LETTER TO THYATIRA
Reference (Rev. 2:18-29)
Introduction:
Thyatira means perpetual sacrifice or continual offering. It was a city that had obtained great wealth and was the major business/commercial road between Pergamus and Sardis. It was located in the northern part of Lydia on the river Lycus. It was noted most as an important trade and manufacturing center. Specifically, Thyatira was known for its purple dye and dyed cloths. Remember in Acts 16:13-15 Lydia, who was converted under the Apostle Paul at Philippi, was from Thyatira and was a seller of "purple". It was a genuinely wealthy city. The pagan god that Thyatira worshiped was named Tyrimnos, but was also known as Apollo the Greek sun god. The dispensational time frame for the church in Thyatira was 606 AD to 1520 AD. It was called the pagan church or the corrupt church,. Historians call this period "The Dark Ages".
(V18) "And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saitheth the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet like fine brass;"
(V18) In this letter to the church of Thyatira the Son of God is described as having eyes like a flame of fire and feet comparable to brass. The eyes speak of penetrative vision, and the feet of brass speak of threatening judgment.
(V19) "I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first."
(V19) This church was prominent in many ways. It was not deficient in good works, such as love, service, faith, and persistent continuation. In reality, its good works augmented instead of diminishing.
(V20) Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols."
(V20) However I have a handful of things against thee, because you permit that woman Jezebel who calls herself a prophetess to teach and seduce my servants to commit fornication and to eat things sacrificed to idols.
(V21) "And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not."
(V21) Here it not only demonstrates God's great mercy, it also magnifies the length of the nail scarred hands and the unexplainable grace of God toward the sinner. I believe every person who dies and has lived long enough for their conscience to convict and register their sins has had at least one call from God to repent.
They may not have answered when the call came in, but many times on their death bed their feeble minds go searching back through the unprofitable years of long ago. Often times they try to remember when they went to Sunday School or church but their memory cannot find something that is not there. But like the man drowning in deep water and sliding over the slippery falls they will desperately grab onto a weed, a blade of grass, a rotten piece of wood or anything in a last ditch effort to extend life when it is ending.
(V22) "Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds."
(V22) Because Jezebel refused to repent, the Lord planned to give her a sick bed of tribulation instead of a bed of lust. Those who committed adultery with her will be thrown into a bed of great tribulation and death unless they forsook her and escaped from her deeds. Then all the churches would know that the Lord is watching and He rewards according to man's deeds.
(V23) "And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am He which searcheth the reins and hearts; and I will give unto every one of you according to your works."
(V23) In this verse God warns that He would strike dead the very ones that committed adultery and fornication with her (not young innocent children).
(V24) "But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden."
(V24) There was a faithful remnant in Thyatira that did not have this evil doctrine, which had not been initiated into the secret doctrines and rites of Jezebel, otherwise known as the depths of Satan. God promises that He will put no other burden of responsibility upon them.
(V25) "But that which ye have already hold fast till I come."
(V25) Here He tells them to hold fast to the truth until the coming of Christ.
(V26) "And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:"
(V26) To the overcomer (the true believer who steadfastly perserved the true works of Christianity) in this church, the reward would be to reign with Christ during the Millennium. He would have authority over the nations and would rule them with a rod of iron. All sin and rebellion would be punished promptly and severely. The Lord also promised the overcomer that He would give him the morning star. The Lord Jesus is the Bright and Morning Star (Rev. 22:16). Just as the morning star appears in the heavens before the sunrise, so Christ will appear to rapture His church to heaven before He appears as the Sun of Righteousness to reign over the earth (I Thess. 4:13-18; Mal 4:2). So the overcomer is promised a part in the rapture. He does not earn this by his works, but his works demonstrate the reality of his faith. Because he is genuinely converted he will be given the morning star.
(V27) "And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father."
(V27) And He shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels made of pottery they shall be shattered into fragments even as He received of His Father.
(V28) "And I will give him the morning star."
(V28) In Rev. 22:16 Jesus tells us that He is the root and offspring of David and the Bright and Morning Star.
(V29) "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."
(V29) The Holy Spirit gives His familiar call to all the churches.
Dear Reader,
We sincerely pray that these blogs continue to bless you. We have truly put our hearts and souls into them.
Are YOU Rapture Ready?
