revelation3

Revelation Chapter 3

Revelation 3:1- 6 �And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things said He that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou has a name that thou livest, and art dead. (2)Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. (3) Remember therefore how thou has received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shall not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shall not know what hour I will come upon thee. (4)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. (5)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. (6) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit said unto the churches.

Letter to the Church in Sardis.
Time period represented: 1500's AD to 1790's
"Sardis" means "that which remains."
The Reformed churches are depicted in this church.

The Cause of Complaint. The greatest fault found with the church era represented by Sardis is that is has a name that indicates it�s alive, but it is really dead. The church held a very high position in the world during this period of time but it�s pride and popularity have grown until it was spiritually destroyed. The line that stood between the world, and the church, was almost unperceivable, as the line blurred more and more, making the church, and its people, blend in with everything it should be standing against. What is left is a church that represents Christ in name only.

The church was set to hear the doctrine of the second advent (coming). "If therefore thou shall not watch, I will come on thee as a thief." (Verse 3). This implies that the doctrine of the advent (second coming of Christ) would be proclaimed, and the duty of watching for it fell on the church. The second coming of Christ is unconditional, and only the manner, in which it would come, is conditional. Their failure to watch will not prevent the coming of the Lord, but by watching, they would avoid being by surprise, as by a thief. Only those who are �asleep� in the Spirit will be taken unaware by the Lord, as Paul says here:
     1 Thessalonians 5: 4 �Ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief."

Some of these "A few names even in Sardis," indicates that some are still walking the right path towards God, however, this term also indicates that the church is in a period of unparalleled worldliness. The Apostle James tells us about those who stay away from worldly sin:
   James 1: 27 �Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world�.

And what is the promise made by Christ to those who overcome? They, "shall walk with Me in white." The Lord never overlooks His people, anywhere, and in any number. You are never unnoticed or forgotten by your Lord, no matter how big the multitude of wicked are around you. There is no group so big that it can hide you from His view. Keep yourself unspotted by the sin that surrounds you and you can cling tightly to the Lord�s promise that you will be clothed in white, and you will walk with your Lord in glory.
    Revelation 7: 17 "The Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters; and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes".

The Book of Life. This is a topic that is of great interest. Imagine in your mind the number of volumes that it must take to record all the names of every candidate for eternal life. There has been a topic of great disagreement about this book. Once your name has been entered into this great book, can it be blotted out?   According to Scripture the answer is Yes. If there was no possibility of this happening, the warning would never have been given by our Lord.
     1 Corinthians 9:27 �But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway�.
Paul makes this very clear. Only by overcoming to the end will we be guarenteed that our name will remain in the book. Contained in this warning from Jesus, we find that He will not blot out those who overcome, but in saying this He indicates that He will blot out those who do not.
Peter sounds to be speaking of this same time:
     Acts 3: 19 �Repent you therefore, and be converted, that you sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord."
But what about the overcomer�s sins?
     Hebrews 8:12 �For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more�.
What a promise, to have your name remain in the Lamb�s Book of Life, while your sins are removed forever.

Revelation 3:7-13 �And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things said 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; (8)I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou has a little strength, and has kept My word, and has not denied My name. (9)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. (10)Because thou has 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. (11)Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou has, that no man take thy crown. (12)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. (13)He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit said unto the churches.

Letter to the church in Philadelphia.
Time Period Represented: 1790's to 1840's AD
�Philadelphia� means �brotherly love�.
The revival in the Protestant churches is depicted here.

What is the dominant event in this period? This group represents those who received the Advent message in 1844. At this point in time, a great religious awakening took place, as a result of a study into the prophecies of the books of Daniel and Revelation. These studies and this awakening was culminated in the Advent movement. Men and women came from many different denominations because they were convinced that the return (second advent) of Christ was near. These devoted believers came out of these churches, leaving the denominational names behind as they came together in unison to alert all the people of the world that the Son of Man was at the door.

