Revelation 2–3
Tape #C2640
By Chuck Smith
Unto the angel
of the
So the
description of Jesus out of chapter one, “He holds the seven stars in his right
hand and He walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks”. And you will
find that His message is going to be relative to this description. It is going
to come up again in the message to the
These seven
churches exist today. The conditions in this state you will find are relative
to the church today. So they exist concurrently and they were addressed to the
seven churches that existed, than dealing with situations that did exist within
the churches, but they also have a historic application, which we will also
see.
Now to the
I know thy
works (2:2),
He says
that to each of the churches.
and thy labour,
and thy patience (2:2),
Now John in
the first chapter described himself as on the
Now towards
the end of the first century, they began to realize that the coming of Jesus
wasn’t as quick as they thought originally it was going to be. They were all
anticipating the Lord to return immediately to establish the kingdom. There
were rumors going around that the Lord had promised John that he would not die
before the kingdom was established. John in the last chapter of his gospel said
that is not so. That is not what Jesus said.
Jesus said
to Peter when Jesus told Peter how He was going to be martyred for the gospel’s
sake, he said, “But what about him,” pointing to John. Jesus said, “Look, if I
want him to remain alive till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me. You
take care of Peter. I will take care of John.” And so many said that the Lord
said that John was not going to die. John said, “No, the Lord didn’t say that.
He said, If I will that he should stay alive till I come”(John 21:23). But
Peter in his epistle began to encourage the people towards patience in waiting
for the coming of the Lord. James had said, “Have patience, brother. Establish
your souls for the Lord is waiting for the complete fruit of harvest.” So in
the patience in waiting for the kingdom.
So the
church has been patiently waiting for the kingdom. And because of our patient
waiting for the kingdom, scoffers have come and said, “Ah, where is the promise
of His coming? You know the world is going on as it was. There is nothing
different. It has always been the fight of good against evil.” And they can
show you headlines in the papers of 1897 that read like today. It’s been
happening all the way along. Where is the promise of the kingdom? Since our
fathers fell asleep all things have continued as they were from the beginning.
So the patient waiting for the kingdom as the Lord is patiently waiting for the
complete fruit of harvest.
I know thy
works, thy labour, thy patience, and how you can not bear them which are evil (2:2):
So they
really had the gift of discernment going. One of the problems of the church is
the evil that exists within it. And Jesus declared in the kingdom parables that
it was going to happen. The seed is going to fall on various types of soil and
there would be an abnormal growth to the church, like a mustard seed, a small
seed, but it grows into a tree, abnormal growth. And the birds of the air,
which are always a symbol of evil, will come and lodge in its branches. There
have been a lot of evil birds lodged in the branches of the church and they
exist today. There are a lot of dirty birds in the church.
The woman
that took the three loaves and hid it in the leaven until it had permeated; so,
the leaven is the symbol of evil permeating the whole church. The history of
the church is shameful. I have no defense for it. I do not seek to defend the
history of the church. I am embarrassed by the history of the church.
Whenever I go into a college class to lecture,
I am so often challenged by the history of the church, and I always say I have
no defense. The church’s history is rotten. I have no defense for the history
of the church. I will defend Jesus Christ and my faith in Him and the simple
gospel as it was taught by Him and practiced by the disciples, His apostles.
But what happened in the church, I will not try to excuse or defend. I am only
going to apologize and say, “That doesn't represent true Christianity as taught
by Jesus Christ.” But God help us to be a true and faithful witness of what He
wanted His church to be.
“You can
not bear those that are evil.” They had the purging power within the
you have borne,
you have patience, and for my name’s sake you've laboured (2:3),
Their labor
was done in the name of Jesus.
for his name’s
sake you've laboured, and have not fainted (2:3).
And they
have got all these works and all of these efforts going. They are a
tremendously active church. All the committees are functioning as they are
designed to.
Nevertheless I
have this against thee, because you have left your first love (2:4).
So what the
Lord was really longing for is not so much works, but just a loving
relationship with his people. That is what God longs to have with you tonight.
The Lord is just looking for a loving relationship with you. We are so often
trying to substitute our works, efforts, for just plain fellowship. And the
Lord longs for just plain fellowship. Rather than busying yourself for Him, He
would rather that you just sit, relax and share time and love and fellowship
with Him.
