2:13 MSG

JESUS GIVES HIS CORRECTION.

BALAAM ALLOWED GOD's PEOPLE TO BE SEDUCED BY THE ENEMY AND JUDGED BY GOD.

CHRISTIANS IN PERGAMUM WERE TEMPTED TO PARTICIPATE IN PAGAN WORSHIP BY EATING FOOD OFFERED TO IDOLS, AND PARTICIPATE INTO THE ORGY OF SEXUAL IMMORALITY.

“But why do you indulge that Balaam crowd? Don’t you remember that Balaam was an enemy agent, seducing Balak and sabotaging Israel’s holy pilgrimage by throwing unholy parties?  And why do you put up with the Nicolaitians, who do the same thing?

“Enough! Don’t give in to them; I’ll be with you soon. I’m fed up and about to cut them to pieces with my sword-sharp words.   Revelation 2:14-16 MSG

OVERCOMERS WILL RECEIVE HIDDEN MANNA AND RECEIVE A WHITE STONE WITH A NEW NAME WRITTEN ON IT.

“Are your ears awake? Listen. Listen to the Wind Words, the Spirit blowing through the churches. I’ll give the sacred manna to every conqueror; I’ll also give a clear, smooth stone inscribed with your new name, your secret new name.”   Revelation 2:17  MSG  Message Bible

JESUS IS THE HIDDEN MANNA. 

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"  2 Corinthians 5:17  NIV  New International Version

JESUS TO THE CHURCH IN THYATIRA

 REVEALING JESUS

“To the angel of the church in Thyatira write:"

THYATIRA HAD SILVERSMITHS THAT MADE IDOLS, AND CRAFTED OBJECTS FROM PRECIOUS METALS.  JESUS HAS EYES LIKE A BLAZING FIRE.  AND HIS FEET ARE LIKE POLISHED BRONZE.

"These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze."  Revelation 2:18 NIV

JESUS COMPLIMENTS THEM FOR THEIR LOVE, SERVICE AND PERSEVERANCE.

" I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first."  Revelation 2:19 NIV

CORRECTION FOR THOSE FOLLOWING THE TEACHINGS OF A PROPHETESS... JEZEBEL. SHE DECEIVED MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH INTO BELIEVING IT WAS ALL RIGHT TO GO TO THE TEMPLE OF APOLLO, AND PARTICIPATE IN PAGAN WORSHIP BY EATING MEAT OFFERED TO IDOLS AND SEXUAL IMMORALITY.  

"Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols.  I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling.  So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways.  I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds."  

Revelation 2:20-24 NIV

JESUS INSTRUCTS THE FAITHFUL TO HOLD ON AND BE STRONG.  SOME WILL LOSE THEIR JOBS, AND BE OUTCASTS; BECAUSE THEY DON'T PARTICIPATE IN PARTIES AT APOLLO'S TEMPLE.

"Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets, ‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’  Revelation 2:24-25 NIV

OVERCOMERS WILL BE GIVEN AUTHORITY TO RULE WITH CHRIST OVER PEOPLE GROUPS.

"To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery’ just as I have received authority from my Father.  I will also give that one the morning star.  Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches."  REVELATION 2:18-29 NIV New International Version

JESUS TO THE CHURCH IN SARDIS

 REVEALING JESUS

JESUS IS COMING BACK 

LIKE A THIEF IN THE NIGHT

“Write this letter to the angel of the church in Sardis. This is the message from the one who has the sevenfold Spirit of God and the seven stars:"

JESUS GIVES HIS CORRECTION TO THE DEAD IN THE CHURCH--TO WAKE UP AND REPENT!

“I know all the things you do, and that you have a reputation for being alive—but you are dead.  Wake up! Strengthen what little remains, for even what is left is almost dead. I find that your actions do not meet the requirements of my God.  Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly. Repent and turn to me again. If you don’t wake up, I will come to you suddenly, as unexpected as a thief.  Revelation 3:1-3 NLT

JESUS WILL COME FOR HIS BRIDE, LIKE A THIEF IN THE NIGHT.  

