Jesus said Come,
Follow Me!
Chapter 10 - The End, The
Revelation of Jesus Christ
Much of the church has become
filled with traditions and doctrines of men. It is worldly and rich, having need
of nothing. The lukewarm prevail and do not see the shame of their nakedness (sin)
due to blindness (deception). Much of
the church thinks of itself as alive, but is mostly dead. False doctrines
dominate. Many churches have simply become a reflection of the world around them
(ineffective). This may not be manifested in rhetoric, but mainly in
deed. Even so, there are a few (remnant)
that have not defiled their garments and have kept the Word of God. Many more
are waking up as the end of the age fast approaches (Eph 2:1-6, Joel
2:32
). Jesus’ message to the end time churches is
to repent (forsake your sinfulness),
holdfast (to the Gospel) and overcome
(the flesh, the world and sin – through Christ). 1 John 5:4, “For whatsoever
is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the
world, even our faith.” To overcome is to become Christ like, to walk as He
walked – this is where our faith will take us. Conforming to Christ’s image
can only be accomplished by being led of His Spirit. The power comes from God
and not from man, his ability or his direction (Jn
1:12
-13, Eph
2:18
,
3:20
). Those who seem as the world have been overcome
by it and must quickly repent. Those walking by the Spirit are being transformed
by God into His image.
Great
tribulation is coming and the church will go through it as a refining fire of
God to make ready the Bride of Christ (glorious
and holy – without spot, blemish or wrinkle). The wheat will be separated
from the tares (weeds), but even so,
much deception will abound, - the wise will understand. Daniel
12:10
, “Many shall be purified, and made white, and
tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall
understand; but the wise shall understand.” The tares (just
religious) look just like the wheat (those
serving Christ through faith) until the fruit appears (Mt
13:26
, 30).
The fruit is how you will know (Mt
7:20
). God in His great mercy is going to pull many
from their worldliness (perhaps initially
kicking and screaming) during this time. Many soiled and filthy garments
will be washed and made white. The persecution and tribulation are truly
necessary and will accomplish God’s purposes. This will be the removing of
those things that can be shaken (Heb
12:27
). This will be a time of affliction and great trial. God’s wrath will
fall upon the wicked. The righteous will be tried and purified. This will be
such a time of trouble that if it were not cut short, no one would survive. When
we see our wrongful ways and doings, we will know that God has not done this
without a cause (Ez
14:23
,
17:20
,
20:43
, 36:31, Hos
5:15
).
Many
are expecting a pre-tribulation rapture or great persecution of churches. I dare
say that many religious organizations, associations and movements will enter
into the tribulation relatively unscathed. The Lord said that the antichrist
will make war with those who keep the Word of God (
Rev 12:17
). This is a very significant point. The world is
mostly religious, seeking man’s way (will) to reach God. In other
words, man’s will over God’s will. They have God serving them. These assume
they are keeping the will of God – but they love not the truth. The true
application of God’s Word is a reproach to them and they have no delight in it
(Jer
6:10
). Following the path of the cross was fine when
it was Christ doing it, but the religious have no such desire. They define death
to self as mental agreement or acceptance. The beast (false prophet) will
be a religious leader who comes as a lamb (religious, phony believer),
but speaks as a dragon (
Rev 13:11
). He will do great signs and wonders and will
deceive and seduce them that dwell upon the earth (
Rev 13:13
-14, Mk
13:22
). The world will wonder after the beast (Rev 13:3). There will be
great deception. The beast will be the ultimate in rebellious man (666)
and those who seek God through the flesh are going to want to hear what he has
to say. Many religious will align with the beast. The religious leader will even
call fire down from heaven in the sight of men (
Rev 13:13
). Those who actually keep the Word of God will
be persecuted by these religious ones – just like Christ was (Mt
10:21
-22).
The religious system will have form; the true believer will have heart – big
difference! This chapter will show when the Lord will come back (not
the day nor hour, but after what events). One must keep in mind that even
so, this day your life may be required of you. Let us be faithful.
Beginnings
In
order to understand the tribulation and the end of the age, you must first
understand the beginning. God created the world in six literal 24 hour days and
rested on the seventh. God repeats this pattern throughout His historical
dealings with mankind. God created man on the sixth day and six is the number of
man. God rested from His labors on the seventh day and seven is the number of
completion. Isaiah 46:10, “Declaring the end from the beginning, and from
ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand,
and I will do all my pleasure.” Each of the six creation days represent a one
thousand year period (for a thousand years
is as a day with God) that man will labor upon the earth for six thousand
years total. The seventh creation day, Sabbath, represents a thousand year
period of rest known as the millennial reign of Christ (instituted
upon the return of Christ – Rev 20:4, Zech 14:9, 16-17). Christ will be
the focus in the millennial reign just as He should be on the Sabbath. Although
no one is exactly sure where we are in God’s time table, we are certainly very
close to the end of the six thousand years of man (self
rule). The tribulation will soon occur followed by the return of Christ.
