Слово 2

Chapter 4. Revealed to the Angel of the Smyrna Church Rev.2:8. “And write to the Angel of the Church of Smyrna: These are the words of the First and the Last, Who was dead and behold is alive.” The first He is as God, the last - as He became man in recent times, and through His death for three days He opened eternal life to us. Rev.2:9. “You know your deeds, your sorrow and your poverty, but you are rich.” Sorrow and poverty in the body, which he endured for My sake, being wounded by the unbelievers, and deprived of his property by the rulers. You are rich in spiritual things, having treasure hidden in the village of your heart. Rev.2:9. “And the blasphemers of those who say they are Jews are not, but the host of Satan.” We need to add: vem. I also know, he says, the blasphemies of the Satanic synagogue, because they are not what they are called. For it is not like openly Judas, but like Judas in secret, that means confession and repentance. Rev.2:10. “Do not be afraid of anything, even if you suffer. Behold, the devil will drive you into prison, so that you may be tempted and have tribulation until ten days. Be faithful even to death and I will give you the crown of life.” Do not be afraid of oppression from those who fight against God through wounds and temptations. For it is only for ten days, and not long-term. Why should death be despised, since in a short time it brings the unfading crown of life. Rev.2:11. “If you have an ear to hear, you will hear what the Spirit says to the churches: he who overcomes shall not be harmed by the second death.” He who spiritually listens and overcomes the devil's suggestions, although he will undergo the first death, will not suffer harm from the second death - Gehenna. Chapter 5. Revealed to the Angel of the Pergamon Church Rev. 2:12–13. “And write to the angel of the Pergamon church: this is the saying: You have a sharp sword: We know your deeds, and where you live, where is the throne of Satan.” This city of which this is spoken was an idol city, praising the faithful who were there for their patience with temptation. He refers to either the word of the Gospel as a sharp sword, penetrating into the hearts of the faithful and separating them from the infidels, or excommunication, cutting off the wicked. Rev.2:13. “And thou hast kept my name, and thou hast not denied my faith even in my days, in the prince Antipas is my faithful witness, who was slain in you, where Satan dwelleth.” Antipas, someone named, was the most courageous martyr in Pergamum, whose torment I read; The Evangelist mentioned him to prove their patience and the cruelty of those who are mistaken. Rev. 2:14–15. “But the imam has little to do with you, as he is the imash of those who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to lay a temptation before the children of Israel to eat idols’ sacrifices and do lust. So you and I are holding the Nicolaitan teaching, which I hate.” This city had two crimes, that there were many Greeks in it, and among those who were called faithful were the filthy Nicolaitans, scattered like tares among the wheat. Therefore it mentioned Baalam, saying: like Balak. And this points to the mental Balaam - the devil, through the sensual Balaam, who taught Balak to tempt the Israelites to fornication and idolatry. For with the pleasures of fornication idolatry reached such a level that they brought sacrifices to Beelphegor. Rev.2:16. “Repent: no matter what, I will come to you quickly and make war on them with the sword of My mouth.” There is also humanity in the threat. For, he says, I will not make war with you, but with them, with those who are incurably mistaken. Rev.2:17. “Have an ear to hear, and let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches: To him who overcomes I will give food from the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name is written, whose news no one knows, but take it.” Hidden manna is the bread of heavenly life, which came down from heaven for us and became poisonous; in an improper sense, future blessings are also called manna, as if they came down from heaven, whence comes Jerusalem on high. Those who overcome the devil will receive this, it is said. They will also receive a white stone, i.e. victorious, having been awarded the gum part, and a new name unknown in real life. For the eye did not see and the ear did not hear and the mind did not understand the good things to come and the new name that the saints will inherit. Chapter 6. Revelation to the Angel of the Thyatira Church Rev.2:18. “And write to the angel of the church of Thyatira: Thus saith the Son of God, whose eyes are like a flame of fire, and whose nose is like chalcolic.” The fiery appearance of the eyes means the enlightenment of sinners brought to be burned. The feet and chalkolivan mean the fragrance of the mental world of Christ in those being saved, and the inseparable and unfused unity of Divinity and humanity. It, as kindled by the Divine Spirit, is inviolable for human thoughts. Rev. 2:19–20. “We know your deeds, and your love, and your service, and your faith, and your patience, and your deeds, and the latter is greater than the first. But the Imam has little regard for you, as if you left the woman Jezebel, who said to herself to be a prophetess, to teach and flatter My servants, to commit fornication, and to bear the sacrifice of idols.” I know your deeds, although because of your faith and service, your good nature and patience, I praise you, but rightly I also blame you, because the heresies of the Nicolaitans, (figuratively called Jezebel because of wickedness and impurity), you allow to operate openly, so that for my servants, by the simplicity of their knowledge, it serves as a temptation and draws them to sacrifice to idols, which they had perfectly renounced before. You must curb her, because, excited by the evil spirit, she considers herself to be prophesying. Rev. 2:21–23. “And he gave her time to repent of her fornication, and not repent. Behold, I lay her on my bed, and those who commit adultery with her will suffer great sorrow, unless they repent of their deeds. And their children will die.” Their evil heresy, having time for repentance, did not use it for good. I place you on my bed. Holding figurative speech and flattering heretics likening an adulteress, he threatens to send illness and death to her and to those who defiled themselves with her and committed fornication before God, unless they turn to Him through repentance. Rev. 2:23–25. “And all the churches will know that I am the one who tests the hearts and the bowels: and I will give to you every man according to what you have done. But I say to you and to the rest of those who are in Thyatira, who do not have this teaching, and who do not understand the depths of Satan, just as they say: I will not lay other burdens on you: just as you bear them, hold on until I come.” This is to the deceived heretics and those who deceive others, but to the simpletons he says: since you, due to the simplicity of your morals, cannot resist these crafty and cunning ones, since you have not understood the depths of Satan, as you say, then I do not require you to fight with words, but only to preserve the teachings that you have accepted until I take you here. Rev. 2:26–28. “And to the one who overcomes and keeps My works to the end, I will give him authority over the nations. And I will be shepherded with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the poor will be broken, just as I received from my Father.” To the one who does My works, he says, I will give power over five or ten cities, as it is said in the Gospel. And this means the judgment of the unbelievers, according to which those who go astray, like those shepherded with a rod, will be crushed, judged by those who believe in Christ, as the Lord said: the men of Nineveth will arise and condemn this generation. And the words: as I also received from my Father were spoken according to humanity, for the sake of the received flesh. Rev. 2:28–29. “And I will give him the morning star. Have an ear to hear, so that he may hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” He calls the morning star or the one about whom Isaiah speaks; as the morning star descended from heaven (Is. 14:12), and promised to lay it broken under the feet of the faithful; or the luminous star, mentioned by blessed Peter, shining in the hearts of the faithful, i.e. enlightenment of Christ. Both John the Baptist and Elijah the Tishbite are called Lucifer, the first as the Forerunner of the first rising of the Sun of Truth, the other as the Second Coming. We believe that the conquerors of the devil will have a part with them. It should not be surprising that we apply the same name to such opposite things. For we know from Scripture that the lion of Judah is Christ, and the lion of Bashan is the Antichrist, signifying both. Of course, under the name of the east is also the beginning of the future day, in which the darkness of this life will be dispelled, as well as the Angel preaching about this. For he will come before the Sun of righteousness, enlightening the saints and dispelling the darkness of this life. May we also be illuminated by His rays with the favor of the Father and the All-Holy Spirit. To him be glory forever. Amen.