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Revelation Letter to Sardis

6/22/2022

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WHAT WOULD JESUS SAY?
Wake Up Call: The Letter to Sardis
Revelation 3:1-6

Philippe Sterling

Jesus judged the church at Sardis that was asleep.

Have you ever had a “wake-up call?” Figuratively speaking, a wake-up call is something which grabs a person’s attention alerting him to the seriousness of a matter and moving him to corrective action.

Have you ever attended a dead church?  The services are dull and lifeless.  Everyone is bored and nodding off to sleep.  The Lord said to the church at Sardis that was ready to die, “Wake up!”

Destination

The fifth church of Revelation was in Sardis, about 30 miles south of Thyatira. It was a commercial city at the junction of five roads. It was perched on a plateau, 1,500 feet above a valley at the western end of the Great King’s highway from Susa.

Sardis had a great history, but it was going downhill. It had been the ancient capital of Lydia but its greatest glory was in the past.

In the sixth century BC, King Croesus of Sardis, also known as Midas, had amassed vast golden treasures. The city had a strong fortress. Twice it was caught off guard and captured despite its great fortress and steep cliffs, first by the Persians and later by the Greeks.

The town had begun building a massive temple to the goddess Artemis. It would have been as great as the one at Ephesus, but the town never completed the construction.
 
On the skyline of Sardis was a massive cemetery with thousands of burial mounds. The city seemed to have a preoccupation with death.

There was a substantial wool industry in Sardis. This may explain the references to clothing in the passage. The people may even have taken on the lethargic attitude of the sheep they tended.

In Roman times, Sardis was a minor city in comparison to the coastal cities of Ephesus and Smyrna. An earthquake hit it in AD 17, and it never fully recovered.

As Sardis had fallen because of a lack of vigilance, so the church also was in danger of falling.  As the city had flourished and decayed, so had the church. The believers had grown indifferent to spiritual things and declined over the years.

Portrayal of Jesus

Jesus described Himself as the one who held the seven spirits and seven stars. The sevenfold character of the Holy Spirit rested upon Jesus enabling Him to exercise righteous judgment (Isaiah 11:2-5). He held the leaders of the churches accountable to Him.

Praise for the Church

There was no praise for this church. Later in the letter there was recognition of the few faithful in Sardis. The church as a whole, however, was failing.

Criticism of the Church

Jesus knew the deeds both in reputation and reality of the believers in Sardis. He said, “You have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.” This was true of the city. It was also true of the church. This searching judgment of Christ may also apply to churches today.

When I lived in Arlington, Virginia, I used to go to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington DC and look at the exhibits of the animals of North America, lifelike in their natural habitat, but they were dead. Note though that they were once alive and vibrant. We can have eternal life and yet allow our faith to wither and die (Jas 2:17 and 26).

Exhortation

The Lord gave an exhortation that provided the answer to escaping the spiritual graveyard (vv 2-3).  Five commands comprised the exhortation.

          First, “Wake up!” Perhaps, the believers of the church were sleeping in the sense of not growing in their faith and not caring for the spiritual needs of those around them.

          Second, “Strengthen the things that remain, that are ready to die!” They had apparently taken the first few steps of the Christian life, but they had not progressed to maturity.

          Third, “Remember!” This was not a simple recall. The basis for renewal is to bear constantly in mind that which we have received and heard.

          Fourth, “Keep!” Keep on keeping the body of truth just alluded to in connection with the receiving and hearing. Rebuild on what was left from the earlier days of fruitfulness.

          Fifth, “Repent!” Turn from spiritual apathy to spiritual watchfulness (Eph 5:6-14; 1 Thess 5:1-11). Sentries are to stay awake and watch.

Become vigilant and diligent about your walk with Christ. Wake up and revitalize the good things you have going for you. If you don’t, what you have will “die.” Maintain a living faith.

Penalty or Reward

If the church did not wake up, Jesus said that He would come suddenly, like a thief to judge them. The earlier verses introduced a remedy for the dying condition of the church. This verse posed a threat for not accepting the remedy. Failure to wake up (watchfulness) exposed them to a possible surprise coming of the Lord in temporal judgment.

It may also be a reference to the Rapture. Contributing to the sin of the church may have been a failure to watch for the Lord’s return. A possible negative outcome at the Judgment Seat of Christ serves as an incentive for believers to wake up and stay alert (1 John 2:28).

The history of Sardis would have warned the believers concerning sudden and unexpected judgment. Sardis had twice fallen because of overconfidence and failure to watch. In 549 BC the Persian King Cyrus had ended the rule of Croesus by scaling the cliffs under the cover of darkness. In 214 BC the armies of Antiochus the Great captured the city by the same method. Herodotus wrote of the incident with Cyrus.

Sardis was considered an impregnable fortress. It was built on the slope of Mount Tmolus, at the base of which ran the Pactolus River. Like a pier jutting out from Mount Tmolus was a ridge of rock with great cliffs on either side. On that high pier of solid rock Sardis had built its impregnable fortress. When Cyrus besieged the city, he could not advance farther until that fortress was taken. So the Persian general said that if any man would find a way to storm the fortress and overwhelm it, he would give large rewards.

A Mardian soldier by the name of Hyeroedes was standing one day watching the cliff and the battlement on top and a Lydian soldier on top of the battlement. As he watched, the Lydian soldier accidentally dropped his helmet over the battlement and picked his way slowly to the base of the cliff to recover his helmet, and climbed back to his place of sentinel duty. The Mardian soldier carefully watched as the Lydian came down and back up, and that night with a picked band of Persian soldiers, he made his way up to the height. It was unguarded, and Sardis fells into the hands of the Persians.

With that story as background, we can see the emphasis of Jesus when he said, “Be watchful . . . if you don’t watch, I will come like a thief.”

There were some believers who had not soiled their clothes. Believers soil their clothes when they walk in the ways of the ungodly world. The church had a reputation for being alive but only a few of its number lived up to that reputation.

We find no mention of persecution in the passage. It’s possible that the local authorities didn’t care about the church. Most of the believers were going with the flow, perhaps offering incense to the emperor just to fit in, taking part in the pagan feasts to be “good citizens.”

Promises to Overcomers

Jesus promised the overcomer three things.

First, the overcomer will walk with Christ in white garments, the symbol of righteous acts (Rev 19:8).  This is not the imputed righteousness of Christ given to all who believe in Him for everlasting life. This is an added reward reflected in royal clothing. The word “white” can have the meaning of “bright and shining.” Like a bright and shining diamond the garments will have many colors and hues reflecting the overcomer’s devotion and service to Christ in this life.

Second, Jesus will keep the overcomer’s name in the Book of Life. The overcomer in Revelation is the believer who is faithful until physical death or the Rapture. The “name” can refer to a person’s self or to a person’s reputation. The immediate context indicates the meaning. In Rev 13:8, 17:8, and 21:27 “name” refers to a person’s self. In this context, the removal of the “name” from the Book of Life may be the removal of a commendable reputation. The overcomer can gain a new name (2:17; 3:12), a commendable reputation or title which conforms to his faithfulness. The program at my Dallas Theological Seminary’s graduation ceremony contained the names of all the graduates. Besides some of the names was one star, two stars, or three stars, representing graduating with honor, high honor, or highest honor.

In addition, Jesus may also have used the figure of speech litotes, an understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by the negative of its contrary, such as saying “you won’t be sorry” and meaning “you’ll be glad.” By saying that He would not remove the overcomer’s name from the Book of Life, Jesus meant that He would highlight the overcomer’s commendable reputation.

The third promise of Jesus clarified this, “I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.” Jesus will declare the overcomer’s commendable reputation before the Father and His angels. If we are faithful to the end, Jesus will tell the story of our faithfulness and it will reverberate mouth to mouth throughout all future ages.

General Admonition

The Lord ended all seven letters with this general admonition: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
​
Conclusion
What Would Jesus Say (WWJS) to the sleeping church: “Wake up!” Watch for My soon return and make a name for yourself.

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Revelation Letter to Thyatira

5/4/2022

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WHAT WOULD JESUS SAY?
The Seven Churches of Revelation: The Letter to Thyatira


Philippe R. Sterling


WHEN TEMPTED TO SEXUAL SIN: JUST SAY “NO!”


Jesus judged the church at Thyatira that tolerated immoral behavior (2:18-29).


We live in a sex-crazed world. Giving in the world’s sexual enticements will snuff out our spiritual fire. Sexual sin will pull us away from following Jesus. Heeding the message of the letter to Thyatira will help us arm ourselves against sexual temptation.


A word about our title: Just Say “No!” We need to remain holy in a sex-crazed world. But our teaching about sex does not stop with, “Say ‘No!’” The fact is that we also say “Yes!” to holiness, to sex as God meant it to be in the joyful union of a man and a woman in marriage (Gen 2:18-25; 1 Thess 4:1-8; Heb 13:4).


What happens to a believer who absorbs the world’s view of sex and acts on it? What effect does it have on his or her fellowship with Christ? That’s an important matter that the Lord Jesus wants us to consider from the example of the church at Thyatira. The longest of the seven letters to the seven churches of Revelation was written to the church at Thyatira, the smallest of the seven cities, accentuating the importance of the message.


Destination


Thyatira was about forty miles inland from Pergamum. It was not a major city. It was not as large as the three we’ve looked at already. But it was a significant center for craftspeople and labor guilds.


The book of Acts mentioned someone who came from Thyatira. Lydia was a businesswoman from this city (see Acts 16:13-14). She sold purple cloth. Thyatira was known for its weaving and dyeing, among other trades such as pottery and bronze work.


The trades were organized into guilds that controlled the economic activity of the city. These guilds or trade unions had patron gods. They observed regular feast days for these gods. These holidays involved promiscuous sexual activities. Abstention from the festivities of the guilds could jeopardize one’s economic prosperity.


Portrayal of Jesus


The Lord presented Himself to this church as the divine Son of God who executes a searching judgment. He used terms that would have meaning to the craftspeople of Thyatira, especially to the smiths who worked with iron and bronze and fire.


Jesus stated that He is the Son of God. This identified Him as the divine Messiah who would one day rule the nations (see Ps 2:8-9 which is directly quoted in vv 26-27).


Jesus had eyes of blazing fire. This depicted His piercing appraisal. The expression first appeared in 1:14 and reappears in His climactic return in 19:12. He searches the minds and hearts (v 23).


Jesus had feet of burnished bronze: This symbolized the judgment that was going to fall on those who did not repent.


Praise for the Church


Jesus knew what was good about the church at Thyatira. He knew their works, their love, their service, their faith, and their patience, and the increase in their works since the beginning. This may have included their worship of God, the sharing of their faith, and their care for the poor and so on. The people of the church likely would have felt good after hearing that.


Criticism of the Church


Jesus knows whether we have been good or bad. There was a problem in Thyatira. A powerful woman in the church, symbolically called “Jezebel” (see 1 Kgs 16:31), had influence so great that she persuaded some of the believers to participate in the guild festivals, committing fornication and eating things sacrificed to idols (v 20).  Good standing in the guilds may have been dependent on such participation. Just as the OT Jezebel, the pagan wife of King Ahab, led the Israelites astray, so this NT “Jezebel” was doing the same. 


