Much has been
written
concerning end
times events
according to the
Revelation of
Jesus Christ, as
recorded by the
Apostle John. If
you turn to the
beginning of the
book, John
identifies
himself and it
is believed that
it is John the
beloved, the
apostle whom
Jesus loved. In
this historical
and prophetic
opening chapter,
John hears a
voice and gives
a description of
our risen Lord
that sends him
to his knees and
on his face.
Revelation 1:12
1:12 And
I turned to see
the voice that
spake with me.
And being
turned, I saw
seven golden
candlesticks;
1:13 And
in the midst of
the seven
candlesticks one
like unto the
Son of man,
clothed with a
garment down to
the foot, and
girt about the
paps with a
golden girdle.
1:14 His
head and his
hairs were white
like wool, as
white as snow;
and his eyes
were as a flame
of fire;
1:15 And
his feet like
unto fine brass,
as if they
burned in a
furnace; and his
voice as the
sound of many
waters.
1:16 And
he had in his
right hand seven
stars: and out
of his mouth
went a sharp
two-edged sword:
and his
countenance was
as the sun
shineth in his
strength.
1:17 And
when I saw him,
I fell at his
feet as dead.
And he laid his
right hand upon
me, saying unto
me, Fear not; I
am the first and
the last:
Jesus lays His
hand on John and
proceeds to give
a warning to
each of the
present day
churches that
were located in
Asia Minor what
is now modern
day Turkey. Each church were given
praise for what
they were doing
right, but a
dire warning for
what they were
doing wrong,
except two
churches.
People look at
these
descriptions of
the early 1st
century churches
and have to
tried to figure
out what Jesus
was trying to
convey to them,
and to us. The
warnings were
for them, but is
applicable to
anytime in
history when
God’s church
forgets where
they have come
from, what they
have been saved
out of, and
following after
God’s Holy
instructions for
His disciples.
Or sadly, they
are just going
through the
rituals and
motions.
Let’s briefly
review each
church and what
they were doing
in this
particular
period of time
Jesus was
talking about.
(1)Ephesus (Revelation
2:1-7) - the
church that had
forsaken its
first love
(2:4).
(2)
Smyrna
(Revelation
2:8-11) -
the church that
would suffer
persecution (2:10).
(3)
Pergamum
(Revelation
2:12-17) -
the church that
needed to repent
(2:16).
(4) Thyatira (Revelation
2:18-29) -
the church that
had a false
prophetess
(2:20).
(5)
Sardis
(Revelation
3:1-6) - the
church that had
fallen asleep
(3:2).
(6)
Philadelphia
(Revelation
3:7-13) -
the church that
had endured
patiently
(3:10).
(7)
Laodicea
(Revelation
3:14-22) -
the church with
the lukewarm
faith (3:16).
For lack of
space, I’m going
to only focus
briefly on four
of these
churches apart
from the whole
list. Notice
that each had
their problems
and sin in their
congregations
that Jesus
warned them
about, right
after He told
them what they
were doing well.
He encouraged
them, until He
rebuked them, as
we all have a
ways to go to
learn the ways
of our Lord.
The above list
can apply to any
church in all of
our past history
after Jesus was
resurrected. But
many try to
explain that
these
descriptions can
apply to a
certain periods
of time in
history when
this church’s
attitude or need
for repentance
was in being
played out. I
think we can
make too many
leaps of faith
in trying to
explain what
each church
stands for, but
miss the broader
issue. And of
course they
reason, that we
are in the
Laodicean age,
as the church is
in a real mess.
It is man’s
sinful nature
that leads
him/her away
from their first
love as spoken
to the church in
Ephesus.
Remember how you
first felt when
you accepted
Jesus Christ as
your personal
Savior? I know I
do. It was like
the weight of
the world was
lifted off your
shoulders and
you were so in
love with your
Savior that you
couldn’t get
enough of Him,
talking about
Him, or reading
His Word.
Your
every thought
was “what can I
do to please
Him?” Do we
still feel that
way?
We let the cares
of this life,
and the daily
grind of our
jobs and the
sinful world
around us wear
us down and we
left our first
love. Sometimes,
even when we are
deep in church
activities, we
go through the
motions, but our
hearts are not
in it or you’re
just using
church for a
social
gathering.
Meaning, as
Jesus said
Matthew
15:8
“This people
draweth nigh
unto me with
their mouth, and
honoureth me
with their lips;
but their heart
is far from me.
