A thorough study of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show his servants things which must shortly come to pass. (Rev. 1:1)
Welcome to our study of the Revelation of Jesus Christ given unto Apostle John.
I am Phillip Smith, your host and fellow servant of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
We have seen Jesus is in the midst of all congregations of the ‘church’; body of Christ. Each congregation and all members of the body are represented by the seven candles on the candlestick.
Now we will see the remaining three of the ‘seven churches’--the entire, whole body of Christ represented by one of these ‘churches’ or congregations. Each ‘church’ or congregation is identified by a given name for us to distinguish one personality or attitude from another.
Fifth Personality–Church #5–Sardis
Rev. 3:1-6. 3 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. 2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. 3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. 4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. 5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. 6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Again, we see the one speaking:
The Son of God
who hath the seven Spirits of God, (Rev. 3:1)
and the seven stars; (Rev. 3:1)
Jesus knows of the behaviors and actions of the congregations, but He has a problem, even with this congregation's attitude and personality. Sardis has a name as if alive, but they are dead. They are to revive and strengthen those things that are dead before they die. They are imperfect–lacking; wanting–in their position before God. If they were to be called today, they would not be of the chosen or elect children of God. They are in need of repentance.
All members of God’s family are to watch and pray they do not fall into the snare of Satan. Sardis has done that. Noone is on watch for the tempter and the congregation will soon be overcome.
There are a few righteous members found in Sardis; but as a whole, they are unworthy of Jesus. This is the sign the congregation, not working, watching or warning others of impending doom, shall die and close its doors. This is a very sad condition of which we find many congregations, even today.
Sixth Personality–Church #6–Philadelphia
Rev. 3:7-13. 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; 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. 9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. 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. 11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. 12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. 13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Again, we see the one speaking:
The Son of God, (Rev. 3:7)
he that is holy, (Rev. 3:7)
he that is true, (Rev. 3:7)
he that hath the key of David, (Rev. 3:7)
he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; (Rev. 3:7)
To Philadelphia, Jesus says they have opportunities set before them to go and accept. (vs. 8) With little strength to perform in these opportunities, Jesus has given them a chance to redeem themselves by preaching before the members of the synagogue of Satan. These so-called righteous of the house of God–calling themselves Jews, but are not faithful, causing those of lesser faith to stumble–to recognize Jesus has accepted these Gentiles into the kingdom of God. (vs. 9)
These righteous few have kept the word of Christ. Jesus will keep them–protect them–from the temptations of the world. They are to hold fast to that which they have and allow no man to take their crown from them.
However, Jesus warns them He will come ‘quickly’. As with the term ‘shortly’ (G1722), we need to pause and identify what is meant by ‘quickly’. Again, this is the synonym of shortly as we discussed previously. Strong’s Lexicon concordance defines it as: G5035, speedily (without delay), soon, suddenly or readily.
In a realm of eternity, where time is irrelevant to God, ‘quickly’ could mean a very short amount of time in relation to a longer period or a very long period of time.
In relation to a man’s lifetime, 70 years is a very short amount of time related to eternity. Could Jesus mean his taking from this earth members from Philadelphia, or, perhaps taking the congregation of Philadelphia to exist no more, yet life on earth continues? The concept of each possibility remains as ‘quickly’ or ‘shortly’.
Even the closing of life upon the earth will happen ‘shortly or ‘quickly’ in relation to eternity. We, however, realize life still exists upon earth as we are here and studying the Will of God.
Anyone who overcomes the world or Satan and his temptations shall receive the mark of Jesus; he will become a ‘pillar’, prominent person with a prominent position in the kingdom of God. (vs 12) This righteous member will have the doors of the kingdom closed so he will remain inside of the Kingdom of God. he will receive the name of God, and the name of the Holy city, Jerusalem. Jesus will give him a new name to be recognized in Heaven.
Remember what Jesus told Ephesis, “be thou faithful until death, and I will give thee a crown of life”? Rev. 2:10. He that overcomes shall be found in Heaven, prominent and with a new name–a Heavenly name.
Seventh Personality–Church #7–Laodicea
Rev. 3:14-22. 14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 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. 21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. 22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Once again, we see the one speaking:
The Amen, vs. 14
The faithful and true witness, vs. 14
The beginning of the creation, vs. 14
The son of God. vs. 14
To Laodicea, Jesus says they are neither hot nor cold; they are not zealous for living, but acting as dead. They are not alive–they are in a coma. One in a coma is living but cannot do anything. Family members of a person in a coma wish they were active in living so they would no longer suffer physically. Perhaps death would be better. This is what Jesus is describing. He would rather they be alive and zealously active in sharing the Good News, but they are just breathing; not active at anything. (vs. 15)
Therefore, Jesus will vomit them out; spue them out of his mouth. (They make him sick; he does not wish to allow others to know of them for their inactivity)
Not doing the ‘will’ of the Father is sickening and unacceptable in the Kingdom of God.
Why do the Laodiceans feel as they do in the nature they are found by our Lord? They think they have succeeded in their religious position; they have riches and every thing that goes along with it. They are in need of nothing. (vs. 17)
Jesus tells them to repent. They need to clear their eyes so that they may see clearly the condition they are in. they need to wash their robes and return them white. Reclothe themselves with righteousness to cover their nakedness and shame. Purify their gold by burning it in the fire to cleanse it for the use in the Kingdom of God. only then shall they be ready for the Kingdom.
Discipline is always necessary in the physical world. Spiritual discipline is necessary, also. Jesus rebukes and chastens His ‘called’ to attempt to keep them on the ‘straight and narrow’.
Jesus is calling everyone. (I stand at the door and knock) All who hear his voice and will allow the Lord to enter their soul, Jesus will implore them to repent. He who ‘overcometh’ Jesus will save. (vs. 21)
Vs. 22. 22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Next session we will look closely at this phrase and find its meaning to the churches.
