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Revelation: Pergamum’s White Stone

Posted in Prophecy, Revelation with tags Alpha and Omega, Exodus 28, Jesus Christ, judgment, Thummim, Urim, white stone on February 26, 2017 by paulthepoke

Revelation 2:17 ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.’

White stone… The Greek word for stone is psephos. Per Strong’s, it is a small worn smooth stone, a pebble; in the ancient courts of justice the accused were condemned by black pebbles and the acquitted by white.

This is possible a reference to the Urim and Thummim stones. These stones are black and white. The reference in Scripture is from Exodus 28:30. Judgment is associated with these stones.

Exodus 28:30 And in the breastpiece of judgment you shall put the Urim and the Thummim, and they shall be on Aaron’s heart, when he goes in before the LORD. Thus Aaron shall bear the judgment of the people of Israel on his heart before the LORD regularly.

Urim in the Hebrew means “lights”.

Thummim in the Hebrew means “perfection”.

Light and perfection were stones kept in a pouch on the high priest’s breastplate; used in determining God’s decision in certain questions and issues. –Strong’s Concordance

Constable’s Notes made the following observation. Urim begins with the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet and Thummim begins with the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet. It could be translated in English as “curses and perfections”. Urim is no. Thummim is yes.

The New Testament equivalent in the Greek would be the concept of Alpha and Omega. The concept points to Jesus Christ.

As believers in Christ, we are acquitted of our sin by the bloodshed and work of Jesus on the cross. He is the payment for the crime for all eternity. Jesus has taken the judgment of His people and He is our high priest.

Jesus promises believers in Him a name change and it is personal…and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.

And for good measure, Jesus will have a different name, and it is personal.

Revelation 19:12 His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself.

We will be given a small white stone. Jesus Himself is telling us this in the verse. As believers of Jesus Christ, we are acquitted.

Revelation: Smyrna Under Pressure

Posted in Prophecy, Revelation with tags Alpha and Omega, church, ekklesia, first and last, Isaiah, Revelation 2, satan, Smyrna, Tribulation, wrath on December 18, 2016 by paulthepoke

Revelation 2:8 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:

The first and the last…The idea of the Messiah being the first and the last goes back to the Old Testament prophets. The phrase is the calling card to identify the Messiah. Jesus identifies Himself as the first and the last in Revelation 1:17.

Isaiah 44:6 Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: “I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God besides Me”.

Isaiah 48:12 Listen to me, O Jacob, and Israel, whom I called! I am he; I am the first, and I am the last.

At the last of the book of Revelation and the Bible closes with this reminder.

Revelation 22:13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. -Jesus

…who was dead, and has come to life… The gospel message is simply stated in the first sentence to the church at Smyrna. We know Jesus died on a cross. We know He was buried. We know He resurrected. Jesus is the person talking. Christ proclaims His good news.

Revelation 2:9 ‘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.

The English word “tribulation” is the Greek word τηλιπσισ/thlipsis. Per Strong’s Concordance it is defined as: pressing, pressing together, pressure; metaphorically it means oppression, affliction, tribulation, distress, straits.

In other words, as believers in Jesus Christ, we are going to come under pressure from the world. This life promises stress and oppression. What we believe will come under affliction.

“Tribulation” or τηλιπσισ/thlipsis is not the same word used for God’s “wrath”. The Greek word for “wrath” is οργε/orge. The word is defined as: wrath, indignation; anger exhibited in punishment, hence used for punishment itself; of punishments inflicted by magistrates.

A couple of example of God’s wrath are noted below.

1 Thessalonians 5:9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ…

Romans 5:9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.

The church does not come under God’s wrath. But the body of Christ was, is, and will be pressured during our earthly lives.

…(but you are rich)…The church at Smryna was materially poor of wealth and worldly possessions. The reality, they were wealthy in an eternal sense. The Greek vocabulary says these folks were people of virtue and character. And they believed in Jesus Christ, their Heavenly possession.

…but are a synagogue of Satan. This is the first of four references to Satan in the book of Revelation.

The Greek word for “synagogue” is not the same Greek word used for “church”.

The word for “synagogue” is the transliterated word συναγογε/sunagoge. Two points about this word. One, it is a physical structure or building. Two, it is an assembly of men.

The Greek word for “church” is εκκλεσια/ekklesia. It means: a called out group of Christians; the whole body of Christians scattered throughout the earth. The church is not a building.

Satan’s synagogue is different than Jesus Christ’s church.

Satan’s crew, the so called Jewish congregation had some character issues. They used the Lord’s name in vain and they were liars.

Trend Update: Star of Bethlehem, June 30, 2015

Posted in Christmas, Prophecy, Trend Update with tags Alpha and Omega, Bright Morning Star, Jesus Christ, Jupiter, King of Kings, Leo, lion, Mazzaroth, Regulus, Revelation, Star of Bethlehem, venus, Walid Shoebat on June 30, 2015 by paulthepoke

In the sky on June 30, 2015, there will be an event comparable to the Star of Bethlehem. The planets of Jupiter and Venus will be in conjunction. Regulus, the brightest star of the constellation of Leo will be in close proximity. This will occur in the western sky about 9 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time in the United States.

Take all of this for what it is worth. Please do your own homework. At the very least, it is curious and thought provoking.

Let’s look at the heavenly structures involved. The first is the planet Jupiter. It has long been known as the King Planet. Who is known as the King of Kings? Revelation 19:16 And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”

The second actor is the planet Venus. It is known as the bright morning star in ancient cultures. It is seen before the sun sets in the evening. And Venus rises before the sun in the morning. Who is known as the bright morning star? Jesus Himself answers the question. Revelation 22:16 “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”

In the Hebrew Mazzaroth or constellations, Leo is a constellation. Leo is a lion and the last in order of 12 constellations. Leo is the culmination of the story of the Hebrew Messiah. The story starts with the constellation Virgo or a virgin. Who is known as a lion? Revelation 5:5 and one of the elders said to me, “Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals.”

The brightest star in the constellation Leo is Regulus. It is the alpha star. We get our English word “regal” from the Latin word. It means “king”. Revelation 1:8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

http://www.truthseekersministries.org/files/rolleston-mazzaroth.pdf

Even CBS News and other secular news sources are making the connection between the celestial events on June 30, 2015 and the Star of Bethlehem. These folks are hardly supportive and friendly to the contents of the Bible. Even environmentalists and Communists are noting the event.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/jupiter-venus-to-converge-in-star-of-bethlehem-moment/

http://planetsave.com/2015/06/27/star-of-bethlehem-closest-highly-visible-conjunction-of-venus-jupiter-in-2000-years-on-june-30-2015/

http://rt.com/news/270613-jupiter-venus-merge-conjunction/

See the patch below from Walid Shoebat. He is a former Palestinian terrorist who converted to Christianity. He is from the Middle East. Shoebat has unique cultural perspectives we cannot relate to. He believes this celestial event is a sign. He thinks this signifies the Second Coming of Christ is close. He gives support of his prophetic opinion with references from the Bible.

http://shoebat.com/2015/06/29/tomorrow-you-will-see-the-star-of-bethlehem-a-sign-that-christs-second-coming-is-around-the-corner/

For information regarding the Star of Bethlehem, see the patches below.

http://www.bethlehemstar.net/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGUlWa2r-bk

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