The Seven Churches Part 9 – Conclusion

The Seven Churches

Part 9 – Conclusion

Pastor Bruce A. Shields

House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org

INTRODUCTION

Today, we will look at everything the Lord had to say to John, and focus on what the Lord is actually judging, the warnings, and the rewards to the overcomers, which will allow us to take a personal assessment, as well as an assessment of our church.

Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.

Each letter is in the same format, first establishing the Lord's authority to judge a specific issue, acknowledging the works of the specific church, giving commendation, condemnation, or both, then explaining the warnings of not repenting, and the rewards to those who overcome what the Lord is judging, and finally, the commission from the Lord to listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying to the "churches".

Today we will do just that.

We will first read Revelation 1:9-18, which is the record of the Lords appearance, then we will take all of the letters, examining what we were told to examine, looking at what the Holy Spirit has to say to all the churches.

First, I will read a collection of the scriptures establishing the Lord's authority, the a collection of the scriptures where the Lord looks at the works. We will then see a collection of scriptures of the warnings, and finally a collection of the promises to the overcomer.

In essence, this is like reading one letter from the Lord, instead of seven letters to seven churches.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE

Revelation 1:9-18

⁹ I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. ¹⁰ On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, ¹¹ which said: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.”

¹² I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, ¹³ and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man,^[d] dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. ¹⁴ The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. ¹⁵ His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. ¹⁶ In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.

¹⁷ When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. ¹⁸ I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.

I.       JESUS ESTABLISHES HIS AUTHORITY

a.      Jesus has fully established "who" He is in the first chapter of Revelation

b.     The Lord Establishes His authority in the beginning of each of the letters

These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. The words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. The words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword.

These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. The words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. The words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.

These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 

II.   THE WORKS HE WILL JUDGE

I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you do not tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.  You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.

I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer.

I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives.

I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance...

See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.

III.   THE WARNINGS

Do not forsake the love you had at first. If you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.

There are some among you who hold to the teachings not of the Lord, doctrines which taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality. Likewise, you also have some who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

Do not tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling.  So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.

I know your deeds; do not just have a reputation of being alive, BE ALIVE. Wake up! Strengthen what remains before it dies. Do not let me find your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.

Do not let your deeds be neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! If you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I will spit you out of my mouth.  

Do not be self-righteous, or you will say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.

I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

IV. TO THE OVERCOMERS

Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.

I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.

To you who do not hold to {false prophets} teachings and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets, ‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’

To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations—  that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery’—just as I have received authority from my Father. I will also give that one the morning star.

you have a few people who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy.  The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels. 

 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name.

 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.  Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

 To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. ²Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

CONCLUSION

The Lord is judging the churches now. He is judging our hearts now.

He rebukes us and disciplines us because He loves us, and wants us to be overcomers, so that we may be with Him for eternity.

Listen to the words that the Holy Spirit says to the church, and listen to what He is saying to your heart.

He has said that He is coming, we must ensure that we are in a right relationship with our Lord, examine yourselves. Search your hearts.

Let us be sure to show works that are worthy of repentance, pure of motivation, and rightfully represent the Kingdom of God.

Want to learn more about Salvation and Getting Saved?    CLICK HERE!

The Seven Churches Part 8 – Laodicea

The Seven Churches

Part 8 – Laodicea

Pastor Bruce A. Shields

House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org

INTRODUCTION

This is the revelation of Jesus Christ to John.

John is told to record what he had seen, is seeing, and will see, which is the key to the Book of Revelation. John saw Jesus and his description defines and sets the foundation for the rest of the book. Jesus IS Lord of Lords, and King of Kings, and the Alpha and Omega.

John then records the letters to the pastor's of each of the seven churches, or, what is taking place NOW, and then record what WILL take place in the end.

Each letter begins with the Lord establishing His authority in the specific area He addresses each church in, telling us the good and the bad, as well as a warning and blessing, then closing each letter with a command for us to hear what the Holy Spirit is saying.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE

Revelation 3:14-22

To the Church in Laodicea

¹⁴ “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:

These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. ¹⁵ I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! ¹⁶ So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. ¹⁷ You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. ¹⁸ I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

¹⁹ Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. ²⁰ Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

²¹ To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. ²² Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

I.       JESUS ESTABLISHES HIS AUTHORITY

a.      Dispensation

i.       The Apostate Church Age

ii.    Began?? – Present day

iii. We don't know when it began, but we know it has begun. This is the last church addressed by Christ, meaning the Rapture will take place very shortly.

b.     “To the star (Pastor) of the church, write...”

i.       "These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness..."

a.      Jesus establishing Himself as the one who is authorized to judge on being faithful and true. Neither of which the church in Laodicea were.

ii.    "...the ruler of God’s creation."