“I have
this against you that you have left your first love,” that excitement, that
thrill that you knew in the beginning. God said to
So remember from whence you are fallen. And
notice it is “fallen”. It is backsliding. You have gone backwards. You should
have a deeper relationship of love with the Lord tonight than ever before. “Remember
from whence you have fallen”. Remember those exciting days of following the
Lord wherever He might lead. Hey, we were daring. We would do anything for
Jesus. We would go anywhere for Jesus, our love.
Remember
therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent (2:4),
Change,
turn, and then repent.
do the first
works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick
out of his place, unless you repent (2:5).
So the
warning is that He will not stay in a loveless church. He will take that church
away from His presence. For where was Jesus walking in the midst? “This sayeth
he who walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks.” So, it is relevant
to the message of judgment that He announces. “If you don’t repent, I am going to
take and remove the church from the place of My presence. I won’t stay”, He is
saying, “in a church that lacks love.”
And the
tragedy of so many churches today is there is a lack of love, and thus, the
absence of the Spirit and what ensues then is fighting and bickering and all
the other things that we see. Oh, how important it is that we maintain this
love. More important than having miracles or anything else is having love.
Paul said,
“I will show you a more excellent way. Not all work miracles, not all have the
gift of healing, not all speak with tongues, but God wants that we should all
have love. Though I speak with the tongues of men and angels, if I don’t have
love it is meaningless. It is just sounds. It is just noise. Though I have the
gift of prophecy or I understand all things, if I have not love it is really
nothing. Though I give my body to be burned and sell everything I have and give
to the poor, if I don’t have love it is meaningless”(1Corinthians 12:31–13:2).
Love is everything.
“You have
left,” He said, “your first love.” Oh, what an indictment. “You better repent,”
He said, “or else the next thing that goes is My presence. I am not going to
stay.”
But this you do
have, you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate (2:6).
What are
the deeds of the Nicolaitans? The Greek words “Nicolaus” or “nikos” and “
Now there
is within the Pentecostal churches that thing that is called shepherding, which
is the deeds of the Nicolaitanes. You come to us and we will advise you what God
has to say concerning “who you should marry” and
“what you should sell” and “what you should buy” and “when you should do this
or that”. And they seek to exercise a lordship over the people. It is the deeds
of the Nicolaitanes, that shepherding movement. And of course we see it in the
Catholic Church with the priesthood. You come and confess your sins to me and I
will remit your sins, because I will go to the Father and I will take care of
things for you. And it is putting a man between you and God. It is inserting
here a man that stands here between you and God.
Now we will
see this system develop when we get to the
He that hath an
ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches; To him that overcometh
will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise
of God (2:7).
Adam was
banished from the garden of Eden, because he had the choice of all of the trees
that are in the garden to eat, but the tree that is in the midst of the garden
thou shalt not eat thereof. Adam had the choice. He could have eaten of the
tree of life, which was in the Garden of Eden, but he chose rather to eat of
the tree of knowledge of good and evil. And in a sense, each of us makes that
same decision that Adam made. There is the tree of life available to each of us
through the cross of Jesus Christ, but so many times people choose the tree of
the knowledge of good and evil. They want to dabble in the evil things. They
want to know about the evil.
Now to him
that overcomes will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of
the paradise of God. God transplanted that tree. When Adam was driven from the
Garden of Eden, God placed a cherubim at the gate of the garden to guard it,
least man should return and eat of the tree of life and live forever in a
sinful state. That is the most horrible thing that could have happened to man.
God was protecting man from his own folly. But one day we will eat of that tree
of life.
“He
that lives and believes in Me”, Jesus said, “will never die.” So He is the tree
of life, really, and partaking of Him we have eternal life.
And unto the
angel of the
Now the
To the angel of
the
Remember
the description of Himself, “the first and the last”? “I was dead and I am
alive again”, because many, six million of this church are to be martyred for
their faith.
I know thy
works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but you art rich) (2:9)
Poor in
material things, but rich in spiritual things.
I know the
blasphemy of those that are Jews, and are not, they are the synagogue of Satan (2:9).
Now when
Jesus was in a confrontation with the religious leaders of His day, they said,
“We have Abraham as our father.” Jesus said, “If Abraham was your father then
you would believe in Me. For Abraham rejoiced to see My day and He saw it.”
They said, “What do you mean Abraham saw you? You are not even fifty years old.
What are you talking about?” Jesus said, “Before Abraham was, I am.” And they
took up stones to kill Him. But then Jesus said, “I am of My Father, and if you
were of My Father, you would know Me, but you are of your father the
devil”(John 8:39–8:44). Who is He talking to? The religious leaders, the
Pharisees. Now He is saying of them, “I know those who say they are Jews. They
are really not.”