(V22)
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
SEVEN CHURCHES OF ASIA MINOR
Letter to Laodicea
(Revelation 3:14-22)
Introduction:
The name Laodicea either means the people ruling or the judgment of the people. Founded by Antiochus II of Syria in 250 B.C. He named the city after his wife, Laodice, who poisoned him later.
Located on the main route between Ephesus and Syria, the city was well-known as a commercial and financial center, a large manufacturing center, and medical schools. We have learned that the Apostle Paul struggled to help this unstable church (see Colossians 2:1). In Rev. 3:15-17 we learn that God seems to be nauseated with this lukewarm congregation and warns them that He will spew (spit) them out of His mouth. He would have been pleased with either cold or hot but their lukewarm condition He would not tolerate.
(V14) "And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;"
(V14) In this verse the Lord Jesus Christ speaks of Himself as the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God. As the Amen, He is the embodiment of faithfulness and truth, and the One who guarantees and fulfills the promise of God. Jesus is also the divine architect of God's creation both material and spiritual. This doesn't mean that Jesus was the first person to be created; He was never created. Instead it means that He was the creator and origin of all things, and He is pre-eminent over all creation (see John 3:3 and Colossians 1: 15-18)
(V15) "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor not: I would thou wert cold or hot."
(V15) Once again Jesus Christ tells the congregation at Laodicea that He knows all about them especially their works. The church of Laodicea was neither cold nor hot. It was nauseatingly lukewarm. His preference for them would have been the extreme one way or the other in their disinterest or passion, but that was not the condition here. It was lukewarm enough to deceive people into thinking that it was a faithful church of Jesus Christ, and so utterly unpleasant about sacred things to nauseate God Almighty. In addition, the church was recognized for being prideful, ignorant, self sufficient, and complacent.
(V16) "So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth."
(V16) Here the Lord reveals to them the stiff penalty for trying to deceive the people by making them think they were God's true church and hiding their hypocrisy by their works.
(V17) "Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked."
(V17) In this verse we must return to the Smyrna church, the second of the 7 churches, and show a comparison to the church in Laodicea, the seventh and last church. The second church thought they were poor, but the Lord told them they were rich. The seventh church thought they were rich, but the Lord told them they were poor.
(V18) "I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see."
(V18) Here the Lord counsels them to buy of Him gold tried in the fire that they may be rich (read the following scriptures: Zechariah 13:9; Job 23:10; Isaiah 13:12; I Peter 1:7); and white raiment, which represents the righteous deeds of the saints that thou mayest be clothed, that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve that thou mayest see.
(V19) "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous threfore, and repent."
(V19) Here the one that told them about their lukewarmness is now indicating to the Laodiceans that He loves them and offers a way out of their situation. That's the way our Lord works today. He first lines us out through the hearing of the word and causes us to realize that we are sinners. Then after we confess our sins, denounce our sins, and turn away from our sins the Holy Spirit gently puts the abundant life within our reach, and with loving arms He pulls us into God's eternal love.
(V20) "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if anyone hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me."
(V20) Now the multitudes are gone. The apostles are no longer there and we find Him alone on the outside of the church knocking on the door and offering to come in and have supper with anyone who would open the door, but nobody comes and the door is never opened. This truly is the condition of many churches today.
(V21) "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne."
(V21) The Lord gave the overcomers in the church the golden oportunity to sit with Him in His throne, even as He overcame and set down with His father in His throne.
(V22) "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."
(V22) In this last verse, the Holy Spirit gives His familiar call to all the churches to hear what He has to say to them.
Now that we have come through the things which John had seen, and the things which were at the time of the Apostle John, now we are going into the things which shall be hereafter the Laodicean Church Age. The next event on God's prophetic calendar is the Rapture of the church (Revelation 4:1; I Corinthians 15:51-55; I Thessalonians 4:13-18).
Dear Reader, It is our sincere prayer that you will be among the missing after the Rapture and if someone knocks on your door there will be no one to answer.
Are YOU Rapture Ready??
(Revelation 3:14-22)
Introduction:
The name Laodicea either means the people ruling or the judgment of the people. Founded by Antiochus II of Syria in 250 B.C. He named the city after his wife, Laodice, who poisoned him later.
Located on the main route between Ephesus and Syria, the city was well-known as a commercial and financial center, a large manufacturing center, and medical schools. We have learned that the Apostle Paul struggled to help this unstable church (see Colossians 2:1). In Rev. 3:15-17 we learn that God seems to be nauseated with this lukewarm congregation and warns them that He will spew (spit) them out of His mouth. He would have been pleased with either cold or hot but their lukewarm condition He would not tolerate.
