REVELATION - CHAPTER 3

Pastor Carolyn Sissom \ October 10th, 2020 (6650 views)

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REVELATION – Chapter 3

Tuesday Morning Bible Study

Pastor Carolyn Sissom

June 5, 2012, The Year of our Lord

 

In chapter 1, verse 19, Jesus commanded John to write what he had seen.  He then described the vision of the glorified Christ.  Next, he was told to write about the things which are now.  The Lord gave him seven messages to send to the churches that described their present condition and what was “shortly to come to pass” (Rev. 1:1).  Thirdly he was told to write what is going to take place in the future which will begin in chapter four.

 

The seven churches were a cross section of all the churches in existence at that time.  There were other churches in Asia besides the seven named by the Lord, but seven being the sacred and complete number, was representative of the whole church throughout the world and down through all ages.

 

We are to understand the entire book of Revelation is addressed to those seven churches.  However, the message of the Book of Revelation is transcendent Glory to all generations. The Word of God transcends time and space.  These letters were designed and meant to prepare the followers of the Lord Jesus for the trials due to come upon them before His return.  His appeal is for every Christian to be an overcomer.

 

Chapter two covers four churches:

 

Ephesus -–losing their first love.

Smyrna -–fear of Satan generated persecution.

Pergamum---compromising with immorality.

Thyatira---tolerating false teachers.

 

The fifth church to be addressed is Sardis.  This was the capital of the ancient kingdom of Lydia, overthrown by Cyrus in 546 B. C.  By Roman times, it had lost its former greatness, and it never recovered from a great earthquake which devastated it in A.D.17.

 

Rev. 3:1-3:  To the angel of the church in Sardis write:  These things says He that has the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know your works that you have a name that you live, and are dead.  Be watchful and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die; for I have not found your works perfect before God.  Remember therefore how you have received and heard, and hold fast, and repent.  If therefore you shall not watch, I will come on you as a thief, and you shall not know what hour I will come upon you.

 

“The church partook of the character of the city; whose name was almost synonymous with pretensions unjustified; promise unfulfilled; appearance without reality; confidence which heralded ruin” (W. M. Ramsay).  In short, “for appearances sake”.

 

Four Things against Sardis:

 

1. Works.
2. Having a name or reputation of being a live church, but ‘art dead”.
3. Works not perfect before God.
4. Few Godly members.

 

Five Commands to Sardis:

 

1. Be watchful
2. Strengthen the things that remain.
3. Remember your teaching.
4. Hold fast.
5. Repent.

 

The language (I will come on you as a thief and you shall not know what hour I will come upon) describes the suddenness of Christ’s coming in judgment and appears in several parts of the New Testament.  This is the 8^th prophecy in the Book of Revelation which has been fulfilled.   This has a dualistic meaning not only to the Second Advent, but to a visitation of the Lord.

 

Rev. 3: 4-6: You have a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white; for they are worthy. He that overcomes, 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.  He that has an ear let him hear what the spirit says to the churches.

 

Here Christ promises not to blot the name out of the book of life of any man who will obey these commands.  If some should refuse to obey these commands, then according to Exodus 32:32-33, it is God’s prerogative to blot out their names from the Book of Life.  He definitely promised Moses concerning any who sinned, “Him will I blot out of My book”.

 

The Psalmist in Ps. 69:25-28, by the Holy Ghost prayed that God would blot out his enemies from the Book of life.  In Acts 1:20, this scripture is applied to Judas: For it is written in the book of Psalms.  Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein; and his Office, let another take…   Psa. 69:28: Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.

 

In Rev. 22: 18-19, Christ again threatens to take the names of men out of the book of life if they take anything away from the words of the book of this prophecy.

 

This scripture is another one that is disputed among theologians.  There are those who do not believe that God would erase anyone’s names from His Book.  I am only a messenger.  It is written clearly for all to read!!!  I am not going to “spin the words”.

 

There are four promises for the Overcomer:

 

1. Walk with Jesus in white
2. Be clothed in white raiment.
3. Jesus will not blot his name out of the book of life.
4. Jesus will confess his name before His Father and the angels.