Jesus described her compromise with the socially acceptable immorality and idolatry of the times as plunging into the “depths of Satan.” This may be a reference to the idolatrous initiation secrets of the guilds inspired by Satan. “The depths of Satan” could contrast with what Paul calls “the deep things of God” in 1 Cor 2:10.


The guilt of the believers at Thyatira was perhaps greater than that of the believers in Pergamum. Pergamum had some people who held to the teachings of Balaam and the Nicolaitans. The believers at Thyatira tolerated the woman “Jezebel.” They allowed her to remain in their fellowship and teach and seduce the servants of Jesus.


Exhortation


Jesus had issued a call for repentance (v 21), but the door of opportunity was about to close.  The toleration of error had a long history. “Jezebel” had no disposition to change. She would continue her course of action. Jesus would soon afflict this woman and those influenced by her with severe sickness (vv 22-23).


Penalty or Reward


The punishment would fit the crime. Jezebel had sinned on a bed of adultery; she would be punished on a sickbed. Those who followed her in her immorality would also experience great tribulation. Sin may land a believer on a sickbed (1 Cor 11:30).


The initial tribulation for her followers was meant to elicit their repentance (v 22). A lack of repentance would lead to premature physical death (v 23). This was meant as a warning to all the churches. Jesus would give to each one according to their deeds (see Gal 6:7-8).


Jesus encouraged those who had not compromised to remain faithful (vv 24-25).  We live in a sex-crazed world: hook-ups, affairs, prostitution, pornography, cybersex.  Hold on to what you have in Christ.  What we have as believers is better than what others are promising.  Guard your purity.  “Just say ‘No!’”


Jesus said, “I will put on you no other burden.” This recalls the words of the letter to the Gentiles in Acts 15:28-29.


Jesus continued, “[H]old fast what you have till I come.” That is hold on to your love, faith, service, perseverance, and ever-increasing works. Hold on to these until Jesus returns. This could apply to the Rapture.


Promise to Overcomers


The overcomer is the one who keeps the work of Jesus to the end. Jesus promised the overcomer the privilege of ruling with Him over the nations and sharing in His royal splendor.


Jesus is going to come and rule the nations. Some believers of the church age will rule with Him. Not all believers will have this opportunity. Only those who have earned that right by being faithful to the end of their lives or until His coming for them at the rapture. Jesus will reward the faithful by making them rulers with Him.


Jesus will give the overcoming believer the morning star. He says in Revelation 22:16 that He is “The Bright and Morning Star.” This may refer to His royal splendor. Thus he may be promising the overcomer a share in His royal splendor. All believers will be glorified, but not all will share the royal splendor of Jesus and the privilege of reigning with Him.


General Admonition


The order of the promise to the overcomer and the general admonition to hear what the Spirit says to the churches is reversed in this and the three remaining letters as compared with the first three. A reason for this may be to connect the rewards closely with the commendable response to Christ.


Conclusion


WWJS to the church tolerating immoral behavior: “Just say “’No!’” The church at Thyatira, like the other six churches and the churches of today should listen to the judgment of Jesus and heed the admonition of the Holy Spirit. Say “No!” to immorality and “Yes!” to holiness.


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Revelation Letter to Pergamum

4/5/2022

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WHAT WOULD JESUS SAY?
The Seven Churches of Revelation: The Letter to Pergamum

Philippe R. Sterling

BEWARE OF DOCTRINAL AND MORAL COMPROMISE

Jesus judged the church at Pergamum that tolerated false doctrine (2:12-17).

There are similarities between the New Testament world and ours. When John wrote down Jesus’ message to the seven churches, philosophies from the East, from Egypt, from the hills beyond Pergamum, were sweeping through the Mediterranean world. People were spiritually hungry, but not morally disciplined. Some of the spiritual practices involved sexual rites and excessive use of wine or drugs. Today people are spiritually hungry, but many ignore the true source of life. Instead, they dabble in astrology, mysticism, eastern philosophy, or worship money, sex, and power.


Pergamum had believers within the church who were succumbing to false teaching. The same may be true of believers today. We can learn from the message of Jesus to the believers at Pergamum and reorient ourselves to truth.

Destination

Forty miles north of Sardis sat ancient Pergamum.  It was the center of Roman authority in the province.  It became the site of the first temple of the Caesar-cult, erected in honor of Augustus Caesar.  The city also housed an ancient temple to the God Zeus.  The altar from that temple is in the Berlin Museum and was often visited by Adolf Hitler.

Pergamum was known for its asklepium, a healing and medical center.  Here, religious meditation, dream interpretation, snake-handling, and medical arts were combined for healing purposes.  The Sacred Way led from the Asclepion, built in honor of the god of healing, toward the acropolis, which rose a thousand feet above the plain.  Near the summit stood the immense altar to Zeus.

There was little distinction between religion and politics in Pergamum.  The city’s coins depicted intertwined serpents to represent the interconnection between the sacred and the secular.  For the pagans in this city, politics was religion and religion was politics.  For the believers in Christ, there was a constant temptation to compromise their beliefs and practices for political and economic gain.

Portrayal of Jesus

Jesus described Himself as the One who has the double-edged sword (see Rev 1:16). Hebrews 4:12 compares the word of God to a “double-edged sword.” Jesus wields the powerful and true words of God which keenly discerns thoughts and motives.

Praise for the Church

Jesus told the church at Pergamum, “I know where you live.” He assured these believers that He knew that they dwelt in a city under Satan’s control. He understood the persecutions and temptations they experienced from the rampant Satan inspired religions. He praised them for holding fast to Him in the face of danger and persecutions.

Some believers in the church of Pergamum died for their faith. Jesus singled out one man, Antipas, and called him “My faithful martyr.” The word “martyr” meant “witness” and has come to mean those who witness by their death. Church tradition tells us that Antipas was brought before a statue of Caesar and told to swear that Caesar was God. But Antipas proclaimed that Jesus alone was Lord, and that there was no other God but Him. Antipas was put inside a brass bull which was heated with fire.

Criticism of the Church

Jesus had a severe criticism for the church. They were tolerating those who followed Balaam’s teachings and that of the Nicolaitans.

Balaam is most often remembered for the talking donkey incident. He was a prophet hired by a king named Balak to utter a curse on Israel (Num 22–24). God would not let him do this; and even made his donkey talk back to him to restrain him. Balaam then advised Balak to send women to seduce the Israelite men and draw them into the worship of false gods, thus incurring the judgment of God (Num 25:1-3; 31:16). Balaam’s clever notion was to bring down Israel by an indirect attack on their morals and faith. Balaam is a prototype of corrupt teachers who betray believers into fatal compromise in morals and beliefs.

Knowing this about Balaam helps us to know what was going on in Pergamum. Several religions of the area involved festivals and temple prostitution. Apparently, some of their practitioners had infiltrated the church and were leading some believers into sexual immorality and idolatry.

The Greco-Roman world looked upon sexual promiscuity as an acceptable way of life. For example, Demosthenes stated, “We have prostitutes for the sake of pleasure. We have concubines for the sake of daily cohabitation. We have wives for the purpose of having children legitimately and of having a faithful guardian of our household affairs.” Cicero argued, “If there is anyone who thinks that young men should be forbidden to love a prostitute, he is extremely severe. He is at variance, not only with the license of what our age allows, but also with the customs and concessions of our ancestors.”

There were those in the church who said, “Live like everyone else around you.” They asserted that the standards of the world could also be an accepted pattern of life for believers. This doctrine of Balaam is also around today.

Jesus referred to the eating of food sacrificed to idols. We are free to eat or not to eat such food (see Rom. 14; 1 Cor. 8; 10:20-30). Why is it such a problem here? Apparently believers were being drawn into pagan practices by participating in their feasts. As such it would be better to avoid these feasts altogether.

Jesus condemned the teachings of the Nicolaitans. Irenaeus said that they were followers of Nicolaus of Antioch, a proselyte who was among the seven men chosen to serve the Jerusalem congregation (Acts 6:5), who had forsaken true doctrine and lived in unrestrained indulgence (Against Heresies I, 26:3). Hippolytus confirmed this by noting that Nicolaus left correct doctrine and had the habit of indifference as to what a man ate and as to how he lived (Refutation of Heresies 7:24). Although Clement of Alexandria defended Nicolaus by explaining that his followers had misunderstood him, he observed that the Nicolaitans abandoned themselves to pleasures like goats in a life a life of shameless self-indulgence (The Miscellianes 2:20). They advocated license in matters of Christian conduct, including free love.

It may be that the doctrine of the Nicolaitans was dualistic. They reasoned that the human body was evil and the spirit was good. A believer, therefore, could do whatever he desired with his body because it had no importance.

These false teachers believed that a little idolatry or a little immorality or a little compromise of the truth couldn’t really hurt anything.  When believers commit adultery, cheat in business, or compromise their doctrinal or moral standards to fit the situation, they fit into the Pergamum mentality.

Exhortation

Jesus exhorted the believers to repent! They were to turn from their compromise and separate themselves from those who taught things contrary to the truth.

Penalty or Reward

Jesus threatened to come quickly and make war against the false teachers with the sword of His mouth. Twice in our text, He talked about His “sword.” The sword of His mouth is His powerful word of judgment.
 
General Admonition

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” The admonition is the same as that to Ephesus and Smyrna.

Promise to Overcomers

To those who overcome, Jesus promised three things: 1) hidden manna, 2) a white stone, 3) a new name. 


Jesus does not want believers to be lured away from fellowship with Him. If we refuse to be drawn away by the enticements of false religions, Jesus promises “hidden manna,” special fellowship meals with Him.


Jesus will also give us a white stone inscribed with a new name. Such a white stone with one’s name on it was the basis for admission to special events. It was also a custom to reward victors at the games with such a token enabling them to gain admission to a special feast. The “hidden manna,” the other part of the reward, also suggests a reference to the Messianic feast. The white stone is, then, a personalized tessara, which would serve as a token of admission to this great future feast. The giving of the white stone to the believer indicates that he has been favored by Jesus. The new name might reflect the proven character of the overcoming believer.

Conclusion – Don’t Be Deceived!

WWJS to the church tolerating false doctrine:  “Don’t succumb to false teaching and don’t tolerate it.” Those who keep themselves from spiritual and moral error will receive a double blessing in the life to come. The one who overcomes will enjoy special fellowship meals with the Lord Jesus.  The one who overcomes will be honored with a special name. Feast with Christ today and feast with Him in glory.
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Revelation Letter to Smyrna

3/3/2022

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WHAT WOULD JESUS SAY?

The Seven Churches of Revelation: The Letter to Smyrna

[This is a revised, shortened version, of the June 2021 posting.]

Philippe R. Sterling

PERSECUTED AND POOR, BUT RICH

The Lord Jesus judges the church at Smyrna that suffers persecution (2:8-11).

Have you ever been persecuted for your faith? Have you ever been put at a disadvantage because of your faith? Have others ever hated or shunned you because you were a believer?

The example of the church at Smyrna alerts us to the possibility of being persecuted for our faith, and encourages us to remain faithful to Christ. Smyrna means “bitter,” an appropriate description for the experience of the believers who lived there. They experienced persecution and the hardships that accompanied it.

Destination

Smyrna was a city about forty miles north of Ephesus, but not as big. It was a busy seaport and a center of wealth. It still exists today as a city of Turkey. The name of it is Izmir, the Turkish equivalent of Smyrna. One third of its community is nominally Christian. The church has had a continuous Christian presence in spite of persecution.

