The Seven Churches in the Book of Revelation

By Edna Lister

The Seven Churches in the Wheel of Ezekiel
Edna Lister outline, January 3, 1936, Buffalo, NY

                                                                 

Associations of the Soul Faculties
Church	Vital Center	Sign|Planet	Faculty
Laodicea	Crown	Capricorn|Saturn	Clear judgment
Philadelphia	Brow	Sagittarius|Jupiter	Lovingkindness
Sardis	Throat	Libra|Scorpio Venus|Mars	Logical order
Thyatira	Heart	Cancer|Leo|Virgo Moon|Sun|Mercury	Soul aspiration
Pergamos	Navel	Gemini|Mercury	Intellect
Smyrna	Splenic	Taurus|Venus	Abdominal brain
Ephesus	Sacrum	Aries|Mars	Desire|building

                         

Seven Great Cities of God
City	Vital|Plexus Centers	Rulers	Degree
Ephesus	Sacral|Sacrum	Aries	Neophyte
Smyrna	Splenic|Prostatic	Taurus	Disciple
Pergamos	Solar|Epigastric	Gemini	Adept
Thyatira	Heart|Cardiac	Cancer|Leo|Virgo	Mystic
Sardis	Throat|Pharyngeal	Libra|Scorpio	Master
Philadelphia	Brow|Pituitary	Sagittarius	Priest
Laodicea	Crown|Pineal	Capricorn|Aquarius|Pisces	Christos

  The seven churches mentioned in the “Book of the Revelation of Jesus the Christ” represent physical nerve plexus centers in the cellular body, and vital centers in the molecular desire body. The earthly churches are named for the Seven Cities of Melchizedek, the King of Righteousness, in the Heavenly Realms above the lower planes of consciousness, called the desire and psychic planes. 1 The Seven Cities of Melchizedek are the inner assembly places of the various degrees among the ascending Elect. The seven celestial orbs visible to the naked eye—Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn—represent the seven promises Melchizedek made to the churches. These are also called the “seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God” (Revelation 4:5), from which the Light was removed at the Fall of Man when the descended creators (symbolically Adam and Eve) were driven from the Garden of Eden.
  The physical body is your personal “paradise” in which you now dwell. The seven churches and promises of Revelation emphasize the need for caring for your physical temple and equipment. It is an absolute truth that the body’s power is such that its cells can divide themselves, increase and fill a void for any embodied soul who has a flaming desire for a perfect, physically efficient body. All seven churches combined represent the many initiations and temptations the ascending soul must face and conquer on the Path of Ascension.

1 The names of places mentioned in the Bible deal with the mysteries of the first Wheel of Ezekiel, the Wheel of Terrah, which is represented symbolically in the twelve divisions of the Zodiac as seen in the night sky from earth.

