Revelation 1:-3: a Recap

Let us recap our study and solidify our thinking and reaffirm our belief in the book of Revelation, and then we will take a trip to Heaven.  To do so I have to rethink my position on certain aspects of Christian lore, and I think it would be advisable that we all did because the path we have chosen is leading us farther away from God rather than bringing us together.  

The Heaven depicted in the book of Revelation differs greatly from the Heaven that we hear about almost daily.  If you believe in God and believe in his message, rethinking the modern day concept of Heaven should be easy.  I believe that the Book of Revelation is the message of Jesus to the Church and to the individual.  I believe Jesus' message is more believable than many of the messages delivered today.  

Too often, the presentation of the message of Christ is in a convoluted manner that breeds distrust in the Word of God.  Often presented as a message from God, cute clichés that serve no purpose other than to detract, excite and breed false hope.   How often have we been left standing by the side of the road waiting on deliverance only to be told later that, "He might come when we want him to but he is always on time?"   We would do well to study the predictions of John the Baptist, Stephen and Paul.  Before Stephen was killed, he saw Jesus standing on the right hand of God, but he did not come to his rescue.

The greatest challenge or hindrance to understanding the Book of Revelation is whether to accept the church as a perpetual or transient body.  Few are prepared to accept the "true church" as an ephemeral or transient body because it would be inconsistent with the teaching of a billion dollar enterprise.  The same holds true when it come to acceptance the inactivity or the silence of God.  The proliferation of the church has become the most destructive forces facing the church.

If the true church is perpetual as pertaining to the end of time then many of the events prophesied cannot proceed in a chronological order.  As indicated in my study, "The Five Judgments", all of the events detailed in the prophecies must proceed in a chronological order; it is the order of the Bible.

When the tribulation come upon the earth will the "true church" be safe in Heaven?  Numerous scriptures support this thesis.  Most of us are comfortable with the scenario that the church will remain on earth until the end of time.  The same as we are comfortable with people dying, bypassing judgment and going straight to Heaven.   Much of our knowledge of Heaven seems to be based upon entertaining rhetoric that is not scripturally supported, such as singing in the heavenly choir or even initiating a Heaven-wide search for our loved one.  Christ returning with his Holy Angeles and judging the nations or establishing his Kingdom here on a new earth seems a little far-fetched.  In light of the confused state of humanity, this would pose a problem.  

In Revelation 4: John's view of Heaven depicts an angry God and the organization structure of Heaven as it prepares to meter out the final judgment upon the earth.  Later John sees a number greater than no man could number coming out of the great tribulation, but he does not see the church.  Could the reason be the church is safely tucked away in Heaven with Christ, attending the marriage ceremony, where they will emerge as Holy Angels? 

I do not believe I have ever heard a sermon delivered from the book of Revelation.  I have heard, "Behold I stand at the door and knock", used in many different settings.  Heaven is a place we want to go and Hell is a place we do not want to go is the most knowledge many of us have of the hereafter.  Modern Santa Claus religion is about living and enjoying the blessing of God.  When it comes time to die many Christians are afraid and began praying and begging God for a little more time.  

The colleges and universities are doing a fine job preparing us to live a purposeful life here on earth; the church's mission should cater to our spiritual needs, our purpose and prepare us to meet God.  Many churches today main function is operating a business, selling the spiritual attributes of God, while the messengers of God are gainfully employed stirring the cauldron of hate.  They spew hatful rhetoric that causes many of the sheep to stumble and stray from the fold. 

The first division of Revelation was the vision of the glorified Lord (Chapter 1). The second division of Revelation consists of the letters to the churches (chapters two and three). The third division begins with chapter four and closes with chapter twenty-two, verse five. This comprises the prophetic portion of Revelation, although prophetic action does not begin until chapter six.  Chapter 4 and 5 is merely a prelude of things to come.  The signs and symbols prevail throughout the book, as with any journey if we do not understand the sign we probably will not arrive at our destination. One final point, when the message uses signs and symbols, the message cannot be understood by just reading, you must see the signs and symbols to understand the message.  

