Revelation 2:1-7 Part 3 Bible Teaching

Welcome
Prayer
Song
Silence

Revelation 2.1-7 part III
January 15th 2016
Meat
Alright, we have been covering what Jesus has John write to the Seven churches – specifically, what He has said to the first church at Ephesus.

We ended with the following conclusion statement last week in His words to the Saints at Ephesus:

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.

We also pointed out that in every address to every church Jesus ends by saying the following:

“He that overcomes . . . “(AND)

“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit sayeth to the churches”

Followed by a specific promise to those THAT overcome and have an ear to hear.

Then we discovered 19 total but separate promises Jesus gives to the believers in the Seven Churches.

Before we detail the biblical context of each of these promises to the best of our ability I want to point something out.

First, we have to ask: Were these promises ONLY to the believers in the Seven Churches in that day?

I have a hard time believing that this is so. If I am right, then there is a historicist application of the book to our day and age – and to all ages of the Body.

As a means to help support this view we note that in each of the seven addresses to the churches Jesus says:

“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit sayeth to the churches.”

So while the respective message to Ephesus is to the church at Ephesus we note that Jesus says:

He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit sayeth to the CHURCHES – and NOT just to the church that they happen to be apart of.

In other words, the believers at Ephesus weren’t supposed to just consider what the Spirit said to them but to all the churches.

In so doing Jesus promises 19 specific blessings which I said last week detail things about the afterlife for “those who overcome” that is not found anywhere else in scripture. And I want to try and cover them today.

These are the 17 promises to them that overcome and have ears to hear. Jesus says:

“will I give to eat of the tree of life, (which is in the midst of the paradise of God).”1
“shall not be hurt of the second death.” 2
“will I give to eat of the hidden manna,”3
“and will give him a white stone,”“and in the stone a new name written,”“which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.”4
At this point Jesus reiterates saying“And he that overcometh,” but adds (“and keepeth my works unto the end,”)
“to him will I give power over the nations” 5
“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. 6
“And I will give him the morning star.” 7
“the same shall be clothed in white raiment;” 8
“and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life,” 9
“but I will confess his name before my Father,” 10
‘and before his angels.” 11
“will I make a pillar in the temple of my God,” 12
“and he shall go no more out” 13
“and I will write upon him the name of my God,” 14
“and the name of the city of my God,” 15 (“which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God:”)
“and I will write upon him my new name.” 16 and
“will I grant to sit with me in my throne, 17 (“even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.”)

So let’s go back to number one where Jesus says –
“I will give to eat of the tree of life, (which is in the midst of the paradise of God).”

So what does the Bible say about “the Tree of life.”

Firstly, it is mentioned (or alluded to) in eight places in the Bible).

Genesis 2:9 is the first where it says:

“And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.”

This tells us nothing about it except through its name but it does seem to distinguish it from trees that are good for food (in my opinion) and it does tell us that it was located in the midst of the garden.

This last fact is interesting as garden and paradise are closely connected in scripture and here in Revelation Jesus promises to “give to eat” of the tree of life which is in the midst of the paradise of God” and this tells me that the garden of Eden could have also been in the midst of the paradise of God as well. Sort of a wild thought.

The second time its mentioned is in Genesis 3:22-24, after the fall, where the LORD God said,

22 “Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:
23 Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.
24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.”

These passages give us a little more information. For instance we are told that if fallen Adam was to put forth his hand and eat of the tree of life and eat it “he would live forever.”

The implication for some has been that one serving from the tree of life equals living forever but I think we might be reading into this interpretation as it could be that a constant access and eating from the tree would keep someone alive forever and so I wonder about the former interpretation.

We also learn that God drove the man out of the garden and then placed, “at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned everyway TO KEEP the way of the Tree of Life.”

In other words, it was important that fallen humans would not and could not eat from the tree of life and from the Hebrew it seems that the Cherubims were set at the gate of the Garden to prevent man from entering again and eating.

Could it be that the garden is still in the presence of God, that this is the paradise Jesus speaks of, and that eating of the tree is a way to keep those who have access to it alive, healthy, empowered, or wise?

Speaking of wise we come to out next mention of the tree of life – its found in Proverbs 3:18 and says, speaking of wisdom

“She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.”

Then eight chapters later the tree is mentioned as it says:

Proverbs 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

This passage makes sense in relation to the words of Jesus here in Revelation 2 as He has promised to those who overcome (in and through Him of course, and who would then be considered righteous, “to eat of the tree of life.”

The next two mentions of the tree are also in Proverbs, including

Proverbs 13:12 which says:

“Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.”

And here the meaning of the tree of life is that of being tied to fulfilment of desires instead of the heart-sickness of prolonged hope. There is a tie to healing here – that one state is that of sickness – living only in hope – but the fulfillment is health, which is tied directly to the Tree of Life.
So it seems that the tree of life is emblematic of fulfilled desires which erases illness and produces vitality. Same with the next Proverb, 15:4 which says:

A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.

