The Church at Pergamus (Rev. 2:12-17) is the Church that is married to the world. As God puts it, these are the ones that “dwell where Satan’s throne is.” The Church that allows the evil doctrine of Balaam and the doctrine of the Nicolatians to come in:
Jude 11
11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.
KJV
Many of our modern Churches fit perfectly right in this category.
God’s promise to the faithful overcomer in this Church is that they would eat of the hidden manna and receive a white stone, (a victory stone for Christians whose works endure the fire of 1 Cor. 3:11-15). This stone will have a new name written on it which no one knows, except the one who receives it (Rev. 2:17).
The Church at Thyatira (Rev. 2:18-29) represents the orthodox Church where the evil spirit of Jezebel was allowed to reign. It is important to read about Jezebel, the patron of Baal worship, in 1 Kings 16:30-34 and 21:25 because in the end times, this spirit is said to return. As John phrases it, this Church hit the “depths of Satan.” The spirit of Jezebel’s goal was to seduce God’s faithful servants into disobedience and fornication. In verse 22 of Revelation 2, it says that God is going to cast Jezebel and her followers into the great tribulation unless they repent. [This tribulation could well be them being excluded from Christ’s presence in Gizrah – “the separate place”].
God’s promise to the faithful and obedient overcomer in the Church at Thyatira is that they will have authority (exousia in the Greek) over the nations and rule them with a rod of iron. They shall also receive the “morning star.” (This probably means they will have a special relationship with Jesus Himself [Rev. 22:16]). The overcomers will be “white robed” (Rev. 19:8), they will shine like the Lord, reflecting His brightness and glory (Matt. 17:2).
The Church at Sardis (Rev. 3:1-6) represents those in the denominational Church who say they are alive, but who are really dead. The Spirit tells them that if they don’t wake up, He is going to come “like a thief in the night” and they won’t even know it. There “name” says they are alive, but in reality they are dead.
There is nothing good said about Sardis.
God’s promise to the faithful and obedient overcomer in this Church is that he will be clothe in white raiment, which symbolizes righteous act of the saints (Rev. 19:8). Listen to verse four:
Rev 3:4
4 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.
KJV
White robes have to do with the wedding garment that all Christians are now preparing to wear (Rev. 19:7), these white robes (symbolized by the righteous acts of the saints) are not by the flesh but by the Spirit of God.
God promised the overcomer in Rev. 3:5 that He will not blot his name out of the book of life. This is an issue that many theologians grapple with over the centuries. If one accepts kingdom exclusion (being placed in Gizrah – “the separate place”), then it will be very logical that these are the ones mentioned in Rev. 20:15. [Their names were blotted out for the thousand years]. These are those that came short of the “promise” of Hebrews 4:1.
The Church at Philadelphia (Rev. 3:7-13) represents the raptured Church (the caught-up to heaven Church) and the one many of us want to be associated with (1 Thess. 4:17). Philadelphia is the Church that has the “key of David,” and “he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth.” This is similar to the “keys of the kingdom” Matt. 16:19 and 18:18 in the sense that they are both delivering the same message. Matthew, however, presents God dealing with the house of Israel in relation to the kingdom of the heavens, with the house ultimately being left “desolate” because of the nation’s rejection (Matt. 23:2, 13, 38); and Matthew also anticipates God dealing with a house separate and distinct from Israel in relation to the kingdom of the heavens (Matt. 16:18, 19; 24:40-25:30). The “key of David” and the “key to the kingdom” is the “message of the kingdom” that both David and Peter understood and had to teach.
Jude 11
11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.
KJV
Many of our modern Churches fit perfectly right in this category.
God’s promise to the faithful overcomer in this Church is that they would eat of the hidden manna and receive a white stone, (a victory stone for Christians whose works endure the fire of 1 Cor. 3:11-15). This stone will have a new name written on it which no one knows, except the one who receives it (Rev. 2:17).
The Church at Thyatira (Rev. 2:18-29) represents the orthodox Church where the evil spirit of Jezebel was allowed to reign. It is important to read about Jezebel, the patron of Baal worship, in 1 Kings 16:30-34 and 21:25 because in the end times, this spirit is said to return. As John phrases it, this Church hit the “depths of Satan.” The spirit of Jezebel’s goal was to seduce God’s faithful servants into disobedience and fornication. In verse 22 of Revelation 2, it says that God is going to cast Jezebel and her followers into the great tribulation unless they repent. [This tribulation could well be them being excluded from Christ’s presence in Gizrah – “the separate place”].
God’s promise to the faithful and obedient overcomer in the Church at Thyatira is that they will have authority (exousia in the Greek) over the nations and rule them with a rod of iron. They shall also receive the “morning star.” (This probably means they will have a special relationship with Jesus Himself [Rev. 22:16]). The overcomers will be “white robed” (Rev. 19:8), they will shine like the Lord, reflecting His brightness and glory (Matt. 17:2).
The Church at Sardis (Rev. 3:1-6) represents those in the denominational Church who say they are alive, but who are really dead. The Spirit tells them that if they don’t wake up, He is going to come “like a thief in the night” and they won’t even know it. There “name” says they are alive, but in reality they are dead.
There is nothing good said about Sardis.
God’s promise to the faithful and obedient overcomer in this Church is that he will be clothe in white raiment, which symbolizes righteous act of the saints (Rev. 19:8). Listen to verse four:
Rev 3:4
4 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.
