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John 15:13, “Greater love has no man than this, than to lay down his life for his friends.”  Jesus

 

It is fitting and right to take time to remember those who gave their lives for us to be here today enjoying the freedoms we have today.  I am sure each of you reading this blog has known a man or woman who lost their life defending our country’s freedom.  For those of you who may have lost a loved one who died defending our country’s freedom I pay my respect.    I have already read or heard from the pulpit that this day is more than family gatherings for barbeques.  It is much more than just a day off from work.  It is a day to remember those who have fallen in battle for the freedom this country holds so dearly.  We must never forget; never allow their sacrifice be taken for granted.  We must never allow those who would take away our freedoms to do.    

 

It is a day to remember and be thankful to our Father in heaven who sent His only begotten Son into this world of sin to battle the sinfulness of this world.  Satan and the world thought they had defeated Him; they thought the grave ended His threat to their rule.  But they soon found out that the grave could not hold Him and His love for all people, for you and me, was greater than any power.   “Greater love has no man than this, than to lay down his life for his friends.”

 

 We live in a time that is challenging, to say the least.  All around us the freedoms we have enjoyed for so long, the freedoms so many gave their lives to keep, are either eroding or being manipulated.  The world is changing and the United States is changing with it – not for the better.  It is time the people wake up to what is happening around us or the freedoms we enjoy are going to be gone.  For too long world leaders, including our own, have talked and planned for One World Religion, Government, and Economic Systems.  We must wake up.

 

Today, we remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for us to have the freedoms we have.  It is also good to remember God’s Son making the ultimate sacrifice that all who believe and call upon Him to save them would be saved.  I’m sure those who read this have done that!  Take some time to thank Him for what He has done for you.  Take time to remember the works you did when you were first saved. Are they as strong today as they were then? 

 

Consider a few more words of the Lord Jesus Christ.  John 15:14, “You are My friends if you do whatever I command.”  John 15:16, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.”

 

Remember.  Never forget!

 

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Revelation 3:15-16, “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.  So then because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.”  Jesus

 

We have come to a church with the saddest description of all – it is lukewarm and indifferent to spiritual things.  It has compromised with the world’s philosophies and looks no different from the world.  It has become “politically correct” and does whatever it needs to do to draw people in the doors.  It has become comfortable to the point of being conceited because of its “wealth and need of nothing”.  The Lord Jesus told them they “did not know they were wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked”.  Because of their spiritual blindness they believed they needed nothing. 

 

Does wealth in a church mean that it has God’s blessing?  Can a church become so comfortable in handling their situations that their relationship with God becomes an afterthought?  Take another look at what the Lord said to the church at Laodicea and you will see the answers to these questions is a resounding YES!  He tells this church that true wealth (that’s spiritual wealth) comes from walking with Him.  He tells them put on clothes of white garments of righteousness (comes only through the salvation He offers).  And, He tells them to “anoint their eyes with eye salve (with the Word of God) in order to truly see their spiritual needs.

 

This is the church the Lord Jesus sees just before He sounds the trumpet that signal the rapture of all true Believers, the Church.  Too many people are in churches where the preacher tickles their ears with an incomplete gospel, incorrect doctrine, and fills their ears with what they want to hear.  The church of Laodicea is all around us.  The people of these churches believe all is well – just look at us, our church and how God has blessed us.  Just look at this, and this, and that over there.  We must be doing the right thing because God keeps giving us money to do these things.  Look at this magnificent campus we have for the school we have.  We must be blessed.  But God looks at the spiritual side of things!  What sort of fruit is being produced from what you have?  It always comes back to the fruit produced!

 

Then the Lord Jesus tells the people of this church in verse 20, ”Behold, I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him and him with Me.”   When I first got saved, I preached a message about this verse.  I told the people it was Jesus telling unsaved people to open their hearts and receive Him as their Savior.  I was so wrong!  He was (and still is) talking to those who have already given their hearts to Him.  Yes, He is saying to nonbelievers that He wants them to open the door of their heart to Him as well.  But to Believers, He is telling them He wants to join them (us) in fellowship, not be shut out of their lives.  When Believers open their hearts to Him in fellowship, we learn of the great love He has for us and then we can experience the great spiritual blessings He has for us.  This is the Creator and Lord of all things telling us this!