Smyrna was cozy with Rome. Many Roman citizens lived there. While Ephesus was a center of worship for the local goddess, Smyrna was a center of emperor worship. In AD 25, a temple was built there to Emperor Tiberius.  Emperor worship became a matter of pride to the people of Smyrna. Emperor Domitian would later declare himself a god and require all citizens to perform a sacrifice to him, saying, “Caesar is Lord.” This was mostly a political commitment in religious trappings, but believers saw it as idolatry. Once you performed the sacrifice, you would get a certificate. Without that certificate, you were a subject of discrimination and possibly punishment.

There was also a large Jewish community in Smyrna. Although Jews and Christians coexisted peaceably in some areas, this was not the case in Smyrna. Well into the second century, the Jews were strong opponents of the Smyrna church. They repeatedly informed against believers and incited the local governor against them.

Smyrna received its name from its commerce in the fragrant herb myrrh. The name symbolizes the experience of the church in persecution. Myrrh is associated with suffering, death, embalming.  For example, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus used myrrh for embalming the body of Jesus (John 19:39). It also was one of the gifts the wise men gave Jesus at His birth (Matthew 2:11).

Portrayal of Jesus

Jesus described Himself as the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. Christ was around before the Emperor and would be around long afterward. He had conquered death. As Jesus experienced death and rose in triumph over it, so would the martyrs of Smyrna.

Praise for the Church

Jesus said He knew about the situation of the church in Smyrna. He knew of their affliction, their poverty, and the slander against them. He stated that though materially poor, they were spiritually rich.

The believers had experienced economic persecution. They had lost their jobs, their businesses, their lands because of their loyalty to Christ. The economic and social life of the city was organized around the religious and imperial cults. When a believer refused to participate in some of their practices, he was marked off. His faith cut him off from the job that he held and from social life.
 
There was also a pocket of Jewish troublemakers causing problems for the church. By birth and religion these may have been Jews, but this was only in an outward sense. Inwardly, they were not believing and did not have a circumcised heart (see Rom. 2:28-29). They were not of the faith of Abraham.

They are rather the synagogue of Satan. This is not a synagogue building dedicated to Satan, of course, but the people who gathered there planned their assault on the church, putting themselves at the disposal of the devil. They circulated false ideas concerning the believers in Christ. They accused them of cannibalism, eating flesh and drinking blood at the Lord’s Supper; incest, love between “brothers and sisters;” and treason, meeting in secret to promote the kingdom of Christ.

Believers are slandered today. Believers are accused of hate speech for upholding biblical values.  Believers are accused of being anti-science for holding creation views.

Criticism of the Church

Jesus gave no reproof to this church.  He issued no call to repentance.  Their trials purified their faith.

Exhortation

The church at Smyrna had suffered at the hands of the Romans and Jews, and would suffer even more in the years to come.  They would pay dearly for their faithfulness to Jesus.  Jesus simply exhorted them not to be afraid and to be faithful.

One of the most famous of martyrdoms happened in the city of Smyrna in AD 168. A Christian leader there at the time was Polycarp. On a festival day, when the crowds were excitable, a cry went out from the mob about Polycarp and they brought him before the Roman governor.

Polycarp was given the choice of saying, Caesar is Lord” or “Jesus is Lord.” He refused to say that Caesar was Lord. The governor urged him, “Swear! I will set you free. Reproach Christ.” Polycarp answered with this famous phrase, “I have served Him for eighty-six years and He has always done me good. How, then, can I blaspheme my Lord and my Savior.” The proconsul said, “I will burn you with fire if you will not change.” Polycarp said, “You threaten me with fire which burns for an hour, and after a little while is extinguished. But you are ignorant of the fire of the coming judgment and of eternal punishment reserved for the ungodly. Why do you wait? Do what you will?” Soon after, the people gathered the wood and burned Polycarp.

Jesus referred to “ten days” of tribulation. It could be a literal prediction of some ten-day reign of terror. Or it may have symbolic meaning of ten periods of persecution from Nero to Diocletian. Most likely, however, it may simply stand for “a short time.” The church at Smyrna grew into one of the most influential churches of its time because its leaders and believers were willing to lay down their lives for Christ.

Penalty or Reward

Jesus promised a crown of life to those who were faithful to the point of death. A crown of laurel was given to those who won races. The believers at Smyrna would have won the race of life. Also, their persecutor, the Emperor, wore a crown. In the life to come, the believers would reign with Christ. The crown is a special reward that is over and above the eternal life that all believers have.

General Admonition

The command to hear is identical with the one to the church at Ephesus. The Lord’s announcement of imprisonment and martyrdom for some of the believers in Smyrna had applicability to the other churches also, and to churches of today.
 
Promise to Overcomers

Jesus promised that the one who overcame would in no way be hurt by the second death. The second death is judgment at the great white throne, the lake of fire, separation from God forever (Rev 20:14). Jesus employed a figure of speech called litotes. Litotes is an assertion that understates the reality referenced. Jesus was saying that He would abundantly repay the faithful believer for the sacrifice he made.  His eternal experience would be as far beyond the reach of the second death as can be imagined.

The first death is not the end. There is another life to come. The glories of the life to come contrast sharply with the dark shadows of persecution and death.

Conclusion

What Would Jesus Say (WWJS) to the church experiencing persecution:  “Don’t be afraid. Remain faithful.”

Jesus assured the Smyrna believers that He knew about their faithful service despite persecution and poverty. They were actually rich in His sight because they were earning eternal rewards.

Persecutors in our culture may not arrest you or execute you, but they may mock you, lie about you, or make you lose your job. There is now a name for that: “the cancel culture.” Our culture supposedly tolerates any belief, but biblical faith consistently applied is shocking and unacceptable.

Let us ask God for strength to persevere when our faith puts us at a disadvantage in today’s world. Also, let us pray for those believers around the world who may be suffering for their faith to an even greater extent than we are.

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Revelation Letter to Ephesus

2/3/2022

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WHAT WOULD JESUS SAY?

The Seven Churches of Revelation: The Letter to Ephesus

[This is a rewritten shortened version of the May 2021 posting. It can also be found in a slightly adapted form in the January/February 2022 issue of Grace in Focus published by the Grace Evangelical Society.]

Philippe R. Sterling

What do you look for in a church? Some people look for a dynamic, young, handsome pastor with a hot wife who raises beautiful children, sings wonderfully, and leads a lively Bible class for the women of the church. Others look for a church with a lavish sanctuary, a first rate orchestra, or a contemporary worship band. None of those things are necessarily bad, but are they the important things?

What does Jesus look for in a church? The Lord who “builds” the church has spoken concerning what He wants and doesn’t want in His churches. The theme of Revelation chaps 2 and 3 is “Jesus speaks to His churches.”

Chapter one of the Book of Revelation ended with Christ as the Lord of the church moving in the midst of the seven golden lampstands which represented the seven churches in the first-century Roman province called Asia, the western part of the present-day country of Turkey.  Jesus told John to write to the seven churches about how they should respond to the prophecy of His coming.

These churches were real churches, where believers gathered together and listened to the letters read. Although the letters were written in the first century, they apply to our churches today and have value to all of us. They are as current as today’s calendar, and they offer a broad-base evaluation for churches today. Here, we might say, we have WWJS – What Would Jesus Say?

Ephesus was the largest city in the area and probably the largest church. Ephesus served as a mother church to the other six which were connected by Roman highways. Those churches represented the variety of spiritual conditions that have characterized local churches throughout the centuries.

Jesus challenged the seven churches to attend to their areas of need, especially in light of the imminence of His return. 1 Peter 4:17 states that judgment begins with the household of God.  Before Jesus begins to judge the world, He calls the churches to repentance.  Churches 1 and 7 are in grave danger; churches 2 and 6 are in excellent shape, churches 3, 4, and 5 are middling, neither very good nor very bad.

The seven letters to the seven churches share several features as a group. They are brief, and each contains a unique description of the Lord Jesus, mostly drawn from chap 1:12-20, that is appropriate to that church.  Furthermore each contains a word of commendation (except the letter to Laodicea) and each carries some rebuke for the congregation (except those to Smyrna and Philadelphia).  In addition each exhorts its readers to specific actions, and each holds out a promise of reward as an incentive for faithful obedience.

THE LOVE CONNECTION

The Lord Jesus judges the church at Ephesus that left its first love (2:1-7).

Destination

The church at Ephesus was one of the outstanding churches of the apostolic era.  Paul, Timothy, and John all served this church.  Aquila and Priscilla were also involved at Ephesus, as was Apollos.  This was a privileged church.

Ephesus was known as the “metropolis of Asia.” It was self-governing. There was no permanent Roman military stationed there. It was a large and prosperous city. Even today, its ruins are the most extensive in the region. It had a population of more than 250,000 people. It also had a large Jewish population.

The largest structure at Ephesus was the Temple of Diana, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. The temple stood on a platform measuring over 100,000 square feet. That’s twice the size of a football field. The temple was supported by 100 marble columns, 55 feet in height. Inside the temple stood the statue of the goddess Diana, Artemis in Greek.
 
Portrayal of Jesus

In each letter, the exalted Christ presented Himself in a way selected for the most part from the description in chapter one which is relevant to the condition of the church addressed. In this instance, He emphasized His watchful relationship to the churches and their leaders in two ways. He holds fast the seven stars or messengers, and He is walking in the midst of the churches.

It was the assignment of the High Priest to go into the Holy Place and there to trim and light and care for the seven golden lampstands. In the great picture of the Lord Jesus here in the Revelation, He is dressed in His kingly and priestly robes, and He is walking in the midst of these seven golden lampstands. As He walks among His lampstands, He pours in sacred oil, He takes out impurities, He trims the wick and He makes the light to shine.

Jesus walks among His churches and sees everything that affects their flame. He sends messages that congratulate, criticize, and counsel.

Praise for the Church

The Lord commends the Ephesian believers for their labor, patience, faithfulness, and endurance (verses 2-3).  They had stood true to the faith despite their pagan surroundings.  The constant lure of temptation was all around them, yet they remained pure.  They rejected false apostles and hated the deeds of the Nicolaitans, false teachers who claimed the actions of the body didn’t affect the spirit, so go out and do whatever you want with the body. They did not tolerate false doctrine and false practices. Yet as time wore on, they had begun to lose their first priority.

Criticism of the Church

Sounds like a great church, doesn’t it? But Jesus saw past all the external activity. The church at Ephesus had heart trouble.  Jesus said, “I have this against you, that you have left your first love” (v 4).  What a shock to be told that you don’t love Christ as you once did.
We hear something similar concerning some married couples.  “He doesn’t bring me flowers anymore,” the wife might say.

Exhortation

Once the diagnosis is made, the prescription can be written.  Here are three steps to renewing love. 

First, remember, literally “keep on remembering,” what it was like.  Relive the thrill of romance. When I perform a marriage and see the faces of that couple as they look at each other, I want to tell them, “Don’t lose your first love.”

Second, repent and turn your life around.  Take steps to make that relationship right again. 

Third, repeat – “do the things you did at first” – those acts of first love, even if you don’t feel like it. Do those acts of first love and the feelings will follow! Reengage in prayer, Bible reading and reflection, obedient service, and worship.

Preserve continually the warm love for Jesus that you might have had when you first learned of His substitutionary sacrifice for you, the sacrifice which made it possible to receive eternal life as a free gift. It’s partly for that purpose that we often participate in the Lord’s Supper. Jesus says, “Renew your love for Me.”