II.   I KNOW YOUR WORKS

a.      He knows our works, because He walks among the lampstands.

i.       Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” 

b.     I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot.

i.       This is what we see in so many of our present churches today.

c.      I wish you were either one or the other! 

i.       half-measures won't do...Jesus does not want wishy-washy people.

ii.    James 1:6 "...when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷ That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. ⁸ Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do."

d.     So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 

i.       If a person is lukewarm towards something, it means he has not rejected it, but at the same time he has by no means accepted it.

ii.    In the mind of God, a lukewarm response is the same as a negative response.

iii. Here we see the apostate church with no prospect of repentance on their part, so there is Divine rejection of the church

III. The Problem with the Apostate Church

a.      Because you say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’

i.       They equated material goods, finances, money, with spiritual Blessings, which they were not.

ii.    How may mega-churches today boast of money and riches, equating them with spiritual blessings from God?

a.      There are many rich people in the world who have nothing to do with God.

iii. The problem with Laodicea (as well as the Apostate Churches in general) is, they do not realize what the next verse says, "But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked."

iv.   The problem with this church is, while they gloated over material wealth, the church was unconscious of its spiritual poverty. very indicative of the modern church.

b.      I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich;

i.       What the church needs to buy, cannot be purchased with money, but only the precious blood of Christ, the price that has already been paid; but many modern churches are not interested.

c.      and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

i.       This refers to the Righteousness that comes from Christ.

ii.    Christ's Righteousness is gained only by faith in Christ. This shows us that the church in Laodicea is extremely self-righteous; not having the righteousness of Christ, they are "naked" to the judgment of God.

iii. The salve needed for their eyes is because they are spiritually blind.

d.     Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. ²⁰ Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

i.       Correction and discipline IS love!

ii.    If you are never corrected or disciplined by God, I would be very afraid...

iii. This statement shows us there was still a remnant of followers in this church who were being corrected, and would be saved.

iv.   The Church desperately needs to repent for its rebellion against Christ.

e.      Here I am! I stand at the door and knock.

i.       This presents Christ OUTSIDE THE CHURCH!

ii.    If anyone hears my voice

a.      There is so much religious racket going on in the modern church, it becomes difficult to "hear His voice"

iii. and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

a.      Christ is the true door, meaning the church has erected another door!

b.     Having been rejected by the modern Apostate church, the Lord now appeals to individuals, and continues to do so today.

CONCLUSION

To him who overcomes

I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne.

The overcomer will gain the prize of the Throne, which can only be done by making Christ the object of his faith.

Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

In plain language, the Holy Spirit is saying, "Come back to Christ!"

Want to learn more about Salvation and Getting Saved?    CLICK HERE!

The Seven Churches Part 7 – Philadelphia

The Seven Churches

Part 7 – Philadelphia

Pastor Bruce A. Shields

House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org

INTRODUCTION

This is the revelation of Jesus Christ to John.

John is told to record what had seen, is seeing, and will see, which is the key to the Book of Revelation. John saw Jesus and his description defines and sets the foundation for the rest of the book. Jesus IS Lord of Lords, and King of Kings, and the Alpha and Omega.

John then records the letters to the pastor's of each of the seven churches, or, what is taking place NOW, and then record what WILL take place in the end.

Chapters 4-22 of Revelation is for those who will be left behind after the rapture.

Last week we took a look at the first of the seven churches, Ephesus, the apostolic church, and read what was good, and bad about the church. The end of the letter states, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the spirit says unto the churches.”

In other words, these things apply to US today, as The Church and Body of Christ.

Today we look at the second church, Smyrna, the martyr church.

  

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE

Revelation 3:7-13

To the Church in Philadelphia

7 “To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:

These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. 8 I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. 10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.

