Revelation 2 and 3

[rjones]

Dear Brother Y5EE252_RICHIE,
I pray your exams went well for you. Thank you for taking the time to study with me. I like how you brought out the fact that we must be aware of and deal with spiritual pride and sin in our lives. We daily must face the world and in doind so we are constantly being bombarded with "the things of this world" that try to cause us to compromise our beliefs. Thank God we have His Word and His Spirit to overcome!

Here's some good historical information I found.

"To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: Pergamum means mixed marriage and represents the merger of pagan and Christian practices in the 4th century when Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire.

These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. In Hebrews 4:12 the double-edged sword is used to describe God's Word, the source of Truth.

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, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives. With the establishment of Baghdad as the major distribution center between the Persian Gulf and the Mediterranean Sea following Alexander's death, Babylon had gone into decline so the original mother/child cult religion moved its headquarters from there to Pergamum. (It eventually settled in Rome.) The reference to Satan's home there shows the true source of this false religion.

Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality.
Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. These pagan practices crept into the church at Pergamum, just as they had in Ephesus.

Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. The truth of the Gospel has always been the best defense against the cults.

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.There's still plenty of idolatry in the church.

To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it. Just as the black ball was a vote against someone, a white stone was a sign of trust. When an important businessman had to complete a transaction in a distant city, he didn't travel there. It was too dangerous. Instead he sent a trusted servant empowered to act on his behalf. The servant carried a coin like form of identification made of baked white clay. The seal of the businessman being represented was pressed into the clay as was a secret name, known only to the other party in the transaction. By the presentation of the white stone, the servant authenticated himself as being entitled to all the rights and privileges of his master. In this way, our Lord Jesus will identify us as being entitled to all the rights and privileges due Him, when we enter into the Presence of our Father in Heaven.

Jesus instructed the Disciples to go into all the world (Mt. 28:19-20), but in Pergamus the world came into the church. In the 4th century the Edict of Milan made Christianity legal and ultimately the official religion of the Empire. When that happened, pagan festivals became Christian holidays. The Feasts of Saturnalia and Ishtar became Christmas and Easter. This explains why such pagan symbols as the Yule log and evergreen tree, which symbolized the sun dying and being born again at the winter solstice, are associated with Christmas, while fertility symbols like rabbits and eggs are connected with Easter. Ishtar was the Babylonian goddess of fertility.

As the Roman Empire grew in prominence, Rome soon became the world's center for the practices and traditions of the Babylonian pagan religion. Pergamum slowly faded from the scene, but the mixed marriage of Christianity and Paganism begun there has produced four offspring, Roman Catholics (Thyatira), Main Line Protestants (Sardis), Evangelicals including Pentecostals and Charismatics (Philadelphia) and the Apostate Church (Laodicea). All are alive on Earth today.

 

[Richie]

Here's some good historical information I found.

"To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: Pergamum means mixed marriage and represents the merger of pagan and Christian practices in the 4th century when Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire.

These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. In Hebrews 4:12 the double-edged sword is used to describe God's Word, the source of Truth.

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, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives. With the establishment of Baghdad as the major distribution center between the Persian Gulf and the Mediterranean Sea following Alexander's death, Babylon had gone into decline so the original mother/child cult religion moved its headquarters from there to Pergamum. (It eventually settled in Rome.) The reference to Satan's home there shows the true source of this false religion.

Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality.
Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. These pagan practices crept into the church at Pergamum, just as they had in Ephesus.

Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. The truth of the Gospel has always been the best defense against the cults.

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.There's still plenty of idolatry in the church.

To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it. Just as the black ball was a vote against someone, a white stone was a sign of trust. When an important businessman had to complete a transaction in a distant city, he didn't travel there. It was too dangerous. Instead he sent a trusted servant empowered to act on his behalf. The servant carried a coin like form of identification made of baked white clay. The seal of the businessman being represented was pressed into the clay as was a secret name, known only to the other party in the transaction. By the presentation of the white stone, the servant authenticated himself as being entitled to all the rights and privileges of his master. In this way, our Lord Jesus will identify us as being entitled to all the rights and privileges due Him, when we enter into the Presence of our Father in Heaven.

Jesus instructed the Disciples to go into all the world (Mt. 28:19-20), but in Pergamus the world came into the church. In the 4th century the Edict of Milan made Christianity legal and ultimately the official religion of the Empire. When that happened, pagan festivals became Christian holidays. The Feasts of Saturnalia and Ishtar became Christmas and Easter. This explains why such pagan symbols as the Yule log and evergreen tree, which symbolized the sun dying and being born again at the winter solstice, are associated with Christmas, while fertility symbols like rabbits and eggs are connected with Easter. Ishtar was the Babylonian goddess of fertility.

As the Roman Empire grew in prominence, Rome soon became the world's center for the practices and traditions of the Babylonian pagan religion. Pergamum slowly faded from the scene, but the mixed marriage of Christianity and Paganism begun there has produced four offspring, Roman Catholics (Thyatira), Main Line Protestants (Sardis), Evangelicals including Pentecostals and Charismatics (Philadelphia) and the Apostate Church (Laodicea). All are alive on Earth today.

Dear Brother,

This is awesome historical information that you have found. I'm enjoying it. Thank you so much for sharing this information.

Shall we go ahead, to the next Church?

God bless you.

NOTE: Thank you so much for praying for my exams. My next and the last exam is on Feb 10. I have been preparing a lot for this exam, since 3 months. It is a competitive exam, all over India (it is Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering).

After this exam I will be a bit free for sometime, but I will have a comparitively less academic schedule.

 

[rjones]

Yes, Let us go on to the next church. I would like to encourage others to join in this study as well.

To the Church in Thyatira
"To the angel of the church in Thyatira write: Thyatira means continual sacrifice. (In the Catholic Church, the Lord is still on the cross, and they believe that the communion wafer becomes His actual body and blood as it's consumed.) It's the first letter with a future in view. It's also the first whose members are divided into two categories, the saved and the unsaved.

These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. It couldn't be clearer. While born of the Virgin, the One speaking to them with fire in His eyes is to be addressed as the Son of God, not of Mary.

I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first. The Catholic Church is known for its efforts in bringing mercy and compassion, as well as the Gospel, to God's children.

Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. 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. The title "Queen of Heaven" by which many Catholics refer to Mary, was first used of Semeramis, wife of Nimrod the founder of Babylon, and mother of Tammuz. Semeramis declared herself a goddess, claimed that Tammuz was born of a supernatural conception involving the Sun god, and began the first counterfeit religion, a mother-child cult.

According to legend, while out hunting one day Tammuz was killed by a wild animal. Semeramis mourned for 40 days at the end of which Tammuz was raised from the dead. A celibate priesthood was formed and the chief priest was declared infallible. The 40 day mourning (now called Lent), the Yule log, evergreen tree, mistletoe and hot cross buns were all used in rituals commemorating the event, and the mother-child cult was begun.

Later the Romans adapted these to the death and re-birth of the Sun at the winter solstice, but in the 4th century the traditions surrounding Semeramis and Tammuz were attributed to Mary and Jesus and came almost unchanged into Catholicism, where they remain to this day.

Semeramis is symbolically called Jezebel in the letter, leading people away from the truth into idolatry. But the real Jezebel is also in view here. She was a daughter of the King of Phonecia, a pagan princess best known for her advice to her Israelite husband King Ahab on how to obtain a vineyard he wanted. She brought trumped up charges against the vineyard's owner, hired witnesses to bear false testimony, and had him convicted and executed. Then she confiscated the vineyard in the name of the King. Centuries later the Catholic Church would obtain much of its wealth in the same way. Fortunes beyond measure were gained during these inquisitions.

Jezebel was also the patron of the 400 priests of Baal who Elijah slew on Mt. Carmel. The Lord views idolatry as infidelity and Jezebel had encouraged the worship of Baal, leading the people into spiritual adultery. The many saints to whom some Catholics pray, and the sacramental works they must perform to attain and keep their salvation are not scriptural and deny the sufficiency of the cross. For these reasons the Catholic Church is often called the "plus religion." Jesus plus Mary. Grace plus works. The Scripture plus tradition. Giving glory for the works of God to anyone else is spiritual adultery, and subjects the giver to severe punishment.

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. Those who insist upon being judged by their works will be granted their wish. Sadly the emphasis on these religious works has clouded the true message of the gospel to the extent that some life-long Catholics never come to know the Lord on a personal basis. The Lord will judge them according to the motives of their hearts. Are their good works performed out of gratitude for the free gift of salvation He offers, or they done in a futile effort to earn it on their own?

Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan's so-called deep secrets (I will not impose any other burden on you): Only hold on to what you have until I come. Others will have seen through the layers of traditions and works and saints and rituals and found the face of the Lord looking back at them. Those who do and cling tenaciously to Him will have their reward.

To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations—'He will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery— just as I have received authority from my Father. I will also give him the morning star. They'll join Him on His throne as co-regent of the universe, the Bride of Christ, His beloved church.

We're not in the church because of the pew we occupy, or the name over the door, or the good works we do. We're in the church because we've believed by faith that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. (1 Cor 15:3-4)

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. Even after we're saved by Grace, we all have our lists of do's and don'ts. We derive our self- image as a believer from our adherence to this list, judging others by how well they keep our commandments. When we fail, we fall back on God's grace, but we don't really feel good about ourselves until we're obeying our list again and we always insist upon justice for everyone else who fails. We forget that grace plus works equals works. The two are like oil and water, they don't mix. To the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. (Ro. 4:5)

 

[Singlemom]

I accept your invitation!

Dear Brothers In Christ,

It would be an honor to join you all in the study of this marvelous book and its message to the seven churches. I know that they are relevant to our time and age....I will take the time to go back and read some of the information you have provided, and will try to give an intelligent an answer as I can, although, I will be honest.....I will be more of a learner than anything........


Thank you for taking the great amount of time that you all have already given.....it is apparent that it is not haphazard, but very well thought out and expounded.

God will bless you for it, I am sure.............

