It needs to be understood that this book is written to the churches with a mandate to those who would copy it and pass on the original to the next church. It was not to be edited in that it was never to be added to or detracted from. This is the testimony of Jesus Christ. Just as Christ took the wrath and curse of the Father now the world will receive the wrath and curse of the LAMB.
Wrath and curse is the result of Covenant breaking on one end or the other. Since God, who is able and doesn’t go back on His word, is self-sworn to abide by the Covenant He set in Gen 3:15; and we are the weak, needy, and limited Creation with a tendency towards iniquity and are forgetful and ungrateful as a result and unmindful as well tend to be the ones breaking the “rules of the Covenant” and thus the Covenant itself then it follows that unto the Covenant Breaker goes the wrath of God and that is the indignation of having the “contractual agreement” “breached” for the believer it is more the displeasure of an angry Parent (Father) but don’t be fooled correction can be just as devastating as out and out enmity. Curse is the result of wrath in that God places His hand against the Covenant Breaker and turns His face away, removing or simply never setting up any “hedge of protection”. Blessing is the result of abiding or living within the bounds of obedience to the Covenant (thus keeping it) and God’s delight and pleasure are found there. In the Old Testament Israel the People of God had agreed to this incredible Covenant on Sinai and, because this is how God sees Creation, in potentiality every circumcised male thereafter. So if one Hebrew male blew it or if the People of that time failed then the failure cycled forward three to four generations and presumable another opportunity to “obey was given”; however because failure was constant with Israel even after the written conveyance of such displays as Egypt and the Exodus, the “ire” of “displeasure” just compounded on itself and God being who He is “hit the roof”. Enter the Son who now comes to become the sacrifice willingly taking the wrath and curse of the Father throughout the whole of His life whose One Righteous Act so pleased the Father that having vented on the Son He has ended His hostility to those whom He has Elected to be His from the beginning. But there is still those who are outside of Election and who are considered Covenant Breakers and while God the Father will chastise and correct the Believer; it is the “children of pride, disobedience and wrath (unbelievers whom the Spirit seems to not be working in regeneration on) that are the subject of this spectacular display of The Son’s furious anger or wrath. The Key is the Holy Spirit. He is the One Sent by Father and Son to “do the work of sanctification” on Believers and to “judge the world” with the Gospel. Jn 3:19 And this is the judgment, that the light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil. Now is the strictest sense of the verse the Light refers to Jesus Himself who will shine brightest in the darkness of the Calvary’s Cross. But the Gospel message is in a way its own light as well, But we also have to consider another group beyond the believer and the non believer and that is those who apparently once believed but have “left the faith” and are considered to be Apostate. Not of the faith. It has been said the verses of Hebrews 6:4-6 maybe the impossible condition for the bonds of salvation are unbreakable and that is the Calvinistic position. In that it is mentioned at all begs certain questions I am unwilling to discuss here. For as long as the Spirit of God will strive within you to continue the work of Grace then you continue on in the faith. Jude wrote a whole book on the subject. It is an interesting read and you will find it right before the Book of the Revelation of Jesus, God’s Christ. It is against the Dragon and the two Beasts and all who side with them whom the LAMB aims His wrath. For you see it is the work of the Holy Spirit that prepares the heart to receive the Gospel and after regeneration and redemption does the work of sanctification so to spurn the Gospel or to neglect so “great a gift” is to actually spurn or neglect the Holy Spirit. It may actually be construed if continually done as an act of blasphemy. One could blaspheme the Father and even the Son and it might be forgiven but the Holy Spirit?
Mat 12:31 Therefore I say unto you, Every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men; but the blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven.
Mat 12:32 And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him; but whosoever shall speak against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, nor in that which is to come.
That sounds rather final to me. Let’s be clear on this that the Dragon and the Beasts are blaspheming the entire Godhead. They are the principle targets but all those who are their property by virtue of not being saved or by choice having sided with them are taken down with them.
Before we go on I want to have us take one final look at the Woman and the Manchild.
many theorize this woman to be Israel the Nation or Mary the mother of Jesus. But the word is gune or woman or wife. Interestingly we see the same word later in Revelation 19 and it refers to a wife who has made herself ready and the rejoicing unto the marriage of the LAMB.
