Revelation Chapter 2 (R02d1)

Church in Thyatira
 
Rev 2:18-19  “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, ‘These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass: I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first."
  Our Lord is the Almighty God who judges the intents of our heart with eyes like a flame of fire. His feet of fine brass is the foundation of justice in judgement. They were commended for their unceasing good works that grew in fervency with time.
 
Rev 2:20  Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.
  Beware of false or self proclaimed prophets and prophetesses in churches today. Just like Jezebel of old who killed the prophets of God, these wolves in sheepskins will destroy the faith of pastors and church leaders with their destructive heresies and send them to eternal damnation.
 
1. Eating food sacrificed to idols
Mat 4:4  But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”
   Since the word of God is the spiritual food for every Christian, then distorted truth, doctrines of demon and heresies are the spiritual food from the devil (food offered to idols). Thus, accepting and practising heresies and destructive doctrines is just like eating food sacrificed to idols.
Note  no servant of God will go to the heathen temple and eat food offered to idols.
   In the latter days, many Christian leaders will teach destructive heresies for financial gains, and the destination of these wolves is damnation.
2 Pet 2:1-3  But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.
 
2. Commit sexual immorality
Jam 4:4  Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
  Christians are the brides of Christ. When mammon and the world become our first love, we have defiled our union and resigned ourselves to adultery by being carnal, proud, worldly, covetous, selfish and rebellious.
I John 2:15-16  Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.
 
Savage Wolves in Sheepskin
Acts 20:29-30  For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.
  Since the garden of Eden, where God allowed Satan to test Adam and Eve, He had allowed the devil to test mankind since.
  He even allowed savage wolves, filled with distorted truth, wrong doctrines and heresies, to cause havoc and division in the churches founded by the Apostle Paul.
  These wolves bring into the church heresies for financial gain because they are carnal, worldly, blind, covetous and faithless.
Titus 1:10-11  For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain.

Revelation Chapter 2 (R02d2)

Church in Thyatira
 
Rev 2:21  And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent.
  God gave the worldly, carnal and heretic church leaders the chance to return to the truth but it was not reciprocated because mammon is the idol of their lives. They were an imitation of the Pharisees of old, justifying their rich and luxurious lifestyles with heresies and self-serving excuses.
Luke 16:14-15  Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him. And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.
 
Wolves will not Repent
Heb 6:4-6  For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.
  Wolves or false prophets will not repent for they have lost their salvation and they must be cast out from your church. They are actually the devil's agents.  
 
Rev 2:22-23  Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.
  False prophetess will be stricken with incurable chronic illneses and her followers will suffer great tragedies. In addition, death is inevitable for her children; her supporters and church leaders, that is. All the tribulations are meant to expose their falsehood and to grant forgiveness to repented hearts. God cannot be deceived because he can see through our hearts.
   
Rev 2:24-25  “Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden. But hold fast what you have till I come."
 
Depths of Satan
  God forbids Christians from understanding the mysteries and the depth of Satan, demons and evil spirits. God Himself will battle with them, He will not encumber us, weak human beings.
  Christians are given the authority over Satan and his evil spirits - that in the name of Jesus we can cast out Satan and his evil spirits. When we trust Jesus by using His name, Jesus, Himself (not us) will cast out the evil spirits.
  Unfortunately, proud and carnal Christian leaders have been misled by Satan to study the mysteries of Satan from worldly, Satanic and demonic sources. Using the abominable doctrines of demons, they were deceived to fight Satan and lose their faith in Jesus with their failures. Put your trust in Jesus for a sure victory.
I Tim 4:1-2  Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times somae will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,
 
Rewards for Overcomers
Rev 2:26-29  "And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations— ‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron; they shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’— as I also have received from My Father; and I will give him the morning star. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
  Overcomers will be bestowed with the status of kingship that empowers them to rule over the nations together with Christ the Morning Star.
Rev 22:16  “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.”

Revelation Chapter 3 (R03a)

Church of Sardis
 
Rev 3:1-2  “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, ‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you 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.
  Jesus who has the full anointing of the seven Spirits of God told the church to be alert and to strengthen the remaining faith in Him and His gospel, words and Promises.
John 3:34  "For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure."
 
Seven Spirits of God
Isa 11:1-2  There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots. The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.
   