(V14) "And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;"
(V14) In this verse the Lord Jesus Christ speaks of Himself as the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God. As the Amen, He is the embodiment of faithfulness and truth, and the One who guarantees and fulfills the promise of God. Jesus is also the divine architect of God's creation both material and spiritual. This doesn't mean that Jesus was the first person to be created; He was never created. Instead it means that He was the creator and origin of all things, and He is pre-eminent over all creation (see John 3:3 and Colossians 1: 15-18)
(V15) "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor not: I would thou wert cold or hot."
(V15) Once again Jesus Christ tells the congregation at Laodicea that He knows all about them especially their works. The church of Laodicea was neither cold nor hot. It was nauseatingly lukewarm. His preference for them would have been the extreme one way or the other in their disinterest or passion, but that was not the condition here. It was lukewarm enough to deceive people into thinking that it was a faithful church of Jesus Christ, and so utterly unpleasant about sacred things to nauseate God Almighty. In addition, the church was recognized for being prideful, ignorant, self sufficient, and complacent.
(V16) "So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth."
(V16) Here the Lord reveals to them the stiff penalty for trying to deceive the people by making them think they were God's true church and hiding their hypocrisy by their works.
(V17) "Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked."
(V17) In this verse we must return to the Smyrna church, the second of the 7 churches, and show a comparison to the church in Laodicea, the seventh and last church. The second church thought they were poor, but the Lord told them they were rich. The seventh church thought they were rich, but the Lord told them they were poor.
(V18) "I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see."
(V18) Here the Lord counsels them to buy of Him gold tried in the fire that they may be rich (read the following scriptures: Zechariah 13:9; Job 23:10; Isaiah 13:12; I Peter 1:7); and white raiment, which represents the righteous deeds of the saints that thou mayest be clothed, that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve that thou mayest see.
(V19) "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous threfore, and repent."
(V19) Here the one that told them about their lukewarmness is now indicating to the Laodiceans that He loves them and offers a way out of their situation. That's the way our Lord works today. He first lines us out through the hearing of the word and causes us to realize that we are sinners. Then after we confess our sins, denounce our sins, and turn away from our sins the Holy Spirit gently puts the abundant life within our reach, and with loving arms He pulls us into God's eternal love.
(V20) "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if anyone hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me."
(V20) Now the multitudes are gone. The apostles are no longer there and we find Him alone on the outside of the church knocking on the door and offering to come in and have supper with anyone who would open the door, but nobody comes and the door is never opened. This truly is the condition of many churches today.
(V21) "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne."
(V21) The Lord gave the overcomers in the church the golden oportunity to sit with Him in His throne, even as He overcame and set down with His father in His throne.
(V22) "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."
(V22) In this last verse, the Holy Spirit gives His familiar call to all the churches to hear what He has to say to them.
Now that we have come through the things which John had seen, and the things which were at the time of the Apostle John, now we are going into the things which shall be hereafter the Laodicean Church Age. The next event on God's prophetic calendar is the Rapture of the church (Revelation 4:1; I Corinthians 15:51-55; I Thessalonians 4:13-18).
Dear Reader, It is our sincere prayer that you will be among the missing after the Rapture and if someone knocks on your door there will be no one to answer.
Are YOU Rapture Ready??
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
SEVEN CHURCHES OF ASIA MINOR
Letter to Philadelphia (Rev. 3:7-13)
Introduction:
Located about 28 miles southeast from Sardis on the Cogamus River was the city of Philadelphia named after it's founder King Attalus Philedelphos II of Pergamum. The "city of brotherly love, or love for the brethern" was built out of affecdtion for his brother and predecessor Ecumenes II. This city was also known for its spreading of the Greek language and culture. Located on the major road between the east and the west, it was considered to be a wealthy trade center.
The epoch view of the letter to the church of Philadelphia is 1750 AD to 1900 AD. The church of Philadelphia called the "favored or loved church" received no reprimands from the Lord. This is the time period that launched the worldwide Missionary Movement. It was a time of restoration when they reclaimed the doctrines of "the Imminent Return of Christ, the Pre-Millennial Coming of Jesus to the Earth and the Rapture of His Bride." The Philadelphia church is a reversion to the churches in Ephesus and Smyrna of the first three centuries. Exactly as Sardis came out of Thyatira, so Philadelphia came out of Sardis.
