07 July 26, 2015, Revelation 2 and 3, Let Them Hear

Revelation 2 and 3
Let Them Hear
July 26, 2015
First Baptist Church
Jackson, Mississippi
USA

What’s the number one thing?

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The Glory of God!

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1 Corinthians 10:31 NKJV
31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or
whatever you do, do all to the glory of
God.

July Memory Verse:
I John 1:7 NIV
“But if we walk in the light, as He is
in the light, we have fellowship with
one another, and the blood of
Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all
sin.”

RememberTo Pray ForThe
Committee On Committees
Kendall Smith, Chairman
Beth Aldridge, David Gibbs,
Sherye Green, Mike Lowe,
Chris Maddux, Jim Merritt, Jr.,
Elizabeth Rich, EddyWaller

Men's Stories
EveryTuesday, 11:30 AM - 12:50 PM
All men are invited to a great lunch
and devotion
Hosted by HalWarren -
First Baptist Jackson's Missions and
Evangelism Pastor.

Fellowship Hall East
11:15 a.m. - Lunch Line Begins
12:15 p.m. - Program Begins
12:50 p.m. - Dismiss
Regular Line: $7.50
Senior Adult: $6.00
Lite Line: $5.50

AN AFTERNOON AT THE REZ
For young and median adults
and their families
PELAHATCHIE SHORE PARK
Saturday, August 8, 2015
4:00-6:00 p.m.

Hamburgers, hot dogs and
drinks provided.
$3.00 per person.
Bring a covered dish, lawn
chairs and blankets.

Entertainment:
The Brandon Opry Band
Children’s activities
Tickets on sale today at the
2nd floor kiosk

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French Camp Academy

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We have three challenges that the
Education
Department has
placed before
us in 2015:

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1.) Memorize the monthly memory
verses and
know each
month we
are hiding
God’sWord
in our heart.

January verse: Romans 10:9
February verse: Ephesians 2:8-9
March verse: Romans 3:23
April verse: I Peter 1:3
May verse: 2 Corinthians 9:7
June verse: Philippians 1:6

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2.) Share your faith with one person
each month and build a relationship
with them, so they will not only
become a disciple – but
a disciple maker
themselves.
Luke 19:11-27

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3). Ask Sunday School class members
to share how they have seen God at
work during the week.

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Migdal Eder
Tower of the Flock

Luke 2:11-12 NKJV
11 For there is born to you this day in
the city of David a Savior,Who is
Christ the Lord. 12And this will be the
sign to you:You will find a Babe
wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in
a manger.”

Genesis 35:19-21 NKJV
19 So Rachel died and was buried on the way
to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem – House of
God). 20 And Jacob set a pillar on her grave,
which is the pillar of Rachel’s grave to this
day.
21Then Israel journeyed and pitched his tent
beyond the tower of Eder.

Scholars interpret Micah 4:8 as a
prophesy indicating that the Messiah
would be revealed from the "tower of
the flock" (Migdal Eder) which is
connected with the town of
Bethlehem, southeast of Jerusalem.

Micah 4:8 NLKV
8 And you, O Migdal Eder (tower of the
flock), the stronghold of the daughter
of Zion, to you shall it come, even the
former dominion shall come, the
kingdom of the daughter of
Jerusalem.

Mishnaic sources (Jewish sacred
writings) indicate that animals
"found" (that were kept) in the fields
within 5 miles of theTemple, were
subject to being used as sacrificial
animals.

The male sheep (Jesus) was a ‘burnt’
(sin) offering and the female was for a
‘peace’ offering and at birth they were
wrapped in swaddling cloths to keep
the new lambs without spot or
blemish, then they would be laid in a
manger until they had calmed down.

The ‘special shepherds’ keeping watch
over the temple sacrifices were the
ones to whom God announced,
through His angel, the birth of the
ultimate “sacrificial Lamb.”

These priestly shepherds knew the
‘swaddling’ procedure and, when told
it would be a sign, they recalled Micah
4:8 and, with haste (Luke 2:16) ran to
see the newborn Jesus, the Son of
God.

