10 Facts about the Millennial Reign of Christ

What is the millennial reign of Christ? The millennial reign takes place after the great tribulation, beginning at the moment when Jesus Christ returns to the Earth and defeats his enemies at the battle of Armageddon. 

The return of Christ is depicted like this in Revelation 19:12-16, "His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.”[a] He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: king of kings and lord of lords."

King Jesus returns to the Earth, with the saints of God, to defeat the anti-christ, the false prophet, and his army. 

Jump forward to the next chapter, and we see the establishment of the millennial reign, which indicates that the saints involved in this reign are only those which gave their lives during the great tribulation. 

Revelation 20:4-6, "4 I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They[a] had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years."

So let's consider now ten facts about the one thousand year reign of Christ on the Earth.

1. King Jesus Christ himself, in the flesh, will be the chief authority over every nation on the Earth, for a period of 1,000 years. 

Jesus will dictate total authority over the Earth from the capital city of planet Earth, Jerusalem. Often this time period is also referred to the time when Jesus will rule with a rod of iron and he will give his tribulation saints authority to "smash the nations to pieces like pottery (Rev 2:27). 

Daniel 7:27 ESV And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.’

2. The Martyrs who died for Jesus under the anti-christ will reign with Christ during the millennial reign - From what I can tell, only those who were killed during the tribulation by the anti-christ and his forces will participate in the "first resurrection." Revelation says "blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection, for the second death has no effect on them." This would be several million people at least, I assume. It says in the word that during the millennial reign Christ will share his authority with them, so it's likely to speculate that the tribulation saints alive during this period would be given authority over different regions of the planet, to share in Christ's authority to rule over them, of course in turn taking orders from Christ himself from Jerusalem. 

3. King Jesus will rule with an "iron rod" to smash the nations to pieces like pottery - We find that Christ will rule with a firm hand, apparently punishing the nations if they refuse to do good and love mercy and walk humbly under His rule. 

Psalm 2:9 "You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel."

4. Feasts will be Celebrated - The nations of the planet will apparently make pilgrimages to Jerusalem to celebrate feasts, and events in the city with the messiah. In particular, the feast of booths is mentioned, in which Israel would remember their deliverance from slavery in Egypt.

According to Zechariah 14:16-17, "Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, and to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles. 17 If any of the peoples of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, they will have no rain."

5. The Word of God will be taught to all nations - All the nations will apparently travel to Israel during the millennial reign to learn the word of the Lord and to bring it back to their nations. 

Micah 4:1-2 In the last days
the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established
as the highest of the mountains;
it will be exalted above the hills,
and peoples will stream to it.

Many nations will come and say,
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the temple of the God of Jacob.
He will teach us his ways,
so that we may walk in his paths.”
The law will go out from Zion,
the word of the Lord from Jerusalem."

6. People will live in peace, the nations will no longer war, and weapons of warfare will be shifted toward agricultural use. Could the millennial reign be a time when the Earth returns to a more agrarian economy? 

Isaiah 2:4 ESV "He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore."

Isaiah 11:6-9 ESV "The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder's den. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea."

7. Messiah Jesus will rule from a "holy mountain" in Jerusalem, which could be a rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem, and/or it could be a situation like Mt. Sinai where the nations like Israel shall gather around the mountain and send representatives up to consult with King Jesus. Hard to say for certain, again, speculations only. 

Zechariah 14:4 "On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley, so that one half of the Mount shall move northward, and the other half southward."

8. For one thousand long years King Jesus will reign over the Earth, through his Lieutenants the tribulation saints, including the 144,000 saved out of the twelve tribes of Israel. I assume the 144,000 will reign in various regions of Israel, while the tribulation saints will reign over various countries across the nations of the Earth. 

From what I can tell, the survivors of the great tribulation, men and women who did not take the mark of the beast, but also did not become Christians either, will be the residents of the Earth. I assume their numbers would be in the billions. I would speculate probably about 33% of the remaining Earth's population that refused the mark, but also never became a Christian. Maybe less than that though, could be about 10% of say, so assuming there were about 10 billion population of the planet at the time of the onset of the great tribulation, this is speculative of course, then maybe 1 billion people? So maybe 1-3 billion people? Then again it could be much less, given the severity of the last judgments in Revelation. It could even be less than 500 million.  Or under 100 million. Hard to say for certain. Estimating those numbers is simple speculation. Interesting to consider though. Additionally, if the residents of the Earth continue to have marry and have children, by the end of the one thousand years the population of the Earth could be much higher. You'd also have to factor in lifespan during this time, would be 70-80 years, or much longer? Hard to say. 

9. Satan the adversary is released one last time at the end of the one thousand years. Though the anti-christ and the false prophet were defeated, as well as the demons at the end of the great tribulation, Satan must be released at the end of the millennial reign. 

Many wonder, why is that? Well, the remaining people of the Earth have lived with Jesus as their king for one thousand years. They are seeing face to face, he is their leader. And there are no demons at this time to tempt them, during the one thousand years. To track with God's justice, it seems only fair that these people must at last be tested, to see if they really are fully committed to following Jesus.

And indeed, we see in Revelation that their commitment for the most part was not strong.  Because once Satan is released, he goes out among the nations and gathers a massive army to once again attack Jerusalem, just like in the tribulation. This force he deceives and gathers is massive. It's described as being greater than the grains of sand on a seashore. 

But I assume, at the same time Satan is gathering this force from all the nations, there is a remnant from the nations, who are not fooled again by Satan, but instead they hold firm to Christ. Most likely this faithful remnant retreat to Jerusalem, to King Jesus, to seek protection from Satan's gathering force. But this all occurs to test their hearts. And the millennial reign is yet another grace from God, a final offer to the people who lived through the tribulation, but refused the anti-christ, to receive Jesus as savior, though I don't know if it would be the same as receiving Christ in our current era. The tribulation saints are obviously secure in their salvation, we're told the second death is no longer a danger to them. But what about the remnants from the nations? Will they have an opportunity to receive eternal salvation?  

Satan gathers this army and they march on Jerusalem, it says in Revelation 20:7-10: "7 When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—and to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. 9 They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God’s people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. 10 And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever."

10. After Satan's final defeat, the old earth passes away

At last then, the adversary Satan is judged and condemned and removed forever. Then the great white throne judgment occurs. The old heavens and the old earth disappear. And God brings forth a new heavens, a new earth, and the city of God the New Jerusalem takes it's place on the surface of the New Earth, as the eternal city of God, where the faithful will live forever in peace and joy. 

Revelation 21:1-8 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,”[a] for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’[b] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7 Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. 8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

There are still Soldiers in the Army of God: Encouragement for God's Weary Soldiers

Soldiers gather on the outskirts of a city. There are about two hundred of them gathered there, though other groups of faithful fighters are gathered in other places, some out in the woods encamped around fires, others in facilities deep within the cities. 