Romans
9:28
, “For he will finish the work, and cut it
short in righteousness: because a short work
will the Lord make upon the earth. (Ps
90:4)”
Why
Tribulation?
This
chapter will detail the horrible events of the coming tribulation upon the
earth. Many will ask how a loving God could allow such a thing (Dan
4:35
). The very question itself is a judgment upon
God’s character and fairness. The hidden realities belong to God alone (Deut
29:29, also Rm
11:33
). How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out (Rm
11:33
)? The reason for tribulation parallels
Israel
’s and
Judah
’s unfaithfulness to God. They forsook the Lord
and sought the world like a whores/harlots unfaithfulness to her lover (read
Ezekiel Chap 16). Today, many have forsaken Christ for the things of the
world (they would never see it this way, but neither did Israel/Judah).
Tribulation is the culmination of man’s rebellion against the will of God (Is
24:20, Joel
3:13
) – pride has blossomed. Rebellious
man has sought to exalt himself from the very beginning. Just as Adam’s
disobedience brought sin, death and untold suffering upon the earth it will all
come to a pinnacle at the end of the age. Daniel 8:23-24, “And in the latter
time of their kingdom, when the transgressors
are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark
sentences, shall stand up. And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own
power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and
shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.” Death, suffering and confusion
will reign as man seeks his ultimate will. Jeremiah
23:20
, “The anger of the LORD shall not return,
until he have executed, and till he have performed the thoughts of his heart: in
the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly.” Man chose to follow the devil
in the Garden of Eden and the devil’s son will be manifested to and accepted
as Messiah by a rebellious mankind (Christ
was rejected, Jn 5:43). This will be a time of judgment upon man’s
wickedness. Man will receive the fruit of his own way (Pv
1:31
, Jer
6:19
,
17:10
,
21:14
, 32:19,
Micah
7:13
, Zech 1:6).
All creation will see the results of what rebellion against God has produced (Rm
9:22
-23). All creation will see the
hell on earth that is manifested when Satan is allowed to rule for a short
period of time according to his way (nature). Jesus Christ will put an
end to the chaos, confusion, suffering, wickedness and death and will set up His
kingdom to show the world how things could have and should have been from the
beginning. The wicked will receive judgment.
Beware:
God’s four sore judgments are coming, the sword (war),
famine (lack), noisome beast (opposed
to man), and pestilence (plague,
contagious disease) – Jer 15:2-3, Ez
5:8-12, 6:10-14, 7:15, 14:21. These judgments were used extensively prior to
Judah
’s fall and
exile (Jeremiah and Ezekiel).
We live in a fallen world. Death is just as common as life and it is
relentless. Animals kill each other. Animals kill man. Man kills animals. Man
kills man (Gen 9:5-6, Eccl 1:4,
3:19
,
4:16
). This cycle will continue in this fallen world
until God’s purposes are complete (Gen
8:22
, Ps 49:15, Eccl
3:19
). What shall be said of this: Ecclesiastes 12:7, “Then shall the dust
return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave
it.” AND Psalms 89:48, “What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death?
shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? Selah.” Jesus came to
bring truth and eternal life. Christ paid a debt that we could not and
reconciles fallen man back under God’s authority. We are to put aside our
hostilities and take up the banner of love (Song
of Solomon 2:4). Love is God’s nature and we best comply. We must relish God’s
authority with all respect and worship and come out of our rebellion. Your image
must be reconciled (through Jesus) with that of God. Your image will be
that of God or that of SELF. Those who worship self will have no place with God.
The
antichrist spirit is in the world. The generation born just after the second
world war known as the “baby boomers” has been referred to as the “ME”
generation (see Chapter 7, Rock and Roll).
It has been characterized by selfishness and rebellion. This generation
paralleled the establishment of the United Nations and the re-establishment of
Israel
as a recognized nation with sovereign borders.
The self-centeredness and rebellion has accelerated since (abortion, sexual revolution, the pill, feminism, rebellious music forms,
television, Sodomites, etc.) and has become the norm for modern society and
for most of the established religious institutions that claim to follow God (confusion).
This is the antichrist generation (paves
the way). The rebellion is now so complete in the world that those who truly
follow Christ have become exceedingly bright lights (due
to the surrounding darkness).
God
has pleaded with His people on many prior occasions due to their rebellion,
disobedience, lack of faith, sinfulness and worldliness, namely in the
wilderness for forty years and in the captivity of Babylon (Ex
17:20). Ezekiel 20:35-36, 38, “And I will bring you into the wilderness of
the people, and there will I plead with you face to face. Like as I pleaded with
your fathers in the wilderness of the
land
of
Egypt
, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord GOD.