Penalty or Reward

Jesus warned the church at Ephesus that it would lose its light and testimony if the first love was not revived.  He might even close down the church.

General Admonition

Jesus included in every one of the letters to the churches the same admonition: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” The use of the plural “the churches” indicates the universal aspect of the invitation. By means of this call the message to a single church is extended to all the churches of Asia and through them, as representatives, to the churches throughout the church age. The exalted Son of Man gives His message through the Spirit.
Hear and respond to the message sent to the church at Ephesus. In our busy lives we may allow our love relationship with the Lord to grow weak.  The church at Ephesus has an important message for us: love for the Lord is to have priority in our lives. 

Promise to Overcomers

To the believer who listens and overcomes, Jesus promises that he will eat of the Tree of Life which is in the Paradise of God. Revelation 22:2 states that the tree of life will bear twelve kinds of fruit. Perhaps each fruit will impart a special quality of spiritual life to the eater. Access to the tree of life will be limited (22:14). For example, a believer who adds to or takes away from the words of the prophecy of Revelation will forfeit the right to eat of the fruit of the tree (22:19). The overcomer in Revelation is the believer who perseveres and remains faithful to Jesus until death or until His return. This results in eternal rewards.

Conclusion
WWJS to the church that left its first love: “Renew your love for Me.”

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THE SCROLL - WORTHY IS THE LAMB

1/10/2022

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WORTHY IS THE LAMB!
Revelation 5

Philippe Sterling

 
Spontaneous celebrations of freedom erupted all across Eastern Europe in the late 1980s as atheistic and tyrannical governments suddenly disintegrated. One of the displays of liberty took place in Czechoslovakia on November 27, 1989. Although church bells had not been heard in that nation for 45 years, at noon that day every church bell in the country began to ring. The pigeons were as startled as the people. A sign placed in the lawn of a church in Prague summed up the joy of the moment. It read simply: “The Lamb Wins!”
 
That triumphant message evokes a picture of the meekness and power of the Lord Jesus Christ. Throughout the pages of Revelation, He is portrayed as the Lamb who has redeemed us. Yet despite the greatness represented by a Lamb, Jesus is also the mighty Lion who will defeat all who oppose Him. The reign of God’s Messiah will not come peacefully. The imagery of Revelation is full of God’s fierce power and judgment on those who are in rebellion against the Lamb’s rightful rule. The Lamb will win. Praise the Lamb!
 
The Eternal Father offers the title-deed of the earth to Jesus, the worthy redeemer (5:1-6). 

The World’s Need for the Lamb (1-4)
 
The Seven-Sealed Scroll (1)
 
John saw a seven-sealed scroll written inside and out in the right hand of the One who sat on the throne (v. 1). 
 
In the chapters that follow, the breaking of the seals results in the outpouring of the judgments of God.  The breaking of the seals releases all the judgments necessary to defeat Satan’s kingdom, restore the kingdom of the earth under the visible authority of Christ, and reestablish mankind as God had originally intended before the fall.
 
The seven-sealed scroll contains the story of man losing lordship over the earth to Satan, the usurper, and its recovery through the God-Man Savior, the Lion who is also the Lamb. He alone is able to accomplish what no one else in the universe can, and He does so through the judgments of the seals.
 
The Jewish laws and customs concerning the reclamation of land and the role of the kinsman-redeemer shed light on this.  If a Jewish family was required to forfeit its land and possessions through some distress, the property could not be permanently taken from them.  The Old Testament law of jubilee and the kinsman-redeemer protected them against this.  Their losses were listed in a scroll and sealed seven times.  Then the conditions necessary to purchase back the land and their possessions were written on the outside of the scroll.  When a qualified redeemer could be found to meet the requirements of reclamation, a kinsman like Boaz in the story of Ruth, the one to whom the property had been forfeited was obligated to return the possessions to the original owner.  We find such a case in the book of Jeremiah (32:6-44).
 
Since the major part of the book of Revelation deals with the judgments associated with the removal of the seals of this scroll, it is important that we understand the significance of its content.  The scroll represents the forfeiture of mankind’s original inheritance from God.  When God created Adam and Eve, He gave them dominion over the earth and everything in it (Genesis 1:26-30; Hebrews 2:6-8).  When Adam and Eve succumbed to the temptation of Satan and disobeyed God, Satan usurped their authority to rule the world.  However, God did not want the earth and the human race to be permanently ruled by Satan and the fallen angels under his control (Hebrews 2:5, 8b, 14-15; Genesis 3:15).  Therefore, someone had to be found within humanity, a kinsman redeemer, one who is qualified to reclaim the lost inheritance, someone who was true humanity, yet free to redeem; not a sinful man, nor an angel (Hebrews 2:9, 14-17).
 
It is fitting here for us to correct a lack of understanding of all that is included in the conception of redemption.  When this word is used, we tend to think that it only has to do with the forgiveness of our sins through the payment of Christ’s death.  Viewed as a whole, redemption is a wider and more wondrous thing.  It involves the restoration of all creation to the rule of Christ and His fellow heirs (Romans 8:16-25).
 
The scroll was in the right hand of God the Father.  This is significant of His right to what the sealed instrument binds.  Taken from man, the inheritance reverted to the original Giver.  Satan’s possession is a mere usurpation, permitted for a time.  The true right still lies in the hand of God, until the proper kinsman-redeemer comes to redeem it, by paying the price, and ejecting the usurper and his followers.
 
The Silence of Creation (2-3)
 
Along with the sealed scroll appeared a mighty angel, asking with a great voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?”  The time had come, when, if a qualified redeemer was to be found, He should come forward and exercise His right. 
 
The result of the call was that “no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or look into it.”  Angels shrunk back from it as beyond their qualifications.  And yet, it would seem as if somewhere there had been efforts made to achieve it.
 
Lost people throughout human history have tried, in politics, in science, in all the arts of civilization, philosophy, and even religion, to work out this problem of the successful repossession of what was lost in Adam, to attain to that forfeited perfection and supreme good.  Satan has seductively worked to persuade us that we can make good the lying promise, “You shall be as God,” and in spite of the Almighty and without Him, realize the dream of a better destiny for the world and the human race.  It has also been within the plan of God to permit His rebellious creatures to carry out the experiment to its utmost and to give scope to the most conspicuous failure at the last. 
 
Though varied and complicated have been the attempts, they all have resulted in failure.  Egypt attempted to rule the world, and bowed to the worship of creatures, and went down in ruins.  Babylon tried it and became the great symbol of all that is blasphemous in power and impure in life.  Greece tried it, and only achieved her destruction in the union of the intellect with the vices of the flesh.  Rome tried it,and became the iron arm that covered the world in blood, and then dissolved in the pollution which itself had made.  Communism failed.  The spirit of democracy and human enlightenment is now trying,and will perpetuate its efforts to the most gigantic and bewitching level that the world has ever seen, but only to work out the most dreadful failure that has yet occurred.  The lost estate of man, by sinful men, or holy angels, or demonic spirits, can never be recovered.
 
The Sorrow of John (4)
 
It’s a sad and mournful thought. Heaven itself seems to grow silent and breathless under it. And the tender and loving heart of John breaks, “Then I began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or look into it.”
 
Seeing that no one was found worthy to open the scroll, John began to weep.  John knew what the sealed scroll meant.  He understood the office of the kinsman redeemer, and that if there was failure at this point, the reinstatement into what Adam lost – the recovery of all that sin took away – must fail.  Until that scroll is opened, and the seals broken, the people of God must remain in privation, sorrow, and tears.
 
Worthiness of the Lamb (5-6)
 
Lion of Judah and Root of David (5)
 
One of the elders said to John, “Stop weeping; behold the Lion from the tribe of Judah, the root of David, overcame so as to open the scroll and its seven seals.”  This is what the people of God have been hearing from her elders, and prophets, and apostles, and ministers, in all the ages.  It is the essence of the Gospel, which has been sounding ever since the promise in Eden, that the seed of the woman should bruise the serpent’s head.  It has been the comfort of God’s people in all these ages of their disinheritance. 
 
Jesus is the Lion of Judah.  Judah was one of the twelve sons of Jacob, the patriarch from whom the twelve tribes of Israel originated.  In Genesis 49:10 Jacob prophesied of Judah’s leadership, “The scepter [rulership] shall not depart from Judah . . . until Shiloh (the Messiah, to whom it belongs) comes.”    Judah was the tribe from which king David came.  God promised David a royal kingdom that would last forever.  He told David that one of his descendants would be called the Prince of Peace, and that this Prince would reign over an eternal kingdom of righteousness and justice (1 Chronicles 17:11-14). 

Jesus is the root of David – the foundation on which the Davidic hopes rest.  He overcame in the temptations in the wilderness, in the agonies of the garden, in death on a cross, and in the grave.  He ascended and led captivity captive.  He is Victor over sin and death.  He has paid the redemption price of the forfeited inheritance.  He is the true kinsman redeemer, who, having triumphed and been accepted, will also prove ready and worthy to complete His work, by taking the scroll and breaking its seals.
 
Lamb of God (6)
 
John saw between the throne and the elders a Lamb, standing, as if slain.  The Lamb is the same whom the elder had just described as a Lion.  The two titles seem to be contradictory.  But in reality they supplement each other. 
 
The opening of the seals is an act of strength, an exploit of war, a going forth in power to take possession of a kingdom.  As one after another is broken, out breaks a fierce assault on the enemies and usurpers who occupy the earth.  In the accomplishment of this, Christ is a Lion, clothed with power, and majesty, and terribleness.  But the character in which He overcame and became qualified for this work, and in which He presents Himself before the throne as a candidate worthy to do it, is that of the sacrificial Lamb that was slain.
 
The title of Lion is used of Jesus only once in Revelation.  The title of Lamb is used 28 times.  The point is that His kingly crown, rule, and power lie in His redemptive work as the Lamb of God who died in our place.  The biggest battle was on the cross.  He could not take his place as Ruler until He had become the kinsman redeemer by His sacrifice.  The Lamb is standing as if slain.  His mortal wounds were visible.  His wounds will remind us forever of the cost of our redemption.
 
John further describes this Lamb as having seven horns and seven eyes.  This suggests that something more than sacrifice is now to be His business.  The horn is a symbol of strength and aggressive power.  Seven is the number of completeness.  So that while Jesus appears here as the sacrificial lamb, He possesses at the same time the fullness of conquering strength.  As to the seven eyes which are the seven spirits of God, Isaiah prophesied that the Spirit of the Lord would rest on the Messiah (11:1-3).  And he listed seven aspects of the Spirit.  He is the spirit of the Lord, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and strength, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.  Seven emphasizes the completeness of his knowledge and insight.  None of His actions and decisions in His righteous judgment against the sin of mankind will be made on partial knowledge.
 
Jesus, the worthy Lamb, takes the title-deed to the earth (5:7). 

Finally Jesus, the Lamb, takes the seven-sealed scroll from the right hand of the One who sits on the throne.  This is the pivotal act of the book of Revelation.  It is the act by virtue of which the world is subdued, Babylon judged, the Beast destroyed, the dragon vanquished, death overthrown, the curse removed, the earth made new into the paradise of God.  It is the taking up of the title-deed of the forfeited inheritance, the legal act of repossession of all that was lost in Adam, and paid for by the blood of the Lamb.
 