These soldiers are beat up, bruised, weapons still hot from combat. They've been fighting a long time. They've been fighting for years. War takes it's toll on soldiers. They are tired, exhausted, and low in morale. 

These are soldiers of the spiritual war for the souls of humanity taking place across the western world today. And I'm one of them. Gathered with my band of heroes, out in the sticks fighting a long, taxing war. 

We aren't winning, in fact our nation is ablaze with destruction. But still we fight on. We don't give up. But some of us, myself included, have become very tired. We've sorrowful from the battle. Our hands are shaking from the trauma of it. We want rest. We want the battle to end. We want things to be different.

These wants are not bad things. But the war will continue. We all have to understand that, and wrestle with that, and then keep going. We have to refocus in this battle. We have to find a new footing for this battle. Because our current attitude of bitterness, of grief, of lostness, of brokenness is not a solid footing to stand on.

It's not uncommon for a soldier to feel this way. We're gathered around fires, thuds in the distance, storm clouds brewing in the mountains. 

I was weary from the battle, bruised, and bitter, many troops who had battled with me had departed, though others joined with me, I felt exhausted, cold, and empty, and I longed for peace. But I realized that God was saying to me, "I'm with you in the battle." But God was also saying to me, you haven't kept your mind and heart on me. I had begun to disregard prayer. I had begun to lose some of my faith. I had allowed my heart to get a bit hard on the edges. I said to myself, what's the use?

I had taken big tag boards and written names, of people in the area where I served and prayed for them night and day for years, and I looked at the boards and realized most of them, if not nearly all of them, were not with the Lord, very little had changed in their lives. And I was discouraged. I was losing heart.

Ten years of battle I thought to myself and what has been gained? Not nearly what I'd hoped. Not nearly what I'd dreamed. But there had been victories, many victories in fact. But also defeats. Defeats are part of war. It's all part of what happens on Earth. Particularly in America many people don't want God. They feel like they have everything they need. They don't want to listen. That's hard on us, fighting day and night for them to turn to Christ. It's devastating to see them reject Jesus. However, when we get down, and depressed, and sullen, we start to focus on the negative, and not the positive. So we need a change of mind, from the Holy Spirit, and I'm praying in Jesus Christ name, that this will happen now for you. 

First, we need to adjust our entire mindset on this battlefield. We need to focus on Jesus Christ our glorious, victorious savior full of perfect love and grace and truth, and find refreshment for our souls. That's the first thing we've got to do, get our eyes off our problems, off our hearts, and onto the perfect Jesus Christ, the true King of the Earth, the Lord of all, and rejoice in his current total victory. We may see defeats, but our victory is so very secure. Others may reject it, we have not. And so our victory is secure. Other have their sacred choice to make. We can't help it if they make the wrong one, that's their sacred choice.  But we must keep our eyes on Jesus. I don't mean that as simple encouragement. I mean, as a matter of survival itself, you must, must, must keep your eyes on Jesus. Your salvation depends on it. So do it. He is victorious. Keep your eyes on that complete victor King Jesus, or you will lose heart and give up.

Psalm 123:1 "A Song of Ascents. To you I lift up my eyes, O you who are enthroned in the heavens!"

Hebrews 12:2 "Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."

Two, understand, believe, and know that God's angelic armies fight alongside of us. We may look around and see only a tattered army of men and women. But, we are surrounded on all sides by soldiers who have been fighting much longer than us. They are elite soldiers, with powerful weapons, and constant direct access to our chief General the Lord Jesus Christ. These are angel armies, warring angels that stand beside us in combat and fight beside us in our desperate battles against the forces of darkness in the high places. They are with us. God commands them. They give all glory to Him.

Psalm 34:7 "The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them."

Three, hope is the secret weapon of the soldier on the battlefield. Hope is the weapon of our mind to defeat any discouraging thought. Use this powerful weapon, by training your mind to counter any pessimistic thought with the truth of the scriptures, which is solid and real. 

When you think to yourself "I can't go on" stop yourself in your mind and say, "that isn't true. The sword says, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. The sword says in Christ I'm more than a conqueror through Him who loves us. God has not given me a spirit of timidity but of love and power and sober mind. Counter the negative thoughts immediately in your mind with the truth of God's word. God's word is not pessimistic. It acknowledges difficulty, it acknowledges grief and pain, but it also shows there is a Living Hope to cling to in those times. 

Isaiah 40:31 "But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."

Romans 15:4 "For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."

Four, find refreshment in the place of intimate prayer with God. In any time of prayer in your life, you must get alone with God and begin to praise Him, thank Him, rejoice in Him, delight in Him, and make your requests known to Him. But you need to go beyond there, and press deeper into prayer, and as you pray, longer and longer, you'll notice at some point in the prayer you'll breakthrough and begin to sense God's presence around you. Then delight in God in those moments, time will begin to pass more quickly, because you won't want to leave that sacred place. You're with God. This time when you're in God's presence is healing, and you'll find refreshment. But it takes diligently seeking His Face. At those times you'll also receive divine revelation, and guidance, so you may know His will and follow it.

Psalm 34:17-20 "When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken."

Five, like Esther, you were made for this moment in history. Consider this wonderful reality of space and time and history. Think about it! You were made for this moment in history to fight this battle. As Galadriel said to Frodo, "If you don't find a way, no one will." You were crafted to be able to handle this fight in Christ and win the victory. 

See it from this perspective: This is a war that will always be remembered, and you have the incredible honor of fighting on the frontlines in this war on the side of the Light. Few can say the same. Many end up unwittingly serving the forces of evil. Consider it a great honor to serve your Master in this desperate battle. He sees your victories, and is close to you in your defeats. 

"If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?” -Esther 4:14

Six, the life of the Christian is much suffering. I don't mean to be blunt, but that is a big part of what it means to be a follower of Jesus. And the secret to learning endurance in suffering is something very odd and paradoxical that the apostle Paul talked about, he said, "I rejoice in my sufferings." He wasn't just making a cute statement to tell us how clever he was. He was talking about something very practical. When you suffer for Jesus, turn it around on the enemy and say I'm glad for this, I rejoice in this, because this is keeping me from apostasy, this is keeping me close to Jesus, this is training me toward godliness. Respond to suffering with rejoicing. I know it sounds crazy, it's actually biblical. 

2 Timothy 2:3 "Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus."

Romans 5:3-5 "Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."

Seventh, remember that Jesus Christ will return to give relief and victory to his dedicated soldiers. Jesus Christ will come again. I think it will be much sooner than we realize. I honestly expect it to happen within my lifetime. That's how close I think we are. So we should see that the return of Jesus Christ is very real and very close, and rejoice with hope. The return of Jesus Christ means the total victory of the cross will go from a faithful hope to a present reality, that transforms us into His likeness at last! Then, no more sin nature, no more law of death, no more suffering, it ends then when Jesus returns. 

Revelation 19:11-15 "Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war. His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself. He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God. The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses. From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations."