Paul the
Apostle tells us that not all who have the Law are justified. For circumcision
is not an outward ritual, it is really something of the heart. It is something
that takes place within a person’s heart. It is not an outward ritual that a
person goes through. It is an inward work within the heart. And there were many
who were trusting in the Law. We have the Law. And they were trusting in the
outward observance of the Law, where in reality what really mattered was in the
person’s heart.
Jesus in
the Sermon on the Mount brought out this truth in chapter five. He said,
“Unless your righteousness exceed that of the Scribes and Pharisees, you are
not going to enter the kingdom of heaven. For you have heard that it has been
said by those in old times that thou shalt not kill; but I say unto you, if you
hate your brother, you are guilty. You have heard that it hath been said that
thou shalt not commit adultery, but I say unto you if you look at a woman and
lust after her in your heart, you have actually violated the law.” For the Law
is spiritual and the outward observance does not do it. It is what’s in a
person's heart that really counts. And God is concerned about what is in your
heart, not what you do on the outward. Not the rituals that you may observe
outwardly, but what is going on in your heart. Is the love of God reigning in your
heart? That is what matters. Do you have a genuine love for God or are you
bound to a Law and to rituals?
I know
those—the blasphemy of those which say they are Jews and are not, but are of
the synagogue of Satan, because they are opposed to Jesus Christ. They are
fighting against Jesus Christ, God’s Son.
Fear none of
those things which you will suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you
into prison, that you may be tried; you are going to have tribulation for ten
days: but be thou faithful unto death, and I will give to you a crown of life.
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches; He
that overcomes shall not be hurt of the second death (2:10–11).
Don’t fear
those who are able to kill your body and after that have no power, but fear Him
who after the body is killed has the power to cast your soul into Gehenna. “Ye,
I say unto you, fear ye Him”.
Now they
may kill your body. Don’t worry about that. You’ll not be hurt of the second
death. So the words of comfort and hope to these who were to be martyred for
their faith in Jesus Christ. Notice no call to repentance. They are going to
have enough just being martyred for their faith. Now I do recommend highly that
you read Foxe’s Book of Martyrs to get an insight to the
Unto the angel
of the church of Pergamos write (2:12);
This is the
development now of the state church under
These things
saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges (2:12);
And out of
His mouth there went a sword with two edges; the Word of God which cuts in
judgment.
I know thy
works, and I know where you dwell, even where Satan’s throne is (2:13):
Where is
Satan’s throne? It is in the world. Here is a church that was trying to dwell
in the world. It never worked, a church trying to join with the worldly system,
a church state system, the legislating of righteousness, the legislating of
religious issues. It can’t be done. It has to come from the heart. It has to be
within a person’s heart to do it. You can’t make laws that will make people
righteous or cause people to live righteous lives. That has to be a work of
God’s Spirit within a person’s heart. So, here is a church that is trying to
dwell in the world. “I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is.”
But you hold
fast my name, you have not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas
was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwells. But I have
a few things against you, because you have there those who hold to the doctrine
of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of
Israel, to eat the things sacrificed to idols, and to commit fornication (2:13–14).
So, the
doctrine of Balaam was the introduction of idolatry to the people of God. And
it was at this time in church history that they began to introduce
representations of Jesus and Mary and of the Apostles and Saints and Moses and
so forth. They began to introduce the arts and statues and so forth within the
churches and it became part of the church structure, the introduction of idols
in the worship of God, the doctrine of Balaam, worshipping God in unprescribed
ways.
Jesus said,
“God is a Spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in
truth”(John 4:24). Someone said, “Hey, I go to the beach and I worship God at
the beach.” I believe you. I do too. “I go to the mountains and I worship God
in the mountains.” I do too. You see, God is a Spirit. They that worship Him,
worship Him in Spirit and in truth, and we don’t have to confine ourselves to a
building to worship God, nor should we. We worship God everywhere. “God is a
Spirit.”
Now God has
prescribed how we are to worship Him. To try and worship Him in an unprescribed
way is a spiritual fornication in a sense.
You also have
those that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes (2:15),
And so, we
find that in this period of church history there began to be the establishment
of the professional ministry, the priesthood, the ruling over the laity. And
here again the Lord says,
I hate these
things. Repent; or else I will come to thee quickly, and will fight against
them with the sword in my mouth (2:15–16).