 

The message for this church is the same as for the others churches.  Repent!  The message for each of is to repent!  Turn away from anything and everything that keeps you from walking on the narrow path to God’s kingdom and His righteousness.  Being apathetic to God’s Word and walking according to our own desires must stop! 

 

To each of the churches, the Lord Jesus said, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the spirit says to the churches.”  He is emphasizing the need for us to pay close attention to what He is saying.  Hear what He is saying and pay special attention to it.  Don’t just hear; be obedient!  Do not harden your hearts to what He is saying.  Pay attention and diligently seek Him in every aspect of your life.  To do so is to find life for eternity with Him.

 

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Revelation 3:8, “I know your works.  See I have set before you an open door and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.”  Jesus

 

Revelation 3:10, “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on earth.”   Jesus

 

The church at Philadelphia is considered the missionary period of the church continuing until the Church is raptured.  This period of the history of the church has seen great outreach by missionaries, revivals occurring, and the beginning of Christian education (Sunday School and more recently the development of Christian schools).  The Lord Jesus holds the key to the kingdom of God.  He alone gives those who believe in Him access through the narrow gate allowing them access to God’s kingdom and its righteousness.  No one can shut that door.  No one can deny anyone who believes access into God’s kingdom.

 

 The church at Philadelphia was faithful in keeping the word of the Lord; the people did not deny Him in the face of opposition.  It seems that this church literally faced the problem of conforming to the world’s standards or remaining loyal and faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ.  Satan is always attacking Truth; he always has and he always will.  Remember what he said to Eve in the garden?  Did God really say …?  The Lord Jesus told this church that He knows the works of the people; they have kept His word and not denied Him.

 

In a world full of evil and opposition this church has continued to walk in their faith; the Lord’s promise to them is to keep them from the hour of trial that was to come.  In 1 Thessalonians 1:10, Paul called this “the wrath to come”.  This promise is extended to all of God’s people throughout the ages.  David Jeremiah’s study on The Revelation states in the first three chapters the church is mentioned 19 times.  Beginning with Chapter 4, the church is no longer mentioned.  The Church is in heaven!  As we progress in our study of The Revelation, this terrible “the wrath to come” will be examined.

 

Earlier I made the statement that the church of Philadelphia represents the true Church of Believers at the time of the rapture.  Would you agree that believers today are being persecuted around the world?  Read the news.  Persecution has been going on in this country for years as more and more restrictions are being made on Christian activities.  Today more and more open attacks are being made against Christians.  I do not have to tell you what they are.  As the time of the rapture draws nears these attacks are only going to increase.  But, the promise of the Lord Jesus Christ is “I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on earth.”   For Believers, those who faithfully keep the Word of God in their heart, this rapture will be their reward for diligently seeking Him in prayer, Bible study, and not being deceived by all the world uses to come against them. 

 

Revelation 3:11-12, “Behold, I am coming quickly!  Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.  He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God and he shall go out no more.  I will write on him the name of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.”  Jesus

 

 

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Revelation 3:1b-2, “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.  Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God.”  Jesus

 

The Lord Jesus makes it clear He is the One speaking these words and not John speaking them.  This is important because Jesus is telling this church that it is filled with unsaved people, Christians in name only and a remnant of true Believers.  The church, according to the Lord, is going through the motions of “religion”; it was spiritually dead.

 

 Historically, this was the church during the Reformation, the time of Martin Luther.  Scripture indicates it was an active church because the Lord knew their works and their works were known in Sardis with a good reputation.  There is a difference between your good name and good reputation coming from the world or from God.  It seems clear that the good reputation did not come from God.  I wonder if Jesus had in mind His words to the scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 23:27 when he had John write to the church of Sardis, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  For you are like white washed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead man’s bones and all uncleanness.”  I wonder how often people try so hard to convince people they are “spiritual” that they do not notice they are actually dead.  Those were the people of Sardis.