There were two fundamentals that began the Missionary Movement: (1) They were responsible for the Bible being printed in the language of the people, and making it available to read. Prior to then the commonplace people were forbidden to read it. (2) When the glad tidings came forth from the anointed pages, the doctrine of the Imminent Return of Christ for His people (at the Rapture), the second coming of Christ, the Millennial Reign of of Christ, and all of the time of the end doctrines were regenerated. These cardinal teachings made great contributions in the first 300 years of the church. This evangelistically minded congregation had a mind to reach the whole world. While anticipating the Lord's return they were obediently preparing themselves to fulfill the great commission (Matthew 28: 19, 20).
(V7) "And to the angel of the Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth."
(V7) The Lord appears to the Philadelphian church as He who is Holy, He who is true, He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, who shuts and no one opens. In other words, He has adminisrative power and undisputable control: the open door that the Jewish synagogue and heathen cults had no power to shut if the God-given opportunity to preach Christ to everyone who has a listening ear. The key of David is an old testament allusion to the perfect sovereignty of God in opening doors and shutting mouths. (See Isaiah 22:22)
(V8) "I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name."
(V8) The Philadelphia assembly received only praise words from the Lord. There are six things that were worthy of commendation:
(1) He found faithfullness among the saints, (2) They had been zealous of good works, (3) Though humanly weak they had trusted the Lord, (4) They were able to perserve the truth by living it out in their lives, (5) They had not denied the name of Jesus Christ. Because of those positive things He found in the church, He would set before them an open door of opportunity that no one would be able to shut.
(V9) "Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee."
(V9) The self appointed Jews who had resentfully stood against them were humbled before this unsophisticated congregation. Those who were of the synagogue of Satan would be compelled to admit that the hated christians were really the chosen of God.
(V10) "Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth."
(V10) Since men could actually see the word of God lived out in the daily lives of the Philadelphian christians, the Lord told them that He would keep them from the hour of great tribulation that is to come upon all earth dwellers. In other words, He promised them that they would be exempt from the Tribulation Period described in Revelation chapters 6-19. It's worth noting here that they will be kept from the hour of trial, that means from the whole time period. In addition, they will be kept out of that period, not through it. "Those who dwell on the earth" is a technical term meaning those who make this earth their home, "Worldly men who have their lot in this life" (Psalm 17:14).
(V11) "Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take they crown."
(V11) As a reason for their steadfast endurance, the coming of Christ was always first and foremost in their spiritual thinking. They refused to let anyone rob them of their crown of victory when it is so near at hand.
(V12) "Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name."
(V12) Here we are told that the overcomer will be made a pillar in the inner sanctuary of God. There will be given 3 names to the overcomer: (1) the name of God, (2) the name of the new Jerusalem, that descends down from God out of heaven, (3) and the new name of the Lord Jesus. At that time He will be identified as pertaining to all three.
(V13) "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."
(V13) In this verse the Holy Spirit gives His familiar invitation to all that have listening ears to hear what He is saying to the churches.
Dear Reader, I hope you will be one of those who escapes that terrible hour of tribulation and temptation.
Are YOU Rapture Ready??
Introduction:
Located about 28 miles southeast from Sardis on the Cogamus River was the city of Philadelphia named after it's founder King Attalus Philedelphos II of Pergamum. The "city of brotherly love, or love for the brethern" was built out of affecdtion for his brother and predecessor Ecumenes II. This city was also known for its spreading of the Greek language and culture. Located on the major road between the east and the west, it was considered to be a wealthy trade center.
The epoch view of the letter to the church of Philadelphia is 1750 AD to 1900 AD. The church of Philadelphia called the "favored or loved church" received no reprimands from the Lord. This is the time period that launched the worldwide Missionary Movement. It was a time of restoration when they reclaimed the doctrines of "the Imminent Return of Christ, the Pre-Millennial Coming of Jesus to the Earth and the Rapture of His Bride." The Philadelphia church is a reversion to the churches in Ephesus and Smyrna of the first three centuries. Exactly as Sardis came out of Thyatira, so Philadelphia came out of Sardis.