They will
come against them in judgment with His Word.
He that hath an
ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that
overcomes will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white
stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knows saving he that
receives it (2:17).
The white
stone was a stone of acceptance. The black stone was a stone of rejection,
black-balled. I will give them a white stone. I will receive him. I will accept
him and give him a name, which no man knows except him who receives it.
Now unto the
angel of the church at Thyatira (2:18);
Now we have
the development of the Roman Catholic system. And please, if you are a Roman
Catholic or have a Catholic background, don’t be angry with me, because we are
going to lay it on the Protestants when we get to
I think it
is wrong to just bury my head in the sand and say, “Oh, that doesn’t exist, or
that is terrible, or you shouldn’t judge.” If there is something wrong, I want
the Lord to show us. If there is something wrong with what we are doing, with
what I am doing, I want God to show me. I don’t want to be blind. I don’t want
to be bigoted and say, “No, we have got the only way and we are it, and there
is nothing to improve on.” I can’t believe that.
David said,
“Search me O God, and know my heart. Try me and know my thoughts. See if there
is a way of wickedness in me and You lead me in Your way” (Psalm 139:23). That
is what I want. I don’t want to be headstrong and so set in my ways and in my
traditions that I am not open to the voice of the Spirit. Let him that hath an
ear let him hear what the Spirit is saying. I want to hear what the Lord is
saying to me. And if there is something wrong or off in the way I am teaching
or the way I am living or whatever, I want to be open so God can reveal it to
my heart and show me. I don’t want to be so dogmatic or narrow that I can’t see
the flaws that exist in my own life. That would be terrible.
The
These things
saith the Son of God, who has his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet
are like fine brass (2:18);
Whenever
you come across brass in the scriptures, you are coming across a metal that is
a symbol of judgment. The laver in which the priests would wash was made of
brass. Moses made a serpent of brass and lifted it up in the wilderness. It is
a metal that is symbolic of God’s judgment.
So, eyes
like a flame of fire. And fire is always looked at in the terms of judgment in
purifying, the refining of the fire.
I know thy
works, and your charity [love],
your service, and your faith (2:19),
And these
are the dominant issues of the Roman Catholic Church, their love and their
service and their faith and,
patience and
works (2:19);
And this
they have a lot of, a lot of good works. And there are some marvelous,
marvelous people in the Catholic Church that I highly admire. Mother Teresa is
just an unusual person, marvelous. It is not saying things against those
individuals, because God has His overcomers. It is just talking about a system.
Notwithstanding
though you have these things, I have a few things against you, first of all
because you allowed the women Jezebel, which called herself a prophetess, to
teach and to seduce my servants to commit [which would be spiritual] fornication, and to eat things
sacrificed to idols (2:20).
So again
the introduction of idols in worship, relics to be worshipped; the idols to be
kissed or prayed to.
I gave her
space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. Behold, I will cast
her into a bed, and those that commit adultery with her into the great
tribulation (2:21–22),
So, here is
now first of all the indication that the Catholic Church would exist right up
until the coming of Jesus Christ and the rapture of the church, because he
talks of them being allowed to go into the Great Tribulation. So this church
will exist. You see nothing was said of
What is the
rationale there? If they do repent they can escape the Great Tribulation. You
see the Great Tribulation will be judgment for their failure to repent, which
means that repentance would bring you deliverance or escape from the Great
Tribulation.
And I will kill
her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which
searches the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one according to your
works (2:23).
Not so
Lord, according to your mercy and grace deal with me.
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 no
other burden. But that which you have already hold fast till I come. And he
that overcomes, and keeps my works unto the end, to him will I give power over
the nations: 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. And I
will give him the morning star. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the
Spirit saith unto the churches (2:24–29).
So, these
glorious promises of Jesus to the overcomers in this system, reigning with Him
upon the earth, ruling over the earth, receiving the morning star, even Jesus
Himself.
And unto the
angel of the church in
And so the
fullness of the Spirit as it dwelt in Jesus, Isaiah the eleventh chapter.
and the seven
stars; I know thy works, that you have a name that you are alive, but really
you are dead (3:1).
Dead
Protestantism. And I’ll tell you if you don’t believe it is dead, go to Europe.
You go into a post-Christian era when you get to Europe. It is dark. The church
is dead. The Protestant Reformation in Europe is dead. You say you are alive,
but really you are dead.