Because of His Precious Matchless Name,
Singlemom:thumbs_up

 

[Richie]

Dear Brothers In Christ,

It would be an honor to join you all in the study of this marvelous book and its message to the seven churches. I know that they are relevant to our time and age....I will take the time to go back and read some of the information you have provided, and will try to give an intelligent an answer as I can, although, I will be honest.....I will be more of a learner than anything........


Thank you for taking the great amount of time that you all have already given.....it is apparent that it is not haphazard, but very well thought out and expounded.

God will bless you for it, I am sure.............

Because of His Precious Matchless Name,
Singlemom:thumbs_up

Dear sister,

I'm glad that you have joined us. Most importantly, it is the Holy Spirit, who is guiding us and teaching us many things.

Please, do take your time in seeing this entire thread. I hope it will be a blessing for you.

God bless you.

 

[Richie]

Yes, Let us go on to the next church. I would like to encourage others to join in this study as well.

To the Church in Thyatira
"To the angel of the church in Thyatira write: Thyatira means continual sacrifice. (In the Catholic Church, the Lord is still on the cross, and they believe that the communion wafer becomes His actual body and blood as it's consumed.) It's the first letter with a future in view. It's also the first whose members are divided into two categories, the saved and the unsaved.

These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. It couldn't be clearer. While born of the Virgin, the One speaking to them with fire in His eyes is to be addressed as the Son of God, not of Mary.

I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first. The Catholic Church is known for its efforts in bringing mercy and compassion, as well as the Gospel, to God's children.

Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. 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. The title "Queen of Heaven" by which many Catholics refer to Mary, was first used of Semeramis, wife of Nimrod the founder of Babylon, and mother of Tammuz. Semeramis declared herself a goddess, claimed that Tammuz was born of a supernatural conception involving the Sun god, and began the first counterfeit religion, a mother-child cult.

According to legend, while out hunting one day Tammuz was killed by a wild animal. Semeramis mourned for 40 days at the end of which Tammuz was raised from the dead. A celibate priesthood was formed and the chief priest was declared infallible. The 40 day mourning (now called Lent), the Yule log, evergreen tree, mistletoe and hot cross buns were all used in rituals commemorating the event, and the mother-child cult was begun.

Later the Romans adapted these to the death and re-birth of the Sun at the winter solstice, but in the 4th century the traditions surrounding Semeramis and Tammuz were attributed to Mary and Jesus and came almost unchanged into Catholicism, where they remain to this day.

Semeramis is symbolically called Jezebel in the letter, leading people away from the truth into idolatry. But the real Jezebel is also in view here. She was a daughter of the King of Phonecia, a pagan princess best known for her advice to her Israelite husband King Ahab on how to obtain a vineyard he wanted. She brought trumped up charges against the vineyard's owner, hired witnesses to bear false testimony, and had him convicted and executed. Then she confiscated the vineyard in the name of the King. Centuries later the Catholic Church would obtain much of its wealth in the same way. Fortunes beyond measure were gained during these inquisitions.

Jezebel was also the patron of the 400 priests of Baal who Elijah slew on Mt. Carmel. The Lord views idolatry as infidelity and Jezebel had encouraged the worship of Baal, leading the people into spiritual adultery. The many saints to whom some Catholics pray, and the sacramental works they must perform to attain and keep their salvation are not scriptural and deny the sufficiency of the cross. For these reasons the Catholic Church is often called the "plus religion." Jesus plus Mary. Grace plus works. The Scripture plus tradition. Giving glory for the works of God to anyone else is spiritual adultery, and subjects the giver to severe punishment.

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. Those who insist upon being judged by their works will be granted their wish. Sadly the emphasis on these religious works has clouded the true message of the gospel to the extent that some life-long Catholics never come to know the Lord on a personal basis. The Lord will judge them according to the motives of their hearts. Are their good works performed out of gratitude for the free gift of salvation He offers, or they done in a futile effort to earn it on their own?

Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan's so-called deep secrets (I will not impose any other burden on you): Only hold on to what you have until I come. Others will have seen through the layers of traditions and works and saints and rituals and found the face of the Lord looking back at them. Those who do and cling tenaciously to Him will have their reward.

To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations—'He will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery— just as I have received authority from my Father. I will also give him the morning star. They'll join Him on His throne as co-regent of the universe, the Bride of Christ, His beloved church.

We're not in the church because of the pew we occupy, or the name over the door, or the good works we do. We're in the church because we've believed by faith that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. (1 Cor 15:3-4)

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. Even after we're saved by Grace, we all have our lists of do's and don'ts. We derive our self- image as a believer from our adherence to this list, judging others by how well they keep our commandments. When we fail, we fall back on God's grace, but we don't really feel good about ourselves until we're obeying our list again and we always insist upon justice for everyone else who fails. We forget that grace plus works equals works. The two are like oil and water, they don't mix. To the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. (Ro. 4:5)

Dear Brother,

If you don't mind, could you kindly give me 2 days time. I'm very sorry for the delay.

God bless you.

 

[Richie]

Dear Brother,

I'm glad to be back. I finished my exam 7 hours back. I'll try to be regular to this study from now on. I'm very sorry for the delay. With this Church Revelation chapter 2 will be completed. Now let us look into what you posted:

Yes, Let us go on to the next church. I would like to encourage others to join in this study as well.

To the Church in Thyatira
"To the angel of the church in Thyatira write: Thyatira means continual sacrifice. (In the Catholic Church, the Lord is still on the cross, and they believe that the communion wafer becomes His actual body and blood as it's consumed.) It's the first letter with a future in view. It's also the first whose members are divided into two categories, the saved and the unsaved.

These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. It couldn't be clearer. While born of the Virgin, the One speaking to them with fire in His eyes is to be addressed as the Son of God, not of Mary.

I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first. The Catholic Church is known for its efforts in bringing mercy and compassion, as well as the Gospel, to God's children.

Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. 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. The title "Queen of Heaven" by which many Catholics refer to Mary, was first used of Semeramis, wife of Nimrod the founder of Babylon, and mother of Tammuz. Semeramis declared herself a goddess, claimed that Tammuz was born of a supernatural conception involving the Sun god, and began the first counterfeit religion, a mother-child cult.

According to legend, while out hunting one day Tammuz was killed by a wild animal. Semeramis mourned for 40 days at the end of which Tammuz was raised from the dead. A celibate priesthood was formed and the chief priest was declared infallible. The 40 day mourning (now called Lent), the Yule log, evergreen tree, mistletoe and hot cross buns were all used in rituals commemorating the event, and the mother-child cult was begun.

Later the Romans adapted these to the death and re-birth of the Sun at the winter solstice, but in the 4th century the traditions surrounding Semeramis and Tammuz were attributed to Mary and Jesus and came almost unchanged into Catholicism, where they remain to this day.

Semeramis is symbolically called Jezebel in the letter, leading people away from the truth into idolatry. But the real Jezebel is also in view here. She was a daughter of the King of Phonecia, a pagan princess best known for her advice to her Israelite husband King Ahab on how to obtain a vineyard he wanted. She brought trumped up charges against the vineyard's owner, hired witnesses to bear false testimony, and had him convicted and executed. Then she confiscated the vineyard in the name of the King. Centuries later the Catholic Church would obtain much of its wealth in the same way. Fortunes beyond measure were gained during these inquisitions.

Jezebel was also the patron of the 400 priests of Baal who Elijah slew on Mt. Carmel. The Lord views idolatry as infidelity and Jezebel had encouraged the worship of Baal, leading the people into spiritual adultery. The many saints to whom some Catholics pray, and the sacramental works they must perform to attain and keep their salvation are not scriptural and deny the sufficiency of the cross. For these reasons the Catholic Church is often called the "plus religion." Jesus plus Mary. Grace plus works. The Scripture plus tradition. Giving glory for the works of God to anyone else is spiritual adultery, and subjects the giver to severe punishment.

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. Those who insist upon being judged by their works will be granted their wish. Sadly the emphasis on these religious works has clouded the true message of the gospel to the extent that some life-long Catholics never come to know the Lord on a personal basis. The Lord will judge them according to the motives of their hearts. Are their good works performed out of gratitude for the free gift of salvation He offers, or they done in a futile effort to earn it on their own?

Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan's so-called deep secrets (I will not impose any other burden on you): Only hold on to what you have until I come. Others will have seen through the layers of traditions and works and saints and rituals and found the face of the Lord looking back at them. Those who do and cling tenaciously to Him will have their reward.

To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations—'He will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery— just as I have received authority from my Father. I will also give him the morning star. They'll join Him on His throne as co-regent of the universe, the Bride of Christ, His beloved church.

We're not in the church because of the pew we occupy, or the name over the door, or the good works we do. We're in the church because we've believed by faith that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. (1 Cor 15:3-4)

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. Even after we're saved by Grace, we all have our lists of do's and don'ts. We derive our self- image as a believer from our adherence to this list, judging others by how well they keep our commandments. When we fail, we fall back on God's grace, but we don't really feel good about ourselves until we're obeying our list again and we always insist upon justice for everyone else who fails. We forget that grace plus works equals works. The two are like oil and water, they don't mix. To the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. (Ro. 4:5)

From what you posted, I perceived that most of the discussion was on the Catholic Church. But I'm sorry to tell you that I felt it inappropiate to relate the context to the present Catholic Church, because Jesus was focussed on the Sexually immoral people in particular. But the Catholic Church today is a different discussion and a different context, so let us look into the Church as a whole. (I apologize, if I offended you)

Let us relate what happened in this Church to the present situation. I have struggled and prepared this for 4 hours. Please don't mind if it is too long and please take your time in reading it.

As far as what happened in this Church is concerned, there are a lot of things to discuss, even 100 posts will not be sufficient. What I'm posting right now could be only a drop in a huge ocean.

Let us look into:

Revelation 2:19: I know all the things you do, your love, your faith, your service, and your patient endurance. And I can see your constant improvement in all these things.

Even though there are people in the Church who are growing spiritually and doing God’s work in a greater scale, still there is problem, because:

Revelation 2:20: But I have this complaint against you. You are permitting that woman, Jezebel who calls herself a prophet, to lead my servants astray. She is encouraging them to worship idols, eat food offered to idols, and commit sexual sin.

This is definitely not a pleasant thing in Church atmosphere. Why did immorality creep into the Church?

