STRM Newsletter (15 Nov 14) – Pergamos

by | Dec 7, 2014 | Blog

Shalom Brethren! This weeks message continues the teaching series on “The Seven Assemblies of Asia Minor”. This third teaching explores the assembly at Pergamos. They are commended for holding fast to their faith and not denying His name and admonished for accepting the doctrine of Balaam and the Nicolaitans. Knowing the correct name of YHWH is critical for our long term success in this walk with Him. The scriptures tell us “who ever calls on the name of YHWH will be saved”. Proverbs 30;:4 directly challenges us “What is His name, and what is His Son’s name, If you know?”. His name is NOT – Lord, HaShem. God, Adonai. Please study to discover His true name and prove all things. Our understanding on this subject can be found here. However, the assembly at Pergamos were admonished for accepting the doctrines of Balaam and the Nicolaitans. The event at Baal Peor was when Israel corrupted themselves by committing sexual immorality with the Midianite women and spiritual fornication worshiping the Midianite gods, which incurred the wrath of YHWH who allowed a plague to kill 24,000 Israelites. A word study of ” Nicolaitans” reveals the meaning is to “utterly vanquish the people”. We see this today in the Church of God assemblies which adhere to rigid, authoritarian, top down hierarchies which force the people to obey the instructions of a man made organization. This is not how the assemblies of YHWH should be run. We are supposed to look to Him for guidance and direction. The elders, pastors, preachers, evangelists and deacons are supposed to nurture, encourage and support the flock, not...

STRM Newsletter (1 Nov 14) – Smyrna

by | Dec 7, 2014 | Blog

Shalom Brethren, This weeks message continues in our 7 part study series on the “Seven Assemblies of Asia Minor”, this week the second assembly “Smyrna”. This assembly is one of the two which receive no criticism from Y’HoWShUA. They are a persecuted group who are told they will suffer tribulation for 10 days, possibly indicating 10 physical years of persecution and tribulation. We are not told of any great work that this group of Saints actually achieved. All they are required to do is patiently endure tribulation and they are promised the “Crown of Life”. This is a lesson for us today. As we see and hear of growing persecution of Christians around the world becoming common place, with mass beheadings and murders by Islamic groups in the Middle East and Africa, we need to prepare ourselves for this level of persecution here at home. In Revelation 6 we read that the souls of those who were executed for their witness to YHWH are preserved under the altar and in chapter 7 that a great multitude which no man could number come out of the tribulation. In chapter 20, we find he most direct correlation to the current explosion of Islamic barbarism “Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Y’HoWShUA  and for the word of The Might One, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands”. But, as always YHWH gives hope to His people as this verse concludes, “And they lived and reigned with Messiah for...