And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against
me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they
shall not enter into the
land
of
Israel
: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.” Those
who identify with God are to be set apart and under His authority. Many desire
to be like the world around them and seek such pleasures. Jeremiah
2:35
, “Yet thou sayest, Because I am innocent,
surely his anger shall turn from me. Behold, I will plead with thee, because
thou sayest, I have not sinned.” For what purpose did God plead? Ezekiel
20:43-44, “And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein
ye have been defiled; and ye shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for all
your evils that ye have committed. And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I
have wrought with you for my name’s sake, not according to your wicked ways,
nor according to your corrupt doings, O ye house of
Israel
, saith the Lord GOD.” The great tribulation
will be such a time. So many who “profess Christ” live worldly lives far
from His will. Most are seeking their own will and not God’s. God is going to
purge the rebels and purify the remnant by humbling them and causing them to see
their trespasses and great need for Jesus. Once you see your sin and depravity
and seek God, then: Ezekiel 36:25-27, “Then will I sprinkle clean water upon
you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols,
will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I
put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I
will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause
you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.”
God’s purpose is to reconcile through Christ, but we must see our need for
this to be accomplished. Those who are living as the world do not see such a
need, irregardless of their profession. Galatians 1:4-5, “Who gave himself for
our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to
the will of God and our Father: To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
Many do not desire deliverance, they love the darkness.
Much
of the religious world does not see their sin and depravity and great need for
Jesus: Revelation 3:17-19, “Because thou sayest, 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: 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 thine
eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and
chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” These think they are rich, but
Jesus says they are poor. However, Jesus told another group (
Smyrna
) who were poor and suffering tribulation that
they were actually rich (Rev 2:9).
There seems to be a disconnect between many religious and the truth. These
religious do not see their need. They are living in the flesh, prospering and
believe all is well. Huge religious buildings are going up and membership growth
is being realized. They are purpose driven, but unfortunately not Spirit led.
Jesus says they have nothing of eternal value (spiritually lacking), are
sinful and deceived. Their reliance is on self and human ingenuity. Christ has
not given up on them. Jesus says buy of me gold tried in the fire (1 Pt 1:7). What does this mean? The fire is the tribulation that we
suffer to refine us for the Master’s use. This is what the church at
Smyrna
was going through when Jesus told them they were
rich. 1 Corinthians 3:11-14, “For other foundation can no man lay than that is
laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man
build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because
it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what
sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall
receive a reward.” We must build our lives on a correct foundation of faith in
Jesus Christ and serve Him – this is true riches. The trial of our
faith is more precious than gold -
it will be tried in fire (1 Pt 1:7, Zech
13:9). Job
23:10
, “But he knoweth the way that I take: when he
hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” Christ searcheth the reins and
hearts (
Rev 2:23
). We must have white raiment, which is purity
from sin. We purify our souls by obeying the truth through the Spirit (1
Pt
1:22
). The nakedness represents our sinfulness (Adam
and Eve sinned and realized their nakedness, Gen 3:7;
Israel
made false gods and defiled themselves –
the people were naked, Ex 32:25 – also 2 Cor 5:3, Ez 15:8).
The blindness is deception and confusion given to those who love not the truth
of God’s Word. Does this not describe much of the modern religious world? They
build ministry empires and television networks - they are rich and think they
need nothing – yet they live as the world. They do not see their sin and filth
– they wallow in it. Most of these religious feel they have license (a
covering) to live as the world and in sin, namely Jesus Christ, yet they
feel the lost (those who do not profess)
do not have such freedom - confusion. This notion may not be manifested in
rhetoric, but in deeds – lifestyle, thoughts, actions.
God’s Four Sore Judgments
When
Joshua led the children of Israel into the Promised Land, he was told to utterly
destroy the peoples (Deut 7:2, 24, 9:3),
their writings (Num 33:52, Deut 18:9,
20:17-18) and their idols (Ex 34:13,
Deut 7:5, 12:2-3, Josh 23:7). These people, through their actions, were
wicked (accursed) before God and this
was His judgment upon them (Gen
15:16
, Deut 9:4-5,
18:12
, 31:3).
Israel
was not to be as these peoples because they did
all the things which were abominable to God (Lev
18:1-30, Deut 18:9-12).
Israel
went on to become more wicked than the nations
whose land they possessed (2 Kg 21:9),
because they transgressed God’s will by seeking their “own way” (Jer
32:30). They disregarded God’s commandments and sought after idols, and
lived in the manner of the wicked peoples around them (Deut
31:16, 32:16-19, Ps 78:56-58, Josh 2:8-13, Jer 32:33-35).