Until that day brothers and sisters, keep the faith and never give up hope! Yes, you're tired right now, you're exhausted from the battle, you're tired of losing battle after battle in the west. But take heart. Take a deep breath, and apply these principles to your heart and life. For me friends, I had to ask for someone to pray for me, I was at a theatre play of Pilgrim in Grand Rapids, and one of the actors afterward prayed for me, that God would soften and heal and renew my heart. I had allowed my heart to become somewhat callous and hardened. If that's you on this battlefield and you're demoralized, then cry out to God, ask your church family to pray over you, and God will hear from heaven and renew your heart and mind to softness and hope and a new outlook. Take some time, rest and pray, and then get back onto the frontlines of the salvation war, because we aren't done yet! 

Until then, veritas Domini manet in aeternum.

1st John 4:4 But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.

Sources: 

1. Topical Bible Soldiers https://www.openbible.info/topics/soldiers
2. How To Respond To The Shaking Of All Things? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZANf57k9y0M
   
3. Soldiers https://www.boldexistence.com.au/soldiers/
4. Treasuring the Fear of the Lord https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFD33anh5xU
5. 2 Timothy 2 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Timothy+2&version=NIRV
   
6. Nasa 2023 Prophetic Word https://www.rignation.org/ 

Repentance is the Seed of Revival: Letter to the Church of Laodicea

“We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven. We have been preserved, the many years, in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth and power, as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to God that made us It behooves us, then to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness.”
-April 30, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln's Proclamation for a National Day of Fasting, Humiliation and Prayer.

Too proud, too self-sufficient, too intoxicated with success, all this is deceitfulness in our hearts, in the USA, ten times as much today as in Lincoln’s time, and it reminds of the letter to the church of Laodicea, in Revelation, it says this:

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

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

21 To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” -Revelation 3:14-22

Today we focus in on the city of Laodicea in the ancient world. It was a city of about 40,000 people, which is about the size of my home town. It wasn’t as big as Pergamum, but it was powerful and affluent. This city had two theaters, not just one, like Pergamum which had a population of 200,000 people. So this was a rich city. It was located at a key point on the trade routes of Asia minor.

This was the banking center of Asia minor, working with money, and power and influence, business and jobs and industry, manufacturing, and goods and products. Reminds one of the United States of America, so much money, so many goods and services, and so much abundance.

The city was known for the productions of textiles, clothing and garments, and was known for a particular kind of wool. It was very soft, and black, and would be worn by the residents of the city, to display their wealth. You’d find a city full of black robed people.

It was also known for the production of medicine useful for the treatment of eye conditions. Once again this led to great wealth.

Laodicea had everything it needed. The people there tended to be wealthy and influential in the region. They were proud, arrogant even, and accustomed to getting what they wanted, accustomed to entertainment in the theaters, and many forms of pleasure.

But it did have a problem. It was not near any particular water sources. So water had to be piped in from outside the city. The water source they had was full of minerals as well, which gave the water a putrid taste. Additionally, piping in the water from far off, and then having to gather it in the hot sun, would leave the water lukewarm, not very enjoyable to drink.

In contrast, in nearby Hierapolis, they had hot springs to get their water from, bubbling hot springs. And in nearby Colossae they gathered their water from nearby mountains, from the ice melts, nice cold water.

So when Jesus gives this letter to the Laodicean church, it’s interesting he says you’re lukewarm in your faith, just like your water, and it’s offensive to me. I wish you were hot like the water in Hierapolis or cold like the water in Colossae, but you’re lukewarm, so I’m going to spit you out if you don’t repent.

The city of Laodicea had once been hit with a devastating earthquake, common in parts of Asia minor, the city was so wealthy and powerful, with so many resources, that Rome offered to help them rebuild, and Laodicea said no thanks, we have all we need.

This is the only letter to the seven churches that doesn’t give any encouragement, but only rebuking and correction. Jesus says to them…

“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” –Revelation 3:14-16

He tells them right off the bat, I’m the ruler of the creation. You may think you have a nice car, a fancy house, lots of money, influence, but, it all belongs to me. I rule the creation. Everything in creation is a gift from God.

He says I’m about to cast you out. I’m about done with your nonsense. You are not where you need to be. You are half in and half out. Lukewarm.

I know each of the churches in Revelation have spoken to us in a unique way, but I wonder who this one is for today, I gotta say, I see few Bibles open when we read the word here. People don’t seem very hungry. I know many of you don’t really pray much at all outside of church. You just kinda think you have everything you need, and church is something you add on to the end of the list, like yeah I guess I’ll do that too. And that is lukewarm. So listen very carefully to what Jesus says here, if that’s you.

And I think from time to time we may all have been guilty of this, being lukewarm, half in, half out, but the important thing is that we repent, we let Jesus into the depths of our heart, and give ourselves afresh to Him, we repent and turn it over again, and we go deep, all the way in, because he stirs in our heart a sense of dread and concern and fear and stress and conviction to say oh my, I’m broken, I’m not who I should be, I need to repent! If you feel God stirring your heart this morning, as He did with me last night, just say in your heart right now: “Jesus help me, I repent, I let you into my heart, I open the door to you now! Change me!”

Next the Lord says to them: “You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ –Revelation 3:17a

That’s what the Laodicean church is saying to themselves, “I’m rich. I have money. I don’t need a thing.” They are relying on their wealth. Oh wow, this is exactly what we do in America. We rely on our wealth, our stuff, our cars, our bank accounts, our roads, our bridges, our bikes, and houses, and we think to ourselves, in blasphemy against God, I don’t need Jesus, I have all I need. I have Youtube, I have a smart phone, I have a nice place to sleep, I have all I need. Howe we should be ashamed to dare think such a thought. Repent!

Jesus says to them, you think you’re just great, sitting on a beach sipping a drink out of a coconut.

But here is your true condition before a Holy righteous God of heaven and hell, “But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.” –Revelation 3:17b

Jesus says you have this delusion in your mind about what you are. Very common for Americans I think, we all think we know everything, no one can tell us anything.

But Jesus says I see deeper than that delusion. He says you’re wretched, like, a total mess, miserable, callused, hard of heart. He says you’re pitiful, you’re a shame to look at, basically he’s saying. They think they’re rich but Jesus says you’re poor. You’re blind too. You can’t really see. Even though you have that fancy eye clinic in town, you can’t really see much of anything. And not only that you’re naked, they all have these fancy black coats, but Jesus says actually you’re naked. Just like Adam and Eve, naked, covered in sin, and pitiful, and hard hearted. A big mess. But they’re rich, so they think, no I’m fine. I’m just fine. Jesus says no you aren’t. In fact you’re in serious danger right at this very moment.

Many of us have been amazed to see the revivals taking place on Christian colleges like Asbury, Lee, and now dozens of colleges. We wish we could see the same thing in our area. But what I’m telling you now is the key to revival, true revival always begins with heartfelt repentance, people realizing deep down they need God desperately, completely and this total repentance and submission to God leads to revival.

