Many of us have owned a pair of sneakers manufactured by the largest shoe company in the world called “NIKE” but most of us are unaware that their name actually comes from the Greek noun “nikē” which means “victory”:

https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3529/kjv/tr/0-1/

The Greek verb “nikaō” comes from the Greek noun “nikē” and means to “get the victory”, “prevail”, “conquer”, and most often translated “overcome(th)” in the bible:

https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3528/kjv/tr/0-1/

1 John 5:4-5  For whosoever is begotten of God overcometh(nikaō~gets victory over) the world: and this is the victory(Greek~nikē) that hath overcome(nikaō~gained victory over) the world, even our faith. (5)  And who is he that overcometh(nikaō~gets victory over) the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?   

Our victory over the world does not come from the shoes we wear but learning to walk as Jesus walked by abiding in His commandments:

1 John 2:3-6  And hereby we know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.  (4)  He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;  (5)  but whoso keepeth his word, in him verily hath the love of God been perfected. Hereby we know that we are in him:  (6)  he that saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk even as he walked.

While the Greek noun “nikē” is only found once in the new testament in 1 John 5:4, let’s examine all 28 places where its Greek verb “nikaō” is found of which 15 of those times are in the book of Revelation.

Paul demonstrated a life of walking as Jesus walked and thus encouraged the church to imitate him as he imitated Jesus!:

1 Corinthians 11:1  Be ye imitators of me, even as I also am of Christ.

Jesus and Paul learned obedience by suffering:

Hebrews 5:7-9  Who in the days of his flesh, having offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him(Father) that was able to save him(Jesus) from death, and having been heard for his godly fear,  (8)  though he was a Son(Jesus), yet learned obedience by the things which he suffered;  (9)  and having been made perfect, he(Jesus) became unto all them that obey him the author of eternal salvation;

Romans 8:16-18  The Spirit himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are children of God:  (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 with him.  (18)  For I (Paul) reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed to us-ward.

We overcome the devil through the blood of the Lamb and walking out obedience to our Father’s Word:

Revelation 12:9-11  And the great dragon was cast down, the old serpent, he that is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world; he was cast down to the earth, and his angels were cast down with him.  (10)  And I heard a great voice in heaven, saying, Now is come the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, who accuseth them before our God day and night.  (11)  And they(Christians) overcame(nikaō~gets victory over) him(accuser~devil) because of the blood of the Lamb, and because of the word of their testimony; and they loved not their life even unto death.

Jesus taught us that though we will have tribulation in the world we can rest in peace in Him as He already overcame the world: 

John 16:33  These things have I spoken unto you, that in me(Word~Jesus) ye may have peace. In the world ye have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I (Jesus) have overcome(nikaō~got victory over) the world.

All the sin of the world is summed up in three main categories called the “lust of the flesh”, the “lust of the eyes”, and the “vainglory of life”:

1 John 2:15-17  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  (16)  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the vainglory of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.  (17)  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Immediately after Jesus was baptized He was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil in all three of those categories of sin:

Matthew 3:16-4:1  And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway from the water: and lo, the
heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon him;  (17)  and lo, a voice out of the heavens, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. (4:1)  Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

After being hungry from fasting for 40 days, Jesus overcame the “lust of His flesh” for food by speaking and believing spiritual life comes by every word of His Father:

Matthew 4:2-4  And when he(Jesus) had fasted forty days and forty nights, he afterward hungered.  (3)  And the tempter came and said unto him, If thou art the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.  (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.

Jesus then overcame the “vainglory of life” by not putting His Father God to the test to see if He will protect His flesh from an unnecessary act that elevates fleshly thinking which is pride: 

Matthew 4:5-7  Then the devil taketh him into the holy city; and he set him on the pinnacle of the temple,  (6)  and saith unto him, If thou art the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and, On their hands they shall bear thee up, Lest haply thou dash thy foot against a stone.  (7)  Jesus said unto him, Again it is written, Thou shalt not make trial of the Lord thy God.

Jesus then overcame the “lust of the eyes” by refusing to worship the devil in exchange for all the kingdoms of the world shown him by the devil thus proving He worships His Father and serves Him only:

Matthew 4:8-10  Again, the devil taketh him unto an exceeding high mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;  (9)  and he said unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.  (10)  Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Please notice in all three categories of sin, Jesus prevailed over the temptation of the devil by quoting the written Word of His Father:

Romans 3:4  God forbid: yea, let God be found true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy words, And mightest prevail(nikaō~gain victory) when thou comest into judgment.

The devil used the same 3 categories of sin to tempt Eve who yielded in disobedience with Adam and ate of the forbidden fruit:

Genesis 3:1-6 Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which Jehovah God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of any tree of the garden? (2) And the woman said unto the serpent, Of the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat: (3) but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. (4) And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: (5) for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as God, knowing good and evil. (6) And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food(lust of the flesh), and that it was a delight to the eyes(lust of the eyes), and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise(pride of life), she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat; and she gave also unto her husband with her, and he did eat.

The Christian’s adversary is the devil and his many evil spirits who want to devour us thru the weakness of our flesh:

1 Peter 5:8  Be sober, be watchful: your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour,

Matthew 26:41  Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Ephesians 6:12  For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Our “old man” is our flesh that we must believe by faith is already dead once we are baptized into Christ:

Romans 6:3-7  Or are ye ignorant that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?  (4)  We were buried therefore with him through baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life.  (5)  For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection;  (6)  knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away, that so we should no longer be in bondage to sin;  (7)  for he that hath died is justified from sin.

Water baptism is an outward demonstration of drowning our “old man” in the washing of the water of the Word until we are fully cleansed:

Ephesians 5:25-27  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself up for it;  (26)  that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word,  (27)  that he might present the church to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Paul referred to this as the dying of Jesus until the life of Jesus manifests in our mortal flesh during our earthly life:

2 Corinthians 4:10-11  always bearing about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our body.  (11)  For we who live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

We are the temple of God who are declared holy by faith until we manifest holiness in our life daily:

1 Corinthians 3:16-17  Know ye not that ye are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?  (17)  If any man destroyeth the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, and such are ye.

We must feast on the Word “day by day” until it chokes out and kills our old outward man so that our inward man who is Jesus rules our temple:

2 Corinthians 4:16  Wherefore we faint not; but though our outward man is decaying, yet our inward man is renewed day by day.

Jesus called this “taking up our cross daily” the losing of our “old man” which is our carnal life:

Luke 9:23-24  And he said unto all, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.  (24)  For whosoever would save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

For more understanding of losing our life for the life of Christ please read this link:

https://sumofthyword.com/2017/01/19/him-crucified/

We are born with a carnal fleshly nature ruled by the devil that Jesus refers to as our “strong man” but Jesus is stronger and as our “new man” wants to rule over our temple as our high priest:

Luke 11:21-22  When the strong(old man) man fully armed guardeth his own court, his goods are in peace:  (22)  but when a stronger(new man) than he shall come upon him, and overcome(nikaō~gain victory over) him(old man), he(Jesus) taketh from him his whole armor(earthly treasures) wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.