15:9 But
in vain they do
worship me,
teaching for
doctrines the
commandments of
men.
Paul said in
Romans “7:19 For
the good that I
would I do not:
but the evil
which I would
not, that I do.
7:20 Now
if I do that I
would not, it is
no more I that
do it, but sin
that dwelleth in
me.,
then further
down:
7:24 O
wretched man
that I am! who
shall deliver me
from the body of
this death?
7:25 I
thank God
through Jesus
Christ our Lord.
So then with the
mind I myself
serve the law of
God; but with
the flesh the
law of sin.
Man is prone
to wander. His
heart is not
naturally tuned
to the things of
God. We are
mortal and born
into sin and
will continue to
sin, as long as
we are in this
body. As it is
written:
Romans
8:7
Because the
carnal mind is
enmity against
God: for it is
not subject to
the law of God,
neither indeed
can be.
8:8 So
then they that
are in the flesh
cannot please
God.
8:9 But
ye are not in
the flesh, but
in the Spirit,
if so be that
the Spirit of
God dwell in
you. Now if any
man have not the
Spirit of
Christ, he is
none of his.
See what
Jesus said
concerning
leaving our
first love.
Jesus said,
“Revelation
2:5 Remember
therefore from
whence thou art
fallen, and
repent, and do
the first works;
or else I will
come unto thee
quickly, and
will remove thy
candlestick out
of his place,
except thou
repent.”
There is a
remedy for
falling away
from our first
love,
remembrance. It
is the greatest
gift of
spiritual
renewal. Living
for God is a
struggle, I’ll
admit, as Satin
walks about “as
a roaring lion,
seeking whom he
may devour.” We
must be honest
with ourselves.
Are we doing the
things that were
our first love
and were
pleasing in the
sight of our
Lord and Savior?
I find it easy
to get a person
to admit that
their lifestyle
is not pleasing
to God and
search for a way
to change it,
but on the other
hand, it’s
almost
impossible to
get a “church
going” believer
convinced that
their fervor for
following the
ways of our Lord
and Savior have
waned and that
they are just
plodding along
in vain
repetitions.
A person
must do more
than just repent
when
confronted by
saying “I’m
sorry,”…or “Lord
forgive me” if
there is no
change in the
heart and the
mind. There has
to be a change
of attitude and
a desire to
follow the
commands of our
Savior who died
for us.
That is
what restoration
is all about…to
remember, to
repent, and then
just DO IT! It
is not enough
just to make a
resolution to do
better, but we
must follow
through.
As with many
statements in
the bible-there
is a flip-side
to the coin.
Most people
don't like
conditional
statements in
the bible (I
call them
If/Then
statements),
because
we have been
brainwashed into
believing that
God only
demonstrates
love, and that
judgment is not
one of His
attributes.
Nothing could be
further from the
truth. He warns
the churches
that a failure
to remember,
repent, and do
the first works,
will result in a
judgment. Christ
says that He
will remove the
candlestick out
of its place
unless
repentance
happens. There
are various
opinions as to
what it actually
means for a
candlestick to
be removed, but
remember that
the candlestick
represents the
church. Do you
want your place
in the church
removed? The
church is the
bride of Christ-
if you're not in
the
church-you're
not part of the
bride. These are
sobering words
indeed.
There is a
difference, in
my way of
thinking,
between being in
the church and
being of the
church. The
church is not a
building with a
pretty steeple
and has
gatherings that
turn out to be
nothing more
than social
events and
preaching that
is nothing more
than sermons of
personal growth.
The church is a
group of people
that have taken
Jesus for what
He said He was.
Collectively,
they have
believed on His
name by faith,
and follow Him
in whatever He
wrote down as
literal for
their lives in
His Word,
everyday. Take
that for
whatever it is
worth to you, as
I’ll not try and
interpret what
Jesus said and
take it at face
value. I
wouldn’t want to
test Him.
In the first
part of this
message, I said
there were
warnings for all
the churches,
except two. The church of Smyrna
and the church
at
Philadelphia
are unique among
the 7 churches
of Revelation in
that there was
no warning or
condemnation for
them. For this
reason alone, it
behooves us to
learn from their
example.
Of the church of Smyrna,
Jesus says this:
“Rev 2:9 I know
thy works, and
tribulation, and
poverty, (but
thou art rich)
and I know the
blasphemy of
them which say
they are Jews,
and are not, but
are the
synagogue of
Satan.
