In the
beginning of Revelation following the letters to the seven churches John is
summoned to heaven by a voice that says “… I will show you what must happen
after these things.” Revelation 4:1
In all the
modern translations the Revelation 4:1 Greek word “meta” is translated as
“after” but in 473 occurrences elsewhere it is translated as “with”. I submit
that it should be translated as “with” here also.
I believe
the letters to the seven churches are a representation of the church body
universal and their condition entering into the tribulation and the
instructions given to them are the road-map to overcome, as stated clearly in
the letters themselves. They are not
veiled or hidden in symbolism.
Christ is
warning some of them they have believed a lie.
Here’s where
the lie began -- agapé love means perfect love that is “unconditional” or “God
loves us unconditionally”
Untrue.
Agapé =
Short Definition: love Definition: love, benevolence, good will, esteem; plur:
love-feasts.
It is true
that we are not worthy of God’s love “all have sinned” and that “God so loved
the world that He gave his only begotten Son that who so ever believeth in Him
should not perish but have everlasting life” John 3:16, but even here there is
a condition to receive the benefit of God’s love, it is to believe. Certainly
believing a lie would not count as “believe” since He is “the way, the TRUTH
and the life.” John 14:6
The
definition of Love given in 1
Corinthians 13 in verse 5 -- all newer translations says something like “keeps
no record of wrongs” while the King James says “thinketh no evil”. In this
instance the King James is closer to correct. A better translation might be
“does not first assume evil motivation in another” or something to that effect
because in the very next sentence it says “does not rejoice in evil”. You
cannot know something is evil unless you are able to discern it by taking note
or keeping a record. Simply, it is not where you start but you may end up
there.
So removing
the absolute of logizomai = “keeps no record” of wrongs ...
Logizomai =
Short Definition: I reckon, count, decide
Definition: I reckon, count, charge with; reason, decide, conclude;
think, suppose.
... it is
harder to promote the lie that agapé love is unconditional.
Why does
this matter? When someone believes that God’s love is unconditional it is
easier to believe the lie that sin does not matter. Clearly if you read the
Bible at all you know this is not true. God gives us the blood of Christ as
remedy but not a license. Jude 1:4.
This is the
condition the church finds itself in now.
This is what we are being warned about in the letters to the seven
churches in Revelation.
Here’s how
that theory looks in each of the seven letters:
1. Ephesus “you have abandoned your first love.” = your definition of love has
changed
2. Smyrna “you got this” * but they will make you suffer for it.
3. Pergamum “some of you” are promoting a false love that causes people to believe
sin doesn’t matter. *
4. Thyatira “you are tolerating” openly false teachers teaching you to love sin.
5. Sardis “you have a reputation” of love but you don’t love -- you want to be
loved *
6. Philadelphia “well done” you know what love means *
7. Laodicea “you are not interested in love” *
*loosely
paraphrased