  The Seven Vital Centers of Life: The peripheral nervous system consists of the nerves and ganglia outside of the brain and spinal cord. It is subdivided into two functional sections, the autonomic and somatic systems. The autonomic system acts involuntarily without conscious control, and governs heart rate, digestion, respiratory rate, salivation, perspiration, pupillary dilation, urination, and sexual arousal. while most of its actions are involuntary, some, such as breathing, work in concert with the conscious mind. The somatic nervous system transmits efferent signals from the central nervous system to the skeletal muscles, and from afferent receptors of external stimuli, thereby coordinating sight, hearing, and touch.
  The sacrum, the site of the creative center at the base of the spine, is named muladhara in Sanskrit. The faculties in the vital centers connect with the right sympathetic system. The sacral plexus—a nerve ganglia—represents Ephesus, the first church mentioned in the Revelation, which signifies desire, the central building faculty of consciousness. Desire fuels the soul’s ability to do anything. The sacrum center is associated with the first sign of the Zodiac—Aries the Lamb, ruled by Mars, the Questing Warrior Hero. Aries is the House of the Lamb on earth, the Gate of Awakening, i.e. the awakening the soul’s desire.
  The lumbar center, located in the lower abdomen, is named svadhisthana in Sanskrit. The lumbar plexus represents the second church mentioned in the Revelation, Smyrna, and it signifies stewardship of divine substance. The lumbar center is associated with the second sign of the Zodiac—Taurus the Bull, ruled by Venus, the Lover of Beauty and Riches. Taurus is the House of Manna, and the Gate of Acceptance, which lets the Light-as-Power move through the soul.
  The navel center, the solar plexus at the pit of the stomach, is named manipura in Sanskrit. The solar plexus represents Pergamos, the third church mentioned in the Revelation, which signifies intellectual consciousness. The navel center is associated with the third sign of the Zodiac—Gemini the Twins, ruled by Mercury, the Cunning Trickster. Gemini is the House of Control, the Gate of the Surrender of Self.
  The heart center, located at the heart, is named anahata in Sanskrit. The cardiac plexus represents Thyatira, the fourth church mentioned in the Revelation, which signifies the soul’s desire for higher expressions in life. The heart center is associated with three signs of the Zodiac—Cancer, ruled by the Moon, the Mother of Earth, Leo the Lion, ruled by the Sun, the Light of Life, and Virgo the Virgin, ruled by Mercury, the Messenger of God. Cancer is the House of the Mother, the Gate of Men. Leo is the House of Honor, the Gate of the Sacrifice of Self. Virgo is the House of Unleavened Bread, and the Gate of Mental Inspiration.
  The throat center, located at the base of the throat, is named vishuddha in Sanskrit. The pharyngeal plexus represents Sardis, the fifth church mentioned in the Revelation, which signifies Order in all things physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. The throat center is associated with two signs of the Zodiac—Libra the Scales, ruled by Venus, the Lover of Balance and Moderation, and Scorpio, ruled by Mars, the Conquering Hero and by Pluto, the Transformer. Libra is the House of Friends, the Gate of Earthly Law. Scorpio is the House of Death of the body, the Gate of Resurrection of the Immortal Soul's Memory.
  The brow center, located at the center of the forehead, is named ajna in Sanskrit. The pituitary gland represents Philadelphia, the sixth church mentioned in the Revelation, and it signifies love as the center of consciousness. The brow center is associated with Sagittarius, ruled by Jupiter the Philosopher King. Sagittarius is the House of the Priest, the Gate of Soul Ascension.
  The crown center, located at the top of the head, is named sahasrara in Sanskrit. The pineal body represents Laodicea, the seventh church mentioned in the Revelation, and it signifies the clarity of good judgment. The crown center is associated with the final three signs of the Zodiac—Capricorn, ruled by Saturn, the Judge, Aquarius, ruled by Uranus, the Revealer, and Pisces, ruled by Neptune, the Mystic Seer. Capricorn is the House of Wisdom, the Gate of the Throne. Aquarius is the House of Spiritual Waters, the Gate of Vision. Pisces is the House of the Fishes, which represent Christed consciousness, the Gate of Spiritual Revelation.

Top ↑

---

Ephesus, the City of Desire (Revelation 2:1-7)
Edna Lister outline, January 8, 1936, Buffalo, NY

  The ruins of Ephesus, once the most important Greek city in Asia Minor, lies in western Turkey, near the present day city of Selcuk. A major port on the Aegean seacoast at the mouth of the Cayster River, Ephesus commanded the gate to a great trade route into Asia. The city owed much of its fame to the Temple of Artemis, the Latin Diana.
  Ephesus governs the sign of Aries, and represents the Neophyte Degree. Ephesus means “desirable,” and thus is called the City of Desire. Ephesus symbolizes desire as the central building faculty in consciousness. You can create nothing without desire, and you can desire nothing that you do not already know. Ephesus also signifies the first spiritual illumination for the Elect.

“You can create nothing without desire, and you can desire nothing that you do not already know.”–Edna Lister

  “Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks.”–Revelation 2:1. The Christ Light walks through the seven vital centers. Seven golden candlesticks refer to the seven altars of Melchizedek, which symbolize the seven stages of our planet—Saturn, Moon, Earth, Venus, Jupiter, Vulcan—and the Light in the seven vital centers.
  “Seven stars” release rays of pure white Christ Light that radiate through seven altars, arranged in a circle, where they are separated into color just as sunlight passing through a prism refracts a rainbow of light. The seven stars represent seven functions of the higher creative centers in the head and the lower creative centers associated with the endocrine (ductless) glands plus the plexus and the vital centers that rule them.