Even though they
were poor,
spiritually they
were rich. The
text lets us
know that they
were being
persecuted by
the surrounding
Jewish
population, but
were standing
strong. We know
that if we
follow the
biblical example
set by Jesus
Christ, we will
be persecuted,
even by main
stream religions
that profess
Jesus Christ,
but have a form
of godliness,
but deny the
power thereof.
They substitute
what is
commanded of our
Lord and
substitute the
traditions of
men. Or they
proclaim a feel
good gospel of
personal
development and
riches in this
life, but fail
to lay up
treasures in the
next one, the
one that counts.
Rev 2:11 He that
hath an ear, let
him hear what
the Spirit saith
unto the
churches; He
that overcometh
shall not be
hurt of the
second death.
That would be
eternal death.
As with the
other churches,
we have a
promise to the
faithful
"overcomer." The
one who
overcomes, will
not be hurt by
the "second
death." Man, is
a mortal being
and he will
indeed one day
stand before His
maker. Those who
have a living
relationship
with Christ will
appear at the
judgment seat of
Christ to
receive his/her
reward there for
the things done
in the body.
Those that have
rejected Christ
and His
teachings will
meet God at the
White Throne
judgment. This
will be a
sentencing
hearing (not a
place for a
plea-bargain).
All those whose
names are not
written in the
Book of Life
will be cast
into the Lake of Fire. This, my reader, is the second
death, eternal
death.
Now take a
moment to focus
on the
Philadelphia
church.
Rev 3:7 And to
the angel of the
church in
Philadelphia
write; These
things saith he
that is holy, he
that is true, he
that hath the
key of David, he
that openeth,
and no man
shutteth; and
shutteth, and no
man openeth.”
Most everyone
thinks they
belong to this
one church
style. They are
the true church
and everyone
else has got it
wrong. Don’t we
esteem ourselves
a little too
highly?
Philippians
2:12 “Wherefore,
my beloved, as
ye have always
obeyed, not as
in my presence
only, but now
much more in my
absence,
work out your
own salvation
with fear and
trembling.
2:13 For
it is God which
worketh in you
both to will and
to do of his
good pleasure.”
This is the
other church
that God had no
condemnation
for.
Rev 3:8 I know
thy works:
behold, I have
set before thee
an open door,
and no man can
shut it: for
thou hast a
little strength,
and hast kept my
word, and hast
not denied my
name.
I’ve always
believed that at
the end of time,
that the church
will have little
strength. There
will be a
minority of
mankind that
will be faithful
to the very end.
Some will
profess, but it
will be with
their mind, and
not with their
heart.
“They profess
with their lips,
but their hearts
are far from
Me.” His
church will have
"little
strength" which
no doubt is
under
persecution from
those of the
"synagogue of
satan" would
take great
comfort in
knowing that God
is in control of
the door being
open or shut. In
this context we
see that the
open door would
refer to these
true Christians
who have access
to the presence
of God and
refuge under the
shadow of His
wings.
Psalms 91: 4
“He shall cover
thee with his
feathers, and
under his wings
shalt thou
trust: his truth
shall be thy
shield and
buckler.
The closed door
represents the
line which God
would not allow
the enemy to
cross- praise
God that there
is a limit to
what He will
allow any of us
to suffer! And
still others
feel that this
open door is the
same door that
John saw in the
beginning of the
4th
chapter of this
prophetic book
and I’m inclined
to agree, that
it shows an
entrance into
God’s kingdom at
the removal of
His church.
We know that
there is coming
a time of
trouble on our
earth in our
time, soon. This
means that the
situation is not
a local problem,
but the
temptation is a
global one.
Rev 3:10
Because thou
hast kept the
word of my
patience, I also
will keep thee
from the hour of
temptation,
which shall come
upon all the
world, to try
them that dwell
upon the earth
I believe a time
is rapidly
approaching when
the beginning of
the tribulation
is due to begin.
How long?
It is not
revealed, but
the signs say
that the birth
pangs are
growing intense
and the baby is
about to be
born. I
personally
believe that
this is a
reference to the
tribulation
period that
indeed will come
upon the whole
world "as a
snare" just like
Jesus said. Now
we come to the
more
controversial
aspect of this
passage. While I
do believe that
this is a
promise or
reference to
true Christians
being removed
prior to the
commencement of
the tribulation-
I also see that
there is a
condition which
is implied here.
