LESSONS FROM HIS LETTERS (Part 6 - Philadelphia)

"To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:

These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.

I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches." (Revelation 3:7-13)

        The letter from Christ to the believers in Philadelphia is a correspondence that stands out among all the other letters. God is holy or set apart from all other beings and this letter seems to take on that characteristic especially with Jesus including the title of "holy" in the introduction of Himself - "These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David."

        God emphasizes these points of being holy and true by revealing He is the one "who holds the key of David", opens doors that no one can shut and shuts doors no one can open. In other words, He is the one with supreme authority and providence in all matters. 

        The phrase "who holds the key of David" refers to the authority Christ has over David's domain of Israel and Jerusalem, which was promised to the Messiah in Isaiah 9:7 and Luke 1:32. Today we view authority like this manifested by the presentation of a large key to a mayor or governor of a city or state.

        Christ's statement about Himself, "What He opens no one can shut and what He shuts no one can open." - portrays total control or sovereignty. Having the special key that distinguishes Him as the Anointed One and then stating His capability and finality on the opportunities He gives believers are descriptions Jesus does not want Christians to miss about Himself. Earlier in Scripture James mentions this theme - "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." (James 1:17)

        Here in this letter to the church in Philadelphia we find Christ acknowledging their deeds just as He has done in four other letters. The words Christ says immediately following - "I know your deeds." - implies the deeds were pleasing to Him because He rewards the Philadelphia church with - an open door opportunity, enemies confessing God's love for that church and saving from a terrible future time of testing on the earth.

"I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth."

        The specific praises Jesus gives these believers is mixed with the only negative in the whole letter, they "have little strength". Otherwise, Jesus commends them for keeping His word, not denying His name and enduring patiently. And some kind of open door of opportunity has been provided for this church because of who He is to them and how this church has served Christ - See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut.

        The promise of Jesus - "I am coming soon." - was followed by a challenge to "Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown." and a couple thousand additional years. However, all need to remember Psalm 90:4 and 2 Peter 3:9 - "A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by or like a watch in the night." (Psalm 90:4) and "The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9).

        Does the message of holding on sound familiar? It should. The previous letter to Thyatira included the challenge "to hold on to what you have until I come." Should the individual Christian, church and/or church era identify with this letter to Philadelphia by holding on to what you have, especially that which has been given from God, then the victorious are - 

• made a pillar in the temple of God
• have the name of God written on them
• have the name of New Jerusalem written on them
• have Christ's new name written on them.

        Philadelphia, known as the City of Brotherly Love, had a lot going in their favor according to this letter. Of all the letters written to the churches, I would have wanted this one. The only lack or weakness was Philadelphia's strength which was noticed one more time as the Lord challenged the believers to "Hold on to what you have,". Even moreso, their reward, not their salvation, could be at stake - "so that no one will take your crown." Holding on, especially like this, calls for strength, God's strength. This Christian, this church, this dispensation needs to focus on seeking God's strength. Remember His words - 

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." (John 15:5)

LESSONS FROM HIS LETTERS (Part 5 - Sardis)

        

        The church in Sardis reminds me of Sodom and Gomorrah. The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah had fatal flaws but God found two handfuls of people within worthy of saving from its demise.

"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. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.

Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches." (Revelation 3:1-6)

        Jesus declares, like He does with four other churches, "I know your deeds;". However, the deeds of this church are worse than lacking, in fact Jesus calls some of them "unfinished" while other deeds are completely "dead". Sardis is known for displaying a sense of productivity for the kingdom of God but the notoriety is a sham built on non follow-through by its members - "I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead." - "I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God." 

        With parts of this church dying and other sections dead, the challenge Jesus makes is quite obvious - wake up! But Christ does not stop there, Jesus adds - 

• strengthen what remains and is about to die
• remember what you have received and heard
• hold fast
• and repent.

        The cost of not being a believer or church that is awake and alert, repentant and holding fast to Christ's ways is not a judgment. The penalty is missing the knowledge and understanding concerning His return - "But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you."

        The victorious few who do capitalize on staying awake and alert will be rewarded with holy attire, just a little walk with Jesus, their name forever in The Book of Life and acknowledgement or recognition by Jesus before Father God and the angels.

        The thing that strikes me about this church is the false front it feels it has to show to operate. The reputation of being alive but actually being dead or dying in their deeds is a prime example of Christ's teaching through James of faith without the accompaniment of works/deeds (James 2:14-26) being dead. So, falsehood rears its ugly head as something the church is delivering and not dealing with. 

        Jesus states He personally gets involved again by returning and the members of this church did not know it was time for or the season of His return. To me this portrays a sense of embarrassment for the church in Sardis and any Christian like them. So be genuine in your faith while staying awake and alert to His return.