 

A church that goes through the motions to appear spiritual, does it for nothing.  The Lord is telling this church (and us) that He is watching; He knew what they are doing and why they were doing it. He was not pleased.  He was not pleased because their works were man made not God led.  I wonder if there was preaching about holiness.  I wonder if the preaching was focused on God’s righteousness and seeking His kingdom before everything else.  I wonder if it led to people going to the altar of repentance.  Or was it a watered-down gospel about a wide- road to heaven instead of a narrow road that leads to heaven? 

 

The letter to the church at Sardis was a wake-up call to the church to no longer do work in their own strength; instead, the church was to be led by the Holy Spirit.  The Lord Jesus not only is telling this church to wake up but to stay awake.  That means to do the work for the glory of God not to increase church attendance, not to make a name for the church, not for personal gain.  “Strengthen the things that remain” because “they are ready to die”.  If the church does not change its ways it will die.  It needs to repent; it will take time on their knees in prayer to help this church.

 

Can a church be dead even though its appearance is active in “doing things”?  The answer is yes - read the words of the Lord Jesus regarding the church at Sardis.  What about an individual?  Can one be active in all the church programs and stuff it offers and be spiritually dead?  Again, the answer appears to be yes.  So, how do we know?  The Bible tells us to examine ourselves.  What is your purpose for doing what you do – to glorify yourself in the eyes of men or to glorify your Father in heaven?  I believe it is important to know that God looks at us individually as He does the church at Sardis.  He examines our hearts to see what our motives are, why we do the things we do.  Jesus told this church “Your deeds are far from right in the sight of God” (new Living Translation).  I wonder How many churches He would say that to today!  I certainly do not want to hear Him say that to the church I attend or to me!  I find that to be a hard statement, something I must consider every day.  We need to encourage one another to be like Jesus Christ in thoughts, words, and deeds, making sure all we do is for the glory of God.  When you and I continue to place the Word of God in our heart, hungering and thirsting for His righteousness and seeking His kingdom before everything else, I believe He will bless all we do.

 

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Revelation 2:19-20, “I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first.  Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.”  Jesus

 

The city of Thyatira was not known for its culture, grandeur, or learning; it was known for its commerce.  That meant many different elements and types of people worked there or passed through the city.  This city was the smallest of the seven cities written to but it received the longest letter.  The church was a church that did a lot of good work in the city.  The Lord Jesus said it was a church with patience meaning it did not give up its good works when faced with adversity.  The church was a loving church but it lacked discernment.  Jesus said its works were greater than when it first began.  To me this means the church was growing and prosperous.

 

I hope you are going to your Bible and reading what the Lord Jesus said to each church as you read this blog.  I want you to pay close attention to how He describes Himself in each letter.  To Thyatira, He comes “with eyes like a flame of fire and His feet of fine brass”.  He also states clearly that He is the Son of God – the only time He does so in the book of The Revelation.  His eyes are able to pierce to the very heart of heart of this church (and your heart).  With feet of brass, He can step on sin and severely punish wrong doing.  Both are needed in the church at Thyatira! (Ray Stedman).  This a church where judgment is coming if it does not repent and change.

 

Jezebel was probably not the name of a woman who had risen to some degree of authority in this church.  The Lord was giving the name Jezebel to her due to her character.  In the Old Testament Jezebel was the evil wife of King Ahab; she was a strong worshipper of Baal.  Worship of Baal included immoral practices including both male and female prostitutes.  The woman “Jezebel” in Thyatira was a self-proclaimed prophetess that was teaching false things; she taught that it was all right for Christians to indulge in sexual immorality and idol worship.  She was a false prophet!

 

Thyatira was a city that consisted in many trade unions.  In order to work, Christians needed to join a union which was made up of a lot of unbelievers.  Often the union worshipped idols and was involved in all kinds of wickedness.  The pressure was on for Christians to be involved with this immorality; “Jezebel” was teaching that it was all right to indulge in these activities.  The Lord Jesus told this church that He had given her time to repent but she would not and the result was her false teaching had entered into the church. Thus, we see their lack of discernment.