There is hope for revival in our church and our city. Just like there is hope for these dirty, pitiful, wretched people described in Laodicea.

Jesus gives them the solution. This is how you solve this horrible problem you face, of all this wealth that has made you lukewarm…

“I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.” –Revelation 3:18

He’s telling this rich church, you need gold refined in the fire. Faith refined in the fires of problems in your lives. Then you’ll really be rich.

You need white clothes to wear, to cover your nakedness. They need to turn to Jesus to cover over their sins. And real salve to put on your eyes, not that stuff in your clinic, spiritual salve of the Holy Spirit, so you can see that life isn’t about money or wealth or entertainment it’s about serving God in the fear of the Lord!

So for the church of Laodicea, and I’m sure some of us today we’re convicted by the Holy Spirit, sometimes conviction feels pretty uncomfortable, like woe is me! I’m so upset, I’m broken, I’ve done wrong, what do I do Lord!

And we start to think, wow, God doesn’t love me, no one can help me, it’s hopeless for me. It’s over. And it’s like the gates of hell close around us. And we think we’re doomed forever. We’re going to hell. We’re in sin. And there’s nothing we can do. But Jesus gives them the instruction, here’s how to repent, to change your ways and begin to live differently.

I’ve worried about many of you. I worry you’re pretending to be a Christian. You’re showing up to church but you don’t really live for Christ alone. And you’ve got to repent and give it all over to Jesus. Repent of your pride. Repent of your rebelliousness. Repent of your thefts, your lies, your manipulations, your sexual immorality, your selfish indulgence, your constant entertaining yourself, and turn to Jesus before it’s too late.

It's truly disturbing to see us marching toward hell, while sitting in church pretending to be Christians, and I’ve been guilty of it too. I’ve been a hypocrite and a white washed tomb. And I need to repent too.

But Jesus doesn’t tell us all this to condemn us, but to discipline us. He says in Rev 3:19:

“Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent” –Revelation 3:19

He says I love you, that’s why I’m rebuking you, correcting you, telling you to change your ways. Make a change! Be earnest, be honest, be real with Jesus, and repent. Right now. In your heart. Make a change. Ask Jesus to help you. Be earnest, be real, repent.

You may think to yourself well God loves me, Jesus loves me, he would never send me to hell. Well, that’s actually not biblical. It says in God’s word he is coming for a bride that is holy and spotless and blameless. He is not coming for a bride who has soiled their garments in sin. And if we’re living in sin, or lukewarm when Jesus returns he’ll say to us, “Why did you call me Lord, Lord and not do what I said to do?” -Luke 6:46

Depart from me, I never knew you, you worker of lawlessness, you who lived a double life. I never knew you.

Jesus is love, and mercy and grace and kindness, but he is also truth and justice, and firm, and insists upon our obedience to His ways. That is how we abide in Him in fact, “those who obey me are those who abide in my Love. “

“If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. -John 15:10

You might be thinking “this is pretty intense pastor” I hope you see it as this is how much I love you, I’m willing to risk offending you to bring you to heaven and not hell.

We’ve made out Jesus in our modern era to be a bit of a Mr. Rodgers, but he’s not that, he’s loving he’s righteous, he’s firm, and he will by no means clear the wicked of their wrongdoing if they don’t repent (Exodus 34:7). Remember that.

So then the letter concludes like this: “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”–Revelation 3:20-22

The church of Philadelphia was told, I have put before you an open door that no one can close. For the Laodicean church, they have the door closed. But Jesus is still knocking at the door of their hearts. But they need to open the door. They need to by an act of opening their heart let Jesus in.

He says hear my voice, listen for the voice of the Lord, and he will come in and fellowship with them, eat with them, together, in relationship.

He also says, if you’re victorious, if you overcome the temptations of wealth and power, and convenience and pleasure and entertainment, you’ll sit down with me on my throne, whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit is saying right now.

So I challenge you today, are you like the Laodicean church? This is the letter for our era if you ask me. America is in shambles today, torn apart by sin and corruption because the church as not held it’s post and kept society pointed in the right direction. We’ve become smug, complacent, hard hearted, and focused on pleasure, entertainment, self-indulgence, pride, and money. It’s all around us and its’ difficult to not get sucked into it. But instead, we must be different. Totally different and realize the only reason we have anything in life is because it’s from Jesus.

All of the wealth of America is because our founders honored God in the founding of the country. And unfortunately, our generation has lost sight of that. Judgment will come one day on America, sooner than we think, and we should be ready for that, totally set apart, with faith like gold refined in the fire, white clothing centered on what Jesus did for us by dying for our sins, and Holy Spirit filled hearts that see with discernment, the truth of everything. Repent today, and give your whole heart to Him, ask forgiveness for doublemindedness, ask forgiveness for laziness, ask forgiveness for whatever sin you’re struggling with today, he will forgive you. Come the altars now. Give it all over to Him anew.

The Letter to the Church of Philadelphia: An Open Door to a New Jerusalem

“He was christened Giovanni, the Italian name for John. His mother named him after John the Baptist in hopes that he would be devoted to Jesus. But Giovanni was hardly devout. As the son of a wealthy cloth merchant, the boy was a spoiled rich kid.

One day a beggar in the marketplace asked Giovanni for a handout. Giovanni remembered a line he heard at Sunday Mass: “When you feed the hungry, you minister to Christ.” He grabbed hold of the beggar, gave him everything in his pockets, and kissed him full on his lips.

That evening he informed his family that he wanted to give everything away to the poor. His enraged father forced Giovanni to enlist in the army, and he was sent off to war. After he was captured, he said that Christ visited him in his prison. When he returned home, he no longer wanted to party with his friends. He moved into a charity hospital where he fed and bathed the sick. On winter nights he climbed into bed with lepers, wrapping them in his arms to keep them warm.

With the pope’s blessing, he gathered disciples who gave away all their possessions to follow Jesus. They crisscrossed Europe, ministering to the poor, comforting the sick, and evangelizing the forgotten.

While still in his early forties, Giovanni caught a fatal disease from a sick wretch that he had held in his arms. In October of 1226 he died, gasped his final words to his brothers: “I have done my part. May Jesus teach you to do yours.” You remember Giovanni by the name Saint Francis of Assisi. His last words challenge each of us. As Saint Francis said: “To give largely, liberally, and cheerfully requires a new heart.” -James Petterson (abridged)


I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. -Ezekiel 36:26 NIV

Today I think we’ll see that for the church in Philadelphia, they proved they had entirely new hearts. What did Jesus say to them? he said this: 

“Write this letter to the angel of the church in Philadelphia.
This is the message from the one who is holy and true,
the one who has the key of David.
What he opens, no one can close;
and what he closes, no one can open:

“I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close. You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me. Look, I will force those who belong to Satan’s synagogue—those liars who say they are Jews but are not—to come and bow down at your feet. They will acknowledge that you are the ones I love.

