CHAPTER 2

REVELATION 2 - 3

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We come now to the second division of the book, THE VISION OF JESUS CHRIST MIDST HIS CHURCHES. Following Jesus words back in 1:19, John will now write down the things which are. This section contains seven letters from Christ to seven of his churches that existed in John's day. This will not simply be dry history, however. We will discover that the things Christ has to say to his seven churches are as relevant to us, 21st century Christians, as today's newspaper. Christ intended for each one of these letters to directly apply to each and every one of his churches throughout all time. This becomes abundantly clear when, at the end of each letter, he exhorts, "he that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches". These letters are not found here at the beginning of Revelation by accident. Jesus, the Head of the Church, positioned them here for a purpose. I believe his purpose is so that those who continue on to read the deep, complex, amazing and eye opening prophecies of this book will be spiritually ready to receive them. Jesus' letters to the seven churches are strategically placed here in order to each reader of the Revelation a spiritual tune-up, so to speak, before they proceed on in the book. The Apostle Paul said to the Corinthians...

"And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto you were not able to bear it, neither yet are you able." First Corinthians 3:1-23 (KJV)

Carnal believers and babes in Christ have little interest and little appetite for the Word of God. The capacity to receive the Word of God is tied to the condition of one's heart, beloved. When a believer's heart is right toward God, the Word of God becomes his or her delight as well as their necessary food for daily living. Here in chapters 2 and 3, we readers of Revelation are going to receive another great blessing. We will be given the opportunity receive a heart tune up. And, it won't cost a thing. Jesus, our all knowing and all seeing Lord, and Great Physician, is going to examine each of one of us. He is going to give us a spiritual examination. He is going to take our spiritual temperature. There will be no holding back. Then, when he is done, he will simply tell us his findings and prescribe the precise cure that we may need. By the end of chapter 3, we should be spiritually running on all eight cylinders and completely ready to receive all the wonderful revelations that our loving Lord and his Father so eagerly want to convey to us. Are you up for this? Ready or not, here we go. It will serve us well to enter these two very special chapters with the words of David on our lips...

"Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." (Psalm 139:23-24) (KJV)

Now, before we begin, let me quickly point out that there are other views as to how these letters were intended. I will just mention one. Probably the most common other view is that each letter is simply a snapshot of a particular period in Church history. Personally, I find no indication of that either in the text nor in church history. The danger in that view, in my opinion, is that it diverts the reader's attention away from what the Lord is actually trying to say to us and can sidetrack one's attention away to the mere academic exercise of sorting through the dry leaves of church history looking for a fit for each letter.

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EPHESUS

THE COLD CHURCH

Rev 2:1-7

"To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, 'These things says he who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for my name's sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless, I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place; unless you repent. But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God."

Ephesus was a beautiful and wealthy cultural center of its day. It used white marble extensively in its buildings. It had a theater that held twenty thousand and an amphitheater with a capacity of an hundred thousand. Historians tell us that, on occasion, one to two million people were inside the city. I suspect that the Ephesian church was a wealthy church.

2:1

THE SALUTATION

First, notice that Christ begins each of his seven letters with one or more key descriptions of himself. His opening words to each church are designed to be powerful reminders of just who it is that is addressing them. In most of the letters, the description that Christ uses of himself come directly out of chapter one. I believe that each particular salutation contains the description of Christ that best applies to the church that he is addressing.

The Lord addresses the Ephesian church as, "he who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands". This description emphasizes Christ as the head of the Church. The Ephesians had heard that truth before, by the way. In Paul's letter to the Ephesians, he told them that Christ is head over all things to the church (Ephesians 1:22b). Apparently, they needed to hear this again. Back in chapter one, Jesus explained that the symbol of the stars represented the messengers of the churches. Using that symbol here, again, Jesus is emphasizing to the Ephesians that he is the one who gave them their pastor (he was from his hand) and was guiding their pastor (he is in his hand). Is that the way you view your Pastor? That's the way Christ sees him.

Also, Jesus says to the Ephesian church that he is the one who walks in the midst of the golden lampstands. He told us back in chapter one that the lampstands were symbols of the seven churches. By bringing up this symbol to the Ephesians, Christ is emphasizing his absolute headship over his churches and is reminding them of how intimately involved he is in the life of one. He walks in the midst of his churches controlling, inspecting, advising, encouraging, sanctifying, interceding, nurturing, chastening, coaching and judging each and every one. Sometimes a pastor or some member or board member begins to think of themselves as the head of their particular church. Invariably that leads to bad consequences. Jesus alone is the Head of the Church.

2:2-3

THE COMPLIMENT

Christ says, "I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for my name's sake and have not become weary". Jesus is very positive about his church at Ephesus. Let's look at these commendations for a moment. He says:

1. ... "I know your works, your labor". They were a working church. They were busy for their God. They were fulfilling the admonition of First Corinthians 15:58...

"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."

2. ... "you cannot bear those who are evil". They were a separated church. They didn't run with the wrong crowd and found those who practiced evil to be unbearable and totally unsuitable to fellowship with.

3. ..."you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars". Their theology was sound and orthodox. They knew their Bibles and weren't easily taken in by the "wolves in sheep’s clothing" who came to them bringing lies and false doctrines.

Our Lord is pleased with his serving, separated and doctrinally sound churches.

2:4-5

THE PROBLEM

"Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love". How hard it must have been for the Ephesians to hear those words. He who reads hearts and minds can sure put his finger on a problem, can't he?. This sounds serious and it is. What do you think this first love is that our Lord is so concerned about? No doubt, the Ephesians asked themselves that same question. Well, isn’t it first love that most marriages begin with? When a marriage falls by the wayside, it is certain that the two partners have left their first love. As in a marriage, the first love of any believer is his or her first love for the Savior. Christ was every believer's first love. Somehow, at Ephesus, the entire church had lost sight of that. Amazing. These folks, who crossed all their doctrinal "ts" just right and who were separated from the world and busy as bees in the work of the Lord were living out their Christian lives with a fatal flaw. Their hearts had grown cool toward the Savior! Before we jump on them too hard, let me say to you that this is one of the easiest things in the world to do. Our relationship with Christ can become cool and stale so very quickly. Have you not found it to be so? It is a very subtle thing. Frankly, if you and I are not in love with Jesus Christ, everything else we do is simply empty and vain. A heart grown cool toward Christ is a heart in serious trouble.

THE REMEDY

"Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works". Our Lord is very practical here. He points the way back for these Ephesian believers from the "spiritual Siberia" they were in in no uncertain terms. For the heart that has grown cold toward him, our Great Spiritual Physician prescribes a three step cure.

1. First, he says to "Remember". Can you remember when you first fell in love with the Savior? Think back for a moment. Remember how excited you were about him? Jesus says this step one. Remember.

2. Second, he says, "repent". Coldness toward Christ is a sin that must be confessed and forsaken (1 John.1:9). If your relationship with Christ has grown old and cold, the way back is to call a spade a spade and repent, dear child of God. It is our own fault if we have allowed our relationship with Christ to become that way. Although our love for him may have changed, his love for us has never changed. As we learned back in chapter 1, he is loving us right now ... even, with these words.