Israel
even exceeded the wickedness of the peoples they
dispossessed (2 Kg 21:9, 11)! God sent
Judges (Jdg
2:18
-19) to deliver the people and later provided kings. Yet the people
continually did evil in the sight of God, constantly provoking Him with their
vanities (Jdg 10:6). The kings of
Israel
were a foreshadowing of “The King” that God
would later send. The people were to be submitted and obedient to the king’s
direction (Jdg 17:6,
21:25
), and this was an object lesson (an
allegory). The kings were suppose to be submitted to God and execute
righteous judgment, but this was not always the case. God also sent prophets who
spoke His Words. In all cases the messages of the prophets were for the people
to turn from (forsake) their
wickedness and rebellion (Jer 18:8, 2 Chr
7:14
), and come back to God, who would have mercy (Is
55:7). Jeremiah 25:4-5, “And the LORD hath sent unto you all his
servants the prophets, rising early and sending them; but ye have not hearkened,
nor inclined your ear to hear. They said, Turn ye again now every one from his
evil way, and from the evil of your doings, and dwell in the land that the LORD
hath given unto you and to your fathers for ever and ever.” Turn ye, turn ye
from “your” wicked ways – from your path (Ez
33:11). God said: Isaiah 65:2, “I have spread out my hands all the day
unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good; after their
own thoughts.” The Lord also said, “Yea, they have chosen their own ways,
and their soul delighteth in their abominations. They did not hear: but they did
evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not (Is
66:3-4).” The Lord said they had a revolting and rebellious heart (Jer
5:23
) and would not walk in the good path (Jer
6:16
). God has been very consistent in His
expectations of man from the beginning: Deuteronomy 10:12-13, “And now,
Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy
God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God
with all thy heart and with all thy soul, To keep the commandments of the LORD,
and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?” - to cleave to
Him in obedience (Deut 13:4, Jer
7:23
)! This is the first great commandment (Mk
12:29
-30).
The message is to surrender to God’s authority. God’s prophets were “not
received” and were mistreated (beaten, cast into prison) and killed (Mt
21:35
). 2 Chronicles 36:16, “But they mocked the
messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the
wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till
there was no remedy.” God told them over and over that judgment was
coming. Jeremiah 29:17, “Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will send
upon them the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, and will make them like
vile figs, that cannot be eaten, they are so evil.” Jeremiah 25:7, “Yet ye
have not hearkened unto me, saith the LORD; that ye might provoke me to anger
with the works of your hands to your own hurt.” AND Jeremiah 26:13,
“Therefore now amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the LORD
your God; and the LORD will repent him of the evil that he hath pronounced
against you.” All the time they were committing evil against the Lord they maintained a
form of godliness worshipping in the temple (Jer 7:1-12, Ez
23:37
-39).
They plowed wickedness, reaped iniquity; ate the fruit of lies (the
forbidden fruit, the devil’s lie): because they didst trust
in their own way (Hos
10:13
). Drastic measures were taken by God to get
Israel
’s attention (Jer
32:23). God said he would destroy His people because they turned not from
“their ways” (Jer 15:7,
18:11
-12). Ezekiel 6:10-11, “And they shall know that I am the LORD, and that I
have not said in vain that I would do this evil unto them. Thus saith the Lord
GOD; Smite with thine hand, and stamp with thy foot, and say, Alas for all the
evil abominations of the house of
Israel
! for they shall fall by the sword, by the
famine, and by the pestilence.” God sent His four sore judgments of the sword,
famine, pestilence and noisome beasts (Jer
15:2-3, 34:17, Ez 5:8-12, 16-17, 6:10-14, 7:15, 14:21). Those who survived
were carried off into Babylonian exile (Jer
4:18
,
5:13
,
16:12
-13). Lamentations
3:42
, “We have transgressed
and have rebelled: thou hast not pardoned.” This was intended to get
Israel
’s full attention. Jeremiah
2:35
, “Yet thou sayest, Because I am innocent,
surely his anger shall turn from me. Behold, I will plead with thee, because
thou sayest, I have not sinned.”
Israel
had not been able to see their iniquity or self
seeking ways in anything they did (Jer
4:22
). They were not submitted to God, but thought they were in “their
way.” In
Babylon
, they would have frame of mind to ponder such
things (see things as they are).
Ezekiel 20:43-44, “And there shall ye remember your
ways, and all your doings, wherein ye
have been defiled; and ye shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for
all your evils that ye have committed. And ye shall know that I am the
LORD, when I have wrought with you for my name’s sake, not according to your
wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt
doings, O ye house of
Israel
, saith the Lord GOD (also Ez 36:31).” AND Ezekiel
20:35
-38, “And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and
there will I plead with you face to face.
Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the
land
of
Egypt
, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord GOD.
And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond
of the covenant: And I will purge out from among
you the rebels (those who rebelliously
walk in their own way), and them that
transgress against me (those who
follow the devil’s lie): I will bring them forth out of the country where
they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall
know that I am the LORD.” Jeremiah 24:7, “And I will give
them an heart to know me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be my people,
and I will be their God: for they shall return
unto me with their whole heart” (also
Ez
11:19
-20).
The four sore judgments was God’s mercy in turning, at least a remnant, back
to Himself. Otherwise all would be lost.