Again, likening the tongue and its power to heal (with wholesome words) the writer appeals to the tongue being a tree of life or having the power to heal and produce good in the lives of others (or evil as the Proverbs also says:

“but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.”

Then we come to our passage today, Revelation 2:7 where Jesus says to the Church at Ephesus:

“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.”

Thus far we have some solid ground upon which to stand relative to the tree of life in addition to the fact that Jesus is going to give to eat its fruit or leaves or whatever to those who overcometh.

We also know that to eat of it is to have life forever, that it is likened to wisdom, to healing, and to fulfillment.

Then, in the last chapter of Revelation 22:1-2 we are given more insight into the tree, its purpose, and its present location, as John writes:

1 “And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.”

I am going to cover this when we get to the end of Revelation but twelve verses later, John adds these words, which are so fitting

“Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.”

Once again, we have some contextual pieces coming together here.

In Genesis, the first book of the Bible the way to the tree of life (which was in the paradisiacal garden with God) was protected by Cherubim with a flaming sword keeping all fallen souls from partaking of its product. But in this last chapter of the last book of the Bible that speaks of the tree of lie we read:

“Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.”

This a remarkable, an actually amazing correlation to the whole panoply of scripture and God working His plan among men.

It remains a mystery what and how the healing powers, the living powers of the tree effect human beings AFTER life.

There is also a question in my mind about the application of these promises to people after the 70 AD destruction of that Age which commenced with the Second advent of the Lord.

I personally believe that these promises given to believers then have spiritual application to all believers ever since but have very little evidence of this being the case.

Since I am on this subject and have my toe in the water I might as well jump in to how I am understanding this now.

It seems to me that Jesus has had the complete victory and that God is now all in all because of it.

It seems to me that all enter into the presence of God after life – those who are His being able to abide in Him who is a consuming fire and those who cannot, which means them being in His presence is like being in a lake of fire.

And in this state they are purged and baptized by fire until they come to repentance and are void of the things of this world.

It seems to me that within the presence of God there is a city wall, with gates, and admittance to this place is given based on those who are His by true faith in His only begotten which is manifested by His love in their lives.

That this City exists does not mean there is nothing outside of it – there may be – and this may be where all those who exit the Lake of Fire dwell.

It also seems to me that within the City gates there are other places – maybe a throne room, maybe a garden paradise, maybe a temple-type residence, and this is where those who are His Sons and Daughters dwell.

The description of what these have received from Christ is being listed here in these 19 promises to those who overcome.

That is how I see it now. It will change but there is the possibility that some of these views may remain in place.

Okay, that’s the partaking of the tree of life promise given to those who overcome at the church at Ephesus.

Number Two
“shall not be hurt of the second death.”

As we have learned before, the Second death is only mentioned in the Book of Revelation – in four places.

Here in chapter two

Revelation 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.

Then twice in Revelation chapter 20

Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Revelation 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

And then finally Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

From these passages we are lead to understand and believe some interesting things about the Second Death.

First of all, those who overcome will not be hurt in it.

Hurt is an interesting word because the Greek is AD EH KAY O and it better means, treated unjustly which in my estimation is a way to say, “will be treated justly.”

Not wrongly.

Young’s literal translation puts the verse this way:

“He who is having an ear–let him hear what the Spirit saith to the assemblies: He who is overcoming may not be injured of the second death.”

I like that better than the King James because one, it places the overcoming in a constant rather than as an arrival and two, because the phrase, “will not be injured,” in the second death speaks volumes. Volumes. Actually so does the word, “hurt.”

Do you see the paradox between the terms. In once sense we are talking about something called the Second DEATH! Death, that means the end of something living.

And now Jesus promises those who are overcoming that they will not be injured or hurt “of the Second Death.”

The implication here in the promise is that those who escape the second death will not experience harm, loss, and injury – AND that there is a limit to the effects of the Second death upon them!

This fits with the whole of scripture, the descriptions of God who created us being just and fair and good, and every man reaping what he or she has sown.

We covered this before but in my estimation, since those who enter into this second death, which is entering into the Lake of Fire, are already physically dead, and apparently still spiritually dead, then the only thing left to die (or be injured or harmed) is their reprobate state.

And this causes me to believe that the harm of the Second death in the Lake of Fire, which according to Revelation, takes place in the presence of the Lamb and His angels, is of a limited duration and human beings will not experience an eternity in torments but instead will have their part in the Second death (as Revelation 21:8 affirms and as even the Psalmist says (in Psalm 11:6)

“Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.”

All that being said, those who are overcoming need not worry about suffering such things in said lake as this is what all who believe on Him escape.

Number Three
“I will give to eat of the hidden manna,”

Again, in a close parallel and fulfillment of the scripture, the introduction of manna in scripture is found in Exodus 16:15 where we read:

“And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat.

Here in Revelation Jesus promises those who are overcoming that He will give to eat what He calls, “hidden manna.”

We discover a progression in the meaning of manna over the course of scripture.

First, there is a substance God gives the children of Israel that is like coriander seeds and honey.