3. Third, the Lord says, "do the first works". The Ephesians were doing many good works, but apparently they weren’t doing the most important ones. They weren't doing the first works. He is speaking here about the kind of things they did when they first fell in love with him. Do you remember your first works? Think for a minute about someone that has recently come to Christ and is all aglow with the warmth of his or her new relationship with Christ. What kind of things do they do? A few years ago, there was a fellow I worked with who came to Christ. His fervency and absolute love for the Savior was almost embarrassing. He talked to Jesus constantly and read his Bible constantly, sometimes all night long! Also, he talked incessantly about Jesus to anyone and everyone. A year and a half later (6/03), he was still calling me all excited about the things he wanted to share about the Lord. New love just can't keep its mouth shut, can it? How natural it is to tell people when we’ve found that special someone that we’ve fallen in love with. Have you been reading, praying and telling others about Jesus? Those are first works, beloved.

I think we need to pause here for a moment. Would you be willing to take a bit of a spiritual inventory along with me? May I ask us both a question? When was the last time you or I told Jesus that we loved him? Has it been a while? My, we believers are so easily infected with the spiritual cold virus. And, when we get that way, our cold affects everything we are and do and everyone around us. When our love for Christ turns cold, we become like a window left open in a blizzard. We tend to freeze everyone else in the room! Don’t be a window letting in the cold, be a heater. Above all else, we must keep our first love burning as warmly as the first day we came to know Jesus. This is a primary in the Christian life. If the Spirit is speaking to you about this, would you like to take a moment and repent and just throw your arms around his neck, as it were, and tell him that you are sorry and that you love him? Good. Now, we can get back to the first works, aye!?

THE WARNING

How important is this? If their first love is not restored, Jesus says, "I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place". When coldness toward Christ is church wide, it is a very serious problem. The Head of the Ephesian Church is threatening to shut them down if their first love is not restored. I believe entire denominations are being shut down by the Head of the Church today because they have left their first love. Where once mighty congregations thrived on the Word of God and prayer and evangelism ... there is little left but empty pews. God forbid that it should happen to your church or mine.

2:6

After this painful expose', the Lord returns to the things that pleases him at Ephesus. He begins by commending them for hating the deeds of the Nicolaitans which, he says, I also hate. I know of no solid historical information about this sect. Exactly what the Nicolaitans practiced or believed, we do not know. Suffice it to say that Jesus is pleased with any church that stands firmly against groups, clubs, sects and cults who hold bold heresies, immorality and wickedness. It's a good thing to hate what Jesus hates.

2:7

THE ADMONITION AND THE PROMISE

Our Lord's final words to the church at Ephesus instructs everyone who has read this to listen up and hear what the Spirit says to the churches. Then, he closes with the promise, "To him that overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life which is in the midst of the Paradise of God". An overcomer, by the way, is anyone who is a real believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. As you have it in 1 John 5:5...

"Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?"

Christ promises here that all his overcomers will one day eat from the tree of life in the midst of God’s green Heaven. I'm up for that. How about you? We’ll take a closer look at this tree when we come to chapter 22.

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SMYRNA

THE SUFFERING CHURCH

Rev 2:8-11

"And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, 'These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life: I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death."

2:8

THE SALUTATION

Christ addresses Smyrna as, "the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life". Thus, he greets them as not only God of very God but also as the one who himself has suffered and died yet came back to life. It is good for suffering believers to be reminded that they are following in the footsteps of their God and suffering Savior. Like Christ himself, though they might even be killed for their faith, their future was truly bright and secure. These truths can be great comfort to those who are enduring fiery trials for his name's sake. Philippians 1:29 says...

"For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for his sake,"

2:9

THE COMPLIMENT

He tell them, "I know your works, tribulation and poverty". It is comforting to know that the Lord sees and cares about our every situation and trouble. Apparently, the works of the saints at Smyrna did not lack the solid foundation of love for the Savior that was the case at Ephesus. These Smyrnites were a bunch of on-fire believers for Christ. But, their day to day lives were very difficult. Persecution was the order of their day and it had brought about economic loss and destitution. Christ reminds his believers at Smyrna that he is aware of their poverty. Jesus knows all about poverty, by the way. One day he told a scribe who was thinking of following him...

"The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head." Matthew 8:20

The Lord's words to the believers at Smyrna indicate they had lost material possessions for his name's sake, possibly even their homes and livelihoods. If they were alive today, some misguided soul might say to them, "It was because you aren't tithing!" (Sic). What a crock those purveyors of the Prosperity Doctrine are promoting. It is common for God's people to suffer poverty for his name's sake. Yet, Christ assures them they are rich. Once, I had the privilege of visiting a little village called La Cuba, down in Mexico. It was a tiny little place set down in a valley and built along a small stream. It was located about seven hours south of Juarez. How poor the saints were who lived there. And, how proud they were of their little dirt-floored church (live stock took shelter in it at night!). Yet, how rich they were in the Lord. The only true wealth we believers have is Christ, beloved. Proverbs 13:7 says...

"There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing; and one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches."

The church at Smyrna was of the latter.

Christ continues, "I know the blasphemy of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan". Satan is always the instigator of the persecution of the saints. When Jesus was on Earth, he said to a group of Pharisees who were persecuting him...

"Why do you not understand my speech? Because you are not able to listen to my word. You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it." John 8:43 -44a

2:10

THE INSTRUCTION

The Lord counsels his little impoverished flock at Smyrna "do not fear any of these things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days". Jesus knows all about persecution and the people Satan uses to bring it. We American believers know little of such things on this level. However, we may if our society continues its downward spiral into paganism. Jesus counsels these believers not to fear their persecutors. He assures them their trial will only last ten days. I believe that Christ meant this as a figure of speech, meaning a brief period of time. Suffering and persecution may seem to last forever when it is occurring, but in reality it is brief. In light of eternity and the rewards it will bring, persecutions are in reality priceless. Are you suffering for Christ's sake, dear saint? Then, you are greatly blessed! It is a huge honor and a unspeakable privilege to suffer for his name's sake. First Peter 4:12-13 says…

"Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when his glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy."

The Apostle Paul says in Romans 8:18...

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."

Jesus said in Matthew 5:11-12...

"Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

2:11

THE PROMISE

Christ says, "... be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life". He is not talking about salvation here. He is promising that one day he will bestow kingly rewards on all of his suffering saints (2 Corinthians 5:10). The suffering saints at Smyrna were scheduled for crowns! In the New Testament, crowns always refer to rewards. Let's take a moment and list them.

1. Crown of life ... This crown is found here, in the letter to Smyrna, and in James 1:12. It awaits those who suffer, enduring temptation, persecution and trials.
2. Incorruptible Crown ... This crown is found in First Corinthians 9:25. It awaits those who have run their race for Christ well.
3. Crown of Rejoicing ... This crown is found in First Thessalonians 2:19. It is the soul winner’s crown. It awaits those who have faithfully helped to get the Word of God out, sharing the gospel, so that precious souls can hear and come to Christ.
4. Crown of Righteousness ... This crown is found in Second Timothy 4:8. It will be given to those who love his appearing, who were eagerly watching and waiting for Jesus to come.
5. Crown of glory ... This crown is found in First Peter 5:4. It is the teacher's and pastors' crown. It will be awarded to the faithful saints who have diligently fed God’s people with the Word of God.

Jesus had nothing negative to say to the church at Smyrna. She was his suffering church. People and churches who are suffering for Christ and his gospel are right where they are supposed to be. He promises each of them a crown one day.