The angels and the elders and all creation worship Jesus the rightful King of the earth and Judge of all (5:8-14).
 
Worship of the Lamb (8-14)
 
And when the Lamb took the scroll, there went a thrill through all those gathered before the throne.  The four Living Beings and the twenty-four Elders fall down before the Lamb in worship, for they realize that the events resulting in the liberation of creation are about to begin.
 
The elders are described as “each holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.”  It is now the time for the prayers of the saints to be answered and fulfilled: “Thy Kingdom come Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”  So have all believers prayed.  The prayers have been carefully treasured in golden bowls.  They are as sweet incense before God and the Lamb.  The holding up of the prayers and the harps together before the Lamb as He takes the scroll, is that He may now remember and fulfill what all the prophets had spoken and sung, as well as what all believers have prayed.
 
And the elders sang a new song. John hears the majestic hymn reverberating through heaven: Worthy are You to take the scroll and to break its seals; for You were slain,and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign on the earth. Their song magnifies the worth of the Lamb for four reasons. He was slain. That death brought redemption. That redemption results in a position as a kingdom and priests. In the future the redeemed will reign upon the earth.
 
The elders are not alone in their adoration. John heard the loud voice of many angels saying: Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing. They give a sevenfold ascription of praise.
 
And the response of praise spread wider and wider. John heard every created thing in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea say, To Him who seats on the throne and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.
 
And the four living creatures kept saying, “Amen.” And the elders fell down and worshiped. They close this scene of universal homage to the Lamb. All of heaven’s praise comes because the Lamb takes the scroll from the Father’s hand. God’s great eternal plan will now be fulfilled. His kingdom will come and His will be done.

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The Throne Revelation 4

12/1/2021

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THE THRONE
Come, Let Us Worship Him!
Revelation 4:1-11

Philippe R. Sterling

 
The Scriptures exhort us to worship God. Psalm 100 is one such passage.
 
Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before Him with joyful singing.
3 Know that the Lord Himself is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
 
4 Enter His gates with thanksgiving,
And His courtyards with praise.
Give thanks to Him, bless His name.
5 For the Lord is good;
His mercy is everlasting
And His faithfulness is to all generations.

 
Worship matters. Worship matters to God. Worship is celebrating who God is and what He has done. Our passage in the Book of Revelation today focuses on worship.
 
The Lord Jesus receives the title-deed to judge and reclaim the earth (Revelation 4:1–5:14).

John introduces the third major section of the book with the same words used in the temporal outline in 1:19, “After these things.” We are now about to see “the things which will take place.”  What things?  The things after the Church Age!  The things after the removal of the Church from the earth!  This will include the tribulation period, the return of Christ to the earth, the millennium, and the new heaven and new earth.
 
Chapters four and five form a prologue to the entire section. John is given a glimpse of the throne in heaven before he is shown the terrible judgments that will be poured out on the earth.
 
The Eternal Father sits on the throne in heaven and receives the adoration of the four living creatures and the enthroned elders (4:1-11).

One of the popular shows on Netflix is The Crown. Though we live in a constitutional republic we are still fascinated with monarchy. God the Father rules over all creation and sits on a divine throne. Revelation chapter four ushers us into the throne room of God.
 
Summoned to the Throne: John saw a door open in heaven and heard the words “Come up here” (4:1).

John sees an open door in heaven. This is a special door opened to admit John to heaven. The voice of the one that had first spoken to him in chapter one, likely Christ, invites him to “Come up here.” The One speaking with John tells him that He will show him what must take place “after these things.”
 
The invitation to John is similar to that which the Church anticipates at the rapture.  The word “rapture” in English is a transliteration of the old Latin word “rapturo,” which means to “snatch away” or “catch up.”  The equivalent Greek word is “harpazo.”  This comes from the biblical description of the event in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. 
 
Someday, Jesus will come for the Church and say “Come up here.”  At the beginning of chapter 4 the Church is in heaven.  This is how Jesus intends to fulfill His promise to the church in 3:10.  Jesus in the Upper Room in John 14:3 just before His death and resurrection told the disciples that He would leave and “go prepare a place for you.”  He then promised to return “to receive you to myself that where I am, there you may be also.”  1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 paints a picture of the rapture for us.  Paul did not want the church at Thessalonica to be uninformed.  Jesus will come with “a shout.”  It will be a shout of welcome as He comes to gather us to Himself.  He will come with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God.  These three sounds will tell believers, both dead and living, that the day of their complete redemption is at hand.  According to 1 Corinthians 15:51-52, at the sound of the trumpet we will all be changed; in the twinkling of an eye, we will put on immortality.  Our present bodies will be changed into a glorious body.
 
The Person on the Throne: John saw a throne and One sitting on the throne (4:2-3).

John is taken through the door and arrives in heaven “in the spirit.” He is in a spiritual state in connection with receiving the visions. He had returned to his normal senses after the first vision ended in 3:22 and now returns to the same state in which he had been so as to receive a second vision.
 
John first sees the throne standing in heaven and then the One sitting on the throne. Revelation is a throne book. The word is used forty-six times in the book and fourteen times in this chapter. Verse 8 identifies the One sitting on the throne as God. The word for sitting is a present participle indicating continuing occupancy. This is the throne of God the Father, since the Son approaches the throne in Revelation 5:6, and The Spirit is before the throne in Revelation 4:5. God is on His throne and in complete control (see Isa 14:24-27). See Exodus 24:9-11; Daniel 7:9-10; Isaiah 6:1-5; Ezekiel 1:26-28; Acts 7:55-56 for other throne descriptions.
 
John describes the One sitting on the throne in terms of two precious stones: the jasper and sardius. Rev 21:11 explains the jasper as clear as crystal, that is, the color of light, perhaps like a diamond radiating brilliant light. God is robed in light according to Psalm 104:2 and 1 Timothy 6:16. The sardius was blood red and named for the city of Sardis where it was found.
 
Around the throne was a rainbow the light green color of an emerald. The rainbow reminds us of God’s covenant with Noah, symbolic of His promise that He would never again destroy the earth with a flood. Judgment is about to fall, but the rainbow reminds us that God is merciful and gracious, even when He judges (see Gen. 9:11-17). Unlike the sights of rainbows on earth of which we see only a part, this heavenly rainbow completely encircles the throne of God. Usually a rainbow appears after the storm; but here, we see it before the storm.
 
The Persons around the Throne: John saw 24 elders sitting on thrones clothed in white garments with golden crowns on their heads (4:4).

Around the throne were 24 elders upon 24 thrones. The rainbow was around the throne vertically, while the elders were around the throne horizontally. They are the King’s court.
 
These 24 are representative of the church overcomers. This is supported by the parallel of the OT where the priesthood of Israel was represented by 24 orders of priests since the thousands of priests could not all minister at the same time (see 1 Chronicles 23:3-4; 24:4-5).  Each order was represented by one priest serving at one time (Luke 2:5-9).  The white garments represent their righteousness in Christ or perhaps their righteous acts (see 19:8). 
 
The crowns are their reward for service while on earth (see 3:11) – the crown of life for those who faithfully endure trial and temptation (James 1:12), the incorruptible crown for those who discipline their lives (1 Corinthians 9:25), the crown of rejoicing for those who lead people to Christ (1 Thessalonians 2:19), the crown of righteousness for those who live in anticipation of the coming of Christ (2 Timothy 4:8), and the crown of glory for those who faithfully care for God’s people (1 Peter 5:4).   
 
A crown represents the reality of authority and rule.  The faithful of the Church will be on thrones with crowns ruling and reigning with Christ (see 3:21).  The crowns will be given as rewards at the Judgment Seat of Christ (see Matthew 16:27; Romans 14:10-12; 1 Corinthians 3:8-15; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 22:12).  The 24 elders join the four living creatures in worshipping God (see Isaiah 6:1-3; Ezekiel 1:4-28; 10:1-22).  They fall down before the One on the throne, casting down their crowns before the throne.
 
The Praise to the Throne: Four living creatures and the twenty four elders worship Him who sits on the throne (4:5-11).
 
From the throne came flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder. These are portents of judgments and come again in 8:5; 11:19 and 16:18. They are storm signals.
 
Before the throne were seven torches of fire. They are the seven spirits of God or the fullness of the Holy Spirit (as in 1:4; 3:1; 5:6). The torches emitted a blazing fire rather than a soft one. Fire in this book symbolizes judgment. Here is the divine preparedness for God’s wrath against sinful humanity.
 
Also before the throne was a sea of glasslike crystal. A pure crystal sea symbolizes God’s purity and holiness. The crystal “firmament” in Ezekiel’s vision also comes to mind (Ezek. 1:22). It was the foundation for God’s throne. It pictures the splendor and majesty of God on His throne that set Him apart from all creation, a separation stemming from His purity and holiness, which He shares with no one else.
 
In the center and around the throne were four living creatures. They resemble the cherubim that Ezekiel saw (see Ezekiel 10), but their praise reminds us of the Seraphim of Isaiah 6. Each one is different in appearance. The four likenesses represent each part of the animal creation. They encircle the throne, one on either side, one behind and one in front. In the context of Revelation, one of their functions is the administration of divine justice in the realm of animate creation (see 6:1, 3, 5, 7; 15:7).
 
Some interpreters see in the four faces described the picture of Christ given in the four Gospels. Matthew is the royal Gospel of the King, illustrated by the lion. Mark emphasizes the servant aspect of the Lord’s ministry, the calf. Luke present Christ as the Son of Man. John magnifies the deity of Christ, the Son of God; the eagle.
 
These living creatures signify the wisdom and omniscience of God – “full of eyes.” God has created them with such penetrative intelligence that they are fully aware of happenings pertaining to their judicial responsibility.
 
They ceaselessly praise God. They ascribe to God holiness, all power, eternality. They give Him glory and honor. They also offer thanks to God. Whenever the living creatures glorified God, the elders would fall before the throne and praise Him.
 
The elders seated on their thrones rise and fall on their faces before God and worship Him. As a further act of homage they cast their crowns before God and praise Him in the words of verse 11. They address the One on the throne as the Lord and “our God.” They ascribe to Him glory, honor and power. They attribute to Him the creation of all things in accordance with His will.
 
The scene is one of the redeemed joining with the cherubim in magnifying the worth of the Creator-God. The Book of Revelation is filled with hymns of praise (Rev. 4:8, 11; 5:9-13; 7:12-17; 11:15-18; 12:10-12; 15:3-4; 16:5-7; 18:2-8; 19:2-6). The One seated on the throne created all things and to Him all glory is due. However, because God’s will and glory mean nothing to rebellious humanity, divine wrath must fall.
 
With the song of the 24 elders this initial scene in the throne room closes. John’s invitation to heaven, the heavenly throne, and activities around the throne make a deep impression. Here is the headquarters of the holy, omnipotent, and eternal God who requires His standards to be met by His creation. If they are not, His wrath must inflict penalties upon the rebellious.
 
Conclusion
 
Worship is perhaps one of the greatest endeavors in our churches and individual lives. We tend to emphasize witness for Christ and working for Christ, and perhaps there is not enough emphasis on worshipping Him. To worship means “to ascribe worth.” It means that we praise God with all of our being for all that He is and does.
 