Jesus “dividing his spoils” is when He has overcome our old nature to hold onto temporal wealth as our new Christlike nature desires to use our earthly treasure to bring equality in Jesus’ body as the first church at Antioch fully demonstrated:

Acts 2:44-45  And all that believed were together, and had all things common;  (45)  and they sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all, according as any man had need.

Acts 4:32-35  And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and soul: and not one of them said that aught of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.  (33)  And with great power gave the apostles their witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.  (34)  For neither was there among them any that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,  (35)  and laid them at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto each, according as any one had need.

Paul stressed equality within the churches he planted:

2 Corinthians 8:14  but by equality: your abundance being a supply at this present time for their want, that their abundance also may become a supply for your want; that there may be equality:

Our entire life on this earth is to be given to learning how Christ walked and to imitate that walk which requires our “old man” to be put away along with all his wickedness:

Ephesians 4:20-25  But ye did not so learn Christ;  (21)  if so be that ye heard him, and were taught in him, even as truth is in Jesus:  (22)  that ye put away, as concerning your former manner of life, the old man, that waxeth corrupt after the lusts of deceit;  (23)  and that ye be renewed in the spirit of your mind,  (24)  and put on the new man, that after God hath been created in righteousness and holiness of truth.  (25)  Wherefore, putting away falsehood, speak ye truth each one with his neighbor: for we are members one of another.

Those Christians who are consuming the Word are training their minds to be dwelling on the things of heaven as our desire for the things upon the earth die. Only those who seek the heavenly things will be manifested in glory:

Colossians 3:1-10  If then ye were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God.  (2)  Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are upon the earth.  (3)  For ye died, and your life is hid with Christ in God.  (4)  When Christ, who is our life, shall be manifested, then shall ye also with him be manifested in glory.  (5)  Put to death therefore your members which are upon the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry;  (6)  for which things’ sake cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience:  (7)  wherein ye also once walked, when ye lived in these things;  (8)  but now do ye also put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, railing, shameful speaking out of your mouth:  (9)  lie not one to another; seeing that ye have put off the old man with his doings,  (10)  and have put on the new man, that is being renewed unto knowledge after the image of him that created him:

We are not here to live in any evil but overcome all evil with good:

Romans 12:21  Be not overcome(nikaō~gain victory over) of evil, but overcome(nikaō~gain victory over) evil with good.

Obedience to Jesus’ commandments is required to prove our love for Him or we will be proven to be liars:

John 14:15  If ye love me(Jesus), ye will keep my commandments.

1 John 2:4  He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;

1 John 3:3-4  And every one(obedient Christian) that hath this hope set on him purifieth himself, even as he(Jesus) is pure.  (4)  Every one(disobedient Christian) that doeth sin doeth also lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.

Purifying ourselves comes through believing all the promises can and will cleanse us of all defilement:

2 Corinthians 7:1  Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

This exalting of the Word in our whole life will mature us as spiritual fathers who yearn to reproduce more little children as disciples of Jesus who are also to mature into young men and then father’s as well: 

1 John 2:13-14  I write unto you, fathers, because ye know him(Word~Jesus) who is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome(nikaō~gained victory over) the evil one(the devil). I have written unto you, little children, because ye know the Father(our Most High God).  (14)  I have written unto you, fathers, because ye know him who is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome(nikaō~gained victory over) the evil one.

All Christians become branches on the Vine who is Jesus but those who do not learn to bear fruit by abiding in the Word will be cut back off Jesus and thrown into the fires of hell: 

John 15:1-6  I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.  (2)  Every branch in me that beareth not fruit, he taketh it away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he cleanseth it, that it may bear more fruit.  (3)  Already ye are clean because of the word which I have spoken unto you.  (4)  Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; so neither can ye, except ye abide in me.  (5)  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit: for apart from me ye can do nothing.  (6)  If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

Our Father has patience over His vineyard to produce fruit but will cut off those without fruit at a point He decides:

Luke 13:6-9  And he spake this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came seeking fruit thereon, and found none.  (7)  And he said unto the vinedresser, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why doth it also cumber the ground?  (8)  And he answering saith unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:  (9)  and if it bear fruit thenceforth, well; but if not, thou shalt cut it down.

For more understanding on Jesus’ command to bear fruit please read this link:

https://sumofthyword.com/2017/03/19/parable-of-the-sower/

Please notice John, who was a disciple of Christ, is now speaking faith into his “little children” to overcome the world rather than be drawn back into the world: 

1 John 4:1-6  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world.  (2)  Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:  (3)  and every spirit that confesseth not Jesus is not of God: and this is the antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it cometh; and now it is in the world already.  (4)  Ye are of God, my little children, and have overcome(nikaō~gain victory over) them: because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world.  (5)  They are of the world: therefore speak they as of the world, and the world heareth them.  (6)  We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he who is not of God heareth us not. By this we know the spirit of truth(Christ rules you), and the spirit of error(satan rules you).

John and Paul knew very well how quickly the truth is perverted as Paul prophesied it would occur as soon as he departed from the churches he planted:

Acts 20:27-30  For I shrank not from declaring unto you the whole counsel of God.  (28)  Take heed unto yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit hath made you bishops, to feed the church of the Lord which he purchased with his own blood.  (29)  I know that after my departing grievous wolves shall enter in among you, not sparing the flock;  (30)  and from among your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.

The Holy Spirit prophesied through Isaiah how the 7 churches that represent all the denominations of Christianity today want to be “saved” by Jesus but create leavened doctrine that let their flesh live and their garments spotted by their flesh with no requirement to bear fruit:

Isaiah 4:1  And seven women(7 churches) shall take hold of one man(Jesus) in that day, saying, We will eat our own bread(leavened doctrine), and wear our own apparel(garments spotted by the flesh): only let us be called by thy name; take thou away our reproach(saved without any need to live holy or bear fruit).

But our God will not be mocked by those Christians in the church who think they can live their lives to please their flesh:

Galatians 6:7-8  Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.  (8)  For he that soweth unto his own flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption(hell); but he that soweth unto the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap eternal life(heaven).

Paul taught the church that we are debtors to God to be led of His Holy Spirit to put to death our flesh if we want to be considered “sons of God”:

Romans 8:12-14  So then, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh:  (13)  for if ye live after the flesh, ye must die(spiritual death); but if by the Spirit ye put to death the deeds of the body, ye shall live(spiritual life).  (14)  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

Jesus also makes it very clear that only the Christians who overcome their flesh will inherit all the things listed in the 7 churches earlier in the book of Revelation and be declared a son of God:

Revelation 21:7  He that overcometh(nikaō~gain victory over) shall inherit these things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 

Please remember Jesus finishes each letter with “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches”. This signifies all 7 letters are applicable to all churches from the days of John on the isle of Patmos until today:

Revelation 1:9  I John, your brother and partaker with you in the tribulation and kingdom and patience which are in Jesus, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.

Revelation 22:16  I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things for the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright, the morning star.