The scenes in Heaven, recorded in chapters 4 and 5, introduce the first series of judgments, about which we read about and witness in chapter six. Throughout the church age, there has been a conflict between good and evil, between Righteousness and unrighteousness, light and darkness. The battle between God and Satan, the Holy Spirit and evil spirits, has been raging since the Church was born, and will continue long after the Church is safely seated in the Heavens with the Lord Jesus.  

One of the purposes of this study is to show the role that the church plays in the overall scheme of things.  Many teach or believe that the church is the only “saved” entity after Jesus set up his Kingdom.  This is not scriptural.  The church created for a specific purpose, not to save the world but as the “Bride of Christ.”  Understanding the concept of the “Bride of Christ”, the symbology of the use of the words will enable us to understand the church's purpose.   

After the marriage, the Bride and the Bridegroom become as one.  It should be clear now that the church (a called out body composed of Jews and Gentiles) is a special entity created for a special purpose in the kingdom. Paul made his point clear in 1^st Corinthians 6:2-3 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? And if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels?

After the rapture of the "true Church", the Holy Spirit will not be here to restrain the forces of evil; this earth will become a literal hell. After the true church is caught up the systems of this earth will be committed entirely to the devil and he will rule in the person of the Beast (politically) and in the person of the Antichrist (religiously). The Rapture of the church  takes place between chapters three and four - the overcome's will be caught up, and the masses will be spewed out to go through the tribulations.  The true church will become the organized church and will continue to function, the same as the five foolish virgins. 

It is true that John does not record the facts concerning the Rapture; but Paul, to whom the mystery of the Church was revealed in full, unfolds to us the events during and immediately following the Rapture. 1st Thessalonians 4:13-18  But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this, we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

To be continued...

The Book Is Open, Revelation 3:14-22

Earl Gillespie 

Revelation 3:14-22

The Laodiceans, our final church before we follow John into Heaven and view the throne of Jesus.  This was a functioning church, they assembled together regularly to worship in their fancy edifices, conveyed in fine carriages, adorned in fancy robes and costumes.  They perverted the Gospel, they shaped the truth, they collected money and amassed huge fortunes, and there were no community services.    In the community people were sick and suffering, they were dying and they pretended not to see. They uttered praises for their blessing even to the point of bragging, but as a church, they were spiritually naked and dead.  There was no place for the unperverted Jesus or the pure Gospel on their programs, he was left standing at the door.

Last Sunday evening a pastor conducted a youth program, morning service was canceled so no hardship would be placed on the membership.  I am sure if the threatening rain had come, the event would also have been canceled.  The young people performed and a visiting minister preached one of those messages that most seasoned saints had to take notes to remember what the message was about.  The listeners were was constantly reminded to touch their neighbor.  It is unclear if this will have a decisive effect on the community or the decline of youth participation in the churches.   Prior to dismissing the service according to one minister on the rostrum, the Lord spoke to him and told him to lay hands on and pray for everybody in the church.  He elected to use a practice perfected in the sixties by Jim Jones and other TV preachers, by forcing the head back a couple of degrees the person could be made to stumble and fall, this was often mistaken for the spirit of God.   Church members were instructed to come to the Alter and bring a seed offering and he would pray for them.   It is amazing how God speaks to certain ministers when they are collecting money.

Promises in the name of God were made and the money was collected, then on their way back to their seats the sucker punch was thrown, "He might not come when you want him but he is always on time."  Wouldn't it be better to say, "whether your request is granted or not He is still God."  The Laodiceans were also guilty of lying on God   The spirit of the Jezebel type has grown and is manifesting itself in the church of the Laodiceans this very day.

(In a moment of weakness, I wondered if Jesus ministry would have been more effective if he had blessed the disciples and sent them out to open up a string of fish markets.  Then Jesus as the CEO  would visit each establishment and preach to the masses as they came to buy fish.  It is staggering to think of the money that could have been made in the name of doing God's work.)

