Austin Bible Church
Recovery from reversionism involves confession of sin to God the Father via 1 John 1:9 and taking in and applying Bible doctrine. Heb. 6:1-2.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9, NASB)
“Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment.” (Hebrews 6:1-2, NASB)
Recovery from reversionism is impossible under circumstances of apostacy. In Hebrews 6:3-6, “they again crucifying to themselves the Son of God” continued their reversionism.
“And this we will do, if God permits. For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.” (Hebrews 6:3-6, NASB)
In Revelation 3:18, “I advise you” is the present active indicative of συμβουλεύω (sumbouleuō) and means to strongly advise. “To buy” is the aorist active infinitive of ἀγοράζω (agorazō) and is a constantive aorist and is used for the grace apparatus for perception, being positive every day to doctrine.
“I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.” (Revelation 3:18, NASB)
“Gold” is χρυσίον (chrusion) and does not refer to gold found in the ground, but highly refined gold, gold in jewelry, and in coins. The highest value in this life is Bible doctrine! “Refined by fire” is the perfect passive participle and means there are no impurities or dross in Bible doctrine.
“That you may become rich” is the constantive aorist active subjunctive of πλουτέω (plouteō) and means to be rich daily and increase riches daily. The constantive aorist gathers up the daily function of the grace apparatus for perception. The active voice means the believer has to decide every day for doctrine, not just once in a while. The subjunctive mood means recovery from reversionism is potential depending upon intake of Bible doctrine.
“White garments” is λευκός ἱμάτιον (leukos himation) in the Greek and represents a mantle of white, the edification complex of the soul. “That you may clothe yourself” is the aorist middle subjunctive of περιβάλλω (periballō) and means to put around or building of the edification complex “clothes” the soul. “Shame” is αἰσχύνη (aischunē) and refers to emotional revolt of the soul which accompanies reversionism. “Eye salve” is κολλούριον (kollourion) and was a very famous medicine developed in Laodicea.
“Anoint your eyes” means to start getting back to Bible doctrine where you may have to relearn basic doctrines. “So that you may see” is the present active subjunctive and means to keep on seeing. You must stay with it. The issue is not whether you start, but if you will stay with it. Regarding this eye salve used in the ancient world, if you used it just once or so, it didn’t do any good. You had to keep on using it to produce the desired effect.
Divine Discipline to Help Recover From Reversionism
Divine discipline is God's motivation for the believer to recover from reversionism. In Revelation 3:19, “I reprove” is ἐλέγχω (elegchō) and means to keep on judging, to try a case and penalize. This is done through a pastor-teacher teaching the Word of God. “Be zealous” is the present active imperative of ζηλεύω (zēleuō) and means to keep on boiling, to be hot! Compare it with “hot” in the previous passage. This is getting turned on for doctrine.
“‘Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.” (Revelation 3:19, NASB)
“And repent” is the ingressive aorist active imperative of μετανοέω (metanoeō) and means to change your mind so you can keep on being hot for Bible doctrine. You have to change your thinking concerning Bible doctrine and its importance in your life. You have to change your thinking concerning the authority of the pastor-teacher.
Reversion Recovery Illustration
By now, all of us must realize that Revelation 3:18-22 is addressed to believers in reversionism. Here, there are no hot believers and no cold unbelievers. Not by any stretch of the imagination can you make this into an appeal for salvation!
In Revelation 3:20, “Behold” is ἰδού (idou) and is an imperative from horao. It becomes a very strong particle for getting attention. “I stand” is the perfect active indicative of ἵστημι (histēmi) and means Jesus Christ keeps on standing outside your soul while your soul is in reversionism. Inside the house is like inside the soul. The status inside there is now reversionism, therefore Christ is outside the soul patiently waiting for your positive volition.
“‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.” (Revelation 3:20, NASB)
“Knock” is the present active indicative of κρούω (krouō) and means Jesus Christ keeps on knocking. That’s grace. The door indicates the person is alive and that the sin unto death has not yet been administered. “If anyone hears” is a third class condition of “if.” If he opens with positive volition, Bible doctrine will come into his soul and he will recover spiritually. If he doesn’t, he will continue to receive more intensified divine discipline and if that continues long enough, God may administer the sin unto death.
“Hears” is the constantive aorist active subjunctive of ἀκούω (akouō) and refers to the grace apparatus for perception. It means to listen and concentrate with positive volition toward doctrine. Assemble and obey. When you hear Him knock, you must make the decision. “My voice” is the aorist active subjunctive of φωνή (phōnē) and refers to Bible doctrine.
“Opens the door” is the aorist active subjunctive of ἀνοίγω (anoigo) and means positive volition, confession of sin, and the reception of Bible doctrine under the grace apparatus for perception. The subjunctive is the mood of volition where you may go positive or you may stay negative. The door refers to the soul.
“I will come” is the future active indicative of εἰσέρχομαι (eiserchomai) and refers to the mind of Christ or Bible doctrine, not salvation. Jesus Christ already indwells these believers. “And will dine” is the future active indicative of δειπνέω (deipneō) and means to sit around a table of good food and have fun, to fellowship. God is not trying to deprive you of fun.
God provides on the most excellent food that can exist – His Word, His thinking. It means excellent fellowship, relaxed atmosphere, rapport, inner happiness, the edification complex constructed, capacity for life, good food, good friends, good fellowship.
Reward for Recovery from Reversionism
In Revelation 3:21, “He who overcomes” is the present active participle of νικάω (nikaō) and means the one conquering, that is, recovering from reversionism. “Will I grant” is the future active indicative of δίδωμι (didōmi) and means will I give grace. “To sit down with Me on my throne” means to reign with Him as a great reward. “As I also overcame” is the aorist active indicative of νικάω (nikaō) and refers to Jesus Christ’s strategic victory on the Cross in the Angelic Conflict. This was His completion of the plan of the Father for His incarnation. “And sat down” is the aorist active indicative of καθίζω (kathizō) and means that all work was completed. First God the Father rested, then the Son sat when the Angelic Conflict was resolved.
“‘He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” (Revelation 3:21, NASB)
In Revelation 3:22, “He who has an ear” refers to anyone who has ears can hear the teaching of Bible doctrine. They also need positive volition to make the grace apparatus for perception operable via the enabling power of the Holy Spirit. You as a believer have the apparatus to function on Bible doctrine in the spiritual life. “What the Spirit says” is that you must confess your known sins to God the Father and then be filled with the Holy Spirit (in fellowship with God) to listen to the teaching of Bible doctrine. “To the churches” the communication of Bible doctrine through a pastor-teacher per the Scriptures.
“‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’““ (Revelation 3:22, NASB)