Of all the writings about this time, and the birth of this movement, all agree that these were true believers earnestly seeking to be ready when their Lord returned. The Spirit of God was with the true believers and they were praising God proudly and loudly as they marched forward with a warning of �be ready�.

The Key of David. This key is a symbol of power, and it is shown in the position of the rightful heir of David�s throne. Jesus is ready to take His great powerful position as King of kings and Lord of lords, and so we see him represented as having the key of David. This position, His throne, is to be located in the New Jerusalem when it is placed on the earth, and this is where He will reign forever and ever. (Revelation 21:1-5; Luke 1: 32, 33)

He Opens, and No Man can Shut. To get an understand of the language used in this passage we need to look at Christ's position, and the heavenly work, of His ministry in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle above. (Hebrews 8: 2.) Moses built an earthly representation of this heavenly sanctuary many years ago as we are shown in the following passages. (Exodus 25: 8, 9; Acts 7: 44; Hebrews 9: 1, 21, 23, 24.) In this earthly building there were two apartments, the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place. (Exodus 26: 33, 34.)

The first apartment contained the candlestick, the table of shewbread and the alter of incense. The second held the Ark, which contained the tables of the covenant, known as the ten commandments, and the cherubim. (Hebrews 9: 1-5.)

We are shown that the sanctuary, in which Christ ministers on our behalf in heaven, also has two apartments, which is clearly stated in Hebrews 9: 21-24 that "both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry" were "patterns of things in the heavens." Being made in a pattern from the heavenly sanctuary, we can understand that the heavenly sanctuary also has furniture similar to that found in the one on earth made by Moses. As we study further into this Revelation of Jesus, we will see the original golden candlestick and altar of incense, in the first apartment, are mentioned in Revelation 4: 5; 8: 3; and the original the ark of the covenant, with the Law of God, is seen in Revelation 11: 19.

In the earthly sanctuary it was the job of the priests to minister. (Exodus 28: 41, 43; Hebrews 9: 6, 7; 13: 11.) The ministry of these priests was a shadow of the ministry of Christ in the sanctuary in heaven. (Hebrews 8: 4,5.) Once every year a complete round of service was to be performed.(Hebrews 9: 7.) In the tabernacle above, the service will be performed once for everyone. (Hebrews 7: 27; 9: 12.) At the end of the yearly service, the high priest would enter into the second apartment, the Most Holy Place, to make atonement. This yearly event was called the cleansing of the sanctuary as we are shown in these passages. (Leviticus 16: 20, 30, 33; Ezekiel 45: 18.) When the priest entered into the Most Holy Place and began this cleansing, all activity in the first apartment, the Holy Place, stopped and no services were performed while he was engaged in this act. (Leviticus 16: 17.)

Christ must perform a similar change of ministration, when the time comes for the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary. The time for this service has already come, at the close of the 2300 days in the year 1844. We now begin to understand the opening and shutting mentioned in the text and how it appropriately applies, the opening being that of Christ's ministration in the Most Holy Place, and the shutting, being the cessation in the Holy Place.

Verse 9, in all likelihood applies to those who refuse to see this revealed light of truth, and who directly oppose Christians who do accept this knowledge from Christ. We are told that those who refuse to obey will confess that God loves those who obey His word, and follow in the knowledge of His truth.

The Word of My Patience. John says in Revelation 14: 12: "Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." Those who now live in faithful obedience to the Commandments of God and have faith in His Son Jesus, will be kept safe in their hour of need.

Behold, I Come Quickly. This one statement from Jesus is more direct than any of the preceding messages yet, and the nearness of this blessed event is urged upon the attention of all believers. The message is intended for a time when the event of His return is impending, and so we have here undeniable evidence of the prophetic nature of these messages to the churches. The message to the first three churches has no indication of the impending return of Christ and this indicates that they do not cover a period of time in which this event is immediately imminent in the light of Scripture. But then we were given the message to the Thyatira church, showing that the time had come when this great hope was just beginning to dawn upon the church. We are given hope in a single message, "Hold fast till I come."