The message to the church in Philadelphia and the church of at Laodicea overlaps each other and is representative of the present day churches and the climaxing of the church age.   The message to the church at Laodicea is a message to a church in its final state of apostasy.  The Gospel has been perverted and the word of God no longer reflect the return of Jesus Christ.  The message from the pulpit is about the changes and the shifting that is taking place and the great work that God is about to do.  The listeners are encouraged to prepare themselves for the blessing they are about to receive as they plant their seed offering of faith. The message sounds as if it is from the throne of God but it is not the word of God.  The Laodiceans called themselves a church, they looked like a church and they even acted like a church but they were dead.  They did the programs, they sang spirited songs, but they had locked the word of God out of their hearts.  It was all about the now and Jesus was left standing at the door gently knocking.

The messages to the seven churches were directed to the churches that existed in John’s day but because the number seven is used it gave the messages a deeper message.  Each of the seven churches represents a period of time from Pentecost to the Rapture. Also, note the fact that the message to the seven churches is located between the vision of the glorified Christ and the vision of the glorified Church. The seven churches represent the church age from Pentecost to the Rapture and when the Rapture takes place church will be glorified and given bodies like unto the Lord’s glorious body (I John 3:1-3).

Laodicea was located about forty miles east of Ephesus. Its name was derived from Laodice, the wife of Antiochus II, the Syrian who ruled in the early days of the city. Laodicea was a wealthy city, so much so that In spite of the fact that an earthquake destroyed it during the reign of Nero, A. D. 62, it quickly recovered from that terrible disaster, and from its own resources soon regained all the glory and wealth lost during the great earthquake. At the time John wrote the message to the local assembly there, Laodicea was again a magnificent and wealthy city. It was regal in its wealth and power and boasted that it needed nothing.

From the account In Revelation, the wealth of the city greatly affected the church. It seems strange to most people that riches and sorrow go together. It is the love of money that is the root of all evil. Most of the time, riches produce a rotten living. There are a few rich people who serve God, and there are a few rich churches that are spiritual, but the general rule is that riches bring sorrow. Jesus said, “How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!” That does not mean that God cannot or will not save a rich man - He can, and He will. But the sad fact is that riches and Spirituality somehow do not seem to walk together.

Verse 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.” There was a local assembly at Laodicea, and even in Paul’s day some thirty years before John was exiled to Patmos, the condition of that assembly troubled Paul tremendously (Colossians 2:1). Seemingly the ruin of that church was pride, material wealth and self-satisfaction among the people. They did not need God - they had everything.  They gloried in things - not in the Lord. Since each church in Revelation represents a period in history between the beginning of the Church and the Rapture, we recognize that we are now living in a church age symbolized by the spirit of the Laodiceans of John’s day - pride, wealth, and Self-satisfaction. Note the titles of the divine Speaker: “These things saith The Amen.” This title is a Hebrew word signifying both the true unchangeable nature of the Speaker, and the unchanging message of God’s Word. Authorities on the original languages of the Bible tell us that the Hebrew word for “Amen” is literally “truth,” or “believe.” In the New Testament, the Greek word for “amen” can be translated “verily,” which is another way of saying, “truth.” So the Speaker addressing the Laodiceans is “The Truth,” and certainly that is Jesus (John 14:6, John 17:17).  But the Laodiceans have denied the truth.

Notice the second title given to the One who is addressing the Laodiceans: “The faithful and the true witness.” From Adam to this present time, every witness except this One has failed in one way or another. Who is this One? The Lord Jesus Christ! He is the only One who faithfully obeyed the commands, wishes, and desires of the Heavenly Father in every minute detail.

Verses 15 and 16: “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” Again the solemn words, “I know thy works!” This statement is made seven times in the messages to the seven churches. Omniscience is a divine attribute, and Jesus Christ is divine - just as divine as is God the Father.  To the church at Philadelphia Jesus said, “I know thy works.” He then went on to say, “For thou hast a little strength.” He knew the weakness of the church at Philadelphia, He knew the lukewarm spirit of the Laodiceans - and He knows the spirit existing in your organized church or assembly, whatever that spirit may be. This last phase of the church is the worst, by all means. Notice the use of the terms “COLD” and “HOT” - not “DEAD” and “ALIVE.” The Laodiceans were in the most dangerous state possible. They were not referred to as being spiritually dead, nor as being spiritually alive . . . they were indifferent. They were lost, of course, for had they been born again they would not have been spewed out of the mouth of Him who is the Head of the Church.