LESSONS FROM HIS LETTERS (Part 4 - Thyatira)

        

        Christ Jesus is portrayed as the personally involved Judge in this letter to the believers in Thyatira. The description of Jesus in the beginning of this letter depicts Him as the ultimate judge - "Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze." Not only is Jesus the perfect and righteous Judge in all matters but in this letter and the previous letter to Pergamum, Christ states personal involvement to show He does not tolerate falsehood in His church and He is the one who searches hearts and minds (Rev. 2:23).

"To the angel of the church in Thyatira write:

These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.

Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.

Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets, ‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’

To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations— that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery’—just as I have received authority from my Father. I will also give that one the morning star. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches." (Revelation 2:18-29)

        After introducing Himself as this awe-inspiring, glorious, decisive judge - Jesus acknowledges, like He does with four other churches, the "deeds" of the church in Thyatira. Christ observes this church is known for its deeds, love, faith service, perseverance and that they are doing more than they did at first.

        The issue is these believers tolerate a female false prophet named Jezebel. Jesus explains the wrongful teaching and the penalty for being connected with her and her teaching. Jesus reveals plainly that the teachings of Jezebel are "sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols". In addition, Jezebel is not only an instrument of Satan by way of being a false prophet but Jesus matches her to that of a solicitor of "Satan's deep secrets" - "to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan's so-called deep secrets,".

        Christ, in His great grace and mercy, even provides a chance for Jezebel to repent, showing His compassion and just nature for and to all. But this deceitful teacher does not change her ways and Jesus does not tolerate this virus in His body so He "cast her on a bed of suffering and makes those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent." Plus, Christ kills the children of Jezebel for this offense and any affiliated with her by deeds will be judged according to their deeds. As you can see, God declares Himself The Judge as well as the Executioner to these believers, this Jezebel, this falsehood and personally penalizes those akin to Jezebel.

        In the midst of rooting Jezebel and her teachings out of the church, era and individual, Jesus declares the challenge to the believers in Thyatira is "to hold on to what you have until I come." In other words, continue to follow the teachings and behavior I have taught you. The reward is "authority over the nations".

        So, a paraphrased synopsis of this letter might read something like this - 

I am the perfect and righteous judge. I know about the good you have done within the community. However, you tolerate someone and something I will not - a Satanic, female false prophet/teacher named Jezebel and her falsehood. Anybody associated with her and/or her teaching will suffer greatly and perhaps die from my hand.

Therefore, keep and treasure my ways until I come back for you. All those who are victorious or overcome in this manner will be rewarded by having authority over the nations. I will bestow upon you this power of judgement just as Father God has conferred it upon me. May the churches pay attention to what the Holy Spirit is saying to them.

LESSONS FROM HIS LETTERS (Part 3 - Pergamum)

"To the angel of the church in Pergamum write:

These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives.

Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality. Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it." (Revelation 2:12-17)

        Wow! Talk about a challenging place to live. Jesus mentions twice to the believers in the city of Pergamum that this is not the best choice of cities to live in - "I know where you live - where Satan has his throne." and "...Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city -- where Satan lives." (Revelation 2:13)

        However, even in this kind of environment, Jesus gives praise to the believers for remaining faithful to His Name - "Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me,". The issue He has with this church is that they have allowed false teachings, Balaam's and the Nicoliatan's, to pollute their minds and doctrine. To me, the problem comes as no surprise given the proximity to the enemy's lair.

        The challenge therefore was "Repent." Change your thinking and ways to Christ-like thinking and behavior. However, there was something extra Jesus added. If the believers did not heed Christ's instructions, He would personally visit and take care of this matter with a piercing word from His mouth - "Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth." Christ introduced Himself as one with this capability in the beginning of this letter - "These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword."

        The rewards for keeping in alignment with the Word of God and acting accordingly, especially in this city, "where Satan has his throne", are "some of the hidden manna" is granted to believers for consumption and "a white stone with a new name written on it" is bestowed. Because these believers are personally invested within a hostile environment, God also displays He is a very personal God with His encouragement, challenge and rewards to these believers. Even in the enemy's camp or during an evil era of history God takes care of His own.

LESSONS FROM HIS LETTERS (Part 2 - Smyrna)

        

        Christ dictated a letter to John for the believers in Smyrna, here is what Jesus said,

"To the angel of the church in Smyrna write:  These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death." (Revelation 2:8-11)

        In this study of the second letter to the churches, Christ says Smyrna is infested with falsehood. "I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not,". In fact, Christ goes as far as to state those individuals belong to the "synagogue of Satan".

        Because of this deceitful environment and the people that have infiltrated the church, a test of suffering and persecution is applied for ten days. However, Jesus challenges the true believers to "not be afraid" and "be faithful, even to the point of death" and you will be rewarded greatly.

        The reward for enduring this testing, this suffering, this persecution will be "life as your victor's crown" and not being "hurt at all by the second death". Life as your victor's crown could mean continual living at that point as well as a special recognition at the Bema Seat Judgment in Heaven. The second death that the victorious avoid is eternal separation from God in the Lake of Fire.