Also remember many of the sins Jesus rebuked the churches for are to be “spiritually” understood rather than understood in the “letter”:

2 Corinthians 3:4-6  And such confidence have we through Christ to God-ward:  (5)  not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to account anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God;  (6)  who also made us sufficient as ministers of a new covenant; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

The old covenant held the physical Jew to the letter of the old testament which was the “works of the law”: 

Romans 7:6  But now we have been discharged from the law, having died to that wherein we were held; so that we serve in newness of the spirit, and not in oldness of the letter.

Jesus redeemed us from the curse of the law so that we now become sons of God by faith under our new covenant:

Galatians 3:13-14  Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us; for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:  (14)  that upon the Gentiles might come the blessing of Abraham in Christ Jesus; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Galatians 3:26-29  For ye are all sons of God, through faith, in Christ Jesus.  (27)  For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ.  (28)  There can be neither Jew nor Greek, there can be neither bond nor free, there can be no male and female; for ye all are one man in Christ Jesus.  (29)  And if ye are Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, heirs according to promise.

Let’s examine the letters to the 7 churches to see what sins Jesus rebukes them for and what only the overcomers within the church will inherit from our Father starting with the church in Ephesus:

Revelation 2:1-7  To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, he that walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks:  (2)  I know thy works, and thy toil and patience, and that thou canst not bear evil men, and didst try them that call themselves apostles, and they are not, and didst find them false;  (3)  and thou hast patience and didst bear for my name’s sake, and hast not grown weary.  (4)  But I have this against thee, that thou didst leave the love you had at first.  (5)  Remember therefore whence thou art fallen, and repent and do the first works; or else I come to thee, and will move thy candlestick out of its place, except thou repent.  (6)  But this thou hast, that thou hatest the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.  (7)  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. To him that overcometh(nikaō~gets victory over), to him will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God.

Please notice Jesus is rebuking the Christians who leave the love they first had for Jesus commanding them to repent from falling away and return to those “first works”.

We prove our love for Jesus by keeping His new testament commandments:

John 13:34-35  A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; even as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.  (35)  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

John 14:21 & 23  He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself unto him….(23)  Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my word: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

Our first works are to abide in Jesus who is the Word of the Father which will produce the fruit of love for our fellow brethren making us true friends of Jesus:

John 15:7-17  If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatsoever ye will, and it shall be done unto you.  (8)  Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; and so shall ye be my disciples.  (9)  Even as the Father hath loved me, I also have loved you: abide ye in my love.  (10)  If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.  (11)  These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.  (12)  This is my commandment, that ye love one another, even as I have loved you.  (13)  Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.  (14)  Ye are my friends, if ye do the things which I command you.  (15)  No longer do I call you servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I heard from my Father, I have made known unto you.  (16)  Ye did not choose me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that ye should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should abide: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.  (17)  These things I command you, that ye may love one another.

Abiding in Jesus and His Words brings forth fruit in our own soul as well as others proving we are a tree of life to another soul:

Proverbs 11:30  The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; And he that is wise winneth souls.

Judas Iscariot was an example of a friend of Jesus who, as His disciple, walked with Jesus. He did all the works the other disciples did, but had a hidden lust for money. This lust superseded his love with and friendship for Jesus causing him to betray Him:

Matthew 26:14-16  Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,  (15)  and said, What are ye willing to give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they weighed unto him thirty pieces of silver.  (16)  And from that time he sought opportunity to deliver him unto them.

Matthew 26:46-50  Arise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that betrayeth me.  (47)  And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people.  (48)  Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that is he: take him.  (49)  And straightway he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, Rabbi; and kissed him.  (50)  And Jesus said unto him, Friend, do that for which thou art come. Then they came and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.

He proved one can be the friend of Jesus but not have the garment on that is required for the wedding:

Matthew 22:11-14  But when the king came in to behold the guests, he saw there a man who had not on a wedding-garment:  (12)  and he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding-garment? And he was speechless.  (13)  Then the king said to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and cast him out into the outer darkness; there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.  (14)  For many are called, but few chosen.

Judas Iscariot did not overcome his lust for money which caused him to make provision for his flesh:

Romans 13:14  But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

Thus falling away from his apostleship:

Acts 1:24-25  And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, show of these two the one whom thou hast chosen,  (25)  to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas fell away, that he might go to his own place(Hell).

For much more understanding on how a follower of Jesus, such as Judas Iscariot, can fall away from their friendship and love for Jesus please read this link:

https://sumofthyword.com/2017/01/18/the-mystery-of-lawlessness/

Only those who overcome their flesh will be given the right to eat of the tree of life in heaven:

Revelation 2:7  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. To him that overcometh, to him will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God.

In the next letter to the church in Smyrna, Jesus is rebuking the many Christians in the church who say they love God but are not actively circumcising their heart from the cares of this world:

Revelation 2:8-11  And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These things saith the first and the last, who was dead, and lived again:  (9)  I know thy tribulation, and thy poverty (but thou art rich), and the blasphemy of them that say they are Jews, and they are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.  (10)  Fear not the things which thou art about to suffer: behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life.  (11)  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. He that overcometh(nikaō~gets victory over) shall not be hurt of the second death.

A new testament Jew is one who is actively circumcising his or her heart:

Romans 2:28-29  For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh:  (29)  but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

There are many Christians who hear the Word but are not implanting the Word deep in their hearts by walking in the practice of it. Instead, they are deluded with sin:

Mark 4:18-19  And others are they that are sown among the thorns; these are they that have heard the word,  (19)  and the cares of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

James 1:21-22  Wherefore putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.  (22)  But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deluding your own selves.

All it took for Jesus to rebuke Peter calling him “satan” was for Peter to rebuke Jesus for prophesying His death:

Matthew 16:21-24  From that time began Jesus to show unto his disciples, that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and the third day be raised up.  (22)  And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall never be unto thee.  (23)  But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art a stumbling-block unto me: for thou mindest not the things of God, but the things of men.  (24)  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.  (25)  For whosoever would save his life shall lose it: and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake shall find it. 

Please notice that after Peter’s rebuke, Jesus proclaimed that we must deny our fleshly old man his perceived right to live by putting him on the cross thus losing our life for Christ’s life.

Peter learned obedience over time and became a powerful testimony of Jesus after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost:

Acts 2:38  And Peter said unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Christians are to learn to overcome our flesh’s desire to live in any of the sins listed here:

Revelation 21:7-8  He that overcometh(nikaō~gets victory over) shall inherit these things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.  (8)  But for the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, their part shall be in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death.