The Seven Spirits of God (Holy Spirit) given to Jesus are:-
1. The Spirit of the Lord (redemption or empowerment)
2. The Spirit of wisdom
3. The Spirit of understanding
4. The Spirit of counsel
5. The Spirit of might
6. The Spirit of knowledge of the Lord
7. The Spirit of the fear of the Lord
 
Ministerial Gifts of Jesus
Eph 4:11  And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers
  Our Lord Jesus gives the seven Spirits of God in measure to His servants in accordance to their ministries.
1. New convert - Holy Spirit of redemption
2. Wise Christian - Spirit of wisdom
3. Teacher - Spirit of understanding
4. Pastor - Spirit of counsel.
5. Evangelist - Spirit of might
6. Prophet - Spirit of the knowledge of the Lord
7. Apostle - Spirit of the fear of the Lord
 
Mat 7:24  “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:"
 
Sardis a Dead Church
  The church is lively and has vibrant ministries but it was declared dead by our Lord. It was led by the wisdom of men that their good works are deemed dead because they are done out of lawlessness and hypocrisy.
 
Rev 3:3-4  "Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy."
  The Lord gave them the warning to repent of their imperfect work and to hold fast to His teachings otherwise 'Rapture' will catch them as a thief.
Note  endtime churches are just like these 7 churches.
 
Rev 3:5-6  "He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
  The overcomers of this church will be given white garments at Rapture and their names will be found in the book of life which records the names of those who gained eternal life.
  Our Lord made it clear that those who do not repent of their sins will have the names blotted out from the book of life.
 
Note - Once saved is not always saved.

Revelation Chapter 3 (R03b)

Church of Philadelphia
 
Rev 3:7  “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”:
  King David was a weak and sinful man in his youth. He became a righteous and holy king in his latter years by his longing to seek after God’s heart as glimpsed from his writings in Psalms.
  The key of David will likely be the opening of the door into the knowledge of God.
 
Rev 3:8  “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name."
  Despite being frail, this church is obedient and is bold in proclaiming the name of God. In return, God gave this weak church free access into the knowledge of our Lord Jesus for the purpose of strengthening and empowering them.
2 Pet 1:5-8  But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
 
Rev 3:9. Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.
  The Jews in the OT were once God’s chosen people, but they have lost the title after the death of Jesus. Churches, home cells and gatherings of Christians who practice any part of the Law, God has renounced them as synagogues of Satan.
  God will use World War 3 to cleanse His house, so all those heretics in the synagogues of Satan will be killed as God's judgement. However, out of God’s great love and mercies some so-called Jews, who witness God’s provision and protection of believers, will repent and acknowledge Jesus Christ is their Messiah.
 
Rev 3:10-11  Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown."
  This church had faithfully kept the commandments of Jesus, had persevered through temptations, deceptions, heresies and persecutions from worldly brethren.
  In return, God will count him worthy to escape future tribulations and will also reward him the kingship in heaven. In these last days, faithful Christians will have much to persevere in persecutions, imprisonments, tribulations and sufferings to be counted worthy by God.
Luke 21:34-36  “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
 
Rev 3:12-13  "He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. 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 I will Write on him My new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
  God ensured that the New Testament was written in Greek (not in Hebrew) for salvation of all mankind, and the name 'JESUS' as the Saviour of the world. So let's worship JESUS in spirit and truth, the name above all names.
Phi 2:9-10  Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,

Revelation Chapter 3 (R03c1)

Church of Laodicea
 
Rev 3:14-16  “And to 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 could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth."
  God declared that He is a creator who is faithful, truthful and knows our deeds. He classified us into three spiritual characteristic profiles.
 
Mat 21:28-31  “But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go, work today in my vineyard.’ He answered and said, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it and went. Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said to Him, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you.
  The first son was quick to rebuff his father but came around and did as he was told.
  The second son was quick to pay lip service but did nothing.
1. Cold – like first son.
  These are quiet Christians who cannot commit themselves to any ministry in the church because of other commitments. They are people whose work goes unnoticed, made sacrifices in secret, and whose good works have encouraged and help many brethren (Matt 6).
2. Hot - true disciples
  Christians who are zealous, outspoken, expose heresies, obedient to His word, preachers of the gospel and commit to disciple making.
3. Lukewarm - the second son
  Jesus used the second son as a metaphor to hypocritical chief priests and elders who were quick to acquiesce to God’s commandments but did not commit to practising it. Their religious traditions were merely performances to covet the praises of men. They were not sincere and had sinful inner thoughts. These lukewarm Christians are like the abominable Jewish hypocrites who crucified our Lord Jesus.
Luke 16:14-15  Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him. And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.
 