Verse 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.” You will notice the believers in Philadelphia have not one word to say for themselves. They make no boasts nor brags. The Laodiceans testify in their own behalf: “Thou sayest . . . . “ In Laodicea, there was not only a self-satisfied condition in the assembly - but also pride. The church boasted openly, “I am rich!” (I am blessed) It is true that the city of Laodicea was materially rich, but the church had no right to boast in riches, nor to sellout to the riches of the secular city. Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” I am sure the church at Laodicea could have matched some of our big churches today - in members, social influence, gifts, showy buildings, robed choirs, intellectual leaders - and probably a banquet hall second to none even in this day. But any church - whether in Laodicea or in your hometown - is headed for ruin when it puts “things, programs and money” ahead of Jesus. “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33). Wealth (things) at the expense of spirituality is a tragedy and a curse. Hear the Laodiceans testify further: “And have need of nothing.” These people had absolutely no place for the Lord Jesus Christ in their program. They did not need anything He had; they were completely satisfied. Even in the very face of judgment (verse 16), they continued to boast. They did not believe in a God of judgment. They believed what the liberals and modernists are preaching today - “the goodness of God, the Fatherhood of God, the brotherhood of man.” They did not believe in a God who is a consuming fire, a God who is angry with the wicked every day, a God who judges in righteousness. The condition of the Laodicean church described here could be front-page news of any religious paper in this hour. All who will face facts and agree to the truth must confess the same. The last part of verse 17 is bursting with a prophetic truth: “. .and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked!”  These people did not know their spiritual condition. They were so totally indifferent to the truth, to the Word of God, to the Gospel and to Christ Himself, that they were calloused (“their conscience seared with a hot iron”). They were past feeling, and deep down in their own sinful hearts, they thought they were sitting on top of the world religiously. In reality, they were on top of the world religiously - but spiritually they were wretched, they were miserable - and yet their blind hearts could not see nor feel their misery. They were poor, they were blind, they were naked.  Why did I say this part of the verse is bursting with prophetic truth?

.

Verse 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.” The characteristics of the Laodiceans are summed up by the Spirit in three words: Poverty -nakedness blindness! The Lord does not command the Laodiceans to repent - He counsels with them and offers to take care of their poverty, their nakedness, and their blindness. We find Him standing at the door, knocking - pleading for just one man to open the door and let Him in – but to no avail. Notice the counsel He gives: “Buy of ME gold tried in the fire.” The riches of Christ are unknowable, inexhaustible. He has gold tried in the fire, and to buy from Him is no problem. Isaiah instructed, “Buy without money.” You do not need gold as man knows gold, in order to buy at the Lord’s great supermarket. “Ho, everyone that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and with price” (Isaiah 55:1). Gold, purified by fire, points to the divine righteousness of God - and Christ is made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption (I Corinthians 1:30). Without the riches of His grace, we are of all men most miserable. We are the poorest of all men - but in Christ, we are the richest of all men; Heaven is at our disposal, in Christ. White garments are the righteousness of the saints (Revelation 19:8). To be clothed in righteousness is to be free from the shame of nakedness. Eyesalve is for spiritual discerning. Unless our eyes are opened by the Lord, we cannot discern spiritual matters. “The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (I Corinthians 2:14). Unless the Lord opens the eyes of our understanding we will never know the truth that makes us free.

Verse 19: “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” This passage does not apply to any particular group, but to ALL the children of God throughout all ages. This verse is very enlightening and needs to be preached in churches today. From the beginning of creation, the Lord God has rebuked and chastened those whom He loves - His own children (Proverbs 3:11,12; Hebrews 12:5,6). In Romans 11:22 Paul cries out, “Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God.” The Word of God speaks for itself. The Scriptures carry their own light. Scriptures unlock themselves when we allow the Spirit to compare spiritual things with spiritual; therefore, hear these words:“Hebrews 12:6-8  For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

Verse 20:” Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hears my voice, and open the door, I will come into him and will sup with him, and he with me.”