One of the hymnals that I have is entitled The Worshiping Church. The first hymn is “Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty.” Some of the words are drawn from our passage.
 
Holy Holy Holy
 
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!
 
Holy, holy, holy, all the saints adore Thee
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee
Which wert, and art, and evermore shalt be
 
Holy, holy, holy, though the darkness hide Thee
Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see
Only Thou art holy, there is none beside Thee
Perfect in power, in love, and purity!
 
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty!
All Thy works shall praise Thy name in earth and sky and sea
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

 
Come, let us worship Him!

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Letter to Laodicea

11/3/2021

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The Lord Jesus judges the church at Laodicea that is materialistic (3:14-22).  

SOMEONE’S KNOCKING AT THE DOOR
Learning from the Church at Laodicea

Philippe R. Sterling

 
One of the games I loved to play as an adolescent was Monopoly. According to my sisters I was ruthless in the acquisition of property and play money. In the context of the game, I was rich. Once the game was over, it didn’t matter. What would happen if I went to the store and said, “Give me an I-Phone; here’s $1000,” and hand the clerk the play money? It won’t work.
 
A similar thing is true of our earthly lives. In a way, we’re playing a game here. Some people get a lot of money. For the moment, they’re the winners. They can buy a lot of things that are in the long run, worthless. It may be a Maserati. But step out of this world, and that car doesn’t mean a thing. All that wealth is just play money when you look at it from God’s eternal perspective.
 
For the winner of Monopoly to think, “I’m rich!” because he has a handful of play money would be foolish. It’s just as foolish for a billionaire to think a portfolio of expensive real estate and blue-chip investments makes him rich in God’s eyes. Today we’re going to meet a church that made that mistake.
 
Destination: To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:  

The seventh church of Revelation was at Laodicea. This city was forty-five miles southeast of Philadelphia. It lay along an important trade route stretching from Ephesus through the inland area off what is now Turkey. It was located in a valley along with two sister cities, Colosse and Hierapolis.
 
Laodicea was founded by Antiochus II and named for his wife, Laodice.  The Romans took control of the city in 129 BC.  It became a large and prosperous city.
 
There were three major industries in Laodicea. First, banking. It was an extremely wealthy city. After an earthquake in A.D. 17 devastated the area, the Roman Empire pitched in financially to help many of the cities. But Laodicea refused this aid and chose to rebuild itself. Second, eye care. There was an ointment produced in Laodicea that was famous for curing eye ailments. Third, textiles. The city produced a special wool that was popular throughout the empire.
 
Laodicea was a popular place for wealthy people to retire. The wealth of the city caused her to be proud and self-sufficient.  Unfortunately, the material prosperity of the citizens produced a materialistic church.
 
One other thing you should know about this city: for all their wealth, they had a frustrating water problem. They had no water source nearby. They had to pipe in their water from a spring six miles south. We’re not sure whether this was a cold spring or a hot spring. But it didn’t matter, because as it traveled the six-mile aqueduct, it cooled or heated to a lukewarm temperature.
 
Portrayal of Jesus: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the Creation of God, says this:  

Jesus calls Himself the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the Beginning (Origin or Source) of God’s creation. The solemnity of the titles prepares the way for the searching and severe criticism that follows. Amen is a Hebrew word for “Yes,” “That’s right,” or “So be it.” It’s something you say to God to indicate that you’re willing to go along with what He says. Jesus is trustworthy. What He promises, He will do. What He threatens, He will carry out. Jesus is Origin and Source of all that there is. Everything and everyone answers to Him.
 
Praise for the Church: I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot.  

Jesus knows the deeds of His people. There are no words of commendation for the church at Laodicea. 
 
Criticism of the Church: You are lukewarm . . . rich but poor . . . blind and naked.  

Jesus calls them lukewarm. Both cold and hot water were useful; lukewarm water was not. Because they were so wishy-washy, they were useless to the Lord, and distasteful.
 
What was the church’s attitude? The believers were confident, secure, and complacent.
 
What was their real situation? They were needy, desperate.
 
How would they react to the way Christ described them – wretched, pitiful, and poor?

They had the finest eye medicines. How could He call them blind? They produced beautiful clothing? How could they be naked? All their material wealth was insignificant in light of their spiritual needs.
 
Why did they not realize how needy they were? Their material wealth could blind them to their spiritual needs.
 
Exhortation: Acquire true riches.  

What does Jesus want them to do?  Come to Him for help. In language these commercially prosperous believers could understand, the Lord urges them to buy gold from Him that they might become rich, put on white garments that they might clothe themselves, and anoint their eyes with eye salve that they might see.
 
“Buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich” — rich in the age to come.  There is gold in the age to come.  You can buy it by your faithfulness now in this age.  You may ask, “What do I want gold for?”  Well, you will have gold in your mansion.  You will have gold in your clothing.  You will have gold in your crown.  There will be gold in the many facets of your life.  You will want that gold.
 
“Buy bright garments from me.”  Here he says it again, this is the second time.  In Rev 3:5 He mentioned the white garments, and now mentions them again.  Instead of “white” put the word “bright”, bright shining garments.  There are many facets of the garments.  Not just one layer, many layers.  There are many different types of garments in the age to come.  And why do you want those garments?  You need to be clothed so that in the life to come the shame of your nakedness — the shame of your faithfulness to the Lord being incomplete — will not be seen.  I do not want to be lacking the garments which indicate my dedication to the Lord in this age.
 
Every believer has the robe of Christ’s righteousness as a free gift, but I also want garments which depict my love for Jesus in this age. He said that to lack those garments would be shameful in the age to come. It is great that we are grounded in the free gift of eternal life to all who believe.  But let us not get so locked into what we get free in the city, that we lose sight of the value of what we do after we are born again.
 
“Buy eye salve to anoint your eyes that you may see.”  The believers desperately needed to get into the Word of God and ask God’s Spirit to help them understand it.  If they did that God would remove their spiritual blindness and help them to see (cf. 2 Pet 1:9).  Spiritual awareness will continue to grow in the age to come.
 
Penalty or Reward: Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, therefore be zealous and repent. Open the door to fellowship.  

The Lord said, “Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent” (verse 19).  Jesus still loved this church and was concerned about its future.  There was hope if they would repent.
 
Jesus reproves and disciplines those He loves. How does He discipline us? Often He reproves us through His messengers, our ministers and teachers. Obviously, this letter to Laodicea is a reproof. He disciplines us often by allowing us to reap the fruit of our sinful deeds. Sin leads to ruin. Sometimes we have to experience that to learn it.
 
Why does Jesus discipline us? He wants us to have fellowship with Him and live life fully.
 
What do the believers need to do? Be zealous and repent. The Lord is saying, “Get excited about Me! No more of this wishy-washy stuff!”
 
What kind of a relationship does Christ want to have with us? He wants to be welcomed in our lives, to be a friend to us, like someone we’d invite for dinner.
 
The Lord of the church is pictured in verse 20 as standing at the door of the church, knocking and seeking entrance.  This is not an evangelistic appeal to the unsaved.  Here is the Lord of the church pleading with this particular church not to close the door of the church to Him. 
 
Whenever we refuse to let Jesus take His rightful place as Lord of the church, we, too, in essence close the church door in His face, leaving Him on the outside.  The gracious invitation is extended, however, that if one opens the door, Christ will come in and fellowship (sup or dine) with the one who permits Him to enter.
 
Someone's knockin' at the door
Somebody ringin' the bell
Someone's knockin' at the door
Somebody's ringin' the bell
Do me a favor
Open the door, let 'em in, yeah, let 'em in

 
Sister Suzy, Brother John
Martin Luther, Phil and Don
Brother Michael, Antie Gin
Open the door, let 'em in, oh yeah
 
LET ‘EM IN – Paul McCartney
 
Jesus is saying to us, “Let me be in your life! I want to be a part of what you do each day.” Is He saying that to you right now?
 
Now we can dine with the Lord in this age though worship and prayer.  We dine with Him in that limited sense, which is awesome.  It is glorious in this age, but compared to where it is going it is only a token in this age.  So we dine with Him now figuratively, but in the age to come we are literally going to eat meals in the presence of Jesus and talk to Him.  I mean face to face.
 
That is actually real because Jesus is now forever a man in a glorified human body.  He is omnipresent in the spirit and He will be spiritually present no matter where we are in the city, but we will actually be able to see Him in His physical body.  He will be in one place at one time, like He was in His earthly ministry.  He will not be walking with you in the park and walking with me in the park at the same moment in the body.  He will only be walking with one of us in the park, at that moment.  There are going to be several billion people who want to talk to Jesus.  Think of the 12, the 70, and the 120; well, make it several billion in the resurrection.  Jesus will have a human body, really sitting on a throne and we will be called to talk to Him.  He will summon us to His throne.  We will dine with Him.
 
What are some of the great obstacles to fellowship with Christ and spiritual growth today?
 
Money ranks high on the list. We love it. We worship it. We change our lives to get more of it. We can be in its power. Of all the gods of our age – Sex, Mammon, Fame – Mammon worms its way most deeply into our lives and loves.
 
Wealth is not evil, but it is dangerous. People tend to trust their “stuff” more than God.
 
Answer these questions as honestly as you can. They are designed to challenge you, perhaps to change you.
 
Which do you spend more time doing? Worrying about money or reading the Bible. If someone offered you an amount equal to your yearly income to stay away from church for a year, would you do it? Would you consider it? If you won a million dollars, how would that change your life? How would it affect your spiritual life? If you lost a great deal of money and had to simplify your life drastically, how would that affect your spiritual life? If you got paid to read the Bible and pray, would you do more of it? If your income were cut by 25%, how would you cut your expenses? Would you be able to do that if you had to? Would you ever consider cutting your expenses so as to give more to the work of God?

The intent of these questions is not to make you feel guilty, nor to make you give more to the church. It is merely to help you gauge your relationship with God in comparison with your relationship with money. God will let you know how He wants you to use whatever wealth you have. Are you ready to heed Him?
 
Promise to Overcomers: Sit with Christ on the throne.
 
“To him who overcomes I will grant him to sit with Me on My throne.”  That is incredible that we would sit with Jesus on His throne.
 
Now not everybody will sit on the throne.  Among the many believers of the ages, only overcomers will be granted that honor.  Not everyone will have a crown and throne.
 
Every believer will have the righteousness of Christ.  We will all have a glorified body.  We will all be citizens of the kingdom but after that — I am sure there are a few other things which we will all have in common — but after that, for most of the things which we have, there will be great differences in the measure of the glory and of our capacity and how we interact with the Lord.
 
Our relationship with the Lord will be different for everyone.  There are those who will have a physical proximity to the King of kings, Jesus of Nazareth, fully God, fully man.  They will have access to His immediate physical presence in a way that others will not.  It will not be based on how famous you were on the earth or how big your ministry was.  It will be based on your faithfulness and love for Him.
 
The overcomer rewards involve the location and design of our dwelling place, our garments, the food we enjoy, the intimacy we experience with Christ, the position, status and authority we have, the name or title given to us, the jewels and crowns we wear.  We must not think that these privileges are solely for our benefit.  We have been created to glorify God by loving and serving others.  These privileges will enable overcomers to do just that.  Thus everyone benefits and the Lord Himself will be pleased.
 