The
way in which God dealt with rebellious
Israel
and
Judah
are a foreshadowing of what is on the horizon (Great
Tribulation). God is extremely merciful and forgiving to those who will
forsake their wickedness and turn to Him with a perfect heart of love. The
popular gospel in the modern world has become one of the flesh. This is a gospel
that allows men to transgress the will of God supposedly with Christ’s
understanding (ye shall not surely die) and to seek their own way (ye
shall be as gods). In other words, this is a sugar coated version of the
devil’s original and continuing “Lie.” Most who profess Christ now live as
the world and have mostly been overcome. Jesus has been reduced to a spiritual
covering for all manner of self seeking, and worldliness. God has been
longsuffering till there be no remedy. The horsemen are mounting their steeds as
the four sore judgments are looming. Revelation 6:2-8, “And I saw, and behold
a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him:
and he went forth conquering, and to conquer. And when he had opened the second
seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. And there went out another
horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace
from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto
him a great sword (The sword). And when he had
opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld,
and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.
And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for
a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil
and the wine (The
famine). And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of
the fourth beast say, Come and see. And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and
his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was
given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill
with sword, and with hunger (The Famine),
and with death (The
pestilence), and with the beasts of the earth (The noisome beasts).” The
false prophets are crying peace, peace (rapture,
rapture), but Great Tribulation is coming. God will bring judgment – for
He is righteous and He delights in truth and judgment (Jer 4: 2,
9:24
, Ps 19:9,
33:4-5, Ps 86:11, 119:42). This is the
character of God and He is true to His being. This will get the attention of all
as God pleads one last time with a most rebellious people – impudent and
stiffnecked (Ez 2:3-4).
Purification
To
be pure, your inner life (heart) is as pure as the outward (visible)
life per God’s expectations.
Israel
was instructed to make the various implements for the Lord’s Tabernacle,
and later for the temple, from pure gold (e.g. Ex 25:11, 17, 24, 29, 31, 36,
38, 39). Gold naturally has some impurities in it. When you put the gold to
the flame, the impurities are burnt away (tried
in the furnace) leaving a pure substance of value. The impurities represent
sin. Pure gold does not stain or corrode. The pure gold represents holiness and
righteousness. The flame represents those persecutions and tribulations that one
endures to bring about a pureness. Being in the flame is necessary to obtain the
purity, but is not appealing to the flesh (Heb
12:11
). We are to become as pure gold. Proverb 17:3,
“The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth
the hearts.” The fact that these instruments in the Lord’s earthly dwelling
(tabernacle, temple) were pure gold represents God’s absolute holiness
and righteousness – free from impurity (iniquity).
1 Peter 1:5, 7, “Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation
ready to be revealed in the last time. That the trial of your faith, being much
more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might
be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.” 1
Peter 1:22, “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through
the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another
with a pure heart fervently.”
We are tried by God for purification (Zech
13:9, Mal 3:2-3). The tribulation and suffering we endure on earth purifies
us. We would never choose this, but it is absolutely necessary. Physically dying
for Christ (martyrdom) is the ultimate “dying to SELF” and
accomplishes God’s will, thus bringing purity (freedom from sin, Dan
11:35
). This will become evident in this chapter.
The Bride and the Harlot
Revelation 17:1-2, “And there came one of the seven
angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come
hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon
many waters: With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and
the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her
fornication.” To be drunk is to lose self-control (opposite
of the fruit of the Spirit – temperance); to become less inhibited (reserved, subdued, self conscious); to have less judgment (certainly
not righteous judgment); to not have clarity of mind or reaction (dulled
senses); and loss of vision (blindness).
Fornication represents unfaithfulness to God. Fornication with the whore is
forsaking God for the sensuality of another. Sensuality is the preoccupation
with the gratification of physical appetites and especially the sexual appetite.
This is saying that the leaders and the inhabitants of the earth have lost self
control, inhibitions, judgment, clarity of mind and are blinded in their lusts
for the pleasures, entertainments, worldliness, fleshly fulfillments, and
general materialism of the whore (
Babylon
). These are the things that she offers. She
seduces wonderfully! This whore has corrupted the whole earth (Rev 19:2). The flesh dominates in seeking it’s will. This has
always been the devil’s ploy. To lure men through their own lusts to seek
their own will (thereby transgressing
God’s will) to be as gods (Gen 3:5).
Many do this with a Christian covering (sheep
skin) and believe “ye shall surely not die” (Gen 3:4). This keeps men in the rebellion against God. This is how
the devil eternally separates men from God – and always has been. You die in
your own rebellion seeking temporal gratifying lusts of the flesh. God pleads
for those to come out of this evil (Rev
18:4). You must renounce your rebellion against God and surrender to Him
with a whole heart of faith in obedience to His will. Those who do not come out
of such unfaithfulness will experience God’s original promise (thou shalt surely die, Gen
2:17
).
The
body of Christ is represented as the “bride” in scripture. The false
religion mixed with worldliness represents the “harlot” in scripture. This
false religion represents all of man’s religious efforts and idolatry through
the ages and cultures, but particularly tries to convey a twisted gospel (another
Jesus). This idolatry and seeking of other gods is spiritual fornication.
