Revelation 2–3. “To Him That Overcometh”

Revelation 2–3. “To Him That Overcometh”
 

1. The Lord’s counsel to each of the seven branches of the Church in Asia follows a pattern:
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              §  He told the members of the branch what they were doing that pleased Him.

              §  He told them in what ways they needed to repent.

              §  He told them of the blessings that would come if they were faithful.

• Fill in the chart below with information you find in Revelation 2–3:

City	What They Did That Pleased the Lord	How They Needed to Repent	Promised Blessings
Ephesus (2:1-7)	Their patience – enduring labor and love.	Because thou hast left thy first love.	To him that over cometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
Smyrna (2:8-11)	I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich)	I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.	be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
​Pergamos (2:12-17)	I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.	But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.	To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
Thyatira (2:18-29)	I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.	Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.	And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. And I will give him the morning star.
Sardis (3:1-6)	Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.	Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.  3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent.	He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
Philadelphia (3:7-13)	for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.	Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.	Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
Laodicea (3:14-22)	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;	I know thy work, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.  16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.	To him that overcometh will I grant to bsit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne

The Council received by these seven churches seems to be appropriate even in today’s time – staying true to the word of Christ and holding fast to that word is always a good idea. God’s love for us will be our everlasting grace and heaven will be our home if we endure to the end. Even in death we shall have life and life eternal is the greatest of all rewards.

2. How does Doctrine and Covenants 14:7, 63:20 give meaning to the phrase "to him that overcometh?" Each time the Lord covenanted with his people and promised rewards he instructed them to overcometh or in other words endure to the end. He that overcomes, or endure to the end shall have these rewards. As a marathon runner I know what it means to endure hard things and find great reward. Sometimes the challenge of life will be hard and we will want to give end to seeking out the easy path, but those that endure their hardships well will find a greater reward than those that sought the shortcut.

 

The Teachings of Second Peter Ch. 2

The Teachings of Second Peter Ch. 2

In the second chapter of Second Peter, Peter explains the importance of identifying false teachers and shares their character – warning us what to look for. He says that they would be lustful and corrupt. They will deny the Lord and speak ill against him all the while enjoying their wrong doings. Surely they will be flatterers and lead many away – be aware of these thing remembering what Peter taught in the first chapter of the book of Peter.

Another important principle Peter taught is that once we are cleansed and forgiven of our sins, we can’t continue to repeat the offence. The Prophet Joseph Smith taught a similar principle found in the Doctrine and Covenants—“For of him unto whom much is given much is required; and he who sins against the greater light shall receive the greater condemnation.”

Each Prophet continues in their teaching by sharing that it would be better that we had remained ignorant in our sins then knowing commit them.

This is something I think about all the time. I am not a perfect person and make all kinds of mistakes, but it is when I knowingly give in to temptations that I fear God’s hand the most. I wonder how I can repent when I was so willfully disobedient to his commandment. This may be a little of topic, but I came across a few new Mormon Messages on YouTube about forgiveness and thought I would add them to my post to help add meaning to what Peter and Joseph taught.

2 Peter 2:1–19

2 Peter 2:20–22

Doctrine and Covenants 82:3, 7

The Trial of Our Faith Is More Precious than Gold

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The Trial of Our Faith Is More Precious than Gold

Peter – the champion of long suffering and great council, with only a few verses he can change perspective. Peter taught us to remember Christ, his atonement, crucifixion, and resurrection in that Christ suffered for all mankind no matter your circumstances—he has felt your pain. Not only did Christ suffer, but he overcame this suffering through the micle we know as the resurrection. His victory over death is grace and his sacrifice was mercy; our troubles should seem light in comparison.

Peter’s message of optimism lies in his faith in Christ and the peace it brings—even in the face of adversity and heartache. Peter teaches us to turn the other check and reminds us that God has empowered us to overcome the temptations of our struggles. God the Father even went as far as to foreordain us with this endowment, but left it up to us to realize it threw the veil of mortality.