1). The pastor is not strict with the people. (No real fear of God in the people)

2). The parents are not strict with the Children. As a result, the Children become disrespectful and evil and ultimately hurt their parents.

3). Moral values are decaying in the world drastically.

Now let us discuss these factors one by one:

1). The pastor dealing with the people:

Now let us look into 1 Corinthians 5 and study it before we come back to the book of the revelation.

Now let us look at how Paul the Apostle dealt with a case of immorality in the Church.

1 Corinthians 5:1 -13:

1 I can hardly believe the report about the sexual immorality going on among you, something so evil that even the pagans don’t do it. I am told that you have a man in your church who is living in sin with his father’s wife.

2 And you are so proud of yourselves! Why aren’t you mourning in sorrow and shame? And why haven’t you removed this man from your fellowship?
3 Even though I am not there with you in person, I am with you in the Spirit. Concerning the one who has done this, I have already passed judgment

4 In the name of the Lord Jesus. You are to call a meeting of the church, and I will be there in spirit, and the power of the Lord Jesus will be with you as you meet.

5 Then you must cast this man out of the church and into Satan’s hands, so that his sinful nature will be destroyed and he himself will be saved when the Lord returns.
6 How terrible that you should boast about your spirituality, and yet you let this sort of thing go on. Don’t you realize that if even one person is allowed to go on sinning, soon all will be affected?

7 Remove this wicked person from among you so that you can stay pure. Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us.

8 So let us celebrate the festival, not by eating the old bread of wickedness and evil, but by eating the new bread of purity and truth.

9 When I wrote to you before, I told you not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin.

10 But I wasn’t talking about unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin, or who are greedy or are swindlers or idol worshipers. You would have to leave this world to avoid people like that.

11 What I meant was that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a Christian yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or a drunkard, or a swindler. Don’t even eat with such people.

12 It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your job to judge those inside the church who are sinning in these ways.

13 God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say, “You must remove the evil person from among you.”

The very first verse itself is very disturbing to hear about, that too in the Church:

1 Corinthians 5:1: I can hardly believe the report about the sexual immorality going on among you, something so evil that even the pagans don’t do it. I am told that you have a man in your church who is living in sin with his father’s wife.

What is even more disturbing is that the people in the Church are compromising with it and allowing it to happen, let’s see the next verses.

1 Corinthians 5:2: And you are so proud of yourselves! Why aren’t you mourning in sorrow and shame? And why haven’t you removed this man from your fellowship?

1 Corinthians 5:6: How terrible that you should boast about your spirituality, and yet you let this sort of thing go on……..

Now, what is the Pastor’s duty?

1 Corinthians 5:3: Even though I am not there with you in person, I am with you in the Spirit. Concerning the one who has done this, I have already passed judgment

Whenever a Pastor sees something wrong in the Church (it need not be immorality alone, it can be anything which disturbs the fellowship in the Church), he should immediately step in and know what it is and deal with it.

Now let us focus on another point in this verse before we go ahead:

1 Corinthians 5:3: …...I have already passed judgment

Some of you may think it is not right to judge because of this verse:

Matthew 7:1: “Judge not that you be not judged……”

But I want you to know that it is right to Judge. God has in fact called us to Judge. Why do we have to Judge? Because we have to differentiate between good and evil.

Please see this thread carefully (There are certain things which we should not Judge, and it is not right for us to Judge):

http://www.talkjesus.com/bible-study-hall/16693-right-judge.html

Remember we should follow God’s rules for Judging.

Now let us see what else a Pastor should do:

1 Corinthians 5:5: Then you must cast this man out of the church and into Satan’s hands, so that his sinful nature will be destroyed and he himself will be saved when the Lord returns.

The Pastor should literally not allow him/her to come to Church, but even when the Pastor does this, he should still love that person and have that hope in his heart that God will one day touch that person and he/she will repent and come back again to Church.

Please see this thread:

http://www.talkjesus.com/bible-study-hall/17241-love-sinner-hate-sin.html

When ever the Pastor does this, he is doing it for good, but he should not condemn that person forever. Now let us see:

When a Pastor literally sends people away from Church like this, how will it benefit the Church?

1 Corinthians 5:6: ……….Don’t you realize that if even one person is allowed to go on sinning, soon all will be affected?

Galatians 5:9: But it takes only one wrong person among you to infect all the others, a little yeast spreads quickly through the whole batch of dough!

1 Corinthians 5:7: Remove this wicked person from among you so that you can stay pure. Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us.

One man’s sin can destroy the entire Church, let us see an example of this kind:

Bible Reference:

While Israel went ahead to do God’s will (city of Jericho must be Destroyed), God told them to do this:

Joshua 6:17-19:

17 The city and everything in it must be completely destroyed as an offering to the Lord. Only Rahab the prostitute and the others in her house will be spared, for she protected our spies.

18 Do not take any of the things set apart for destruction, or you yourselves will be completely destroyed, and you will bring trouble on all Israel.

19 Everything made from silver, gold, bronze, or iron is sacred to the Lord and must be brought into his treasury.”

But look what one man’s sin can do.

Joshua 7:1-9:

1 But Israel was unfaithful concerning the things set apart for the Lord. A man named Achan had stolen some of these things, so the Lord was very angry with the Israelites. Achan was the son of Carmi, of the family of Zimri, of the clan of Zerah, and of the tribe of Judah.
2 Joshua sent some of his men from Jericho to spy out the city of Ai, east of Bethel, near Beth-aven.

3 When they returned, they told Joshua, “It’s a small town, and it won’t take more than two or three thousand of us to destroy it. There’s no need for all of us to go there.”
4 So approximately three thousand warriors were sent, but they were soundly defeated. The men of Ai

5 chased the Israelites from the city gate as far as the quarries, and they killed about thirty-six who were retreating down the slope. The Israelites were paralyzed with fear at this turn of events, and their courage melted away.
6 Joshua and the leaders of Israel tore their clothing in dismay, threw dust on their heads, and bowed down facing the Ark of the Lord until evening.

7 Then Joshua cried out, “Sovereign Lord, why did you bring us across the Jordan River if you are going to let the Amorites kill us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side!

8 Lord, what am I to say, now that Israel has fled from its enemies?

9 For when the Canaanites and all the other people living in the land hear about it, they will surround us and wipe us off the face of the earth. And then what will happen to the honor of your great name?”

Just look at the crisis, Achan’s sin created.

Please see this thread:

http://www.talkjesus.com/get-saved-now/17606-deception.html

Now let us go to the next and final part of 1 Corinthians 5:

What should we the people in the Church be doing, in order to keep ourselves pure?

1 Corinthians 5:8: So let us celebrate the festival, not by eating the old bread of wickedness and evil, but by eating the new bread of purity and truth.

1 Corinthians 5:11: What I meant was that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a Christian yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or a drunkard, or a swindler. Don’t even eat with such people

1 Corinthians 5:13: God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say, “You must remove the evil person from among you.”

It may look like as if we’re condemning the other person, but we should do it:

1). To keep ourselves pure.
2). With the hope that, he/she will repent and come back to God’s presence and be pure.

(Please see the continuation in the next post).

 

[Richie]

Continuation

Now let us look into the second part of our study with Revelation 2:20.

2). Parents and Children:

Parents should allow their children to enjoy. At the same time, the parents should not give into their children always (in other words parents should show them and correct them when the children are doing something wrong). If parents are not strict with the Children, the children tend to become arrogant, disobedient, disrespectful, proud, boisterous, etc.

Proverbs 13:24: He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.

My parents were strict with me and I know that they did it for my good.

Now let us look into the third part:

3). Moral values in the world:

The world is becoming more and more violent and evil. Why? Many evil influences are there:

1). Movies (The movies today are filthy and evil)
2). Drugs and alcohol addiction.
3). War
4). Immoral scenes.
5). Out right Blasphemy (No fear for God).
6). The way people dress.

Please see these threads:

http://www.talkjesus.com/arts-books-movies-music/15718-should-christians-support-blasphemy.html
http://www.talkjesus.com/scriptural-answers/140-pornography.html#post229

The world is becoming more and more filthy and dirty year after year.

Now let us go to the next verses:

Revelation 2:21-23:

Verse 21 1 I gave her time to repent, but she would not turn away from her immorality.

Verse 22 Therefore, I will throw her upon a sickbed, and she will suffer greatly with all who commit adultery with her, unless they turn away from all their evil deeds.

Verse 23 I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am the one who searches out the thoughts and intentions of every person. And I will give to each of you whatever you deserve.

Here Jesus is treating Jezebel as a demonic spirit associated with sexual immorality.

Let us go to the next verses:

Revelation 2:24-25:

Verse 24: But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.

Verse 25 But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.

What a comforting word? I will put on you none other burden ……… hold fast till I come.

More than a burden, it is a joy to follow and obey the Lord, it is the sinful nature in us that causes us to be reluctant to obeying God.

This is what I believe what God wants to say.

God bless you.

By the way, shall we continue the discussion about this portion or shall we go ahead to the next Church, because I still believe there is still more to this.

 

[rjones]

Dear Brother Y5EE252_RICHIE,
I've been very busy at work of late. Please allow me two days more and I'll have the time to dedicate to our continued study of the Church at Thyatira.

 

[Richie]

Dear Brother Y5EE252_RICHIE,
I've been very busy at work of late. Please allow me two days more and I'll have the time to dedicate to our continued study of the Church at Thyatira.

No problem brother Rjones. I will wait for you. Thank you so much for waiting for me patiently, when I was busy.

God bless you.

 

[rjones]

Dear Brother Y5EE252_RICHIE,
It is good to be back again to continue our study. I apologize for the delay.I also apologize for my references in my previous thread to the catholic church. I got a little carried away. I want to continue our discussion on this church as well.
I like your break down and references to these verses. I agree with you that the morality of our world is declining. Unfortunately, sin has a progressive nature. Immorality isn't being dealt with, instead, it is being embraced.

Let's look at verses 20-21 again.

Revelation 2:20-21: Nevertheless 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. And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent.