If the Lord wants you to have these privileges of a lifetime well spent, then it is a false spirituality that says, “Oh, I don’t want any special privileges.”  You will, if you want for yourself what the Lord obviously desires for you. Gain your rewards.  Be an overcomer.  Live today in light of tomorrow.
 
General Admonition: He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.  

WWJS to the materialistic church: “Let me in!” Jesus stands at the door and knocks. He calls, “Let Me in. I want to dine with you.
 
The messages to the seven churches of Asia constitute a comprehensive warning from Christ to every church. There is warning to the churches of today to “hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” The messages are amazingly relevant to the churches of today.

The church at Ephesus represents the danger of losing our first love (2:4), that fresh ardor and devotion to Christ which characterized the early church.
 
The church at Smyrna represents the fear of suffering and was exhorted, “Fear none of the things which you will suffer” (2:10). In a modern day when persecution of Christians has been revived, the church can heed the exhortation, “Don’t fear.”
 
The church at Pergamum illustrates the constant danger of doctrinal compromise (2:14-15). Would that the modern church which has forsaken so many fundamentals of biblical faith heed that warning!
 
The church at Thyatira is a monument to the danger of doctrinal compromise (2:20). The church today may well pay attention to the departure from moral standards which has invaded the church itself.
 
The church at Sardis is a warning against the danger of spiritual deadness (3:1-2), of spiritual sleep.
 
The church at Philadelphia commended by our Lord is still warned against the danger of not holding fast (3:11), and exhorted to maintain the “little strength” that they did have and to watch for the coming of the Lord.
 
The final message to the church at Laodicea is the crowning indictment, a warning against the danger of lukewarmness (3:15-16), of self-sufficiency, of being unconscious of desperate need.
 
The church is at the center of our Lord’s concern throughout the book of Revelation.  He appears in chapter 1 as the glorious Lord of the church, walking among the seven lampstands.  He expresses His love for the church by asking John to write the seven letters to the seven churches of Asia Minor (chapter 2-3).  He takes the church to be with Him while He pours out His wrath on the unbelieving world (chapters 4-19).  Finally, He returns with the church triumphantly at His side (19:11-16), defeats the satanic opposition, establishes His kingdom on earth, judges lost people of all ages, brings about a new heaven and a new earth with the church forever dwelling with Him in the New Jerusalem (chapters 19-22).

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Philadelphia Letter

10/1/2021

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HERE COMES THE SON
Learning from the Church at Philadelphia

Philippe R. Sterling

 
Here Comes the Sun – The Beatles
 
Here comes the sun (doo-doo-doo)
Here comes the sun, and I say
It's all right
 
Little darling, it's been a long cold lonely winter
Little darling, it feels like years since it's been here


Here comes the sun (doo-doo-doo)
Here comes the sun, and I say
It's all right
 
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
 
Here comes the sun (doo-doo-doo)
Here comes the sun
It's all right
It's all right
 
Here Comes the Sun was written by George Harrison and was featured on the Beatles’ album Abbey Road in 1969. The lyrics reflect his relief at the arrival of spring and the temporary respite he was experiencing from the band's business affairs.
 
Jesus is coming soon. How should our lives change when we realize Jesus is coming soon? What effect does it have on my thoughts and actions when I realize that Jesus is coming soon?
 
Destination: And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: 

As the team from Jesus and John to the seven cities reached Philadelphia, their number had dwindled to two, the messengers to Philadelphia and Laodicea. Jesus’ words to this church are fully positive.
 
Philadelphia was founded at some point after 189 B.C. at the junction of the approaches to Mysia, Lydia, and Phrygia. It was called “the gateway to the East.” It also was called “little Athens” because of the many temples in the city. Its founder, Attalus II Philadelphus of Pergamum, from whom the city derived its name, intended it to be a center of missionary activity for the Hellenistic way of life.
 
Volcanic activity caused earthquakes from time to time. The devastating earthquake of AD 17 which leveled twelve cities of Asia Minor was severe in Philadelphia. The Emperor Tiberius rebuilt the city after the earthquake. In commemoration, the city changed its name to “New Caesar.”  Later the name Philadelphia would reappear.
 
The church at Philadelphia was one of the strongest of the seven congregations.  Outwardly, it was small.  But inwardly, it was a dynamic and faithful church.  The letter contains no censure and is full of commendation.
 
Portrayal of Jesus: He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this: 

Jesus describes Himself as Holy and true. The one who holds the key of David. What He opens stays open. What He closes stays closed.
 
“He who is holy”
 
Jesus is holy in His character, His words, His actions, and His purposes. Nothing can be compared to Him. “The Holy One” is a common title for the Messiah.
 
“He who is true”
 
Jesus is the original, not a copy. He is the authentic God.
 
“He who has the key of David”
 
The background of this imagery is Isaiah 22:15-25. Assyria had invaded Judah and the Jewish leaders were trusting Egypt, not God, to deliver the nation. One of the treacherous leaders was Shebna who was using his office not for the good of the people but for his own gain. God saw to it that Shebna was removed from office and that a faithful man, Eliakim, was put in his place and given the keys of authority. Eliakim is a picture of Jesus, the dependable administrator of the affairs of God’s people. Jesus also has the keys of hades and of death (1:18).
 
“He who opens . . . and who shuts”
 
Eliakim held the office of Key-holder in King David’s palace. His office gave him full authority to act on behalf of the king. If he unlocked a palace door, it remained locked. Just like Eliakim, Jesus is the ultimate key-holder. Jesus is the one who opens and closes doors.
 
Praise for the Church: I know your deeds . . . 

“I know your deeds”
 
Jesus has a thorough knowledge of the situation in Philadelphia. Before He finishes His acknowledgement of their works, He prematurely injects words of encouragement. Perhaps as He thought of the sterling quality of their works, He takes the unique step of expressing His support.
 
“I have put before you an open door”
 
What is the “open door” all about? Ramsey explains the expression in terms of Philadelphia’s geographic position at the eastern end of the valley leading up onto the great central plain. As the “keeper of the gateway to the plateau” it had been given a unique opportunity to carry the gospel to the cities of Phrygia.
 
When the Soviet Union was founded, it created the Iron Curtain. The Iron Curtain fell. When the Communists took over in China, they created the Bamboo Curtain. In spite of crackdowns, believers have continued to multiply in China. The word of God is not bound (2 Tim. 2:9).
 
“Because you have a little power”
 
Philadelphia was relatively small compared to the other cities of Asia Minor.  Its greatest distinction was that it was strategically located on the Roman road.  Early Christians would have traveled through Philadelphia as they journeyed east and west from Jerusalem to Rome.  As they went, they were able spread the gospel both to Europe and Asia.  The local congregation had stood firm despite persecution from the local Jewish synagogue (verse 9).  Despite this opposition, the church is promised an open door of evangelistic and missionary opportunity. The church at Philadelphia had only a “little strength” (verse 8), but our Lord promised to do great things through them.
 
It is not the size or strength of a church that determines its ministry, but faith in the call and command of the Lord. If Jesus gives an open door, then He sees to it that they are able to walk through it.
 
“And have kept My word, and have not denied My name”
 
This church not only believed the Word of God, but obeyed it. They were a small group of people and yet they stood boldly and publicly for Christ.
 
“I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan . . . come and bow down at your feet . . .”
 
Vindication: All false religionists who persecute the followers of Christ will one day bow before them and know that He loved them. Jesus expresses His love in special ways toward believers who obey Him and take a stand for Him.
 
“I will also keep you from the hour of testing”
 
Protection: The Lord sometimes protects a faithful church from tribulation in this age and will rapture the Church before the Tribulation.
 
The “hour of testing” could refer to a time of trouble that the entire Roman world would undergo in the reader’s lifetimes. Jesus assures obedient believers in Philadelphia that they would have His protection during this time of turmoil.
 
This could also be a reference to the time of Tribulation that John describes in Revelation 6–19. The immediate reference could be to the official Roman persecutions that would come, but the ultimate reference is to the Tribulation that will encompass the earth before Jesus returns to establish His kingdom. Revelation 3:10 could be a promise that the church will not go through the Tribulation, but will be taken to be with Christ before it begins (see 1 Thess. 4:13–5:11). The following statement “I am coming quickly” strengthens this view.
 
Criticism of the Church 

There is no criticism of this church. We have seen all the characteristics that made this church so highly approved by the Lord.
 
Penalty or Reward 

Rewards are cited earlier.
 
Exhortation 

“I am coming quickly” (see 22:7, 12, 20).
 
The Lord’s coming for believers can come at any time. This provides an encouragement for faithfulness.
 
“Hold fast what you have” (see 2:25).
 
Jesus’ exhortation is a simple encouragement to hold fast what they have. He tells them they’re doing great and to keep up the good work!
 
We are to hold fast what we have so that no one will take our crown. Don’t forfeit your crown. Eternal life is a free gift and cannot be lost but the reward of ruling with Christ forever requires faithfulness to the end (cf. 2:10).
 
During the time when the world is being tested, faithful believers will be receiving their crowns instead of experiencing the tribulation.  Judgment begins with us (the house of God), but when it moves to the world, we will be removed to heaven to receive our crowns.  When it comes time for the world to be tested, it will be time for faithful believers to be crowned.
 
Promises to Overcomers
 
Most of this letter is composed of promises. Jesus promises several different eternal rewards for the believer who overcomes.
 
“Pillar in the temple of My God”
 
The believer who has been faithful to the end will become a pillar in the temple of His God. Since the Father and Son will be the temple in the New Jerusalem, this reward is probably an especially wonderful experience of nearness to God as well as a key position of support and prominence in God’s eternal kingdom. Second, the phrase “he will not go out from it anymore” refers to the permanence of these rewards. Once these positions of honor and authority are given to an overcomer, they shall never be rescinded. He is securely set as a “pillar” in Christ’s eternal kingdom and as such will never be separated from this special relationship to God.
 
The symbolism would be especially meaningful to people who lived in constant danger of earthquakes: the stability of the pillars, no need to go out or to flee, a heavenly city that nothing could destroy. Ancient cities often honored great leaders by erecting pillars with their names inscribed on them. God’s pillars are not made of stone. His pillars are faithful people who bear His name for His glory.
 
“I will write on him the name of My God”
 
“And the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem”
 
“And My new name”
 
Jesus will write three names upon the overcoming believer. Will these be literal tattoos?
 
Name implies understanding. Jesus will give special understanding of the Father, Himself, and the City.  He will give the overcomer ownership and authority in the City and a special understanding of how the City works.
 
You ask, why do we need the name or understanding of the City?  Have you ever been in a 1500 miles long, wide, and high city before?  1500 miles is from here to the east coast.  You get out in the middle of the city and wonder, “Now, where am I?  How does this place work?”  That is a big City.  It is not only 1500 miles in one direction, but it is also 1500 miles high.
 
You are going to want the understanding of that city.  Jesus says, “I will write it on you.  I will put the compass—the understanding of the glory of the city—and the authority to move about the city right inside of you.
 
I have been in a few big cities over the years.  They are overwhelming, I mean, you could get lost in them.  That is similar to what is going on in this city.  Cities are mysterious.  But there is a city of which He says, “I will write its name on you.”
 
Some are given the “key to a city” or are called a father of that city to honor their connection to that city. This honor points to one’s unusual authority, commitment and understanding of a city.
 
And He will write the name of the Father and His own name on us—His own new name.  That means that there are facets of the person of the Father and of the Son which have not yet been made known, but which Jesus will make known to the overcomer.  There are dimensions of Himself that Jesus wants to unveil.
 