Notice that
Jesus says,
"Because thou
has kept the
word of my
patience...I
also will keep
thee….."
So what is the
alternative? It
doesn’t take a
genius to figure
out that what
He’s saying,
that if you are
just going
through the
motions, have
not really
believed in your
heart that Jesus
is raised from
the dead, or
just belong to a
church and live
like the rest of
the world where
you can’t tell
the difference
between you and
drunk in a bar
accept on
worship time,
one day a week,
then
you are
ripe for being
cast headlong
into tribulation
that is coming.
Now let’s
briefly deal
with the last
church that
Jesus warns most
sternly. The church of Laodicea was the “bad boy” church. What
did Jesus say of
them?
Rev 3:15 I know
thy works, that
thou art neither
cold nor hot: I
would thou wert
cold or hot.
3:16
So then
because thou art
lukewarm, and
neither cold nor
hot, I will spue
thee out of my
mouth.
They are neither
cold which could
imply
refreshing, as a
cold drink, or
hot, which would
/could be
medicinal, but
they were
lukewarm made
the Lord God
sick to His
stomach. The
word in this
verse “spue”
would be better
served to say
“vomit”.
Those who choose
to be
indifferent to
the commands of
Christ and yet
remain "on the
church pew" do
so at their own
peril. We see
that perhaps the
greatest danger
lies in a
"mediocre" type
of faith. Sadly
this is the
predominate
condition in
these last days.
We find
(especially in
the West) that
almost everyone
professes to be
a "Christian."
Most people base
this profession
not on the fact
that they have
actually
repented of
their sins and
been saved, but
rather because
of such faulty
logic as "I'm a
member of
such-and-such
church", or "I
was raised in a
Christian home",
or "I was
baptized as a
child." None of
this means
anything, if
Jesus is not
truly in your
heart and you
made a
confession of
faith and live
that faith in
your everyday
life. It’s a
condition of the
heart (the inner
man that dies to
the world), not
of the mind
which can be
deceived.
But at the end
of this chapter,
Jesus gives a
calling to each
of us that are
sitting on the
sidelines and
watching the
action and not
making any type
of commitment,
except to belong
to “a church”.
Jesus said,
Rev 3:20 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.”
This is perhaps
the most
beautiful
picture that
comes to mind,
and many artists
have painted the
image showing
Jesus Christ
standing at a
door knocking,
which is
outside
the door of a
man’s sinful
nature and
asking for entry
into that life.
God desires
fellowship with
man and pursues
you and desires
your company,
not the other
way around.
We love Him
because He first
loved us- while
we were yet
sinners, Christ
died for us.
Romans
5:8 But
God commendeth
his love toward
us, in that,
while we were
yet sinners,
Christ died for
us.
5:9 Much
more then, being
now justified by
his blood, we
shall be saved
from wrath
through him.
If you belong to
a church and
think that it’s
just good enough
to sit in a pew
and listen to a
stale sermon
that disinterest
you, or rely on
your parent’s
religion, your
priest, or
anyone but what
really counts,
then I ask you
to make a
decision today
to change that.
It is the error
of the majority
of church going
folks that think
they are doing
alright and that
they have a
ticket to
“heaven” because
they live a good
life and pay
their taxes.
THEY DON’T. It
takes more, but
it’s so simple
that even a
child can
believe.
Matthew
18:2,
And Jesus called
a little child
unto him, and
set him in the
midst of them,
18:3 And
said, Verily I
say unto you,
Except ye be
converted, and
become as little
children, ye
shall not enter
into the kingdom
of heaven.
18:4 Whosoever
therefore shall
humble himself
as this little
child, the same
is greatest in
the kingdom of
heaven.
Humbly come
before the
throne of the
Lord of the
Universe, the
King of Kings,
and ask
forgiveness of
your sins and
failures and ask
God to cleanse
your from all
unrighteousness.
And my friend,
He will do just
as you ask.
If there is
anything I can
help you with,
pray with you
about or give
more details on
how to become a
truly converted
Christian, or
just listen to
your concerns,
then email me at
realteam1999@sbcglobal.net,
or visit me
online at
www.churchofgod-usa.org.
This is Mike
Taylor, wishing
you God speed
till we meet at
Jesus feet.