Because you allow that woman Jezebel: The center of the corruption at the church at Thyatira is a woman Jesus calls Jezebel. This may not have been her literal name, but a “title” that clearly represents a self-styled prophetess within the church, after the pattern of Jezebel in the Old Testament (1 Kings 16-21 and 2 Kings 9:30-37).
The name Jezebel has a powerful association. If we called someone a “Judas” or a “Hitler” it would means something strong. It’s also a strong thing to call this woman Jezebel. She was one of the most evil characters of the Old Testament, who attempted to combine the worship of Israel with the worship of the idol Baal.

Who calls herself a prophetess: This “Jezebel” at the church of Thyatira wasn’t really a prophetess, she only claimed to be one. Yet, it seems that the Christians there received her as a prophetess, and that’s why Jesus gives them this warning.
Jesus said this would happen in (Mt. 24:11): "Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. Those words were first spoken with a view to the end times, but there have always been those who call themselves prophets in the church, but are not".

To teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols: Here, Jesus describes the specific sin of this woman “Jezebel.” Mainly, she was an immoral and ungodly influence on others, and led others into sin. Jezebel led others into immorality and idolatry.
Thyatira was an important center of business and trade. It had many active trade guilds, each having their own patron deity from the Greek and Roman pantheon of gods.Because of the strong trade guilds in Thyatira, the sexual immorality and the eating of things sacrificed to idols was probably connected with the mandatory social occasions of the guilds. Perhaps a Christian was invited to the monthly meeting of the goldsmith’s guild, and the meeting was held at the temple of Apollo. “Jezebel” would allow or encourage the man to go - perhaps even using a “prophetic” word - and when the man went, he would fall into immorality and idolatry.
The draw to the guilds and their meetings was powerful. No merchant or trader could hope to prosper or make money unless he was a member of his trade guild. Nonetheless, Christians were expected to stand in the face of this kind of pressure.
One ancient Christian named Tertullian wrote about Christians who made their living in trades connected to pagan idolatry. A painter might find work in pagan temples or a sculptor might be hired to make a statue of a pagan god. They would justify this by saying, “This is my living, and I must live.” Tertullian replied Vivere ergo habes? “Must you live?”

My servants: This shows how terrible Jezebel’s sin was. She corrupted the servants of Jesus, and they belong to Him. Jesus said, But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea. (Mk. 9:42)

And I gave her time to repent . . . and she did not repent: Jesus’ greatest accusation is that this “Jezebel” did not repent. She apparently rejects the work of the Holy Spirit in her heart, calling her to repentance.
In these words we see both the mercy and judgment of our Lord. Time to repent shows mercy. God gives us time to repent, we should deal with others the same way. And she did not repent speaks to the judgment of God. God gives time to repent, but it is not an unlimited time. There is a time when God says, My Spirit shall not strive with man forever (Gen. 6:3). This means that when God gives us time to repent, we must take advantage of that time.

Because you allow: This shows the sin of the church of Thyatira. On the outside, they were a model church, showing works, love, service, faith, and patience. Yet there was significant corruption inside the church. The sin of the church was that they allowed this corruption.
It wasn’t necessarily a large group following Jezebel. A little leaven affect a whole lump of dough, and a few in immorality and idolatry will corrupt the whole church - especially if they influence others the way this Jezebel did.

I find that our brothers in Christ that were living during this time faced very similar life choices as we do today. Solomon was right when he said that there is nothing new under the sun. It is just packaged differently.

 

[Richie]

Dear Brother Y5EE252_RICHIE,
It is good to be back again to continue our study. I apologize for the delay.I also apologize for my references in my previous thread to the catholic church. I got a little carried away. I want to continue our discussion on this church as well.
I like your break down and references to these verses. I agree with you that the morality of our world is declining. Unfortunately, sin has a progressive nature. Immorality isn't being dealt with, instead, it is being embraced.

Let's look at verses 20-21 again.

Revelation 2:20-21: Nevertheless 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. And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent.

Because you allow that woman Jezebel: The center of the corruption at the church at Thyatira is a woman Jesus calls Jezebel. This may not have been her literal name, but a “title” that clearly represents a self-styled prophetess within the church, after the pattern of Jezebel in the Old Testament (1 Kings 16-21 and 2 Kings 9:30-37).
The name Jezebel has a powerful association. If we called someone a “Judas” or a “Hitler” it would means something strong. It’s also a strong thing to call this woman Jezebel. She was one of the most evil characters of the Old Testament, who attempted to combine the worship of Israel with the worship of the idol Baal.

Who calls herself a prophetess: This “Jezebel” at the church of Thyatira wasn’t really a prophetess, she only claimed to be one. Yet, it seems that the Christians there received her as a prophetess, and that’s why Jesus gives them this warning.
Jesus said this would happen in (Mt. 24:11): "Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. Those words were first spoken with a view to the end times, but there have always been those who call themselves prophets in the church, but are not".

To teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols: Here, Jesus describes the specific sin of this woman “Jezebel.” Mainly, she was an immoral and ungodly influence on others, and led others into sin. Jezebel led others into immorality and idolatry.
Thyatira was an important center of business and trade. It had many active trade guilds, each having their own patron deity from the Greek and Roman pantheon of gods.Because of the strong trade guilds in Thyatira, the sexual immorality and the eating of things sacrificed to idols was probably connected with the mandatory social occasions of the guilds. Perhaps a Christian was invited to the monthly meeting of the goldsmith’s guild, and the meeting was held at the temple of Apollo. “Jezebel” would allow or encourage the man to go - perhaps even using a “prophetic” word - and when the man went, he would fall into immorality and idolatry.
The draw to the guilds and their meetings was powerful. No merchant or trader could hope to prosper or make money unless he was a member of his trade guild. Nonetheless, Christians were expected to stand in the face of this kind of pressure.
One ancient Christian named Tertullian wrote about Christians who made their living in trades connected to pagan idolatry. A painter might find work in pagan temples or a sculptor might be hired to make a statue of a pagan god. They would justify this by saying, “This is my living, and I must live.” Tertullian replied Vivere ergo habes? “Must you live?”

My servants: This shows how terrible Jezebel’s sin was. She corrupted the servants of Jesus, and they belong to Him. Jesus said, But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea. (Mk. 9:42)

And I gave her time to repent . . . and she did not repent: Jesus’ greatest accusation is that this “Jezebel” did not repent. She apparently rejects the work of the Holy Spirit in her heart, calling her to repentance.
In these words we see both the mercy and judgment of our Lord. Time to repent shows mercy. God gives us time to repent, we should deal with others the same way. And she did not repent speaks to the judgment of God. God gives time to repent, but it is not an unlimited time. There is a time when God says, My Spirit shall not strive with man forever (Gen. 6:3). This means that when God gives us time to repent, we must take advantage of that time.

Because you allow: This shows the sin of the church of Thyatira. On the outside, they were a model church, showing works, love, service, faith, and patience. Yet there was significant corruption inside the church. The sin of the church was that they allowed this corruption.
It wasn’t necessarily a large group following Jezebel. A little leaven affect a whole lump of dough, and a few in immorality and idolatry will corrupt the whole church - especially if they influence others the way this Jezebel did.

I find that our brothers in Christ that were living during this time faced very similar life choices as we do today. Solomon was right when he said that there is nothing new under the sun. It is just packaged differently.

Dear Brother Rjones,

I'm glad to hear from you. No problem, even if you took time to come. I do agree with what you posted. Jezebel indeed is compared to a demon here in this church, the most toughest spirit to overcome (nothing is impossible with Jesus).

Thank you so much for your wonderful references.

I would like to point out something in common between the Churches of Pergamos and Thyatira, they allowed idolatry to creep into the people.

Idolatry need not be just the worship of idols alone. Anything that takes the place of Jesus in our hearts becomes an idol. Even a very thought can become an idol. It depends entirely upon the way we treat Jesus in our heart.

Shall we go to the next Church. If we are going to the next Church, I want to share this video with you:

http://www.talkjesus.com/streaming-video/18099-book-revelation-chapter-2-a.html

God bless you.

 

[rjones]

And to the angel of the church in Sardis write,

The church in Sardis: At the time Jesus spoke these words to John, the ancient city of Sardis had seen its best days and had started to decline. Yet it was a wealthy city, being situated at the junction of several important roads and trade routes. The connection between Sardis and money - easy money - was well known in the ancient world. This city was also a city well known for its softness and luxury. It had a well-deserved reputation for apathy and immorality. In Sardis there was a large, stately temple to the mother goddess, Cybele. From the ruins of that temple we can see that its main columns were 60 feet high and more than 6 feet in diameter. This mother goddess was honored - “worshipped” - will all kinds of sexual immorality and impurity. The combination of easy money and a loose moral environment made the people of Sardis notoriously soft and pleasure loving. The great characteristic of Sardis was that, even on pagan lips, Sardis was a name of contempt. Its people were notoriously loose-living, notoriously pleasure and luxury loving. Sardis was a city of decadence.

This softness, this lack of discipline and dedication, was the doom of Sardis on a few different occasions. Although the situation of the city was ideal for defense, as it stood high above the valley of Hermus and was surrounded by deep cliffs almost impossible to scale, Sardis had twice before fallen because of overconfidence and failure to watch. In 549 b.c. the Persian King Cyrus had ended the rule of Croesus by scaling the cliffs under the cover of darkness. In 214 b.c. the armies of Antiochus the Great (III) captured the city by the same method.

These things says He: As Jesus described Himself, He used terms that emphasize His character as the Master of every spiritual power and authority. The repetition of the number seven helps indicate this, because seven is the number of completeness in the Bible. Therefore, Jesus holds the fullness of the Spirit of God, and the fullness of the church.

He who has the seven Spirits of God: Jesus has the fullness of Holy Spirit in Himself, and He also has the Holy Spirit in fullness to give to the Church.

And the seven stars: Jesus also has the fullness of the church in His hand. We know the seven stars represent the churches because of what Jesus said in Revelation 1:20: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and through these letters, when Jesus speaks to the angels of the seven churches, He speaks not to one individual, but to the entire church through that individual.

I know your works: As Jesus says to each church, He also says to Sardis. What a church is and what a church does is never hidden from Jesus.