We are all born dead in sin but through Jesus we become newborn babes:

Ephesians 2:1-5  And you(newborn Christian) did he(Jesus) make alive, when ye were dead through your trespasses and sins,  (2)  wherein ye once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the powers of the air, of the spirit that now worketh in the sons of disobedience;  (3)  among whom we also all once lived in the lusts of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest:–  (4)  but God, being rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,  (5)  even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace have ye been saved),

But those who do not overcome their flesh producing the fruit of the Spirit will become “twice dead”:

Jude 1:12  These are they who are hidden rocks in your love-feasts when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;

Here are some verses to help understand the sins listed in Revelation 21:8

fearful ~ Matthew 10:28  And be not afraid of them that kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

unbelieving ~ 2 Corinthians 7:1  Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

abominable ~ Titus 1:15-16  To the pure all things are pure: but to them that are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.  (16)  They profess that they know God; but by their works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

murderers ~ 1 John 3:14-16  We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not abideth in death.  (15)  Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.  (16)  Hereby know we love, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

fornicators ~ 1 Corinthians 5:9-13  I wrote unto you in my epistle to have no company with fornicators;  (10)  not at all meaning with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous and extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world:  (11)  but as it is, I wrote unto you not to keep company, if any man that is named a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such a one no, not to eat.  (12)  For what have I to do with judging them that are without? Do not ye judge them that are within?  (13)  But them that are without God judgeth. Put away the wicked man from among yourselves.

sorcerers ~ translated from the Greek word “pharmakeus” and defined here:

https://sumofthyword.com/2021/02/02/pure-from-the-blood-of-all-men/

idolaters  ~ 1 Corinthians 10:6-11  Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.  (7)  Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.  (8)  Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.  (9)  Neither let us make trial of the Lord, as some of them made trial, and perished by the serpents.  (10)  Neither murmur ye, as some of them murmured, and perished by the destroyer.  (11)  Now these things happened unto them by way of example; and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come.

liars ~ Romans 3:4  God forbid: yea, let God be found true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy words, And mightest prevail when thou comest into judgment.

Only those Christians who are truly allowing the Spirit of God to lead them in overcoming their flesh  will not become “twice dead” and thus hurt of the second death:

Revelation 2:11  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

Jesus rebukes the next church for committing fornication and eating up doctrines that justify idolatry:

Revelation 2:12-17  And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These things saith he that hath the sharp two-edged sword:  (13)  I know where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s throne is; and thou holdest fast my name, and didst not deny my faith, even in the days of Antipas my witness, my faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwelleth.  (14)  But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there some that hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit fornication.  (15)  So hast thou also some that hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans in like manner.  (16)  Repent therefore; or else I come to thee quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of my mouth.  (17)  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. To him that overcometh(nikaō~gets victory over), to him will I give of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and upon the stone a new name written, which no one knoweth but he that receiveth it.

Balaam is mentioned by both Peter and Jude as an example of how many bible teachers today are leading the sheep into “lasciviousness” which is a “license to sin”. These false teachers do this by telling these poor souls they can not overcome their sin nature thus denying Jesus as our Master and High Priest His right to cleanse our temple of ALL sin:

2 Peter 2:1-2 &12-22  But there arose false prophets also among the people, as among you also there shall be false teachers, who shall privily bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master that bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.  (2)  And many shall follow their lascivious doings; by reason of whom the way of the truth shall be evil spoken of….(12)  But these, as creatures without reason, born mere animals to be taken and destroyed, railing in matters whereof they are ignorant, shall in their destroying surely be destroyed,  (13)  suffering wrong as the hire of wrong-doing; men that count it pleasure to revel in the day-time, spots and blemishes, revelling in their deceivings while they feast with you;  (14)  having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; enticing unstedfast souls; having a heart exercised in covetousness; children of cursing;  (15)  forsaking the right way, they went astray, having followed the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the hire of wrong-doing;  (16)  but he was rebuked for his own transgression: a dumb ass spake with man’s voice and stayed the madness of the prophet.  (17)  These are springs without water, and mists driven by a storm; for whom the blackness of darkness hath been reserved.  (18)  For, uttering great swelling words of vanity, they entice in the lusts of the flesh, by lasciviousness, those who are just escaping from them that live in error;  (19)  promising them liberty, while they themselves are bondservants of corruption; for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he also brought into bondage.  (20)  For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein and overcome, the last state is become worse with them than the first.  (21)  For it were better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after knowing it, to turn back from the holy commandment delivered unto them.  (22)  It has happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog turning to his own vomit again, and the sow that had washed to wallowing in the mire.

Jude 1:3-4 & 10-23  Beloved, while I was giving all diligence to write unto you of our common salvation, I was constrained to write unto you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints.  (4)  For there are certain men crept in privily, even they who were of old written of beforehand unto this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ….(10)  But these rail at whatsoever things they know not: and what they understand naturally, like the creatures without reason, in these things are they destroyed.  (11)  Woe unto them! for they went in the way of Cain, and ran riotously in the error of Balaam for hire, and perished in the gainsaying of Korah.  (12)  These are they who are hidden rocks in your love-feasts when they feast with you, that without fear feed themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;  (13)  wild waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the blackness of darkness hath been reserved for ever.  (14)  And to these also Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, Behold, the Lord came with ten thousands of his holy ones,  (15)  to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their works of ungodliness which they have ungodly wrought, and of all the hard things which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.  (16)  These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their lusts (and their mouth speaketh great swelling words), showing respect of persons for the sake of advantage.  (17)  But ye, beloved, remember ye the words which have been spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;  (18)  that they said to you, In the last time there shall be mockers, walking after their own ungodly lusts.  (19)  These are they who make separations, sensual, having not the Spirit.  (20)  But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,  (21)  keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.  (22)  And on some have mercy, who are in doubt;  (23)  and some save, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

We are here to learn to put to death all works of the flesh such as spiritual/physical fornication and covetousness of anything the world has to offer. Our Father’s wrath is coming upon those sons of God walking in any disobedience:

Colossians 3:5-6  Put to death therefore your members which are upon the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry;  (6)  for which things’ sake cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience:

Since animal sacrifice is unheard of within the church today, we must look for the spiritual meaning of “eating things sacrificed to idols”.  A Christian’s spiritual service to our Father is to become a living sacrifice:

Romans 12:1-2  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service.  (2)  And be not fashioned according to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

The first disciples who walked physically with Jesus were so in love with the Word of God they were afraid to leave it long enough to serve widows let alone serve their own flesh:

Acts 6:1-2  Now in these days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a murmuring of the Grecian Jews against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.  (2)  And the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not fit that we should forsake the word of God, and serve tables.

Paul wants the church to imitate his walk of a selfless Christian life devoted to serving our Father:

Philippians 3:17  Brethren, be ye imitators together of me, and mark them that so walk even as ye have us for an ensample.

But unfortunately many Christians in Paul’s day, just like today, have become enemies of the cross by spending most of their time minding earthly things whose end will be perdition in hell:

Philippians 3:17-19  Brethren, be ye imitators together of me, and mark them that so walk even as ye have us for an ensample.  (18)  For many walk, of whom I told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:  (19)  whose end is perdition, whose god is the belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.

