Welcome to Thus Say the Prophets!
The Revelation of Y'shua HaMoshiach:
A Study in Authentic Messianic Judaism and Biblical Prophecy
By Messianic Rabbi Yochanan Levine © 9.16.09 (last update: 7.16.2011)
Revelation 2:12-29
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We pray to HaShem, the Holy One of Israel to fill our hearts with wisdom and understanding as we continue this study into the Revelation of our chief rabbi, Y'shua HaMoshiach.
The Period of Pergamos: From Constantine to Pope Boniface III
312 CE - 600 CE: The "Doctrine of Balaam" won the day. The heretical Nicolaitans successfully established their absolute authority over authentic Messianic Judaism during this period. Roman Pagan Emperor Constantine the Great feigned conversion to the already spiritually beleagured Way movement and declared the creation of a new religion to be known as Universalism ("Catholicism"). This emerging Roman Universal Papacy declared itself to be the sole inheritor of biblical authority. It claimed that "Jesus" had apointed Peter as first Pope ("Papa" or "Father"). Never mind that HaShem is our Father and that Rebbe Y'shua is the sole mediator between Him and humanity (1 Timothy 2:5). The Nicolaitans had replaced both "Father" and "Son" with a triune godhead of their own creation and under their own authority.
But is this what Rebbe Y'shua really intended? No. Let's look at what was really taught. Here's the biblical source cited for this essential Roman Catholic dogma:
Matthew 16:18 And I [Rebbe Y'shua] say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell [“Hades”] shall not prevail against it.What was the Rebbe really saying to Peter? Was he telling him that Peter was the rock (or foundation) upon which he would build a new Gentile religion as taught by the Vatican or something else entirely?
First we need to understand that the devoutly Jewish Rebbe Y'shua ben Miryam did not come to establish a new religion at all, and certainly not one for Gentiles! He was very clear about this:
Matthew 15:24 But he [Rebbe Y'shua] answered, "I wasn't sent to anyone but the lost sheep of the house of Israel."Rebbe Y'shua did not come to establish a Gentile religion. This is clear throughout the Gospel accounts. So what was he teaching Peter and his companions?
First consider these verses as they are translated in the Authorized King James Version:
Matthew 16:13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
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.
18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.In order to correctly understand these verses we need to realize that the English translation is unintentionally misleading here because of our cultural assumptions:
Verse 16 actually says (the bracketed words do not appear in the source materials. They are added here for clarity):
And Simon Peter answered [and] said, You are anointed, [a] son [of the] living God.In other words, the Rebbe asked, "Who am I?" and Peter's reply was that there existed debate on this question. Some believed the Rebbe to be Yochanan the Immerser (John the Baptist) returned in a dual reincarnation of some kind, others believed he was the reincarnation of one of the prophets, perhaps of Isaiah, Jeremiah or some other great prophet. He clearly was unlike anyone they had ever met.
Then we read...
"And who do you say I am Peter?" he asked. To which Peter replied, "I know you to be a man anointed by the Living God and I intend to follow you as such." This of course is my paraphrase but in context this is what was being said.
Rebbe Y'shua then approved of Peter's declaration and stated that upon the “rock” or solid foundation of that declaration of his faith and understanding, all who accept this truth should gather together in fellowship as an independent Jewish movement and assist in his work of reforming Judaism (remember: Matthew 15:24 “But he answered, "I wasn't sent to anyone but the lost sheep of the house of Israel").
This is clear in the text once we remove preconceived Church dogma from the equation.
After his resurrection from the dead this invitation to faith was extended to all Gentiles (Noahides/ Goyim who come to HaShem). They were granted the opportunity of being “grafted in” or converted to Judaism through the Messianic Jewish Movement (denomination) he was founding. I discuss this topic in more detail elsewhere. For now we’re focusing on the Revelation.
Understand that Y'shua the Anointed never left Judaism. He never sought to convert Gentiles nor even to instruct them – indeed, he avoided them. Prior to his resurrection he did not encourage his followers to associate with nor convert them (Matthew 28:19,20). This saying therefore was clearly not intended to establish "the Throne of Peter" nor to create a new Gentile religion. This twisting of Scripture gave birth Christendom and empowered the Nicolaitan deception that continues to hold millions in its power til our times.
We turn now to our text:
Revelation 2:12 "To the angel of the assembly in Pergamum write:"He who has the sharp two-edged sword says these things:
13 "I know your works and where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. You hold firmly to my name, and didn't deny my faith in the days of Antipas my witness, my faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.
2:14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to throw a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.
2:15 So you also have some who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans likewise. 2:16 Repent therefore, or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of my mouth.
2:17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him who overcomes, to him I will give of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written, which no one knows but he who receives it.By this point in history (312 CE - 600 CE) the Roman Christian religion was based in Rome, "where Satan's throne is." The seat of the Roman Empire had now become the seat of the Universal Roman Church and its power and brutality were increasing daily!