The Lord concludes, "He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death".

Hebrews 9:27 says...

".... it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment ...."

The scripture above is speaking about the physical death that all mankind experiences. The second death, however, is defined in Revelation 20:14...

"Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death."

The second death is the eternal state of all the wicked who will eventually end up in the Lake of Fire. There, they will find themselves eternally separated from God. That is real death, brother. For multitudes of people, the second death begins for them at the point of their physical death. It is the eternal state of all who are not overcomers by faith in the Son of God. Its final manifestation will come after the Great White Throne judgment (Revelation 20), when all who are not found in the Lamb's Book of Life along with hell and death itself will be cast into the Lake of Fire. It was the avoidance of the second death that Jesus was referring to when he said to Martha...

".....I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. (experience the second death) Do you believe this?" John 11:25-26

D. L. Moody, speaking of the necessity of being born again by faith in Jesus Christ, said, "He who is born once will die twice, but he who is born twice will die once". Christ assures his suffering believers at Smyrna that as overcomers they will never ever be hurt by the second death.

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PERGAMOS

THE HERESY-PRONE CHURCH

Rev 2:12 -17

"And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, 'These things says he who has the sharp two-edged sword: I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. And you hold fast to my name, and did not deny my faith even in the days in which Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it."

Pergamos was located about fifty-five miles (89 km) northwest of Smyrna and fifteen miles (24 km) inland from the sea. It was a Roman city that sat on a mountainside. It got its name from the paper (pergamena) that was made there. It is said that Caesar Augustus loved to come to this mountain retreat to "dry out". It had a 20,000 volume library, which Mark Anthony later gave to Cleopatra which, in turn, became the foundation of the great library at Alexandria. There was also a medical school at Pergamos. For nearly seven hundred years, people traveled there to its hospital. In addition, it was a city filled with idol temples. Aklepios, the god of healing, had a temple there. Zeus, Athena and Dyonesis ... they all had temples there. It was a center emperor worship as well, sporting a temple dedicated to the worship of Octavius Caesar.

2:12

THE SALUTATION

Jesus letter to this church is addressed as from, "he who has the sharp two-edged sword". This church at Pergamos had a habit of tolerating heretics and their false teachings. Heretics are best scattered by the sharp two-edged sword of the Word of God.

2:13

THE COMPLIMENT

Like the churches at Ephesus and Smyrna, Christ begins by noting that the Pergamos church was busy for him. We should never underplay the importance of good works. Those who do them glorify their Father who, himself, is constantly doing good things (James 1:17) Titus 2:13-14 says...

"... looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for himself his own special people, zealous for good works."

And, as you have it in Titus 3:8,14...

"This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men." "And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful."

Jesus said...

"By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be my disciples." John 15:8

Jesus desires to see his people engaged in good works. He compliments the saints at Pergamos on this.

Christ continues, "and did not deny my faith even in the days in which Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was killed among you". Here, Christ commends these brothers and sisters for their courage and perseverance. He knew how difficult it was to live for him in the incredibly hostile environment that had produced the violent death of their brother in Christ, Antipas. All we know about Anitpas is what is written here. Jesus calls him my faithful martyr. That’s enough, isn’t it? The Greek word here for martyr is martus (martus), which has been transliterated into our like sounding word martyr. The root meaning of this word is witness. Antipas was a good witness for the Lord Jesus Christ. That was probably why he was killed.

It pleased the Lord that the church at Pergamos continued to stand firm even though one of their own was murdered in their midst. Christ's words indicate that the enemies of Christ had come right into a church meeting and cut poor Antipas down. Remember that name, Antipas. He is a member of a very elite group in the Church of Jesus Christ. You will want to get acquainted with him some day. He is one of Christ's faithful martyrs.

I take this phrase, "where Satan’s seat is", to be literal. The Greek word translated seat here is the word for throne. I believe that Pergamos was actually Satan’s headquarters on Earth at the time of the writing of the book of Revelation. The prolific idol and man worship that took place at Pergamos spoke loud and clear of Satan’s dominion there. Talk about a tough environment for the believers! The Bible teaches that Satan is the god of this world. He rules over all the nations in his dark kingdom and manipulates all their lost populations as he sees fit (Matthew 4:8-9; Luke 8:12; 1 Peter 5:8-9; Ephesians 2:2). Satan is not in hell, as popular secular opinion thinks. He is loose in Heaven as well as on the Earth and he has hoards of demons at his beck and call. This statement that Satan’s throne was at Pergamos is one of a number of indications in scripture that Satan and his fallen angels are organized into specific geographic territories on Earth. You might recall that the demons which Jesus cast out of the man of Gadara in Mark 5, begged him not to "send them away out of the country". Why was that, do you think? The only reason I can think of is because they had been assigned there and would get into hot water if they left and went anywhere else. In the book of Daniel, we read that an angel (probably Gabriel) was hindered from coming to Daniel by a demonic being called the Prince of Persia (Dan. 10:13). Clearly, there was an evil demonic principality over the nation of Persia in Daniel's day just as, I might add, there still is today. This may well explain why we are having such a go of it with the war in Iraq. The greatest thing at stake in that dark country is whether or not it will become the first Arab nation that is a democracy that practices religious freedom so that the gospel can be openly preached there. Satan and his demons would not be happy about that and they have surely organized against it. Ephesians 6:12 (KJV) says...

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."

The Lord continues his compliment of the believers at Pergamos noting that they were, "holding fast to my name". That is, they were holding firm to the truth of who Jesus was and is. They held tenaciously, both to the deity and to the humanity of the Lord Jesus Christ. First Timothy 2:5; 3:16 could have been inscribed on the walls of this church.

"For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus ..." (KJV)

"And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory."

I am often amazed at how many Christians are fuzzy about the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the God-Man. He is both the Son of God and the Son of Man.

2:14-15

THE PROBLEM

"But I have a few things against you, because you have those who hold the doctrine of Baalam" and "those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate." In spite of the many good things at Pergamos, the Lord points out that there are also a couple of cancers in their midst. The church was tolerating heretics in their midst. How subtle Satan is. What he couldn’t accomplish from outside, through persecution and intimidation, he was accomplishing from inside by planting his heretics in the church. There is a good deal of this going on in the Church today. Heretics are people who teach lies and half-truths to the saints. The Bible insists that such people need to be confronted and, if they won’t repent, they need to be gotten rid of. As you have it in Titus 3:10-11...

"A man that is an heretic (Airetikon (heretikon), after the first and second admonition reject; knowing that he is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself." (KJV)

There were some people in the church at Pergamos who held serious deviations from the moral and/or central truths of the Word of God. The church needed to deal with them, but it hadn’t. The Lord put his finger on the troublemakers. He names them. They are the Baalamites and the Nicolaitans. I’m sure the believers at Pergamos knew exactly who Jesus was referring to. It's a bit tougher for us. Let's take a moment to look at these two groups.

Balaam

In Numbers 22-25 and 31, there was a prophet named Balaam who advised the king of Moab how to destroy the Israelites. He did it for money. His advice was that the king of Moab should promote intermarriage with the Israelites. Intermarriage with the heathen was strictly forbidden in God's law. Balaam knew the heathen Moabite women would lead Israel into idolatry. Then, Balaam reasoned, God would judge his people for this and they would be destroyed. At Pergamos, there were Baalamites who held to the same error that Balaam advised. They believed there was nothing wrong with intermarriage between believers and heathen idol worshipers. There are a lot of Baalamites in the Church today, by the way. They lead people away from the Lord by promoting and condoning unholy marriages. Watch out for this all too popular position. God’s Word says...

"Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?" (2 Corinthians 6:14-15)

Nicolaitans

This is the same sect that were mentioned in the letter to the Ephesians (2:6). Again, we do not know what their doctrine entailed. Perhaps it was something similar to the doctrine of the Masons that is so invasive in many congregations today. Many church members are joined to the Masons and there is a great deal of praise for their good works. However, the doctrine of this organization is an abomination. Masonic doctrine teaches that there is a brotherhood of all religions because they all have come from one pure, but previously lost, original religion. Hence, it is irrelevant, in their view, whether the Bible or the Koran is on a Masonic altar. Deeply committed Masons believe they have re-discovered the original religion whose god they call "the great Architect" in lower levels of Masonry. Those higher up claim they hold the original and one true religion in its pure form as opposed to the entire rest of the world's watered down and contaminated versions of religion, including Christianity. In the higher levels of Masonry, they teach that God's secret and original name was Jebulon, a composite name made up of the Jehovah of the Hebrews, Baal of the Canaanites, and Osiris of the ancient Egyptians. Some Masons, in the higher levels, worship Jebulon around their altar. If we could ask our Lord how he feels about his pure covenant name, Jehovah, being lumped together with these utterly pagan idols of Baal and Osiris and their abominable child sacrifices and historic immorality, he would unquestionably say that it is a doctrine which thing I hate. Make no mistake about it, Masonic doctrine is heresy and it is false. As with all of man's false religions, it obscures the truth of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is the only way to God (John14:6), and his true Church alone holds the pure and only true religion in the world today. For further information on the modern day heresy of the Masons, most Christian bookstores have books available for the buying. The Secret Teachings of the Masonic Lodge by John Ankerberg and John Weldon, Moody Press, is one that comes to mind. We, twenty-first century churches, need to be very careful that we too are not tolerating those who teach and promote things that our Lord hates. Peter says...

"But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed." 2 Peter 2:1-2

The Church in America today is over-run with heresy and heretics. We must insist upon the fundamental truths of the Word of God when confronting them (Jude 3-4), and not allow their teachings to go unchallenged when they attempt to infiltrate the church.

2:16

THE INSTRUCTION AND THE WARNING

Jesus says to these believers, who have been tolerating heretics in their midst, "repent". The road back from this sin is the same as the way back from the sin of the Ephesian church. Repentance means to have a change of mind and direction ... to do a "one-eighty". The Pergamos believers needed to tell the Lord, "We were wrong for tolerating these heresies and for not dealing with the people who are teaching them. We humbly ask you Lord for your forgiveness".

Jesus says, if they won’t hear him on this, "I will come to you quickly" and "fight against them with the sword of my mouth". Jesus himself will take measures against a church's heretics if the church won't act. What measures might he take? He says he will use his sword against them. The one who speaks the Word of God can easily deal with a church and its heretics. He is a jealous God (Exodus 34:14). He will act. He is jealous of the truth and jealous of his blood bought people.

2:17

THE PROMISES

Again, he says, "he who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." Then, he gives two more wonderful promises for his overcomers at Pergamos.

First, he says they will be given, "Hidden manna". I believe this is best understood in the light of John 6:48-58 where Jesus said, "I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever". Jesus is God’s Hidden Manna. Blessed indeed, are all who continuously partake of him. They will live forever in an eternal spiritual feast on Christ.

Second, he promises his overcomers the unusual gift of a "white stone". On it, a new name which no man knows but him who receives it will be written. I believe this stone will be a literal one. In Asia, at the time that John was writing this book, it was a custom to give an intimate friend a tessara, which was a small smoothed stone or piece of ivory with writing on it. It became the secret private possession for the one who received it from the one who gave it. In like manner, Jesus speaks here of a heavenly "tessara" inscribed with a secret and private new name that each child of God will receive from him one day. Our individual stones will ever remind us of the intimate and utterly unique relationship that we enjoy with our Lord. It's my opinion that these special names will not be for everyday use in Heaven, but only for those occasions when we are enjoying one on one fellowship with our Lord Jesus Christ himself. The song is correct when it says, "there’s a new name written down in glory, and its mine! Oh yes its mine"!

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THYATIRA

THE IMMORAL CHURCH

Rev 2:18-29

"And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, 'These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and his feet like fine brass: I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first. Nevertheless I have [NU omits "a few things"] against you, [NU omits "because you allow"] that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce my servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am he who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works. Now to you I say, [NU omits "and"] to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I [NU omits "will"] put on you no other burden. But hold fast what you have till I come. And he who overcomes, and keeps my works until the end, to him 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'; as I also have received from my Father; and I will give him the morning star. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

Thyatira sat at a crossroads between two valleys. It was a military and commercial center. Its coins depict a warrior on a charger armed with a battle-axe. Its claim to fame was its commercial guilds (unions) which have been found in the inscriptions there. Lydia, the merchant lady who Paul won to the Lord at Phillipi, was from Thyatira. She was selling turkey-red dye when Paul first met her (Acts 16:14).

2:19

THE SALUTATION

The Lord addresses this church as the "Son of God" who’s eyes are like a "flame of fire" and whose feet are like "fine brass". This is final proof that the one John saw in chapter 1, was indeed the Lord Jesus Christ. He specifically calls himself "the Son of God" here. His reference to his eyes and his feet speak of judgment. Judgment, both of believers and non-believers, will be addressed in this letter. God’s Son, unto whom the Father has committed all judgment (John 5:22), is the one to whom all believers and non-believers must ultimately give an account. As to us believers, Second Corinthians 5:10 says...

"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad."

This is further emphasized in First Corinthians 3:11-15.

"For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one's work will become clear; for the day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire."

Dr. McGee comments on the Corinthian 3 passage saying, "some Christians leaving the judgment seat of Christ will smell like they were bought at a fire sale!" So will be the case with many believers, I fear, if they do not change their ways. Many of the Thyatiran believers were a fleshly lot. They were a carnal people who were spending their lives stacking wood, hay and straw on the foundation of Christ. Sadly, many in the Church today follow in their footsteps.

THE COMPLIMENTS

Amazingly, the Lord begins by listing six virtues of this church. He commends them for:

...their works. These are the credentials of all true believers (James 2:17-18).
...their love. This is another wonderful characteristic of believers. It is a fruit of the Spirit.
...their service. The Greek word used here is diakonian (diakonian), the word from which we get our word "deacon", which speaks of ministry. It literally means "one who makes a dust by hastening". They were a ministering church (James 1:27).
...their faith. They were a believing church, trusting in the Lord.
...their patience. Patience comes as a result of walking through the fiery trials of life (Romans 5:3). These Thyatiran believers had been "over the mountain", as Louis Lamore would say.
...their good works which were growing, "the last are more than the first". It is a very healthy sign in the local church when its good works are continually increasing.

Wow! I wouldn't mind belonging to a church like this, wouldn't you?

