Resurrection and Judgments in Revelation Pt 3d Pergamum  Dwelling and Dueling with Devils 2 / The Armor and the Real Battle of Spirtual Warfare

©2022 WF Cobb Truthbase.net  DailyTruthbase.blog

 C. Rev 2:1 Jesus' Judgment of His Body  To the angel/messenger of the church in Ephesus write:

The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this:

2 I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles and they are not, and you found them to be false; cf Jude series;  Acts 20:32 wolves within and without

3  and you have perseverance and have endured for My name's sake (loyalty), and have not grown weary. 4  But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.

(Eph 1:4 blameless in love; 15 love for all the saints;

 5  Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place--unless you repent. (40 yrs) 

7  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes/victorious, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.

Resurrection and Judgments in Revelation Pt 3b – Smyrna and Pergamum ©2022 WF Cobb Truthbase.net  DailyTruthbase.blog

I. Rev 2:8  And to the angel of the church Smyrna write:

          The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this:

9 ... blasphemy/slander Eph 4:30-31^ (grieve HS) by those who say they are Jews and are not,

          but are a synagogue of Satan. (accuse blvrs; f of lies {^bitterness, wrath, anger, slander, malice)

Rev 12:11 they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb,          by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto death 1Jn 4:4

1Jn 5:4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world— our faith.

Liars & Lovers 1Jn 1:6  fllshp yet darkness=liar no truth 8 deceive ourselves-no truth..10 call God liar-no Word 3:14 passed death to life, cz we love each other...not love (15=murderer-no eternal life) remains in death.  4:20 love God but hate brother = liar;

B. 10  Do not fear what you are about to suffer.  Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful^ until death, and I will give you the crown of life. 

          ^Heb 3:2-5 Jesus Moses glory-honor

Lk 12:4 My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do. 5 I warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into {valley of} gehenna; yes, I tell you, fear Him! (see What the Gehenna)

^Mt 25:15 Well done good & f over little; Lk 12:42 f & wise steward cf 1Cor 4:2; 16:10 f vs unjust over least; 1Tim 1:12 deemed  f=entrusted ministry

Being faithful is trusting/relying on God's

presence (with you always, stood with me and strengthened me),

provision (grace is sufficient), and

promises (works all together for good),

           even when contrary to our experience and circumstances (look hopeless).  

Please see/study Survey of Rewards on Truthbase.net

F. Rev 21:1 saw new Heaven & Earth

24/26 kings of the earth will bring their glory-honor(tribute) of the nations into it/City.

27 nothing impure, and no one who practices abomination and lying^, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life

Rev 21:7 He who overcomes will inherit these things, & I will be his God and he will be My son

*8  the fearful, and unfaithful/unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and immoral, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars^, shall have their part/portion/inheritance (see DTB)

in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death

*22:15 Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying^

II. 12  And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write:The One who has the sharp two-edged sword says this:13  I know where you dwell, where Satans throne is; and you hold fast My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one,

who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.

Eph 2:2 you walked acc to the course of this world, acc to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the sons of disobedience:  3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature/naturally  children of wrath, just as the others.  

(NLT) 1Pt 4:1 So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must  arm yourselves with the same attitude/resolve  He had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin.

(Gal 5:24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed (pft mid) the passions and desires of their sinful nature to His cross and crucified them there.)    

2 You won’t spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires*, but you will be anxious to do the will of God.              {*Power (security/significance-EGO/Pleasure/Possessions)

3 You have had enough in the past of the evil things that godless people enjoy: {Jude 1:4 grace-wanton caprice*-deny Lord:  their no restraints* and lust, their feasting and drunkenness and wild parties, and their terrible worship of idols

4 Of course, your former friends are surprised when you no longer plunge into the flood of wild and destructive things they do. So they slander you.

5 But remember that they will have to face God (give an account), who stands ready to judge everyone, both the living and the dead.

7 The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers.

8 Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.

9 Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay.

10 God has given each of you a gift/grace from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. 11...Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies.  Phil 4:13,19 So that (purpose hina+subjunctive) everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ.  All glory and power to Him forever and ever! Amen.  (NLT)

Eph 3:6  to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus thru the gospel, {=mystery v4-5} 7 of which I was made a minister, acc to the gift of God's grace which was given to me acc to the working of His power. 8 To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ,9 and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things; 10 so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known thru the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. (see ch 6)

1Pt 5:8 Be (humble) sober, vigilant; cz your adversary the devil, lion, walks about, seeking whom ay devour 9 Resist firm in faith

2Cor 2:11 {forgiveness/bitterness} lest Satan should take advantage/outwit/cunning arts of us; for we are not ignorant of his device/schemes*

The immature/carnal believer's default is being dumb, deceived & doing satan's will, believing it is God's will  (Rm 8 carnal mindset=death), due to their unsanctified minds/values/desires (Rm 6; 12:1-2 Ain't Gonna Reign no More) (*purpose/intent which is the end result of using the mind)

2Cor 10:4 The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the world. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We tear down arguments and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God; and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

6 And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, (1Cor 5:5; 1Tim 5:20)

Eph 6:10  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. 11  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.13  Wherefore take to yourselves the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15   and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16          in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints

From DailyTruthbase Ephesians 6 and www.truthbase.net/sermons/title/the-real-battle-of-spiritual-warfare/

6:10-18 Having concluded the parenthetical section occasioned by the climactic call for mutual submission of Body member to each other in fear of the Lord,

Paul now directs his instruction to corporate spiritual warfare.