 

It is pretty easy to relate this church to today.  The U.S. president has stated his desire to increase the growth of unions in this country.  Yes, the news is full of the actions taken by corrupt unions, the craziness of the Teacher’s Union for example.  They are causing their members to submit to their ideas, their immoral ways or get out.  They are preventing in person learning and teaching beliefs contrary to the Founding Fathers of the country.  Our churches are teaching immoral, ungodly doctrines that are contrary to God’s Word.  The Bible is outdated so get rid of it. Let’s fill the seats in the church by giving the people what they want – not what they need.  Ungodly lifestyles are accepted, even promoted.  Here is the warning for us today!  Don’t miss it!  Speaking to the church The Lord Jesus said you allow it; you tolerate it! Oh God forgive us for what we are allowing to happen!  He said He will bring to “Jezebel and her followers” great tribulation if they do not repent an “give to each one of you according to your works”.  Judgment is coming!

 

To all Christians Jesus said, “as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden. But hold fast what you have until I come.”  God knows who hold on to Christ’s Word and His righteousness, His moral standards.  His promise to them is that they will rule over the nations with Him.  Hold on to His words, His warnings, and His promises until He comes.   

 

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Revelation 2:13-14, “I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is.  And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.  But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.”  Jesus

 

Revelation 2:16, Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.”  Jesus

 

Compromise!  Are there signs of compromise in the churches today?  Absolutely!  The church at Pergamos represents any church that believes it must look like the world to get people through the doors.  It is any Christian that walks as close as he can to the line that separates the Christian life from the worldly life.  It is trying to walk with one foot on the “broad way that leads to destruction and one foot on the narrow way that leads to God’s kingdom and eternal life with Him.”  Read Revelation 2:12-17.  Notice that Jesus introduces Himself as the One “who has the two-edge sword”.  Jesus is talking to a church that is facing judgment because of compromise.

 

The people of Pergamos faced great challenges from the pagan or nonbelievers that were around them.  Yet many had remained faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ; they had not denied His name even when a faithful witness, Antipas, was killed in their city.  

 

Obviously, the church was not perfect.  There were those who held the doctrine of Balaam which comes from Numbers 22-29.  Basically, the doctrine said “if you cannot curse them, corrupt them” (David Jeremiah) or get them to compromise on what God’s Word taught (religious compromise).  The Lord also stated there were those who followed the doctrine of the Nicolaitans which was about committing sexual immorality (moral compromise). 

 

Let me share a list of things that happened as a result of the compromise in the church at Pergamos.  This list was compiled from a study on the seven churches of revelation by David Jeremiah.  Pagan temples became churches.  Pagan holidays became Christian holidays.  Pagan priests slipped into positions of Christian influence.  The world entered into the church with the blessing of the emperor.  This was the beginning of the Roman Catholic Church.

 

The Lord Jesus Christ said to repent.  He desires purity from His followers and that false teachers be removed from the church.  If not, He is going to come and remove them; that was His promise to the church at Pergamos.  That is His desire from His Church today and what He is going to do at His Second coming!

 

 Here is the warning to us today.  Never bow your knee to anyone but the Lord Jesus Christ; never compromise your faith!  As Christians, we are facing greater challenges to our faith as the end of times approach.  Jesus’ promise to those who overcome is eternal life with Him!  Be an overcomer!  Do not compromise with what the world is offering you.  The reward is far greater than anything the world has to offer.

 

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Revelation 2:9-10, I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.  Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer.  Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you will have tribulation ten days.  Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.  Jesus

 

Read Revelation 2:8-11.  Notice that the Lord addressed this church as the One “who was dead, and came to life”.  Is this important?  Yes, the people of the church at Smyrna, the persecuted church, needed to know that He who had overcome death was with them as they suffered because of their faith in Him.  He had been tested in all ways, been persecuted just like they were being persecuted, defeated death and was now their High Priest in heaven.