2:20-21

THE PROBLEM

"Nevertheless", he says, "I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce my servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols." The Lord goes right to the source of the problem at Thyatira. This church was allowing a woman in their midst, named Jezebel, to entice them to commit sexual immorality. By the way, isn't it amazing how a church often hates to deal with it's people? The Corinthian church looked the other way when one of its members was openly practicing incest in their midst (1 Corinthians 5:1). Likewise, the church at Thyatira was looking the other way while Jezebel was actually teaching the saints to engage in sexual immorality! Some say that Jezebel was not her real name, but I take it that it was. The famous Jezebel of the Old Testament was the wicked wife of king Ahab (1 Kings16). She introduced Israel to idol worship and its accompanying sexual immorality. These two Jezebels were "two peas in a pod". The words here, "and eat things sacrificed to idols" suggest that she was luring the saints to the local idol temples to carry out her teaching by participating in feasting and drinking followed by unbridled sexual immorality. She justified this with her false teachings promoting herself as a prophetess.

There are only two other mentions of this word prophetess in the New Testament, by the way. One is where it is used of Anna, a godly widow, who was at the dedication of the baby, Jesus (Luke 2:36). The other is where it is used in the plural of Phillip’s four virgin daughters in Acts 21:9. Jezebel's character was certainly the opposite of those five dear saints. Jezebel was of the false prophet school that Peter warns about.

"But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you ...." "having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children." "For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage." Second Peter 2:1,14,18-19

The Lord says he gave Jezebel, time to repent of her sexual immorality, but she wouldn’t respond. This is amazing, is it not? Jesus is gracious and longsuffering even toward the Jezebels who are polluting his Church!

2:22-23

THE WARNING

In verses 22 and 23, the Lord confronts Jezebel and her associates.

First, he warns he will "cast" her into "a bed of sickness". In contrast to her warm sensuous beds of adultery and fornication, the Lord says he will throw Jezebel into a bed of illness.

Second, he says that he will "cast" "those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds."

Let me say here that this is a very difficult passage to interpret and I have struggled with it a good deal. Even now, I am not saying that I have it right. Unquestionably, we have here the first mention of the Great Tribulation in the book of Revelation. The Greek words are: qliyis megalhn, (thelipsis megalain) . I believe Jesus is using these words in their technical theological sense as he used them in Matthew 24:21, where he was defining the period of trouble that was to come upon the earth after the Rapture of the Church. That being the case, he must be addressing unsaved people here. Both inside and outside of the church at Thyatira, there were those who were participating in sexual immorality with Jezebel. He says he will cast them into great tribulation if they do not turn from their wicked ways. One thing is for sure, all living unsaved church members, at the time of the Rapture, who are professors but not possessors of real faith in the Lord Jesus Christ will fine themselves on a fast track to the Great Tribulation. Such hypocrites have always been present in the Church to plague it. Blatant and habitual immorality is one of their signatures. As you have it in First John. 3:7-8...

"Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as he is righteous. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil."

After the Rapture, the unsaved Jezebel element will find itself left behind and headed into the fast approaching Great Tribulation. If the Rapture were to occur today, phony Christians, who play church but practice immorality, would be doomed to enter the Tribulation which would quickly worsen into the Great Tribulation. I believe that is the thought here. The Jezebel element at Thyatira were like the weeds spoken of in Jesus’ parable of the tares and the wheat in Matthew 13.

Third, Christ says he will "kill" Jezebel's "children with death". Death, is a term in the Bible that refers to eternal separation from God. When death is meant concerning a child of God, the term used is always, "sleep". People in the church who are professors and not possessors and who habitually practice unrighteousness are truly skating on thin ice. In a moment of time, they could be separated form God forever and experience real death which is eternal separation from God.

The Lord adds, "and all of the churches shall know that I am he who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works". How will the churches know this? First, because after the Rapture they will recognize who has been left behind to be cast into great tribulation. And second, because of the death of those who continued participating in Jezebel's immorality after Christ sent them this warning. Our God is a loving but holy and just God. The Rapture of the Church will bring into focus many realities. At that time, we will know and experience, first hand, the realities of our Lord's justice. At that time, we will clearly see who is who ... who are the believers and who were not. We will see what has happened to those who are both inside and outside of the Church.

2:24-25

COMFORT

Jesus says, "Now unto you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say...". Remember, these individual letters were addressed to the pastors of the churches. So when Christ says, "Now unto you", he is speaking to the pastor at Thyatira. Standing along with him were the rest of the saints who were not participating in Jezebel’s immorality. This phrase, "who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say", highlights something of Jezebel’s teaching and justification for her words and her deeds. Have you ever run across someone who said, "You really need to experience evil to truly know and understand it"!? That was Jezebel’s line. She taught that everyone needed to taste the depths of Satan so that they could fully know and appreciate good from evil. Watch out. That is an old lie from the pit. Satan used it on Eve in the garden of Eden. He is still being using it today.

"Then the serpent said to the woman, ’You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.‘" Genesis 3:4-5

Eve didn’t end up knowing good and evil as God knows it, did she? No, she didn't. She ended up knowing evil in an experiential way and it cost her her spiritual as well as her physical life. You don’t need to experience evil to know about it nor to know what is truly good. Our sinless Lord never experienced sin in order to know it or to know what was good. God’s Word was sufficient for him to know good and evil and it is sufficient for you and me too.

One more thought before we move on. Heretics like to boast about their superior spirituality. Jezebel went around pronouncing herself a prophetess. With this boast she garnered a following. Watch out for people who want you to enter into their little exclusive super-spiritual club. Usually, they are a one-way street to "Jezebel City"! The Church of Jesus Christ is the exact opposite of this. It is an open, all-inclusive, everyone growing and knowing together ... Body of believers. Secret societies, sectarianism, prejudice, spiritual pride and exclusivism has no place in the lives of God's people. STAY AWAY FROM THEM. Those who promote these little secret societies are carnal, fleshly and spiritually dangerous.

Finally, Christ says, "Hold fast what you have till I come". Dear believer, if you are in the midst of a mess like the one that was being played out at Thyatira, this word is for you. Hold fast until he comes. Keep looking up. Your redemption draws nigh. As you have it in James...

"Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain." James 5:7

2:26-29

THE PROMISE

Christ leaves two more wonderful promises for his overcomers here who "keep my works until the end". By the way, Christ's works are in stark contrast to the works of the Jezebel element.

1. His first promise is that they will have "power over the nations" and "shall rule them with a rod of iron." This is not the only place our Lord has promised this to his people. Second Timothy 2:12a says...

"If we endure, we shall also reign with him."

And again, in First Corinthians 6:2 we read...

"Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?"

What an exciting and exalted future awaits the Lord’s overcomers. They will be given "power over the nations" to rule with a "rod of iron" those who disobey or harm others.

2. The second thing our Lord promises his overcomers here is the "Morning Star". This is a name that refers to Christ himself. It is rooted in an old testament prophesy about Christ found in Numbers. 24:17a...

"I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near; a Star shall come out of Jacob; a Scepter shall rise out of Israel ...."

This prophecy from Moses foresaw the arrival of Christ to rule and reign on Earth one day. Jesus added the word "Morning" to it, which he also does in Revelation. 22:16.

"I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star."