Those Christians who are distracted with the cares, riches, and pleasures of this life are choking on those idols that eat up the time that should have been spent consuming the Word that brings forth fruit in this life:

Luke 8:14  And that which fell among the thorns, these are they that have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

Jesus is the bread of life we are to work for spiritually more so than the food we work for physically for it is those souls who will be sealed for eternity by our Father:

John 6:26-27 & 48-58  Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw signs, but because ye ate of the loaves, and were filled.  (27)  Work not for the food which perisheth, but for the food which abideth unto eternal life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him the Father, even God, hath sealed……(48)  I am the bread of life.  (49)  Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died.  (50)  This is the bread which cometh down out of heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.  (51)  I am the living bread which came down out of heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: yea and the bread which I will give is my flesh, for the life of the world.

But those Christians who care for the riches of the kingdom forsake this life for the riches of the Word, seeking the hidden manna our Father concealed in His Word as a king under our King Jesus:

Psalms 119:11  Thy word have I laid up in my heart, That I might not sin against thee.

Matthew 13:44  The kingdom of heaven is like unto a treasure hidden in the field; which a man found, and hid; and in his joy he goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

Proverbs 25:2  It is the glory of God to conceal a thing; But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.

Revelation 19:16  And he hath on his garment and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

Only those Christians will become the overcomers who Jesus is revealing His Father’s “hidden manna” to and will write their new name in a white stone:

Revelation 2:17  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. To him that overcometh, to him will I give of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and upon the stone a new name written, which no one knoweth but he that receiveth it.

Jesus warns the next church that there are those allowing the spirit of Jezebel to exist within them:

Revelation 2:18-29  And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like a flame of fire, and his feet are like unto burnished brass:  (19)  I know thy works, and thy love and faith and ministry and patience, and that thy last works are more than the first.  (20)  But I have this against thee, that thou sufferest the woman Jezebel, who calleth herself a prophetess; and she teacheth and seduceth my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed to idols.  (21)  And I gave her time that she should repent; and she willeth not to repent of her fornication.  (22)  Behold, I cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of her works.  (23)  And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he that searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto each one of you according to your works.  (24)  But to you I say, to the rest that are in Thyatira, as many as have not this teaching, who know not the deep things of Satan, as they are wont to say; I cast upon you none other burden.  (25)  Nevertheless that which ye have, hold fast till I come.  (26)  And he that overcometh, and he that keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give authority over the nations:  (27)  and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are broken to shivers; as I also have received of my Father:  (28)  and I will give him the morning star.  (29)  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches.

Jezebel is translated from the Hebrew word “‘îzeḇel” and equates to “Baal exalts” or “Baal is husband to” or “unchaste”:

https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h348/kjv/wlc/0-1/

Jezebel was a Baal worshiping Sidonian woman and a gentile woman married to Israel’s king Ahab drawing him into Baal worship:

1 Kings 16:30-31  And Ahab the son of Omri did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah above all that were before him.  (31)  And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him.

“baʿal” in its proper locative noun and/or proper masculine noun is to be a “lord”:

https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h1168/kjv/wlc/0-1/

Which comes from the masculine noun of “baʿal” which is an owner, husband, lord:

https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h1167/kjv/wlc/0-1/

Which finds its root etymology in the verb “baʿal” which is to marry, rule over, possess, own:

https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h1166/kjv/wlc/0-1/

Jezebel spiritually ruled over her husband until his death and in her end attempted to flatter Jehu with painted eyes and attired hair before he had her killed for leading Israel into Baal worship:

2 Kings 9:30  And when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she painted her eyes, and attired her head, and looked out at the window.

The “woman Jezebel” represents the gentile denominational churches as “silly women laden with sins” in these last days that are ever learning the Word of God but not able to come to the knowledge of the truth!:

2 Timothy 3:1-7  But know this, that in the last days grievous times shall come.  (2)  For men shall be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, railers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,  (3)  without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, no lovers of good,  (4)  traitors, headstrong, puffed up, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God;  (5)  holding a form of godliness, but having denied the power thereof: from these also turn away.  (6)  For of these are they that creep into houses(church buildings), and take captive silly women(denominational churches) laden with sins, led away by divers lusts,  (7)  ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

This truth is that each believer must overcome their flesh as Jesus demonstrated to us by example so that we no longer live for the flesh but for the will of our Father:

1 Peter 4:1-2  Forasmuch then as Christ suffered in the flesh, arm ye yourselves also with the same mind; for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;  (2)  that ye no longer should live the rest of your time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

Please notice in verse 22 of Jesus’ rebuke to those in the church who commit the spiritual fornication of Jezebel will be thrown into “great tribulation” thus proving the church will be here up until the end of the last 7 years of tribulation:

Revelation 2:22  Behold, I cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of her works.

For more understanding on who the last 7 years of tribulation are for please read this link:

https://sumofthyword.com/2016/10/04/the-rapture-of-the-church-is-after-the-tribulation/ 

America was once a beacon of light who sent out missionaries all over the world in the 1900s but has since become a Jezebel who has seduced the world through spiritual fornication! 

She has made the world spiritually drunk with the lusts of the eyes, the lusts of the flesh, and the pride of life through her entertainment industry such as movies, sports, hobbies, music which promote the lust for money and pleasures so much so that most of the church within her has followed in her footsteps:

Revelation 17:1-6  And there came one of the seven angels that had the seven bowls, and spake with me, saying, Come hither, I will show thee the judgment of the great harlot that sitteth upon many waters;  (2)  with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and they that dwell in the earth were made drunken with the wine of her fornication.  (3)  And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness: and I saw a woman sitting upon a scarlet-colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.  (4)  And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stone and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations, even the unclean things of her fornication,  (5)  and upon her forehead a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF THE HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.  (6)  And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I wondered with a great wonder.

Revelation 18:2-10  And he cried with a mighty voice, saying, Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, and is become a habitation of demons, and a hold of every unclean spirit, and a hold of every unclean and hateful bird.  (3)  For by the wine of the wrath of her fornication all the nations are fallen; and the kings of the earth committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth waxed rich by the power of her wantonness.  (4)  And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come forth, my people, out of her, that ye have no fellowship with her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues:  (5)  for her sins have reached even unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.  (6)  Render unto her even as she rendered, and double unto her the double according to her works: in the cup which she mingled, mingle unto her double.  (7)  How much soever she glorified herself, and waxed wanton, so much give her of torment and mourning: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall in no wise see mourning.  (8)  Therefore in one day shall her plagues come, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire; for strong is the Lord God who judged her.  (9)  And the kings of the earth, who committed fornication and lived wantonly with her, shall weep and wail over her, when they look upon the smoke of her burning,  (10)  standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.

For much more scripture that proves America is the harlot sitting on her UN~beast in these last days please read this link:

https://sumofthyword.com/2021/01/07/mystery-babylon-the-great-and-her-beast/

Please notice we as the people of God are instructed to spiritually come out of her having NO fellowship with her sins or we will receive of her plagues:

Revelation 18:4  And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come forth, my people, out of her, that ye have no fellowship with her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues: 

America, thru her billionaires, has been promoting a massive global depopulation campaign that is presently killing indiscriminately thru “sorcery”(pharmakeia~both legal and illegal drugs), war, and famine!

This killing is about to increase exponentially though the great tribulation that will slaughter both the just and unjust as our Father wills:

Revelation 2:23  And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he that searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto each one of you according to your works.