KJV
White robes have to do with the wedding garment that all Christians are now preparing to wear (Rev. 19:7), these white robes (symbolized by the righteous acts of the saints) are not by the flesh but by the Spirit of God.
God promised the overcomer in Rev. 3:5 that He will not blot his name out of the book of life. This is an issue that many theologians grapple with over the centuries. If one accepts kingdom exclusion (being placed in Gizrah – “the separate place”), then it will be very logical that these are the ones mentioned in Rev. 20:15. [Their names were blotted out for the thousand years]. These are those that came short of the “promise” of Hebrews 4:1.
The Church at Philadelphia (Rev. 3:7-13) represents the raptured Church (the caught-up to heaven Church) and the one many of us want to be associated with (1 Thess. 4:17). Philadelphia is the Church that has the “key of David,” and “he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth.” This is similar to the “keys of the kingdom” Matt. 16:19 and 18:18 in the sense that they are both delivering the same message. Matthew, however, presents God dealing with the house of Israel in relation to the kingdom of the heavens, with the house ultimately being left “desolate” because of the nation’s rejection (Matt. 23:2, 13, 38); and Matthew also anticipates God dealing with a house separate and distinct from Israel in relation to the kingdom of the heavens (Matt. 16:18, 19; 24:40-25:30). The “key of David” and the “key to the kingdom” is the “message of the kingdom” that both David and Peter understood and had to teach.
Could it be the message to be taught today? And what if it is and we are not teaching it, would that mean we have not been true to the Word of God? These are thoughts to consider.
The Spirit tells the Church that He knows they have little strength of their own, but He also knows that they have not denied His Name (to deny His Name would disqualify them from the prize). Anyone that is not preaching or practicing the way of the kingdom is denying His Name and will not win the prize. In other words, this Church have faithfully and obediently rested on God’s resurrection power even through the hard times (2 Cor. 13:4).They suffered because of His Name, and because of their faithfulness to keep the “word of His patience,” He will keep them from the very hour of temptation that is to come upon the earth. (Here the hour of temptation that will come upon the earth could well be in reference to that period of exclusion that disobedient, unfaithful Christians will not be kept from). He will also make those who say they are Jews, but are not, to bow at their feet. One of the major surprises at the Judgment Seat of Christ will be many who are “great in the eyes of men” will be humbled and demoted by the Lord, and those that are “despised of men” the Lord will welcome and exalt (Matt. 19:28-30).
God’s promise to the faithful and obedient overcomer in the Church at Philadelphia is that He will make them a pillar in His temple. A pillar in the temple is symbolic of a steadfast figure of strength and durability. Thus, these faithful saints will remain secure and firm in their positions of strength at the Father’s side and enjoy tremendous intimacy with Him. And because of the intimacy, they will not go out of the sanctuary any more. The Lord will also write upon them the Name of God, the name of the city of God (new Jerusalem) and also His own name.
The Church at Laodicea (Rev. 3:14-22) represents the final state of the Church prior to Christ’s return for His bride. From all appearances, that’s exactly where we are today. This is the explanation to the “seeker friendly” Church that we see springing up everyday (come as you are and you don’t have to change, we are not in the business of cleaning fish, we just catch them and God clean them). That is so sad, the Word of God should change people, and it is easy to live in sin and regularly attend most of our Churches today without any form of conviction. Sermons are not preached any more, social talks are given. The music and worship programmes create excitement – it is more entertainment than anything else. The message is so watered down that it does not stimulate any renewed personal commitment of obedience and faithfulness to the Lord. As the Scripture notes, it is “neither hot nor cold.” It is lukewarm! These saints say they are rich and in need of nothing, but in truth, from God’s perspective, they are wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked. Today’s deadness in Church comes from following the truth only with our minds, not with our hearts or our lives. The Spirit counsels Laodicea to buy from Him gold refined in the fire (works done by the Spirit of God) so they can become rich, and they can be clothe with white raiment so that the shame of their nakedness does not appear. Nakedness means there is no clothes, the clothes of Rev. 19:6, 7.
Unfortunately, there is nothing good said about this Church.
Notice something else interesting here: The Scripture we always hear quoted to the unbelievers:
Rev 3:20
20 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.
KJV
To whom is God really speaking? He is definitely speaking to Christians. Yet Christ is on the outside knocking, wanting to come in but is not let in. He is on the outside of most of our Churches today trying to get in and it does not matter what names they call themselves, we are in the Laodicean era.
This Church corresponds to the Epistle of Jude where “a form of godliness” remained in the Church (2 Tim. 3:5). Materialism had so permeated them that the Church was spiritually destitute (Jude 17-19). Christ is on the outside, not within. As we get closer and closer to the end of this dispensation apostasy is prevails. The four parables of Matthew 13, these seven Churches in Revelation, the books of 2 Peter and Jude all speak of this.
God’s promise to the faithful and obedient overcomer in the Laodicean Church is that Christ will let them it with Him on His Throne, just as He overcame and was able to sit down with God the Father on His Throne. In other words, the overcomers in this Church will have a joint participation in the kingdom rule (Rev. 3:21).
The greatest incentive that God has placed in His Word for us to live godly lives is found in these promises to the overcomers. Such glorious promises should stir the heart of every believer and cause us to diligently strive to personally apprehend the
No comments:
Post a Comment