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There was no need for the angel to give these
shepherds directions to the birth place because
they already knew.

They who raised the sacrificial lambs
for theTemple, knew exactly where to
go, as Luke 2 indicates, for the sign of
a manger could only mean a manger
at the tower of the flock in their fields.

When the father of a household
presented a lamb to the priest to be
examined, he had tied the family
name around the head of the
potential sacrificial lamb so that the
meat could be returned to him to be
used during their Passover meal.

Once the fatty portions of the lamb
intended for the altar were taken out
and offered by the priest on the altar,
the sacrifice was complete.
• The victim was now ready for
roasting so each man present
carried his lamb home.

The lamb was roasted at home on a
spit of pomegranate-wood.
No bones were broken neither during
the cooking nor during the eating.

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John 19:19-22 NKJV
19 Now Pilate wrote a title and put it
on the cross. And the writing was:
JESUS OF NAZARETH,
THE KING OFTHE JEWS.

20Then many of the Jews read this
title, for the place where Jesus was
crucified was near the city; and it was
written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin.

21Therefore the chief priests of the
Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write,
‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘He said,
“I am the King of the Jews.”’”
22 Pilate answered, “What I have
written, I have written.”

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YHWH

TYPOLOGY IN SCRIPTURE
• wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying
in a manger
• unblemished, spotless, without sin
• Passover sacrifices must be born
within 5 miles of Jerusalem
• male sheep a ‘sin’ offering

• male lambs born to die as an
offering for the sins of the people
• Jesus, the Lamb of God, born to die
for the sins of the whole world
• the family name tied around the
head of the sacrificial lamb
• YHWH around the head ofThe Lamb

• a flock, God’s people are but a
remnant, a small number in
comparison with the many that are
left to perish;
• they are the remnant of Jacob, a
people in covenant with God, and
in His favor

Compiled from Jack Kelley’s
www.gracethrufaith.com and notes
from a lecture on “Migdal Eder” by
Dr. Mark Bailey, DTS, President.

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Revelation 2 and 3
Let Them Hear
July 26, 2015

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WarrenWiersbe

Bible Exposition Commentary (BE
Series) - NewTestament -The Bible
Exposition Commentary – New
Testament,Volume 2.

Revelation is one of the most exciting
and action packed books of all
Scripture.
In just 404 verses of the 22 chapters,
the history and future of the church is
told and foretold.

To truly understand Revelation you
need a revelation.
This book, the last of the New
Testament - promises a blessing to its
readers - those who: read, hear and
keep it!

In Revelation 1:19 Jesus told John to
"write the things which thou hast seen
( chapter 1), and the things which are
(chapter 2 & 3 the seven churches
"which are in Asia), and the things
which shall be hereafter (chapters 4-
22)."

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Exhortation
An utterance conveying urgent advice
or recommendations.

Revelation 2:7 Ephesus
Revelation 2:11 Smyrna
Revelation 2:17 Pergamos
Revelation 2:26-29 Thyatira
Revelation 3:5-6 Sardis
Revelation 3:12-13 Philadelphia
Revelation 3:21-22 Laodicea

Revelation 2:7 NKJV Ephesus
7 “He who has an ear, let him hear
what the Spirit says to the churches.
To him who overcomes I will give to
eat from the tree of life, which is in
the midst of the Paradise of God.”

Revelation 2:11 NKJV Smyrna
He who overcomes shall not be hurt
by the second death.”

Revelation 2:17 NKJV Pergamos
17 “He who has an ear, let him hear what
the Spirit says to the churches.To him who
overcomes I will give some of the hidden
manna to eat. And I will give him a white
stone, and on the stone a new name
written which no one knows except him
who receives it.”

Revelation 2:26-29 NKJV Thyatira
26 And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until
the end, to him I will give power over the nations—
27 ‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron;
They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s
vessels’—
as I also have received from My Father; 28 and I will
give him the morning star.