“Because you have obeyed my command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world. I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown. All who are victorious will become pillars in the Temple of my God, and they will never have to leave it. And I will write on them the name of my God, and they will be citizens in the city of my God—the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from my God. And I will also write on them my new name.

“Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. -Revelation 3:7-13

The city of Philadelphia, in Turkey, gateway to the east, it was the furthest east city of Greek culture and philosophy, and it was considered a gateway, an entry point into the eastern world.

Greek culture had been successfully spread along the coastal regions of Asia minor, but, as they went further and further inland they encountered resistance to these new ways of Greek culture.


The city of Philadelphia was known for it’s production of wine and vineyards. The ground was very fertile, but it was in a region known for earthquakes, so often buildings would topple in these quakes and have to be rebuilt.

So the area became known for very nice architecture, it was even called a “little Athens” because it had such beautiful structures. I suppose you get good at building when you keep having to rebuild.

In any case, in 17 AD the city of Philadelphia was devastated by an earthquake so severe that Rome actually didn’t charge them tribute for five years so they would have time to rebuild.

But later, the roman empire would betray Philadelphia, because of the beautiful vineyards and wine coming from the city, it was beginning to overshadow even the vineyards of Rome, and so an order went out and all the vineyards in Philadelphia were burned.

The Greek god Dionysus was worshiped in this city, not surprising Dionysus was the Greek god of wine.

The city had numerous different names as well, for a while it was called Flavia, Neo-Caesarea, and of course Philadelphia, which means the city of brotherly love. Which is why the city in the United States was named Philadelphia, the city of brotherly love. And the Philadelphia in the USA was known as the gateway to the west, while the Philadelphia in Turkey was known as the gateway to the east.

Now the church in this city of Philadelphia apparently didn’t have a lot of influence in the city. They weren’t a big church like Ephesus, they didn’t have key figures attending. They didn’t have a great deal of power over much of anything. Yet Jesus is very pleased with this church. Every church in the letters of Revelation receives a correction, do better, aside from Smyrna and Philadelphia.

Sometime as a follower of Christ, I’ll stop, and take an inventory, examine myself, to see if I’m in the faith, that’s biblical…

“Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?” -2nd Cor 13:5

And I’ll pray, and seek the Lord, and examine myself, and almost always God through the Holy Spirit will say, all is well, you’re in the faith, you’re of Christ.

There are times as well, when the Lord, through the Holy Spirit will rebuke me, and indicate that I need to repent of something I had done that day, or something recently, then I get on my knees and ask God’s forgiveness, repent, and keep going. And God will quickly affirm that once again I’m in a proper standing with Him.

For this church in Philadelphia as they saw the letters to the other churches in Asia Minor, I’m sure they were wondering, what is he going to say to us?

And Jesus tells them essentially, all is well, and I’m very pleased with you.

He says this, “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Philadelphia.

This is the message from the one who is holy and true, the one who has the key of David. What he opens, no one can close; and what he closes, no one can open.” –Revelation 3:7

Without understanding the context of Philadelphia being the gateway, we might be confused, but, instead we see Jesus is speaking to them, I’m holy and true, He says. He has the key to the true gateway. Jesus is the door. What he opens, is open. What he closes, no one can open. He is the final authority. If Jesus says, you’re going to heaven, then it is so. If he says, you’re going to hell, it is also so.

He has the keys to life and death. Jesus is the King of the Universe. His command is eternal. He is the gateway.

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

This church has stood the test. Like all the other churches, I’m sure they were discriminated against. They were left out of activities. They were ignored. They were rejected. They were even persecuted and imprisoned. But they didn’t compromise. They didn’t change to fit in with the city. They didn’t compromise and take part in other religions.

They don’t have a lot of strength or influence. They are weak. Maybe it’s a small church, not too many members. But they have kept their witness to Christ. They haven’t denied Him.

“Look, I will force those who belong to Satan’s synagogue—those liars who say they are Jews but are not—to come and bow down at your feet. They will acknowledge that you are the ones I love.”
–Revelation 3:9

Next Jesus gives the body of believers in this city a beautiful encouragement, it reminds us of Psalm 23 when the Lord says “I will prepare a table before you in the presence of your enemies.”

Apparently, this little church in Philadelphia was being persecuted by the local synagogue. Once when Jesus was talking to a crowd of people in Israel who were arguing with Him and harassing Him, he looked into their hearts and then cried out, “You are not children of Abraham, you are children of your father the Devil.”

Similarly, this synagogue is called a synagogue of Satan. The synagogue was the Jewish temple in the city.

Jesus tells them, don’t hate them, don’t let it bother you how they harass you, instead, know, that one day I will pay them back, and they’ll have to acknowledge that I’ve loved you and not them.

What is the synagogue of Satan in your life today? Are there people who persecute you? Family? An organization? Even people in the body of Christ in this area? Don’t hate them. Forgive them. Pray for their welfare. And then know that God will deal with them.

Jesus continues in verses 10 and 11 like this:
“Because you have obeyed my command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world. I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown.” –Revelation 3:10-11

Honestly, my first reaction whenever I read this scripture is to think of the rapture, the time when Jesus returns just before the great tribulation to take the saints out of the world. The NLT renders it as “protect you from.” The NASB more properly renders it “keep you from.” Take you away from it.

For the Christians in Philadelphia, we don’t really know what that may have been referencing, perhaps it was the waves of persecution that would come between 40 AD and 313 AD when the worst persecutions happened against Christians in the roman empire. But we don’t really know how they might’ve been protected from all that.

In any case, in our situation as the end times church, I think this is a good reminder for us, that if we hold true to Christ, we will be kept from enduring the wrath of God in the great tribulation.

They’ve obeyed Jesus’ command to persevere. To endure. To not give up. That’s my next point today, persevere in difficult times.

It’s a good tweak in the mind, an adjustment, to see perseverance as something good to do, but then to see it as a command. Persevere. Keep going. Honestly, that’s been hard for me lately. I’ve struggled to persevere. I’ve wanted to give up from time to time. Ministry is very difficult. And you have such high hopes, to see great things happen, and when you don’t see massive revival, it’s very disappointing, and you can become bitter and angry, and want to give up. I’m sure that was the case for these Christians who were being persecuted and excluded. But they didn’t give up. They kept the command to persevere. That’s my call to us today, keep the command to persevere. Find a way to keep going. We can do that in Christ.

He also says “hold on to what you have.” But Christ is holding on to me so I don’t have to hold on to Him. Yes, Christ holds on to us. We also hold on to Him. It’s a two sided relationship. Any relationship is. He holds on to us. We hold on to Him. Hold on tight, and don’t let go. Some of you need to be reminded to keep praying, keep reading your Bible, and don’t get lazy. Everyday is a new day. It starts over everyday. Keep living it. Keep praying. Keep reading the word.