Be watchful,
and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not
found your works (complete) before God (3:2).
The problem
with the Protestant Reformation is that it wasn’t complete. In the Protestant
Reformation they drew with it many of the pagan practices that originated in
Babylonian religion systems. They came out, but not far enough. Their works
weren’t complete. So, we find within the church today a lot of relics from the
Babylonian system, the Babylonian religion. We just went through one, the
celebration of Christmas on December 25th. It is a tremendous pagan celebration
originating in Babylon adopted by Rome called Saturnalia. It was a time of
drunkenness and feasting and the giving of gifts and celebration as the sun
past through the winter solstice. It was adapted by the church. It was picked
up by the Protestants. We are soon going to be entering into the Lent season
which was borrowed from the Babylonian system. So, it wasn’t a complete
reformation.
Remember
therefore how thou hast received and heard, hold fast, repent. If therefore
thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and you'll not know what
hour I'm coming upon thee (3:3).
So now He
is warning concerning His coming for the church. Paul said, “You are not in
darkness that that day should overtake you as a thief. You are children of the
light, therefore walk as children of the light.” Now there are many today who
are not watching for the return of Jesus Christ. There are many who in the
church mock the idea of the Lord returning and interrupting history.
Thou hast a few
names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk
with me in white: for they are worthy (3:4).
So within
the Protestant Reformation, those great persons didn’t defile their garments,
walking with Him in purity, they are worthy.
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 will confess his name before my Father,
and before his holy angels (3:5).
“He that
denies me before men,” Jesus said, “I will deny before my Father, but if you
confess Me before men, I will confess you before my Father which is in heaven.”
I am looking forward to the Lord confessing my name before His Father. That is
my only hope. If that doesn’t happen, I have had it. I will confess his name
before the Father.
He that hath an
ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches (3:6).
Now we have
the church of Philadelphia, the faithful remnant. Those who are holding to the
Word of God. Those who gather on Sunday evening to study the Word of God.
And to the
angel of the church in 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
shuts; and shuts, and no man opens (3:7);
Now he is
borrowing a description not out of chapter one in this. The rest of the
description is out of chapter one. He is going back to Isaiah 22 for this
description. And in the twenty-second chapter of Isaiah in verse twenty-two,
well, go back to twenty-one, we read this prophecy concerning the Messiah, “I
will clothe him with thy robe, and strengthen him with thy girdle, and I will
commit thy government into his hand: he shall be a father to the inhabitants of
Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah. And the key of the house of David will I
lay upon his shoulder, so he shall open, and none shall shut: and he shall shut
and none shall open.” So, Jesus is here laying claim to that prophecy of the
Messiah in Isaiah 22:22. I have the key of David. I open and no man can shut. I
shut and no man can open.
I know thy
works: behold I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it (3:8):
That to me
is exciting. The Lord sets before us an open door of opportunity and no man can
shut it. I believe that that open door will be open to us until the Lord comes.
No man can shut it.
for thou hast a
little strength (3:8),
I don’t see
a super church, or super saints. There is a doctrine known as the manifested
sons of God that advocates the super sainthood. One of these days we are going
to go into the phone booth and change our clothes and we are going to come out
with super power and we are going to just point at the Russians and they will
just shrivel and die. And all of the enemies of God we are just going to subdue
when we are manifested finally as the sons of God before the world. Balderdash.
You have a little strength.
We are not
very strong. You know it is true that God is doing a wonderful work here and it
is exciting to see what God is doing, but we have hardly touched the county.
There are so many out there who need Jesus Christ. We can’t really sit back and
say, “Look, how many we have got coming here.” There are so many more to be
reached. We have a little strength. Thank God we have a little strength. Thank
God that He has set before us the open door.
Behold, I will
make of them the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but
lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know
that I have loved thee (3:9).
There will
be that day that will come that the Jews will recognize that Jesus is the
Messiah. That is a work that God is going to do in bringing the knowledge to
these people. I do not feel called of God as an evangelist to the Jewish people
or to the Jewish nation. I believe that is something that God is going to do.
He may call others. And that isn’t to say that God doesn’t call people as He
did to the Jews, but He has not called me. And I don’t feel that I have this
great obligation to share the Gospel to the Jews. I believe that God has
blinded their eyes until the fullness of the gentiles has come in. And so the
day will come when they will acknowledge that Jesus is the Messiah and I pray
and long for that day. I hope for that day. But in the meantime I share the
truth of God with those that accept, with those that believe.