29 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the
Spirit says to the churches.”
Revelation 2:26-29 NKJV

Revelation 3:5-6 NKJV Sardis
5 He who overcomes shall be clothed
in white garments, and I will not blot
out his name from the Book of Life;
but I will confess his name before My
Father and before His angels.

what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Revelation 3:12-13 NKJV Philadelphia
12 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 and the name of the city
of My God, the New Jerusalem, which
comes down out of heaven from My God.
And I will write on him My new name.

Revelation 3:21-22 NKJV Laodicea
21To him who overcomes I will grant to sit
with Me on My throne, as I also overcame
and sat down with My Father on His
throne.
the Spirit says to the churches.”

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In these seven messages, the
"overcomers" are not a "spiritual
elite," but rather the true believers
whose faith has given them victory
(1 John 5:4-5).

1 John 5:4-5 NKJV
4 For whatever is born of God
overcomes the world. And this is the
victory that has overcome the world—
our faith. 5Who is he who overcomes
the world, but he who believes that
Jesus is the Son of God?

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Revelation 2:7 NKJV
To him who overcomes I will give to
eat from the tree of life, which is in
the midst of the Paradise of God.”

It is shocking that this early church
had lost its "first love" for Christ
and it shows that it is possible for any
Christian to be distracted from his
devotion to the Lord by the cares of
the world.

The good news is that if a person, or
even a whole group of people in a
church, should lose their first love,
they can be restored by confessing
(Greek homologeo – to say the same)
and repenting.

The promise to overcomers of this
period is that they will eat of theTree
of Life which is said to now be in
Paradise.

Adam and Eve ate instead from the
forbidden fruit of theTree ofThe
Knowledge of Good and Evil, thus
rebelling against God and entering
into sin (Genesis 3).

Part of the result of this sin was to be
banished from the Garden of Eden so
that they would not eat of this tree
and live forever in their fallen state
(Genesis 3:22-24).
• Now that we are redeemed, we are
to eat from theTree of Life and live!

1 And he showed me a pure river of water of life,
clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of
God and of the Lamb. 2 In the middle of its
street, and on either side of the river, was the
tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree
yielding its fruit every month.The leaves of the
tree were for the healing of the nations.

3 And there shall be no more curse, but
the throne of God and of the Lamb
shall be in it, and His servants shall
serve Him.

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An overcomer has been delivered from
the fallen state,
and will be permitted to
partake of this fruit, thus
living forever as a
redeemed person.

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Revelation 2:11 NKJV
He who overcomes shall not be hurt
by the second death.”

No words of accusation are given to
the congregation in Smyrna!
However, the Lord did give them
solemn words of admonition as they
faced increased suffering: "Don't be
afraid!"

He assured them that He knew the
devil's plans and was in complete
control of the situation.
Remember:Things are not falling
apart, they are falling into place!

Smyrna's name is derived from
"myrrh," a valuable spice used in the
process of embalming.
Myrrh symbolizes death and yet is a
sweet fragrance.

This is an appropriate word picture for
the period of church history
characterized by martyrdom.
• This period lasted from 100 to
312AD and there were ten definable
periods of persecution of Christians
under ten of the Emperors of Rome.

There is no warning to this church,
since it was a church constantly purified
by the rigors of persecution.
• Only a strong, dedicated Christian
would be willing to die for Christ as a
hypocrite would quit the church long
before he would risk losing his life.

True believers would be faithful unto
death, and they would receive a
crown of life.
This is one of the special believers’
crowns mentioned in the Bible.

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Faithful believers will be able to lay
these at the feet of Christ in the future
to prove their
love for Him
Revelation 4:10.

10 the twenty-four elders fall down
before HimWho sits on the throne
and worship HimWho lives forever
and ever, and cast their crowns before
the throne, saying:

11 “You are worthy, O Lord,
To receive glory and honor and
power;
ForYou created all things,
And byYour will they exist and
were created.”

JesusTeaches the Fear of God
Luke 12:2-5 NKJV
2 For there is nothing covered that will not be
revealed, nor hidden that will not be known.
3Therefore whatever you have spoken in the
dark will be heard in the light, and what you
have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be
proclaimed on the housetops.