The bride is led of the Spirit, seeks Christ’s will and says, “Father,
glorify thy name,” and “thy will be done.” The harlot, who lives for self
says, “Father, glorify my name,” and “my will be done.” The harlot seeks
her own and wants to save her flesh. The bride wears white, which is simple,
unpretentious and innocent (Rev 19:7-9) representing cleanliness, purity and outward
righteousness (Zech 3:1-7). She is
clothed with God’s nature and has a robe of righteousness (Is 61:10). Let us examine how the harlot religious system is
arrayed: Revelation 17:3-5, “So he carried me away in the spirit into the
wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names
of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. And the woman was arrayed in
purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls,
having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her
fornication: And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE
GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.”
Babylon
had once been a golden cup in the Lord’s hand
(Jer 51:7). The harlot (false
religious) wears purple and scarlet colors and is decked with gold and
precious stones and pearls, (the dainties
of the world, Ps 141:4).
Babylon
desires to deck herself with the glory and
things of this world (Hos
2:13
, Nahum 3:4). She seeks self
satisfaction, yet assumes she is the image of God. She has lived deliciously and
lusted after the good things of the world (Rev 18:7, 14).
Babylon
is a mystery to many people, because she claims
to follow Jesus. Can’t you just hear her say, you can’t out-sin God? Or God
accepts you no matter what you do! – such filthiness. We must ask ourselves:
Do we reflect Christ or the world in our thoughts, deeds, actions, likes, and
dislikes? – Where is the majority of your time spent? This is a true indicator
– don’t be self deceived or fooled. Don’t compare yourself to others. What
if Noah had compared himself to others (everybody’s doing it)? Compare
yourself to God’s Word. 2 Corinthians 13:5, “Examine yourselves, whether ye
be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that
Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” Ask God to examine you:
Psalm 139:23, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my
thoughts:” We must set our heart to understand and chasten ourselves before
God and He will hear us (Dan
10:12
). The harlot fornicates with the world. The beast that the harlot rides
upon is the World’s government/economic system (Is 23:8, merchants
Rev 18:23
). The harlot is great whereas the bride is holy.
Babylon
may be interested in evangelism, religious
ceremony, buildings, social work, popularity and big crowds – she seeks
greatness and worldly honor - but she has no interest in righteousness and
holiness (denying the flesh). We are told to cleanse ourselves from all
filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God –
this is what it’s all about (2 Cor 7:1).
What men esteem highly is an abomination to God (Lk
16:15) – possessions, wealth, education, societal position, big
cathedrals, programs, influence, traditions, musical talent, self-righteousness,
creeds, religiosity, ceremony, donations, authority, control (Mk
12:38-40, Lk 18:11, Mt 6:1-2, 5-7, 16-18).
We must come out of
Babylon
(Rev 18:4).
Babylon
is any system that would come between Christ and
us in any way including priests and religiosity.
Babylon
wants to put us under her control and keep us
there by making us fear that she alone is where salvation and right standing
before God is found and that we must partake of her fellowship and sacraments.
Babylon
says we must assemble with her and support her
needs, build her palaces and perform her good (?)
works.
Babylon
is destined to make war with the lamb and His
chosen ones (
Rev 12:17
).
Babylon
does not take correction very well and would
rather put out the light than come to it (Ps
37:12, 32, Gal
4:29
). Proverb 29:27, “…and he that is upright in
the way is abomination to the wicked.” AND Galatians
4:29
, “But as then he that was born after the flesh
persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.”
Babylon
is self-centered: Isaiah 47:10, “For thou hast
trusted in thy wickedness: thou hast said, None seeth me. Thy wisdom and thy
knowledge, it hath perverted thee; and thou hast said in thine heart, I am, and
none else beside me (also Zeph
2:15
).” Notice that she trusts in her wisdom and knowledge (tree of)
and was corrupted. This is in keeping with Satan and his rebellion (See
Chapter One). This system leads multitudes away from the One True God into
eternal damnation and thus corrupts the world with her fornication (seeking
of other gods - idolatry, Rev 19:2).
Revelation
17:6, “And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the
blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great
admiration.”
Babylon
opposes Christ, but seduces
wonderfully. This harlot had killed the saints, yet the apostle John wondered (be
in awe) and marvelled with great admiration when he saw this whore – but
there is hidden truth about this woman (Rev
17:7). Many are fixated upon the eyes of this serpent as it slowly swallows
them and chokes their life out. Throughout the centuries, millions of true
saints of God have been persecuted and killed by religious organizations of all
denominations. Did you know that even John Calvin (revered
by many) had a rival named Michael Servetus burned at the stake? His crime
was that he disagreed with Calvin’s theology and he was judged a heretic (I’m
not defending Servetus’ theology). Martin Luther encouraged civil
authorities to take up arms and put down those who disagreed with his theology.
