The messages dictated to John by the Great Amen were never intended for ancient brick-and-mortar institutions, nor were they gentle pastoral letters. They are precise, energetic decrees spoken directly to the ruling intelligences of your own consciousness. By returning to the uncorrupted source text, we are bypassing centuries of literalist dogma to decode exactly what the Creative Will reveals about the seven symbolic altars of the mind—and the specific illusions each one must surrender to unlock the Body of Glory.
Sardis: Unmasking the Thief and the Robe of Worthiness
Let’s swing back to the Bible to see if we can work out what the Great Amen actually said to the churches in the Book of Revelation. Let’s start with Revelation 3:1-6, in which the Great Amen addresses the Assembly in Sardis in the following manner:
To the messenger/angel of the Assembly of Sardis, it is written thusly: to possess the seven spirits or winds of God, the seven stars beholding thy works, is to possess the Name, Identity, or Self that gives life, even to the dead; To awaken, make strong what remains (of the True or Christ Self) in what is ready to die (the body-self). For it is not your deeds that make complete the Face of God. Remember, then, how to receive and listen, to have the change of mind to awaken. Consequently, if you are not vigilant, you are a thief I do not know and will never come to know in the moment the journey ends. To have the lesser identity, even in Sardis, stains and defiles the outer garment of those walking around with me in the whiteness of the worthy. To conquer the same, put on the white robe to erase his (Satan’s) name from the Book of Life, and acknowledge the Self in the likeness of my Father, and the likeness of the messengers possessing the ear to hear what the Spirit sayeth to the Assembly.
This was a tough one to translate, despite Greek being a living language. Firstly, this corrects any confusion about the seven spirits and the seven stars being one thing or two. They are the same. The Great Amen also tells us, yet again, that our good deeds play no part in our redemption.
How many times must this be said before we actually take it in? Many more, apparently, given that most religions still promote the big, fat LIE that good works are the way to win entry into Paradise. It’s not the way, brother. Listening to the Om in meditation, which changes our screwed-up thinking, is the only way we come to know the God and Christ presences within our own heart-minds. The Great Amen also says that any ego thinking stains and defiles the white robes of the Holy Ones, even those who’ve risen as high as Sardis, the seventh circle. We must, therefore, be ever-vigilant in correcting any unholy or unforgiving thinking.
Philadelphia: The Key of David and the Bridge of Forgiveness
Let’s move on to the next verse. wherein the Great Amen says this to the Assembly of Philadelphia;
Speak the Holy Truth to have the key of David to open what no one can shut, and to shut what no one can open. For to have the least miracle protects my Word and denies not my Name. Seek to give those away from the Assembly–the adversaries calling themselves Judeans, but who are, on the contrary, false sighted–the imperative to make the Higher Self (in them) come forth to worship in the presence of the foot (bowing down to the footstool in submission); to come to know and love the Self that has safeguarded the Word or Logos, the Great Amen remaining underneath to protect the Self from the trials that shall come to tempt the inhabitants of the earth. Seek to come quickly, to be strong, and to take hold of that from which nothing can take its crown — the Self that will prevail in rebuilding the Pillar of the Temple of God, the authority of the polis (the walled city of like-minded citizens) of God, New Jerusalem; and go no more down and out of Heaven and away from God in a new name or identity. To have the ear, listen to what the spirit says to the Assembly.
Pretty interesting, right? And also exceedingly evocative of the Course’s teachings (or visa-versa). This also appears to affirm my suggestion that it is in Philadelphia — the fourth circle of brotherly love forming “the bridge” — that we open the door into the Upper World. The key that opens that door is, we are told herein, the key of David. We find that key similarly described in Isaiah 22:22, which reads:
I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David; what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.
What is the key of David? FORGIVENESS, as Course-Jesus reveals in Workbook Lesson 121: Forgiveness is the key to happiness. Click through and read that lesson when you have a moment, as it is one of the most beautiful and important in the Course.
