Audio Download

Rev 1:9 – Part 2, John, Our Brother in Tribulation

[Updated September 6, 2023]

Rev 1:9  I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Introduction

Last week we were reminded of what the scriptures mean by the phrases “this generation”, “the last days” and the word “heaven.” Not understanding these phrases and words keeps the words of this prophecy from being understood, as these symbols are all meant to be understood. In this verse before us today we are told that the apostle John is 1) our brother and companion in tribulation, and 2) is in the Isle of Patmos for the word of God, and 3) for the testimony of Jesus Christ. To whom are all of these phrases applied in God’s Word? The entire orthodox Christian world, following their three rules for understanding God’s Word, 1) Context, 2) Context, and 3) Context, they generally see all of this as referring to John himself. “Comparing spiritual with spiritual” is a mysterious statement which conflicts with context, context, context, and so is dismissed and ignored. If we have come to see that we are to “keep those things which are written in this book”, we cannot be cavalier about God’s Word.

It is important we understand that living by every word of God amounts to the same thing as “dying daily.” What this tells us is that every word of God, especially the three words, 1) tribulation, 2) patience, and 3) testimony, are all the judging of this body of flesh. When we see this, only then will we have been brought to the point of being able to “rejoice in trials.” It is then that we begin to experience “the peace that passes [or excels] all understanding.”

Many who read these words could never verbally articulate why they are experiencing the peace of mind that comes with “knowing God and Jesus Christ”, but God’s spirit has witnessed to their spirit that these are words of Truth.

Rom 8:16  The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Rom 8:17  And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with [him], that we may be also glorified together.

With that peace of mind in the total sovereignty of God, we can read Revelation 1:3 and rejoice just to know that we are given eyes to see and ears to hear that verse:

Rev 1:3  Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

Let us see now how we are to live by and keep all the symbols of “this generation… the last days… heaven… John… the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ… and being exiled to the Isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.”

Last week we saw that John simply typifies our walk and our life as the revelation of Jesus Christ within us. We saw that the seven churches are the recipients of this book. Then why would anyone ever doubt that all of God’s words are words of judgment and wonderful words of the outcome of judgment:

Isa 26:9  With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments [are] in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

This book of the revelation of Jesus Christ is no exception to that Truth. It is rather the capstone of that Truth, for it is the revelation also of the Christ of Christ, because this book also reveals that it is you and I who experience all “the things that are written therein.” It is you and I who have crucified our own Lord and are in need of being judged for our sins and ungodliness and unrighteousnesses. So let’s examine exactly who it is to whom this book is addressed, and with whom this book called “the revelation of Jesus Christ” is concerned.

To whom is the book of Revelation addressed?

Who will give account for the death of Christ and of all the prophets? Will it be the Romans? Will it be the Jews? It is of utmost importance that we know who is to give an accounting of all these things if we ever hope to understand this book of signs and symbols. What does all of the evidence of scripture indicate? To answer that question we need to notice to whom this entire book of the revelation of Jesus Christ is addressed?

Here are those to whom this book is addressed. Here are those who are responsible for the blood of Abel, the persecutions of the seed of the woman, the selling of Joseph into slavery and for the death of our own Savior:

Rev 1:4  John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;

Again in verses 10-11:

Rev 1:10  I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
Rev 1:11  Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

That is who is addressed by this entire book. These “seven churches” are as much a symbol as the apostle John is. We have already demonstrated in our study of verse 4 that “the seven churches of Asia” are the church as a whole. Read the study notes and listen to the study dealing with the spiritual significance of the number 7 in scripture on iswasandwillbe.com. The seven churches are all who name the name of Christ. It is the woman out of whom the manchild comes. “The seven churches of Asia” are both the many called as well as the few chosen out of those many are called. This book is not written to them about someone else, it is written to them about themselves, and they are twice admonished to “keep the words written therein.” It does not say, “Keep the applicable words.” We are told instead that “man will keep every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.”

