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          Represents church history commencing with Constantine's declaration, making Christianity the official religion of Rome; by marching his troops through the river, baptizing them all in the name of Christ.
         
Commended for their "works" and for "holding" their testimony" in the face of opposition.

          Christ reveals Himself here, as He who has the "sharp two-edged sword, proceeding forth from his mouth" which we explained earlier, represents God's ability to discern the difference between our works which were self ordained; (i.e. soulish works) or those which were ordained by Christ Himself (i.e. Spirit led works).

          When Satan saw Christianity expanding, because of His persecutions under the Roman Emperors he switched tactics and hearkened back to an old scheme he once used on the children of Israel. (see Num. Chaps. 22-25). By enticing the men of Israel, to commit fornication with the Moabite women, the devil deviously slipped the false religions of the land into the chosen people's camp, thus bringing God's judgment down upon them. By causing the Israelites to compromise, Satan actually created the circumstance where God Himself would have to react against His own in judgment; simply by marrying Christianity to Rome, Satan was able to Transform what was a living, God-dependent, relationship-oriented spiritual community into a compromised, institutional, traditional laden religion. By incorporating the pagan rituals and deities of Rome into Christianity, Satan produced an aberrant hybrid, which robbed "Samson" (so to speak) of his strength -- leaving the church with just a shell of her former spiritual authority. Great and glorious buildings slowly began to replace the spiritual building which Christ had instituted. The church began to be viewed as a "place of worship" rather than the "ecclesia" or called out ones of God.

          Christ laid the cornerstone of a spiritual metaphysical society -- heavenly in both direction and destination.  Satan, on the other hand, wrestled the church down and replaced her mandate with an earthly kingdom -- visible and powerful; her roots dug deeply into the earth. Tempted by the savory pottage of this world, many transparently joined the ranks of the status quo, and lost their witness to the world.  As compromise with the state became widespread, the "Nicolaitians" again appeared as the "laity" once again allowed other men to be their "Lords".

          To the "overcomers", Christ promises "hidden manna" which speaks of heavenly revelation. In addition, He promises to give them a white stone (which some scholars believe symbolized acquittal in ancient rituals). More likely, however, it signifies the transference of personal, secret, sacred knowledge, which Christ will give to repentant overcomers -- a knowledge of hidden mysteries, which only the recipients would be privy to.

          Represents the Catholic Church System, beginning with  Boniface III's election as Universal bishop of the Roman Church in 606 A.D. Christ reveals Himself here as the all