Revelation 17:6  And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I wondered with a great wonder.

Only those Christians who obey the scriptures coming out of the worldly ways as overcomers will spiritually reign over the nations:

Revelation 2:26-29  And he that overcometh, and he that keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give authority over the nations:  (27)  and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are broken to shivers; as I also have received of my Father:  (28)  and I will give him the morning star.  (29)  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches.

Jesus rebukes the next church for not perfecting works, not watching through the lens of the scriptures for the signs that mark His return, and those who are defiling their garments with the flesh:

Revelation 3:1-6  And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars: I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and thou art dead.  (2)  Be thou watchful, and establish the things that remain, which were ready to die: for I have found no works of thine perfected before my God.  (3)  Remember therefore how thou hast received and didst hear; and keep it, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.  (4)  But thou hast a few names in Sardis that did not defile their garments: and they shall walk with me in white; for they are worthy.  (5)  He that overcometh shall thus be arrayed in white garments; and I will in no wise blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.  (6)  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches.

We become a new born baby Christian through faith and not by any works:

Ephesians 2:8-9  for by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;  (9)  not of works, that no man should glory.

But from that spiritual birth onward we are required to mature through continued feasting on the Word learning to walk in good works:

Ephesians 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God afore prepared that we should walk in them.

Just like a physical baby comes into this world and eventually learns to walk, all Christians start off as newborn babes who must feast on the spiritual milk of the Word, growing in salvation as we begin humbly walking worthily of the calling we were called to in Christ:

1 Peter 2:1-2  Putting away therefore all wickedness, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,  (2)  as newborn babes, long for the spiritual milk which is without guile, that ye may grow thereby unto salvation;

Ephesians 4:1-3 & 17-19  I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beseech you to walk worthily of the calling wherewith ye were called,  (2)  with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;  (3)  giving diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace….(17)  This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye no longer walk as the Gentiles also walk, in the vanity of their mind,  (18)  being darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their heart;  (19)  who being past feeling gave themselves up to lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

Feasting on the milk of the Word teaches us to obey Jesus as He writes His obedience into our hearts: 

Hebrews 5:7-9  Who in the days of his flesh, having offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him(Father) that was able to save him(Jesus) from death, and having been heard for his godly fear,  (8)  though he was a Son, yet learned obedience by the things which he(Jesus) suffered;  (9)  and having been made perfect, he(Jesus) became unto all them that obey him the author of eternal salvation;  (10)  named of God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

Jesus is authoring our salvation first in our minds as a belief and then in our heart as we endeavor to  walk out that obedience as servants to God:

Romans 6:16-22  Know ye not, that to whom ye present yourselves as servants unto obedience, his servants ye are whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?  (17)  But thanks be to God, that, whereas ye were servants of sin, ye became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching whereunto ye were delivered;  (18)  and being made free from sin, ye became servants of righteousness.  (19)  I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye presented your members as servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity, even so now present your members as servants to righteousness unto sanctification.  (20)  For when ye were servants of sin, ye were free in regard of righteousness.  (21)  What fruit then had ye at that time in the things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.  (22)  But now being made free from sin and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto sanctification, and the end eternal life.

This brings forth out of our heart fruit unto sanctification which is putting on the Lord Jesus Christ as a garment of righteousness:

Romans 13:11-14  And this, knowing the season, that already it is time for you to awake out of sleep: for now is salvation nearer to us than when we first believed.  (12)  The night is far spent, and the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.  (13)  Let us walk becomingly, as in the day; not in revelling and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and jealousy.  (14)  But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

As we put on Jesus more and more we must also strive to keep our garment from being spotted by the flesh:

Jude 1:23  and some save, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

Our righteous acts as saints will cause us to receive a bright white garment at the marriage supper of the Lamb:

Revelation 19:7-8  Let us rejoice and be exceeding glad, and let us give the glory unto him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.  (8)  And it was given unto her that she should array herself in fine linen, bright and pure: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

The warning Jesus gave to watch for His return is directed to all of us so that when He comes He finds us with garments not spotted by the flesh:

Mark 13:35-37  Watch therefore: for ye know not when the lord of the house cometh, whether at even, or at midnight, or at cockcrowing, or in the morning;  (36)  lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.  (37)  And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

Revelation 16:15  (Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.)

Jesus wants His entire church washed clean with the Word so as to not have any spot or wrinkle:

Ephesians 5:25-27  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself up for it;  (26)  that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word,  (27)  that he might present the church to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Revelation 22:14  Blessed are they that wash their robes, that they may have the right to come to the tree of life, and may enter in by the gates into the city.

This requires us to exercise the promises of the Word to cleanse us of all defilement of flesh and spirit perfecting holiness:

2 Corinthians 7:1  Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Those Christians who faithfully do this will be arrayed in white garments and not be blotted out of the book of life:

Revelation 3:5-6  He that overcometh shall thus be arrayed in white garments; and I will in no wise blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.  (6)  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches.

For more understanding about how a Christian can be blotted out of the book of life please read this link:

https://sumofthyword.com/2013/03/06/book-of-life/

Jesus finds very little to rebuke the church of “Philadelphia” which means “city of brotherly love”:

Revelation 3:7-13  And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth and none shall shut, and that shutteth and none openeth:  (8)  I know thy works (behold, I have set before thee a door opened, which none can shut), that thou hast a little power, and didst keep my word, and didst not deny my name.  (9)  Behold, I give of the synagogue of Satan, of them that say they are Jews, and they 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.  (10)  Because thou didst keep the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of trial, that hour which is to come upon the whole world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.  (11)  I come quickly: hold fast that which thou hast, that no one take thy crown.  (12)  He that overcometh, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go out thence no more: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God, and mine own new name.  (13)  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches.

Jesus is commending their works in that they kept His Word and did not deny His name but there were some Christians in that church claiming to be spiritually Jews with hearts circumcised but Jesus could see their hearts weren’t:

Romans 2:28-29  For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh:  (29)  but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Those Christians who keep the Word of Jesus’ patience will be kept from the fiery trials used by God to prove whether we are going to rejoice in our suffering or be ashamed:

1 Peter 4:12-19  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial among you, which cometh upon you to prove you, as though a strange thing happened unto you:  (13)  but insomuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings, rejoice; that at the revelation of his glory also ye may rejoice with exceeding joy.  (14)  If ye are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are ye; because the Spirit of glory and the Spirit of God resteth upon you.  (15)  For let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evil-doer, or as a meddler in other men’s matters:  (16)  but if a man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this name.  (17)  For the time is come for judgment to begin at the house of God: and if it begin first at us, what shall be the end of them that obey not the gospel of God?  (18)  And if the righteous is scarcely saved, where shall the ungodly and sinner appear?  (19)  Wherefore let them also that suffer according to the will of God commit their souls in well-doing unto a faithful Creator.

But those Christians who do not obey the gospel of God which is His Son will endure His wrath:

John 3:36  He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life; but he that obeyeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.

