C. 9g,§89₁156
Boek Openbaring §8,9,11,15,16, Oordelen Uitgelegd: Bazuin en Schaal van Smyrna-Gemeentetijdperk (2)
Shalom!
^ Visiting the congregation and drinking the same Spirit of revival must have been an essential part of the lives of all believers throughout the ages of the churches. As we have been one body, from the beginning (1Cor. 12:13).
And to the end (Heb. 10:25).
However, in the revival of the church age of Smyrna, it demanded everything.
Prayer of them who until the end are looking for other believers, joint meetings, and God's revival, Bert
1$s: The first revival had had all the spiritual subtleties. As far as God was concerned, everything was perfect. But not on the side of believers. Their love had begun to fail.
According to the contents of the first seal, the main reasons for that would have been the anti-Christian spirit in some of the believers, as discussed before (9f§89₁156, 1John 2:18-19).
¤ This information would have helped the true believers to continue and be able to hold revival meetings and love each other. According to the apostle John, at some point those antichrist believers would have left.
On the other hand, one revival has never been self-evident. New generations are born and the former ones die away. Of the children of the new generations, each must separately seek God and convert and be baptized in water and seek the baptism of the spirit (Acts 2:38-40).
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2$: When Love for other believers and for God had faded, God chose a more imperfect revival. But the revival where His Love was again.
The Smyrnean church age revival lasted from 170 to 312… (also 14_Compilation).
¤ When you read the message of the Lord Jesus to the messenger of the church in Smyrna, you will not find anything negative to say. But the challenges had been hard (Rev. 2:9-11), Rev. 2:9-10, <I know your affliction and your poverty —though you are rich!— and I am aware of the slander of those who falsely claim to be Jews, but {are} in fact a synagogue of Satan. 10. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Look, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will suffer tribulation for ten days. Be faithful even unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.>
Very harsh conditions lasted until the start of the Pergamum revival in 312 AD. Then times in the Roman Empire became easier (6i§6(8)10, Emperor Constantine).
2s: Previously, the anti-Christian spirit in some believers had been a problem. Then this spirit entered some of the church leaders. These were more interested in their own leading than in the leading of their church by the Holy Spirit.
Severe persecutions within and outside these churches were the result.
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2T: After the revival of the Smyrnean church had died out, the judgment of the trumpet sounded like this, Rev. 8:8-9, <Then the second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned to blood, 9. a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.>
The symbol of the trumpet speaks of spiritual believers who did not participate in organizing the revival meetings of their own church and had not worked together with the Holy Spirit. That is why they had lived as if in the sea, among worldly people (cf. Rev. 17:15).
¤ A third of the believers in question had to die spiritually according to the judgment of the trumpet. For example, like Judas Iscariot, the betrayer of our Lord (Ps. 69:25), Acts 1:20a, <“For it is written in the book of Psalms: ‘May his place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in it,’ ….”>
In the same context it is said (Ps. 69:22-28), Ps. 69:28, <May they be blotted out of the Book of Life and not listed with the righteous.>
¤ And the same fate befell a third of them, who had lived as if on a ship.
They had attended the revivals of different groups, but were not committed to one group. That was not acceptable to God either.
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2B: Together with the trumpet the plague of the second bowl was poured out, Rev. 16:3, <And the second {angel} poured out his bowl into the sea, and it turned to blood like that of one dead, and every living soul in the sea died.>
The bowl speaks of a plague for the nominal Christians who had not been spiritual believers at all. Not one of them had constructively participated in the revival of their own congregation. Each of them had lived as in the sea, in the world (cf. Rev. 17:15).
¤ Each of them was a human being. That's why is talked about living souls.
Those who were outside the revival were already dead in God's eyes while living (cf. 1Tim. 5:6).