One of the things that I disagree with and oppose is the
idea that these seven churches represent seven periods of time before the
Messiah comes. In claiming this, we are able to disregard what is said. We are
able to dismiss what Jesus speaks and claim that it has no meaning for us who
are in the Laodecian age. I believe that these are very much like reading the
book of 1 John or 1 Timothy or Jude or James. These messages are for very
specific congregations, but that doesn’t mean we can’t read it and be taught.
1Unto the angel of the church
of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his
right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
2 I know thy works,
and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are
evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and
hast found them liars:
3 And hast borne,
and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
4 Nevertheless I
have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
5 Remember therefore
from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will
come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place,
except thou repent.
6 But this thou
hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.
7 He that hath an
ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that
overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the
paradise of God.
Right away we find a passage that should be familiar to all
of us. These in Ephesus were hard pressed to ensure that no false apostles
could rise up. We seem to have quite the opposite in our world today. I’m sure
that there are places where if you call yourself an apostle or prophet that
you’d better be true. However, in the Western World, we have only applauded and
promoted those that have the gift of gab.
Ephesus also endured persecution. In fact, we read from the
text that they seem to rejoice in being counted worthy to bear reproach for the
name of their Savior. We know this from that they don’t grow weary. It takes a
certain kind of empowering of the Spirit to be able to endure suffering and not
grow weary.
With this being said, Jesus is acknowledging that the Church
at Ephesus is not wicked. The problem He brings against them is not being
backslidden. They haven’t grown comfortable. Persecution doesn’t allow for
comfort.
When Jesus says that they have left their first love, He is
implying something other than comfort. I imagine that what is being
communicated is deeper than backsliding. We can easily write off backsliding as
something that they do, but we’ve kept
the faith and continued to persevere. After all, we’re being persecuted, right?
The deception comes from thinking that we have obtained to something. When we
are first saved, there is passion to conform every aspect of our lives to being
Christ-like. Yet, I know people that have walked with God for decades and seen
the power. Then after retiring they just sit behind the computer and stop
pressing forward.
They haven’t backslidden, and they aren’t in sin. They have
just stopped learning. They have stopped striving after deeper and deeper
levels of holiness and understanding. Because they have come to a place where
the books they read and the people they know are not saying anything beyond
what they have already learned, they just sit back and allow others to strive.
In a sense, this is comfort and convenience. In another
sense, they are still working and focusing upon Christ. They haven’t stopped
testifying. They haven’t stopped discipling or leading. They haven’t stopped in
their pursuit of the Kingdom of God on Earth as it is in Heaven. The problem
creeps in when we allow for self to stop growing. Our labor and our knowledge
and our efforts to advance the Kingdom of God have replaced our love for
Christ. This is what it means to leave our first love. The secondary loves of ministry, prayer, devotion, reading our
Bible, witnessing, etc are to stem from our first love: Jesus.
We can help others to grow, we can testify and preach, we
can continue to pray and wrestle for the souls of men, but if we have at some
point reached a place in our lives where we think we know all that there is to
know, or that we have obtained the deepest aspect of spirituality that we’re going
to obtain, then we run the risk of leaving our first love. What is the first
love?
The first love is that unadulterated desire and passion to
obtain Christ-likeness in all aspects of life. If the Bible says it, we want to
know it. If God can teach us about this or that doctrine and reveal to us deep
symbolism and understanding of the faith, then we want God to reveal it. If
there is still something that we can memorize or understand, then we desire to
memorize and understand. If there is some aspect of our life that does not look
like Christ’s life, then we desperately pursue to conform and change our
mindsets. If God perceives a specific view as heresy, then I want to have that
same view.
The first love is that in all things, whether our lives,
conduct, mindsets, habits, and everything we give ourselves to is nothing less
than the glory of God.
Can we obtain this? I would say yes. It takes a lifetime of
God revealing deeper and deeper insight and us conforming to that revelation
over and over again. If there comes a time in our lives that we decide that
we’ve heard the same teaching for the last 30 years, and there is nothing new
under the sun, then we are dangerously close to leaving our first love (if we
haven’t already). I think this is the rebuke of Jesus to the Ephesians.
Maybe this is why the reward of overcoming this mindset and
rut is to eat of the tree of life in paradise. The tree of life is a
representation of the resurrection. The tree itself is a cross to bear, the
fruit bringing forth death. But the seeds of that fruit – if we’re willing to
take of the whole thing – is resurrection life. Jesus tells them that if they
will repent and turn back to their first love, then He will bring them forth
further than they had ever imagined possible. There is no more reason for a rut
– resurrection is obtainable.