For they despise God’s goodness which leads to repentance and do not obey His truth which brings His wrath:

Romans 2:4-11  Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?  (5)  but after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up for thyself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;  (6)  who will render to every man according to his works:  (7)  to them that by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and incorruption, eternal life:  (8)  but unto them that are factious, and obey not the truth, but obey unrighteousness, shall be wrath and indignation,  (9)  tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that worketh evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Greek;  (10)  but glory and honor and peace to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek:  (11)  for there is no respect of persons with God.

Those Christians who walk in obedience to Jesus will be the overcomers who become pillars in the temple of Jesus’ God and Father:

Revelation 3:12-13  He that overcometh, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go out thence no more: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God, and mine own new name.  (13)  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches.

For more understanding on why Jesus calls His Father “my God” even after His ascension to the right hand of His Father please study this link:

https://sumofthyword.com/2017/02/17/trinity-true-or-false/

The last church is rebuked by Jesus for having lukewarm works and for focusing on worldly riches rather than heavenly riches which has caused them to be spiritually blind, naked, and about to be spewed out by Jesus:

Revelation 3:14-22  And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God:  (15)  I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.  (16)  So because thou art lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spew thee out of my mouth.  (17)  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and have gotten riches, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art the wretched one and miserable and poor and blind and naked:  (18)  I counsel thee to buy of me gold refined by fire, that thou mayest become rich; and white garments, that thou mayest clothe thyself, and that the shame of thy nakedness be not made manifest; and eyesalve to anoint thine eyes, that thou mayest see.  (19)  As many as I love, I reprove and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.  (20)  Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.  (21)  He that overcometh, I will give to him to sit down with me in my throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with my Father in his throne.  (22)  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches.

Please notice that Jesus desires us to be hot or cold which doesn’t make sense unless one considers that Jesus wants us cold dead to the world and hot from the baptizing fire of being a living sacrifice:

Colossians 3:2-3  Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are upon the earth.  (3)  For ye died, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

Romans 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service.

Luke 3:16-17  John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but there cometh he(Jesus) that is mightier than I, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit and in fire:  (17)  whose fan is in his hand, thoroughly to cleanse his threshing-floor, and to gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff(our flesh) he will burn up with unquenchable fire.

Unfortunately the majority of the church is very lukewarm due to their friendship with the world as they seek business ventures with the godless in a desire to become rich:

James 4:1-4  Whence come wars and whence come fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your pleasures that war in your members?  (2)  Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and covet, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war; ye have not, because ye ask not.  (3)  Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may spend it in your pleasures.  (4)  Ye adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore would be a friend of the world maketh himself an enemy of God.

This chokes the Word as they fear offending their business partners so they keep their Christianity on the back burner because their lust for money outweighs their lust for righteousness and the fruit it must bear:

Mark 4:18-19  And others are they that are sown among the thorns; these are they that have heard the word,  (19)  and the cares of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

Those Christians who choose to be hearers of the Word rather than being fully committed to doing the Word become lukewarm in obedience. Their love of the world overrides putting on the wedding garments of Christ:

James 1:22  But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deluding your own selves.

Matthew 22:11-14  But when the king came in to behold the guests, he saw there a man who had not on a wedding-garment:  (12)  and he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding-garment? And he was speechless.  (13)  Then the king said to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and cast him out into the outer darkness; there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.  (14)  For many are called, but few chosen.

Romans 13:14  But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

Many Christians become dull of hearing the Word and thus do not mature from the milk into the solid food so they can properly discern what is good and evil and choose the good over the evil:

Hebrews 5:11-14  Of whom we have many things to say, and hard of interpretation, seeing ye are become dull of hearing.   (12)  For when by reason of the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need again that some one teach you the rudiments of the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of solid food.  (13)  For every one that partaketh of milk is without experience of the word of righteousness; for he is a babe.  (14)  But solid food is for fullgrown men, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil.

Jesus warned those “dull of hearing” will turn back into the cares of this world and it’s riches which choke the Word from being fruitful in their life:

Matthew 13:15 & 18-23  For this people’s heart is waxed gross, And their ears are dull of hearing, And their eyes they have closed; Lest haply they should perceive with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And should turn again, And I should heal them….(18)  Hear then ye the parable of the sower.  (19)  When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the evil one, and snatcheth away that which hath been sown in his heart. This is he that was sown by the way side.  (20)  And he that was sown upon the rocky places, this is he that heareth the word, and straightway with joy receiveth it;  (21)  yet hath he not root in himself, but endureth for a while; and when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, straightway he stumbleth.  (22)  And he that was sown among the thorns, this is he that heareth the word(become a born again Christian); and the care of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.  (23)  And he that was sown upon the good ground, this is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; who verily beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

Paul warned the church brethren that those who practice any works of the flesh over being led of the Spirit to crucify their flesh will not inherit the kingdom of God:

Galatians 5:13-25  For ye, brethren, were called for freedom; only use not your freedom for an occasion to the flesh, but through love be servants one to another.  (14)  For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.  (15)  But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.  (16)  But I say, Walk by the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.  (17)  For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are contrary the one to the other; that ye may not do the things that ye would.  (18)  But if ye are led by the Spirit, ye are not under the law.  (19)  Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,  (20)  idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, parties,  (21)  envyings, drunkenness, revellings, and such like; of which I forewarn you, even as I did forewarn you, that they who practise such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.  (22)  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  (23)  meekness, self-control; against such there is no law.  (24)  And they that are of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with the passions and the lusts thereof.  (25)  If we live by the Spirit, by the Spirit let us also walk.

Jesus wants to author and perfect our faith to teaching us to resist sin to the point of death as we strive against sin and endure unto our end. Our Father promises chastening to help us learn to be fullgrown sons but those who do not will become bastards:

Hebrews 12:1-14  Therefore let us also, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,  (2)  looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame, and hath sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  (3)  For consider him(Jesus) that hath endured such gainsaying of sinners against himself, that ye wax not weary, fainting in your souls.  (4)  Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin:  (5)  and ye have forgotten the exhortation which reasoneth with you as with sons, My son, regard not lightly the chastening of the Lord, Nor faint when thou art reproved of him;  (6)  For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, And scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.  (7)  It is for chastening that ye endure; God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father chasteneth not?  (8)  But if ye are without chastening, whereof all have been made partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.  (9)  Furthermore, we had the fathers of our flesh to chasten us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?  (10)  For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed good to them; but he for our profit, that we may be partakers of his holiness.  (11)  All chastening seemeth for the present to be not joyous but grievous; yet afterward it yieldeth peaceable fruit unto them that have been exercised thereby, even the fruit of righteousness.  (12)  Wherefore lift up the hands that hang down, and the palsied knees;  (13)  and make straight paths for your feet, that that which is lame be not turned out of the way, but rather be healed.  (14)  Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man shall see the Lord:

Those Christians who become obedient overcomers will prove they were not spewed out by Jesus  but  belong in His body proving He is our head just as He sits in His Father’s throne with His Father as His head:

1 Corinthians 11:3  But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God(Father Most High).

Revelation 3:21-22  He that overcometh, I will give to him to sit down with me in my throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with my Father in his throne.  (22)  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches.

