What does it mean to be Hot, Cold or Luke Warm?

"Six miles to the north lay Hiriepolis, famed for it's hot springs, ten miles to the east lay Colosse, known for it's cold, pure drinking water supply. As Hemer (1986: 187-91) points out, Hierapolis streams were so well known for their healing qualities that the city became a major health center, while the cold, life giving water of Colosse, the only place in the region it was available, may account for it;s original settlement. Laodicea had no water supply of it's own. It was founded at the junction of trade routes not for it's natural but for it's commercial and military advantages. When it piped in it's water from the hot springs of Denizli, the water did not have enough time to cool in the aqueducts but arrived "Lukewarm" (χλιαρός chliaros). Even today, people n the area place the water in jars to cool. Porter (1987: 144-46) shows that passages from Herodotus and Xenophon indicate that it was the temperature as well as the minerals (see below) that made the water undrinkable. In this sense it is their barren works rather than spirituality that is the focus, which fits the opening "I know your works." Of course, there is no radical difference between the two, for it's deeds showed it's spiritual barrenness... the water flowing over the cliffs of Hierapolis left spectacular deposits that were visible from Laodicea. Hemer (1986: 187) describes the scenic wonders well: "Hot sparkling waters rise from deep pools on the city plateau... The cliff ... is come 300 feet high and extends nearly a mile. It's ever changing reflections of light and color are unspeakably beautiful, especially when viewed against the backdrop of the snowy peak of Cadmus. Yet all this beauty also reminded Laudicea that their water was undrinkable. As such, it provided a perfect metaphor for the shallowness of that church: beautiful outwardly and sickening inwardly!"  "

- Grant R Osborne, Baker's exegetical commentary on the New Testament for Revelations, page 205, 206 on the Letters to the 7 Churches of Asia Minor.


"The basis (casual ,ὅτι, Hori, because)" of their lukewarm spirituality and GOd's imminent judgement is not given. The Laodiceans were immediately wealthy, and this led to self sufficiency and complacency, a deadly combination for the Christian. Their problem was, (λέγεις ὅτι Πλούσιος εἰμι, legeis hoti plousios eimi, you say, "I am rich"). Because they were materially "rich", they assumed that they were also spiritually "rich". Hemer(1986: 191-195) describes the wealth of the Laodicea in great detail. The entire region was rich, and Laodicea was often chosen as the major example of this wealth. A man from there depict cornucopias, a symbol of wealth and affluence. A man named Hiero bequeathed two thousand talents (several million dollars in today's terms) to the city, and the Zenonid family was so wealthy and powerful that several of their members achieved the status of royalty (Polemos was even named "King") under the Romans. The problem, however, was not wealth per se but the smug self satisfaction it engendered. They also said, (πλούσιος καί οὐδείς χρεία ἔχω, peplouteka, kai ouden chreian echo, I have wealth and need nothing). In AD 60 a devastating earthquake leveled their city, but they result it without the help from Rome. Moreover, the buildings that resulted from the reconstruction were remarkable; a gymnasium, a stadium with semicircular track nine hundred feet long, a triple gate and towers, and several beautiful buildings. In other words, the town was perhaps even more beautiful after the reconstruction. The church was like the city, believing that i'ts material wealth connoted spiritual wealth."

- Grant R Osborne, Baker's exegetical commentary on the New Testament for Revelations, page 206, 207 on the Letters to the 7 Churches of Asia Minor.

Does Rev 3:10 refers to pre-tribulation rapture?

“Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. - Rev 3:10

Proponents for Pre-tribulation rapture often cite this verse to justify their belief. While the hour of trial refers to God's judgement, likely to refer to the Trumpet and Bowl judgement, they believe the term "keep you from" gives a hint to the taking away of the church which will happen before God pours his wrath on earth.

There are a few things to consider:

1. The hour of trial DOES refer to end time. This is different from Rev 2:10 where God will keep the church of Smyrna in a 10 day trial. In this case, the hour of trial is to be released upon the whole world. The beast only persecuted Christians, only God can release such wrath through the trumpets bowls.