Lastly, the Lord says…

“All who are victorious will become pillars in the Temple of my God, and they will never have to leave it. And I will write on them the name of my God, and they will be citizens in the city of my God—the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from my God. And I will also write on them my new name.

“Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.” –Revelation 3:12-13

Jesus says I will write on them the name of my God. The name of Yehovah, a permanent name. Forever citizens, of a new city, a permanent city. And Jesus’ new name for them, written on them. A city whose name had changed several times, a new name, but this one permanent, and forever.

In this city there were many earthquakes, and the pillars of the Greek buildings would often fall, tumble over, and need to be put back up. But Christ reminds these Christians, if you overcome, if you’re victorious, you will become a permanent pillar in the temple of God, which is the New Jerusalem. The door was open for them. The door was closed for others. Eventually the door would close on Earth, and will close one day forever. But, if we walk through it and stay in it, we become a permanent fixture, an eternal member of the city of God, the New Jerusalem. The streets of gold. The massive city on a new planet Earth. And it’s perfect.

If you’re searching for utopia, perfection, unity in diversity, there it is, eternal life, no more sin, no more death, on God’s terms, it’s perfect. And in a human utopia, it will never be perfect, and death and sin will always rule and reign in it. We’ve tried to build it here on Earth, from the tower of babel, to the roman empire, to the modern Babylon of the USA, and every time we try, it becomes infested with evil, sin and death, and hell, and become a nightmare society slowly over time. Whether it's babies being offered as sacrifices at the pagan temple, or at the abortion clinic to selfishness, it’s murder and death, whether it’s sleeping with temple prostitutes as worship to Greek gods, or roaming the streets of las vegas, it’s sin and destruction, orgies at the public house or orgies in silicon valley, corruption in Rome, or corruption in Washington DC, no utopia on Earth can be found, only God’s utopia, the new Jerusalem, is a true and perfect paradise. But only after we’ve gone through the tests of this life, and shown ourselves as overcomers, as those who persevere, as those who never give up our witness to Christ, and never deny His name. A New Jerusalem. A New City of God. A new citizenship. A new permanent home, fit with a new name. Forever. Amen.

All that’s left of the city of Philadelphia today in Turkey, the only ruins left, are the pillars of the church, with Christian paintings on the pillars. This church stood strong. And their memory lives on. Even today, there is an orthodox Christian church in Turkey in that area, where this church once stood. The pillars remain. They stood firm. They persevered. They never gave up. And they received the crown of life. Amen.

The Letter to the Church at Sardis: Appearing alive, but actually Dead

"No wonder you can’t believe! For you gladly honor each other, but you don’t care about the honor that comes from the one who alone is God.[a]" -John 5:44

"In an address I lately heard, the speaker said that the blessings of the higher Christian life were often like the objects exposed in a shop window, one could see them clearly and yet could not reach them. If told to stretch out his hand and take, a man would answer, I cannot; there is a thick pane of glass between them and me. And even so Christians may see clearly the blessed promises of perfect peace and rest, of overflowing love and joy, of abiding communion and fruitfulness, and yet feel that there was something between hindering the true possession, And what might that be? Nothing but pride." -Andrew Murray, Humility, p. 53

Sardis was a large and beautiful city in it’s time, with powerful defenses that made the residents over-confident in their ability to defend themselves from invading armies. Sardis was known for worship to the Greek god Artemis as well as roman emperor worship, but the city also had the largest Jewish synagogue in the ancient world apart from those in Israel itself. So there was a strong Jewish presence in this city as well.

Cyrus the greater conqueror had at one time attempted to conquer Sardis, but the fortifications on the great hills behind the city were too difficult to overcome. One night, a soldier on the battlements accidentally dropped his helmet over the side of the walls. So he snuck down and opened a secret passage to grab his helmet and come back. Unfortunately for him, this was noticed by Cyrus and his troops. They later attacked the other side of the city, and sent a group of soldiers to quietly break into the hidden doorway on the other side, and this helped them capture the city at last.

Coined money was apparently first developed in Sardis long long ago, when it was controlled by the Lydian empire. And the Lydian empire was known for being very wealthy. So we had a wealthy city, with powerful defenses, so this led to arrogance, overconfidence, and laziness. The city was captured by Cyrus, then later by the Roman empire, who controlled it during the time of the early church.

The church in this city apparently had a reputation of being a very active and spirit filled church. I’m sure in the past they had won many to Christ, and helped many people, and were growing and discipling, and spreading the word, and sending out missionaries. It was great. But, apparently this reputation over time, began to be something of the past, not the present.

They had been an active Spirit-filled church, but over the years, something had changed. Perhaps they had become lazy, complacent, and eventually, they were simply dead inside.

And I wonder if that’s true of some of us today, we used to be super active, we used to pray a lot, and read the Bible, but we’ve kind of settled back into complacency, kind of settled in and think well I’ll just show up to church and that’ll be enough.

But Jesus Christ our messiah, he sees the heart. And sitting back and going along to get along won’t be enough. It wasn’t enough for this church. Let’s look at what Jesus tells them.

He says in Revelation 3:1, “He who has [a]the seven spirits of God and the seven stars, says this: ‘I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, and yet you are dead.”

Jesus says I have the seven spirits of God, and I have the seven stars. We know the seven stars are the seven churches of Revelation. Good. But, what are the seven spirits of God?

I’ve often wondered that myself. What does Revelation mean by the 7 spirits of God? And it’s in the word. It’s actually apparently from a prophecy about the messiah in Isaiah chapter 11 verse two. It says this:

“And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:

And [1] the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, [2] the spirit of wisdom and [3] understanding, [4] the spirit of counsel and [5] might, [6] the spirit of knowledge and of [7] the fear of the Lord;”

It’s been there all the time. All we had to do was look for it. And on a side note, I believe we as Christians can also have all of these seven spirits of God. Wisdom, understanding, counsel of God, the might of God, the knowledge of God, and the fear of the Lord. They are the hallmarks of a follower of Jesus.

But what does Jesus then tell them? Bad news. He says you are dead! Your reputation says you’re alive, but you’re actually dead. You’ve believed your own media. You’ve believed your reputation. But God sees past our reputation. He sees beyond how we portray ourselves. He sees who we really are.

My family growing up, was always about keeping up appearances. Everyone pretended to be good, ok, doing well. That’s not unique. I think most families are probably like that. But, sometimes something would sneak through, and we realize, oh they’re actually human too like the rest of us. We like to pretend to be perfect, but we aren’t. We like to enjoy a certain reputation.

First point today, God sees to the very heart of who we really are. He doesn’t care about our reputation. Or lack of reputation, in my case, in my past, everyone knew my dirty laundry, they kept publishing it in the newspaper. So, I had no reputation to guard. Everyone knew what I was.

But for you today, maybe you’ve got everyone fooled around you. But God isn’t fooled. He sees what you do in secret.