                    

Centers of Creativity, Vitality and Action
Higher Creative Center	Vital Center	Plexus Center
optic chiasm of the thalamus	sacrum center	sacral plexus
right parathyroid	splenic center	hypogastric plexus
left parathyroid	navel center	solar plexus
medulla oblongata	heart center	cardiac plexus
midbrain	throat center	pharyngeal plexus
pituitary gland	brow center	hypothalamus
pineal body	crown center	hypothalamus

  “I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.”–Revelation 2:2-3.
  Ephesus is the church of the rod of Power, which is the spinal column and sacral center. The Medievalists called the two ends of this rod the Pole of Paracelsus, 1 and the pineal body is the flame at the upper tip.

1 Paracelsus, Philippus Aureolus Theophrastus Bombastus Von Hohenheim, 1493-1541, was the German-Swiss physician and alchemist who established the role of chemistry in medicine.

  A major nerve ganglia at the base of the spine, the sacral plexus is at the lower tip of the Pole of Paracelsus. The sacrum vital center holds the creative fire, the element necessary for all your works on earth. Crystallization in the sacral nerves produces poor health and depression, which continue to dissipate your energy until you lift your negative emotions. As Light strikes the crystallization, it draws all negative emotions, fears and doubts to the surface of your consciousness for you to lift into the Light to mentally and emotionally cleans and purify them.
  The spine is your golden candlestick, to which are attached thirty-two pairs of nerves that feed the entire physical body. Illumination descends through the crown of the head, the “door” of the Oversoul to the fill the pineal body and fills the central nervous system from there. If you descend in consciousness, you snuff the candle, causing the Light to go out in the vital and lotus centers. With its illumination gone, the spine weakens and ages. It takes only a sharp word to douse the flame; simply shrugging your shoulders in indifference can remove the candlestick.
  The sacral plexus is the first vital center at the base of the spine, and courtesy and consideration can arouse it to perfect action. Although consideration and courtesy are worldly virtues, they epitomize the corresponding Christ-like virtues, and are so important that you can, by applying them alone, become Christed.
  “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.”–Revelation 2:4-7.
  The “first love” includes the higher creative centers in the brain, the golden bowl. The Light itself rebukes you for falling from a high state of consciousness. First you must lift the creative fire merely physical expressions by mating self-centered will and selfish desire in a marriage of the Lamb to become balanced as power and poise, to beget peace and patience. Thus, through initiations, the first marriage of the Lamb opens your access to the Oversoul’s I AM center of consciousness, the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:61), the mind that was in Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:5).
  Ephesus was the site of a great temple of Diana, and a center of learning and commerce. It erred when it embraced idolatry and the spiritual heaviness of materialism. “From whence thou art fallen” refers to descending from the higher creative center in the Garden of Eden (your head) to Egypt (your abdomen), which contains the lower three vital centers. Removing the candlestick is losing the Light, the price you pay for descending in consciousness.
  The Nicolaitanes were Jewish followers of Belial (the Father of Lies) and Baalim (false gods, literally “lords of the earth”), who represent a confusion of thoughts, good, bad and indifferent. By example, they taught others to eat the meat of sacrificial animals and to worship animals, both sins against the Law of Moses.
  Melchizedek’s first promise is, “To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.”–Revelation 2:7. To eat of the tree of life represents receiving full spiritual illumination and soul glory. The Tree of Life is the spinal column, the foundation of life at every level. You may eat of the Tree of Life whenever the creative fire ascends the spine.

