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The Endtime Church
Revelation 1:9-20
"I, John, your brother and fellow partaker in the trials and kingdom and perseverance which are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus.
I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, AND I HEARD BEHIND ME A LOUD VOICE LIKE THE SOUND OF A TRUMPET, saying, "Write in a book what you see, and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea."
Then I TURNED TO SEE THE VOICE THAT WAS SPEAKING WITH ME. And having turned I saw seven golden lamp stands (candlesticks);
and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like the
Son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His chest with a golden sash.
His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire.
His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters.
In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength.
When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man And He placed His right hand on me, saying, "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last,
18and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.
19"Therefore write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things.
20"As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches."
Continuing our study of the Book of Revelation, in this series of messages, (see archive), we see that John wrote the visions of Revelation from the Isle of Patmos. According to Josephus, a first century church historian, the Romans tried to boil the Apostle John in oil for the purpose of killing him. He did not die from this treatment, rather, he lived through it, and, as a result, he was exiled to the Isle of Patmos, an island in the Aegean Sea, where Rome sent prisoners to cut granite from the volcanic granite quarries.
Patmos was barren and almost treeless due to its volcanic nature. Very likely, John was treated like the other prisoners, being made to cut granite, one of the hardest rocks on earth, out of the quarries. So, John wasn’t allowed to spend all of his 30 years, exiled on the island, in constant prayer and communion with the Lord. He spent his time as a prisoner of Christ, and a prisoner of Rome, while seeking the Presence and Face of the Lord. John, the Apostle, lived to be 95 years old. He received the visions and prophecies in the Book of Revelation over a period of about 15 years, from 81 A.D. to 96 A.D.
As John was caught up in the Spirit of God on the Lord’s Day, he heard a loud voice like the voice of a trumpet, speaking to him. As he turned to ‘see’ the Voice which spoke to him, he was instructed to write in a book, the visions which he would be shown by the Lord, and to send the book to the seven churches of Asia. The churches are named by the One Who spoke with him, and in chapters 2 and 3 of Revelation, the messages to the individual churches, as well as the Church through the ages, are given to John by Jesus. Jesus had both words of comfort and words of correction for the Church(es) in each instance, except the church of Philadelphia.
Jesus had only comfort for the church in Philadelphia, which means “brotherly love.” His message to the church in Philadelphia is, "And to the angel (pastor-messenger) of the church in Philadelphia write: He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this:
'Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews
[inwardly, with circumcised hearts], [“But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.]” Romans 2:29
and are not, but lie--I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and make them know that I have loved you. 'Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
'I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown.
'He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name.
'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.' Revelation 3:7-13
The church in Philadelphia, as a type, is believed by Bible scholars to be the waiting Bride who will be caught up with Jesus in the clouds, as Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 4:7-5:28.
“For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification.
So, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you.
Now as touching brotherly love, (the meaning of the word Philadelphia), you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another;
for indeed you do practice it toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more,
and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you,
so that you will behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need.
But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope.
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.
For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.
Therefore comfort one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:7-18 (continuing with chapter 5 in its entirety).
Some may call the idea that, only the part of the Church which is watching and waiting for Jesus, and who is not backslidden into some worldly lifestyle or belief system, will be raptured before the tribulation years, some call this ‘elitism.’ Call it what you will, but Jesus expects us to hear His words, for they are the only eternal words, though they may not always fit our views. When some of Jesus’ disciples turned away from Him, after He spoke words which were hard for many to receive, He asked the twelve, “Will you leave Me also?” Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” John 6:67-69 Whatsoever He says unto you, do it. John 2:5
Jesus does not speak His Word to make life hard for us, rather, He always speaks from a heart of love, desiring the best for us as His children. The devil is a hard taskmaster, not Jesus. Would Jesus have given His life’s blood on the Cross for you, if He didn’t love you? Absolutely not! He is love, and He cannot but help giving Himself for us. He does expect us to live holy, godly lives which honor Him and point others to salvation in Him.
“See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.
Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.
And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” 1 John 1:1-3
Another passage which speaks of the Bride of Christ as being unique among her companions, is Song of Solomon 6:8-9.
"There are sixty queens and eighty concubines,
And maidens without number;
But my dove, my perfect one, is unique:
She is her mother's only daughter;
She is the pure child of the one who bore her
The maidens saw her and called her blessed,
The queens and the concubines also, and they praised her.”