The next period, we found, was represented by the church in Sardis, which finds the church occupying a position ever closer, and this great proclamation is brought to view which was to announce Christ's coming, and the duty of the church to watch: "If thou shall not watch, I will come on thee as a thief."

Coming into the age of the church of Philadelphia, the nearness of the return of Christ leads our Lord to say, "Behold, I come quickly." It becomes clearer that these churches occupy positions successively closer the great day of the Lord. In each this great event is made more and more prominent, and is more impressively urged upon the attention of the church. Here they are clearly seeing the approach of that great day. (Hebrews 10: 25.)

Hold fast what you have so no man can take your crown. As a faithful servant of Jesus Christ we are in no way depriving anyone else of their right to a crown. The verb rendered "to take" has a number of definitions such as "to take away�, �snatch from�, and �to deprive of." The warning is clear and straight to the heart of the matter: let no thing, and no man, entice you to let go of the truth and prevent you from doing what is right by the Lord. If you let go of the truth, and walk in willful disobedience to the Lord, you can, and will loose your reward.

The Promise to those who overcome. Those who overcome will be a pillar in the temple of God, and go out no more. The temple, as its used here, denotes the church, and the promise of being made a pillar in it, is the promise of a place of honor, permanence, and safety in the church. This will promise will be fulfilled when probation has past and those who overcome, are full established in the truth of God and sealed as His.

He shall go no more out. This is a promise that there is no longer a danger of falling away, and they will be the Lord's forever, and their salvation is sure. From the moment Christians overcome, and are sealed with God�s seal from heaven, they belong to God through Christ, and their destination is the New Jerusalem where they will dwell with the Lord forever. Do not look backwards toward the old Jerusalem, for any searching there will be in vain. Now they are safe, and no enemy will ever be able to prevent their reaching that ultimate destination, the new city of our Lord, the New Jerusalem.

Revelation 3:14-22 �And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things said the Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the beginning of the creation of God; (15)I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. (16)So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of My mouth. (17)Because thou said, 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: (18)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 your eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. (19)As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. (20)Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me. (21)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. (22)He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit said unto the churches.�

Letter to the church in Laodicea
Time period represented: 1840's to the Second Coming (Advent) of Christ
�Laodicea� means �a people judged�
The �Lukewarm� end time church is represented here.

The Church of Laodicea. The message to this end time church brings into view the closing of the probation in the Heavenly courts and reveals a time period of judgment that is the last stage of the Church. Understanding this reveals that it�s message applies to believers under the third angel's message (Revelation 14:9-14), which is the last message of mercy before the return of Christ.

While Christ works proceeds in the heavenly Day of Atonement, the investigative judgment is moving forward on the house of God. While this important, last work, is being done on our behalf, a period of time is taking place in which the just and Holy Law of God is taken by the waiting church as their rule of life.

"These Things Said the Amen." We are now brought to the final message to the churches before the close of the probation. The message given to the indifferent Laodiceans is a fearful one and should startle those who receive it and understand it�s meaning. We hold this as truth because the Witness here is "faithful and true.", and He is "the beginning of the creation of God." It should be mentioned here that some people attempt to use this language to prove the error that Christ is a created being, and date His existence along with that of any other created being or thing. The language used here does not imply that He was created, the words, "the beginning of the creation", seem simply to signify that the work of creation, strictly speaking, was begun by Him. More properly used, the Greek word �arche�, means "agent" or "efficient cause", which is one of the definitions of the word, gives us the understanding that Christ is the agent through whom God has created all things, and He is not a creation in and of Himself.