Martin Luther also wrote a pamphlet titled, “On the Jews and their Lies”
which advocated Christians to set synagogues on fire, to destroy Jewish houses
and to put Jews in stables, and it advised rulers to banish Jews from their
countries. Nowhere in New Testament scripture can violence against another be
justified, especially in the cause of Christ. These men were zealous, but for
who? - God or self. Jesus said that some would kill and think they do God a
service – how misguided (Jn 16:2). Who knows how many saints that the Roman Catholic Church
and the Orthodox Church have killed (physically
and spiritually)? Even today, many saints are being slain by their
“fellow-professed Christians” by their tongues and their writings for
preaching the whole counsel of God (that of repentance and righteousness).
This is character assassination – misrepresentation (straight from the devil’s toolbox). If one can be demonized (as
the religious attempted with Christ – Mt
12:24
), then their witness becomes
less effective.
Babylon
and her daughters are indeed
drunk with the blood of the true witnesses of Jesus.
Babylon
’s immorality is seen in the
fact that she claims to represent Christ and yet lives by the principles of the
world and seeks to be great in the world. That is how her cup becomes full of
abominations. Churches that build impressive facilities, emphasize money (tithe/support),
or are concerned with church growth – membership/decisions rather than changed
lives are surely
Babylon
. The true church prepares for
Christ’s coming through purity (righteousness)
and faithfulness to God that is expressed in biblically correct attitudes,
motives, thoughts, and actions. These are demonstrated in a daily walk to become
like Christ.
Consider
this carefully: 1 Corinthians 6:15-17, 19-20, “Know ye not that your bodies
are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ (bride),
and make them the members of an harlot (world)?
God forbid. What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body?
for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. But he that is joined unto the Lord is
one spirit. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost
which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are
bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit,
which are God’s.” When we follow the world and our desire is for the things
of the world, we become one with the world. This makes you an enemy of God (Js 4:4). Your walk will speak much louder than your words.
Israel
and
Judah
went whoring after the world and God gave them
over to their lovers (the ungodly).
Only a small remnant of
Judah
was saved. Psalm 73:27, “ For, lo, they that are far from thee shall
perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring (are unfaithful)
from thee.” Please consider the whole account of
Israel
’s worldly whoredoms written in Ezekiel Chapter
23 and throughout the prophets. What was the result of
Israel
’s whoredoms: Romans 9:27, “Esaias also
crieth concerning
Israel
, Though the number of the children of
Israel
be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be
saved.” Seeking after the things of the world? – idolatry is a very serious
thing. If this is something you do not think about or actively fight then you
are spiritually blinded and most likely idolatrous. God will give those who
choose the world over to the world during tribulation. Those who follow the
beast for the things of the world or selfish benefit (save
your own skin) will be eternally lost. When Jesus returns all the kindreds
of the earth shall wail (Loud weeping;
violent lamentation, great sorrow) because of Him; most are in rebellion –
Even so, Amen (Rev 1:7).
Beware of Leaven
In scripture “leaven” is used as a symbol of self-exaltation, hypocrisy (Lk
12:1, Lev
2:11
,
6:17
) and sin (Ex
34:25). For example, Jesus said: Mark 8:15, “And
he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and
of the leaven of Herod.” His disciples did not understand what He meant so
Jesus provided clarification: Matthew
16: 11
-12, “How is it that ye do not understand that
I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of
the Pharisees and of the Sadducees? Then understood they how that he bade them
not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of
the Sadducees.” These religious sought to exalt their will (self)
rather than God’s (Lk 12:1). Leaven causes the lump to rise and these
“raise” their will above God’s. The leaven of King Herod (ruler)
was later visible as he was struck dead for receiving glory that should have
went to God. The people called him a god and he accepted their praise (Acts
12:20
-23).
Seven days prior to the Jewish celebration of Passover all leavened bread
was required to be removed from one’s home (Ex
12:15
-20). This was symbolic of humbling one’s self and removing all
sin. Unleavened bread was to be eaten for the Passover meal (Ex 12:8).
This was highly symbolic of Jesus. Christ is the bread sent from heaven (Jn
6:32
-37). Jesus never exalted self and only did the Father’s will
and had no sin (Jn
6:38
). We must beware of
exalting ourselves and our purposes rather than God’s. 1
Corinthian 5:6-8, “Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven
leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a
new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for
us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the
leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and
truth.” We are to become humble (die to self) and conform to Christ in
authenticity and genuineness. If we do not crucify the old life then nothing has
changed.
We are warned throughout the New Testament to beware of deception. Luke
13:20-21, “And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the
kingdom
of
God
? It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid
in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.” The parable is
explained as follows: The leaven is man seeking his will (self-exaltation)
and man’s sinfulness and transgressions against God – and gloating in such.