IN THE PARABLE OF THE 10 VIRGINS, FIVE HAD FAITH AND HAD EXTRA OIL FOR THEIR LAMPS.  WHEN THE GROOM CAME FOR HIS BRIDE AT MIDNIGHT, THEY WENT WITH THEM TO THE WEDDING FEAST.  AND THE DOOR WAS SHUT.

5 WERE FOOLISH AND DID NOT HAVE EXTRA OIL FOR THEIR LAMPS.  THEY WENT OUT TO BUY OIL AT MIDNIGHT AND MISSED THE WEDDING.

JESUS IS THE GROOM, RETURNING FOR HIS BRIDE, THE CHURCH.  NO MAN KNOWS WHEN HE WILL COME.

OVERCOMERS WILL HAVE THEIR NAMES KEPT IN THE BOOK OF LIFE AND BELONG TO JESUS.

“Yet there are some in the church in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes with evil. They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy.  All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before my Father and his angels that they are mine."  Revelation 3:4-5 NLT

“Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches."  

Revelation 3:1-6 New Living Translation NLT

JESUS TO THE CHURCH IN PHILADELPHIA

 REVEALING JESUS

"This is what you must write to the angel of the church in Philadelphia:"

JESUS HOLDS THE KEYS TO THE DOOR.  HE IS HOLY AND TRUE AND HAS THE SAME AUTHORITY KING DAVID HAD.

"I am the one who is holy and true, and I have the keys that belonged to David. When I open a door, no one can close it. And when I close a door, no one can open it. Listen to what I say."                Revelation 3:7 CEV

JESUS IS OMNISCIENT, KNOWING EVERYTHING, BECAUSE HE IS GOD THE SON.

 "I know everything you have done. And I have placed before you an open door that no one can close. You were not very strong, but you obeyed my message and did not deny that you are my followers.  Now you will see what I will do with those people who belong to Satan’s group. They claim to be Jews, but they are liars. I will make them come and kneel down at your feet. Then they will know that I love you."   Revelation 3:8-9 CEV

BECAUSE YOU OBEYED MY WORD, YOU WILL BE PROTECTED FROM THE TIME OF WORLDWIDE TESTING.

"You obeyed my message and endured. So I will protect you from the time of testing that everyone in all the world must go through.  I am coming soon. So hold firmly to what you have, and no one will take away the crown that you will be given as your reward.  Revelation 3:10-11 CEV

YOU SHALL RECEIVE A VICTORY CROWN AND DWELL IN THE NEW JERUSALEM.

"Everyone who wins the victory will be made into a pillar in the temple of my God, and they will stay there forever. I will write on each of them the name of my God and the name of his city. It is the new Jerusalem that my God will send down from heaven. I will also write on them my own new name."   Revelation 3:12 CEV

LISTEN TO WHAT GOD IS SAYS TO HIS CHURCH; PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE.

"If you have ears, listen to what the Spirit says to the churches."  Revelation 3:12-13 CEV Christian English Version

JESUS TO THE CHURCH IN LAODICEA

 REVEALING JESUS

COLD MOUNTAIN WATER

JESUS IS THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY AND FOREVER.  HE EXISTED BEFORE CREATION.

“To the angel of the assembly in Laodicea write: “The Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of God’s creation, says these things:  Revelation 3:14 WEB

NO COMPLIMENTS FROM JESUS!  

HE COMPARES THEIR WORKS TO THE NASTY WATER THEY DRANK. LAODICEA HAD TO PIPE WATER INTO THEIR TOWN AND WAS LUKEWARM WITH SMELLY MINERALS.

NEIGHBORING TOWNS COLOSSAE HAD COLD WATER FROM MOUNTAIN RUNOFF,  AND HIERAPOLIS HAD HOT SPRINGS.

