And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man... His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength...
And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last; I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore (Revelation 1:13-18).
The Lord appeared to John in this apocryphal vision with personalized messages for seven churches or congregations in Asia. These congregations are compared to candlesticks holding up the gospel as a light in the unenlightened world (see Revelation 1:20). The seven stars are the seven angels or servants of the seven churches. These leaders of the church in Asia were held in the Lord's right hand to show their divine authority and approval (see Mark 16:19).
It is insightful to understand that the number seven, particularly in apocryphal texts, represents perfection or completeness and is closely associated with God and covenants. Thus, the world was created in seven days, the Sabbath was traditionally the seventh day of the week, and so on. John's assignment as the last remaining apostle and president of the ancient church at this time was to relay the word of God, which is sharper than a two-edged sword (see Hebrews 4:12), to these congregations specifically and to the complete church and its leaders. The exact words for this medieval General Conference-by-mail were dictated directly from the Lord himself.
The Lord uses the same four-step pattern in addressing each of the churches. First, he introduces himself and establishes his credibility. Next, he praises the saints for what they have done well. Third, he reproves the churches for their sins. Finally, he promises blessings to those who remain faithful.
Though he follows the same general pattern in delivering his message, the Lord personalizes his counsel and demonstrates a knowledge of the unique circumstances, challenges and needs the members of the church are facing in each region. His words have been preserved for our benefit as well as those who lived anciently.
The Lord commands John to write first to the servant of the church at Ephesus:
These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; 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; And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 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.
But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 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 (Revelation 2:1-7).
The Lord testifies that he knows the Ephesians and commends them for their faithfulness. He endorses their rejection of false apostles and Nicolaitan preaching of grace for sexual sin. He admonishes the people of Ephesus because they have become somewhat casual or complacent in their worship, having drifted from the diligence they had when they first learned to love the gospel. Finally, the Lord promises salvation to those who press forward.
Each of the six remaining churches received counsel from the Lord. To the Saints in Smyrna, the Lord shared:
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 (Revelation 2:10).
Scholars believe this revelation was received between 80 - 100 A.D. The Great Apostasy was already beginning. The Lord warned the people of Smyrna that they would be persecuted for ten days. In Hebrew, the number ten represents "all". Though their tribulations would last their entire lives, the Lord promises that those who are faithful to the end of their lives will "not be hurt of the second death" (Revelation 2:11).
Pergamos was the center of the religion of emperor worship imposed by Rome. The Lord acknowledged this challenge in the lives of the saints in Pergamos and praised the faithful martyrs who were killed because they would not deny the faith. He admonishes:
I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam... so hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans (Revelation 2:14-15).
The doctrine of Balaam refers to an account in Numbers of a man who agreed to curse Israel by preaching idolatry, sexual permissiveness and other false doctrines in exchange for money, power and influence. The Lord warns that those engaging in these behaviors must, "Repent; or else I will come unto them quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth" (Revelation 2:16).
Following the same pattern as used with the other churches, the Lord then promises:
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 (Revelation 2:17).
Just as the ancient Israelites survived in the desert because of the daily bread, or manna, provided by the Lord, Christ is the "bread of life" that sustains spiritual life (John 6:35, 48). Some of the doctrines of Christ are reserved for the faithful and taught only in the temple or through personal revelation. Paul explained:
Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory (1 Corinthians 2:6-8).
The Lord revealed through the Prophet Joseph Smith:
The white stone mentioned in Revelation 2:17, will become a Urim and Thummim to each individual who receives one, whereby things pertaining to a higher order of kingdoms will be made known; And a white stone is given to each of those who come into the celestial kingdom, whereon is a new name written, which no man knoweth save he that receiveth it. The new name is the key word (D&C 130:10-11).
To those challenged by a community embracing priestcraft and false doctrines, the Lord offered a personal tutoring in truths and doctrines inaccessible to those who are not on His errand. Those faithful who continue to follow Christ are provided both wisdom to refute the falsehoods all around them and a promise of exaltation in the celestial kingdom of God.
In Thyatira, the Lord praises the people for their great faith, charity and works, but vehemently rejects a particular false prophetess who had seduced many into idolatry and fornication. The Lord states that they will have "none other burden" but to be pure in heart and counsels the saints:
But that which ye have already hold fast till I come. And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations" (Revelation 2:25-26).
In Sardis, the Lord cautioned those who, though living, were spiritually dead:
I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful therefore, and strengthen those who remain, who are ready to do: for I have not found thy works perfect before God... He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels (Revelation 3:1-2, 5).
For the saints in Philadelphia, the Lord establishes himself as the holder of the key of David. This is the key to the temple, or symbolically the key to God's presence. He commends the saints for not denying his name. He warns that there are those among them who pretend to have taken the Lord's name upon them but, in reality, are lying members of "the synagogue of Satan". He promises:
Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name (Revelation 3:12).
Finally, to the Laodiceans, the Lord commands John to write:
I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth...
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame and am set down with my Father in his throne (Revelation 3:15-16, 19-21).
In each case, the Lord is mindful of the challenges of his people and offers blessings to offset those challenges for the faithful. He makes knowledge available to those surrounded by false teachings, offers the presence of God in the temple to those living in an environment that is not uplifting, and promises eternal life to those who give their lives for the gospel.
Likewise, the Lord knows the challenges in each of our lives. He has made the fullness of the gospel available in our day so that the light of our faith may continue to shine in a wicked and cynical world. He teaches us through his spirit and directs his church through revelations to inspired leaders. Sometimes the messages we hear from those leaders build our faith in Christ or share things that we are doing well. Often, the same leaders call us to repentance and give us hope that we can receive the blessings the Lord has in store for us.
Those who overcome are promised that they will see the Lord, as John the Beloved did in the meridian of time. Perhaps our experience will be similar to what Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery experienced in the Kirtland Temple:
The veil was taken from our minds, and the eyes of our understanding were opened. We saw the Lord standing upon the breastwork of the pulpit, before us; and under his feet was a paved work of pure gold, in color like amber.
His eyes were as a flame of fire; the hair of his head was white like the pure snow; his countenance shone above the brightness of the sun; and his voice was as the sound of the rushing of great waters, even the voice of Jehovah, saying: I am the first and the last; I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain; I am your advocate with the Father.
Behold, your sins are forgiven you; you are clean before me; therefore, lift up your heads and rejoice (D&C 110:1-5).
No comments:
Post a Comment