In Gen 3:15 a promise is made to a woman. This woman is not named…. she will become Eve. God is addressing the serpent when He says He will put enmity between “your seed” (serpent) and the “seed of the woman” and the word here is a generic terminology ishshah nashiym. Ishshah is the femine form of Ish or man or husband. Nashiym is possibly the femine form of enosh… pretty much meaning a mortal. So then a natural flesh and blood woman. But this word ishshah canalso be translated as “wife.”
Add to this a principle:
1Co 15:44 It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body; there is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
1Co 15:45 So also it has been written, “The” first “man”, Adam, “became a living soul;” the last Adam a life-giving Spirit. Gen. 2:7
1Co 15:46 But not the spiritual first, but the natural; afterward the spiritual.
Not the spiritual first…. so first the natural Adam the living soul and then the spiritual Adam the life-giving Spirit. So then follows the Natural Israel the physical nation and natural witness, under Law. Then the Spiritual Israel and spiritual witness, under Grace.
So then too the Natural or Visible Body of the Holy Elect of the Called Out Ones. Then the Spiritual Invisible Body of the Holy Elect of the Called Out Ones… the first is an unglorified immature “standard” in the Earth. The Second is a glorified mature standard in the Heavens. The first might be said to represent the God-Man as man on Earth humbled and obedient yet empowered to overcome sin self satan and the world system. The second might be said to represent the glorified risen unbound God-Man as King/God in the Heavens.
The key is in the identity of the manchild. But for a certainty this is spiritual thing.
Remember the last trump promise…
1Co 15:51 Behold, I speak a mystery to you: we shall not all fall asleep, but we shall all be changed.
1Co 15:52 In a moment, in a glance of an eye, at the last trumpet; for a trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall all be changed.
1Co 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
…. Isa 11:1 And a Shoot goes out from the stump of Jesse, and a Branch will bear fruit out of his roots. Isa 11:4 But He shall judge the poor in righteousness, and shall decide rightly for the meek of the earth. And He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and He shall cause the wicked to die with the breath of His lip.
Branch
Isa_4:2 In that day shall the branch of Jehovah be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel.
Jer_23:5 Behold, the days come, saith Jehovah, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.
Jer_33:15 In those days, and at that time, will I cause a Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.Zec_3:8 Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou and thy fellows that sit before thee; for they are men that are a sign: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the Branch.Zec_6:12 and speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh Jehovah of hosts, saying, Behold, the man whose name is the Branch: and he shall grow up out of his place; and he shall build the temple of Jehovah;
All three of these references are about Jesus. The Zechariah “branch” continues to speak about rule as priest on a throne. There was never a high priest to build a temple who then ruled as a king from his “seat”. So then…. This speaks to the King/Priest modality of rule. But then Jesus turns a table here….
Joh 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
Joh 15:2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit, he taketh it away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he cleanseth it, that it may bear more fruit.
Joh 15:3 Already ye are clean because of the word which I have spoken unto you.
Joh 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; so neither can ye, except ye abide in me.
Joh 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit: for apart from me ye can do nothing.
Joh 15:6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
Joh 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatsoever ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
Joh 15:8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; and so shall ye be my disciples.
The Righteous Branch who builds the Temple. Is now calling Himself a Vine…. and refers to us as Branches… But the word in the Old Testament for Branch (tsemach) also means sprout or bud. Now think carefully…. before a vine is mature is it not a “sprout or branch”? This set of Old Testament prophecies refers to the role God is playing while in flesh as Messiah/Savior/Highpriest, In this role He makes atonement for those who will come after Him. But in the fullness of time once He has established the atonement and “seen His posterity”, so to speak, He has grown to the full…. VINE. Now He makes US the Holy Elect to be the sprouts and buds that will grow in Him as Source. We then “bear fruit”
The fruit is a really interesting word. Strongs Greek 2590
karpos Probably from the base of Strongs Greek 726; fruit (as plucked), literally or figuratively: – fruit.
Greek 726 is harpazo…. the fruit that is caught up away…. or a “manchild”
Rev 12:5 And she was delivered of a son, a man child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and unto his throne.
Isa 11:4 But He shall judge the poor in righteousness, and shall decide rightly for the meek of the earth. And He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and He shall cause the wicked to die with the breath of His lip.
Is this the same thing? You decide. So then this is “The Body with Christ as Head” Its spiritual and the sign is a representation of a spiritual state.