Next, the Messiah says, “2 Be constantly alert, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God.”

The Lord is giving instruction to this church, who is like the soldier on the wall who fell asleep. This church is like soldiers who are watching on the walls, but it gets late and they all fall asleep. Jesus says, wake up sleeper, rise from the dead, so Christ may shine on you!

Wake up! Get up! That’s point number two, first point was God sees who you really are, second point, therefore wake up, get back to work for God’s kingdom!

Return to a state of military alertness. On a navy worship the crew members and troops are at their various tasks and duties. But when the captain issues the order to come to a state of alertness, everyone rushes to their battle stations to be ready for combat. To be ready for action.

Jesus tells them, you can’t live on your past accomplishments. What if we at the salvation army here said well, back in 2020 we did some good things, we gave away Christmas toys, we did kettles bell ringing, but well, we haven’t done any of that since, we skipped it in 2021 and 2022. Because we already did that. Would that make sense? No.

We can’t live on past accomplishments. We keep serving. We keep setting new goals. We get deeper into the mission of preaching the gospel and meeting peoples needs.

Jesus tells them hey your deeds aren’t done yet, keep serving, stay active, wake up.

Then in verse 3, he continues along those lines. He says,

“So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. But if you are not alert, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you.”

Point number 3, remember who you really are. Look to Jesus. Look back to what God did for you in the beginning. Look to the cross of Jesus Christ. Looks to Jesus’ perfect life, his miracles, his healing of the blind and bleeding, look to Jesus the pioneer of perfection, looks to Jesus the giver of the Holy Spirit, look to Jesus the one who washed away your sin and guilt and shame, and this looking will raise you from the dead. You will live by turning your eyes to Jesus, even though you’ve fallen asleep and become like one who is spiritually dead.

But Jesus also includes a warning, if you don’t repent, I will come like a thief when you don’t realize it. So Jesus says, look back, remember, what you received in your salvation from me. In so doing, I will revive you. They’ll wake up, rise again.

There’s a scripture in Ephesians that explains this concept well, of waking up.

From Ephesians 5:13-17 But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. 14 For this reason it says,

“Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you.”

15 So then, be careful how you walk, not as unwise people but as wise, 16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”

Christ will shine on you again if you turn to Him. Then, be cautious how you’re living from now on, keep your focus on Jesus, laser focus, don’t move from it, because guess what, the days we live in are evil. And in so doing you’ll live in a way where you’ll know and follow God’s practical will for your life.

Lastly, Messiah Jesus says to them, “4 But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. 5 The one who overcomes will be clothed the same way, in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. 6 The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

Fascinating, so, it is possible for a Christian to soil their garments. We each right now, are wearing a robe of righteousness. It’s the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Revelation also says the white linen is the righteous acts of the saints, which is interesting too.

But the reason we’re able to enter paradise after we die is because we are robed in the righteousness of Christ, which covers our sin, and makes us pure. But, apparently, like Sardis, it is possible to by sinning, by laziness, by spiritual death, to dirty our robes of righteousness, which disqualifies us from eternal life.

But Jesus says there are some who haven’t dirties their robes, and they will walk with Him it says, robed in white, and he won’t blot out their names from the book of life. Which also implies that a Christian by willful sinning or apostasy, have their name removed from the book of life. Very interesting.

An interesting side note, is that when archaeologists studied the remains of the synagogue that was in Sardis, they found that on the pillars for the jewish synagogue the jews had written their names into the stone. But their names were written in Greek. And when it says in verse 4, you have a few people the word there for people can also be rendered as “names.”

So Jesus says, there are some names that haven’t been blotted out, that haven’t been soiled, and they will walk with me, and I will speak up for them before my Father in heaven, and the angels. Because they are worthy.

The one who has ears, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Our final point today is to be an overcomer. Even if you’ve become stale in your walk with Christ, even if you’ve become lazy, worldly, if you’ve lost prayer, lost bible reading, lost an excitement for God and knowing Him, you can repent, and find Jesus again. He will shine on you, but you have to wake up. Wake up, and He will help you. But don’t think you can hide in your complacency and just hope that everything will work out. Jesus says no, I see the truth, and I can see that you’re dead, and I’ll remove you from the book of life if you stay the way you are. It’s a serious warning. So we should take it seriously. Some of us here I think have become a bit complacent. We aren’t as excited as we used to be. We need to turn again to Jesus. Let’s do that today. Start by getting on your knees and crying out to Jesus to wake you from the dead. He will help you!

The Letter to the Church of Thyatira: The Church Tolerant of Sin

I'd like to contrast two historical figures, Lot the nephew of Abraham, and Jacob the son of Isaac. One leads to disaster, one leads to overcoming. The question you should ask yourself is, which path am I on today? 

From James Petterson's One Year Book: "He left his city along the Euphrates River and headed north with his uncle. They crossed Iraq into Syria, and then Uncle Abe’s new God called them to move on to the land of promise. But high desert country could not sustain both the uncle’s and the nephew’s herds in the same place. After their herdsmen fought over grazing rights, they decided to split.

When his nephew chose the lush plains east of the Jordan River, Uncle Abe gasped. The cities of that region were cesspools of depravity: demonic gods, infant sacrifice, unthinkable perversions, and horrific cruelty. But Lot could only see grazing lands that would fatten his herds and markets that would fatten his wallet. The Genesis account says that he “pitched his tent toward Sodom” (Genesis 13:12, KJV). In short, Lot kept his family outside that wicked city, but placed his tent in such a way that his wife and daughters were able to see its bright lights. Over time they were seduced from a distance. They pestered Lot to move them into Sodom until he finally acquiesced to their pressure. Eventually, Abraham’s nephew became a member of the city council. But his business interests caused him to keep his mouth shut in the face of evil, even as his wife and daughters abandoned Uncle Abraham’s God for the pleasures of Sodom.

Then angels appeared with a warning: judgment was coming, and Lot’s family must flee immediately. The angels literally dragged the reluctant family away from Sodom and Gomorrah. No one knows whether the region was hit by a meteorite or an earthquake, but huge fissures opened, and methane gasses spewed out in geysers of hot fire and liquefied salt, raining down a holocaust that turned sand into glass balls and stones into charred lumps. Lot and his daughters ran into the mountains to the east, but his wife couldn’t tear herself away from the cities she loved. Liquefied salt washed over her, instantly encasing her so that she became a pillar of salt.

The worst was yet to come for Lot. As his two daughters cowered in the mountains above, they must have thought the whole world had been destroyed. They figured that their daddy was the only man left on the planet. So they got him drunk and took turns seducing him. Could the righteous man, who pitched his tents toward Sodom, have sunk any lower than incest? His sons became the progenitors of the Ammonite and Moabite nations, taking on the immoralities that Lot’s daughters had picked up in Sodom. Lot’s tale is the sad story of a man who lost his place in the family of Abraham, then his own family, and finally his legacy. His amazingly sad story warns us that a life of small compromises eventually leads to a tipping point and a plunge into catastrophe. We would do well to remember Lot and something Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote:

Sow a thought, you will reap an action; sow an act, you will reap a habit; sow a habit, you will reap a character; sow a character, you will reap a destiny."

"Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master." -Genesis 4:7

Lots story went all wrong. Though perhaps in the end, Lot gave his life to God, and was saved. We don't know for certain,

but I think we’ll see today that the church in Thyatira was being offered this course, of slow compromise, leading to bigger compromise. But, they were also being offered a path to righteousness.

It reminds me of the account of Jacob. He was a manipulator, plotting with his mother to steal the first born role from his brother. God was pursuing him all his life. And he fled from God. But, then one day Jacob, fleeing from his brother, encountered a staircase, in a dream, leading up to heaven. And he was astonished.

Later, he would wrestle with God, all night, perhaps wrestling between pride and obedience to God, and finally God asked Him, what is your name? Jacob, means deceiver. Jacob admitted what he was. And God then made a great nation out of Jacob. He became who he was always meant to be, a hero. But he had to admit, ask forgiveness, and repent, to become who he was meant to be, a hero. 

Jacob overcame himself, his own desires, his own selfishness, and ego, and manipulations, and became a man dedicated to God. He overcame. 

We'll see that these two paths, that of Lot, or Jacob, was before the church in Thyatira. Jesus gives them this message. 

Revelation 2:18-29: “To the angel of the church in Thyatira write:

“The Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like fine brass, says these things: I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience, and that your last works are more than the first.

“But I have a few things against you: You permit that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat food sacrificed to idols. 21 I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, but she did not repent. 22 Look! I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. 23 I will put her children to death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the hearts and minds. I will give to each one of you according to your deeds.

24 “Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this teaching, who have not known what some call the ‘depths of Satan,’ I will put on you no other burden. 25 But hold firmly what you have until I come.

26 “To him who overcomes and keeps My works to the end, I will give authority over the nations—27 He ‘shall rule them with a rod of iron; like the vessels of a potter they shall be broken in pieces’ even as I myself have received authority from My Father. 28 And I will give him the morning star. 29 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

In any scripture portion the challenge is two-fold, first we have to understand what the words written down meant to the original audience. The second challenge then is to take the words and understand how they apply to us today for us.

You see pictures of the ruins and remains of Thyatira on the screen. Located in the bustling town today of Akhisar, Turkey.

So we consider the context of this letter. Thyatira was a small town community. It wasn’t like Pergamum or Ephesus. It was a smaller city. It was a city known for the production of textiles, and of bright colors like reds and purples.

It was also known for blacksmiths, bronze smiths, silversmiths, and there were guilds, labor unions in the area that held a great influence in the area.

Worship of Apollo was common in the area as well. Apollo in the Greek mythology was considered the “son of Zeus” so the son of the gods. So we begin to understand why Jesus spoke this way to the people.

The church in Thyatira would’ve been challenged to worship Apollo along with the rest, and if they didn’t many of them lost their jobs in the guilds.

Jesus starts the letter by saying: “The Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like fine brass, says these things: I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience, and that your last works are more than the first.” –Revelation 2:18-19

God lists the following characteristics which please Him: Love, service, faith, patience, and persistence.

This is our first point today, here's how to do it right!

They even have Greater works than before – they were building on past victories. 

Would God say the same of you, looking at your past and present? What about your future? Do you have plans to build on past victories? 

Next Jesus says: “But I have a few things against you: You permit that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat food sacrificed to idols. I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, but she did not repent.” –Revelation 2:20-21

Point Two: Tolerating evil is a slippery slope (you permit)

Notice God’s generosity, he gives Jezebel time to repent.

Who is Jezebel? In the Old Testament, she was the wife to Ahab, the single most corrupt king of Israel. Jezebel was constantly influencing Ahab toward evil. He lead Ahab to worship Baal. After Elijah's victory at Mt. Carmel, she threatened to kill Elijah. Jezebel led the nation astray, through her influence over Ahab, but her end was terrible, she was finally defeated, and killed by her own slaves. 

So you had a church in Thyatira that was tolerating a false teacher in their midst, allowing evil in their midst. 

Tolerance for evil: We do this in America. We tolerate so much evil. Because we think it makes us “tolerant” and “accepting” and “inclusive.” We had been in America in the late 1800s fairly exclusive, but slowly we became more and more inclusive to other religions, more and more inclusive to ideologies, more and more inclusive to different lifestyles, and so tolerant and open that we allow just about anything in our country. And we thought to ourselves, look at us, so tolerant, so open, so considerate of other perspectives, which sounds good, looks good on paper, but then slowly, you start to see the foundations of the society crumbling, you see social norms being changed, you see different philosophies taking over the minds of young people, and pretty soon the country is a big mess, because there is no shared philosophy of life. Everything becomes so fragmented it's impossible to hold together.

For a country, we want freedom and liberty, freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and freedom of personal autonomy. 

It's different in the body of Christ. Yes, we have freedom, liberty, free speech and so on, but, we can't allow false teachers to work their way in. False teachers must be apposed, and removed if necessary. 

Next, the Lord says: “Look! I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. I will put her children to death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the hearts and minds. I will give to each one of you according to your deeds.” –Revelation 2:22-23

Point three: God is the one who searches hearts and minds.

God knows our thoughts, our emotions, our actions. He cares about all these things. And if we slip into sin, he wants us to repent quickly, and stay free.

For those who refuse to repent, they will often go off into “great tribulation” a time where they enter sorrows and pains and difficulties, and they’re brought low again, to teach them to repent.

It’s a cycle I’ve seen play out in peoples lives. As they resist God’s leading, he begins to cycle them through sorrows, to bring them to humility again, so they may repent.

He knows our hearts and minds ,and he tests us. To make us beautiful, like gold.

“Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this teaching, who have not known what some call the ‘depths of Satan,’ I will put on you no other burden. But hold firmly what you have until I come.” –Revelation 2:24-25

Point four, hold firmly to the end. Don’t go off into empty philosophies which are just the deep things of Satan. Instead, stand firm.

Stay true. No other burdens are required. Just stand firm to the end. Don't give up! Keep going, all the way to the end. All your life. 

“To him who overcomes and keeps My works to the end, I will give authority over the nations—He ‘shall rule them with a rod of iron; like the vessels of a potter they shall be broken in pieces’ even as I myself have received authority from My Father. And I will give him the morning star. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” –Revelation 2:26-29

And last portion, point number five is the reward for the overcomer.

Just like each letter to the churches, Jesus concludes it with rewards in heaven for those who stand firm to the end.

I will give authority he says. The morning star is a gift for those who stand firm. Authority, power, dominion. We Christians have little power in this world, from a worldly perspective, but, the word says we’ll share in the authority of Christ.