According to the purpose of God, and the work of Christ, the Holy Spirit constituted the assembly of believers into the Body of Christ, under His headship.  Thus they became the temple in which God's glory could be manifested to the world, in this age as they live in unity, and in the age to come as He pours out the blessing of His glory upon them.  

For reasons discussed briefly under Digging Deeper in the post on 2Cor 5, Satan doesn't want that unity to be maintained and will do everything in his devious power to disrupt it (as church history so sadly demonstrates). The battle the church faces is not against flesh and blood, although many of Satan's agents are humans taken captive to do his will, but our real battle is against the demonic forces of Satan, who controls individuals, rulers, and governments (ie, Assyria, Babylon, according to God's purposes) in this age. The warfare Paul describes in this chapter is corporate, not individual. See Truthbase.net for the series on individual Defense Against the Dark Arts . Listen to The Real Battle of Spiritual Warfare for the exposition of this passage (outline below under Digging Deeper).

Satan's goal is to destroy the temple so God's glory won't be displayed, nor given to faithful saints. So the corrective is to stand in unity, and having done all, to stand. Stand is mentioned four times. The emphasis is defensive maintenance. It's not about charging the gates of hell with a water pistol, which is a good way to become toast, but about the most successful military strategy known in the ancient world, the phalanx. A single well-trained array of hoplites, or foot-soldiers, in tight formation could stand against an invading horde, and win.  Each one stood firm next to his fellow soldier, and the individuals worked as a unit to repel the attackers. If they broke ranks or separated they would become vulture food.  

The weapons Paul describes are defensive, with the exception of the sword. Satan largely deploys lies to do his dirty work, so truth is the best defense  (the basic belt upon which the rest of the armor hangs) and the best offense, (the sword of the Spirit is the word of God). Each of the pieces of armor was referred to earlier in the book, and are truths about the formation of the Body as the temple of God. Attached to the belt of truth was the breastplate of righteousness (protecting their heart) which is the righteous conduct of a renewed mind (4:21-24), which would engage in other-centered rather than self-centered behavior. The studded boots that enabled them to stand their ground was the gospel of peace, that Jews and Gentiles are now one, effectively nullifying the lies that would cause the two groups to become factions, splitting the temple. The shield of faith enabled them to tap into the supernatural power of God to live in love. The helmet of salvation, which protects their thinking is clarified in 1Thess 5:8 as the hope of salvation, emphasizing the glorification aspect. See the elaboration of each piece under Digging Deeper.  The missing piece of equipment was the greaves or knee pads, which are alluded to in the weapon of praying for the saints according to the promptings of the Spirit. As the Body puts on the truth, and keeps it protecting them, the attacks of Satan can't harm them and they will stand, and succeed.

6:19-24 Paul segues from instructing them to pray for each other to asking for prayer for himself that he might boldly proclaim the revelation of the good news, even though he is imprisoned for doing so. He sends Tychicus a faithful servant to encourage them, so they can also know how Paul is doing and encourage him (hint, hint).

Paul wishes them peace (probably more harmony than the usual covenantal blessing), and continued manifestation of love and faith, the things God desires of them. He then expresses a desire for those who are loyal to the Lord Jesus the Messiah, with an incorruptible love, to have the blessing of grace in His kingdom.

Application: Believers need to draw on God's strength and truth to live in unity and withstand the onslaughts of Satan; doing things independently (essence of sin) is certain death (loss of dominion).

Prayer: God, thanks that You always provide all I need to do Your will; thanks for like-minded believers, who are intent on loyally loving You. Amen.

Digging Deeper Ephesians 6:10-18 The Real Battle of Spiritual Warfare

I. The Ephesian (local) church was created by God to bring Himself glory a as believers walked worthy of their calling in truth-based unity and love.  (Temple motif 2:21)

Ac 20:17 From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church….28 "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

29 "For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 "Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. 31 "Therefore watch… 1Tim 1:3…remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine

? Ephesus was the best taught church in the NT.  Did that ensure that Christ was pleased with it? If not, why not? (Rev 2:1ff)

II. Our Enemy, the Devil (demons) seeks to undermine God-glorifying Unity through deception and lies.

6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

? How does an individual believer obey the command to put on the armor? Are you dressed for battle or the beach?