Because thou
hast kept the word of my patience, [and here it is, because you've kept His
Word], 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 (3:10).
So, the
promise of being kept from the Great Tribulation, because we have kept the word
of His patience.
Behold, I come
quickly: hold that fast which you have, that no man take your crown. 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 the new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven
from my God: and I will write upon him my new name (3:11–12).
Jehovah
Tsidkenu, the Lord is our righteousness.
He that hath an
ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the church (3:13).
No call to
repentance, just a commendation for keeping the Word, the promise that He would
also keep them.
Now the
final apostate condition of the church, the church of Laodicea represented by
those ministers that sued President Reagan for announcing the year of the
Bible. Those ministers that are pro-abortion and pro-pornography and pro every other
evil that comes down the pike, who dress in clerical robes and claim to be
ministers of Jesus Christ but are really of the synagogue of Satan.
to the angel of
the church of Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and
true witness (3:14),
In chapter
one, He was known as the faithful and the true witness.
the beginning
of the creation of God (3:14);
Or who was
in the beginning of God’s creation. In the beginning was the Word, that the
word was with God, all things were made by Him.
I know thy
works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou were cold or hot. So
then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out
of my mouth (3:15–16).
The
nauseating state of the church.
Because you
say, I am rich, [endowed with great foundations and funds, we're rich.] we're increased with goods, we have
need of nothing; you know not that you are wretched, and miserable, and poor,
and blind, and naked (3:17):
Interesting
how the church observes itself and how Jesus observes the church.
I counsel thee
buy from me gold tried in the fire, that you may be rich; white raiment, that
you may be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness does not appear; anoint
your eyes with eyesalve, that you may see (3:18).
That is of
the Holy Spirit.
As many as I
love (3:19),
And here He
is loving the church in this sad condition.
As many as I
love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore and repent (3:19).
Oh, how
patient the Lord is. He still loves the church in this apostate condition.
"As many as I love, I rebuke." If the Lord has rebuked you, then be
thankful He loves you. If the Lord chastens you, be thankful you are His child
and He loves you.
Behold, I stand
at the door, and knock (3:20):
Actually
the church has put Christ on the outside. You read the Gallup Polls and all and
it is rather frightening to find out how many ministers do not really believe
in the deity of Jesus Christ, do not believe in the virgin birth, do not
believe that there is an actual heaven or hell. The percentages are down around
fifty to sixty percent that don’t believe in these things. It is sad. You
wonder why they are ministers. You might as well establish another religion on
Mother Goose rhymes or something, or Aesops Fables. Why espouse a book that you
can’t trust or is not true?
I stand at the
door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in,
and will sup with him (3:20),
Eating
supper is a very significant act from a Biblical standpoint, from a cultural
standpoint at the time of Christ. It signified becoming one with the other
person. And Jesus is always wanting to eat supper with people. What does it
mean? It means that He wants to become one with you. Just open the door and He
will come in and become one with you. He will eat supper with you.
Now, the
Jew would not eat with the Gentile. He didn’t want to become one with the
Gentile. You remember when Peter came to the house of Cornelius, he said, “Now
look, I am really not supposed to be here. We Jews are not supposed to go into
the house of a Gentile, but the Lord told me to come so that is why I am here.”
And he was apologizing, but he went into the house of Cornelius. God was
breaking down some of these barriers. Jesus doesn’t care. He says, “Just open
the door and I will come in and eat with you. You can become one with Me. I
will be glad to share with you and become one with you just open the door.”
To him that
overcomes 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. He that hath an ear, let him hear
what the Spirit says unto the churches (3:21–22).
So we come
to the end of the second section of the book of Revelation, the things which
are. And next week as we get into chapters four and five. We will enter into
the third section, the things which will be after these things of the church.
We will take you to heaven next Sunday night.
Oh God,
give us ears to hear what the Spirit is saying to the church. May we tonight, O
God, listen to what you would say to us. Search us, O Lord, know our hearts,
try us, O God, know our thoughts, if there is a way of unrighteousness, if
there is a way of deceitfulness, God help us that we would not deceive
ourselves, and be blind to the truth. Lord, if there is something wrong in what
we are doing, how we are doing it, let your Spirit reveal to our hearts. God we
don't want to go on living in a lie or a fallacy. We long to know Your truth.
Thy Word is truth. Teach us thy Word that we might in its precepts and live in
its light. In Jesus' name, Amen.