2 The term "to keep you from" even in the Greek does not neccesarily renders a removal from calamity. It can also mean "to protect one from" danger, instead of removal from it.

3. Rev 9:4, the demonic Locusts that came from the abyss as a result of the blowing of the 5th Trumpet could only harm those who does not have the seal of God. It means, that those with the seal of God are present on earth, they are not removed from danger but are instead protected from it.

4. Rev 12:14, the woman clothed with sun moon and stars was given 2 wings to "fly to the wilderness". If this refers to the rapture, we can hardly refer heaven as "wilderness". Hence it is also obvious in this case, that the woman who is representative of the Church is protected from danger, but not removed from the earth.

5. Rev 12:17, if the church is not present during the great tribulation, then the rest of her offspring which is the church should not be present that the serpent waged war against.

While it is not neccesary to deny the doctrine of Pre-Tribulation rapture, Rev 3:10 does not support it either. But what is DOES say is, if we are faithful like the Philedelphia church, that in the midst of persecution from the wrath of the beast upon the Church, God will protect the Church from his wrath upon the beast.

What is the Key of David?

7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens. 8 “‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.
- Rev 3:7-8

There are many different interpretations as to what is the Key of David. Some believes it points to open doors for the gospel to be preached, especially the church age of the missionaries of the 1800s which historicists believe the letter to the Philadelphia refers to. Some who tend more to the prosperity gospel heresy will link this to God opening doors for blessings, and closing it from curses. Without a biblically sound system of understanding, we can easily fall into misintepretations that could be esoteric or mystical. Perhaps we should allow the word of God to interpret itself. What does the bible says about the Key of David?

In Isaiah 22:15, it talks about Shebna, who is the treasurer over the household of Hezekiah (or a comptroller or governor over the Palace). In v16, it says that he had "cut out here a tomb for yourself" and "a dwelling for yourself in the rock". It shows that at the time of trouble, this governor had put himself in a place of priority and honor over the one whom he served, be it the King in earthly sense or God in a spiritual sense.

Therefore in Isaiah 22:19, he promised to "thrust you from your office," and replace him with Eliakim the son of Hilkiah (v20). In v22, he was promised, "And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David. He shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.". Hence in this case, the Key of David is given as an authority to Eliakim as the governor over the King's Palace to open or shut any door. The reference to David obviously relates to the lineage of Kings that led to Hezekiah, and will lead to Jesus and his Church later on.

In Matthew 16:1-4, the Pharisees (representative of the Jews) tested Jesus asking for a sign. It was obvious that despite of the miracles that Jesus performed in public, they should have seen and believed that he was the Son of God, but they didn't. Hence Jesus responded in v4 that, "but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.", which means a sign of warning and judgement like Jonah to Nineveh.

In v15, Jesus asked if they knew who he was, and Peter answered that "“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”". It was Peter's answer, that Jesus again quoted the Key of David, stating in v19 that "19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed[d]in heaven.”"

In this case, the term "Key of David" is replaced with the "Keys to the Kingdom of heaven". But the effect is the same, it opens (loose) and closes (binds) whatever that it has authority to do so.

In both cases as with Isaiah 22 and Matthew 16, the similarity in context of both passages lies in the rejection of one and acceptance of another. In Isaiah 22, Shebna was rejected due to his selfishness and hence Eliakim was selected to replace his office. In Matt 16, the Pharisees (Jews) were rejected for rejecting Christ, and the Apostles were accepted for accepting Christ.

Hence the term "Key of David" as in Rev 3:7-8 is the same. Rev 3:9 says "Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you.". Who are those of the Synagogue of Satan? Similar to Matthew 16, it refers to the Pharisees, who were really false Jews who had rejected the very Messiah that was promised to them.

Rom 2:29 states that "9 But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.". Hence a "true Jew" in God's perspective, is the one who accepts him, in contrast to "False Jews" who are Jews by lineage but ended up rejecting Jesus Christ.

The Philadelphia Church was accepted by God while their persecutors who are false Jews claiming that they were true, were rejected. And hence just like Eliakim (Isaiah 22) and the Apostles (Matthew 16), they were given the Key of David which represents their acceptance and authority to proclaim Christ like Peter did and hence open the door to those who accept it, and close the door to those who rejects it.