Verse 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.

This last picture of the church is sad. At the beginning (at Ephesus) we found the Lord Jesus standing in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks . . . standing in the midst of the assembly, while in Laodicea He is standing at the door, on the outside, knocking. This tender, touching call of the Master has been the call of ministers down through the centuries, appealing to individuals to open the door and let the Lord Jesus in.  In this Scripture, Jesus is appealing to ANY (even ONE) individual, but He is knocking at the door of the Laodicean church - not the door of an individual heart. However, if one individual will open the door, His promise is, “I WILL come in and sup with him, and he with me.” “Behold, I stand at the door.”  Thus the Lord is pushed out. He is not within the assembly at Laodicea; He is outside, knocking and speaking. Here we have a true display of the grace of God, even when the church has stooped to the lowest degree and has pushed the Lord Jesus out.  The Lord Jesus does not command the Laodiceans to buy (verse 18), nor does He force entrance (verse 20). “I stand,  I knock.” You may rest assured that the Lord Jesus will never force Himself upon any home, any church, or any nation. He loves all, He came to seek and to save that which was lost. He is searching for the unsaved - but He will never force Himself upon anyone. The Lord will never intrude where He is not wanted.

And Jesus Himself asked, “When He comes, will He find faith on the earth?” Surely we are living in the hour of the lukewarm, professing church. I am sure if the Rapture should take place between 11:00 and 12:00 on Sunday morning, some churches in the midst of a service would not be disturbed, and from the preacher on down, no one would be taken from that congregation. That assembly would not know anything had happened until the service dismissed and the people returned to their homes or neighborhood, to find some of their friends and loved ones missing. Yes, there are churches on earth today - local assemblies - where there is not one born again child of God in the group.

Verse 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.” This verse is bursting with truth and glorious revelation. How did Jesus come to the authority to sit with the Father in the Father’s throne? It is true that from the standpoint of deity He had a perfect right to sit there – but bear in mind that He humbled Himself, took upon Himself the form of man, and became obedient unto death. In Hebrews 1:1-3 we are told that He is now seated at the right hand of God the Father; and when Stephen looked into Heaven, he saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God the Father.  I believe Hebrews 12:1-2 will clear up this question: “ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God..” “Hebrews 5:7-8  Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;  Though he was a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

Revelation 3:22  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

The Book Is Now Open, Revelation 3:7-13

THE SPIRIT’S MESSAGE TO PHILADELPHIA
Revelation 3:7-13

Philadelphia, the name derived it meaning from the Greek words meaning brotherly love.  On several occasion, Paul wrote about brotherly love.  Romans 12:10, "Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another;", 1^st Thessalonians 4:9, "But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye, yourselves are taught of God to love one another."  Hebrews 13:1, "Let brotherly love continue."  

Among the many attributes that make a church and people great and acceptable to Jesus Christ is its ability to show brotherly love.  The interpreted term "brotherly love" in today's modernist society does not necessarily equate to the teaching of Christ. 

Brotherly love was the theme of the Gospel and the New Testament message to the church. Because of the Devil's attempt to destroy the church brotherly love has become one of the most elusive and counterfeit expressions within the organized church. Love has been converted to a series of shallow expression that makes good fodder for a lively Sunday morning sermon by preachers that cannot get along with their brothers or members of the community they serve.  

The social media has become aflame with Christians projecting messages of hate in the name of "staying woke".  To facilitate their objective they have cast aside or reinterpreted the Word of God to allow for The Pacification of Christian Values.   There is nothing more heartbreaking than the testimony of a saint expressing their love for their sisters and brothers when their actions betray them.  Brotherly love requires more depth than expressions.  The defining and redefining of love has rendered it an irrelevant entity in modern society.

Counterfeit love the same as counterfeit Christianity is a destructive force within the home, church and the community. The academic scholars have dissected the attributes of pure love and reassembled them into five or more separate entities.  The basic reason is to justify our failure to achieve and live by the goals Jesus set.  It is all part of The Pacification of Christian Values.   Love, now in its polluted form has become a powerful force that overrides justice, judgment and common sense.  If God loves me so, he would not send me to a place like Hell is now a misconception of many.  2^nd Peter 2:4, "For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;", this should be enough to set our thinking straight. 