The Complaint. The charge brought by Christ against the Laodiceans is that they are lukewarm, �neither hot nor cold�. They have lost their religious fervor and devotion, which is esential to those so near to the closing of this world�s time. Even though they are walking in the light of prophecy, they seem blind to it�s warnings. Their lukewarm status is shown by a lack of good works, and it is from a knowledge of their works that Christ brings this fearful charge against them.

If Only you were Cold or Hot. Christ makes us aware of three distinctly different spiritual conditions here, which are the cold, the lukewarm, and the hot. We need to look closely at these conditions and learn what each represent so that we can make sure we don�t draw any incorrect conclusions. These conditions are directed at the church and should not be understood to be a representation of the secular world.

Looking at the term "hot" should be fairly easy to discern and we will start with it. When someone mentions a church member that is �hot� or �on fire� for God we immediately see in our mind someone who has an intense zeal for God that is raised to the highest level, and they are easily spotted because of their corresponding works.
Now we look at �lukewarm� which someone who has lost the intense zeal that the �hot� Christian holds so tightly to. They may have started out with a great zeal but there has been a loss in their need for self-denial, cross-bearing, witnessing for Christ and valiant aggression for the truth.

With the above determined we are left with the question, what is "cold"? Are we to understand it as a state of corruption, wickedness and sin, like the characteristics of the world of unbelievers? There are several reasons we can not understand it in this light. It is completely unthinkable to represent our Lord, Jesus Christ, as wishing under any circumstances that a person should be in this, and it is He who said, "I would thou wert cold or hot." Christ is never in support of a sinner who is walking and living in open rebellion with a heart of evil. Understanding this we see that we would be incorrect to represent Christ as preferring this condition for anyone which He considers as His. The warning of rejection in verse 16 is because they are �neither� cold nor hot, and because of this they will be rejected. If cold meant a state of open worldly wickedness they would be rejected on this premise. This being understood, we can not accept �cold� as a condition of worldly wickedness.
We are drawn to the conclusion that the Lord is not speaking of those outside the church but of three degrees of spiritual affections, and that two of these three are more acceptable to Him than the third. Heat and cold are preferable to lukewarmness, but what is this �cold� our Lord speaks of? We have been lead to an understanding that it is a state of feeling and in respect to lukewarmness, it is a superior condition. Those who are lukewarm are indifferent, insensible and happy with their own self-satisfaction. Hot is a state of feeling which denotes a joyous fervor, and a lively exercise of all the affections, having a heart that is buoyant with the sensible presence and love of God. With this in mind we see that, "cold" would seem to denote a spiritual condition characterized by a lack of these �hot� traits, and yet this individual feels the lack of them. Job expressed a similar state when he said:
     Job23:3 �Oh that I knew where I might find Him!".

Those who are �cold� are not indifferent, and not content, but there is a sense of coldness, an unfitness for God�s work, a discomfort with their current position and they are actively groping, seeking, after something better than what they have now. The person in this position (condition) has hope, because what they feel they lack, they want to gain, and in this they will strive to obtain it wholeheartedly. Those who are �lukewarm� are not conscious of their lack of anything, and keep right on with the path they are traveling not aware that they will be �spewed� out. In this light it is easy to see why the Lord would prefer His church in a state of Zeal, or a state of Earnest Searching for something they are lacking. The person that is cold will not remain that way for long because he will drive forward looking for that Zeal he sees in the �hot� Christina. The true danger lies in those in His church that are �lukewarm� because the �faithful and true Witness� will be obliged to reject him as a nauseous and loathsome thing.

"I Will Spue Thee Out of My Mouth." I love this verse. Some render the translation "I will vomit you out of my mouth". Have you ever picked up what you thought was a hot cup of coffee only to taste it has turned cold. How about a cup of what you think is cold refreshing water that is warm when it contacts your dry, parched tongue? The reaction in most cases is the immediate desire to spit it out because it is not what you expected it to be when it was given to you.   Here we see a final rejection and separation from His church which thought it was �rich and increased with good�. These people are not hypocrites because they have no idea that they are poor, miserable, blind and naked.