What is the "Jezebel Spirit"?

Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. - Rev 2:20

"While 2:14-15 considered the Nicolaitans movement as a whole at Pergamum, here the comments single out the leader of the group at Thyatira, denoted by the code name "Jezebel". The reason for this is obvious, Jezebel was the Phoenician wife of Ahab who programmatically led the northern kingdom into Baal worship and sorcery (1 Kings 16:31; 21:25-26; 2 Kings 9:22). While immorality is not mentioned in the OT text (the "Harlotry" of 2 Kings 9:22 is probably meant spiritually of idolatry rather than literally, Baal worship normally was quite licentious, so the parallels are close. This leader was a "woman" (γυναῖκά, gynaika) who "called herself a prophet". In other words, she claimed that her teaching was a direct message from God. It is possible that this means her teaching was not systematic or formal but took the form of oracles and pronouncements. The gift of prophecy was essential to the early church and prophets were numbered among the leaders (Eph 4:11; 1 Cor 12:28). Women were allowed to prophesy (1 Cor 11:5) and were counted among the prophets (Acts 21:9). At the same time, there were many false prophets in the OT (Jezebel) herself had approximately nine hundred (1 Kings 18:19)";

- Grant R Osborne, Baker's exegetical commentary on the New Testament for Revelations, page 155-156, on the Letters to the 7 Churches of Asia Minor.

Thyatira is an example of a church who had done well in terms of "works, love, service, faith, and patience" (v19). They have done so well that God commended them that "as for your works, the last are more than the first."; presumably better than the Ephesians in this area.

But unlike the Ephesians, Thyatira have tolerated and some even embraced false teachings of the Nicholaitans associated with Jezebel, which the Ephesians rejected (2:6) and Pergamum tolerated and described as teachings of Balaam (2:14-15 CF Num 25).

The term "Jezebel" here is not so much of the so called "Jezebel Spirit" or "controlling spirit" that modern Charismatics like to term, and has no biblical basis at all. One of the main aspects of this teaching is false prophecy, in which either these are true practitioners of sorcery in which their source of power came from real demons, or they are self made prophets that created prophecies out of their own imagination.

Christianity today is plagued with such false practice. In the bible, prophecies were never human induced and was never common. They were rare and only few were selected to use that gift. God's instructions were primarily relayed on his Logos (written word).

Whatever Rhema (Spoken word) that Jesus and the Apostles officiated became canonized into written form (Logos) for us to read. And hence there is little basis for the word of God to be articulated (Rhema) into personal instructions (2 Peter 1:20) today.

Some of these practices encourages believers to close their eyes to "meditate" and "tap into the spirit" by uttering whatever words or "visions" that comes to their mind. Such practice might seemed harmless, but in reality is nothing short of a Jezebel False Prophecy disguised in modern new age paganism.  And it is clear in the bible that we ought to stay clear of these "deep teaching of Satan (2:24) committed by those who accepts her teaching (Adulterers, v22) and her followers (Children, 2:23) "

Good works vs First Love

Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.  Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.
Revelation 2:4‭-‬5 NKJV

Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’  This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’  On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
Matthew 22:37‭-‬40 NKJV

"Throughout the NT love for God / Christ is emphasized (Rom 8:28, 1 Cor 2:9, 8:3, Eph 6:24) as is love for our fellow believers (John 13:24, 15:12, 1 Thess 4:9, 1 Pet 1:22; 1 John 3:11, 14). Indeed, the one demands the other, for one cannot love God without loving his children and vice versa (1 John 2:9-10; 4:16, 20-21). In a striking parallel to this passage, love in 1 John was a test for orthodoxy (see 2:7-17; 3:10-24; 4:7-5:3). It is clear that the Ephesians loved truth more than they loved God or one another. This does not mean that they were not believers or that they had no love at all, for the commendations of verses 2-3 would be impossible in that case. Rather, their early love had grown cold and been replaced with a harsh zeal for orthodoxy."