The next verse in our verse-by-verse study of the Church of Brotherly Love begins with a promise made to the assembly by Jesus.  There again this promise was not made to make thing easier here on earth, it was a promise payable in the Kingdom.  One of the major differences between the church of Philadelphia and the church of the Laodiceans was the church of Philadelphia was looking towards their heavenly reward.  The Laodiceans boasted in their earthly good.  The Laodicean church is a representation of many churches today and it is the last church we will discuss before we follow John on his view of Jesus and his church in his Throne room in Heaven.  I can hardly wait to begin that lesson...

Verse 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.”  Two things are pointed out here. First, “Because thou has kept the word of my patience . . .” By this, the Spirit means, “Because you have been true to the pure Word of God.” Until we reach that heavenly state, we will never know the full importance of God’s Holy Word. If the devil could discredit the Word of God through deliberate confusion, the foundation of Christianity would crumble and that would destroy the Church. However, that will never happen.  There is a certain clarification that we will make pertaining to this statement later on in this study.  The fact that it will never happen does not prevent the Devil from trying.  John 1:1, "In the beginning, was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.", If the devil could destroy the Word, the devil could destroy God, because God and His Word are synonymous. If the devil could discredit the Word of God, the devil would look God in the face and brand Him a liar.

I challenge you to open your mind and think about this.  Are we guilty of doing things that discredit the Word of God?  In our zeal to display our righteousness, are we putting our God to an open shame, "writing checks and making promises that God is not honoring", thereby rendering him irreverent to our younger generation?  Because of our lack of knowledge concerning the Word of God, do we present God as a God who does not keep his promises or as a God who takes forever to achieve his means?  On the sixth day, God created man but to some of us, years have passed and we are still a work in progress.  

Secondly - they had not only kept the Word, but they had also kept His name. They had not denied but had lifted up the name that is lifted up in the Word - the name at the sound of which every knee shall bow in Heaven, in the earth, and things under the earth (Philippians 2:10).  “I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation.” 

"Understanding the Word of God", teach us to let the Word of God speak without trying to shape it to fit our predefined idea.  Denominational guidelines often play an important but dangerous role in interpreting the Word of God.  There are many shaped truths, ideas, doctrines, and dogmas concerning The Church and the Great Tribulation period that shall come upon the earth during the reign of the Antichrist.  It is hard to come to a conscious when searching for an answer. Some teach that The Church will go through the first half of the Tribulation. Some teach that The Church will go through all of the Tribulation. There are those who teach that the rapture of the church will take place in mid-Tribulation. Then - there are those who preach the rapture of the church will take place before the appearing of The Antichrist, before the beginning of the Tribulation, “the hour of temptation that shall come upon all the world to try them that dwell upon the earth.”  

To inject a level of confusion that will become clear as this study proceeds, this statement has nothing to do with whether the church goes through the tribulation or not.  Regardless of your answer, the scripture teaches that souls will be saved during the tribulation.   Revelation 7:14  And I say unto him, My lord, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they that come of the great tribulation, and they washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Yet the promise to the church in Philadelphia is, “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I will keep thee from the hour of temptation that will come upon all the earth.” 

The question of how do we reconcile the two different scriptures that seems to contradict each other?  There are questions that we must answer before we can understand these verses.   Was the church mention in the New Testament and Revelation the conduit to salvation or was it a called out body, selected to be the Bride of Christ?  What role will the bride of Christ play in the Kingdom of God?   After the church has been taken out of the earth to meet the Lord in the air, will salvation still be available?   My book, "The Five Judgments" explains the end time events in a non-denominational manner including the status of the church during the tribulation, the judgments and the establishment of the Heavenly Kingdom.

 
What we do know is the Bride of Christ will emerge as Holy Angels and return to judge the world.   We will engage your minds further in Revelation 4: as we search for the truth.   (My Mother taught me to always wash the pitcher before filling it with water, least what was there taint what is.) 

