April 27, 2023
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Revelation? Here’s today’s reading:
Revelation 3 (NIV)
To the Church in Sardis
1 “To the angel of the church in Sardis write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.2 Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God............Continue Reading
The letters to the last three churches continue in the same way he addresses the others. God sees everything and knows our hearts. We can not think that we live a “good” life and He will not notice our intentions. He knows all of us just as He knew each heart in each of these churches, the ones that were right in His eyes and the ones who were not. He doesn’t look at RI and just see the overall tone and temperament He sees each of us and how we are living and what we are doing in our personal walk to bring Him glory. Always amazing to think He takes the time to think of me even when I am not always taking the time I should to be thinking of Him in everything I do.
I heard a pastor once who said that chapters 2 and 3 of Revelation were probably the most important chapters of the book. I presume he meant that most of the book are events that we can’t do much about other than to recognize the signs. However, presuming the accounts of the seven churches in the first century are representative of the churches of today, we have a guide of those things to eliminate if we want to remain faithful. Certainly idolatry, sexual immorality and false teachers are to avoided. And keeping his commands of love, humility and faithfulness are to be cherished.
Church of Sardis. Not uncommon to have zeal for the gospel. And you lose it as Jesus describes the reasons as the seed spread on soil. A few had kept their faith and their names were written in the book of life. Can your name be written in the book of life and then blotted out? CAN’T lose your salvation but can escape with flames at your heals. Church of Philadelphia: God praises them for their faith and enduring patiently. Keeping them from the hour of trial. Tribulation?? The New Jerusalem, the future dwelling of believers. Paradise. Laodicea: Some of the most sobering verses in scripture. I know your deeds that your neither hot or cold. Because of that I’m about to spit you out of my mouth Lukewarm. I would spit from my mouth. Rich city Jesus tells them but your gold from me. They produced a solution for eye problems. They needed medicine from Christ so they could see at all. Vs. 19. God disciplines to have attitude’s changed. Or. He knocks at the door of their hearts and enters if allowed. Choose the latter. What a picture of Jesus wanting to live inside us Not forcing himself but waiting for us to respond. Vs 21. Great ending to the letters to these churches. As they completely describe all pluses and minuses in all church past present and future. To him who overcomes I will give the right to sit with Jesus at the throne of God. Just as Jesus overcame !!!!!!
Mark thanks for your compliment and encouragement. I really appreciate your comments also. I do look forward to the comments each night of everyone but I don`t see them until the next night. But I do enjoy the interaction and wish that more people would join in. Now to chapter 3. There are three more churches mentioned in this chapter. There is a phrase here that is mentioned also in Revelation 1; 4c and Rev. 3; 1. The reference to the seven spirits of God. For these spirits are before the throne of God. We know that they are not the seven angels for in Rev. 3; 1 they are listed as different. [ he that hath the seven spirits of God , and the seven stars]. We were told earlier that the stars are angels. Who are the seven spirits/ The seven churches are on earth. But also were the seven candlesticks that Jesus was holding. We are not told who the seven spirits are. Addressing the church in Sardis [ Reformed church] Jesus says I know your works , that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. He has not found their work perfect before God. Awake and repent . Be ready for when I return. Be overcomers in this evil world. Then they will be clothed in white raiment and they won`t be blotted out of the book of life. The next church in Philadelphia He says Iknow 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. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience , I will keep thee from the hour of temptation [ trial in NIV] which shall come upon the earth. No man can take your crown. Is this a reference to the rapture of true believers/ We are still waiting for it. I believe the rapture is a different event then the second coming. 1 Thess 4 16–17. ——The trump of God and the dead in Christ shall rise first ; Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds , to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord. The church of Laodicea [ Apostate church] Jesus addresses as I know your works that you are lukewarm. He doesn`t like this. Living in plenty and comfort. No need of nothing. How this describes our world today. The church is complacent in our the world today. The church is comfortable with their own friends inside the church walls. We are the church. The church should wake up and get busy following the Lord`s commands. To make disciples of all nations. To lead people to Jesus and teach them so that may lead others to Jesus and then teach them. There are at least four things that we as Christians should be doing to grow in the Lord. We should be in the Word of God [ Bible] , Prayer, Fellowship with believers, and Witnessing [sharing our faith]. If we don`t study our Bible we should at least read it . I found that reading the Bible as a church is very good and helpful. I have read it most the days since I was saved but have found it better reading with my Christian brothers and sisters. I hope this encourages others. We all need to be praying for each other and get into fellowship as much as we can. And we should be telling others about Jesus. When we fail in a day thank God we can have a new start. Great is His faithfulness.