His reference to himself as the Morning Star, magnifies the certainty of his future visible presence on Earth and in eternity. Have you ever wondered what that day will be like, that glorious day when we will physically see Jesus and regularly walk with him by sight? If you have ever gone out very early in the morning and seen the last and brightest star still shining, it will be something like that. Throughout his Millennial reign and throughout all of eternity he will always be visible to us, always beautiful, always shining in his unquenchable and matchless glory. This is the unspeakable treasure that awaits his overcomers. As he put it to Abraham in Genesis 15:1b...

"... Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward."

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SARDIS

THE DEAD CHURCH

Rev 3:1-6

"And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, 'These things says he who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: ‘I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before my God. Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. Nevertheless, you have a few names [NU omits "even"] in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.’ He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

Sardis was the capital of the province of Lydia. It was the first city to mint gold and silver coins. It was known for its arts and crafts. The Lydian kings were so rich that they were legendary. An earthquake leveled Sardis in AD17, and it never fully recovered even though the Romans paid ten million sesterces (1/4 of a denarius each) in relief to it.

3:1

THE SALUTATION

Christ addresses the church at Sardis as the one who "has the seven spirits of God" and "holds the seven stars". These seven spirits of God are the same spirits that greeted us in chapter 1. We will learn that they are the angels of the Trumpet Judgments of the Great Tribulation. When they have finished blowing their trumpets, it will wrap up all things. Our Lord refers to them here because they speak of his judgment. As the one who controls ("holds") these seven spirits, Christ is emphasizing that he is the one who is going to intervene on the earth and set things straight here. As for the seven stars, you will remember that they are the messenger/pastors of the churches. Since Christ holds the pastors of the churches in his hand, it follows that he holds his churches accountable for their teaching and example. These two concepts, judgment and accountability, are themes that are often found in the New Testament. For example, Christ judged a number of folks at Corinth because of their casual and blasphemous attitude toward the Lord’s Table. Paul says in First Corinthians 11:30-32...

"For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world."

As for a church’s accountability for the leadership that Christ sends it, Hebrews 13:17 commands...

"Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you."

I would not want to be the pastor at the Judgment Seat of Christ who will have to give an account for the sorry condition of the church at Sardis. Nor would I want to be a member of that church or any other church who chose not to heed their godly pastor’s teaching and leadership.

THE PROBLEM

Sadly, there is no compliment at all for the dead church at Sardis. There was nothing to compliment. So, Christ simply goes directly to the problem.

He says, "I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead". What a rebuke. This church was a shell, a phony. I once lived in a little eastern Oregon town near the Eagle Cap wilderness where the movie Paint Your Wagon was made. After the production was finished, the producer invited the public to come up and tear down the sets and haul away whatever materials they wanted, free of charge. So a fellow pastor and I got a truck and went up to the site to glean materials for our church camp. After the long drive, we arrived in a beautiful mountain valley. The first thing that met our eyes was a magnificent water wheel turning slowly in the stream. And there, all around in the little valley, was what looked for all the world to be an old mining town right out of the Old West. Fred and I drove down the main street and parked in front of a building that said, "General Store". Then, we got out, opened its front door, and stepped inside. Immediately, we began to laugh. When we stepped inside, we found that actually we had stepping right back into the forest on the other side! The structure was just a "front". It was not a building at all. The water wheel had the same problem... it turned and turned ... but it wasn't actually doing anything! The church at Sardis was like that mock up town. It had a name that it was a living, breathing church, but in reality it was just a sham. I fear there are many churches today that are like that.

May we step aside again for a moment? A church building, by its very presence in a community, says something to all who see it. It declares, "this is a place where God is known, loved and served." Unfortunately, that is not always true. Our righteous Lord judges such churches for their hypocrisy. Dead churches do a great deal of damage to the cause of Christ. They seek to fool their community and sometimes even manage to fool themselves, but they can't fool the Lord. The church at Sardis probably said, "The Bible is the Word of God", but they didn’t read it, love it, study it, meditate on it, obey it or experience its life-changing, sanctifying power. They may have had a plaque on the wall that said, "Prayer changes things", but they never met for prayer. They probably said, "Jesus saves", but they never got around to speaking of him to any of the poor lost people in their neighborhood. They probably said they loved one-another ... but were notorious for fighting over everything. The great identifying mark of a dead church is its hypocrisy. Jesus said to the church at Sardis, "you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead".

3:2-3

THE INSTRUCTION

What an optimist our wonderful Savior is. Even dead churches ... he never views as hopeless! There is no such thing as a hopeless church, by the way, if it is willing to listen to it's Lord and obey his instructions. His words to this dead church are fourfold.

1. First, he says, "be watchful". The first thing a dead church needs to do is to open its eyes ... to wake up and honestly evaluate itself. When it does, it will discover some unpleasant things, but they will be very profitable for it. For example, it will discover that it hasn’t really been seeing anything, hearing anything or doing anything at all. It hasn't even perceived that it was dead. The first step back for a dead church is to be watchful. Wake up! Ephesians 5:13-16 says...

"But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore he says: ‘Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.’ See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil."

2. Second, he says, "strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die". Upon awakening, the dead church needs to ask itself, "Just exactly what do we have left that isn’t gone? Do we still believe in justification by faith, the authority of the Word of God and the Great Commission? What’s left?" Jesus instructs this church to look at what they still possess that is authentic Christianity and then strengthen and build on those things which remain.

3. Third, he says, "remember therefore how you have received and heard". A further crucial step for a dead church is to remember how they heard and got saved in the first place. Peter says...

"... having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever," 1 Peter 1:23

Have you forgotten how you received Christ and heard of him? It was by the communication of the Word of God, was it not? The Sardius church was not reaching others with the Word of God like they themselves had been reached. Somewhere along the line they abandoned that priority. When a church stops preaching and evangelizing with the Word of God, it is a dead church. Any church that continues to be obedient in getting the Word of God out will never come to the sorry state of deadness that the church at Sardis was in. No one will ever hear the Lord say, "Where you went wrong was, you spent too much time, energy and resources getting the Word of God out so people could get saved!"

4. Finally, Christ says, "hold fast and repent". There is no healing for a patient until he or she agrees with the diagnosis of his physician and submits to the remedy he prescribes. Again, the needed medication is repentance. Any dead church that is willing to take this prescription can make a glorious comeback.

THE WARNING

He says, "Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief". When a dead church persists in its hypocrisy and refuses to wake up, it opens itself up to the Lord's judgment. He says that he will come upon them like a thief in the night. This certainly will be true at the Rapture. Someone has said that "the Rapture will not be rapturous for the disobedient and slothful". Although it will be a day of rejoicing and reward for many, it may well be bitter for others. First John 3:18-19 says...

"My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him."

Real, authentic Christianity brings assurance to the hearts of the believers toward Christ, both here and now as well as when they will stand before him one day.

3:4

THE COMPLIMENT

He says, "You have a few names, even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments". Normally, not everyone in a dead church is dead. Even in the deadest churches, a few good people can usually be found who are obedient and have a real love for the Savior. Such was the case at Sardis. "A few", he says, "have not defiled their garments". A few, at Ssrdis, were living clean and separated lives for Christ. They were separate from the world as well as from the spiritual deadness of their church. Now, it is an axiomatic truth that disobedience to the revealed will of God leads to impurity of life. These two things go together like bread and butter. When people are not obeying the Word of God and abiding in Christ, there is only one other alternative, they become caught up in carnality and sin. A victorious Christian life is a Christ centered, Word centered, Spirit filled and empowered life. Where this is not taking place, flesh and sin always takes over. Galatians 5:16 says...