That you have a name that you are alive: Jesus knew the church at Sardis had a name - that is, a reputation - of life and vitality. If you looked at the church of Sardis, you would see signs of life and vitality. In the church of Sardis, like the city of Sardis, everything seemed alive and good.

But you are dead: Despite their reputation of life, Jesus saw them for what they really were. But you are dead shows that a good reputation is no guarantee of true spiritual character. Despite their good appearance, Jesus saw them for what they really were. This indicates no struggle, no fight, no persecution. It wasn’t that the church at Sardis was losing the battle. A dead body has lost the battle, and the fight seems over. In this letter, Jesus doesn’t encourage the Christians in Sardis to stand strong against persecution or false doctrine, probably because there simply wasn’t a significant danger of these things in Sardis. Being dead, the church in Sardis presented no significant threat to Satan’s domain, so it wasn’t worth attacking.

Be watchful: This first instruction from Jesus tells them they need to examine and protect, strengthening what they have. The things which remain tells us that though the spiritual condition of the church of Sardis was bad, it wasn’t hopeless. Spiritually, there were things which remain that could be strengthened. Jesus had not given up on them, and it was late (that are ready to die) - but not too late. In its history, the city of Sardis was easily conquered twice before. It wasn’t that the attacking armies overwhelmed Sardis, but because overconfidence made them stop being watchful. The spiritual state of the church in Sardis was a reflection of the city’s historical character.

I have not found your works perfect before God: This shows that their works, though present, haven’t measured up to God’s standard. The presence of works isn’t enough, because God requires a particular intent and purpose in all of our works. They should be done with a heart and in a manner that show them to be perfect before God.

Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent: What they must do is remember how they first received and heard the word of God. They must hold fast to those things, and to repent by turning and restoring the gospel and apostolic doctrine to authority over their lives.

Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief: Jesus warns them of the great danger in failing to watch. If they ignore His command to be watchful, then Jesus will come upon them as a thief, at a time completely unexpected by them. How will Jesus come upon them? He could come upon them in the sense bringing immediate judgment. Or, He could come upon them in these sense of His coming for the church at the rapture of the church (1 Thes. 4:16-17). Used in either sense, it shows that His coming can be sudden and unannounced, so they need to be watchful.

You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments: Even among the dead Christians in Sardis, there is a faithful remnant. But there were only a few names. In Pergamos (Rev. 2:14) and in Thyatira (Rev. 2:20) there were a few bad among the good. But in Sardis there are a few good among the bad.

And they shall walk with Me in white: Jesus also promised that these pure ones would walk with Me. This picture of close fellowship and friendship is seen in Enoch, who walked with God; and he was not, for God took him (Gen. 5:24). The garments Jesus gives are always white. Sardis was a church that was dead because of sinful compromise. They needed to receive and walk in the pure, white garment that Jesus gives. The white garments speaks of the believer’s ultimate triumph in Jesus.
“Walk with Me” is the greatest reward Jesus can give His followers. The Christians in Sardis who forsake the sinful compromise of their city will be rewarded with a closer, more intimate walk with Jesus. This reward is ultimately a better motivator than the fear of punishment or ruin from our sin. The pure can have greater intimacy with God not because they have earned it, but because they are simply more interested in the things of God. God promises to reward that interest: Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. (Mt. 5:8).

He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments: Jesus identified the overcomers with those few names who have not defiled their garments (Rev. 3:4). These overcomers will wear white garments, received from Jesus. Jesus explained the absolute necessity of this being clothed by God with His garments of purity and righteousness in His parable of the wedding feast (Mt. 22:11-14). Real righteousness is receiving God’s covering instead of trying to cover ourselves. Adam and Eve tried to cover their own sin (Gen. 3:21) but God provided them with a covering that came from sacrifice (Gen. 3:7).

And I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life: By this, the overcomers are assured of their heavenly citizenship. In the ancient world, death or a criminal conviction could blot out the name of an ancient citizen from the city’s book of the living, which was the city register.

Does this mean that someone can lose their salvation? That someone is saved one day - their name is in the Book of Life - and another day, they have fallen away and their name has been blotted out from the Book of Life? We need to first see the context here in Revelation 3:5. The focus is assurance, so we should not think that names are being constantly erased and then re-written. The focus here is on assurance, not the idea that Jesus sits in heaven with a busy eraser. At the same time, we should carefully consider what the Word has to say about the Book of Life.

There is a Book of Life, and it will be opened and referenced on the Day of Judgement. This means that the Book of Life is real, and will be read.
(Rev.20:12)

There is a Book of Life, and it determines if we go to heaven or hell. This means that the Book of Life is important. (Rev. 20:15)

There is a Book of Life, and knowing our names are written there should bring us great joy. (Lk. 10:20)

There is a Book of Life, and there are five different references to people being blotted out of the Book of Life. This means that the idea of being blotted out of the Book of Life should be taken seriously. Perhaps it is only a symbol, and that person’s name was never there to begin with. Even if that is the case, the Lord still wants us to take it seriously, because there are some who by every human appearance are saved, yet will not be in heaven.

"Moses said to the Lord: Yet now, if You will forgive their sin; but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written". (Ex. 32:32)

And the Lord said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book.” (Exodus 32:33)

"Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous". (Ps. 69:28)

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. (Rev. 3:5)

And if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. (Rev. 22:19)

A good example of how we should take this warning seriously is the life of a man named Charles Templeton. A generation ago he was deeply involved in the foundations of Youth for Christ and impacted the nation for Jesus. Chuck Smith himself has said how dynamic and powerful a minister he was, and that he would go anywhere to hear him. Many people received Jesus at his meetings, and he was an associate with Billy Graham in the early years. But recently he wrote a book in which he totally denounces his belief in Jesus Christ, denounces even his belief even in God, and says he is an atheist. Charles Templeton totally denounces his early confessions of faith and through his book he wants to “rescue” the people he once brought to Jesus. Obviously, this man - in his present, apostate state - is not going to heaven. You can debate all day long if he was never saved or if he lost his salvation. But at the end of the day, there are two conclusions. First, at one time, by all human appearance he was saved. Second, he didn’t take the warnings of the Bible to keep walking, to keep trusting, to keep persevering in the faith seriously enough.

But I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels: This is an amazing promise. It simply makes sense that we should be willing to confess the name of Jesus. But it is amazing that He would not be ashamed to confess us!

Let him hear: We must all hear what the Holy Spirit says to the church at Sardis. It is easy to drift in sleepy apathy towards spiritual death, especially when you have a good reputation (people recognize that you are mature in Christ), and when you place a high value on stability. But there is always hope for the dead church, because Jesus is an expert at raising the dead.

What the Spirit says to the churches: Sardis teaches us that we must beware of our success. The city was wealthy and knew easy living, but it made them soft and spoiled. Sardis also teaches us that we be watchful at our strongest points. Sardis thought it was unconquerable, and so it was conquered. Where we say “I would never do that” is the exact place we must guard against.

 

[Richie]

And to the angel of the church in Sardis write,

The church in Sardis: At the time Jesus spoke these words to John, the ancient city of Sardis had seen its best days and had started to decline. Yet it was a wealthy city, being situated at the junction of several important roads and trade routes. The connection between Sardis and money - easy money - was well known in the ancient world. This city was also a city well known for its softness and luxury. It had a well-deserved reputation for apathy and immorality. In Sardis there was a large, stately temple to the mother goddess, Cybele. From the ruins of that temple we can see that its main columns were 60 feet high and more than 6 feet in diameter. This mother goddess was honored - “worshipped” - will all kinds of sexual immorality and impurity. The combination of easy money and a loose moral environment made the people of Sardis notoriously soft and pleasure loving. The great characteristic of Sardis was that, even on pagan lips, Sardis was a name of contempt. Its people were notoriously loose-living, notoriously pleasure and luxury loving. Sardis was a city of decadence.

This softness, this lack of discipline and dedication, was the doom of Sardis on a few different occasions. Although the situation of the city was ideal for defense, as it stood high above the valley of Hermus and was surrounded by deep cliffs almost impossible to scale, Sardis had twice before fallen because of overconfidence and failure to watch. In 549 b.c. the Persian King Cyrus had ended the rule of Croesus by scaling the cliffs under the cover of darkness. In 214 b.c. the armies of Antiochus the Great (III) captured the city by the same method.

These things says He: As Jesus described Himself, He used terms that emphasize His character as the Master of every spiritual power and authority. The repetition of the number seven helps indicate this, because seven is the number of completeness in the Bible. Therefore, Jesus holds the fullness of the Spirit of God, and the fullness of the church.

He who has the seven Spirits of God: Jesus has the fullness of Holy Spirit in Himself, and He also has the Holy Spirit in fullness to give to the Church.

And the seven stars: Jesus also has the fullness of the church in His hand. We know the seven stars represent the churches because of what Jesus said in Revelation 1:20: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and through these letters, when Jesus speaks to the angels of the seven churches, He speaks not to one individual, but to the entire church through that individual.

I know your works: As Jesus says to each church, He also says to Sardis. What a church is and what a church does is never hidden from Jesus.

That you have a name that you are alive: Jesus knew the church at Sardis had a name - that is, a reputation - of life and vitality. If you looked at the church of Sardis, you would see signs of life and vitality. In the church of Sardis, like the city of Sardis, everything seemed alive and good.

But you are dead: Despite their reputation of life, Jesus saw them for what they really were. But you are dead shows that a good reputation is no guarantee of true spiritual character. Despite their good appearance, Jesus saw them for what they really were. This indicates no struggle, no fight, no persecution. It wasn’t that the church at Sardis was losing the battle. A dead body has lost the battle, and the fight seems over. In this letter, Jesus doesn’t encourage the Christians in Sardis to stand strong against persecution or false doctrine, probably because there simply wasn’t a significant danger of these things in Sardis. Being dead, the church in Sardis presented no significant threat to Satan’s domain, so it wasn’t worth attacking.

Be watchful: This first instruction from Jesus tells them they need to examine and protect, strengthening what they have. The things which remain tells us that though the spiritual condition of the church of Sardis was bad, it wasn’t hopeless. Spiritually, there were things which remain that could be strengthened. Jesus had not given up on them, and it was late (that are ready to die) - but not too late. In its history, the city of Sardis was easily conquered twice before. It wasn’t that the attacking armies overwhelmed Sardis, but because overconfidence made them stop being watchful. The spiritual state of the church in Sardis was a reflection of the city’s historical character.