This passage is taken from a scene in heaven as Jesus is fellowshipping with the Bride. Song of Solomon 6:4-9
The church in Philadelphia is believed by Bible scholars who have studied the end times, to be a type of the bridal company. Other people lived in the household of Boaz, but Ruth was his bride. There will be other groups in heaven, including the Old Testament saints, the tribulation saints, children who have not reached the age of accountability, unborn babies, to name those that come to mind. However, Jesus speaks tenderly, without correction to the church in Philadelphia, and He promises to keep her FROM the hour of tribulation which is about to come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.” Rev. 3:10 He reminds the church of Philadelphia, “Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.” He promises to write the name, NEW JERUSALEM, which is the name of the heavenly city which comes down from God out of heaven, upon the church of Philadelphia. “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And, I, John saw the holy city, NEW JERUSALEM, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” Rev. 21:1-2
The seventh church of Revelation is the church of Laodicea. " ‘To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this:
'I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot.
'So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.
'Because you say, "I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing," and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked,
I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.
‘Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.
'Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.
'He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ ” Revelation 3:14-22
Much of the western church can be found in this rebuke to the church of Laodicea, sadly, but the Lord is on the move and people are becoming born again by the thousands daily. Glory to God in the highest!
Lukewarmness, blindness, greed, self-sufficiency, some having wedding garments stained with sin, spots, blemishes, and wrinkles mark the church of Laodicea. Jesus says to His children who are backslidden and living in sin, “I love you and reprove and discipline you. Therefore be zealous and repent.” Discipline, instruction, and reproval are always born out of love. If He didn’t love and care for these, He wouldn’t say a word to them. When you discipline your own children, it is not because you despise them, but because you love them.
Christians who believe that they will be pulled out of beds of adultery, fornication, and homosexuality, snatched out of places where they are getting drunk on alcohol or illegal drugs, stealing, lying, coveting, LOVING MONEY, worshipping their idols of sports, the Creation, fame, wealth, status, and any number of other things, are in for an awakening like they have never seen, when the trumpet blows and the dead in Christ rise first, and those Christians who are living holy lives, watching, waiting for Jesus to return for His Bride, are caught up together to be forever with Him. The trumpet is blowing in preparation for the soon coming day when Christians on every continent will hear the Bride’s Trumpet. Everything will be over in the twinkling of an eye, so if you are in a backslidden condition, return to Jesus and He will return to you. “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hears, you double-minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up.” James 4:8-10 This letter was written to the church. Do you find yourself anywhere in it? Run to Jesus!
“Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.
For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory
Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.
For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience,
and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them.
But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth.
Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices,
and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him--
a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.
So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;
bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.
Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.
Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. Family Relations
Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them.
Children, be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord.
Fathers, do not provoke your children, so that they will not lose heart.” Colossians 3:1-21
Do you feel like you are being polished with an abrasive cloth? That is because the Lord is making up His jewels, and He wants you to be one of them. It takes an abrasive substance to polish a precious jewel. Without the polishing, the jewel looks dull and unattractive.
Before we close this message, let’s distinguish between Holy Spirit conviction and condemnation. Conviction of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment are some of the workings of the Holy Spirit. John 16:7-12 He draws our attention to our sins so that we will repent and be cleansed of them. He always shows the way back to walking with God according to His Word and Will. That Way is always Jesus, the Living Word.
Sometimes, the Word cuts and stings, because it is alive and sharper than any two edged sword, and it divides between the soul and spirit and the joints and marrow. It is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of our hearts, and all things are laid open to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. Hebrews 4:12-13 God cares for you. If He didn’t care what happens to you, He would have kept silent, without sending His Word, and left us to our own devices, for which the all the people of Noah’s day who lived on the earth died in the flood, except for Noah and his family.
Be careful not to put off obeying the Word of God, because it tells us that the conscience will become seared, so that it cannot receive truth any longer, when truth is spurned and unheeded repeatedly.
“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 1 Timothy 4:1-2
Condemnation, on the other hand, says, “You have sinned against God, you have sinned the unpardonable sin, and there is no hope for you. A spirit of condemnation is an evil spirit from the devil which tries to get you to believe a lie. But, Jesus will forgive you of your sin, if you will only repent and turn back to Him. The Word of God is forever settled in heaven, and it will always give you hope as long as you are still living in this world. If you leave this world without Jesus, there is no hope for you, because there is no other way to God. Any one who tries to climb up any other way is a thief and a robber, the Bible says. Jesus is the only Way to the Father. (elitism?) hardly…
This may seem like a hard word to some of us, but our Father loves us enough to warn us of danger, just as a parent would do everything possible to keep a child from running in front of a car. A child needing an organ transplant would be given its parent’s organ at the drop of a hat, if the organ matched the child’s tissues. Our Father engrafts His Word into our spirits, because we need the engrafted Word. We need an “organ transplant” sometimes. It is necessary for the Christian life. We can receive even the hard words for instruction from our beloved Jesus. The twelve disciples didn’t turn away from Him because of His hard sayings, and we won’t either. He loves us with His own Blood.
Betty Seiley
Redeemer Church, Ball, Louisiana 71405
Pastor Carl Seiley
www.bettyseiley.multiply.com
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