The trials we face are like the refiners fire—each one is meant to teach us a lesson and help us sanctify our Lord. Peter taught that our suffering for Christ sake can bring about conversion in others. As we develop Christ like attributes, other will see Christ in us and desire to have the Spirit also. There is CD titled “The Missionary Next Door,” on it the host of a youth fireside Diana Hoelsher recounts a childhood experience. A non-member friend of hers was giving her a hard time for her beliefs, she stood her ground and suffered it, but not without expressing her feelings on the mater. Her stance aloud her friend to confess he’d only been giving her such a hard time because he desired to have what she had too. His abuse was perhaps misguided, but the end result was far greater than the bullying he issued and she endured.

Peter’s message seems to be that we can endure hard things and be better for it. God loves us and will chasten us as needed, but something I have to remember is not every struggle I encounter is a trail of God, sometimes the sometimes they are merely the consequences of poor choices. Nevertheless remember that Christ endured all things so that we would not have to endure them alone. Call upon God and remember him always.

Reference | 1 Peter 1:1–9; 2:12, 15, 20–25; 3:11–16;4:12–19.

Hebrews 13 Works of Rightousness

Be Thou an Example of the Believers: 1 Timothy 1–6

Be Thou an Example of the Believers: 1 Timothy 1–6

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Our Bodies are Like Temples

The Apostle Paul in his everlasting wisdom counselled the sisters of the church to dress modestly—to reverence their bodies and not to adorn them with costly apparel (see 1 Timothy 2:9-10). Later we would learn that this council was not exclusive to the sisters only, but to all the saints; women and men alike. The Doctrine and Covenants teaches us what God says to one, he says to all (see D&C 61:18, 36). Our brothers should also be wise to Paul’s council and avoid immodestly and costly apparel. You might ask why it is so important we reverence our appearances in such a way. The Book of Mormon Prophets as well as Moses of the Old Testament has said that God made us in his own image—if we are made in his image, shouldn’t we reverence that image as we reverence our Lord? Furthermore the scriptures teach us that our bodies are in fact like temples that house our very souls. If you have ever been in a temple, you might recall just how prevalent reverence is. The walls are white, the halls are silent, everything is clean, and well groomed. As we past from mortality to immortality our body will be reunited with our soul once more and there it will be housed forever and ever (see Moses 6:9; Mosiah 2:37; Alma 41:2). Knowing that this is the only body I get—ever; I want to treat it a whole lot better than I do now. Each of us is in fact God’s children and as such, each of us is a glimpse of what he looks like.

        An Apostasy Foretold

As an apostle of the Lord Paul not only could witness of Christ majesty, but he could also warn of things to come. 1 Timothy is an example of Paul’s warning to the Saints. He told them that there a time would come when many would fall away from the church following false doctrines and flatteries. False prophets would come speaking lies and there would be hypocrites all of which would become spiritually blinded by their own foolishness. Paul also talked of those that would refuse to marry living in sin and indulge in worldly pleasures. They would be glutens of God’s creations avoiding his council to or substance and provident living. Paul’s reminder that all things were meant for our benefit and that we should give thanks was an indication that these things were already taking place and that an apostasy was inevitable. (See 1 Timothy 4:1-5)

        New Missionaries & Young People Alike

            Paul told Timothy that no man should despise the youth because they are an example of the believer in the world, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, and in their purity. This is how our young people should act and as they do, they will be an influense for good on all those around them. This change is not exclusive to non-members only, but to the less active and active alike. I know from time to time I find myself acting in an unbecoming way only to be reminded my a young person that I shouldn’t say or do the things I was doing. Our young people are often the strongest in example and so Paul’s counsel applies to us all.

Money is the Root of All Evil:

    Our wise friend Paul taught that money is the root of all evil and counseled the saints to be happy with what they have and to strive after righteousness, godliness, faith, love patience, and meekness. Those that chose otherwise often find themselves trapped in the tempter snare. They become lost in their foolishness and hurtful lust—drowned in destruction and perdition. Men of God will be wise to humble themselves before the Lord and find content with what they have. (See 1 Timothy 6:7-11)

    Additionally we are counseled to but the kingdom of God before the treasures of the world and by doing so, we will be rewarded with the things we need and will the ability to help others as well. (See 1 Timothy 6:17–19 and Jacob 2:18–19)