I have not found your works perfect before God: This shows that their works, though present, haven’t measured up to God’s standard. The presence of works isn’t enough, because God requires a particular intent and purpose in all of our works. They should be done with a heart and in a manner that show them to be perfect before God.

Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent: What they must do is remember how they first received and heard the word of God. They must hold fast to those things, and to repent by turning and restoring the gospel and apostolic doctrine to authority over their lives.

Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief: Jesus warns them of the great danger in failing to watch. If they ignore His command to be watchful, then Jesus will come upon them as a thief, at a time completely unexpected by them. How will Jesus come upon them? He could come upon them in the sense bringing immediate judgment. Or, He could come upon them in these sense of His coming for the church at the rapture of the church (1 Thes. 4:16-17). Used in either sense, it shows that His coming can be sudden and unannounced, so they need to be watchful.

You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments: Even among the dead Christians in Sardis, there is a faithful remnant. But there were only a few names. In Pergamos (Rev. 2:14) and in Thyatira (Rev. 2:20) there were a few bad among the good. But in Sardis there are a few good among the bad.

And they shall walk with Me in white: Jesus also promised that these pure ones would walk with Me. This picture of close fellowship and friendship is seen in Enoch, who walked with God; and he was not, for God took him (Gen. 5:24). The garments Jesus gives are always white. Sardis was a church that was dead because of sinful compromise. They needed to receive and walk in the pure, white garment that Jesus gives. The white garments speaks of the believer’s ultimate triumph in Jesus.
“Walk with Me” is the greatest reward Jesus can give His followers. The Christians in Sardis who forsake the sinful compromise of their city will be rewarded with a closer, more intimate walk with Jesus. This reward is ultimately a better motivator than the fear of punishment or ruin from our sin. The pure can have greater intimacy with God not because they have earned it, but because they are simply more interested in the things of God. God promises to reward that interest: Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. (Mt. 5:8).

He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments: Jesus identified the overcomers with those few names who have not defiled their garments (Rev. 3:4). These overcomers will wear white garments, received from Jesus. Jesus explained the absolute necessity of this being clothed by God with His garments of purity and righteousness in His parable of the wedding feast (Mt. 22:11-14). Real righteousness is receiving God’s covering instead of trying to cover ourselves. Adam and Eve tried to cover their own sin (Gen. 3:21) but God provided them with a covering that came from sacrifice (Gen. 3:7).

And I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life: By this, the overcomers are assured of their heavenly citizenship. In the ancient world, death or a criminal conviction could blot out the name of an ancient citizen from the city’s book of the living, which was the city register.

Does this mean that someone can lose their salvation? That someone is saved one day - their name is in the Book of Life - and another day, they have fallen away and their name has been blotted out from the Book of Life? We need to first see the context here in Revelation 3:5. The focus is assurance, so we should not think that names are being constantly erased and then re-written. The focus here is on assurance, not the idea that Jesus sits in heaven with a busy eraser. At the same time, we should carefully consider what the Word has to say about the Book of Life.

There is a Book of Life, and it will be opened and referenced on the Day of Judgement. This means that the Book of Life is real, and will be read.
(Rev.20:12)

There is a Book of Life, and it determines if we go to heaven or hell. This means that the Book of Life is important. (Rev. 20:15)

There is a Book of Life, and knowing our names are written there should bring us great joy. (Lk. 10:20)

There is a Book of Life, and there are five different references to people being blotted out of the Book of Life. This means that the idea of being blotted out of the Book of Life should be taken seriously. Perhaps it is only a symbol, and that person’s name was never there to begin with. Even if that is the case, the Lord still wants us to take it seriously, because there are some who by every human appearance are saved, yet will not be in heaven.

"Moses said to the Lord: Yet now, if You will forgive their sin; but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written". (Ex. 32:32)

And the Lord said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book.” (Exodus 32:33)

"Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous". (Ps. 69:28)

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. (Rev. 3:5)

And if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. (Rev. 22:19)

A good example of how we should take this warning seriously is the life of a man named Charles Templeton. A generation ago he was deeply involved in the foundations of Youth for Christ and impacted the nation for Jesus. Chuck Smith himself has said how dynamic and powerful a minister he was, and that he would go anywhere to hear him. Many people received Jesus at his meetings, and he was an associate with Billy Graham in the early years. But recently he wrote a book in which he totally denounces his belief in Jesus Christ, denounces even his belief even in God, and says he is an atheist. Charles Templeton totally denounces his early confessions of faith and through his book he wants to “rescue” the people he once brought to Jesus. Obviously, this man - in his present, apostate state - is not going to heaven. You can debate all day long if he was never saved or if he lost his salvation. But at the end of the day, there are two conclusions. First, at one time, by all human appearance he was saved. Second, he didn’t take the warnings of the Bible to keep walking, to keep trusting, to keep persevering in the faith seriously enough.

But I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels: This is an amazing promise. It simply makes sense that we should be willing to confess the name of Jesus. But it is amazing that He would not be ashamed to confess us!

Let him hear: We must all hear what the Holy Spirit says to the church at Sardis. It is easy to drift in sleepy apathy towards spiritual death, especially when you have a good reputation (people recognize that you are mature in Christ), and when you place a high value on stability. But there is always hope for the dead church, because Jesus is an expert at raising the dead.

What the Spirit says to the churches: Sardis teaches us that we must beware of our success. The city was wealthy and knew easy living, but it made them soft and spoiled. Sardis also teaches us that we be watchful at our strongest points. Sardis thought it was unconquerable, and so it was conquered. Where we say “I would never do that” is the exact place we must guard against.

Dear Brother Rjones,

I'm speechless at your amazing response. What an explanation was that? Yes, this is indeed for those who are Christians but not truely born again. It is also for those who appear to be saved, but they are really not.

Please see this thread:

http://www.talkjesus.com/bible-study-hall/17308-spiritual-vs-carnal-christian.html

I have noticed some people, they have the belief that because they are Christians they will go to heaven, but they are not serious about their walk with God and they behave as they like. Some of them turn out to behave like animals.

Even some pastors (not truely saved), they behave like saints on sunday, but from monday to saturday they behave like satans. Such kind of pastors can cause huge damage to God's work, because they involve in criticizing God's servants from the pulpit, or using web pages (and post them on google, youtube), etc.

Please see this thread:

http://www.talkjesus.com/polls/18721-right-criticize-man-god.html

Some people think that it is their right to criticize some one, but they don't check their faults, their mistakes, the way they behave, etc.

Now let us not go away from what you discussed, but one thing what a Christian should know is that, just because they are Christians from birth, that doesn't make them truely born again that they will go to heaven. They need to accept Jesus Christ into their heart, then only they will be truely born again.

Revelation 3:2:..........Your deeds are far from right in the sight of God.

Why did Jesus have to mention this? Because they failed to acknowledge the fact that every human being is a sinner.

Romans 3:23: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Most importantly, it is their overconfidence that brought them to their downfall. They didn't bother to examine their character, and became evil in God's sight.

Revelation 3:3: 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.

Despite the fact that many people have gone astray, God is still giving a chance to repent.

God also warns everyone of us of His coming, the terrible day. Please see these videos:

http://www.talkjesus.com/streaming-video/17804-rapture-watch-pray.html

http://www.talkjesus.com/streaming-video/17892-rapture-must-see.html

http://www.talkjesus.com/streaming-video/16470-rapture-end-times.html

For these three verses:

Revelation 3:4-6:

Verse 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.

Verse 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.

Verse 6: He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to make proper notes for this, because nothing was striking into my mind as I was trying to study this part. Thank you so much for the great input you have provided me.

This is what I wanted to share with you.

Shall we go to the next Church?

God bless you.

 

[rjones]

Dear Brother Richie, I'm glad you enjoyed the previous thread. The material came from some articles I've been using to study with. Here's what I have learned about the next church, Philadelphia.

And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, The name of this city means brotherly love, and it was the youngest of the seven cities, and was originally founded as a missionary outpost for Hellenism, the culture of ancient Greece. Philadelphia had been built with the deliberate intention that it might become a missionary city. Beyond Philadelphia lay the wilds of Phrygia and the barbarous tribes; and it was intended that the function of Philadelphia should be to spread the Greek language, the Greek way of life, the Greek civilization, throughout the regions beyond. Philadelphia was a prosperous city. It commanded one of the greatest highways in the world, the highway which led from Europe to the East and was the gateway from one continent to another.
Philadelphia was also known for her beautiful buildings and frequent earthquakes, which required frequent evacuations. The city had so many gods and so many temples that sometimes men called it “Little Athens.” To walk through its temple-scattered streets was to be reminded of Athens, the center of worship of the Olympian gods.

These things says He who is holy, He who is true: Jesus reminds the church in Philadelphia that He is holy and true. These do not describe “tendencies” within Jesus, but His very being. They also show that Jesus is Yahweh, because He alone is holy in an absolute sense.
There are two ancient Greek words which we might translate true. One means “true and not false.” The other means “true and not fake.” The ancient Greek word used here for true (alethinos) it second, with the idea of “real” or “genuine.” Jesus is true in all of who He is, He is the real God and the real man.

He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens: Jesus shows He is also the keeper of the keys and doors. In this quotation from (Isa. 22:20-23), Jesus expresses His power and authority, especially to admit and exclude.

I know your works: Jesus says this to each of the seven churches. The church at Philadelphia had served God well in difficult circumstances, and Jesus knew it.

I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it: The church in Philadelphia has an open door set before them. Often, an open door speaks of evangelistic opportunity (1 Cor. 16:9; 2 Cor. 2:12, and Col. 4:3). Jesus tells them that He has opened the door of evangelistic opportunity to them, and they must go through that door in faith. Once we see the open door, we then have to walk through it. God wants us to take every evangelistic opportunity that He opens up before us.