Top ↑

---

Smyrna, the City of the Creative Fire (Revelation 2:8-11)
Edna Lister outline, January 17, 1936, Buffalo, NY

  Izmir, historically called Smyrna, is in western Turkey, on the Gulf of Izmir, off the Aegean Sea. Over the last 5,000 years. Smyrna emerged as a principal city of Asia Minor and later as a seat of Roman civil administration, vying with Ephesus and Pergamum for the title “first city of Asia.” Smyrna was celebrated for its wealth, beauty, library, school of medicine, and rhetorical tradition.
  “And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.”–Revelation 2:8-9.
  Smyrna is associated with Taurus and the Disciple Degree. The meaning of Smyrna is myrrh, the richest of spices, whose name meant “flowing sweetness,“” but also bitterness and rebellion. Smyrna also means “fertility or growth,” and is the city signifying the creative fire.
  Smyrna rules the lumbar center in the lower back, the site of physical misuse of creative fire by using idle words. Negative thoughts or uncivil, nasty retorts always create a backfire at this center. Self depletes the creative fire you are lifting, and reacts by depleting the physical body’s energy immediately.
  “Jews,” in this instance, refers to purity of thought. The people in Smyrna practiced evil thinking and acts. They may have claimed to be pure, but were not.
  “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.”–Revelation 2:10-11.
  Imprisonment refers to initiations and lesser testings, which purify the soul of self, and spiritualize you. Ten days of tribulation refers to edicts issued by ten Roman emperors who persecuted Christians. Ten is the number symbolizing spiritual expression.
  We name these emperors to lift the force and spiritual debt of their persecutions: Nero, Domitian, Trajan, Hadrian, Marcus Aurelius, Septimus Severus, Maximinus, Decius, Valerian, and Diocletian, who authorized the last persecution.
  “Faithful until death” refers to the destruction of evil. The “crown of life” symbolizes soul illumination and receiving your true place in the heavenly realms.
  Melchizedek’s second promise is, “He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.”–Revelation 2:11.
  The first death is three-part, denying or forgetting God, the loss of soul substance through riotous or negative living, and the rational conscious soul subjected to the creature soul. The second death is loss of identity, the annihilation of soul substance number and name from the Book of Life.

Top ↑

---

Pergamos, the City of Freedom (Revelation 2:12-17)
Edna Lister outline, January 24, 1936, Buffalo, NY

  Pergamos; Pergamum (Greek Pergamon) was an ancient Greek city in Mysia, situated 16 miles from the Aegean Sea on the northern side of the broad valley of the Bakir River, now the modern town of Bergama, Turkey. In the Roman era, its population was an estimated 200,000. Its monuments included a theater, the temple to Athena Nicephorus, and the great altar of Zeus, a masterpiece of Hellenistic art.
  “And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas 1 was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.”–Revelation 2:12-13. Pergamos was very earthy, materialistic and strongly united as a city. Its name derives from the term pergamum, which means “intelligence.”
  The “sharp two-edged sword” is the divine truth that separates illusion from reality and truth from fiction. A sharp sword with two edges is a perfect description of the vital center at the navel, “where Satan’s throne is.” Satan’s throne is the seat of intellect, the adverse self-centered consciousness, not intelligence. Pergamos represents the epigastric plexus at the navel center, called the “seat of Satan.” It is a strong citadel of self-will, the head of the land of Egypt in the physical body. Antipas represents faithfulness to truth, to the point of standing up for truth regardless of personal consequences.
  This church governs Gemini and the Adept Degree. Many souls who concentrate their efforts on the Adept Degree have been trained to put their hands on their knees or in their lap to meditate, thus focusing their consciousness in the lower vital centers—the abdominal brain 2 at the solar plexus, and the reproductive organs. Living life while remaining focused on the navel center puts the appetitive soul in charge of your consciousness, increasing physical appetites, urges, desires and selfish willfulness. When you do this, you cut off the etheric currents from above, which carry the white Light of the Christ and which nurture your rational soul, the mind in you that can remain in contact with the mind of Christ.
  You, as a body, eat physical food—in the forms of proteins, carbohydrates and fats—to nourish your physical body composed of cells. Your molecular desire body feeds on the molecules 3 of the food you consume; your atoms depend on the atomic content, and so on throughout the known and unguessed dimensions of God’s Creation.

1 Antipas, Bishop of Pergamum and the disciple of St. John the Apostle.

2 The abdominal brain under discussion here is the solar plexus, the subject of the book by Theron Q. Dumont, The Solar Plexus or Abdominal Brain

3 Molecules are held together by covalent bonds that are directional, i.e. in specific positions relative to one another to maximize the bond strengths; thus, each molecule has a definite structure, a spatial distribution of its atoms.