4 “And I say to you, My friends, do not be
afraid of those who kill the body, and after
that have no more that they can do. 5 But I
will show youWhom you should fear: Fear
HimWho, after He has killed, has power to
cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!
Luke 12:2-5 NKJV

The promise to overcomers of this
period is that, though they might
need to die physically, they would not
be hurt by the "second death.“
• Spiritual death is seen in the
Scriptures as separation from God
(Genesis 3, Ephesians 2:1).

Because these from Smryna had trusted
Christ, they were overcomers, victors in
the race of faith (Hebrews 12:1-3)—and,
as overcomers, they had nothing to fear.
• Even if they were martyred, they
would be ushered into glory, wearing
crowns!

As end-time pressures increase,
persecution will also increase; and
God's people need to be ready (1 Peter
4:12ff).
The world may call us "poor Christians,"
but in God's sight we are rich!

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the Spirit says to the churches.To him who
overcomes I will give some of the hidden
manna to eat. And I will give him a white
stone, and on the stone a new name
written which no one knows except him
who receives it.”

Pergamum, also known as Pergamos,
was steeped in pagan idolatry, serpent
worship, and Caesar worship.
• Pergamum means “thoroughly
married” and it represents the period
of church history when the church
became married to the world.

Constantine, the Emperor of the
Roman Empire probably meant well
when he issued a decree that all his
subjects should become Christians,
but it actually did much damage to
the church.

The majority of people became
Christian in name only, bringing their
pagan practices and lifestyles into a
compromised church.

The warning to this church is about
those who allowed the teaching of
Balaam.
• This refers to a fascinating story from
the book of Numbers where the
prophet Balaam was hired by Balak,
king of the Moabites, to curse Israel.

He tried repeatedly, but God would
not allow him to utter a curse against
His people, however, he advised Balak
to involve the Israelites in worldliness
and immorality (Numbers31:16).
• Thus Israel could be corrupted from
within.

This, of course, is exactly what
happened to the church during this
period of time.
They were corrupted by worldliness.

Overcomers are promised hidden manna
and a white stone with a new name
written upon it.
• The hidden manna (Bread from
Heaven) represented the truth of
Scripture which was in the process of
being hidden by the worldly church.

Instead of eating "things sacrificed to
idols" (Revelation 2:14), the believers
in Pergamos needed to feast on God's
holy food, the bread of life found in
Jesus Christ through theWord
(Matthew 4:4; John 6:32ff).

The white stone is a symbol taken
from the ancient custom of giving a
black stone to one judged guilty, and
a white stone to one who is acquitted.
It was also used like a "ticket" to gain
admission to a feast.

Both would certainly apply to the
believer in a spiritual sense: he has
been declared righteous through faith
in Christ, and he feasts with Christ
today (Revelation 3:20) and will feast
with Him in glory (Revelation 19:6-9).

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25 But hold fast what you have till I come. 26 And he
who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end,
to him I will give power over the nations—
27 ‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron;
They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s
vessels’—
as I also have received from My Father;

28 and I will give him the morning star.

The promise to overcomers is to give
authority over the nations and this
stands in contrast to the deep secrets
of Satan which may be a reference to
the unholy alliance between the
church and various governments.

The overcomer will also receive the
Morning Star.
Jesus calls Himself the Bright and
Morning star in Revelation 22:16.

The Lord had no special demands to
make; He simply wanted them to hold
fast in their resistance to evil.
"Till I come" refers to Christ's return for
His people, at which time He will reward
them for their faithfulness (see Rev. 3:3;
16:15; 22:7, 17, 20).

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This is the first mention in Revelation
of the Lord's coming for the church,
the event we commonly call the
Rapture (1Thessalonians 4:13-18).

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In contrast, the reference in Rev 1:7 is
to Christ's return to earth in judgment
(His second coming),
to defeat His
enemies and
establish His
kingdom (Rev 19:11).

The believers inThyatira are promised
authority over the nations, which
probably refers to the fact that God's
people will live and reign with Christ
(see Revelation 20:4).