Rev 3:17  Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—
  The church was prosperous in its physical form but was miserable, wretched, poor, blind and naked spiritually.
  Rich and powerful churches and congregations today have robbed God by hoarding His money in properties, stock market, deposits in banks, and investments. Don’t they know that in God’s eyes, they are wretched, miserable... Why?
 
Rev 3:18  I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.
1. Refined gold from God- Christians are warned not to store up wealth for themselves but to build treasures in heaven by distributing earthly wealth for good works. In doing so, we will be rewarded with refined gold in heaven (Luke 12:33).
2. White garments - Awarded to stalwart Christians who follow Christ through thick and thin (Rev 3:1-6 and Rev 6:9-11).
3. Eye salve - Medicine for the eyes so that Christians can understand scriptures and prophecies, and set their minds on things above.
Eph 1:17-18  that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

Revelation Chapter 3 (R03c2)

Last Days Church

Jam 5:1-6  Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days. Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter. You have condemned, you have murdered the just; he does not resist you.
  This last Church of Laodicea is a good example of today's rich and powerful endtime churches, who have robbed God by hoarding up His money meant for His ministries.
  God warned Churches and Christians:-
1.           not to rob God by heaping up treasures on earth in stocks, properties, bank deposits                and valuables.
2.           ensure that His numerous ministries in mission and caring for the poor and needy                 are properly funded.
3.           to beware that labourers are fairly treated and they are not crying to the Lord for                 low and unfair salaries
4.           not to waste God's money pleasuring themselves and living in luxury
5.           to ensure that faithful and just Christians are respected, and not persecuted, reviled and destroyed by false testimonies.
However, if they do not repent, God will ensure that they will suffer great pains seeing their wealth disappear.
2 Tim 3:1-5  But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud,  blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
Rev 3:19  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.
  Are you aware that your sickness, sorrows, trials and deficits in life are God’s chastisement for you, out of His love? He wants to set you free from your sinful ways if only you would repent.
  Do not be deceived into thinking that these are demonic attacks. If God could not keep the devil in check, then He is unworthy to be your Father God.
Note:  No one can touch nor harm you without the approval of our Father God.
 
Rev 3:20  Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
  The Lord is calling out to you incessantly to repent of your covetousness. Will you turn over a new leaf and welcome Him into your life by loving Him instead of loving the world and the things therein?
1 John 2:15-16  Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.
 
Rev 3:21-22  "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
  Can you believe that if you can overcome the sins, evil and wickedness in the end time, you can sit on the throne of God in heaven as His bride (or sons) and help Him rule the whole heavens (including angels)?
  Yes, because you have converted (sacrificed) your earthly glory and wealth for heavenly rewards.
Rom 8:16-17  The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

Revelation Chapter 4 (R04a)

Scene in Heaven - Before Rapture
 
Rev 4:1-2  After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.” Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne.
  God called John up to heaven and showed him what was to happen soon for a purpose. Somewhere along the line, Paul was caught up to heaven for the same purpose. They were men on a God-given mission.
2 Cor 12:4  how he (Paul) was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
Note  - many Christian leaders claimed (lied) to have visited heaven, yet by their fruit, they have blown their cover.
 
The New Covenant
Mat 26:27-28  Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
  Jesus was a Jew on earth whose teachings were in line with the Law of Moses because to do otherwise, it would be sin. We are made to understand from Paul’s epistles, that Jesus, having fulfilled the Mosaic Law and the Prophets, had made them obsolete with the New Covenant of His blood shed on the cross.
 
Love One Another
Rom 13:8-10  Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
  When a Jew loved one another as Jesus had loved him, he had fulfilled the law and need not keep any law including feasts, Sabbath, etc.
 
Rev 4:3-4  And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads.
 
Jasper - an aggregate of microgranular quartz is an opaque, impure variety of silica, usually red.
Sardine stone - sardion (Greek) from a root meaning "red", is a gem of a blood-red colour.
  The colour of jasper and sardius stone is typically red which speaks for the  blood of Jesus that was shed for our redemption.
 
The Love of God
Phil 2:5-8  Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God... And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
  Jesus gave up his divine privileges and humbly reincarnated as a man to save mankind. He was hung on the cross for the removal of our curses, His blood and death for our redemption and the stripes on His broken body for our healing.
 
The rainbow  is a reminder of God’s faithfulness in keeping His covenant.
 
Rev 4:5-6  And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back.
  God appeared before the Israelites on Mount Sinai accompanied by the appearance of lightnings, thunders and voices.