        To me this letter to the church in Smyrna speaks to difficult times this church, the individual believer and a specific church era will experience. Because of the falsehood within the community and especially the church, these believers are placed under at least a ten-day stretch of suffering and persecution while in prison. The believers are given a challenge to endure with faithfulness but promised a handsome reward. Jesus says that "the devil will put some of you in prison", not all of you in prison.  So, those who are not in prison are best to avoid these false, slandering Jews from the "synagogue of Satan" and find out how to properly use the riches Christ says they own.  

LESSONS FROM HIS LETTERS (Part 1 - Ephesus)

        

        Lessons are only valued if they are learned. I have heard it said many times that a mindset you need to succeed in life is one that can receive constructive criticism. However, Pastor Jimmy Evans has a different slant to this and challenges me to change my wording and view.

"The difference between complaining and criticizing is the focus. Complaining focuses on me and criticizing focuses on my spouse. When I am complaining I say something like this:  'Karen, you said something to me this morning that bothered me and I would like to talk to you about it. I'm sure you didn't mean anything by it, but I would just like to tell you how I am feeling and talk it through.' That is a complaint. It doesn't attack or judge my spouse. It just tells them how I'm feeling and gives us an opportunity to clear the air in a positive environment. 

But here is what criticism sounds like:  'Karen, this morning you said something to me and it really hurt me. And I know why you said it. You said it to pay me back for what I said to  you yesterday. That is just how you are. You are so spiteful and mean. I resent how you treat me and I'm not going to take it anymore'. The focus on those comments aren't on me and how I'm feeling. The focus of criticism is on the other person." (p.175, The Four Laws of Love, Jimmy Evans)

        Christ is the groom and believers in Christ are His bride. The seven letters to the seven churches in Revelation are Christ's constructive complaining, if you will. However, when those who deem themselves Christians heed Christ's constructive instructions they are promised to reap the rewards of an "overcomer" or those who are "victorious". 

        With these letters to the churches, Jesus provides an outline to follow. First Christ declares one or more of His many titles in which that church personally knows about in some way. Second, He mentions the church's successes. Third, Jesus addresses the faults with the church. Fourth, Christ provides the solution. Fifth, He grants rewards for following through on learning the lesson and applying the solution.

        Another aspect to keep in mind when reading these letters is that the content was not only meant for those local churches at that time. Prophetic scholars have taught that God's identifying names, the issues He presents, solutions He provides and rewards He administers in these letters were not only applicable for then but for the individual and dispensations or eras the church has seen throughout history.

Revelation 2:1-7 states,

"To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:

These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.

Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God."

        The first believers written to were the congregation in Ephesus. Christ introduces Himself as the one who preserves the spiritual leaders or "stars" of the churches He is addressing and the one who dwells in their midst - These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. 

        The Lord begins instructing this church with a phrase He would continue using with four other churches in this seven-letter outreach - "I know your deeds,...". After this phrase, Jesus seems to begin at the 35,000 foot level for the Ephesian church and describe for them the good He sees in this body of believers - I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance.

        After the deeds, hard work and perseverance are covered, Christ narrows the praise further by saying, I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. As we continue to read in the letters to come, we will find falsehood is a common problem in the church.

        In His last commendation, Jesus uses words like "persevered", "endured" and "not grown weary" to convey service which is respected - You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.

        However, the issue these people face is the forsaking of their first-love, which equates to simply being with God - Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. A more descriptive telling of their plight is that they had to re-learn what I call The Mary/Martha Lesson (Luke 10:38-42). Like Martha, though they performed many deeds, worked hard, persevered, did not tolerate wicked people and so forth - the Ephesian church was more wrapped up in their works or deeds than the relationship with Christ that began it all.

        Christ's solution was two fold, first acknowledge you have a problem - Consider how far you have fallen! then "Repent and do the things you did at first." (Rev. 2:5) Repenting does not only mean to turn 180 degrees on a given topic but it means to turn and change your mind to the way Christ thinks about the issue. The doing part of "do the things you did at first" does not mean service/duty oriented actions, it refers to first love behavior based on non-conditional, open love gestures.

        The individual, the congregation or church era with this issue has to avoid the over balance of role, office or obligation as they serve. First Love Things must be weighed heavier on the scales. Works are great in expression of loyalty to Christ but not so much so that the work becomes weighted heavier or center stage instead of the relationship with Jesus. 

        The reward is restored access to The Tree of Life - To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God." Because of humanity's disobedience via Adam and Eve, the fallen relationship cost them banishment from The Tree of Life. If they had eaten from The Tree of Life in their sinful condition they would have made their fallen status permanent. Thank the Lord the way was blocked by one of His cherubim and believers receive The Tree of Life as a reward for a lifestyle of First Love.