 

This church had suffered greatly to the point of poverty; Jesus said their situation economically was at a poverty level.  But spiritually, He said, they were rich.  We will get to the church of Laodicea, but notice Jesus said this church was rich but spiritually poor.  This church represents the church during the Roman Empire and Christianity was illegal at the time John was given The Revelation to be written.

 

There are several thoughts about the “synagogue of Satan”.  One thought is it was made of Gentiles who called themselves Jews; they worshipped the Roman emperor and spoke out against Christians causing them to be persecuted in Smyrna.  Another thought is it was made up of Jews who did not have the faith of Abraham nor did they accept Jesus as the Messiah; they rejected Him.  I wonder if the greater persecution came from the Jews since the Lord addressed them specifically.  These Jews would be serving the purposes of Satan because they hated and persecuted the true followers and true people of God.   

 

To the suffering church at Smyrna, Jesus gives two commandments.  Be faithful and be fearless.  In Matthew 10:28 Jesus says, “And do not fear those who kill the body.  But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both the souls and the body in hell.”  The Lord Jesus Christ was (and is?) preparing the Church for a period of suffering.  Indicating ten days might be comparing a time of suffering compared to the reward of eternity with Him in His kingdom.

 

What does this letter to the church at Smyrna have to do with Believers today?  Christians around the world are being persecuted and killed for their faith, because they do not renounce their faith in Jesus Christ.  In this country persecution is happening more and more.  Deception by false preachers, false teaching, and false doctrine is being preached in churches across this nation.  The Lord Jesus Christ speaks to Christians today the same message – be faithful even to the point of death!  His promise to His followers has never been we would be kept from persecution, even being killed, for our faith.  His promise has always been that He would be with us and for us to be fearless and faithful.

 

The reward for doing so is to receive “the crown of life” and to “not be hurt by the second death” (that is spending eternity in hell).  This crown is translated to mean the wreath worn by the winner of a game or event.  Just to be clear the first death is about the body.  The second death concerns the soul and where we spend eternity.

 

There was no condemnation for this church.  Will we see persecution as Christians before the Lord sounds the trumpet and raptures His Church?  It has already begun and time will only tell to what severity Christians in this country will experience it.  Jesus’ words sound loud and clear, “Do not fear and stand strong in your faith in Him!”

 

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Revelation2:4 - 5, “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.  Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place – unless you repent.”  Jesus

 

Have you ever just gotten to the point with your job, or a relationship, with your walk with the Lord, with anything that you just go through the motions, just take whatever it is for granted?  You may have been doing something for so long that it becomes routine, lacks the excitement it first had.  Perhaps, the testing or having to be sharp has worn on you to the point that you have become lax in the way you do things.

 

I used to really enjoy going into a classroom to watch a teacher teach.  Some of the long-time teachers could care less if I was there or not; others (even the more seasoned veterans) got really nervous.  I enjoyed observers coming into my room to watch me teach; it made me sharp and do my best each day.  (I learned to be ready every day from a principal who came to observe my teaching when I was totally unprepared for the evaluation.)

 

To the church at Ephesus, Jesus tells John that He “knows their works, their labors, their patience, and that they cannot bear those who are evil; that they test those who say they are apostles but are not.”  He knows they “have persevered and have patience, have labored for His name’s sake and not grown weary.”  But He tells them that knowing correct doctrine, obeying some of the commands, and worshipping in the church is not enough.  The church must have a heartfelt love for Him and his Word.  His followers must have a single-hearted devotion to Him, purity of life and a love of the truth.  Notice that the church of Ephesus was a hard-working group of believers that had the courage to stand against false teachers and have persevered in their faith.

 

The problem with the people in this church was they no longer did the work with the passion they did when they first believed; it was no longer motivated by love.  The Lord told John to write to them that they must remember what they did when motivated by love, to repent and be motivated again by their love for Him.  If they did not, He would “come quickly and remove their lampstand from its place.”  The lampstand symbolizes Christ as the personification and expression of the Triune God.  John 15:5, says this really well, “I am the vine, you are the branches.  He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”  The Lord is telling this church it must repent or risk His light being removed from them. 