  You, as a soul, breathe and inhale Light as your “food” which is why we stress the need for deep breathing. Living your life while remaining constantly aware that you are a soul, a son or daughter of God, dwelling in a body, causes you to think from your cerebrum—the largest part of your brain that handles conscious thoughts and actions. Living by soul and consuming Light works to free you from self-centered reasoning and rationalizing that deadens your mind to thought—to the point where appetitive soul depletes the creative fire and immediately creates physical weakness and illness.
  “But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.”–Revelation 2:14-15. Idols represent false beliefs against or about God. Sacrificing to idols is giving of your soul substance to sustain false beliefs. We call this “mental malpractice.” Balac, king of Moab, was an enemy of Israel (Numbers 22) who invoked a curse of Baalam upon them. The Nicolaitanes were apostates, and like the followers of Baalim (literally “lords of the earth”), ate the meat of sacrificial animals and worshiped idols.
  “Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.”–Revelation 2:16-17. The sword of selflessness is edged with Love and Wisdom combined to produce the Word, the Son of all Energy. Speaking truth sets law in action against the Nicolaitanes and all that they represent.
  Melchizedek’s third promise is, “To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.”–Revelation 2:17. “Hidden manna” is inner spiritual substance that descends from heaven, the Wisdom, Love and Light of Christ gained through prayer, praise, devotion and love. You feed the essence of your physical life by looking upward in consciousness on a deep breath. Manna feeds the desire, mental and spiritual bodies.
  The “white stone” is faith, which opens the pineal body and pituitary gland, letting the milk and honey flow. This is the first Christing or marriage of the Lamb. The “white stone,” which contains the hidden inner name you receive for conquering, is a reward of high order. The “new name” also means changing to a higher order of ideals and ideas. To stand faithful to truth, to stand up for ideals is to gain paradise.

Top ↑

---

Thyatira, the City of Zeal (Revelation 2:18-29)
Edna Lister outline, January 31, 1936, Buffalo, NY

  Akhisar, historically Thyatira, is a town in western Turkey, on a fertile plain by the Great Zab River (the ancient Lycus). Originally called Pelopia, it was probably founded by the Lydians. It became a Macedonian colony about 290 BC and renamed Thyatira. It became part of the kingdom of Pergamum in 190 BC and was an important station on the ancient Roman road from Pergamum (Bergama) to Laodicea (near Denizli).
  “Unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass; I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first. Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.”–Revelation 2:18-20.
  Thyatira relates to the signs of Cancer, Leo and Virgo, and the Mystic Degree. It represents the cardiac plexus and the heart center. Zeal and burning desire raise the rate of vibration to the heart, the balance point of equilibrium between the lower and higher creative centers. Lower consciousness is in the land of Egypt, the higher consciousness is seated in the Garden of Eden. The heart center is in the Promised Land, where you learn balance, harmony and equilibrium.
  “And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden. But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.”–Revelation 2:21-25.
  “Jezebel” refers to negative traits and taints in consciousness. Jezebel also represents waste, misuse and diffusion of the creative fire on the horizontal or earthy level. Universal love begins manifesting when you lift the creative fire. Many saints and seemingly spiritual people stop at developing the heart center because they feel so much better about themselves.
  You may lack common sense at the heart center, if you tend toward sentimentality, which betrays all prior lifting. Another tendency is to stagnate by evangelizing. You may pull and lift others, but never try to push them into the kingdom of heaven ahead of you!
  “He that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. And I will give him the morning star. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”–Revelation 2:26-29.
  Melchizedek’s fourth promise is, “He that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations.”–Revelation 2:26. “Power over the nations” refers to the reign of the White Dynasty of Christ and a thousand years of peace. The nations are ten physical organs.
  To rule with a rod of iron is to use the strength of faith through conquering. Crystallization of the twelve glands and plexus centers is “dashed to pieces.”
  The “morning star” refers to the Power and Light you receive from the Oversoul Star, the joy of a new beginning in thought, praise and song. You fulfill the promise of the morning star when you praise from the heart.