 

Rev. 3: 7-8: To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things says He that is holy, He that is true, He that has the key of David, He that opens, and no man shuts; and shuts and no mans opens.  I know your works; behold I have set before you an open door, and no man can shut it; for you have a little strength, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name.

 

“This is the church He has crowned with His Love.  This is a description of those who will soon be His Bride.  He has nothing against this group and everything for them.  He declares this Church as His and gives them His power (verse 9).  He promises them that they will be at His side during the end-time tribulation.  Finally, in verse 12, He promises them a new nature (HIS) and an everlasting citizenship in the New Jerusalem…the Wife of the lamb.” (Van Tanner, The Seven Thunders of God)

 

One of the traps of the devil for the church of the 21^st century is the “wink-of-the-eye.”  They choose watching television shows and movies that profane the Name of God.  These will be those who have “not kept His word and have denied His name” They choose entertainment over the Holiness of God’s name.  

 

Rev. 3: 9-13: 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 your feet, and to know that I have loved you.  Because you have kept the word of my patience, I also will keep you for the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.  Behold, I come quickly; hold that fast which you have, that no man takes your crown.  Him that overcomes 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; and I will write upon him My new name.  He that has an ear let him hear what the spirit says to the churches.

 

1. Jesus says he will expose all liars (Verse 9).
2. He will humble them before the church.
3. He will confirm His love for the Overcomer.
4. He will keep the Overcomer from persecution.
5. He will come quickly.
6. Jesus will make the overcomer a pillar in the temple of God.
7. The overcomer will never go out, but will always be in the temple.
8. Jesus will give the overcomer God’s name.
9. Jesus will give the overcomer the name of the City of God, which is New Jerusalem.

 

We are to hold fast that which we have, that no man takes our crown.  This is a continuous exhortation to the church.  There are people who will try to dissuade us; discourage us; cause us to backslide; cause us to miss our calling; and to stop serving the Lord.  These are the “naysayers”.  Let no man take your crown.

 

That we are to endure patiently for Christ’s sake is an essential element in the gospel.

 

Mt. 10:22: You shall be hated of all men for My name’s sake; but he that endures to the end shall be saved.

 

Jn. 15:18: If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.

 

The hour of trial here is that which is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth.  This visitation is described in visions from Rev. 6:1 onwards of the successive series of judgment which is directed against the “earth-dwellers” ---a recurrent expression in Revelations which excludes the people of God, perhaps because the latter are of heavenly citizenship, members of the New Jerusalem/ the Kingdom of God on earth as it is in Heaven.

 

Luke 21:35-36: For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.  Watch you therefore, and pray always, that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

 

Against this visitation the faithful servants of God are sealed, among whom the members of the Philadelphian church are plainly included.

 

For the Christian, there are three sealings:

 

1. Water baptism.
2. Holy Spirit baptism
3. The Mind of Christ   

 

In the interpretation of the Book of Revelation it is important to distinguish between the tribulation which comes by way of divine judgment on the ungodly (as here); or the unfaithful Christians (as in 2:22); and that which comes in the form of persecution upon the faithful.

 

There was a false doctrine of the ‘accuser of the brethren’ for many years especially in Pentecostal circles.  The doctrine of “if there is trouble in your life, it is due to sin”.  Yes, that is a possibility, but not always true.  If you have trouble, certainly judge your life.  However, many suffer for the Glory of God.  John 11:1-4:  When Lazarus was sick, Mary and Martha went to Jesus, and said Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.  When Jesus heard that, He said, this sickness is not to death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.”

 

Another instance is in John 9: 1-11:  The man who was blind from birth, when Jesus passed by, His disciples asked Him, saying, master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?  Jesus answered, “neither has this man sinned, nor his parents; but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.”

 

Just as Christ spoke to the Ephesians, Pergamenes, Thyatirans and Sardians, He says, “I am coming soon”.  But to the Philadelphians, His coming brings unmitigated blessing, provided that the expectation of it nerves them to maintain their loyalty and not forfeit their crown.