General Admonition: He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. 

Jesus promised to keep them from the “hour of trial” which shall “come upon the whole world” (verse 10).  If indeed this is a promise that the church will be removed in the rapture prior to the time of tribulation, then the promise to the church at Philadelphia is a promise to the church universal.  This indicates that the specific instructions and promises of our Lord to these local churches are not limited to any particular era of church history.  Rather, these instructions and promises are applicable to all the churches of all time. 
 
Conclusion
 
Jesus is coming soon! We forget that so easily. We go about our daily lives as if this world is all that mattered. But Jesus is coming soon! He will reward His faithful servants. That promise should pull us forward through life. It should give us the focus to live each day to please Him at His coming.
 
For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff; and the day that is coming will set them ablaze,” says the Lord of armies, “so that it will leave them neither root nor branches. But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and frolic like calves from the stall. (Malachi 4:1-2)
 
WWJS to the faithful church:  “Hold fast.  I’m coming soon.”
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Sardis Letter

9/1/2021

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WAKE-UP CALL
Learning from the Church at Sardis

Philippe R. Sterling

 
Have you ever had a “wake-up call?” A wake-up call is something which shocks people, making them understand how serious a problem is and causing them to take action in order to solve that problem.
 
Have you ever attended a dead church?  There is not much that is worse than dead tradition or dead liberalism.  The services are dull and lifeless.  Everyone is bored and nodding off to sleep.  No wonder the Lord said, “Wake up!”  Sardis was a church that was ready to die.
 
Destination
 
The fifth church of Revelation was in Sardis, about 30 miles south of Thyatira. It was a commercial and industrial city at the junction of five roads. It was perched on an elevated plateau 1,500 feet above the valley below and at the western end of the Great King’s highway from Susa.
 
Sardis had seen its day. It had a great history, but it was going downhill.
 
Sardis had been the ancient capital of Lydia.  But its greatest glory was in the past.  In the sixth century BC, fabled King Croesus, whom the Greeks called Midas, was known for his golden treasures.
 
Sardis had a strong fortress. It had a lot going for it. But then it was conquered by the Persians, and later by the Greeks. Twice the city was caught off guard and captured despite its great fortress and steep cliffs.
 
The town had begun building a massive temple to the goddess Artemis. It would have been as great as the one at Ephesus, but construction was never completed.
 
In the distance, on the skyline, the people of Sardis could see a massive cemetery with thousands of burial mounds. The city seemed to have a preoccupation with death.
 
There was a substantial wool industry in Sardis. This may explain the references to clothing in the passage. Some might even suggest that the people took on the lethargic attitude of the sheep they tended.
 
By Roman times, Sardis was playing second fiddle to the major cities on the coast, Ephesus and Smyrna. An earthquake hit it in AD 17, and it never really recovered.
 
Just as Sardis had fallen because of a lack of vigilance, so the church was in danger of falling as well.  As the city had flourished and decayed, so the church had done the same. The believers had grown careless and indifferent to spiritual things and gradually declined over the years.
 
Portrayal of Jesus

Jesus describes Himself as the one who holds the seven spirits and seven stars. The sevenfold character of the Holy Spirit rests upon Jesus enabling Him to exercise righteous judgment (see Isaiah 11:2-5). He holds the leaders of the churches responsible and accountable to Him.
 
Praise for the Church
 
There is no praise for this church. Later there is recognition of the few faithful in Sardis. The church as a whole, however, was failing.
 
Criticism of the Church
 
Jesus knew the deeds, both in reputation and reality, of the believers in Sardis. He says in effect, “You are famous for being alive, but you’re really dead.” We know from history that this was true of the city. We shall see it was also true of the church. This searching judgment of Christ may also apply to churches today.
 
The church had suffered inward decay, spiritual disintegration and dry rot. I used to go to the Smithsonian in Washington D.C. and look at the exhibits of the animals of North America, lifelike in their natural habitat, mounted exactly as they lived, but they were dead.
 
Note though that they were once alive and vibrant. We can have eternal life and yet allow our faith to wither and die (see James 2:17 and 26).
 
Exhortation
 
The answer to escaping the spiritual graveyard is found in our Lord’s challenge (verses 2-3).  The church members were sleeping.  The risen Jesus calls them to rouse themselves from their heavy slumbers and to be watchful. 
 
Here are five commands: Wake up!  Strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die!  Remember what you have received and heard!  Keep it!  Repent!
 
Wake up.  In what ways might they have been asleep? Perhaps not caring about their faith, not growing in the Lord, not paying attention to the needs of those around them.
 
Strengthen the things that remain. What are the things that “remain” which they need to strengthen? Perhaps their faith, their fellowship, their commitment to obey Christ. They had apparently taken the first few steps of the Christian life, but they hadn’t let God lead them into full obedience. Jesus wanted them to remember, obey, and repent.
 
Remember.  Get back to the basics of the faith.  Hold fast to the truth. This is not a simple recall. The basis for renewal is to bear constantly in mind that which we have received and heard.
 
Keep. Keep on keeping the body of truth just alluded to in connection with the receiving and hearing. Here is a call to devote earnest attention to rebuilding on what was left from the earlier days of fruitfulness.
 
Repent of your apathy.  Become vigilant and diligent about your walk with Christ.

Wake up and revitalize the good things you have going for you. If you don’t, what you have will “die.” Maintain a living faith.
 
The divine prescription for curing the church’s spiritual malady is watchfulness (see 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11; Ephesians 5:6-14; 1 John 2:28; 3:2-3). Sentries are to stay awake and watch.
 
Penalty or Reward
 
What would happen if they didn’t wake up? Jesus would come suddenly, like a thief to judge them. This may be a reference to the rapture. The sin of Sardis involved a failure to watch for the Lord’s return. A possible negative outcome at the Judgment Seat serves as an incentive for believers in Sardis and today to wake up and stay alert (see 1 John 2:28). This may also be sudden and unexpected temporal judgment. 
 
The earlier verses introduced a remedy for the dying condition of the church. This verse poses a threat that is predicated on the assumption that the remedy will not be accepted. Failure to wake up (watchfulness) exposes them to a possible surprise coming of the Lord in judgment.
 
The previous history of Sardis would warn the believers concerning sudden and unexpected judgment. Sardis had twice fallen because of overconfidence and failure to watch. In 549 BC the Persian King Cyrus had ended the rule of Croesus by scaling the cliffs under the cover of darkness. In 214 BC the armies of Antiochus the Great captured the city by the same method. Herodotus tells of the incident with Cyrus.
 
Sardis was considered an impregnable fortress. It was built on the slope of Mount Tmolus, at the base of which ran the Pactolus River. Like a pier jutting out from Mount Tmolus was a ridge of rock with great cliffs on either side. On that high pier of solid rock Sardis had built its impregnable fortress. When Cyrus besieged the city, he could not advance farther until that fortress was taken. So the Persian general said that if any man would find a way to storm the fortress and overwhelm it, he would give large rewards.
 
A Mardian soldier by the name of Hyeroedes was standing one day watching the cliff and the battlement on top and a Lydian soldier on top of the battlement. As he watched, the Lydian soldier accidentally dropped his helmet over the battlement and picked his way slowly to the base of the cliff to recover his helmet, and climbed back to his place of sentinel duty. The Mardian soldier carefully watched as the Lydian came down and back up, and that night with a picked band of Persian soldiers, he made his way up to the height. It was unguarded, and Sardis fells into the hands of the Persians.
 
With that story and topography as background we can see the emphasis of our Lord when he says, “Be watchful . . . if you don’t watch, I will come like a thief.”
 
If we fail to apply the truths we’ve learned in the past, we’ll forget the principles of Christian living, and when we need to draw upon them they won’t be there. This is what Jesus meant when He said, “Be sure to practice what you hear. The more you do this, the more you will understand what I tell you.
 
There were some believers who had not soiled their clothes. How could believers soil their clothes? This refers to walking in the ways of the ungodly world and being squeezed into its mold. The believers were compromising with their culture, perhaps joining in emperor worship or cult worship. The church had a reputation for being alive but only a few of its number lived up to that reputation.
 
There’s an element from some of the passages of other churches that we don’t find here. What is that? Persecution. There is no mention of them undergoing persecution for their faith. Why is that? It’s possible that the local authorities didn’t care. The believers were going with the flow, offering incense to the emperor just to fit in, taking part in the pagan feasts to be “good citizens.”
 
Promises to Overcomers

Jesus promises the overcomer three things.
 
First, the overcomer will walk with Christ in white.
 
The Lord promised the overcomers “white garments” – the symbol of their righteous acts (see 19:8).  This is not merely the imputed righteousness of Christ given to all who believe in Him for everlasting life. This is an added reward reflected in their royal clothing.
 
Second, the overcomer’s name will remain in the Book of Life.
 
The Lord also promised that their names would not be blotted out of the book of life.  This raises three questions.  Who is the overcomer?  What is the book of life? What is meant by being removed from the book of life? 
 
The overcomers in Revelation are the ones who do the will of God to the end, either physical death or the coming of Christ.  As a reward they are given authority over the nations.  The singular “he” suggests this is an individual thing.  Not all overcome and receive this reward. 
 
What is the book of life?  In the Ancient Near East the book of life was simply a list of the members of a community.  Those unworthy of the community were removed from the book.  In ancient Israel it was often the legal register. 
 
What is meant by removal from the book of life?  The answer to that question depends on the meaning of “name.”  The lexicon lists five usages of onoma: name, title or category, person, reputation or fame, and office.  It is possible that the removal from the book of life refers to the removal of one’s reputation, not his person.  If name always means “person,” then a contradiction is set up between Revelation 3:5 and 13:8, 17:8, and 21:27.  In 13:8, 17:8, and 21:27 we are told that, if our name is recorded in the book of life, it was so recorded from the foundation of the world.  In other words, it is an absolute and unchanging thing.  But in Revelation 3:5 we are told that a person’s name can be present at one time and absent at another.  One emphasizes the permanence of the name and the other the possibility of temporal removal.  This is easily harmonized by the simple assumption that “name” means person in Revelation 13:8, 17:8, and 21:27, and “reputation” in 3:5.  The overcomer can achieve a new name (2:17; 3:12), a spiritual reputation in the sight of God.  He will have a reputation or title in heaven which conforms to his earthly faithfulness.  Proverbs 22:1 says a good name is to be desired more than great riches.  Job 30:8 notes that those who had a bad reputation were called “nameless.”  Being nameless can be compared to having one’s name blotted out of the book of life.  If “name” in Revelation 3:5 refers to reputation or title, then God is saying, “I will not blot his title or reputation out of the book of life.”  This is clarified by the next statement, “I will confess his name [reputation] before My Father and before His angels.”
 
Third, Jesus will declare the overcomer’s reputation before the Father and His angels.
 
The passage focuses on the matter of one’s name. The word occurs four times in the passage: “you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead;” “you have a few names in Sardis;” “I will not erase his name;” “I will confess his name.”
 
General Admonition

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
 
Conclusion: “Wake Up!”
 
WWJS to the sleeping church:  “Wake up!” Watch and keep your name (reputation). It may be time for a spiritual overhaul. What compromises have you been making to fit into your society? What can you do to stop making those compromises? What aspects of your spiritual life do remain? How can you build on these?

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