"Buy of Me," says the true Witness, "gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothes; . . . and anoint your eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see." These deceived Laodiceans are shown clearly what it is that they lack and the extent of their destitution. They are not left hopeless in this condition, but are shown where they need to go in order to obtain these things they lack. The message was so urgent that our Lord gave special counsel to the condition. But how can we buy these things? We buy them as we do all other gospel graces, Isaiah 55: 1 �Ho, every one that thirsteth, come you to the waters, and he that hath no money; come you, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price". We buy them by asking, and by throwing away the things of this world. We buy them by the simple act of coming and receiving them, and we buy them by giving nothing in return.
What can a person expect to get when he buys on these terms? Bread that will not perish, spotless raiment (clothing) that never gets dirty, riches that do not corrupt, and an inheritance of an eternal kingdom that will never fade away. He compels us to come in the manner of a beggar, but in doing so rewards us with His treasures and Grace. What He takes in return is our worthlessness. This is the God of Love who calls out to His people with a simple request, �come�.

Look at the things that are to be obtained. "Gold Tried in the Fire." Gold is used to literally represent all worldly wealth and riches. Figuratively, it represents spiritual riches. The Lord said to the church of Smyrna that He knew their poverty, but they were rich. This testimony shows us that their riches consisted of things that would finally put them in possession of a crown of life.
     James 2: 5, "Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of the world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which He hath promised to them that love Him?"
Paul tells us:
     Hebrews 11:1 "Faith, is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.".

To be rich toward God is to be rich in the spiritual sense. Jesus told us to buy of Him and be rich, so we will possess a clear title to the promises and be an heir of what Peter calls:
     1 Peter 1:4 �inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you."
Paul follows with:
     Galatians 3: 29 "If you be Christ's, then are you Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."
So now we understand how to get this gift, we access it in the same way Abraham did, through faith (Romans 4:13-14).

Is there any wonder as to why the entire eleventh chapter of Hebrews would be devoted to this very important subject of promises that have been obtained through faith alone. All this comes to a grand conclusion in Hebrews 12:1 when we are shown that a Christian must lay aside the sin of disbelief. Nothing will drag a Christian down faster than when the let go of faith and let unbelief slip in.

From all of this we learn that faith is the principal element of spiritual wealth. But no one grace can answer to the full implication of the term �gold� so other things are included with faith.
     Hebrews 11:1 "Faith is the substance of things hoped for..."
Hope is an inseparable partner to faith. Paul explains to us that faith works by love, and speaks in another place of being "rich in good works." (Galatians 5: 6; 1 Timothy 6: 18.) Now we are shown that love cannot be separated from faith. We have before us the three things associated together by Paul in 1 Corinthians 13, faith, hope, and charity, or love; and the greatest of these is charity, which is "rich in good works." This is the gold that has been tried by fire which our Lord counsels us to buy.

White Raiment. There are a few texts that will furnish a key to the understanding of this expression. The prophet said, Isaiah 64:6 "All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags." We are counseled by Christ to buy the opposite of these filthy rags, which would be complete and spotless raiment. The same figure is used in Zechariah 3:3-4 and John states in Revelation 19:8 that "the fine linen is the righteousness of saints."

The Eyesalve. The anointing of the eyes is not given as literal sense reference is being made to spiritual things. The eyesalve must indicate a means by which our spiritual discernment is quickened. There is only one agent revealed through the Scriptures that can do this and that is Holy Spirit.
     Acts 10:38 "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost."
The same Apostle who was given this Revelation of Jesus wrote in his first epistle:
     1 John 2:20,27 "But you have an unction from the Holy One, and you know all things. . . . But the anointing which you have received of Him abideth in you, and you need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, you shall abide in Him.".
In John�s Gospel he reveals:
     John 14:26 �The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." (Also look at John 16:13).