“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of my mouth.  Revelation 3:15-16 WEB

LAODICEA WAS WEALTHY. BEING ON A MAJOR TRADE ROUTE, THEY WERE A BANKING CENTER, SELLING EYE SALVE AND TEXTILES. 

Because you say, ‘I am rich, and have gotten riches, and have need of nothing;’ and don’t know that you are the wretched one, miserable, poor, blind, and naked;  I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, that you may become rich; and white garments, that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see.  As many as I love, I reprove and chasten. Be zealous therefore, and repent.  Revelation 3:17-19 WEB

THE CHURCH IN LAODICEA WAS BLINDED BY THEIR AFFUENCE.  THEY HARDLY NEEDED JESUS ANYMORE.

JESUS STANDS KNOCKING AT YOUR DOOR; LET HIM COME IN.  MY EYE SALVE WILL OPEN YOUR EYES.  TRUE RICHES ARE A RESULT OF GOLD REFINED IN THE FIRE.

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with me.  He who overcomes, I will give to him to sit down with me on my throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.”    Revelation 3:20-22  World English Bible  WEB

OVERCOMERS WILL SIT DOWN WITH MY FATHER ON HIS THRONE.

THE RAPTURE

JESUS DIED, ROSE AGAIN, AND ASCENDED; SO WILL THE BELIEVERS WHO DIED WILL RISE AGAIN AND MEET JESUS IN THE CLOUDS.

"But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus."1 Thess 4:13-14 LSB
THE DEAD IN CHRIST WILL RISE FIRST.THEN THOSE ALIVE WILL BE RAPTURED.WE WILL MEET JESUS IN THE CLOUDS."For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.Therefore comfort one another with these words.  I Thess 4:15-18 LSB
THE DAY OF THE LORD WILL COME LIKE A THIEF IN THE NIGHT FOR THE SONS OF DARKNESSNow concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need of anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.
While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman who is pregnant, and they will never escape.  But you, brothers, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief, for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be awake and sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.










But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.
GOD HAS NOT APPOINTED US FOR WRATHFor God has not appointed us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.Therefore, comfort one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 LSB  Legacy Standard Bible
WHERE DOES RAPTURE COME FROM?THE WORDS "CAUGHT UP" IN GREEK MANUSCRIPTS IS "HARPAZO."  THIS WORD IS "RAPTURO" IN LATIN.
THE DAY OF THE LORD REFERS TO GOD'S JUDGEMENT.

STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN

"Jacob left Beersheba and traveled toward Haran.  When he came to a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had gone down. He took one of the stones from that place, put it under his head, and lay down there."   Genesis 28:10-11 GW

JACOB DREAMED OF A STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN

"He had a dream in which he saw a stairway set up on the earth with its top reaching up to heaven. He saw the angels of God going up and coming down on it."  Genesis 28:12 GW

THE LORD STANDING ABOVE SHOUTED TO JACOB

"The Lord was standing above it, saying, “I am the Lord, the God of your grandfather Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give the land on which you are lying to you and your descendants.  Your descendants will be like the dust on the earth. You will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. Through you and through your descendant every family on earth will be blessed.  Remember, I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go. I will also bring you back to this land because I will not leave you until I do what I’ve promised you.”  Genesis 28:13-15 GW

JACOB WOKE UP FEELING GOD'S PRESENCE

"Then Jacob woke up from his sleep and exclaimed, “Certainly, the Lord is in this place, and I didn’t know it!”  Filled with awe, he said, “How awe-inspiring this place is! Certainly, this is the house of God and the gateway to heaven!”  Genesis 28:16-17 GW  God's Word Bible

JACOB'S SAW IN HIS DREAM THE DOOR TO HEAVEN OPEN.  JESUS WAS STANDING AT THE TOP; WHILE ANGELS CAME UP AND DOWN TO EARTH.