8 And unto the angel
of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which
was dead, and is alive;
9 I know thy works,
and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of
them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
10 Fear none of
those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you
into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be
thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
11 He that hath an
ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh
shall not be hurt of the second death.
I must admit that upon reading this passage, I can only seem
to ask questions. It is a strange wording to talk about “Jews” that are “of the
synagogue of Satan.” Right away, I assume that what is being spoken of is not
some illuminati mystic religions of Free Masonry and witchcraft, but of a
religious system filled with Pharisees and Sadducees that is deceptive,
murderous to the Way, liars, oppressive, and in all ways anti-God.
Now, I’ve let the cat out of the bag that I have heard the
people who want to take this verse to mean some sort of secret society. Whether
they exist or not isn’t the question and avoids the point. The whole point that
is being made here is that there are religious systems that God is not a part
of. I see interfaith relations as being from the pit of Hell.
If Christianity is true, then why would we not do everything
in our power to dispute the Jews and Moslems? Why would we not do everything in
our power to reveal to the world the truth? Do we believe it is the truth? Or
does this find us out that we really don’t believe it, and we really don’t
believe that those of other faiths will spend eternity in Hell? If I am
convinced of anything, it is the certainty that Islam is Satanic. Those who are
Jews might be God’s people by Law, but they are not God’s people in heart.
Unless they repent, they will not find paradise after death.
The idea of accepting other people’s religious beliefs and
faith as their own prerogative and coexisting in peace is a lie. There will
never be peace and harmony between religions until Jesus returns. Anyone who
wants to think there can be peace has a false motive and misunderstands what
word peace really entails. You can have a group of people that get along
together without there being any peace in their midst. Turmoil and despair can
be raging all around and within them, but they still get along. Does that mean
there is peace?
I tell you the truth that there is a peace and a unity that
goes beyond words. There is peace that passes understanding. There is unity
where we don’t just get along, but we are one as God is one. The lack of
jealousy over these things results in the negotiations of “coexistence” and
interfaith relations between Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.
Jesus says they are of the synagogue of Satan. Do you
believe that? Is that just Jesus being harsh because He doesn’t understand?
Does Jesus need to lighten up because they are people too, and we need to love
them?
Notice the premise behind these questions. These questions
denounce Jesus as being God. They claim that He doesn’t have understanding,
which is to say He isn’t all knowing. They claim that He doesn’t love like we
love, which is to measure Him by human standards instead of God’s standards.
They rob Jesus of authority. They are the same question that Satan asked Eve in
the Garden, “Yea, hast God said…”
Notice this. It is important. These are the kinds of
questions that get asked when you say you are against interfaith relations.
That isn’t to say that I am against a Catholic and Protestant being married –
or a Moslem marrying a Jew, etc. I don’t speak of those relations. I speak of
the deception that we are all worshiping god anyway, so why does it matter
whether they are Christian, or Jew, or Moslem? We ought to get along with one
another and show them respect for their beliefs and they will show me respect
for my beliefs.
The problem is that my Jesus told me that if I follow Him,
the world would hate me. If they respect me and tell me I’m doing a good job,
chances are that I’m not truly following Jesus. I have made up a god in my own
image and named it Jesus, but it certainly isn’t the one spoken of in the New
Testament.
What is my point that I’m trying to make?
I’m trying to establish the point that in the end times,
there will be one world government (or at least a push toward it that will come
very close to succeeding). Under this one world government, there will also be
one religion. The world will worship the beast. The beast is the antichrist. If
the world worships the antichrist, then that kind of puts a stop on interfaith
relations. There will be Jews, Moslems, and Christians that will worship the
beast. They will have no problem doing so. Their worship isn’t going to be
direct. It will be indirect. They will be allowed their meetings and their
“religion,” but if that altar comes by, they pay tribute to it.
It was exactly the same way in the first century. If the
altar came by to throw incense on the fire to Caesar, you had to do it.
Religious Jews paid their alms to Caesar, who is not God, and claimed they were
still right before God and worshiping Him. But it is okay because they don’t
really believe that Augustus is the Son of God. Yet, they claimed they had no
king but Caesar. Then they continue to go about their lives as though there is
nothing wrong.
