14 The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. 15 His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.
Saturday, October 23, 2021
Sunday, October 17, 2021
Revelation 2:14-17
14 "Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality. 15 Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
17 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it."
Tuesday, October 12, 2021
Revelation 3: 4-6
In Revelation chapter three, verses four through six, Jesus continues his admonition to the Church in Sardis. He says,
"Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. 5 The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels. 6 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches."
This passage is pretty clear cut; here Jesus acknowledges that some members of the church at Sardis are still in good standing; he uses the metaphor of wearing white clothing to signify the remaining purity of their souls. He is telling the congregation that their deeds matter and to cling to his teachings and remain repentant until the day of his second coming so that their name will remain in the book of life.
Friday, October 8, 2021
Revelation 3: 14-18
“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
There are still many ruins left standing at Laodicea; this article talks about both the ruins and the "lukewarm" parishioners of Laodicea who were trying to avoid being killed by the emperor Domitian for not worshipping him as emperor, as well as the imperial cult dynasties.
Revelation 1:1-3
1 The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his ange...
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These are the last few verses of Revelation chapter three, which finishes Jesus' message to the church in Laodicea: 19 Those whom I l...
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"Then I saw between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders a Lamb standing as if it had been slaughtered, ha...
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7 “Look, he is coming with the clouds,” and “every eye will see him, even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth “wil...