When the Lord sets up His kingdom on
earth, it will be a righteous kingdom with
perfect justice.
He will rule with a rod of iron (Psalm 2:8-9).
Rebellious men will be like clay pots, easily
broken to pieces!

Jesus Christ is "the Bright and
Morning Star" (Revelation 22:16).
The promise in Revelation 2:28
suggests that God's people shall be so
closely identified with Christ that He
will "belong" to them!

As you review these first four
messages to the churches, you can
see the dangers that still exist for the
people of God.
• Like Ephesus, we can be zealous
and orthodox, but at the same time
lose our devotion to Christ.

• Or, likeThyatira, our love can be
increasing yet lacking in the kind of
discernment that is necessary to keep
the church pure (see Phil. 1:9-11).
• Like Pergamos andThyatira, we may
be so tolerant of evil that we grieve
the Lord and invite His judgment.
Revelation 2:26-29

• Would we have selected Smyrna as
the most spiritual church of the four?
Probably not, yet the Lord did!
• We need to remind ourselves not to
judge God's people by wrong
standards, because only the Lord can
see the heart (see 1 Corinthians 4:5).

God's exhortation to these churches
(except Smyrna) is: "Repent! Change
your minds!"
• It is not only lost sinners who need
to repent, but also disobedient
Christians.

If we do not repent and deal with sin
in our lives and in our assemblies, the
Lord may judge us and remove our
lampstand (Revelation 2:5).
• How tragic it is when a local church
gradually abandons the faith and
loses its witness for Christ!

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5 He who overcomes shall be clothed in white
garments, and I will not blot out his name from
the Book of Life; but I will confess his name
before My Father and before His angels.
6 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the
Spirit says to the churches.”

The overcomer will be given white
garments and his name will not be
blotted out of the Book of Life.
• It seems that each person's name is
already in the Book of Life, but
those who are not true believers
will have their names blotted out.

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This book is also mentioned in
Revelation 20:12
where those not
found in it are cast
into the Lake of Fire.

The promise in Revelation 3:5
("clothed in white raiment") would
have been especially meaningful to
people who lived in a city where
woolen garments were manufactured.

And the statement about the names
being blotted out would also be
significant to people in the Roman
Empire, where citizenship was vitally
important (see Acts 22:24-30).

It would appear that God's "Book of
Life" contains the names of all the
living, the wicked as well as the
righteous (Psalm 69:28).

Revelation 13:8 and 17:8 suggest that
the names of the saved are written in
the book from the foundation of the
world—that is, before they had done
anything good or bad (Ephesians 1:4;
see also Matthew 25:34).
.

Jesus told His disciples to rejoice
because their names were "written in
Heaven" (Luke 10:20), the Greek verb
is in the perfect tense, which means it
can be translated "your names have
been written in Heaven and are on
permanent record up there."

We are enrolled in heaven because we
have been born again (Hebrews
12:23), and no matter how
disobedient a child may be, he or she
cannot be "unborn."

As unbelievers die, their names are
removed from the book; thus, at the
final judgment, the book contains
only the names of believers
(Revelation 20:12-15).

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It then becomes "the Lamb's Book of
Life" (Revelation 21:27), because only
those saved by the
Lord Jesus Christ
have their names
in it.

All the others have been blotted out,
something God would never do for
any true child of God (see Exodus
32:32; Romans 9:3).
It is a book of life, and lost sinners are
dead (Ephesians 2:1).

The warning here is that we not grow
comfortable in our churches, lest we
find ourselves slowly dying.
• The encouragement is that no
church is beyond hope as long as
there is a remnant in it, willing to
strengthen the things that remain.

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12 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
and the name of the city of My God, the New
Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven
from My God. And I will write on him My new
name.

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Philadelphia is the missionary church.
It began in the mid 1700's with the
great revivals and the modern
missions movement and it gradually
lost its power during the early years of
the1900's.
• Philadelphia means brotherly love.

It is this love that causes the desire to
evangelize others (Romans 5:5).
Jesus is seen as having the keys of
David, He was of the line of David,
and thus eligible for the throne of
Israel.