Jesus counsels us, under the figures of gold, white raiment, and eyesalve, to seek from Him an increase of the heavenly graces of faith, hope, charity, the righteousness which He alone can furnish, and an understanding from the Holy Spirit. It should be observed that no fault is found with the Laodiceans on the doctrines they hold. They are not accused of harboring a Jezebel in their midst, or countenancing the doctrines of Balaam, or the Nicolaitanes. As far as we are shown, their belief is correct, and their doctrine sound. The inference given here is that having a correct doctrine, they are content. They are satisfied with a correct form of religion even though they don�t realize it has lost its power in their lives. Having found the Scriptural truth they are inclined to rest, and in this they neglect the spiritual power which changes the life and builds strong character. It is by their actions, not by their words, that they say they are rich and increased with good. Possessing so much light and so much truth, what more could they possibly want?

So if they defend the increasing light upon the Commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, and in their outward life conform to these Commandments, then is their righteousness complete?   They should be rich, increased with goods and in need of nothing shouldn�t they? Their failure is this; their whole being should cry out for the spirit, the zeal, the fervency, the life and the power of a living Christianity.

The Token of Love. As strange as it may seem, this token of love is a chastisement from our Lord.
     Hebrews 12:8 "As many as I love, I rebuke, and chasten."
If we are without chastisement, we are not sons.

Be Zealous and Repent. Although the condition represented by coldness is preferable to one of lukewarmness, this is not a state in which our Lord desires to find us. We are never advised to seek that state of coldness. There is a far better state in which we are counseled to strive for and that is to be zealous, fervent and to have our hearts all on fire in the service of our Master.

Christ is Knocking at the Door. Does our Lord stand and knock because He has no home? Absolutely not. He goes to every door in Laodicea, stands and knocks because He came here to seek and to save that which was lost. He comes because He can not give up on His mission to tell of the free gift of eternal life which is offered by His Father. . He knocks and waits because the door must be opened for Him to come in that you can know Him. He stands knocking but you are tired from a hard day of work and are relaxing in your favorite chair, comfortable and you call out, �I�m busy�. He still stands faithfully knocking on the door, an hour before church, or prayer meeting but you don�t move. He knocks steadily, reminding you He is there as you pass up the chance to make a Christian visit to the hospital, or to a family you know that is in need of Him, but you don�t get up to answer the door because your favorite TV program is about to come on. A sad sight is one locked into this nauseating lukewarmness! The Lord Himself comes all the way from His place of glory to knock on your door, costing Him his very sweat, and life, and blood, and you are too lazy to answer the door. Your very house is on fire and will be consumed, and He knocks trying to warn you, but you are so relaxed in your self worth that you don�t feel the need to answer. A heathen Publis received Paul and lodged him for three days courteously, but these lukewarm Christians tell the Lord of the Apostles, �I have no room for you�.

If Any Man Hear My Voice. The Lord knocks, and calls out telling you who He is and why He has come. The word "if" implies that some will not hear his voice. He still stands and knocks, even though some will close their ears to His tender voice. It is not enough simply to hear, we must open the door and invite Him in. There will be many, who at first will hear the voice and knock, and open up to the Lord, but in time will fail to stay the course in the fervent heat that the Lord tells us to hold to. Have you heard His faithful knocking, heard the soft voice call out to you? Have you answered the door? Remember that the Lord will never force entry into your heart, you can never call Him Lord until you have surrendered to Him completely.

The promise! "I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me." Friend with friend, eating together in a cheerful meal, holding a free and intimate conversation. Can you imagine the King of kings, and Lord of lords wishing to come and sit with you for a private meal?   People scramble wildly to pick up their homes when a friend comes by unannounced, but will not even move out of their comfortable spot in this world to answer the steady knocking of our Lord when He comes in person to visit them as a friend. He comes to have a meal and doesn�t even ask that we furnish the table, only that we open the door. He wants to set before us a foretastes of the glory soon to be revealed.