 

Without Him our work becomes fruitless.  Without Him this blog is just words.  Without Him your work as Christian school teachers become just teaching.  Without Him hearts are not changed.  Without Him ….  Do you get the message of this church?  For those who repent of doing to be doing and not out of their love for the Lord, He “promises they will eat from the tree of life in paradise!”   

 

I believe it is easy to fall into being like the church of Ephesus.  It can be easy to focus on following doctrine and working hard to study the Bible without the love of Jesus in our heart.  Be careful of thinking you have to take time to study, have to meditate on the Word, have to pray because you know it is good to do it.  That is the church of Ephesus.  Do these things with a grateful heart because the Lord Jesus Christ has saved you from an eternity in hell.  It is not an obligation to walk with Him it is an honor and a privilege to do so.  Repent and get back to doing the things you did when you first gave your life to Him.  We love Him because He first loved us!

 

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Revelation 1:10-11, I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, saying “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos. To Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”

 

Do you ever get distracted when sitting in church?  Of course, you have.  Your attention gets drawn to the person walking out of the service for some reason, the whispers behind you, the child who has had enough of “sitting and being quiet, and of course the thoughts of where you might eat later or what will be prepared for the meal after church – all distractions.

 

Imagine John, alone on the island of Patmos, so involved with his meditation or contemplation of the Lord, being very intent on spiritual things; there were no distractions.  I wonder what he was pondering while in such deep spiritual thought!  Was he thinking about the walks and talks when he was with Jesus?  Was he thinking about the crucifixion, burial, and resurrection of the Lord?  Was he thinking about the signs Jesus gave about His second coming and wondering if today was the day?  During this time, he heard a voice that he describes “as of trumpet”, a loud voice so it cannot be missed by him.  The One speaking is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.  The description He gives of Himself expresses His deity and His eternal being.  Consider his reaction in verse 17a when he saw the One talking to him was the Lord, “And when I saw Him I fell at His feet as dead” (the bold words are my emphasis).  And we wonder how we might react when we get to heaven and see Him.

 

I wonder why the Lord instructed John to write to these churches.  I have taught that these seven churches represent seven church ages and explain the triumphs and the failings during each church age.  I suppose there will be some agree and others who disagree.  I do think that each church has warnings for present-day Christians to be aware of that could tempt or lead them away from their faith.  For that reason, it is worth the time to examine what the Lord said about each church and see what the warning is for us today.

 

There are similarities about each church.  Each was written to the “angel of the church of ….” This most likely refers to the “bishop” over the church.  John communicated with the churches through human messengers that would relate the messages to those in the church.  Perhaps the churches communicated with John at other times through this means.  Each church is told a general condition that is causing difficulties within the church.  The warning is clear - repent or risk finding the work they are given to do weakened or less effective.  It is interesting that the problems faced by these seven churches would occur over and over again in the churches throughout history. 

 

With that in mind, it is worth the time to study what the Lord said to and about each church and see what we can find out about the church (in general) of today.

 

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LEARNING DAILY

 

Two in one day!! I have received a notice from the people who send this blog out to you automatically when I post the page of the blog.  Most of you know my very limited knowledge on how all this works.  I just do what I do and publish it and it goes out.  Perfect for me!  Well, the people who do this have given notice that they will no longer do this after July 2021.  The blog itself will not be affected.  I have a number of individuals that I send the blog to by personal email. 

 

I really do not know who the blog sends out email to after I post it.  What I need you to do is to make sure I have the email address to those who desire to continue receiving the blog.  I will add you to my list and make sure you get it each day.  For my friends at FBA, if you want it sent to you at a different address than FBA, please send it to me.  Regardless I still need to know who to continue sending it to at the FBA address.  My prayer is that all continue to find encouragement in the blog and will respond by sending me your email.  By the way you have my promise to not share any personal information with anyone else (humor!?)!

 

My email is bobpaton@reagan.com.  If any clarification is needed, contact me.  I look forward to hearing from each of you.