There were two fundamentals that began the Missionary Movement: (1) They were responsible for the Bible being printed in the language of the people, and making it available to read. Prior to then the commonplace people were forbidden to read it. (2) When the glad tidings came forth from the anointed pages, the doctrine of the Imminent Return of Christ for His people (at the Rapture), the second coming of Christ, the Millennial Reign of of Christ, and all of the time of the end doctrines were regenerated. These cardinal teachings made great contributions in the first 300 years of the church. This evangelistically minded congregation had a mind to reach the whole world. While anticipating the Lord's return they were obediently preparing themselves to fulfill the great commission (Matthew 28: 19, 20).
(V7) "And to the angel of the Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth."
(V7) The Lord appears to the Philadelphian church as He who is Holy, He who is true, He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, who shuts and no one opens. In other words, He has adminisrative power and undisputable control: the open door that the Jewish synagogue and heathen cults had no power to shut if the God-given opportunity to preach Christ to everyone who has a listening ear. The key of David is an old testament allusion to the perfect sovereignty of God in opening doors and shutting mouths. (See Isaiah 22:22)
(V8) "I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name."
(V8) The Philadelphia assembly received only praise words from the Lord. There are six things that were worthy of commendation:
(1) He found faithfullness among the saints, (2) They had been zealous of good works, (3) Though humanly weak they had trusted the Lord, (4) They were able to perserve the truth by living it out in their lives, (5) They had not denied the name of Jesus Christ. Because of those positive things He found in the church, He would set before them an open door of opportunity that no one would be able to shut.
(V9) "Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee."
(V9) The self appointed Jews who had resentfully stood against them were humbled before this unsophisticated congregation. Those who were of the synagogue of Satan would be compelled to admit that the hated christians were really the chosen of God.
(V10) "Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth."
(V10) Since men could actually see the word of God lived out in the daily lives of the Philadelphian christians, the Lord told them that He would keep them from the hour of great tribulation that is to come upon all earth dwellers. In other words, He promised them that they would be exempt from the Tribulation Period described in Revelation chapters 6-19. It's worth noting here that they will be kept from the hour of trial, that means from the whole time period. In addition, they will be kept out of that period, not through it. "Those who dwell on the earth" is a technical term meaning those who make this earth their home, "Worldly men who have their lot in this life" (Psalm 17:14).
(V11) "Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take they crown."
(V11) As a reason for their steadfast endurance, the coming of Christ was always first and foremost in their spiritual thinking. They refused to let anyone rob them of their crown of victory when it is so near at hand.
(V12) "Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name."
(V12) Here we are told that the overcomer will be made a pillar in the inner sanctuary of God. There will be given 3 names to the overcomer: (1) the name of God, (2) the name of the new Jerusalem, that descends down from God out of heaven, (3) and the new name of the Lord Jesus. At that time He will be identified as pertaining to all three.
(V13) "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."
(V13) In this verse the Holy Spirit gives His familiar invitation to all that have listening ears to hear what He is saying to the churches.
Dear Reader, I hope you will be one of those who escapes that terrible hour of tribulation and temptation.
Are YOU Rapture Ready??
Sunday, March 4, 2012
SEVEN CHURCHES OF ASIA MINOR
Letter to Sardis (Revelation 3:1-6)
Sardis Information: Located in W. Central Asia Minor, Sardis was located about 100 miles from the Mediterranean Sea; approximately 30-35 miles southeast of Thyatira. It was positioned on the northern ridge of Mt. Tmolus, about 1500 feet over the Hermus (Pactolus) river. Before the first century it was an excessively rich city. Ancient history tell us that Sardis was the capital Lydia. Their riches were due to mining of gold and minting of money. Some Bible scholars tell us that there were sheer (flimsy) walls on three sides making the city practically invincible, providing its people with a feeling of safety and protection. Nevertheless the city was captured by surprise when Cyrus, King of Persia, brought the city down in about 549-546 BC. According to tradition a solider found a crack in the rocky hill and led a band of soldiers to the top. The city was caught napping again when approximately 330 years later Antiochus the Great seized the city in the same way.
(V1) "And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith He that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead."
(V1) Sardis means those escaping or renovation. Here the Lord reveals Himself as the One who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars. Through the power of the Holy Spirit God controls the churches and their messengers. Sardis was a church with a lifeless profession. The church was well known as a Christian congregation, but in all actuality it merely went through a powerless routine. Glistening spiritual life was not flowing through the assembly. It did not gleam from supernatural powers working among them. Now God calls the lifeless church to a new enthusiasm and a new endeavor to strengthen what they had left for Him.
(V2) "Be watchful, and strength the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God."