It will be the same way at the end. What will you do? Will
you allow that Antichrist to call himself the messiah? Will you go with the
flow so that you can continue to live healthy? Will you ignore it and have your
Jesus on the side so that you can buy, sell, and trade? Or will you oppose the
Antichrist because there is only one God and Him alone shall you serve? Will
you continue to knock against the system because it is utterly demonic in
nature and has its origin right out of the pits of Hell?
To those who are willing to endure until the end – even to
the point of death – Jesus says, “I will give you a crown of life.” To those
that face death on every side in this life: you will achieve the crown of life
at the end if you are faithful until the end.
This is all saying something about the nature of rewards.
Jesus is coming with His rewards in hand. We don’t get them in this life. We
get them in the next life. We get them in the age to come. After we have gone
through suffering, death, and hell, then we shall achieve our rewards of life
eternal.
Remember that we have been sealed with the Holy Spirit. God
has left us with something. We are not alone in this. There is peace, joy,
love, and hope. This is where the rubber meets the road. If what we experience in
Christ now is only a foretaste and does not compare to the glory that we shall
know later, then we have every reason to rejoice in our sufferings. We have
every reason to wade through the hell of this present evil age.
Why should we be taken aback? What reason is there to lose
hope? The suffering and the persecution that we face now is only another glory
that we receive in Heaven. Take hope. Love much. Pour yourself out until there
is nothing left. Why should we not rejoice when we’re fired for being a
Christian? Why should we not rejoice when we are taken and imprisoned for our
faith? Why would we get discouraged? It can only come from a mindset that is
wrapped up in this age and has not focus upon eternity.
12 And to the angel
of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp
sword with two edges;
13 I know thy works,
and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my
name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my
faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.
14 But I have a few
things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of
Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumbling block before the children of
Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
15 So hast thou also
them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.
16 Repent; or else I
will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my
mouth.
17 He that hath an
ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that
overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white
stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that
receiveth it.
Once again we have symbolism that isn’t clear. There are
people who have written about this and what it might mean. I would say that if
you want to hear some options as to what the throne of Satan was, and who the
Nicolaitans were, and what it means to have a white stone with a new name
written on it means, that you should do one of two things (or both): pray that
God gives revelation on these matters and/or look up another source. I actually
haven’t looked into this enough to have sufficient ideas of what these things
are. To me, the clear point is about Balaam, not the Nicolaitans or the white
stone.
What was the sin of Balaam? Jesus specifically says the
teaching of Balaam here. Balaam is also mentioned in Jude and Peter. It is
clear that the sin of Balaam is that he was the prophet for hire. He was more
interested in making money than speaking the oracles of God. When we read the
story of Balaam, we find that he might have actually been an honest prophet at
first.
God tells Balaam not to go away with the king of Moab.
Balaam listens the first time. But the king sends messengers multiple times.
This is where the compromise came. I don’t know what happened between the first
and second visit, but something changed in Balaam’s heart that he was
considering going with the king of Moab. Whatever it was that shifted Balaam’s
attention away from God, this is the very thing that Jesus is referencing. I
think we have a couple hints.
Moab is a nation that appears in the Bible multiple times.
It is actually found throughout the Old Testament writings. Where does Moab
come from? It comes from Lot’s incest. Lot was made drunk by his own daughters,
and then raped by his daughters. This shows you a little bit about the
character of Lot. I believe that Lot was righteous. At least, that is what God
has to say of Lot. However, his daughter’s actions would show that he wasn’t
whole-heartedly given over to righteousness and holiness unto God.
The word Moab in Hebrew means “of his father,” or “seed of
father.” The idea and context would be that the name was given because the
girls wanted to continue their father’s name. So they continued their father’s
legacy by raping him and naming one of the children “of his father.”
Symbolically, the name alludes to one being like Lot. Now, Moab being “like”
Lot is not to be interpreted as a righteous thing.
Moab throughout the Old Testament is continually against
Israel. From the first time they show up as a people in Numbers with the story
of Balaam to the prophets crying out against Moab, this kingdom seems to be a
complete metaphor to the kingdom of darkness. Moab is Satan’s kingdom.
So, what would cause for Balaam to go with Balak, the king
of Moab? The name Balak means spoiler. So we have the spoiler, king of darkness
coming to a prophet of God and asking him to curse Israel. Does this sound
strange to anyone (like the “destroyer” is referenced as the Antichrist in the
Old Testament prophets)? Balaam has been translated to mean a couple things.