The key is for opening the door of
opportunity for missions.
No one can close what He has
opened.
No one can open what He has closed.

There is no warning to this church, but
many promises including these:
"I am coming soon.", and a promise to
keep them from the hour of trial that
is coming on the world.

These are definite allusions to the
Rapture and to its timing before the
trials ofTheTribulation.
There is also a warning not to let
anyone take their crown.

This refers to one of the believers’
crowns: possibly the crown of life
which was promised to the
overcomers of the Smyrna church
above.

To the overcomers of this period there
is a promise of a new name and
permanent residence in the New
Jerusalem.

The Saviour gave three wonderful and
encouraging promises to this church.
First, He would take care of their
enemies (Revelation 3:9).
• One day, these people would have to
acknowledge that the Christians were
right! (see Isaiah 60:14; Phil. 2:10-11)

If we take care of God's work, He will
take care of our battles.
Second, He would keep them from
Tribulation (Revelation 3:10).

This is surely a reference to the time
ofTribulation that John described in
Revelation 6-19, "the time of Jacob's
trouble."

This is not speaking about some local
trial, because it involves "them that
dwell on the earth" (see Rev. 6:10;
8:13; 11:10; 12:12; 13:8, 12, 14; 14:6;
17:2, 8).

The immediate reference would be to
the official Roman persecutions that
would come, but the ultimate
reference is to theTribulation that will
encompass the earth before Jesus
Christ returns to establish His
kingdom.

In many Bible scholars'
understanding, Revelation 3:10 is a
promise that the church will not go
through theTribulation, but will be
taken to Heaven before it begins (see
1Thessalonians 4:13-5:11).

The admonition, "Behold, I come
quickly," would strengthen this view.
The third promise to the
Philadelphians is that God would
honor them (Revelation 3:12).

The symbolism in this verse would be
especially meaningful to people who
lived in constant danger of
earthquakes: the stability of the pillar,
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,
because there is no temple in the
heavenly city (Revelation 21:22).

His pillars are faithful people who bear
His name for His glory (Galatians 2:9).
In a very real sense, the church today
is like the Philadelphian church, for
God has set before us many open
doors of opportunity.

If He opens the doors, we must work;
if He shuts the doors, we must wait.
Above all, we must be faithful to Him
and see the opPORTunities, not the
obstacles.

If we miss our opportunities it means
being ashamed before Him when He
comes (1 John 2:28).

http://www.backgroundchecksforchurches.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/laodicea-image.jpg

21To him who overcomes I will grant to sit
with Me on My throne, as I also overcame
and sat down with My Father on His
throne.
the Spirit says to the churches.”

The Laodicean church is the last
church of the seven, and stands for
the last of the church periods.
The name Laodicea means "rule of
the people."

It is a picture of a church controlled by
the people instead of being controlled
by God.
It is the church of the Apostasy, or the
great "falling away" of believers.

Jesus reveals Himself as Ruler of all
creation, and as the Faithful andTrue
One in contrast to the unfaithfulness of
the Laodiceans.
• He says they are neither spiritually
hot nor cold, but lukewarm, and that
He will spit them out of His mouth.

This is shocking news to a people who
have a very good feeling about
themselves.
They say they are rich, but they are
poor and wretched and blind.

If they were spiritually "hot" they
would be like the flaming evangelists
of the Philadelphia church.
If they were "cold" perhaps they
would recognize their spiritual plight.

But they are active in their church
work, doing what they want instead
of what God wants.
They are like those about whom Jesus
warned—they call Him Lord, but He
never knew them (Matthew 7:21-23).

Jesus counsels them to buy gold, symbolic of faith
(1 Peter 1:7),white garments, which are like the
linen of imputed righteousness with which the
Bride of Christ is dressed (Revelation 19:7-8),and
eye salve, showing dependence on God's spiritual
healing for their blinded eyes.
• To this church Jesus says He is standing outside
the door, knocking and if they will open the
door, He will come in (Revelation 3:20).

