The One Who Overcomes

        If Revelation is following a Levitical (Lev-Chap 23) calendar it means there is a not a division from the OT but instead, a unity. One people of God; the church is the fulfillment of His purpose for Israel. 

*Gods plan for His people is a unified plan. He has ONE people.

*The 7 churches follow the 7 days of creation and trace through the Garden to crucifixion.  

(Ephesus-Day 1 of Creation, Thyatira- Day 4 of Creation, Laodicea-Day 7 of Creation)

Dispensationalists believe the 7 churches span the Church Age but they really span the history of the Bible. They follow distinct periods of its history. This shows a unity which God has intended. 

Chapters 2 and 3 use OT language which is why these parallels are evident. Not only do these 7 churches outline the OT but they also overlay events in Revelation and are dealt with in the rest of the book.

*What happens in Revelation has to do with the 7 churches, with their time because it was written to THEM. It uses imagery that fits THEM. (HAH yes, caps are for emphasis)

The Church of EPHESUS:

Jesus is walking among the candle stands. This imagery takes us to the garden how Adam walks through the trees. Each of these churches is represented as a tree. “To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life…” The church is being talked to through imagery of the Garden. In the Garden, Eve was seduced by another lover. (The ‘seed of the serpent’ was Cain.) The church of Ephesus had abandoned their first love just as Eve had abandoned perfection.

Revelation Overlay:

Who is the enemy?

1) False Apostles.

a) Revelation Chapter 5, the books are brought out and no one can open them. John starts weeping. The lamb comes forth and asks why john is crying. Jesus is the ONE true apostle. Apostle means, ‘Sent.’ In Hebrews chap 3 Jesus is called “The Apostle.” Chap 4 and 5 shows us the only way, the one, the true message who is TRULY sent in opposition to false apostles.

The Church of SMYRNA:

“I was dead, and I came to life… To the one who overcomes he will not be hurt by the second death…I will give him a crown of life.” This fits the period of time of the patriarchs. In the patriarchs we have the deadness of Sarah’s womb and Rebecca’s womb. Isaac’s sacrifice; where Abraham was willing to kill him even though the whole covenant rested on him. God has brought LIFE out of death. Joseph went to prison and then was raised out and given a crown and was second in command. This church covers from Geneses moving into the beginning of Exodus.

Overlay in Revelation:

Who is the enemy?

1) The synagogue of Satan, False Jews and False Israel.

a) They are persecuting the true believers. A true Jew is not one outwardly but one who has a circumcision of the heart. 
This content is seen in Revelation chapter 6, 7 through 8:1. They cover the 7 seals. Particularly you can see it in the 5^th seal, where the persecuted Christians are under the alter and it was false Israel that put them there.

The Church of PERGAMUM:

Rev Verse 14- Balaam, Balak and Jezebel...(See Numbers 22-24)

Verse 17, “To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna…” This church is showing the period of time of Israel’s wandering through the wilderness and coming up to the time they enter in the promise land.

Overlay in Revelation:

Who is the enemy?

1) Satan himself (Balaam and balak-) In revelation we have the Beast and the False Prophet.

This is dealt with in Rev chapters 8:2- chapter 14. The blowing of the trumpets.  

The Church of THYATIRA:

“The words of the Son of God who has eyes like a flame of fire and whose feet are life burnished bronze.” The phase the ‘Son of God’ is often a reference to Jesus kingship. In the OT Jezebel appears in the time of Elijah. She entices people into idolatry. This church covers the period of the Kings. The kingship arising in Israel.

“To him I will give authority over the nations..” This is quoted from Ps. 2. In the OT Jezebel does succeed in leading the people away. This language is chosen intentionally.
"The one who overcomes will have authority and the bright morning star."

*The sun moon and stars are created are created on the 4^th day.

In the OT, the sun and stars represent authority. (Like Governments and rulers) Think of Josephs dream and how the stars and moon all bowed down to him. 

Revelation overlay:

Who is the enemy?

1) Jezebel. She was engaged in idolatry, better known in the bible as whoredom. This is dealt with in the Bowl judgments. Where the Harlot who is riding the Beast is judged. (Rev chapters 16, 17 and 18)

The Church of SARDIS:

In OT Israel is divided into two nations. The north (Israel) is taken into captivity in 721BC. And the South (Judah) remains until 586BC. Toward the latter days of the nation there is only a remnant left of people who want to follow Gods word. So the imagery that they need to “wake up” fits this ‘remnant period’ of Israel’s history. This church covers the exile time up until the sending of Zachariah and Haggai.  

Revelation Overlay:

Who is the enemy?

1) The church is largely dead. Sleeping. Stagnant.

a) If they wake up they are going to get white robes. This is dealt with in Revelation chapter 19. You see the white horse rider and riding behind Him is the church bedecked in white robes.

The Church of PHILADELPHIA:

Verse 7, there is a restoration period under Zachariah and Haggai. But the people are a little sluggish so these prophets are sent to “Stir up” the people.

Jesus is the one who has the key. Verse 12 “The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God.” What happens during this time is the prophesy of Ezekiel. Ezek Chapters 40-48 where he talks about the temple.

Revelation Overlay:

Who is the enemy?

1) Synagogue of Satan/ False Jews

a) There is a wide open door for Philadelphia and there is this key. This is mentioned again in Rev Chapter 20. Where the key is binding Satan. The binding of Satan is imperative to there being a wide open door.

The Church of LAODICEA:

“…Vomit you out of my mouth.” This language comes from Leviticus. If the people do not follow the commandments of the Lord, the land will “vomit them out.” This church makes us think through the gospels. How the Pharisees and the religious leaders of the day were ‘lukewarm.’