Then, tying the physical to the spiritual, Jesus in John 5 feeds the masses loaves of bread and the following day they sought Him our aggressively. When they finally got ahold of Him He says to them: in John 6:26:

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. Labor not for the bread which perisheth, but for that bread which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.”

Here we see Jesus leading these Jews from the temporal bread to the heavenly. Then later in the chapter, with the bread being the context of the discussion, we read (at verse 30):

30 They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work? (and, being on the topic of bread they used the following as an example of receiving signs from God, saying)
31 Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, “He gave them bread from heaven to eat.”
32 Then Jesus said unto them, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.
33 For the bread of God is He (now Jesus moves from the obscure heavenly bread reference to a more concrete example) For the bread of God is He which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
34 Then said they unto him, “Lord, evermore give us this bread.”
35 And He said unto them, “I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

So now the Lord has made it plain – seek to consume Him, the bread of life that came from heaven to giveth real life to the world. Then we move forward six verses and read:

41 The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven.
42 And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?

Then at verse 48 Jesus repeats and says

48 I am that bread of life.
49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.
50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.
51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
52 The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?
53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.
58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.
59 These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.

So we see a progression. From coriander seed and honey manna, to miracle loaves, to the bread from heaven, to the bread being described as Jesus Himself, to those who are overcoming given now “hidden manna” to eat from the bread of life!

The Word hidden means “concealed” manna or that which is “kept secret.”

Those who are overcoming will eat kept secret manna given them by Jesus, King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

The idea is, that the souls of those who “overcame,” or who gained the victory in their conflict with sin, and in the persecutions and trials of the world, would be permitted to partake of what might be a “spiritual food” which is laid up for the people of God, and by which they will be nourished forever.

This hidden manna (that is in heaven or with God) is also supported by the fact that the Jews, when they were given manna in the desert took a pot of it and laid up in the most holy place (or in the presence of God as it were, and hidden) to be preserved as a memorial (according to Exodus 16:32-34).

Interestingly, manna is also called “angel’s food,” (in Psalm 78:25) and “corn of heaven,” (Psalm 78:24) and to me it seems to somehow be emblematic of a secret spiritual food by which the people of God are fed in heaven by the hand of Jesus.

I have no idea what this is, what this means, and because Jesus calls it concealed manna well have to wait and see what it turns out to be.

And finally, for today (Number Four)

In addition to hidden manna Jesus says to those who are overcoming at the Church of Pergamos:

“and will give him a white stone,”

Now, for starters, there are those who believe that these promises described in Revelation to those who hear and overcome are given to believers here and now by Jesus to aid them in their walk – just as manna aided the COI as they sojourned through the wilderness.

I’m not so sure I agree with this as we haven’t really overcome until its over so I tend to believe that all of these promises are fulfilled after this life.

If this is not the case we know that Jesus is not giving people white stones here so therefore IF these promises are applicable here they are all spiritual.

And if they are given in heaven it seems they would all be spiritual too because of the nature of that realm.

Therefore we have to remind ourselves that though Jesus speaks in terms of physical material things in these promises – a tree of life, hidden manna, a white stone – they are in all probability immaterial and representative of Spiritual gifts, attributes, rewards or capabilities.

Obviously there have been a great variety of opinions regarding the meaning of this expression, and almost no two expositors agree.

Doing a search for white or stone is of no real benefit as there is only one mention of the two words together in the Bible and it appears to have zero relevance.

The Greek word for white is Lyoo-kos (which means white and or light) and the word stone here is Psay-fos, which means a small pebble that has been worn smooth. So a white smooth stone.

If we add in the next line of the promise, which adds:

“and in the stone a new name written,”which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.”

And we have added insight to whatever this white smooth pebble does or is –

the general sense of the language seems plain enough even though the allusion on which it is founded is obscure or possibly even unknown.

And that meaning is the Lord will give to those who overcame a token or gift which conveys His favor upon those who receive it, and it will have a word or new name inscribed on it or in it, and this name or term will be not known to anyone but the recipient.

Because of this it seems like this stone will be of benefit or value to the possessor alone and would be between the possessor and the Lord Himself.

We are talking about one giant privilege esoteric as it stands.

Are there any known thing pertaining to ancient customs of the Greeks, Romans, or Hebrews that could help us understand the meaning?

Anciently stones were used to vote, approve or condemn others or things by casting them.

A white stone signified purity and good fortune and there is a remarkable echo of what Jesus says here to the Greeks who would bestow a stone (same word used here in Revelation) which was a testimony to the recipients virtue.

Others see a connection between the fact that Christians are said to be Kings and Priests therefore . . .

A white stone was regarded as a token of favour, prosperity, or success everywhere–whether considered as a vote, or as given to a victor, or a King.
The name written on this stone would be designed also as a token or pledge of his favour–as a name engraved on a signet or seal would be a pledge to him who received it of friendship. Sort of like an personalized engraving.
Apparently the engraving would be invisible or unreadable to others.

In the end all of this is pretty much surface information and meaningless because we have very very little indication of its significance – unless we create it.

More next week.
Q and A

Prayer