Here the Rebbe warns those who would remain faithful to his teachings not to embrace these new Nicolaitan Roman doctrines! He praises those who are still standing firm as Messianics.
The Name of Y'shua Matters!
Note that the Rebbe also praises these faithful Messianics for remaining true to his name: The word "name" here is onoma and literally means his given name. Rebbe Y'shua is not talking about his teachings, reputation, etc. here as the English word "name" might otherwise mean, but about his personal name (of course the others are included in this as well). As described above, the developing Roman Papacy had now replaced the very name of our Rebbe: Y'shua ben Miriam, (or Joshua son of Mary in English translation) with the name "Jesus." I discuss the origin of the name "Jesus" elsewhere. At this point Roman Universalists (i.e. Catholics) were beginning to use the new name but the authentic Messianic Jews, realizing what was happening, sought to maintain their loyalty to the Rebbe. This was getting harder to do every day.
Rebbe Y'shua the Anointed warned that it was the responsibility of Messianics of this period to counter the false doctrines of the emerging Nicolaitan Papacy and to maintain the true form of Judaism he taught: "... teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you..." (Matthew 28:20) as he said. So stand! Our Rebbe orders, or else HaShem may reveal the heresies of this new religion by removing His blessings from you all!
The Church of Thyatira: Boniface III - Gregory VII (Hilderbrand) to the Reformation
600 CE - 1520 CE: As this period dawned the Roman Papacy ruled most of the known world other than the Muslim domains and the religion of the Nicolaitans reigned supreme! The struggling followers of our Rebbe were universally condemned as "Arians" (named after Bishop Arius who soundly rejected the Nicene Creed and the Trinity – and the alleged deity of Y’shua.). They were blacklisted as "Judaizers" and "heretics" and became virtual non-persons throughout the Empire.
Church courts like those of the "Holy Inquisition" were held across the land and often as not those of sincere but dissenting faith were condemned to horrible tortures and death by “the Church Universal and Triumphant!” By this point the Church had outlawed reading the Bible unless one was a priest and even many local priests were illiterate. Most sincere Christians no longer knew about the original Messianics Way and so had no way to regain what had been stolen from them. They could not have understood that the Master came to free the world from religious oppression not to enhance it! They assume the Church is God's vehicle and everything they do and proclaim is the Word of God and so they submit to abject poverty, starvation and spiritual darkness!
Eventually Church Tradition and Papal Bulls came to be considered even more binding on the masses than the Scriptures themselves! All the people knew was what they were told by the Nicean priests or what they could decipher from the stained glass windows and poses of the Catholics idols.
As a direct result of the Church's countless abuses the Spirit of HaShem, the God of Israel, was partly removed from the assemblies and Europa was plunged into the Dark Ages.
Ichabad! The presence of the Lord had departed!
Without the Ruach of HaShem the Church became increasingly legalistic and harsh in its rulings. The "Holy Inquisitors" moved to destroy all traces of non-Catholic religion wherever they found it. This included Judaism, the Noahides, the Messianic Arians and also those Pagans who, like the followers of Rebbe Y'shua, boldly refused to bow the knee to the Papacy and surrender their religious liberty. All non-Catholic faiths were brutally repressed and eventually crushed in various ways. During this dark period it is estimated that over six million European Pagans were slaughtered like animals in what came to be known as the Burning Times.
The Return of Occultism
The remnant followers of Rebbe Y'shua and authentic Messianic Judaism, along with those Christians who, even without accurate knowledge, maintained their faith in HaShem alone were condemned throughout the Church Lands. Bloodshed, ignorance and darkness of all sorts descended across Europa.
How Hylel (Lucifer) must have laughed!
It was also during this period that various Occult bodies were coming into their own and establishing Secret Brotherhoods, lodges and cabals. Many of these groups continue to exist today and they hold powers beyond what most people dare even conceive to be possible.
Many of these Occult movements were originally developed in opposition to and mockery of the Roman and now Eastern Orthodox Church (after they split). This return to the forbidden and unholy resulted from intellectual studies into ancient cultures and myths. The educated could not read the Bible but they were free to read other things! Dark things. They drew their knowledge and power from the ancient gods of Egypt, from Tiamat and Marduk of Sumar, from Babylonia and beyond, and always, known or unknown, with the inspiration of demonic entities that they gradually came to know and honor. Thus Baal worship returned in only slightly modified forms. Many of these Occult Orders proclaimed themselves "Luciferian," not because they worshiped (or even believed in) Lucifer, but because they knew that he was the enemy of the Church they hated! In their perverse consciousness they dreamed of the overthrow of HaShem and the Dawning of a Golden Age of pseudo-enlightenment. In this desire they gradually became willing servants of Hylel! This for instance was the original intention of the Black Mass. It was just a harmless way to insult and bastardize the teachings of Rome... but then... then they began to unlock actual power! The Occult lodges grew, especially among the rich and powerful.
