Revelation:  Things Which Are
	Event	Scripture	Hist. Interp.	Time Of	Historicist	Fut. Interp.	Futurist	Book
Chapter 2	Title	References	Strength	Occurrence	Interpretation	Strength	Interp.	References	Comments
This spreadsheet is meant to be used with the Revelation Puzzle Pieces Series of Articles.  Please go to the Revelation Puzzle Pieces series at http://usaprophet.com/propheticsuperpages.html	The 7 Churches			John's Time					INTRODUCTION:  The primary or preferred interpretation of the discussion of the seven churches is that these conditions were present in these churches that were extant during the time of John.  This is indicated by Revelation 1:19.  One secondary interpretation, and probably just as important as the first,  is that these conditions may be applied to individual churches or to individuals by the Holy Spirit throughout history as He sees fit.  A third method ascribes church ages since 90AD to fit each church.  Elliott finds this method flawed and wanting, as do I.  Those seven ages and their associated time periods are:  Ephesus (30-100), Smyrna (100-13, Pergamos (313-590), Thyatira (590-1517), Sardis (1517-1790), Philadelphia (1790-1900), and Laodecia (1900-date).  I have the most problem associating the blotted out Sardis church with the Reformation Era churches.
Rev 2:1  Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;	1)  Ephesus	Rev 1:19						Elliott, Horae, Vol I, p 77	2:1    The Geneva Bible footnotes to the 1560 edition notate that these directives, given to angels, were equally applicable to pastors and ministers of these cities.  Ephesus was the first and largest of the cities reached by Paul with the gospel in the early missions.
Rev 2:2  I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
Rev 2:3  And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
Rev 2:4  Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.									2:4    Here an apt lesson:  you can do all things well, but in a way that lacks the love that Christ requires.
Rev 2:5  Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.									2:5    Speaking here of remembering the zeal and passion with which we came to serve Christ at the very beginning of our born again walk.  I can speak here of passion in prayer, fasting, rising early to seek the Lord, turning away from defilement, sharing our faith and a whole host of things that seem to get lost in the shuffle of a load of ministry work....The last part here speaks about removing the candlestick, or causing the destruction of the church.  This I have personally seen in my prophetic actions regarding the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew, in Homestead, FL, USA, where 250 churches were destroyed by the hurricane and I was sent as the Lord's prophet to gather the fire from the altars of those candlesticks and to deposit it elsewhere.  This fire and candlestick business is a very real, spiritual matter.
Rev 2:6  But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.		Acts 20:29-30							2:6    Nico-"to rule over"…Laity-"the people".  I see a very clear reference here to conditions in this church that later spread to create metropolitan Bishops, then the Papacy and onward to the Senior Pastors of our day.  Note that here, it is their "deeds" that are hated by our Lord.  Paul had prophesied in Ephesus that savage wolves would rise up from amongst the Elders of that church.
Rev 2:7  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.		Rev 12:11
Rev 2:8  And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;	2) Smyrna								2:8    Polycarp was a minister of Smyrna for 86 years, after which he was burned at the stake.  It is reported of Polycarp, bishop of this church at Smyrna, in a letter written by the church itself, that three days before he suffered, he dreamed his pillow, on which he laid his head, was on fire; upon which, awaking, he said to those that were by him, that he should be burnt for Christ; and when he came to suffer, as he was led along, a voice was heard by the bystanders, Polycarp, be strong, and play the man.   Polycarp was killed in AD 155 in large part due to pressure that the Jews placed upon the Roman leaders.  As such Smyrna then received persecution, as it were, with the blasts of both barrels.
Rev 2:9  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.								Foxe's Book of Martys	2:9    Ten Roman Persecutions:  1)  Nero-68 AD, 2)  Domitian-81 AD, 3) Trajan-108 AD, 4) Marcus Aurelius Antoninus-162 AD, 5) Severus- 192 AD, 6) Maximus-235 AD, 7) Decius-249 AD,  8) Valerian-257 AD, 9) Aurelian-274 AD, 10) Diocletian-303 AD
Rev 2:10  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.		Rev 1:9							2:10    This may constitute a prophecy of the ten year period of persecution that occurred under Emperor Trajan (108 to 117).   Trajan was the first emperor to officially sanction the persecution and killing of Christians.  Alternately, it may foretell of Diocletian's persecution which also lasted for ten years (303 to 313).  This last era was referred to as the "aera of martyrs".
Rev 2:11  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.		Rev 12:11
Rev 2:12  And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;	3) Pergamos
Rev 2:13  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.									2:13    Antipas had been a minister of Pergamos, a faithful martyr.  The great altar to Zeus:  100 feet wide and 40 feet high, may have been what John described as  "Satan's Seat".
Rev 2:14  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.		Num 24:14, Num 25:1							2:14    Fornication and idolatry are often indicative of the same sin in the scripture.  It is likely that the mixture of Christianity with pagan religion and their pagan customs is referred to here.  Here in Pergamos was a huge Temple of Athena and a great, 100 foot square altar to Zeus.
Rev 2:15  So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.									2:15    Nico-"to rule over"…Laity-"the people".  I see a very clear reference here to conditions in this church that later spread to create metropolitan Bishops, then the Papacy and onward to the Senior Pastors of our day.  Note that here, it is their "doctrine" that is hated by our Lord.
Rev 2:16  Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
Rev 2:17  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.		Rev 12:11
Rev 2:18  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;	4) Thyatira
Rev 2:19  I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.
Rev 2:20  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.		1 Ki 16:31							2:20    Fornication and idolatry are often indicative of the same sin in the scripture.  The reference here is to spiritual matters, not to a physical, living Jezebel.  I have heard many erroneous mentions of a Jezebel spirit, but it is more proper to refer to it, I believe, as an entity:  a cocktail of spirits that, working together, defile individuals and entire churches.  This can be done through men or women.  This entity is the arch-enemy of the prophets.
Rev 2:21  And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.									2:21    Fornication is the English translation of the Greek word "porneia", the origin of our English word "pornography.  It could include any vile or licentious act, practice or thought.
Rev 2:22  Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.
Rev 2:23  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.		1 Sam 16:7, Psal 7:10, Jere 11:29, Jere 17:10
Rev 2:24  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.
Rev 2:25  But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.
Rev 2:26  And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:		Rev 12:11
Rev 2:27  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.		Psal 2:9, Rev 12:5
Rev 2:28  And I will give him the morning star.
Rev 2:29  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.