Mat 4:4  But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Rev 1:3  Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

Rev 22:7  Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

This is “the revelation of Jesus Christ.” It involves the very fiery trial of the capstone experience of sweating blood and being forsaken of all men and facing the wrath of God as He turns His back upon our flesh, causing us to die so that we can “bring forth much fruit.” John has already been there and done that. Paul and John and Peter have all lived the Revelation of Jesus Christ and are “looking behind them” at all they have been through. They all learned what they were taught by “the revelation of Jesus Christ…” the words of “the sayings of this prophecy” which is confirmation of, and the capstone of, all the rest of scripture. Here are all three of these apostles, telling us that they learned what they learned only through “the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

Gal 1:12  For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

1Pe 1:13  Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

Rev 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

It is only through “the revelation of Jesus Christ” that any man learns anything of God. That revelation includes being forsaken of all men and being exiled to the Isle of Patmos for this word of God and this testimony of this revelation.  Look at Paul’s experience:

2Ti 1:15  This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia [that is these very “seven churches] be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.

Phygellus and Hermogenes were among those who were of such influence among these very churches which Paul had established, these symbolic “seven churches of Asia”, that “all they which are in Asia” turned away from this apostle of God who was in prison in Rome. Paul repeats this fact in the last chapter of this epistle:

2Ti 4:10  For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.
2Ti 4:11  Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.
2Ti 4:12  And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus.
2Ti 4:13  The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring [with thee], and the books, [but] especially the parchments.
2Ti 4:14  Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:
2Ti 4:15  Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.
2Ti 4:16  At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.
2Ti 4:17  Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
2Ti 4:18  And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Was John’s experience any different? No, not really. The only difference was that instead of going to Rome as a prisoner because of the efforts of the Jews that believed on Christ, John was “in that Isle that is called Patmos” at the behest of the very people in the very churches in which John had been ministering after Paul’s departure, and he was there “for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Here was John’s experience among His own brothers in Christ to whom he had ministered:

3Jn 1:9  I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.
3Jn 1:10  Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.

John, the apostle who “has the testimony of Jesus Christ”, writes an epistle to his own spiritual brothers in Christ, and sends it to the church, and we are told that “Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them… received us not.”

That proud spirit of Korah, who accuses the meek of being proud, is still alive and well in the midst of God’s people today.

Num 12:3  (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)

Num 16:1  Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men:
Num 16:2  And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown:
Num 16:3  And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, [Ye take] too much upon you, seeing all the congregation [are] holy, every one of them, and the LORD [is] among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?

When we become aware of what the spiritual significance is of “the earth” as revealed to us in Jeremiah 22:29…

Jer 22:29  O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD.

…Only then do we realize that “the earth” is still opening up its mouth and swallowing those up who resist the fiery words of God. Those who do so, in the process, have rejected and forsaken those whom God is sending with “the testimony of Jesus Christ.” “Strong delusion” is just that. It is so very strong that “if it were possible, it would deceive God’s very elect.” However, that is not possible, even as they stand alone on the Isle of Patmos or as they “lie dead in the streets of that great city where also our Lord was crucified.”

Mat 24:24  For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

Rev 11:8  And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

Who has “the testimony of Jesus Christ?”

John tells us that he was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. Who does John symbolize as such? God’s truth is in its sum, and considering the way the disciples of Christ used the Old Testament scriptures, Christ is in every verse of His word (“here a little and there a little”) either as the Creator of darkness or the Creator of light. It is all “of Him, and through Him, and to Him.”

Isa 45:7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

Rom 11:36  For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

Isa 28:9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
Isa 28:10  For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
Isa 28:11  For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.
Isa 28:12  To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.
Isa 28:13  But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.
Isa 28:14  Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem. [earth (Jer 22:29)]

Now let’s see how true these principles are of this book. Let’s see “line upon line and precept upon percept, here a little and there a little” just who are “our fellow laborers, who have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” We have already covered the first two verses which reveal who has this testimony, but I will include them here with the other two verses which tell us who it is who has “the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Here all together, are all four verses in this book of the revelation of Jesus Christ, which reveal to us just who it is who has “the testimony of Jesus Christ.” It is very revealing indeed:

Rev 1:2  Who [John] bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

Rev 1:9  I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Rev 12:17  And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Rev 17:1  And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:

This is the angel to which verse Revelation 17:1 refers:

Rev 19:10  And I fell at his feet [the feet of this angel] to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus : worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

In other words, the seven angels of this prophecy are those who, like the apostle John, are our fellow laborers who “have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”

“The testimony of Jesus Christ is the spirit of prophecy.” What is “the spirit of prophecy?” Here is how God’s Word defines “the spirit of prophecy”:

1Co 14:3  But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
1Co 14:4  He that speaketh in an [unknown] tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
1Co 14:5  I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

Who has this “testimony of Jesus Christ?