And no one can shut it: The emphasis is on unhindered openness. There is nothing that can keep them from their access to this door. Since Jesus is He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens (Rev. 3:7), He has the authority to keep this door open for the Christians in Philadelphia.

For you have a little strength: The term a little strength does not imply weakness, but real strength. They were weak enough to be strong in the Lord. We can be “too strong” or “too big” or "too sure" of ourselves for God to really use us. The church in Philadelphia had the poverty of spirit to know they really needed God’s strength. The Apostle Paul was a great example of this dynamic of weakness and strength. God’s strength was made evident in his weaknesses (2 Cor. 12:7-10).

Have kept My word, and have not denied My name: The church in Philadelphia also was faithful to Jesus and His word. The idea behind have not denied My name is not only that they expressed their allegiance to Jesus, but that they lived in a way that was faithful to the name and character of Jesus. Some churches that claim great faithfulness to the word of Jesus deny His name - His character. They represent the manner and style of Jesus as something very different from what the Bible shows.

Look at the features of the church in Philadelphia:
Evangelistic opportunity (I have set before you an open door)
Reliance on God (You have a little strength)
Faithfulness to Jesus (have kept My word, and have not denied My name)

In some ways, these features seem “unspectacular.” They should be commonplace among churches. Yet Jesus was completely pleased with this church. He has nothing negative to say to the church at Philadelphia.

I will make those of the synagogue of Satan: Apparently, the Christians in Philadelphia were persecuted by Jewish people (the synagogue). However, these persecuting Jews were Jews in name only (who say they are Jews and are not, but lie). In fact, they have no spiritual connection to Abraham or to the people of faith. In this, Jesus does not speak against all Jewish people. It would be entirely wrong to speak of the Jewish people as a whole as the synagogue of Satan or those who say they are Jews and are not. Jesus spoke of this specific group of Jewish people in Philadelphia who persecuted the Christians during that period.

I will make them come and worship before your feet: In this, Jesus promises that He will vindicate His people and make sure that their persecutors recognize they are wrong, and that Jesus and His followers are right. The thought is of vindication before self-righteous “spiritual” persecutors. God promises that the church in Philadelphia will be vindicated before their persecutors. (1 Cor. 14:24-25) speaks of unbelievers falling down in the midst of Christians to worship God. This establishes that it isn’t Christians who are being worshipped, but God is being worshipped in the presence of Christians.

And to know that I have loved you: As those who were once their enemies worship along side them, they are destroyed as enemies. They now know that Jesus has loved these people they once persecuted. The best way to destroy the enemies of the gospel is to pray that God would change them into friends.

I will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world: Jesus also promises them protection from the hour of trial coming on the whole world. Most Bible scholars see this hour of trial as a prophetic reference to the Messianic woes, the Great Tribulation, which precede Jesus’ earthly kingdom. Jesus promises to keep these Christians from that hour of trial.

To test those who dwell on the earth: The test is directed against those who dwell on the earth. This phrase is used nine times in the Book of Revelation, and it speaks of those who are not saved in Jesus. (Rev. 17:8) makes the term synonymous with the lost: And those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world. This test is for unbelievers, not Christians.

Does this promise to keep you from the hour of trial imply an escape before the Great Tribulation? Or does it promise protection in it? Each side believes this passage easily supports their position.

Those who believe the church will be here on earth during this time of Great Tribulation focus on Jesus’ command to persevere, and say the context demands seeing this as protection that enables the faithful to persevere in the period.

Those who believe that Jesus will come for His church before this time of Great Tribulation note that protection is promised from the very hour of trial, not just the trial itself. They also point to the worldwide, inescapable cataclysm predicted in the Great Tribulation (Mt. 24:21 and Rev. chapters 6, 8-9, 16).

Behold, I am coming quickly: First, the church at Philadelphia must remember that Jesus is coming quickly, and they must prepare for His coming. The expression ‘quickly’ is to be understood as something which is sudden and unexpected, not necessarily immediate.

Hold fast what you have: The church at Philadelphia must not depart from its solid foundation, as described in (Rev. 3:8):

Evangelistic opportunity (I have set before you an open door)
Reliance on God (You have a little strength)
Faithfulness to Jesus (have kept My word, and have not denied My name)

These things can and must continue among the church in Philadelphia, but it will only happen as they hold fast what they have.

That no one may take your crown: If they fail to hold fast, their crown might be given to another. The idea is not that it might be stolen by another, but given. This is not a crown of royalty, given because of royal birth. This is a crown of victory. Jesus encourages His saints to finish their course with victory, to “play the second half” just as strongly as they “played the first half.”

He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar: Overcomers are told that they will be as a pillar in the temple of My God. Pillars were pictures of strength, stability, and dignified beauty. The ancient city of Philadelphia suffered from frequent earthquakes. When a building collapsed in an earthquake often all that remained were the huge pillars. Jesus offers us this same strength, to remain standing in Him when everything around us crumbles. The pillar holds up the building. The only thing supporting the pillar is the foundation. True pillars in the church support the church, and they look to Jesus as their support foundation.

He shall go out no more: The overcomer will have a place of permanence and stability with God, in contrast to an uncertain place in this world. The citizens of Philadelphia lived an unsettled and tremulous life. Whenever the earthquake tremors came, and they came often, the people of Philadelphia fled from the city out into the open country, to escape the falling masonry and the flying stones which accompanied a severe earthquake shock. Then, when the earth was quiet again, they returned. In their fear the people of Philadelphia were always going out and coming in; they were always fleeing from the city and then returning to it.

I will write on him the name of My God . . . I will write on him My new name: The overcomer also receives many names - of God, the New Jerusalem, and the new name of Jesus. These names are marks of identification because they show who we belong to. They are marks of intimacy, because it shows we are privileged to know Him in ways others are not. In the ancient world, having a special inscribed pillar added to one of the temples sometimes honored a faithful city servant or distinguished priest. Philadelphia honored its illustrious sons by putting their names on the pillars of its temples, so that all who came to worship might see and remember.

He who has an ear, let him hear: We all want to hear the praise and encouragement Jesus gives to the church at Philadelphia. If we would be like this church, we must stay on their foundation, which was Jesus’ name and Jesus’ word. We must also depend on their source of strength which was Jesus, not themselves.

 

[Richie]

Dear Brother Richie, I'm glad you enjoyed the previous thread. The material came from some articles I've been using to study with. Here's what I have learned about the next church, Philadelphia.

And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, The name of this city means brotherly love, and it was the youngest of the seven cities, and was originally founded as a missionary outpost for Hellenism, the culture of ancient Greece. Philadelphia had been built with the deliberate intention that it might become a missionary city. Beyond Philadelphia lay the wilds of Phrygia and the barbarous tribes; and it was intended that the function of Philadelphia should be to spread the Greek language, the Greek way of life, the Greek civilization, throughout the regions beyond. Philadelphia was a prosperous city. It commanded one of the greatest highways in the world, the highway which led from Europe to the East and was the gateway from one continent to another.
Philadelphia was also known for her beautiful buildings and frequent earthquakes, which required frequent evacuations. The city had so many gods and so many temples that sometimes men called it “Little Athens.” To walk through its temple-scattered streets was to be reminded of Athens, the center of worship of the Olympian gods.

These things says He who is holy, He who is true: Jesus reminds the church in Philadelphia that He is holy and true. These do not describe “tendencies” within Jesus, but His very being. They also show that Jesus is Yahweh, because He alone is holy in an absolute sense.
There are two ancient Greek words which we might translate true. One means “true and not false.” The other means “true and not fake.” The ancient Greek word used here for true (alethinos) it second, with the idea of “real” or “genuine.” Jesus is true in all of who He is, He is the real God and the real man.

He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens: Jesus shows He is also the keeper of the keys and doors. In this quotation from (Isa. 22:20-23), Jesus expresses His power and authority, especially to admit and exclude.

I know your works: Jesus says this to each of the seven churches. The church at Philadelphia had served God well in difficult circumstances, and Jesus knew it.

I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it: The church in Philadelphia has an open door set before them. Often, an open door speaks of evangelistic opportunity (1 Cor. 16:9; 2 Cor. 2:12, and Col. 4:3). Jesus tells them that He has opened the door of evangelistic opportunity to them, and they must go through that door in faith. Once we see the open door, we then have to walk through it. God wants us to take every evangelistic opportunity that He opens up before us.

And no one can shut it: The emphasis is on unhindered openness. There is nothing that can keep them from their access to this door. Since Jesus is He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens (Rev. 3:7), He has the authority to keep this door open for the Christians in Philadelphia.

For you have a little strength: The term a little strength does not imply weakness, but real strength. They were weak enough to be strong in the Lord. We can be “too strong” or “too big” or "too sure" of ourselves for God to really use us. The church in Philadelphia had the poverty of spirit to know they really needed God’s strength. The Apostle Paul was a great example of this dynamic of weakness and strength. God’s strength was made evident in his weaknesses (2 Cor. 12:7-10).

Have kept My word, and have not denied My name: The church in Philadelphia also was faithful to Jesus and His word. The idea behind have not denied My name is not only that they expressed their allegiance to Jesus, but that they lived in a way that was faithful to the name and character of Jesus. Some churches that claim great faithfulness to the word of Jesus deny His name - His character. They represent the manner and style of Jesus as something very different from what the Bible shows.

Look at the features of the church in Philadelphia:
Evangelistic opportunity (I have set before you an open door)
Reliance on God (You have a little strength)
Faithfulness to Jesus (have kept My word, and have not denied My name)

In some ways, these features seem “unspectacular.” They should be commonplace among churches. Yet Jesus was completely pleased with this church. He has nothing negative to say to the church at Philadelphia.

I will make those of the synagogue of Satan: Apparently, the Christians in Philadelphia were persecuted by Jewish people (the synagogue). However, these persecuting Jews were Jews in name only (who say they are Jews and are not, but lie). In fact, they have no spiritual connection to Abraham or to the people of faith. In this, Jesus does not speak against all Jewish people. It would be entirely wrong to speak of the Jewish people as a whole as the synagogue of Satan or those who say they are Jews and are not. Jesus spoke of this specific group of Jewish people in Philadelphia who persecuted the Christians during that period.