Laodicea: The Eye-Salve of Love and the Wealth of God
And here’s what the Great Amen says to the Laodiceans (those in the third circle of Manipura consciousness) in the next section:
By speaking Truly (i.e., sharing the Living Water), the faithful truly witness to the beginning of the Holy Creation of God. I Perceive your work to be neither cold nor hot; would that it were cold or hot; but, it is because you are tepid, and neither cold nor hot, in (your) intention or sense of purpose in ejecting the True Self out of my mouth, that you say, “I am wealthy, and being rich, I have need of nothing”; but (you) perceive not that you are miserable, pitiable, beggarly, blind, and naked. Deliberate together to redeem my gold to enflame the fire (of God) in order that you be rich, and brighten the raiment surrounding and clothing the guilt of your nakedness made visible. Anoint your eyes with eye-salve, so that you can see how much love exposes and corrects. Desire earnestly, therefore, to change your mind and purpose (repent). Seek to stand at the door and knock; anyone who hears my voice and opens the door to enter into the True Self and to dine with the True Self and, alongside me, the True Self will prevail in granting the appointed seat with me on my Throne; and like me, will prevail and sit down with my Father on His Throne. To have the ear, listen to what the Spirit says unto the Assembly.
This should make sense to anyone who’s read my posts from the beginning (which I highly recommend). And it is indeed in the third circle (the Manipura center of self-willing) that we must choose to dedicate our lives to God’s assigned purpose for our time on earth, rather than the Great Deceiver’s seemingly endless options. Speaking from experience, it was only after dedicating myself wholly to waking up from the dream that I started hearing the Holy Spirit’s voice again.
Or, as Course-Jesus also explains:
Before you make any decisions for yourself, remember that you have decided against your function in Heaven, and then consider carefully whether you want to make decisions here. Your function here is only to decide against deciding what you want, in recognition that you do not know. How, then, can you decide what you should do? Leave all decisions to the One Who speaks for God, and for your function as He knows it. So will He teach you to remove the awful burden you have laid upon yourself by loving not the Son of God, and trying to teach him guilt instead of love. Give up this frantic and insane attempt that cheats you of the joy of living with your God and Father, and of waking gladly to His Love and Holiness that join together as the truth in you, making you one with Him. (ACIM, T-14.IV.5:1-6)
In the next section of Revelation, John describes going through the door and seeing the Throne, the seven lamps, and the four Living Beings, among other fascinating apparitions. But let’s skip all that for now and go back to what he says to the Assemblies of Ephesus, Pergamum, and Smyrna.
Ephesus: Dismantling the Nicolaitan Trap of False Charity
To the Ephesians, he says:
Give out to keep the seven stars of the Self of the right-hand side walking around in the midst of the seven golden lampstands. Be aware that your deeds and the laborious toils in which you persist to have the power to carry away evil, as well as temptation, to become Apostles, are actions of the lower self of the Liar. Taking up and enduring toils for my name’s sake only makes you weary in sickness. But to have in accordance with the True Self you sent away, your chief love, is to remember from whence you fell. Repent (change your mind and purpose) and band together in purpose to do the chief work (of the Holy Spirit); or else accompany the false self readily and also move the Lampstand away from its place. Until you repent, this thing you still possess, because to hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate, is to have the ear to hear what the Spirit says to the Assembly.
Here again, he states that favor with God can’t be earned through good deeds. Only in the stillness of non-doing, can we hear the Holy Spirit’s Voice speaking to us through the Lampstand. This is how we give our “alms” — not by giving to the financially destitute or by performing charitable works in the world, as Nicholas of Myra and his adherents deceptively encourage. As stated earlier, those who follow St. Nick’s example of giving are indeed the despised Nicolaitans mentioned herein. Not until we see the spiritual futility of the forms of “giving” the Ego Mind prizes, and turn within to find the Lampstand, do we hear the Holy Spirit’s Voice.