(V2) In the preceding verse God instructs the congregation to complete the works they had begun to reform the church.
(V3) "Remember therefore how thou has received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee."
(V3) Now He warns them to remember how they had received and heard, and to hold fast, and to repent. He sternly commands the church to keep a constant watch, for since He would come as a thief, they would not know the hour that He would come upon them. This should cause all false date setters to shake like King Belshazzar when he saw the fingers of a man's hand writing his doom on the plaster of the wall (see Daniel, chapter 5).
(V4) "Thou has a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy."
(V4) In verse 4 He finds a few names even in Sardis which held onto their Christian testimony. These Christians who had not profaned their clothes with worldliness would walk in white with Jesus Christ. Their white garments speak of the righteousness of their lives.
(V5) "He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels."
(V5) Verse 5 speaks about the overcomer and 1 John 5:4,5 tells us, "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." Then he asked a question, "Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?" Since they were evidently true Christians, their names would not be blotted out of the book of life. I would venture to say that in most Evangelical churches today, regardless of their size, you could find a few true believers that are still walking the old paths. Our Lord then adds the promise that He would confess the names of the overcomers before His Father and the angels of heaven."
(V6) "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."
(V6) Again the Holy Spirit calls men to hear this serious warning against having a religious profession without ever being born again. The Sardis congregation is frequently taken as a photograph of the post reformation period when the church became formal, ritualistic, and political. The European protestant churches and the American colonies were leaders in the drift.
Dear Reader, Are YOU Rapture Ready??
Sardis Information: Located in W. Central Asia Minor, Sardis was located about 100 miles from the Mediterranean Sea; approximately 30-35 miles southeast of Thyatira. It was positioned on the northern ridge of Mt. Tmolus, about 1500 feet over the Hermus (Pactolus) river. Before the first century it was an excessively rich city. Ancient history tell us that Sardis was the capital Lydia. Their riches were due to mining of gold and minting of money. Some Bible scholars tell us that there were sheer (flimsy) walls on three sides making the city practically invincible, providing its people with a feeling of safety and protection. Nevertheless the city was captured by surprise when Cyrus, King of Persia, brought the city down in about 549-546 BC. According to tradition a solider found a crack in the rocky hill and led a band of soldiers to the top. The city was caught napping again when approximately 330 years later Antiochus the Great seized the city in the same way.
(V1) "And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith He that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead."
(V1) Sardis means those escaping or renovation. Here the Lord reveals Himself as the One who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars. Through the power of the Holy Spirit God controls the churches and their messengers. Sardis was a church with a lifeless profession. The church was well known as a Christian congregation, but in all actuality it merely went through a powerless routine. Glistening spiritual life was not flowing through the assembly. It did not gleam from supernatural powers working among them. Now God calls the lifeless church to a new enthusiasm and a new endeavor to strengthen what they had left for Him.
(V2) "Be watchful, and strength the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God."
(V2) In the preceding verse God instructs the congregation to complete the works they had begun to reform the church.
(V3) "Remember therefore how thou has received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee."
(V3) Now He warns them to remember how they had received and heard, and to hold fast, and to repent. He sternly commands the church to keep a constant watch, for since He would come as a thief, they would not know the hour that He would come upon them. This should cause all false date setters to shake like King Belshazzar when he saw the fingers of a man's hand writing his doom on the plaster of the wall (see Daniel, chapter 5).
(V4) "Thou has a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy."
(V4) In verse 4 He finds a few names even in Sardis which held onto their Christian testimony. These Christians who had not profaned their clothes with worldliness would walk in white with Jesus Christ. Their white garments speak of the righteousness of their lives.
(V5) "He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels."
(V5) Verse 5 speaks about the overcomer and 1 John 5:4,5 tells us, "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." Then he asked a question, "Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?" Since they were evidently true Christians, their names would not be blotted out of the book of life. I would venture to say that in most Evangelical churches today, regardless of their size, you could find a few true believers that are still walking the old paths. Our Lord then adds the promise that He would confess the names of the overcomers before His Father and the angels of heaven."
(V6) "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."
(V6) Again the Holy Spirit calls men to hear this serious warning against having a religious profession without ever being born again. The Sardis congregation is frequently taken as a photograph of the post reformation period when the church became formal, ritualistic, and political. The European protestant churches and the American colonies were leaders in the drift.
Dear Reader, Are YOU Rapture Ready??
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