One is destroyer of the people; another is lord of the people. Considering that
bilam means devourer, I would assume that Balaam means devourer of the people
or glutton or something to that degree.
To get to the point, I think that the problem that Jesus is
pointing out to the Church in Pergamum is that they are a people with itching
ears wanting to hear good things and not willing to hear the bad. This is also
rampant in the United States. There are a lot of preachers that would loose
their jobs if they were to start speaking the whole truth of Scripture. Their
congregations don’t want to hear it.
And so the preacher starts to teach the people that the
Bible is a good moral book, but he doesn’t deal with sin (doesn’t call anything
sin) and doesn’t condemn anything. After a while, you have people that start to
ask questions like, “Is homosexuality okay?” What are you going to say? You
have already dug a pit by not confronting sin. Now sin has become increasingly
sinful and the people are asking if it is okay to do abominable things. Thus,
because we don’t teach the whole Gospel, we end up being a “destroyer.”
I assume that this is what Christ was getting at. The sin of
Balaam is that he was a prophet for hire. He didn’t take it seriously that he
was the mouthpiece of God. What he said reflects on God’s character and name.
Yet he was just looking for a paycheck. And so it is with many ministers today
that are looking for a paycheck and are unwilling to dig in to the roots and
really strive that their congregation may be a beautiful and spotless Bride for
Christ.
Ultimately, this meant that Balaam went with the spoiler,
the king of darkness. When we are unwilling to preach life (whatever the cost)
then we will preach death. If the message doesn’t come from the throne, then it
comes from the pit. From where do you receive your message each week?
18 And unto the
angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who
hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;
19 I know thy works,
and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the
last to be more than the first.
20 Notwithstanding I
have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel,
which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit
fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
21 And I gave her
space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
22 Behold, I will
cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great
tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.
23 And I will kill
her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which
searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according
to your works.
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.
25 But that which ye
have already hold fast till I come.
26 And he that
overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over
the nations:
27 And he shall rule
them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to
shivers: even as I received of my Father.
28 And I will give
him the morning star.
29 He that hath an
ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Who is Jezebel?
We know that Jezebel was King Ahab’s wife in 2 Kings.
However, this isn’t 2 Kings and it isn’t northern kingdom Israel. Thyatira was
in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey). Jezebel was a Phoenician name. All the signs
point that Jesus isn’t referencing a person named Jezebel. Most likely, there
was a woman elder that was leading the people astray. Another option to
consider is that Jezebel is a spirit that the people had given themselves over
to. Either way, we will never in this age truly know what precisely is being
spoken of here.
There are some very basic things we can take away from this.
The first thing that is obvious is that whomever Jesus is
referring to, she called herself a prophetess. This is something that should
register within every true believer. If there is someone who is being applauded
as a prophet and yet is not, it can only bring death and deception to the
Church. The Church is founded upon the apostles and prophets (Ephesians 2:20).
If we are going to base our foundation off of something that is false, then we
can only find deception and destruction of an ultimate kind.
This so-called prophetess misled the people to practicing
sexual immorality and eating food sacrificed to idols. This is precisely the
kind of person that Paul warned every single Church to watch out for. He said
multiple times not to accept anyone who teaches these things. In Galatians, he
even curses anyone who would preach another Gospel.
As far as the name Jezebel goes, if you reference back to 2
Kings, you’ll find that Jezebel was more known for promoting idolatry and
slaying the prophets. She wasn’t known for sexual immorality. So I wonder if
there is something going on here beyond the words. To reference Jezebel tells
me that Jesus isn’t simply speaking of sexual immorality. He is probably
referencing the idols that Jezebel set up: Ba’al and Asherah.
Asherah was Ba’al’s mistress. She was a long pole in the
shape of an erect penis. The way you worship Asherah is by grabbing the closest
person you can find (whether male or female) and you perform sexual orgies with
them. This is where we get modern day stripper poles. This is where we get
modern day sex parties and orgies. This is where homosexuality comes from.
The problem with this kind of sexual impurity is that it
isn’t merely physical. You give yourself to a spirit. When we are addicted to
sex or pornography, or we spend time at a strip club, or we practice
homosexuality, we are attaching our spirits to a demonic spirit. This is
dangerous.
