Hold Fast Revelation 2:25

After John the apostle saw the vision of Jesus in chapter one of “Revelation”, he began to write to the “seven churches in Asia”. He started with the church located in “Ephesus”, then the “church of Smyrna”, the “church in Pergamos” and after commending the “church in Thyatira” he told them, “I have a few things against you, because you suffer that woman Jezebel, which calls herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols” and he added, “Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.” In chapter two and verse twenty-five of Revelation, John shared how Jesus told “the church in Thyratira”, “that which you have already hold fast” where we read:

But that which you have already hold fast till I come.

The verse begins, “But that which you have ...” John began with the word, “but” which means “moreover, besides, nevertheless and except” “that which you have” or “what the church in Thyatira held, owned and possessed”. Jesus referred to that which the “church in Thyatira' “possessed”.

The verse goes on to say, “... already hold fast till I come.” John added the words, “already hold fast” or “have power over, be chief of, rule over and be master of” “till I come” which means “until the time Jesus arrives and is present”. The “church in Thyatira” was to continue in that which they “possessed” until Jesus “arrived” among them.

When we consider John's words in this verse, we see how Jesus encouraged and exhorted the “church in Thyatira” to “keep and possess” that which they already owned. Jesus commended them for their “works, charity, service, faith, patience, and works”, and they were to continue in these things. Jesus Christ desires to “save” every person who will “believe and trust” in Him as “Savior and Lord”, and when they have commendable characteristics as Christians, they are to “hold fast” to them. Let all believers in Jesus who read these words “cling” to their “good works”, and may God the Father and Jesus His Son receive all the glory for them.

Next time John writes how Jesus tells the “church of Thyatira” “he that overcomes, and keeps my works” shall have “power over the nations”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.