I will make them come and worship before your feet: In this, Jesus promises that He will vindicate His people and make sure that their persecutors recognize they are wrong, and that Jesus and His followers are right. The thought is of vindication before self-righteous “spiritual” persecutors. God promises that the church in Philadelphia will be vindicated before their persecutors. (1 Cor. 14:24-25) speaks of unbelievers falling down in the midst of Christians to worship God. This establishes that it isn’t Christians who are being worshipped, but God is being worshipped in the presence of Christians.

And to know that I have loved you: As those who were once their enemies worship along side them, they are destroyed as enemies. They now know that Jesus has loved these people they once persecuted. The best way to destroy the enemies of the gospel is to pray that God would change them into friends.

I will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world: Jesus also promises them protection from the hour of trial coming on the whole world. Most Bible scholars see this hour of trial as a prophetic reference to the Messianic woes, the Great Tribulation, which precede Jesus’ earthly kingdom. Jesus promises to keep these Christians from that hour of trial.

To test those who dwell on the earth: The test is directed against those who dwell on the earth. This phrase is used nine times in the Book of Revelation, and it speaks of those who are not saved in Jesus. (Rev. 17:8) makes the term synonymous with the lost: And those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world. This test is for unbelievers, not Christians.

Does this promise to keep you from the hour of trial imply an escape before the Great Tribulation? Or does it promise protection in it? Each side believes this passage easily supports their position.

Those who believe the church will be here on earth during this time of Great Tribulation focus on Jesus’ command to persevere, and say the context demands seeing this as protection that enables the faithful to persevere in the period.

Those who believe that Jesus will come for His church before this time of Great Tribulation note that protection is promised from the very hour of trial, not just the trial itself. They also point to the worldwide, inescapable cataclysm predicted in the Great Tribulation (Mt. 24:21 and Rev. chapters 6, 8-9, 16).

Behold, I am coming quickly: First, the church at Philadelphia must remember that Jesus is coming quickly, and they must prepare for His coming. The expression ‘quickly’ is to be understood as something which is sudden and unexpected, not necessarily immediate.

Hold fast what you have: The church at Philadelphia must not depart from its solid foundation, as described in (Rev. 3:8):

Evangelistic opportunity (I have set before you an open door)
Reliance on God (You have a little strength)
Faithfulness to Jesus (have kept My word, and have not denied My name)

These things can and must continue among the church in Philadelphia, but it will only happen as they hold fast what they have.

That no one may take your crown: If they fail to hold fast, their crown might be given to another. The idea is not that it might be stolen by another, but given. This is not a crown of royalty, given because of royal birth. This is a crown of victory. Jesus encourages His saints to finish their course with victory, to “play the second half” just as strongly as they “played the first half.”

He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar: Overcomers are told that they will be as a pillar in the temple of My God. Pillars were pictures of strength, stability, and dignified beauty. The ancient city of Philadelphia suffered from frequent earthquakes. When a building collapsed in an earthquake often all that remained were the huge pillars. Jesus offers us this same strength, to remain standing in Him when everything around us crumbles. The pillar holds up the building. The only thing supporting the pillar is the foundation. True pillars in the church support the church, and they look to Jesus as their support foundation.

He shall go out no more: The overcomer will have a place of permanence and stability with God, in contrast to an uncertain place in this world. The citizens of Philadelphia lived an unsettled and tremulous life. Whenever the earthquake tremors came, and they came often, the people of Philadelphia fled from the city out into the open country, to escape the falling masonry and the flying stones which accompanied a severe earthquake shock. Then, when the earth was quiet again, they returned. In their fear the people of Philadelphia were always going out and coming in; they were always fleeing from the city and then returning to it.

I will write on him the name of My God . . . I will write on him My new name: The overcomer also receives many names - of God, the New Jerusalem, and the new name of Jesus. These names are marks of identification because they show who we belong to. They are marks of intimacy, because it shows we are privileged to know Him in ways others are not. In the ancient world, having a special inscribed pillar added to one of the temples sometimes honored a faithful city servant or distinguished priest. Philadelphia honored its illustrious sons by putting their names on the pillars of its temples, so that all who came to worship might see and remember.

He who has an ear, let him hear: We all want to hear the praise and encouragement Jesus gives to the church at Philadelphia. If we would be like this church, we must stay on their foundation, which was Jesus’ name and Jesus’ word. We must also depend on their source of strength which was Jesus, not themselves.

Dear Brother Rjones,

I have enjoyed reading your post, but kindly give me some time to reply to this because I'm still preparing the notes for this Church. I'm very sorry for the delay.

God bless you.

 

[Richie]

Dear Brother Rjones,

I'm very sorry for the delay. I actually tried to post the study on this Church on Sunday, but I wasn't able to do it because I had to go to college and complete my Lab work. Right now, I'm a bit busy with exams. So please don't mind if there is a delay in my reply. I will try my best to reply to this study in this week. Because this is the end of the semister, the work load is a bit heavy.

God bless you.

 

[rjones]

Brother Richie,
I understand. Focus on your school work. It's more important.
Father God,
I pray for my brother and ask that he be filled with your Holy Spirit. Empower him to excel in his studies. In Jesus name,AMEN.

 

[Richie]

Dear Brother Rjones,

I'm very sorry for the delay. Thank you so much for waiting for me. I'm glad to have found time to reply to the Sixth Church (The Church of Philadelphia). Thank God that our college declared a holiday today for some reason (Because of this, now I have some time). Thank you so much for your prayer for me.

I think this Church represents the Characteristics of a true believer; I will come to this point shortly.

Revelation 3:7: “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Philadelphia. This is the message from the one who is holy and true. He is the one who has the key of David. He opens doors, and no one can shut them; he shuts doors, and no one can open them.

What you said about this is right. When God opens doors, he wants us to go ahead, in other words preach the gospel.

Now why did God mention about closed doors? Why does He close doors when we have to preach the Gospel? I believe there is a reason behind it.

Why do doors get closed?: Doors get closed because of one among the following reasons:

1). God wants to protect us and keep us from personal danger.

2). If we go against His will and preach the Gospel where He doesn’t want us to go, it will not be fruitful work.

3). If we keep from doing God’s will, doors for the Gospel will automatically get closed.

Let us see a small reference to this part before we go on to Revelation 3:8.

Acts 8:26-30:

Verse 26: As for Philip, an angel of the Lord said to him, “Go south down the desert road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza.”

Verse 27: So he did, and he met the treasurer of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under the queen of Ethiopia. The eunuch had gone to Jerusalem to worship,

Verse 28: and he was now returning. Seated in his carriage, he was reading aloud from the book of the prophet Isaiah.

Verse 29: The Holy Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and walk along beside the carriage.”

Verse 30: Philip ran over and heard the man reading from the prophet Isaiah; so he asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?”

The Holy Spirit told Philip to go and do God’s will. When Philip reached the eunuch, he had to run in order to fulfill God’s will. If Philip did not run, he would have missed the eunuch and many parts of Africa would not have become Christian. In other words, if Philip had to miss the eunuch, the door for the Gospel to be preached in many countries in Africa would have been closed.

So when God wants us to do something, if we are late by even 1 minute, it will have serious consequences.

I hope, I have made myself clear to you, so far.

Now let us look into the next verse:

Revelation 3:8: “I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can shut. You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me.

Now let us focus on this point, ‘strength’. I do very well agree with what you said. To tell the truth we cannot claim ourselves to be strong, because all of us have weaknesses. God wants to remind us of the fact that by His strength, we are able to win every battle the devil has to offer. His strength is made perfect in our weakness.

Now if we want to win a battle against the devil, this is all we have to do:

1) We should not be willing to give into all the devil has to offer (especially temptation).

2) Now God will see our faith and give us strength to win the battle against the devil.

Please see these threads:

http://www.talkjesus.com/bible-study-hall/18855-battlefield-mind.html

http://www.talkjesus.com/bible-study-hall/16502-temptation.html

All we need to know is that, we cannot do anything for God, by ourselves. It is God’s abundant grace and the power of the Holy Spirit that causes us to work His will.

Now let us go to:

Revelation 3:11: Look, I am coming quickly. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown.

I do agree with what you said about this verse, but let us go a little bit deeper.

Jesus warns us in many places that He is coming very soon. It is obvious, with all the signs described in the bible; His coming is very very near.

The crown what Jesus is talking about is our reward in heaven. When we work hard for God and work His will, this crown is our reward. When He gives us this crown in heaven, we will be giving it back to Him saying, “Jesus, if it wasn’t for you, we would not have worked so hard for you. We would not have repented and accepted forgiveness from you.

Salvation is a free gift, but the crown is something we have to earn. We earn it when we work for God.

Now Jesus wants us to hold fast to our crown, because it can be stolen. But who is the one who steals our crown? None other than Satan himself, but some people just simply give it up. Satan tried to steal the crowns of many warriors of God. Let us see few references:

1) First: Luke 22:31: “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to have all of you, to sift you like wheat.

Just look at the words of Jesus. It is clear that Satan tried to steal Peter’s crown.

2) Second: Satan tried to steal Jesus’ crown. It is obvious from the way Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness. (Matthew 4:1-11).

3) Third: Satan tried to steal Judas’ crown and he got it. Judas was a part of Jesus’ ministry, but at the end, Satan used Judas against Jesus.

Satan tried to steal the crowns of many warriors of God. But some of them just literally gave up their crowns. Let us see an example:

2 Timothy 4:10: Demas has deserted me because he loves the things of this life and has gone to Thessalonica……..

Demas literally gave up his crown and walked away from the Lord.

I would like to conclude with this fact, “Salvation is free, but earning a crown of life is not free.” Christianity begins with salvation, but it obviously doesn’t end with salvation, we need to earn a crown of life so that we can be worthy to enter God’s kingdom.

This is what I wanted to share with you.

Thank you so much for the valuable information you have provided. I will pray for you too. Infact the information I have provided is from the Sermons I have listened in Church and on God TV.

Shall we go to the next Church, or shall we continue the discussion.

God bless you.

 

[rjones]

Amen Brother Richie.
One day we will bow down before our King and cast our crowns back at his glorious feet. Glory be to God!
Let us go on to the next church. I'll await your post.