One of the reasons why many addictions are so difficult to
overcome is because of the spiritual aspect that is not dealt with. God
proclaimed judgment upon this Jezebel for bringing such perverseness to His
Church. I don’t think that this is a symbolic death that Jesus is speaking of
in verse 22. I think that God was literally going to kill her, her children,
and anyone who commits adultery with her. This was to be a sign that what she
does and what she teaches is not of God. It is the opposite of God ordained.
In verse 24, we have an interesting mention of Satan’s
“so-called deep secrets.” Jesus’ response is that He would not impose any other
burden upon them. I think that this and what was spoken of above with Jezebel
would be why the passage ends with those who overcome receive authority from
the Father and Jesus will give us the morning star.
Who is the morning star?
We see in Isaiah 14 that Satan is called the bright and
morning star. Jesus says that the reward of abandoning such wicked practices is
authority over Satan. The question of whether this happens now or in eternity
would be the next thing to examine. All I will say is that it doesn’t make
sense that this will be in eternity if Satan is cast into the lake of fire
before we enter heaven. It has to be at a time where Satan still exists.
1And unto the angel of the
church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of
God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou
livest, and art dead.
2 Be watchful, and
strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found
thy works perfect before God.
3 Remember therefore
how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou
shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what
hour I will come upon thee.
4 Thou hast a few
names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk
with me in white: for they are worthy.
5 He that
overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out
his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father,
and before his angels.
6 He that hath an
ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
I would like to start this by pointing out that if these
different churches are different church ages, there is absolutely nothing that
fits the entire world at any one given point in time. God is talking to
individual churches. He isn’t talking about church ages. We can take the Church
of Laodecia as an example. If this is the Laodecian age, then what is Africa’s
Church that is suffering persecution and is immensely poor? It just doesn’t
fit.
We have something here that simply doesn’t fit anywhere in
history. There has never been a time in history where the majority of
Christendom was claimed to be alive and yet was dead. If you want to claim it
was the time of the reformation, then you have a lot of explaining to do. That
is called condemnation. Why is it that the Catholic Church was okay for
centuries, but then there is suddenly a time where they are no longer godly?
It doesn’t fit.
We’re talking about a literal place with literal people.
Another problem that I find with claiming that these are
church ages is that I can find many congregations that are exactly this that is
being described. They claim they are alive, but they are dead. There is nothing
of life in them. As soon as life comes in, it is rejected and persecuted. I’ve
been in the midst of the church congregations that would do such a thing.
However, what strikes me about reading this passage is that
Jesus still calls them the Church. He doesn’t say that they are a false church.
Nor does Jesus say that they are already exempt. Jesus calls these people
saints. That is what the definition of a saint is – a person that is within the
universal Body of Christ. This only seems to display the mercy of God. How can
it be that the testimony of this Church is actually that they are dead, and yet
Jesus isn’t telling them they are not the Church? It would seem that most of us
would call them out and claim they are not Christians. Jesus does no such
thing, but only gives the harsh rebuke and says that if they do not repent,
then they will in the future be found in
their sins.
Why is it that the rebuke of Jesus is actually to remain in
their sin? This is actually condemnation itself. Jesus has said in John 3 that
our condemnation is that we love the darkness and reject the light. If we are
unwilling to come to the light and allow for our evil deeds to be exposed, then
we are already condemned. So Jesus is actually proclaiming that if these people
will not come to the light, then they shall dwell in darkness. If they continue
to dwell in darkness, then how are they to be a part of the City of God that
radiates light for all to see?
7 And to the angel
of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he
that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man
shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;
8 I know thy works:
behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou
hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
9 Behold, I will
make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but
do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to
know that I have loved thee.
10 Because thou hast
kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation,
which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
11 Behold, I come
quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
12 Him that
overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no
more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the
city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my
God: and I will write upon him my new name.
13 He that hath an
ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
This is the only Church out of the 7 that has nothing
against them. Now, one of the things that need to be mentioned is from verse
10. Jesus promises that He will keep the Church in Philadelphia from the trial
that is soon to come upon the whole world. Is Jesus talking about the
Tribulation or some other trial? I think He is talking about the Tribulation.
Now, we’ve spent some time discussing the rapture. It does
not seem like God indicates anywhere else in Scripture a plain presentation of
rapture. In all other places, the idea of the rapture has to be read into the
text instead of being read out of the text. This is the only place where it is
questionable. So what are some possibilities that God is communicating here?