III. Our Responsibility is to use God’s armor (and draw on His strength) to combat and STAND in Unity

13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

We stand in unity and combat Satan by Learning, Living, and Loving others with the Truth. Our understanding and use of each piece of armor must first come from Paul’s use of it in the previous verses of Ephesians, describing truth about the nature of the Body and how our beliefs and actions must be in accord with that corporate truth.

The question to ask and answer is how does each piece of armor protect or defend against Satan’s attempts to destroy unity. The individual believer must then act in accord with that understanding to accomplish God’s purposes and glory.

? Why the emphasis on standing? Why not charge the gates of hell with a water pistol and rescue/save the inhabitants?

A. TRUTH 14a Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth,

1:13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,

4:15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the Head----Christ----

4:21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,  23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind,

24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. 4:25 Therefore, putting away lying,  "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another.

A. W. Pink states that Satan's chief aim is to estrange man's heart from God and his work consists of substituting his own lies in the place of divine truth…spiritual warfare occurs in the mind, and it is the mental reckoning or reasoning that results in a choice between God's Word and Satan's lie, although at the time we may not recognize the alternative offered to be a lie or from Satan http://www.path-light.com/warfarelesson.htm

? Why is Truth so important? With what specific Truth must one gird themselves? How do you do that? What truths relate to unity?

B. RIGHTEOUSNESS 14b having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

4:21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, {false impressions} 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 4:24 and that you put on the new man  {1Pt 1:22} which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

5:9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), {cx 4:22 reality}

6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

Hosea 10:12  Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of  hesed/unfailing cov't love, and break up your unplowed/hard fallow ground (of your heart NLT); for it is time to seek the LORD, until He comes and showers His righteousness on you.

Pr 11:18 A wicked {law on lips but not life – Ps 50} person earns deceptive wages, but the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward. NIV 19  Genuine righteousness leads to life, but the pursuit of evil brings death. BER  (cf Gal 6:7-8!!!)

Js 4:7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

2Tim 2: 21 Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. 22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

? How does personal righteousness relate to corporate unity? How does an ignored conscience open us up to Satan? What’s key to 4:24?

C. Gospel of PEACE

15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

2:14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one… 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace,

2:17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off  and to those who were near.

3:6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel,

4:3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in/by the bond of peace. 1:2; 6:23

? How do/should you obey Eph 4:3? How does the gospel of peace relate to unity?  What lies does Satan pander re: peace?

D. FAITH 16 above all, taking the shield of faithwith which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.

1:15 Therefore after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,

1:19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power

2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

3:12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.

3:17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

4:5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism;

4:13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect/mature man, to a measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

6:23 Peace to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

1Jn 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.

? How does Satan throw darts? (words of the ungodly; cf Psalms eg Ps 11, and Proverbs) What effect do those darts have on unity? How does faith quench them? Faith in what?

E. SALVATION 17a And take the helmet of salvation,

1:13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,

2:5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

1Thess 5:8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith  and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.

1Pt 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.

? How do the different aspects of salvation relate to the battle for maintaining unity? How do you put the helmet of salvation?

F. WORD 17b and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God; 5:26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,

Jn 17:17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your Word is truth.

Mt 4:4 But He answered and said, "It is written, `Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'"  7 Jesus said to him, "It is written again, `You shall not tempt the LORD your God.'" 10 Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, `You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.'"

Heb 4:12 For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

John 8:31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

? How does one use the word of God against Satan? How do you gain the skill to use it?

G. PRAYER 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints----

1:16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers:

3:16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height----19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen

? What did Paul pray for the Ephesians? How do those things relate to unity?

? What other things did believers pray for other believers in the Bible? What role does discernment play in prayer?

God in a nutshell:

God gives us the resources to accomplish His will, and expects us to do it.

Build-a-Jesus:

Jesus is our Lord, who gave Himself for us, so we could give ourselves to Him.

Us in a nutshell: We need to live in love, walk in wisdom, and wage war with the weapons God had provided. Submission to a Biblical Body is a result of being filled with the Holy Spirit, as is submission in the other realms God specified.

B. 14  But I have a few things against you, cz you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality. 15  So you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans.

C. 16  Therefore repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth.

Heb 4:11 Therefore, let us endeavor to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, thru following the same example of disobedience. 12 For Word of God is living and active, sharper two-edged sword, piercing...division of soul and spirit,  joints and marrow, able to judge the thots & intentions of the heart.

13 no creature hidden from His sight, all things are open-laid bare to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account {Mt 12:36 every unprofitable word}

{Gal 6:7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.} Rm 8

16 draw near w/ confidence to  throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need

Swindoll in series on David's consequences (2Sam 12:13):

grace= “I have sinned against the Lord{1Jn 1:9}”  “You shall not die” 

grace to endure the consequences of sin (yours and others – backwash)= “the sword shall never depart from your house” (12:10)

D. 17  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone,  and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.