I feel like I was led to Revelations Chapters 2 & 3 this morning. It seems quite complicated at first glance, and I have read it many times, often ending up putting it down with ‘brain-ache,’ but I keep coming back to it. I have heard some say that these are the 7 different ages of the church. That is, that over the centuries, this is how the churches will behave at various times. And I’ve heard others say that these the seven different problems that the church, as a whole, have. They could both be right! I don’t know for sure, but if they are right. Where are we now?
Each church Got some things right, and some things wrong. Jesus tells them how to put things right, warns them of ignoring him, and promises good things to those who ‘hear’ him and change their ways, or bad things to those who don’t.
His promises each time are “I will” and “to the one who conquers” they are listed below.
I WILL;
1/” …if not I will, come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent…”
2/ “I will give you the crown of life.”
3/ “…if not I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.” (Note it says 'of his mouth' - what he says, not a physical sword).
4/ “…and I will give to each of you as your works deserve. But to the rest of you in Thyati’ra who do not hold this teaching who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay upon you any other burden; only hold fast what you have, until I come.”
5/ “If you will not awake, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come upon you.”
6/ “I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews but are not, but lie – behold I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and learn that I have loved you. Because you kept my word of patient endurance, *I will keep you from the hour of trial which is coming on the whole world to try those who dwell upon the earth. I am coming soon, hold fast to what you have…”
7/ “…I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.”
TO THE ONE WHO CONQUER’S;
1/ “I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.”
2/ “..Will not be harmed by the second death.”
3/ “I will give some of the hidden manna. And I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone which no one knows except him who receives it.”
4/ “..who keeps my works to the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron as when earthen pots are broken to pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father, I will also give him the **morning star.”
5/ “…will, in this way, be dressed in white clothing, and I will never erase his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and before his angels.”
6/ “I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God and he will never go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my ***God, and the name of the city of my God……and my new name.”
7/ “..I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat with my Father on his throne.”
There are some terrible warnings and some beautiful blessings. There is so much information in these passages. It is well worth looking at to see where you are in your faith and in your standing with God – though I suggest taking it one at a time and really praying about what it means.
I have said before that all we have to do is believe, and that is true because if you truly believe, I think you will naturally do what God wants you to do, which is;
To love Him with your whole heart and being, to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with him throughout your life. (Deuteronomy 6:5, Micah 6:8)
I'm not saying I have got it all right, or that I am perfect in any way, but it gives us a good insight into what God expects from us and what he is offering us.
Just remember, what ever is happening around us, God loves us more than we even love ourselves, why else would he send Jesus to us? (see Revelations 3:19. He cannot leave us in sin, He will always give us a way, and help, to get out of it and be saved).
This is how I understand my God. Read for yourself, see what you think.
*some believe the hour of trial here means the church will be taken up to Christ and avoid the tribulation coming on the whole earth. Some think it means keeping his believers safe throughout the tribulation. (I am unsure which is right as I can see where both get their idea’s, but in the end, what matters is that we hold out until he comes to collect us – when ever that is! And we will be rewarded as he sees fit).
** Not sure what the morning star means. Some say it is Jesus himself as this is how he describes himself in Revelation 22:16. Some say it refers to the unfading glorious brilliance of Jesus. (see Christiancourier.com). Either way, it is something good because of how it is written in this passage.
***Those who become a pillar in the temple of God will have 3 names written on them.