Revelation 3
As I mentioned not ascribing to a historical view for these instructions to the churches, it is not to say we can’t make some connections to the deteriorating tendencies that exist in any church as well as the church throughout history. But I don’t think it is the point of Jesus revealing this to John. That historical viewpoint is also very Western in nature. Does the pattern of these churches describe the church in Africa, the subcontinent of Asia or Southeast Asia? So if Jesus is revealing this for a historical description of the church, wouldn’t have to include them as well? But it does cause the church in any age or any geography to consider how they are matching up to the things that Jesus is both complimenting or correcting the church for, ie the things He values, provides and promises. But first and foremost, John is writing to the churches that he had some responsibility for and connection to. They were in the thick of it in terms of persecution and the lure and deception of the world…since many people who believed just came out of the world and needed to lay down their former life. It all sounds like what believers have faced throughout our history…and sometimes we do things well and sometimes we do things poorly. And we need both a hug and a smack upside the head from Jesus.
This pattern of the churches’ instruction starting with a description of Jesus and ending with a reward for overcoming continues in this chapter. A further connection is that the descriptions of Jesus all come from what is said about Him in chapter 1. And the seven spirits of God bears some explanation. The two primary thoughts is it points to the Holy Spirit or to primary angels that surround God’s throne. It is clear that the number seven is important in Jesus’ revelation to John. It is a number of completion or fullness and it is found all over the place in the book. There are 2 places where the number seven is connected to the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament. In Isaiah 11:2-3 there are seven qualities that the Spirit will bring to the promised One (Jesus). Then in Zechariah 4:2-6 a 7 point revelation of light is connected to the Spirt. Those who hold that they are angels need to contend with the fact that elect angels are rarely called spirits, and yet it is odd to the think of the one Holy Spirit presented in terms of seven. If it is the Holy Spirit, we have to understand that the Spirit is one and the identification with 7 is just pointing to His fullness and all the various things He offers us as He works in our lives. It is believed that those receiving this book understood what John meant and whatever is lost on us or is confusing is not important. The thought of this reinforcing the fullness of the person and ministry of the Holy Spirit is awesome. God’s throne being guarded by 7 primary angels is awesome too…yet highly unnecessary. I do lean to it being a description of the Holy Spirit because in the same context the angels are called…well, angels. Another point is to recognize that this being the Spirt or angels is consistent with the rest of the word. To make it anything else is most likely going outside the bounds of what Scripture allows. And remember, we always let the clear portions of Scripture help us understand the unclear ones.
And who is not struck with wake up! Don’t let the things that have been good and alive, die on the vine! Once again it is a word of keep sharp. Don’t be familiar. The truth is as true as it has always been. So whatever times you are most inspired go back to those times and make it continue. And this is very much associated to not being lukewarm. We must recognize the pacifying influence of wealth and self sufficiency, the tendency to go to God less when we do not need Him. We all recognize how trials and tragedy get us praying and reading more…seeking God where and when He may be found. And all of that is great, but should blessing and comfort cause us to do that less? Well does the truth change because our needs change? And does physical security say anything about our spiritual condition and how that part of us always needs to be built up and strengthened? And it really struck me in this reading…let him who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches. Well do we?
Jesus rebukes and disciplines those he loves. He wants us to be grounded in his truth, wisdom and understanding. He does not want us to be on the path that leads to destruction. And he points out what the church is doing that is in line with the ways of God. He wants us to know what he expects us to be doing while we are on this earth. And anyone who hears his voice and opens the door can fellowship with Jesus. He wants us to have a relationship with him and he makes it easy for us to do so. All we have to do is open the door and let him into our lives.
“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. 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 he with Me. 21 To 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.
Jesus still has the door open for this lukewarm church. He counsels them, rebukes and chastens them. He calls them to repent.
I am curious about overcoming, enduring to the end, etc.
I think I did a word study on overcomer, but I can’t find it now. I found this on enduring word:
In the book of Revelation, Jesus promised great reward to those who overcome. Overcomers are promised that they will eat from the Tree of Life (2:7), be unharmed by the second death (2:11), eat from hidden manna and be given a new name (2:17), have authority over the nations (2:26), be clothed in white garments (3:5), be made a permanent pillar in the house of God (3:12), and sit with Jesus on His throne (3:21). Jesus warned that holding fast to Him would not be easy, but it would be well worth it. In Mark 13:13 He says, “You will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved” (ESV). We have the guarantee of Jesus that, if we are His, we will be able to endure to the end and His rewards will make it all worthwhile.
Revelations 3
I think i combined 2 and 3 together. Really like what your take on it was Pastor.