The city of Smyrna symbolizes the execution of God's will with artisanal skill, surpassing all expectations. It represents perfect obedience, encourages open conversation towards obedience, and involves transformative wisdom that brings the world closer to God's image. It refers to the execution of God's plan, overcoming personal reasoning, and choosing God's completed work over establishing personal righteousness.
This Church embraced perfect love (telios) which is capable of overcoming or conquering the spirit of lawlessness. This spirit refers to the rebellious spirit of this age that rejects divine authority by disregarding biblical norms and rebelling against the person and work of Jesus as the Messiah.
Smyrna, city of faith: The master craftsman shapes the future with artisanal skill. The plan isn't visually present but exists within the soul. This involves executing a plan, script, or score to perfection without hesitation, repetition or deviation, surpassing all expectations.
Modal excellence of Telios: This describes Gabriel, who stands by the altar of incense, tasked with executing God’s will. He announces news that brings life to the obedient and death to the rebellious. Such perfect love eliminates all fear, restoring confidence and faith in the power of love and a sound mind.
DNA of the Deaconiea: This represents perfect obedience to God's will, without delay. It's not about the physical craft, but the consistent ability to create perfection.
Church model: I Cor 14:26 "Each of you has an interpretation". This statement encourages open conversation and clear instructions as first steps towards obedience to the heavenly vision. It allows the execution of God's will - actions that others will only understand later.
Natural endowment of knowledge: This isn't just theoretical knowledge, but transformative wisdom that brings the world closer to God's image. It's about knowledge that doesn't hinder obedience, a constant active indication of God’s presence.
Genius of execution: "If I have all faith to move mountains" (1 Cor 13). This refers to someone who helps execute God's plan as communicated through angels, prophets, visions, dreams, the incarnation, and the giving of the Spirit. It enables the ecclesia to lay aside burdens to run the race.
Blindspot of Eliezer: This refers to Eliezer's mission to find a wife for Isaac, Abraham's son. He precisely follows his master's broad objectives, using every available strategy to complete the task. Overcoming his own reasoning, he rejects wilful blindness and lawlessness. His faith in God leads him to choose Rebecca, opting for the completed work over establishing his own righteousness.
The city of Smyrna stands as a symbol of faith, embodying the spirit of a master craftsman who molds the future with precision and skill. The essence lies not in a visible plan, but in a soulful vision which is executed perfectly, surpassing all expectations. This notion of perfection is mirrored in the concept of 'Telios', represented by the archangel Gabriel who dutifully executes God's will, delivering messages that bring life to the obedient and death to the rebellious. It's this perfect love, devoid of fear, that reinstates faith and confidence in the power of love and a sound mind.
The DNA of this love symbolizes absolute obedience to the divine will, without any delay. It doesn't concern itself with the physical craft but focuses on the consistency in achieving perfection. The church model, as exemplified in Corinthians 14:26, encourages open conversation and clear instructions, fostering the first steps towards obedience to the divine vision. It permits the execution of God's will, whose comprehension may dawn upon others only later.
In the pursuit of knowledge, the emphasis is not on abstract theoretical understanding but on transformative wisdom that aligns the world closer to the image of God. It signifies the kind of knowledge that doesn't impede obedience but serves as a continuous active signal of God's omnipresence.
The genius of execution, as expressed in Corinthians 13, refers to the one who helps implement God's plan as conveyed through various mediums such as angels, prophets, visions, dreams, the incarnation, and the Spirit. It empowers the ecclesia to cast off their burdens and run the race.
The narrative of Eliezer's mission to find a wife for Isaac, Abraham's son, symbolizes a blindspot. Despite his master's broad objectives, Eliezer meticulously followed the directives, employing all available strategies to accomplish the task. He managed to overcome his personal reasoning, rejected wilful blindness, and lawlessness. His unwavering faith in God led him to choose Rebecca, favoring the fulfillment of divine work over establishing his righteousness.