Jesus overcame His flesh and became worthy to take the sealed book from His Father God Most High: 

Hebrews 5:7-9  Who in the days of his flesh(Jesus), having offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and having been heard for his godly fear,  (8)  though he was a Son, yet learned obedience by the things which he suffered;  (9)  and having been made perfect, he became unto all them that obey him the author of eternal salvation;

Revelation 5:5-7  and one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not; behold, the Lion that is of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David(Jesus), hath overcome(nikaō~gain victory over) to open the book and the seven seals thereof.  (6)  And I saw in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, a Lamb(Jesus) standing, as though it had been slain, having seven horns, and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent forth into all the earth.  (7)  And he came, and he(Jesus) taketh it out of the right hand of him(Father God Most High) that sat on the throne.

The first seal that Jesus opens where He sends forth his 144,000 overcomers who are on top of mount Zion with Jesus ready to be sent out to teach the church in the wilderness:

Revelation 6:1-2  And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, Come.  (2)  And I saw, and behold, a white horse, and he that sat thereon had a bow(Zechariah 9:13); and there was given unto him a crown(of righteousness): and he came forth conquering(nikaō~gain victory over), and to conquer(nikaō~gain victory over).

Revelation 14:1-5  And I saw, and behold, the Lamb standing on the mount Zion, and with him a hundred and forty and four thousand, having his name, and the name of his Father, written on their foreheads.  (2)  And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and the voice which I heard was as the voice of harpers harping with their harps:  (3)  and they sing as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four living creatures and the elders: and no man could learn the song save the hundred and forty and four thousand, even they that had been purchased out of the earth.  (4)  These are they that were not defiled with women(church denominations); for they are virgins(not polluted with the leavened seed of man). These are they that follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth(just like the first disciples). These were purchased from among men, to be the firstfruits unto God and unto the Lamb(Those sent out first just as Jesus was the firstfruit of His day).  (5)  And in their mouth was found no lie(speak only the unleavened truth): they are without blemish(without spot of the flesh).

Revelation 12:5-11  And she was delivered of a son, a man child(corporate body of 144,000), who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and unto his throne.  (6)  And the woman(church) fled into the wilderness(those drawn out of the many denominations of Christianity into their wilderness), where she hath a place prepared of God, that there they(144,000 already in their wilderness) may nourish her(church seeking unleavened bread) a thousand two hundred and threescore days.  (7)  And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels going forth to war with the dragon; and the dragon warred and his angels;  (8)  and they prevailed not, neither was their place found any more in heaven.  (9)  And the great dragon was cast down, the old serpent, he that is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world; he was cast down to the earth, and his angels were cast down with him.  (10)  And I heard a great voice in heaven, saying, Now is come the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, who accuseth them before our God day and night.  (11)  And they overcame(nikaō~gain victory over) him(the devil) because of the blood of the Lamb, and because of the word of their testimony; and they loved not their life even unto death.

The bow the white horse rider is holding is the true gospel that sends forth disciples with the unleavened truth:

Zechariah 9:13  For I (Word of Jehovah who became Jesus) have bent Judah(the 144,000) for me, I have filled the bow with Ephraim(predominantly gentile church in these last days); and I will stir up thy sons, O Zion(sons of God), against thy sons, O Greece(sons of the devil), and will make thee as the sword of a mighty man.

Zion is the church Jesus is standing upon with the 144,000:

Hebrews 12:22-24  but ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable hosts of angels,  (23)  to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,  (24)  and to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better than that of Abel.

Revelation 12:17  And the dragon waxed wroth with the woman, and went away to make war with the rest of her seed, that keep the commandments of God, and hold the testimony of Jesus:

The seed of the women is the two witness ministry the manchild will send out two by two to teach the unleavened bread all over the earth:

Revelation 11:3-6  And I will give unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.  (4)  These are the two olive trees and the two candlesticks, standing before the Lord of the earth.  (5)  And if any man desireth to hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth and devoureth their enemies; and if any man shall desire to hurt them, in this manner must he be killed.  (6)  These have the power to shut the heaven, that it rain not during the days of their prophecy: and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood, and to smite the earth with every plague, as often as they shall desire. 

Both the “olive tree” and the “candlestick” represent Zion which are the saints called both the church and “all Israel”:

Romans 11:17 & 24 & 25-26  But if some of the branches were broken off, and thou, being a wild olive(believing Gentile), wast grafted in among them, and didst become partaker with them of the root(Jesus) of the fatness of the olive tree;…(24)  For if thou wast cut out of that which is by nature a wild olive tree, and wast grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree; how much more shall these, which are the natural branches(believing Jews), be grafted into their own olive tree?…..(25)  For I would not, brethren, have you ignorant of this mystery, lest ye be wise in your own conceits, that a hardening in part hath befallen Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in;  (26)  and so all Israel shall be saved: even as it is written, There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer(Jesus); He shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

Revelation 1:20  the mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks are seven churches.

For more understanding on Zion who is the church who is “all Israel” please see this link:

https://sumofthyword.com/2017/12/19/all-israel/ 

Many saints will be martyred during the “great tribulation” after they finish their testimony:

Revelation 11:7  And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that cometh up out of the abyss shall make war with them, and overcome(nikaō~gain victory over) them, and kill them.

Revelation 13:7  And it was given unto him(beast) to make war with the saints, and to overcome(nikaō~gain victory over) them: and there was given to him authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation.

Those Christians saints who overcome the beast during the last 7 years of tribulation will be gathered in heaven singing about the “righteous acts” they were blessed to be able to manifest as the wife of the Lamb: 

Revelation 15:2-4  And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire; and them that come off victorious(nikaō~gain victory over) from the beast, and from his image, and from the number of his name, standing by the sea of glass, having harps of God.  (3)  And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, O Lord God, the Almighty; righteous and true are thy ways, thou King of the ages.  (4)  Who shall not fear, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy; for all the nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy righteous acts have been made manifest.

Revelation 19:7-8  Let us rejoice and be exceeding glad, and let us give the glory unto him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.  (8)  And it was given unto her that she should array herself in fine linen, bright and pure: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

Though our flesh was given to the beast during the “great tribulation” our King will overcome the beast with us as His army following Him into victory in white garments as overcomers:

Revelation 17:14  These shall war against the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome(nikaō~gain victory over) them, for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings; and they also that are with him, called and chosen and faithful.

Revelation 19:11-16  And I saw the heaven opened; and behold, a white horse, and he that sat thereon called Faithful and True; and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.  (12)  And his eyes are a flame of fire, and upon his head are many diadems; and he hath a name written which no one knoweth but he himself.  (13)  And he is arrayed in a garment sprinkled with blood: and his name is called The Word of God.  (14)  And the armies which are in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and pure.  (15)  And out of his mouth proceedeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of God, the Almighty.  (16)  And he hath on his garment and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.