Smyrna: The Second Death and the Crown of Life
To the Assembly of Smyrna, he offers similar warnings:
Be aware that your work, tribulations and beggary (despite your spiritual wealth), and even the blasphemy of those claiming to be Judeans, but are not, in the synagogues or assemblies of Satan (the Ego’s religions) are nothing more than fear’s witnesses to suffering. Perceive these as attempts to cast you into prison; as deceptions to tempt you to have tribulations. Ten days will it take to build trust unto death; and to give you the crown of life. To have the ear to hear what the Spirit says to the Assembly, subdue wrongdoing and unjust actions by means of the second death.
Firstly, he’s addressing those of us still misperceiving the world and its “sins” as not only real, but also wicked and fearful. Secondly, the second death is NOT eternal damnation, as many misguided theologians loudly profess. It is a scriptural term for the death of the false ego-self, which opens the door to spiritual rebirth in the True Self. So, what he’s saying is: don’t be tempted to imprison yourself by fearing and judging what only appears to be real; instead, submit to the Atonement process. The process starts with “building trust unto death,” after which we receive the Crown of Life — a symbolic reference also found in .James 1:12, which reads:
Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
As I understand it, receiving the Crown of Life marks our entrance into the Land of the Living. Ergo, wearing that crown makes us one of the “Living.”
Pergamum: The Sword of Discernment and the White Stone of Innocence
Let’s move on to the Assembly of Pergamum, which the Great Amen addresses thusly:
To have and to keep the swift sword with two edges, perceive your works and where you dwell as Satan’s seats, and be strong in my Name, and deny not my faith. Even in the days when (Herod) Antipas, my faithful witness, put to death what is beyond normal where Satan dwells.
Conversely, to possess the lesser self holds you there to strengthen the teachings of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast the snare before the Son of Israel to eat what is sacrificed unto idols and to commit fornication. To possess the lesser self also strengthens the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which I hate. Change your mind and your purpose (repent), or else go into the lesser self quickly moving you to make war against the True Self with the sword of my mouth bearing the ear to hear what the Spirit says to the Assembly. To overcome, give the food of the hidden manna of the True Self, the white pebble (the verdict of innocence) inscribed with the Name demonstrating that no one comes to know, except by receiving.
This is pretty awesome, actually. The swift-sword with two edges is, of course, the Word of God, which he later also calls “the sword of my mouth.” That same metaphoric sword is mentioned in Hebrews 4;12, which reads:
For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
By Antipas, he means Herod Antipas, the Roman governor of Judea, who executed both Jesus Christ and John the Baptist. He does NOT mean some unknown martyr from a non-existent place in Asia called Pergamos. To mention some unknown martyr would be meaningless symbolically, and what true prophets report is NEVER meaningless.
Why did Antipas put to death what was “beyond normal” in Satan’s world? Because he executed the Messiah, presumably.
This brings us to Balaam and Balak, whose dealings are described in the Book of Numbers. The former was a non-Israelite prophet hired by the latter (the King of Moab) to curse the Israelites (our awakening Souls). He wasn’t able to, however, as Elohim would only allow him to bless them. Although Balaam delivered a blessing, he later led the Israelites into sin by allegedly advising Moabite and Midianite women to tempt them into adultery and idol worship. Balaam also is criticized in the New Testament for loving “gain from wrongdoing.”
Read between the lines for the deeper meaning. That Balaam reportedly involved Moabite and Midianite women (the spirits of the Resting Place, probably) in his chicanery is undoubtedly a misinterpretation.
Thyatira: Shattering the Brittle Vessels of Judgment
And now we come to our final “church,” “assembly,” or “circle, Thyatira to which the Great I Am — the Great Being, actually — says:
The Son of God has the True Self’s “eye” or “vision,” in the form of the flames of God’s fire; and the True Self’s feet, which resemble the brilliance of burnished bronze.