 

The faithful in the church of Thyatira were similarly exhorted to hold onto what you have.

 

The metaphor of the pillar in the temple for the overcomer represents those who are strong and steadfast in the Kingdom of God.  These are the worshippers, ministers, Deacons and Elders who are faithful and immovable.  Unlike the Roman pillars which were destroyed during the earthquake, the pillar of the Overcomer will never be removed from its base. 

 

As overcomers, we will have a triple name inscribed on us---the name of God, who owns us for a son; the name of the city of God, among whose burgesses we are enrolled; the name of Christ the Lord.

 

The Lord spoke to me in July 1992, ‘Carolyn teach New Jerusalem as purity’. 

 

“Church 7, Laodiceans is the final word to the church.  If the Philadelphian church represents those who are destined to overcome through love then the Laodiceans represent those who are destined to be rejected because of their “self” assurance.  They represent the final word to the carnal church. Rev. 3:18 is the only hope of those who are blind to God’s desire.  “They have need to buy of Christ; Christ ‘anointed presence.’  It is a matter of standing in the fire and allowing “self” to be burnt up!” (Van Tanner, The Seven Thunders of God)

 

Rev. 3:14-27: Unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things says the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot; I would you were cold or hot.  So then because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth.  Because you say, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and do not know that you are wretched, and miserable and poor, and blind, and naked.

 

While teaching Revelation, Chapter 3, under the unction of the Holy Spirit, I began to prophesy that the “Laodicean church that was renowned for its wealth is one of the spirits over the present global financial markets.” 

 

Laodicea was Located at the junction of two major trade routes.   Laodicea served as the banking and financial center of the province of Asia.  It was the wealthiest city in Phrygia.  The church took on the spirit of the city.

 

Laodicea is a spirit of self-assurance (arrogance), pride and self-sufficiency.  Self-sufficiency and independence are admirable on some levels.  However, in the spiritual realm, “self-sufficiency” means destitution.  A nation, a people, a city, a church, or a Christian’s true sufficiency must come from God, who alone supplies spiritual riches, blessings, safety, clothing, well-being, and health.  Laodicea is part of the spirit of anti-christ that the world will get their eyes off of the Creator “the beginning of the creation of God” (3:14b), on to self.

 

2 Cor. 3:5: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of our selves; but our sufficiency is of God.

 

 

Rev. 3:18-20: “I counsel you to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that you may be rich; and white raiment, that you may be clothed, and that the shame of your nakedness does not appear; and anoint your eyes with eye salve that you may see.  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten; be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold I stand at the door, and knock; if any man hears My voice, and open the door, I will come into him, and will sup with him and he with Me.”

 

The black woolen cloth for which Laodicea was famous came from black sheep.  Even today this breed survives in this area.  There was a famous medical school there as well where Phrygian stone was powdered to produce an eye salve.

 

The Lord has rebuked this church which has no personal relationship with Him.  Yet, there He stands on the outside offering to come into the heart of any individual inside the church willing to invite Him.

 

This “door” is an opening in heaven.  It is a portal or entrance; door or gate. 

 

God’s redemption terms: ‘BUY OF ME”: (“Gr. Agorazo”) “doing business with God on His terms.  Man sold Himself a slave to sin and satan.  God paid the price of His redemption.  Man is now obligated to meet God’s terms of faith, repentance, and service.

 

1. Gold tried in the fire= Faith.  Man is investing in gold in view of the present financial global crisis.  Nothing wrong with that, but man’s gold will not save man from a financial meltdown.
2. White raiment = Righteousness. 
3. Anoint your eyes with eye-salve = enlightenment by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God.

 

 

 Laodicea is the worst of the lot.  Here is a church that demonstrates what wealth and power can do to Christians.  

 

Five things about the Laodiceans:

 

1. Works
2. Not cold or hot.
3. Lukewarm and nauseating.
4. Proud and self-satisfied.
5. Ignorant of true self.