Mat 8:2  And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
Mat 8:3  And Jesus put forth [his] hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
Mat 8:4  And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

Those whom Christ has healed of the incurable disease of death have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Who else has this testimony?

Mat 10:16  Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
Mat 10:17  But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;
Mat 10:18  And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.

Mar 6:11  And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

Those who are sent to the Sanhedrins and synagogues of the church and the Gentiles have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Who else has this testimony?

Joh 3:31  He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.
Joh 3:32  And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony.

Act 22:18  And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.

“The testimony of Jesus Christ is not received by men, but it is, through God, received by, and is in, His elect.

Mat 16:17  And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

In other words, all of Christ’s true prophets are these angels which bring us the words of this prophecy, all of which words we are to keep. So it is God’s Word which is the fire which comes out of the mouths of God’s elect witnesses, and it is God’s elect who blow the seven trumpets and who pour out the seven vials upon a rebellious world within us all.

Jer 5:14  Wherefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.

2Ti 1:8  Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;

Col 1:24  Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:

It is out of the mouths of God’s elect, who must all “keep the things that are written therein”, that this declaration must also be made to the seven churches which are within us all:

Rev 3:14  And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
Rev 3:15  I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
Rev 3:16  So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
Rev 3:17  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
Rev 3:18  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and [that] the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

These words are addressed to the seven churches in us all. These churches are Christ’s own wife who has left her first love to become the harlot of this verse:

Rev 18:7  How much she [the great harlot] hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.

In other words it is those who deny that Christ has come both in His own, and also in our sinful flesh. It is those who deny that we are all to keep the things written therein who also deny that we are that fallen harlot, and who also deny that we are all to go through “the plagues of the seven angels.” All who deny that we are to ‘read, hear, and keep the things written in this book’ have “that spirit of antichrist.”

1Jn 4:2  Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
1Jn 4:3  And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

Rev 15:8  And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

The whole world declares Christ came in the flesh, but the whole world also denies that it was “the same flesh and blood” as the children of Abraham, the same sinful, under the law, made of a woman flesh; the same corruptible, sinful flesh and blood in which Christ presently resides within His elect today as they, through the power of His word, “keep the sayings of the prophecy of this book, and the things that are written therein” and who, in turn through that same fiery word, pour out the seven vials on all the earth who say they will not drink of the cup of His wrath.

The cup of God’s wrath is a cup that is in the hand of the harlot, but that harlot is nothing more than a creation of our Creator, and it is through His words in the mouths of His elect that the seven vials are poured out upon all men. Here is what is decreed for all who say otherwise:

Jer 25:1  The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, that [was] the first year of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon;
Jer 25:2  The which Jeremiah the prophet spake unto all the people of Judah, and to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying
Jer 25:4  And the LORD hath sent unto you all his servants the prophets, rising early and sending [them]; but ye have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear.
Jer 25:7  Yet ye have not hearkened unto me, saith the LORD; that ye might provoke me to anger with the works of your hands to your own hurt.
Jer 25:8  Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Because ye have not heard my words,

“Because you have not heard my words?” What is Jeremiah saying? He is saying what God’s prophets, to this very day, are saying. Because you hear, but don’t understand, because you see, but do not perceive, because you think that “keep the words which are written therein… every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God,” means that none of the words therein which deal with God’s wrath, will be poured out upon your ungodliness, and your unrighteousness, therefore these words are decreed upon you:

Jer 25:15  For thus saith the LORD God of Israel unto me; Take the wine cup of this fury at my hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send thee, to drink it.
Jer 25:16 And they shall drink, and be moved, and be mad, because of the sword that I will send among them.
Jer 25:17  Then took I the cup at the LORD’S hand, and made all the nations to drink, unto whom the LORD had sent me:
Jer 25:18  To wit, Jerusalem, and the cities of Judah, and the kings thereof, and the princes thereof, to make them a desolation, an astonishment, an hissing, and a curse; as it is this day;

It is God’s church which is furious at the thought of enduring God’s wrath. Even those who realize that the doctrine of a secret rapture is a false doctrine still cannot conceive of God pouring out His wrath on their own sins and unrighteousness. It is God’s own people who are desolate and poor and blind and naked and miserable and totally unaware of their own spiritual condition, “as it is this day.”

Rev 3:17  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
Rev 3:18  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and [that] the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

God’s gold has been through the hottest flames. That is where it is purified. All our heavenly Father does He does in love. The doctrine which teaches that God hardens hearts just for the sake of pouring out His wrath is akin to the doctrine which says that He creates most men just for the sake of sending them into eternal torment. It is God’s wrath which brings us to our wits’ end and brings us to repentance. That is the very definition of “His goodness” in these verses:

Psa 107:21  Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
Psa 107:22  And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.
Psa 107:23  They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;
Psa 107:24  These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.
Psa 107:25  For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
Psa 107:26  They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.
Psa 107:27  They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end [Through the wrath of God].
Psa 107:28  Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
Psa 107:29  He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
Psa 107:30  Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
Psa 107:31  Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

Rom 2:4  Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

The scriptures teach that “all things are ours, whether things present of things to come”, and all things are through us:

1Co 3:22  Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;

2Co 4:15  For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

The Greek words translated “for your sakes” are “dia humas” and they mean “through you” as God’s channel of doing all that He does. His wrath is poured out “through you” whether it is on you and me now, as well as on those who believe they can refuse to receive it. They just receive it last. So Jeremiah continues:

Jer 25:28  And it shall be, if they refuse to take the cup at thine hand to drink, then shalt thou say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Ye shall certainly drink.

There are many who declare, just as the harlot of Babylon declares, “I have never blasphemed and I will never receive of God’s wrath.”

“Every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God,” has no personal application for that person at this time. “Keep the words that are written therein” has no personal application for that person at this time either. Here instead is what does apply to all such who will be judged out of their own mouth:

Rev 22:18  For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
Rev 22:19  And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

We have all been guilty of taking away and adding to the words of the book of this prophecy and teaching others so. We will all live by every word in this prophecy, in accord with our works, for which we will all give an accounting. The only question which remains to be answered is when will these words of this prophecy be fulfilled in us? Will we judge ourselves now, that we will not be judged? Will we be in be in “a better resurrection”, the first resurrection? Or will we be in the second resurrection and face the pouring out of God’s lake of fire on those who thought that they could somehow avoid “living by every word of God?”

Again notice who the angels of the book of Revelation symbolize:

Rev 22:8  And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.
Rev 22:9  Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.

If you and I are fellowservants of our brothers which keep the saying of this book, then we are the angels that show others these things because, as we are told…

2Co 4:15  For all things are for your sakes [Greek: dia humas, through you], that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

“All things are through you…” It is good and right to esteem our teachers as men of God. It is right and proper that they be given respect and honor as overseers of God’s flock and as helpers of our joy. However, unless we each know Christ and His word personally, we do not know God or Christ whom He has sent.

Act 20:28  Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

Conclusion

God’s elect are the “overseers… the angels of the seven churches.” Every word of this prophecy is directed to us. Let us never be guilty of taking from or adding to the words of this prophecy. Let us also always be aware of the sacrifice which is made for our salvation. Let us always appreciate the fact that even Babylon plays a part in our salvation. This is how it is all accomplished:

Rom 11:30  For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
Rom 11:31  Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
Rom 11:32  For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.
Rom 11:33  O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

God’s grace works “through thanksgiving.”  Our mercy is “obtained through the unbelief of others.”

God does “all things through you,” His elect. “How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out”, but he has revealed them to us by His spirit:”

1Co 2:9  But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
1Co 2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.