Verse 11: “Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.” This verse contains an announcement and good sound advice. “Behold, I come quickly.” When Jesus comes for the Church it will be quick all will be over in the twinkling of an eye. Believers are admonished to “Hold that fast which thou hast, that no man takes thy crown.” This does not say, “Hold fast to your salvation, let no man steal your salvation.” Oh, no! It says “crown.” Crowns are rewards. I will name them for you in just a few moments.  

Verses 12 and 13: “Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of myGod, 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. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” Without a doubt, the Philadelphia church is The Church that will be raptured out of this earth at the same time the Laodiceans, the last and final church will be spewed out and left to go through the tribulation You do believe in God, don't you?

It is true that in John’s day, there was a city named Philadelphia, and there was a church there. But the message goes much further than the local assembly in Philadelphia. Each of the seven churches is identical to a period of church history behind us, up to the church at Philadelphia. We are now living in the time corresponding to the church of the Laodiceans. The church at Philadelphia is a picture of The True Church, just before the Rapture.

Every minute detail of prophecy having to do with the coming of the Lord has been fulfilled, or is being fulfilled today before our very eyes! So many things have happened in the past years, one almost becomes dizzy when comparing current events with prophecy.  

After we visit the Throne room of Jesus, we will take a look at the things that "are to be."  Things prophesied centuries ago have been fulfilled in our day. One of these glorious days, Christ will return to judge the world - and it will all be over “in the blink of an eye” (1^st Corinthians 15:51, 52).

There is a need for more preachers to give up their quest for financial gain or status in the Social Media and preach faithfulness to God's Word. If ever there was a day when God’s people need to be faithful and stand up to be counted for Jesus, it is today.  

There are many works that are done in Jesus name, but they will not stand when tried by the fire of God.   The offering, the programs, the entertainment aspect of worship, will it be able to stand?  The outstanding danger among believers today is unfaithfulness to the pure Gospel. Read slowly and carefully study the Second Epistle of John, and hear what the Spirit is saying to you in that passage.

No born again person should attend an assembly that is not true to the pure Gospel nor support a preacher who denies the faith. When I say “the faith,” I am speaking of the faith once delivered to the saints, as referred to in the first three verses of Jude. “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? so run, that ye may obtain” (1^st Corinthians 9:24). Personally, I want some trophies to lay at His feet when we crown Him Lord of all. I want some trophies to lay at His feet when we crown Him King of Kings. By God’s grace, I will be true and faithful to His Word. 

Overcomers (members of the assembly who endured) will become pillars in the temple of God.  There will be no liberal temples in the Pearly White City (Revelation 21:22). The Lord God Almighty and the Lamb shall be the temple in the Pearly White City.  Overcomers will be the pillars (the members) of that great temple of God. True believers are pushed around by the worldly element in the local assemblies. True believers and true Bible preachers are many times put out of the local church. However, thanks unto God, true believers and true preachers will not be put out of that Holy temple in the New Jerusalem. “He shall go no more out!”

Thousands of Christians today have been put out of churches they helped to build. Many believers sacrificed to build churches in the years gone by.  But when the old saint of God, the old minister of the Gospel, passed on to be with the Lord, a streamlined, seminary-manufactured denominational preacher took over and changed all the old ideas. He brought in “the new frontier” in religion. The mourner’s bench was junked, the prayer room was outlawed, and a social gospel of entitlements and entertainment was substituted for the pure Gospel of God’s marvelous grace.  Programs, handshaking and card signing took the place of the real, old-fashioned “experience by grace through faith in the shed blood.”  After two thousand years, we became educated and realized, "it doesn't take all of that." There is no danger of missing the identity of these true-blue, consecrated overcomers.  Jesus tells us that He will identify them by writing on them the name of the City of God, and “My new name.”

Again we hear the Spirit saying, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith.” In these “last days” we need as never before to hear the Spirit as He speaks to us. If we walk in the Spirit, fellowship with the Spirit and listen to the Spirit, we will not become discouraged in these trying hours.