Observing the lower self’s service, charity, and faithfulness is your constant work and of the uttermost and greatest importance. On the other hand, hold few things against the lower self because the same suffers that woman, Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess to teach and lead astray my servants to commit fornication and to eat things sacrificed to idols; and give the Higher Self time to repent from out of the same’s fornication and non-repentance. See me casting the Higher Self or Soul into a bed to commit adultery, and other Souls into great affliction until they repent by way of the True Self’s efforts; and even to kill the offspring of the Soul in death. And every assembly will come to know that being the examiner of the innermost mind and heart will I give to every one of you, according to your labors. Moreover, to you, the remnants (of Christ) in Thyatira I say: How many have not this doctrine? And which have not known the depths of Satan’s utterances? Throw down no other burdens (messages), but those which hold the strength within to prevail and safeguard my own works until the end. The True Self gives the power to the races, and acts as a shepherd. The True Self with a rod of iron, in the form of vessels of clay broken into pieces. As long as I receive from my Father, will I give to the same the Morning Star possessing the ears to hear what the spirit says to the assemblies.
So, he’s basically saying herein the same things Jesus says in John 8:7 and Matthew 7:3-5, which are 1) to focus wholeheartedly on our own at-one-ment, without 2) passing judgment on those still making mistakes through upside-down perception.
He also asks us to accept that he is bringing these things about to help these Souls find the right way to live. So we shouldn’t judge what must occur in God’s Great Plan to facilitate our Awakening, the ways of which lie beyond human comprehension. Instead of cursing or judging the mistakes we observe others making, we should bless their Souls (and ours) with our Living Water oblations.
This is, in fact, very similar to what Jesus advises throughout the Course, but especially in Workbook Lesson 243: Today I will judge nothing that occurs.
I will be honest with myself today. I will not think that I already know what must remain beyond my present grasp. I will not think I understand the whole from bits of my perception, which are all that I can see. Today I recognize that this is so. And so I am relieved of judgments that I cannot make. Thus do I free myself and what I look upon, to be in peace as God created us. (ACIM, W-243.1:1-6)
To summarize:
Philadelphia, the Fourth Plane “circle” or “assembly” is the Anahata or Heart Chakra in Yoga; the Bridge of the return and the Circle of Atonement in the Course; the Circle of Standing Stones, the Gathering Place, the city of the Assembly, the Assembly of the Firstborn, the city of bread (the hidden manna) symbolized by Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus; Shalmaladvipa in Hinduism; and both Dar al-Maqama and As-Sirat in Islam.
Thyatira, the fifth “circle” or “assembly” is the Vishuddha or throat chakra in Yoga; the place across the bridge or across the gap in the Course; Plakshadvipa in Hinduism; and dar al Akhirah in Islam.
Pergamos, the fifth “circle” or “assembly” is the dwelling place of David/Lamed, the Good Shepherd; it is, therefore, the House of David, the green pasture, the Resting Place, the “enclosure,” the walled city, the Tabernacle, the Land of the Living, and New or Heavenly Jerusalem in the Bible; the lawns of Heaven, the Golden Circle, the seat of the Spiritual Eye enabling Christ’s Vision, as well as the golden treasury and storehouse in the Course and Bible; the sacred grass or Kusha in the Rig Veda; Kushadvipa in Hinduism; the Ajna or brow chakra in Yoga; and Janat al-Firdous in Islam.
Sardis, the Seventh “circle” or “assembly” is the Sahasrara or crown chakra in Yoga; the Real World in the Course; the Garden of Eden and the Throne Room of Elohim-Allah in the Bible and Qur’an; Pushkaradvipa in Hinduism; and Janat al-Ardon in Islam.
Before I sign off, let me cover some of the symbolic objects the Great Amen mentions in these messages to the assemblies, most of which are found elsewhere in the Judeo-Christian scriptures. We’re talked about the key, the crown, the lampstand, the sword, and the crown. The others are:
The Book of Life = the Akashic Record or Karmic Record of our “debts” to be repaid or forgiven on the Circle-Journey
The Morning Star = the Divine Spark of the True Self within all lifeforms.
The Hidden Manna = the spiritual bread with which the Holy Spirit strengthens our Souls enough to break Satan’s shackles and rise to the higher circles of consciousness.
The New Jerusalem = the Resting Place on the Sixth Plane
The Throne of God = the Chariot-Throne of the Logos on the Seventh Plane
Thanks for visiting. Until next time, keep the faith and Om Hari Om.
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