11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 12 The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name. 13 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

I.       JESUS ESTABLISHES HIS AUTHORITY

a.      Dispensation

i.       The Missionary Church Age

ii.    1800AD – Present day

b.     “To the star (Pastor) of the church, write...”

i.       Remember, Jesus walks among the candle sticks (the churches)

ii.    The stars (Pastors) are in His right hand

iii. The seven-fold spirits before the throne are the operations of the Holy Spirit

c.      “...These things say;”

i.       These are the words of him who is holy

ii.     and true,

iii.  who holds the key of David.

iv.    What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.

v.      Jesus is establishing the fact that HE has complete authority in the church, not the board, not the members, not the deacons, elders or pastor...but Christ.

a.      Ephesians 1:21-23 “21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”

b.     Colossians 1:17-18 “17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. “

c.      Christ IS the HEAD of the church, and the church (the people, not the building), are the body of Christ.

II.   I KNOW YOUR WORKS

a.      He knows our works, because He walks among the lampstands.

i.       Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” 

b.     Before Christ says He knows there deeds, He states

i.       These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.

ii.    With all of the letters, Christ establishes HIS authority in the area He is going to speak with each church about.

a.      First giving His overall description in Revelation 1

b.     Holds the 7 stars in His right hand & walks among the 7 candle sticks

1.      Addressed the false stars (apostles/pastors) in Ephesus, who had forsaken its first love.

c.      The first & last, the dead & alive

1.      Addressed blasphemy of Synagogue of Satan (Pharisees & Sadducee) for denying Christ as God (first & last) and that He raised from death (dead & alive) in Smyrna, the church that suffered persecution.

d.     Sharp sword with two-edges (the Word)

1.       Addressed Pergamos for believing in false doctrines instead of WORD of GOD...they were the church that needed to repent.

e.      Son of God, eyes like flame of fire (Christ is Judge who sees all)

1.      Addresses the “spiritual adultery” of the church following false teachings. Christ “sees it” and “judges it” in Thyatira

f.       Christ has the 7 spirits of God (Holy Spirit) and the 7 stars (Pastors)

1.      Addresses the fact that HE determines who (in this case the Pastors) will receive the Holy Spirit and its operations in Sardis, the church that had fallen asleep.

g.      Now we see the Lord establishing His overall authority in doors He opens, and closes, that no man can change.

1.      The Lord has OPENED the door to Philadelphia, they can be the missionary church that takes the Gospel into al the world, and no one can close that door.

c.      I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.

i.       NOT spiritually weak (little strength), but FEW in numbers...they wee a SMALL church.

ii.    YET (the Lord says), you have kept my Word and NOT denied my name!

d.     BEHOLD (because of THIS!)

i.       9 I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. 

a.      God does NOT recognize the spiritual claims of national Israel.

b.     The Jews (religiously speaking), have denied the one who is HOLY, TRUE & the KEY of DAVID

c.      “falling down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you...” refers to the coming KINGDOM AGE, when Christ will rule personally over the entire earth, with Israel restored, Israel will then bow at the feet of Christ, whom the Gentiles accepted.

ii.    10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently (reward), I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.

a.      This is the rapture of the church before the Great Tribulation

III. WARNINGS AND BLESSINGS

a.      Behold, I come quickly

i.       A warning to be prepared for the Rapture

b.     Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.

i.       The devil will use religious men to try and move us away from our faith in Christ

c.      To the one who overcomes

i.       "...I will make a pillar in the temple of my God..."

a.      The overcomer is the one who trusts explicitly in Christ and what He did for us at the cross.

ii.    "...Never again will they leave it..."

a.      Refers to the constant position in the presence of God

iii. "...I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name..."

a.      At the cross, Christ paid the penalty for our sin.

b.     Christ is the source of all our blessings, and we are a new creation.

1.      2 Corinthians 5:17-18 “17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:”

2.      Galatians 6:15 “Neither circumcision nor un-circumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation.”

CONCLUSION

Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

The Holy Spirit is saying to the churches, we MUST be ready for the Rapture, which can ONLY be done by faith in Christ...LIVING FAITH, in Christ.

Ecclesiastes 9:12

no one knows when their hour will come: As fish are caught in a cruel net, or birds are taken in a snare, so people are trapped by evil times that fall unexpectedly upon them.

Want to learn more about Salvation and Getting Saved?    CLICK HERE!