Top ↑

---

Sardis, the City of Joy (Revelation 3:1-6)
Edna Lister outline, February 7, 1936, Buffalo, NY

  Sardis, the ruined capital of ancient Lydia, near present Izmir, Turkey, was the capital and center of judicial administration of the Roman province of Lydia; it was the flourishing Lydian kingdom of the 7th century BC, and the first city to mint gold and silver coins.
  “And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.”–Revelation 3:1-2.
  Sardis means “prince” or a member of a royal or ruling family. Sardis represents the throat center, the great “I-me-my” center in man, where you cross out the influence of self and tie your earth to your heaven.
  Self shows in idle words and the tones of voice. The silver cord often gets stuck on the vertebra opposite the throat center and delays its final burning away. The test is for false humility, which wipes out any chance for ascension. “I” is not found perfect. Your works are not yet perfect here.
  “Seven Spirits of God” are seven Lords of Creation, who are messengers and servants always present before the throne of God. This also represents seven vital centers receiving the full Light of the living Christ.
  “Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.”–Revelation 3:3-4.
  Sardis represents the signs of Libra and Scorpio, and covers the Master Degree of responsibility for lifting all. To “repent” means to change your way of thinking, to think up instead of out on the horizontal level.
  Initiations can come anytime, as a thief in the night. If you are not prepared or high in consciousness, the Father cuts off the Power available to you.
  Watch your white garment; be conscious of where and with whom you sit to keep it clean. Negative thoughts spot your robes. If you clothe yourself in infinite love and Light, your garments remain undefiled. The white Light of the Christ illumines all centers, goes forth on your spoken Word, and is Christ walking with you.
  “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”–Revelation 3:5-6.
  Melchizedek’s fifth promise is, “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment.”–Revelation 3:5. Initiatory robes are white. To conquer here enables you to ascend until you no longer face the second death. The justification of Spirit comes when Christ confesses your name before the Father and The great Council of Triune Wisdom. Jesus the Christ sponsors you before the Thrones of Heaven, holds open the Gates of Light, and helps you to overcome.
  I AM is the new name you receive, but it sinks in vibration whenever you use “I” to refer to the little self. This leads to unawareness and being dead to truth. When Oversoul I AM seeks to tell you that you are off the path, strengthen it; don’t let the vibration sink lower. Ascend! You create your own temptations when you sink to a low ebb in consciousness.
  Here you may learn greatly from your weaknesses and ascend to conquer. A few live by I AM consciousness and are found worthy when they endeavor to hold fast.

Top ↑

---

Philadelphia, the City of Love (Revelation 3:7-13)
Edna Lister outline; February 14, 1936, Buffalo, NY

  Philadelphia was located in Lydia in western Asia Minor, about thirty miles southeast of Sardis and fifty miles northwest of Laodicea. It was built by the king of Pergamum for his brother, after whom it was named. The city served as the doorway to the heart of Phrygia.
  “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.”–Revelation 3:7-8.
  Philadelphia is the city of “brotherly love,” the church of the brow center, ruled by the feminine pituitary gland and the sign of Sagittarius. Philadelphia relates to the faculty of love and governs the Priest Degree.
  The “key of David” refers to awakening the pituitary gland with the key of love, opening the door to Oversoul’s I AM consciousness. No man may shut this door. Jesus opened his reign of love and law with the key of David. The Father opens the door for you as you arise in surrender. You lift all that you see, know, and contact for the Father to release Power.
  You must ascend. Build a larger prayer mold, a more perfect image each day to shatter old crystallization and bonds. When you have done enough, Jesus the Christ opens wide the gates for you to ascend.
  “I know thy works” refers to opening your vital centers with Light. You must mate your personal desire with will to do this. At this point in conquering, Light shines through the mystical “third eye” in the forehead, through the brow center, and the soul expresses. As the adage says, “When the student is ready, the Master appears.”
  The triangle of the brow is the seat of will, and this center is not free until desire ascends to mate with will. To “deny the name” is not living in the full Light, which is the temptation of Sardis.
  “Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.”–Revelation 3:9-11.
  The “synagogue of Satan” are metaphysical “pretenders” to I AM consciousness, those who just think about and talk about conquering. Your job is to make you good and the other fellow happy.
  To live in the Light and ascend in consciousness is keeping the command to persevere, a sacrifice of self that lifts you above temptations and initiations. Stand and hold fast to conquered gains so that no outer experience robs the Light moving through to set afire your crown center.
  “Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”–Revelation 3:12-13.
  Melchizedek’s sixth promise is, “Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out.”–Revelation 3:12. This means that you finally return to your true place in the Heavenly Realms.
  The “name of my God” and “New Jerusalem” refers to the White Dynasty ruling the outer New Jerusalem. You gain this with the key of David, the key of love. David was the king of all Israel, just as love rules all. Only you can open your door to love; no man can open or close this door from the outside. You let the Master enter, or keep him out.
  The “new name” is a crowning on the inner and outer for becoming one with the Father and completing your initiations. The “name of my God” is a joy vibration that gives you a shining, radiant appearance. The symbolism of the Garden of Eden is now intertwined with that of the New Jerusalem. The Light from your brow shines forth. Hold fast! Let no man take your crown of Light.

