April 4, 2023

“But hold fast what you have till I come. And he who overcomes, and keeps My words to the end, to him I will give power over the nations—” Revelation 2:25-26

The fourth letter from Jesus (to the church at Thyatira) is the first letter that mentions His return: “hold fast … till I come.”  Clearly, this church will continue to operate until His return.* Symbolized in the opening of the fourth seal by the pale horse ridden by Death and followed by Hades, this church has established itself among all nations. Political power is rapidly growing on behalf of this particular church and will only increase until the end. Those who want to escape the corruption found here – especially in the last days – will find special encouragement to stay ever true to Jesus who promised: “to him I will give power over the nations.”

The Old Testament contains the keys for understanding imagery and symbolism in the New Testament, and especially in Revelation. The four horsemen of the Apocalypse can be well-understood by someone familiar with the story of the Israelites, beginning with their divine rescue from Egypt, the land of slavery. These four horses and riders, illustrate parallels between the escaping Israelites and Christians of these last two thousand years. To accept the message of salvation—that only the LORD has the power to save—brings the understanding that it is essential to cooperate with Him. The Israelites cooperated during the original event known as “Passover” by trusting in the blood of the slain lamb as their means of rescue. After being saved, they expressed their agreement with God’s plan: So Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD and all the judgements. And all the people answered with one voice and said, “All the words which the LORD has said we will do. Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read in the hearing of the people. And they said, “All that the LORD has said we will do, and be obedient.” (Exodus 24:3,7)

Oh, how God wants to bless! There is a beautiful list of covenant blessings (Leviticus 26:3-9; Deuteronomy 28:1-14). Blessings of obedience! There were also the covenant curses understood to be consequences of disobedience (Leviticus 26:14-39, Deuteronomy 28:15-68). The purpose of covenant curses was not to destroy, but to guide the people to repentance bringing them back into a right relationship with God so that He could forgive and bless them.

Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.  1 Corinthians 10:11

*Daniel 2:34-35,44-45;7:7,11,19-27, Isaiah 48:20, Jeremiah 50:23-51:64, Revelation 13, 17,18