This is a church full of unsaved people.
Since it comes at the end of the
church age, it is easy to see that there
will still be many who call themselves
Christians left behind when the
Rapture takes place.

Still, there are overcomers even from this
church.
Those who will open the door to Christ will be
overcomers and to them, Jesus will grant the
right to sit with Him on His throne.
This is undoubtedly a reference to the future
privilege of believers to reign with Christ.

Many Bible commentators note that
the Seven Churches are
representative of various
congregations that can be found on
the earth at any one time during the
entire 2000 year history of the church.

These distinctively different
congregations each has strengths and
weaknesses, and each has a core of
faithful believers within them—
designated by the word
"overcomers."

Also, each of the Seven Churches has
enjoyed its season of prominence as
the dominant church during a given
period of time.

Most scholars who hold to this view
believe we are now moving, or have
already moved, out of the
Philadelphian age into the final stage
of church history before the Rapture,
that of Laodicea.

The Lord closed this letter with three
special statements.
First, an explanation: "As many as I
love, I rebuke and chasten"
(Revelation 3:19a).

He still loves these lukewarm saints,
even though their love for Him has
grown cold.
He planns to chasten them as proof of
His love (Proverbs 3:11-12; Hebrews
12:5-6).

God permits churches to go through
times of trial so that they might
become what He wants them to
become.

Second, an exhortation: "Be zealous
therefore, and repent" (Revelation
3:19b).
The church at Laodicea had to repent
of their pride and humble themselves
before the Lord.

They had to "stir up that inner fire"
(2Timothy 1:6) and cultivate a
burning heart.

Finally, an invitation (Rev. 3:20-22).
We often use these verses to lead lost
people to Christ, but the basic
application is to the believer.
The Lord was outside the Laodicean
church!

He spoke to the individual—"if any
man"—and not to the whole
congregation.
He appealed to a small remnant in
Sardis (Revelation 3:4-5), and now He
appeals to the individual.

God can do great things in a church,
even through one dedicated
individual.
Christ was not impatient:
"I have taken My stand" is the sense of
the verb.

He "knocks" through circumstances
and He calls through HisWord.
For what is He appealing?
Fellowship and communion, the
people's desire to abide in Him.

The Laodiceans were an independent
church that had need of nothing, but
they were not abiding in Christ nor
drawing their power from Him.
• They had a "successful program"
but it was not fruit that comes from
abiding in Christ (John 15:1-8).

Note that when we invite Him in, the
supper room becomes a throne room!
It is through communion with Christ
that we find victory and become
overcomers indeed!

The letters to the seven churches are
God's X-rays, given to us so that we
might examine our own lives and
ministries.
• Judgment is going to come to this
world, but it first begins at God's
house (1 Peter 4:17).

In these letters we find
encouragement as well as rebuke.
May the Lord help us to hear what the
Spirit is saying today to the church,
and to the individuals in the churches!

The Plan of Hope & Salvation
John 3:16 NKJV
16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only
begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should
not perish but have everlasting life.”
John 14:6 NKJV
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the
life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

Romans 3:23 NKJV
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 6:23a NKJV
23a For the wages of sin is death,
• Death in this life (the first death) is 100%.
• Even Jesus, the only one who doesn’t deserve death, died
in this life to pay the penalty for our sins.
• The death referred to in Romans 6:23a is the second
death explained in Revelation 21:8.

8 “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable,
murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and
all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns
with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
Romans 6:23b NKJV
23b but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our
Lord.

Romans 5:8 NKJV
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in
that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
7 “He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will
be his God and he shall be My son.”
•Romans 10:9-10 explains to us how to accept Jesus
as our Savior.

Romans 10:9-10 NKJV
9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus
and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from
the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one
believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth
confession is made unto salvation.
Romans 10:13 NKJV
13 For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be
saved.”

If you have questions or would like to know more,
Please, contact First Baptist Church Jackson at
601-949-1900 or
http://firstbaptistjackson.org/contact/

07 July 26, 2015, Revelation 2 and 3, Let Them Hear

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