Apparently I am not the only one who thinks this way. The Reformed Churches, according to wikipedia, also believe the manchild to be the faithful and cite that the promise to rule the nations with a rod of Iron is given to those who overcome the scenario of the church of Thyatira.
Thyatira had a problem. She had a prophetess in the midst who was causing the menfolk to … sin.
Rev 2:18 And to the angel of the assembly in Thyatira, write: These things says the Son of God, the One having His eyes as a flame of fire, and His feet like burnished brass:
Rev 2:19 I know your works, and the love, and the ministry, and the faith, and your patience, and your works; and the last being more than the first.
Rev 2:20 But I have a few things against you, that you allow the woman Jezebel to teach, she saying herself to be a prophetess, and to cause My slaves to go astray, and to commit fornication, and to eat idol sacrifices.
Rev 2:21 And I gave time to her that she might repent of her fornication. And she did not repent.
Rev 2:22 Behold, I am throwing her into a bed, and into great affliction those committing adultery with her, unless they repent of their works.
Rev 2:23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the assemblies will know that I am the One searching the inner parts and hearts. And I will give to each of you according to your works.
Rev 2:24 But I say to you and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this teaching, and who did not know the deep things of Satan, as they say: I am not casting another burden on you;
Rev 2:25 but what you have, hold until I shall come.
Rev 2:26 And the one overcoming, and the one keeping My works until the end, “I will give to him authority over the nations,”
Rev 2:27 and “He will shepherd them with an iron staff” (they are “broken to pieces like clay vessels”), as I also have received from My Father. Psa. 2:8, 9
(Psa 2:8 Ask of Me, and I will give the nations as Your inheritance; and the uttermost parts of the earth as Your possession.
Psa 2:9 You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel. ) { Now the Psalms verses are said of Jesus Himself, but the afore mentioned verses in Revelation is said by Jesus to the innocent “Thyatirians”…(?) applies to the over comers… notice too, the description of the keeping of His works… or perhaps Commandments…}
Rev 2:28 And I will give to him the Morning Star.Rev
2:29 The one who has an ear, hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.
ok if we remove the controversy from this letter we have the faithful who never got involved and to them He says…Rev 2:18 And to the angel of the assembly in Thyatira, write: These things says the Son of God, the One having His eyes as a flame of fire, and His feet like burnished brass:
Rev 2:19 I know your works, and the love, and the ministry, and the faith, and your patience, and your works; and the last being more than the first. …Rev 2:24 But I say to you and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this teaching, and who did not know the deep things of Satan, as they say: I am not casting another burden on you;
Rev 2:25 but what you have, hold until I shall come.
Rev 2:26 And the one overcoming, and the one keeping My works until the end, “I will give to him authority over the nations,”
Rev 2:27 and “He will shepherd them with an iron staff” (they are “broken to pieces like clay vessels”), as I also have received from My Father. Psa. 2:8, 9
(Psa 2:8 Ask of Me, and I will give the nations as Your inheritance; and the uttermost parts of the earth as Your possession.
Psa 2:9 You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel. )
{ Now this is said of Jesus but the afore mentioned said by Jesus to the innocent Thyatirians…(?) applies to the overcomers… notice too the description of the keeping of His works… or perhaps Commandments…}
Rev 2:28 And I will give to him the Morning Star.
Rev 2:29 The one who has an ear, hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.
notice that this is the description of the manchild: Rev 12:5 b … a man child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron: … “I will give to him authority over the nations,”
Rev 2:27 and “He will shepherd them with an iron staff” as I also have received from My Father. Psa. 2:8, 9
Now here is another clue….
Jesus is sharing the right of rule. In the Old Testament in Isaiah the prophet talks about princes that will rule with their king. This is the same idea of delegated authority and power. We will reign with Christ forever. That’s the basic premise. What’s being overcome here is error and whoredoms by the spirit who worked in the original Jezebel who seduced a willing King (Ahab). Those who did not go there into the error and whoredoms overcame it all. Those who hold onto “what they have” to the end and Keeping the Works of Christ, who identifies them as “My works”. What are His works? They had apparently increased over time. Faith and Patience are two works of the LORD. He is the giver and increaser of His faith in us, for it’s nothing of us, it’s all of Him and Patience in trials and tribulations has a “perfect work” (Jas 1:4) It is said that this Manchild then is the “faithful” saints.
Could this then indeed be a separation of the invisible from the visible Church.