"I say then: walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh."

Let’s step aside here for a moment. The Bible speaks of three different life styles that are in the world today. First Corinthians 2:14-3:3 gives them to us.

1. First, there is the "natural man". This is the unsaved man. He does not and can not receive the things of God. They are foolishness to him.
2. Then, there is the "spiritual" man. He is the saved man who has and is enjoying a real walk with Christ. He can see clearly to discern all things.
3. Finally, there is the "carnal" man. He too is a saved man, but he has a lifestyle of not walking with Christ. He continues to act like just as the natural man he was before he got saved.

It is very important to understand that all three of the above are chosen life styles. Every believer chooses to be either a spiritual man or a carnal man. The spiritual man is the one Jesus is addressing here at Sardis in verse 4. He was in the vast minority (as he is in many churches today). He was living a life of purity. The Lord speaks here of a glowing future for such people. He says, "They shall walk with me in white, for they are worthy". I believe that he is speaking of a position of privilege in Heaven in relation to enjoying a deeper and more intimate walk with Christ. Apparently, not everyone will know such a high level of relationship. The child of God who has walked with Christ down here will one day enjoy a level of fellowship and service with the Savior above that disobedient and carnal believers may never know. This is the heart of our Lord’s promise and comfort here to the handful of spiritual saints at Sardis who had not soiled their garments.

3:5-6

THE PROMISE

He leaves us three more wonderful promises for his overcomers here.

1. First, he says they will be "clothed in white". Although all of Jesus' saints will one day be clothed in white, (This is something that awaits every child of God. Those garments will proclaim the righteousness that has been imputed to us in Christ [Romans 4:22-25]), there are other and quite different white garments that will be worn by the saints in heaven as well. I believe those secondary garments are the ones Jesus is referring to here. We will discuss these garments further when we get to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb in chapter 20.

2. Second, he promises, "I will not blot his name from the Book of Life". Some have been quick to jump on this statement trying to prove that Christians can lose their salvation. In reality, however, it says just the opposite. This is a wonderful verse on assurance. In the Greek, here, Jesus uses a double negative. That is very significant. What he is saying is, "I will never ever, surely not ever , never, never, never, never, blot out any overcomer’s name from the Book of Life"! So, this is another great anchor verse for eternal security. It teaches that a believer's position in Christ is permanent, irrevocable and eternally secure. Once our name is in this book, brother, the Lord assures us it will never ever be blotted out. We have the Word of God on it.

3. Third, he promises, "I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels". Jesus spoke of this as well to his disciples.

"Therefore whoever confesses me before men, him I will also confess before my Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies me before men, him I will also deny before my Father who is in heaven." Matthew 10:32-33

Isn't that a wonderful promise. Can you picture it? One day, the Lord Jesus himself, standing before the awesome presence of his Holy Father and all of his mighty angels (Luke 12:8-9), will confess each and every one of his saints by name. That will certainly be a red banner day in the life of each of us believers, will it not? What a moment that will be, in your history and mine, when he confesses our names, aye? "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

PHILADELPHIA

THE BIBLE CHURCH

Rev 3:7-13

"And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, '‘These things says he who is holy, he who is true, he who has the key of David, he who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens’: I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, [NU omits "and"] which no one can shut [NU omits "it"]; for you have a little strength, have kept my word and have not denied my name. Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie; indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. Because you have kept my command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. [NU omits "Behold"] I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go out no more. And I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God. And I will write on him my new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

3:7

THE SALUTATION

We come here to a marked change in salutations of Christ to his churches. This is the first church that Christ doesn't use a descriptions of himself from chapter 1, to address it. I believe this is because of the special relationship the Lord enjoyed with the Philadelphian church. He chooses to address them uniquely from all the other churches. Let's look at it.

First, he says, "These things says he who is holy". When the angel announced Jesus' birth to Mary, he said...

"...the Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God." Luke 1:35b

Those who really know Jesus, truly recognize he is the holy one of God (Mark 1:24). Christ once challenged the Pharisees, "which one of you convinceth (can convict) me of sin"? There was silence. No one could think of anything. The Psalmist, prophesying about Jesus' death and resurrection, said...

"For you will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will you allow your Holy One to see corruption." Psalm 16:10

The Apostle Paul says of Christ ...

"For he made him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in him." 2 Corinthians 5:21

The writer to the Hebrews proclaims...

"Therefore he is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens ..." Hebrews 7:25 -26

Folks who don't walk with Christ and read their Bibles, don't understand the holiness of Jesus Christ very well. They know very little about the true nature of the Lord Jesus Christ because they know so little of what the Word of God says about him. It's not too uncommon to run across believers who even think that Jesus may have even have sinned a little! That's abysmal ignorance, brother. The Philadelphian believers were not of that group. When they were addressed by the "Holy One," they knew exactly who was talking to them!

Second, the Lord addresses them as "He who is true". Jesus said in John 14:6...

"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

The Apostle John says....

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:14

The believers at Philadelphia instantly knew that their Jesus was Truth incarnate.

Lastly, he addresses the Philadelphians as, "He who has the key of David, he who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens". As soon as their Pastor read that, I can picture someone in the congregation calling out, "That's Isaiah 22:22. It's from our Lord alright!" There in Isaiah 22, God says of his Son...

"The key of the house of David I will lay on his shoulder; so he shall open, and no one shall shut; and he shall shut, and no one shall open. I will fasten him as a peg in a secure place, and he will become a glorious throne to his father's house." Isaiah 22:22-23

Holy ... true ... heir to the throne of David ... the one who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens. These are the elements of the warm and special greeting Jesus uses in his salutation to the church at Philadelphia.

3:7-8.

THE COMPLIMENTS

Christ begins, "I have set before thee an open door". This statement in itself is a great compliment. Someone has said, "Prayer moves the hand of God". The fact that Jesus had opened a door for the Philadelphians is moot testimony to the prayer life of this church. Being a people of the Book, they had come to know the Lord's will and had been praying accordingly. That, in turn, caused the Lord to gladly open a door on their behalf. The Apostle Paul requested in Colossians 4:3...

"... meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the Word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains,"

Notice, the great Apostle Paul himself requested that the Colossians pray to the Lord that he would provide a door of opportunity for him, to speak the mystery of Christ. Frankly, only a spiritual person or church would even think to ask for such a thing. That's praying according to the will of God, brother! A Bible church is a praying church. Having come to know God's will in the Word, it petitions the throne accordingly. The Lord set an open door before these Philadelphians because they asked according to the will of God. Do you ask God to open doors for you and your church to share the mystery of Christ? First John 5:14 -15 says...

"Now this is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of him."

Then Christ says, "you have a little strength". This is another great compliment. The Philadelphian believers would be the first to tell you that they were weak and that their strength came from the Lord. People of the Book learn quickly that they are weak but he is strong and they learn to depend totally upon the strength of their Omnipotent Lord. Paul says...

"But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in his presence." First Corinthians 1:27-29

Again in Second Corinthians 12:9-10 we read...

"And he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

When Jesus said these Philadelphians had a little strength, he meant it as a compliment. In relation to the Omnipotent One, they had a little strength too. In relation to him who holds all things together by the word of his power (Hebrews 1:3), it was little, but, he is noting that they had strength that was from him. They were a people who had been strengthened with all might according to his glorious power (Colossians 1:11). It's a compliment, not a put down.