Top ↑

---

Laodicea, the City of Justice (Revelation 3:14-22)
Edna Lister outline, February 21, 1936, Buffalo, NY

  Laodicea (Latakiya, near modern Denizli, Turkey), was the capital of Phrygia in Asia Minor, was named after Laodice, daughter (or possibly niece) of Antiochus I Soter and wife of Antiochus II Theos. Established as a commercial center on trade routes, it aided in the spread of Christianity in the region.
  “And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.”–Revelation 3:14-16.
  Laodicea means “seat of judgment,” the faculty of judgment of, by and for people on the worldly material level, and has to do with maintaining balance. Judgment may be neither hot nor cold, only balanced impersonally. Laodicea is the church of the “end of the age,” today’s church. This is the seat of the crown center, ruled by the masculine pineal body that secretes the honey of illumination.
  This church covers the signs of Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces, and the Christos Degree. “The beginning of the creation of God” refers to the Logos, the first Begotten Son of God, from whom all descended creator gods stepped forth. “Amen” is a name of God and the name of a ruler of Egypt, known as “the Faithful and True.”
  To “spew you out of my mouth” refers to the degree of your assimilation of law, conquering, and ascension. Light does not move through when you lower your rate of vibration or fail to ascend in the face of outer challenges.
  Here you may tend to base your decisions on what seems to be sound intellectual reasoning, or on what you believe you deserve. This is the point of choice between self-satisfaction and soul-satisfaction. Soul-satisfaction always leaves more burning desire in its place, but self-satisfaction creates only more cravings, wants and lacks.
  “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.”–Revelation 3:17-18.
  When you begin to ascend, the Father extends a line of Light-as-substance to you so you can ascend still higher. People often mistake this loan of Light on credit as the reward of their small efforts, but this is a gift. You become rich and wealthy with Light only while you continue to ascend.
  The “gold refined in the fire” represents the pineal body “honey” secretions, sent forth unadulterated by self, to fuse with the pituitary gland “milk” to open full seeing and hearing. A “white garment” is the white Light of the Christ illumination moving through the pineal body, which comes with purity of heart, mind and purpose. “Eye salve” refers to the balm of compassion being applied to the seat of soul vision.
  “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”–Revelation 3:19-22.
  You must chasten your appetitive soul of self, step by step, as you ascend in consciousness. This is being zealous and repenting of self. God should have no need to chasten you. To be open to the white Light of the Christ is to have the Power and glory of God moving through at all times. This is supping with the Master.
  Melchizedek’s seventh promise is, “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne.”–Revelation 3:21.

                                                                                                                                     

Melchizedek’s Promises: Rewards for Conquering
Church	Vital Center	Promise and Reward
Ephesus	Sacrum	To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.
Smyrna	Lumbar	He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.
Pergamos	Navel	To him who overcomes I will give of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone and on the stone a new name written.
Thyatira	Heart	I will give power over the nations—He shall rule them with a rod of iron: they shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels—and I will give him the morning star.
Sardis	Throat	He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments.
Philadelphia	Brow	I will make him a pillar in the Temple of my God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the New Jerusalem…And I will write on him my new name.
Laodicea	Crown	To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with me on my throne.

Top ↑

---