"These are not just "good works" but "acts of love" toward God and one another that characterized that early years of their church. Their battle against heretics could certainly be construed as "good works", but because it was not accompanied by love (see 1 Cor 13:1-2), it was insufficient. In short, orthodoxy without orthopraxy is a false religion."

- Grant R Osborne, Baker's exegetical commentary on the New Testament for Revelations, page 116, 117 on the Letters to the 7 Churches of Asia Minor.

Therefore the term "good works", is not restricted to mercy works only, but includes our services to God in the church, towards one another, which in the case of the Ephesians, is defense against heresy. The failure of the Ephesians at that time, is when they had done all these not out of the Love that the first Generation Ephesian believers did in Acts 19.

Hence returning to first love, does not merely mean going back to good deeds (which the Ephesians already did), but to do it with love.

Some tools for book survey

Before we study the word in details, it is important Hermeneutical practice to understand the general theme and message of the "book as whole", or even "bible as whole" so that we don't go out of context. This is usually done using what we call a "book survey". Some of the tools that we can employ while we survey a book are to observe patterns like,

- Repetitions
- Contrasts
- Causation and Substantiation
- Particularization (groups of passages that elaborates a summary statement)
- Generalizations (summary statement for a group of passages)
- Inclusios (Similar statement that book marks starts and end of passages)
- Chaism - An ABB'A' or ABCC'B'A', etc structure that is a feature of Jewish writings.

One example of CHIASM is Matt 6:24,

A No one can serve two masters;

B for either he will hate the one

C and love the other,

C′ or he will be devoted to one

B′ and despise the other.

A′ You cannot serve God and wealth.

Another CHIASTIC example in Psalms 67

A May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face to shine upon us, Selah
that your way may be known on earth,
your saving power among all nations.

B Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you!

C Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you judge the peoples with equity
and guide the nations upon earth. Selah

B' Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you!

A' The earth has yielded its increase;
God, our God, shall bless us.
God shall bless us;
let all the ends of the earth fear him!

We can also find GENERALIZATION or Summary statements like Acts 2:42 that states the result of the preaching of the gospel, and Act 4:33 acts as an INCLUSIO and also a summary statement that summarizes the faithfulness and growth of the early church as the result of the preaching of the gospel. Hence the content between Acts 2:42 and 4:33 are PARTICULARIZATION of the 2 summary statements.

Another INCLUSIO can be found in Rev 1:8 and Rev 22:13 where Jesus mentioned that he is the Alpha and Omega, a title that makes Jesus equivalent to God (Isaiah 44:6), that he is the one who controls history from the beginning to the end.

Luke also places the generosity of Barnabas (Acts 4:36) next to the Sin of Ananias and Sapphire in Chapter 5. This would act as a CONTRAST for students to observe what God honors and hates.

Hebrews 1:1-14 is a CAUSE that SUBSTANTIATES 2:1-13. Colossians 3:1-4 can also be a CAUSATION in which 3:5-17 SUBSTANTIATES the cause.

In this way, we can systematically understand the context and message the author is trying to convey, and not inject any presumptions, opinions or even mystical ideas where the text does not say.

We have to remember that the bible is not a code book that we decipher esoteric messages. The bible is not written uncontrollably by men "possessed by a spirit" like a pagan mediums. Rather, it is composed of genres like poetry, narratives, epistles, prophecies, etc inspired and written by human hands with the style of the human authors still in tact. And hence it's message has to be clearly understood by it's genre.

Different schools of Revelations

There are several schools of interpretation for the Christian Eschatology.

FUTURIST

Many of us follow what we would call the Futurist view whereby eschatological events and symbols are seen as literal, and looks forward to a 1000 year Millennium Kingdom of Christ (Pre-Millennial view). Futurists will read Daniel 9:27 as a delayed 70th week to be fulfilled at the end, something the other schools of intepretations will not agree.

But the Futurist view is not without weakness. Firstly, it develops a perspective that would remove its applicability to 1st century Christians who were far from the end times. And by adopting an exclusive anticipation to the end, it also separates itself from the immediate context in the circumstances when John wrote the book, in which students of  Preterist views would be stronger in.