As these “New Agers” furthered their studies and rebellions they began tapping into something that most of them had not expected! POWER! Power over the elements and power over their fellows! Their abominable sacrifices to Hylel were being answered! They literally became his empowered servants as they realized his existence and potential. Whereas Rebbe Y'shua the Anointed of HaShem had flatly rejected Lucifer's offer of global dominion (Matthew 4:1-), these people accepted it and devoted their very lives to it! In this service they became the literal inheritors of the Nephilim and of King Nimrod and Mer-wife Semiramis, the original Jezebel! These were "mighty hunters in opposition to HaShem" and they were now returning! Such organized Occultists formed and entered into the Merovingian Bavarian Illuminati which serves as Lucifer's preeminent servant. Through the Bavarian Illuminati all the major Luciferian organizations, lodges, brotherhoods and so on are directed.
And ALL of them with one aim: the Revelation of Rex Mundi!
Still HaShem did not turn away from the Apostate Way Movement completely. Within the Church, as within Judaism and all other religions, there have always been sincere people, children of HaShem, who desire to know and serve the One God according to the Light they have thus far received. Such people resisted the spreading darkness and HaShem used them in various ways as He advanced His Grand Plan of Global Liberation.
Among these sincere people were many of the reformers who lead the Anglican and Protestant reformations. There were also many sincere Believers who remained within the Catholic Church as "loyal opposition." These people worked tirelessly in various ways hoping to lead the Church they loved godward. While their successes were limited, they were nonetheless vital to the well being of millions of Catholics. Still today there are millions of sincere and faithful Christians in Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Anglicanism and throughout Protestantism. Sadly however both the Reformers and the members of the Loyal Opposition failed to restore the Way to its Jewish roots. By the time the Reformation occurred knowledge of the original teachings had been all but lost. The Reformation had no chance to restore that which they didn’t even realize had been lost. Plus many of them, like Martin Luther, were stone cold antisemitic. Such people had absolutely no interest in restoring authentic Messianic Judaism.
Revelation 2:18 "To the angel of the assembly in Thyatira write:"The Son of God, who has his eyes like a flame of fire, and his feet are like burnished brass, says these things:
2:19 "I know your works, your love, faith, service, patient endurance, and that your last works are more than the first.
2:20 But I have this against you, that you tolerate your woman, Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. She teaches and seduces my servants to commit sexual immorality, and to eat things sacrificed to idols.
2:21 I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality.
2:22 Behold, I will throw her into a bed, and those who commit adultery with her into great oppression, unless they repent of her works.
2:23 I will kill her children with Death, and all the assemblies will know that I am he who searches the minds and hearts. I will give to each one of you according to your deeds.
2:24 But to you I say, to the rest who are in Thyatira, as many as don't have this teaching, who don't know what some call 'the deep things of Satan,' to you I say, I am not putting any other burden on you.
2:25 Nevertheless, hold that which you have firmly until I come.
2:26 He who overcomes, and he who keeps my works to the end, to him I will give authority over the nations.
2:27 He will rule them with a rod of iron, shattering them like clay pots; as I also have received of my Father: 2:28 and I will give him the morning star.
2:29 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.The Return of Semiramis: the Harlotrous “Queen of Heaven”
Here we see the foreshadowing of the still future “Whore of Babylon” in "that woman Jezebel." This is Semiramis. This is the harlotrous “Queen of Heaven” worshiped by the Pagan world since the days before the flood of Noah’s day. Note that this clearly is not a literal woman but a doctrine: "as many as don't have this teaching, who don't know what some call 'the deep things of Satan..." This is the teaching of “Mystery Babylon” in its infancy. We will go into much detail about this later.
The Return of Hubal-Sin: Baal of Mecca, Medina and the Sinai Peninsula
Christendom in all of its many and diverse denominations was straying farther and farther away from the God of Israel during these years. Still today many of its heretical sects claim to have replaced Israel as the Elect of HaShem! During this period however HaShem began replacing them with Baal worship!
Through plagiarism Muhammad Mustafa (ca. 570/571– June 8, 632), invigorated the Baal cult of his Quraysh tribe – that being the worship of Hubal-Sin (Hubal-Tzin) – During this period his reformed religion of Islam was advancing across the globe and the fate of the much beleaguered Way looked bleak despite the best efforts of the Protestant Reformers. Rather than producing “Christian unity” around the original faith proclaimed by Y'shua the Anointed and his followers, Protestantism gives rise to innumerable competing sects and offshoots. At this point any hope of restoring authentic Messianic Judaism seemed futile at best.
Here ends chapter two of the Revelation of Y’shua HaMoshiach.
Continue with Chapter Three of the Revelation of Y'shua HaMoshiach