Revelation Overlay:

Who is the enemy?

1) Lukewarm, self righteousness self sufficiency.

a) You have Jesus sitting on the throne with God and the door has been thrown wide opened and because of that they are all are sitting together eating a meal and that is all in revelation chapters 21 and 22.

1 John 5: 1- 3, “Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.”

1) One of the marks that you love God is that you love the children of God. If you love God you will keep his commandments. His commandments are not burdensome.

Verse 4-5, “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”

1) These verses become a (THE) definition of faith. One who truly comes to trust Christ there will be such a work in their life that they are putting away and are conquering the world. We have made faith so very narrow in Christendom. People will say, “I believe in Christ- I’m going to heaven.” When you don’t overcome you don’t know Christ. Salvation is not just about saying you believe in Christ and then living like hell. Salvation is a linear thing. Salvation is in the perseverance: In the conquering. “The one who endures to the end shall be saved.”

Verse 6, “This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only but with the water and with the blood. It is the spirit who testifies, because the spirit is the truth.”

*The ‘water’ represents Christ’s baptism

*The ‘blood’ represents Christ’s death

*The ‘spirit’ represents how Christ poured out His spirit while on the cross. He handed over his spirit.  –The spirit is given on the day of Pentecost when it is poured out on the people.

*We overcome because of the transforming work of the Holy Spirit. You have to believe everything about Christ. You have to follow him even when your flesh does not understand and does not agree.

To the one who overcomes, "He can eat of the tree of life that is in the paradise of God.’

To the one who overcomes, “He won’t be hurt by the second death.”

To the one who overcomes, “I will not erase his name from the Book Of Life.”

To the one who overcomes, “He can sit down with me on my throne as I overcame and sat down with my Father on His throne.”

HollyDee 

Nothing Unusual. Nothing Strange. Close To Nothing At All

I love the Cole Porter station on Pandora. I wish I had been born in a different era. I often wonder if love made sense back then or if everything was just as complicated.

I don’t really like mainstream music...Unless I need a good dance beat... But I prefer song writers; people who actually write about important things/ things that make you feel.  

We have a stigma in my family that everyone fights on holidays and weekends; especially holidays that fall on weekends.

Ever since I was little I have felt like all my inanimate objects have feelings. I love my pens and whenever they would run out of ink I would never want to throw them away because they were my friends.  If I ever had to throw some away I would wait till I had two so they could be together wherever the trash took them. I love pens to this day and have a problem….ahem….stealing them when I discover one I like.  I especially like thicker-ish ones because my handwriting looks better with those. Certain pens make for different handwriting.  

I truly wish I was covered in tattoos. My cartilage is my way of letting some of that need out. Haha.

I have a weird thing for Steven Tyler. Boys who play rock music are the best kinds.

I love Amy Winehouse. I get overly sad when celebrities die. As if I knew them..

I love contemporary dance. It is phenomenal and so much like real life. If I could go back in time, I would pursue dancing.

Scruffy boys are the most attractive. (And yes, that is partially a personality thing.) AND for some reason boys who wear eyeliner don’t bother me…hmm…I blame Johnny Depp for that. He is scruffy also.

I get really annoyed by people who use ‘bring’ and ‘take’ incorrectly…of course, it is impolite to correct them but I can’t seem to help it.  Even if I don’t say it out loud I have to compulsively correct them under my breath… I must grow in the area………………..;) But I kind of think foster are all grammar Nazis…

I was never a very good speller. I was never diagnosed with dyslexia…. But I know I have it. I have gotten so much better in my old age… When I was little and we would read the bible I would have a really hard time. I would have to put a card underneath the line I was reading and read very slowly. Nowadays when I read out loud I still get very out of breath. However, it is my goal to someday be a fantastic speller and to never rely on auto correct. ;)

I love movies that simply break your heart; the ones about lost love, death, war and passion. I would take a tearjerker over a comedy any day. They make me happy in my niblet places. (don’t ask. Ahem. Ivy, that was for you.)

I struggle with a bit of wanderlust. Wide open spaces, peace and quiet, out in the elements. Especially days where is it kind of dark and cloudy I just want to pack up and get on a plane to go somewhere. Or jump in my car and drive. Someday I might just disappear. Up and leave. That being said, I love days where the weather is dark. It doesn't make me sad like it does for most people.

When I am an old lady I think i might like to be a gardener..And have little bunny foo foo hopping all over my yard eating everything. 

I retreat into myself when I am around certain people. There are times when I am totally out there insane and others when I am so very quiet.  

I know myself very well in most areas but there are still things I am learning.

I don't know how to feel without feeling everything. (I need to write a more concise entry on this one of these days.)

I most always drive with my car windows down.

I am fascinated by different cultures.  I want to read a book on the history of like every culture there ever was. 

I almost drowned when I was little. (Not like I had to have CPR but still) We were over at the Fasolinos and I was walking on the ledge. You know the seat thing that is sort of in the water? I was walking back and forth and then I walked too far and fell in, sinking to the bottom. I remember sitting on the bottom of the pool looking up, it was crystal blue and so peaceful. I remember watching dad jump in to save me. I wasn't afraid and that was what was so scary. To this day I don't really like my face being in the water just because I remember that feeling of being down there unable to breathe but being unafraid at all and for some reason that is scary and traumatizing to me. 

Love always,

HollyDee

Older chests reveal themselves
Like a crack in a wall
Starting small, and grow in time
And we always seem to need the help
Of someone else
To mend that shelf
Too many books
Read me your favourite line

She broke down the other day, yeah you know
Some things in life may change
But some things they stay the same

Like time, there's always time
On my mind
So pass me by, I'll be fine
Just give me time