HISTORICIST

Historicist approach views the events of revelations as unfolding throughout Church history. Therefore instead of viewing the Anti-Christ as the ultimate political figure only to appear at the end, they saw major political figures like Nero, Napolean, Hitler, etc as Anti-Christs. Historicists also sees the letter to 7 Churches as 7 periods of church History, with Ephesus being the hardworking early church, Philadelphia being the Faithful 1800 missionaries, Laodicea being the age of apostatized modern Churches age.

While it has it's merits to see prophecy as history, it also advocates a "Newpaper approach" in which believers in that view will be always on the lookout for the Mark of the Beast and see an Anti-Christ in every Pope or Presidents of the United States. It can become a doomsday mentality without one realizing it.

PRETERIST

Preterists takes into account the persecution of the church during the time of John. Hence the beasts in Rev 12 are seen to be the Roman Empire executing 10 waves (Rev 13:1) of Christian persecution by Roman Emperors with Nero being the 5th and Domitian being the current one (Rev 17:10) . The Armageddon is the destruction of the temple in AD 70, and hence the Millennial Rule is figurative where Christ rules the Church during the church age. Preterists tends to be A-Millennial or Post Millennial as it holds that the Millennial Rule is figurative that it's either already over, or is happening now during what we call the Church age.

Preterism is strong in it's context of Roman persecution and it is definitely very relevant to the early churches of Asia Minor in which the letter is written to. Hence if you were a believer in that setting, the book of Revelations would have been a great encouragement. However, this does not address the 2nd coming of Christ in Matthew 24:30 which did not literally occur in AD70 and loses it's relevance to modern Christians.

IDEALIST

Idealists take everything as spiritual. The Anti-Christ is really anyone who rebels against Christ. The beast is a spiritual being that instigates Christian persecution that can happen anywhere from your workplace to your family, there is no time frame for that.  The battle between Satan and God, the trumpet and bowl judgement are all figurative impressions of the spiritual world, whereby God will prevail in the end. Idealists are Post Millennial because the church age itself if figuratively the Millennial Rule.

Idealism has the advantage of being relevant to Christians of all ages. No matter where or when we are born, there is always a struggle between good and evil. We are constantly tempted by spiritual forces that beckons us to turn away from God. But at the end, God will prevail and those who belongs to God will be vindicated and evil will be punished. However, Idealists cannot explain many symbols in both OT and NT prophecies which had led to fulfillment of prophecies like the 1st coming of Jesus, and same applies to an end time that is still future to us.

PARTIAL VS TOTAL FULFILLMENT

The first coming of Jesus was a partial fulfillment of OT prophecies. In the 2nd Chapter of Isaiah, he wrote about an ideal state in which Israel will be in. The Futurists will see it as the Millennial Rule of Christ, the Idealists will see it as the new heaven and new earth. However, this cannot be fulfilled unless the Messiah fulfills his mission to die to redeem our sins, and this is written in Isaiah 53.

Hence we can say that the 1st coming of Jesus was a partial fulfillment of prophecy. Just as Isaiah's prophecy to King Ahaz (Isa 7:14) was partially fulfilled in Hezekiah's deliverance (Isa 37), Jesus was the true fulfillment of that prophecy. Hence Jesus 2nd coming is the Ultimate fulfillment of eschatology.

PUTTING IT ALTOGETHER

The Anti Christ, being Nero or Domitian, that came with Roman persecution (Preterist) can be seen as a preview of the anti-Christs that had came with world history (Historicist) and the spirit of anti-Christ around us (Idealist), then these does not negate the ultimate Anti Christ that will rule the world during the Great Tribulation (Futurist).

The fulfillment of Daniel 11:31 in 1 Macabbees, when King Antiochus burnt pigs in the temple, is also an example of an Anti-Christ that partially fulfilled OT prophecy. And this was also partially fulfilled in AD 70 during the destruction of the 2nd Temple in Jerusalem.

Hence with that in mind, we do not have to disregard other schools of interpretation while adopting a Futurist view of interpretation. What matters after all, is to heed the words of Christ to the 7 churches, to persevere and overcome.