Then, he says, "you ... have kept my word". What a wonderful compliment that is. Twice, the Lord says here they have kept his Word (v. 8 and v. 10). This shows the Philadelphia church to be the most spiritual of the seven churches, in my opinion. They had to have been a Bible centered church, you see. One must know the Word of God before he can keep it. Oh the raw power of the Word of God in the life of a believer and his church. It cannot be overestimated. It is the Word of God that produces spiritual people and spiritual churches. It is the key to the new birth, Christian maturity, wisdom, knowledge, understanding, freedom, fruitfulness, the filling of the Holy Spirit, spiritual growth, sanctification (purity), and a fruitful walk with Christ. Let’s look at a few scriptures that point these things out to us.

"... having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever," 1 Peter 1:23

"You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you." John 15:3

"As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby," 1 Peter 2:2

"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper." Psalm 1:1-3

"The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: To know wisdom and instruction, To perceive the words of understanding," Proverbs 1:1-2

"Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed him, "If you abide in my word, you are my disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8:31-32

"If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be my disciples." John 15:7 -8

Now, let's compare two verses and note the relationship between the intake of the Word of God and the filling of the Holy Spirit.

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." Colossians 3:16

"And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord," Ephesians 5:18 -19

Did you notice that the results of letting the Word of God dwell in ones life and being filled with the Spirit are identical? That’s because they are two sides of the same coin. The filling of the Holy Spirit and the intake of the Word of God cannot be separated. You cannot have the one without the other. How can someone be filled with the Holy Spirit and not be filled with his Word? How can someone be filled with his Word and not be filled with his Holy Spirit? There is no substitute in the life of a believer for the Word of God. No experience can duplicate its multifaceted and indispensable work. Have you been reading your Bible? It's the sanctifying life-changing Word of God you know. It can and will change your life if you take it in, cherish it in your heart and let it take deep root in your life. Jesus, in his prayer for you and me in John 17:17, prayed to his Father...

"Sanctify them by your truth. Your word is truth." .

There is no road to maturity or sanctification for us believers outside of the Word of God.

3:9-10

THE PROMISES

The Lord promises two things to the Philadelphians.

First, that he will vindicate them in the presence their enemies. Like the church at Smyrna, these believers had been suffering at the hands of ungodly Jews in their city. The Lord aims a thunderbolt at these enemies calling them "the synagogue of Satan", just as he did of the unrighteous Jews at Smyrna back in 2:9. His accuses them of saying "they are Jews and are not, but lie". This parallels the thought in Romans. 2:28-29...

"For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God."

A true Jew, by God’s definition, is a spiritual person, people who are truly godly. The Jews who were persecuting the believers at Philadelphia were just outward Jews and not God’s people at all or they would have acted like God’s people. The Lord's promise to the Philadelphians is that he would one day compel those phonies to fall at their feet and worship and know that I have loved you. What an occasion that will be! When Jesus vindicates his suffering saints, it will certainly be in no uncertain terms!

Second, Christ promises, "I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth." Eschatologically (doctrine of end things) speaking, these words are very, very important. The Greek word translated from here is the word ek (ek), which means out of. The import of this little two letter word here is great. Christ is promising to keep these Philadelphian believers out of the time period itself. That is because he is going to remove his saints before the day of God’s wrath begins. I take this term, the hour of trial, to refer to the entire 7 year Tribulation that will commence after the Rapture of the Church. This is further proof that the Church will not be on Earth when God's day of wrath comes.

Now, the church at Philadelphia has long vanished from the scene, yet the coming hour of trial has yet to arrive. One might ask, "So, how could this have been relevant to them"? The answer lies in the fact that the return of Jesus Christ to get his Church has always been eminent.He could have come for the Philadelphian believers at any time but, in retrospect, he didn't. Therefore, this statement has now come to address his Universal Church of all ages as evidenced by his words, "he that has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches". These words are a strong proof for the pre-tribulation Rapture of the Church. In essence, they teach that no church will go into that time period. This is in line with the whole of scripture on this subject as well. For example, as you have it in First Thessalonians 1:10...

"And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come."

It is the legitimate and biblical expectation for every church of every age that they will not go through the coming day of God's wrath the Tribulation. We will go out ahead of it.

Our Lord further says of that day that it will be sent "to test those who dwell on the earth". The coming Tribulation will test mankind under the severest conditions imaginable. It is designed to see which way men will turn under extreme conditions. It will be a time of refining for Jews and Gentiles alike. Out of those days, God will call out the last of his people for his name's sake. Every possible man, woman and child who will turn to the Savior and be saved will come to him during those days. Millions will respond during God’s great day of testing. It will bring the greatest revival the world has ever witnessed. In chapter 7, we will be introduced to the believers who will come out of the Great Tribulation. A passage from Isaiah’s prophecy, at this point, is helpful to define what our Lord means by testing. Because of its importance, here is Isaiah 24 in its entirety.

"Behold, the LORD makes the earth empty and makes it waste, distorts its surface and scatters abroad its inhabitants. And it shall be: as with the people, so with the priest; as with the servant, so with his master; as with the maid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the lender, so with the borrower; as with the creditor, so with the debtor. The land shall be entirely emptied and utterly plundered, for the LORD has spoken this word. The earth mourns and fades away, the world languishes and fades away; the haughty people of the earth languish. The earth is also defiled under its inhabitants, because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore the curse has devoured the earth, and those who dwell in it are desolate. Therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men are left. The new wine fails, the vine languishes, all the merry-hearted sigh. The mirth of the tambourine ceases, the noise of the jubilant ends, the joy of the harp ceases. "They shall not drink wine with a song; strong drink is bitter to those who drink it. The city of confusion is broken down; every house is shut up, so that none may go in. There is a cry for wine in the streets, all joy is darkened, the mirth of the land is gone. In the city desolation is left, and the gate is stricken with destruction. When it shall be thus in the midst of the land among the people, it shall be like the shaking of an olive tree, like the gleaning of grapes when the vintage is done. They shall lift up their voice, they shall sing; for the majesty of the LORD they shall cry aloud from the sea. Therefore glorify the LORD in the dawning light, the name of the LORD God of Israel in the coastlands of the sea. From the ends of the earth we have heard songs: "Glory to the righteous!" But I said, "I am ruined, ruined! Woe to me! The treacherous dealers have dealt treacherously, indeed, the treacherous dealers have dealt very treacherously. Fear and the pit and the snare are upon you, O inhabitant of the earth. And it shall be that he who flees from the noise of the fear shall fall into the pit, and he who comes up from the midst of the pit shall be caught in the snare; for the windows from on high are open, and the foundations of the earth are shaken. The earth is violently broken, the earth is split open, the earth is shaken exceedingly. The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall totter like a hut; its transgression shall be heavy upon it, and it will fall, and not rise again. It shall come to pass in that day that the LORD will punish on high the host of exalted ones, and on the earth the kings of the earth. They will be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and will be shut up in the prison; after many days they will be punished. Then the moon will be disgraced and the sun ashamed; for the LORD of hosts will reign On Mount Zion and in Jerusalem and before his elders, gloriously."

Truly, mankind is in for an incredible hour of trial.

3:11