The Promise to the Overcomer. "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." Here the promises of our Lord come to their culmination. Going from rebellious, then fallen, degraded, and polluted, man is brought back into full reconciliation with God through the work of the Redeemer Jesus Christ. Man is cleansed from all his sins, redeemed from the fall, made immortal and finally raised to a seat upon the throne of his Savior.

This verse contains not only this wonderful promise, but a very important doctrine. We learned that Christ reigns consecutively upon two thrones. One is the throne of His Father, the other is His own throne. He declares in this verse that He has overcome, and is now set down with His Father in His throne. He is now associated with the Father in the throne of universal dominion, placed at His right hand, far above all principality, power, might, and dominion. (Ephesians 1: 20-22.) His duties extend also into the roll of priest-king. He is a priest, "a minister of the sanctuary;" but at the same time He is "on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens." (Hebrews 8: 1, 2). The prophet Zechariah said this was to happen:
     Zechariah 6:12,13 �Speak unto him, saying, Thus speaks the Lord of hosts [God], saying, Behold the man whose name is The Branch [Christ]; and He shall grow up out of His place, and He shall build the temple of the Lord: . . . and He [Christ] shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon His [God's] throne; and He [Christ] shall be a priest upon His [God's] throne: and the counsel of peace [the sacrifice and priestly work of Christ in behalf of repenting man] shall be between them both."

The time is coming when Jesus is to change His position, and leaving the throne of God, taking His own throne. This will be when the time comes to reward those who overcome, because when they enter in upon their reward, they are to sit with Christ on His throne, as He overcame, and is now seated with the Father upon God�s throne. Paul lays out this change in the position of Christ:
     1 Corinthians 15: 24-28 "Then cometh the end, when He shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when He shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. (25)For He must reign, till He hath put all enemies under His feet. (26)The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. (27)For He hath put all things under His feet. But when He said all things are put under Him, it is manifest that He is excepted, which did put all things under Him. (28)And when all things shall be subdued unto Him, then shall the Son also Himself be subject unto Him that put all things under Him, that God may be all in all."
Read this Biblical truth, as taught by Scripture, in the light of understanding that reveals the age of the end. Here is a brief paraphrase:
     "Then cometh the end (of the present age), when Christ shall have delivered up the kingdom (which He now holds conjointly with the Father) to God, even the Father; when God shall have put down all rule and all authority and power (that is opposed to the work of the Son). For Christ must reign (on the throne of His Father) till the Father hath put all enemies under Christ's feet. [Psalm 110: 1.] The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For God (then) hath put all things under Christ's feet. But when God said, all things are put under Christ (and He begins His reign upon His own throne), it is manifest that God is excepted, who did put all things under Christ. And when all things shall be subdued unto Christ, then shall Christ also Himself be subject unto God that put all things under Him, that God may be all in all."

The kingdom which Christ will deliver up to the Father is that which He holds at the present time upon His Father's throne, where Jesus tells us He is now seated. Christ delivers up this kingdom at the end of His priestly meditation, when the time comes for Him to take His own throne. After this Christ will reign on the throne of His father David, and is subject only to God, who still retains His position upon the throne of universal dominion. This is the reign of Christ that the saints participate in.

To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne.
     Revelation 20:4 "They lived, and reigned with Christ a thousand years". This we understand to be a special reign, or for a special purpose, as will be noticed in that chapter, for the actual reign of the saints is to be "forever and ever." Daniel 7:18,27.

This closes the messages to the seven churches.   These churches contain lessons for all Christian in all ages! It is as true with the last church as with the first, that all their works are known to Him who walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks. From His scrutinizing gaze nothing can, or will, be hidden.   His comforting, how gracious, how glorious are His promises to those who love and follow Him with singleness of heart!

Revelation Index

Revelation Chapter 4

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