We know that the time of the antichrist will be a time of
persecution on the Church. In Daniel it mentions over and over again that the
saints are slain. This is also mentioned later in Revelation 13. I think it is
possible that Jesus is telling His Church in Philadelphia that He will keep
them from suffering the persecution. This one is one for dispute. Some might
desire to part with me and say that it does mean rapture. Others might agree
that the rapture doesn’t make a whole lot of sense in the context of the plans
and purposes of God – let alone the character of God.
I personally take this to mean that this small remnant – a
Philadelphia people – will be allowed by God to remain on the earth without
receiving the suffering that the rest of the Church receives. That is not to
say that they will not suffer, nor does it mean that they will be taken out of
the world. Elijah did not leave Israel to find water during the drought (1
Kings 17). Israel was in the land of Goshen while Egypt was being plagued. The
Philadelphia remnant in the last days will also be able to endure in the same
way.
14 And unto the
angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the
faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
15 I know thy works,
that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16 So then because
thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
17 Because thou
sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and
knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and
naked:
18 I counsel thee to
buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment,
that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear;
and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
19 As many as I
love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
20 Behold, I stand
at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will
come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
21 To him that
overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame,
and am set down with my Father in his throne.
22 He that hath an
ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
What do we say about the Church in Laodicea? I can’t help
but be absolutely horrified at the stupor that this Church is in. They claim
they are rich. They claim they can see. They claim to be followers and
disciples of Christ. Jesus doesn’t rebuke them because they are false
believers. He rebukes them because they are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind,
and naked.
Why is this important to note?
If you read carefully the blessings and curses in
Deuteronomy 28, then it becomes obvious. Either we are being blessed by God or
we are being cursed. There cannot be a neutral stance. If we find that we are
not able to overcome our enemies (like pride or lust), then we must be under
the curse. If we are constantly battling as a people (like the nation Israel
has been warring against the Islamic nations for decades), then we cannot be
under the blessings of God.
Now understand that we can have varying degrees of curse or
blessing. It is obvious from the text that if we are being cursed, God expects
that we will recognize this and turn to Him in repentance. If we refuse to
repent, then God hands us over to deeper realms of curse. Sometimes our
struggles aren’t the enemy that needs to be cast off. Sometimes our struggles
are oppressions from God to get us to repent. The reason we can’t find
deliverance is because we have refused to acknowledge (or even consider) that
God might be against us.
I think this might be the reason why Jesus is telling this
people that they need to buy from Him. They have gone so far in their own
strength that it actually takes Jesus to tell them they are in the wrong. If
you read Isaiah 29, you come across a passage where God says that He is
blinding His people so that the learned cannot read the scroll, and the
unlearned cannot read the scroll. We’ll get to question of what the scroll is
in a couple chapters. What is important to note is that this scroll is supposed
to be opened and read by His people, but instead it is sealed and unable to be
opened and/or read.
Sometimes it actually takes someone else to wrestle with you
to overcome. Jesus does promise to the people that find themselves in this
state that He will come in and be with us if we will open the door. The problem
is that the door shouldn’t have ever been closed to Him. How is it that the
glory of God has left, and no one even notices?
This is why it takes more than mere repentance. It takes
someone who can recognize the situation, explain it in love, and wrestle with
that person or congregation to bring deliverance and a spirit of repentance. It
takes a jealousy for God’s glory. We need to be ruthless in our honesty and in
our scrutiny. While looking upon self, we ought to be meticulous when it comes
to conforming to the image of God. When it comes to others, we ought to be
loving and desiring their higher good in judging.
It takes an immense character to attack our own self. It
comes natural to protect self. When someone comes and tries to point out error,
either in character or theology, the defensive is the most typical response. Some
people get offended when challenged. This is pride. It is arrogance. It shows
that an unclean spirit has blinded us and brought us into spiritual stupor. Can
we truly be Christian and right with God if we don’t have humility to hear
other’s critique?
I understand full well that some people are mean and
judgmental. It takes the Spirit of God to reveal truth. That does not give
credence to being defensive and prideful.
On the other hand, some people are all too ready to play the
victim. It is still a self defense mechanism. They play the victim to try and
gain favor and pity. In all circumstances, I’ve seen it be that whether the
person refuses to acknowledge error, or the person only acknowledges error, it
is for self. It has nothing to do with humility. It is bondage. The person that
has either of these two mentalities needs freedom.
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