The meal represents those who are professing Christ. Leavened dough is equate
with spiritual adultery in scriptures (Hos
7:4). The woman is the great harlot described in Revelation Chapter 17 (for clarification read Ezekiel Chapter 16). The woman is composed of
those who claim to represent Christ, but actually are exalting self and their
real love is the things of the world – hence, a sinful harlot. Notice the
woman hid the leaven in the meal. This is descriptive of deception – it is
there, but not obvious to the undiscerning. In the course of time (since
Pentecost), this seeking of man’s will (self-exaltation) and
sinfulness, works its way through the whole body corrupting all. We are told in
scripture: Galatians 5:9, “A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.” Why
three measures of meal? There has existed for some time three main visible
groups (institutionalized) who claim to exclusively represent Christ (It
should be noted that Jesus in actuality represents Himself). These groups
are the Orthodox Church, Roman Catholic Church, and the
Protest-ant
Church
. If you honestly look (using the Bible as
your reference) at where each of these institutions is headed (or are
already there) through all their organizations and associations, it is
toward apostasy or “being leavened.” These groups have set themselves
between the believer and Christ. These groups are following the doctrines and
traditions of men and are calling it God’s will. Most will identify themselves
as one of these groups (or their offspring; where do you go to church? I’m
a…?), rather than a follower of Christ.
Luke
13:18-19, “Then said he, Unto what is the
kingdom
of
God
like? and whereunto shall I resemble it? It is
like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it
grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of
it.” Those who profess to follow Christ (Christians)
have multiplied across the earth into an exceedingly great multitude. Fowls of
the air have always been representative of demons (Lk
8:5, 12). Man has developed vast religious systems in which the demons of
the air find shelter. This is representative of the religious who serve through
the flesh rather than the Spirit. This also reveals great deception. When we die
to SELF (and the world) as we have
been instructed to do, we will be like our Lord and the devil and his demons
will have no place in us (Jn
14:30
). Please note that Jesus defined “fowls of the air” in His parable of
the seeds: Mark 4:4, “And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way
side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.” Jesus later clarified
the meaning in His explanation of the parable: Mark
4:15
, “And these are they by the way side, where
the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh
away the word that was sown in their hearts.”
The Issue of Sin
The
devil continues to peddle his original deception (lie) to mankind - you
can sin against God and not die (ye shall surely not die). Sin is
trivialized (made light of, played down – Pv 14:9) and Christ is made a
minister of sin. His sacrifice being some sort of covering or transference of
righteousness such that God overlooks continued willful wickedness under the
guise of forgiveness and grace (Gal
2:17
). As in the days of Noah, the world is becoming increasingly wicked.
Genesis 6:12, “And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for
all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.” Many of the religious
institutions have allied with the world and are following suit. To face the
issue of sin means that one will have to make hard choices in coming to the
light. The condemnation is that many choose the darkness. Ignoring (rejecting)
the light is choosing the darkness. Justifying your sinful actions is rejecting the light. Those
(I’m talking religious here) who
love darkness, hate the light and will condemn those in the light as legalists,
extremists, fanatics, and self righteous – maybe even cults. They want to turn
off the light. Those in darkness will only become darker – it’s a slippery
slope of ever darker shades of gray. Those in darkness will continually stumble
and so will their followers – confusion will reign. The devil’s original lie
takes on many different forms. Some think all things will just work out for
their benefit in the end. Some feel if they are a good person (by their/SELF
definition) that they will be in right standing before God. Some think that
everyone (even after spending some rehabilitation time in hell) will
ultimately be reconciled to God. The list could go on and on, but the point is
that most rely/cling on their rebellious pertinacious opinions/sentiment rather
than the truth plainly stated in God’s Word. They exalt their opinions as
eternal truths. Man just refuses to humble himself and submit to God – and
this is to his own condemnation. This has been the issue since the beginning!
Proverb
30:12, “There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not
washed from their filthiness.” That generation is here and now! This
is a generation that accepts the fact that they have sin and require
forgiveness. They
believe that Christ has forgiven them of
their sins – and He will. The problem is that they wish to remain in the
darkness not forsaking their sins, yet want to be continually forgiven of them.
Christ becomes their minister of sin (Gal
2:17
). They have no victory because they will not
release the darkness. They have not been washed from their filthiness and do not
necessarily want to be. They will use God’s love to justify the wicked (Ex
34:7, Is
5:23
, Nahum 1:3).
They are still serving sin and are thus unregenerate. These are not following
Christ’s example or continuing in His Word, yet believe they are in His will (Jn
8:31-32). They do not love the truth. Satan knew the truth, but he did not
abide in it (Jn
8:44
). To love the truth is to live your life within
it. One message of the book of Revelation is that during the tribulation, many
will be purified. These must come to see their hypocrisy and the need to lay
down their will and rebellion and be cleansed from their sin (and desire for).
This may come about under increasing pressure as God is truly merciful.
Deuteronomy 4:30-31, “When thou art in tribulation, and all these things
are come upon thee, even in the latter days,
if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice; (For the
LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee,
nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.” The children
of the flesh are not the children of God, but the children of promise (faith)
are counted for the seed (spiritual
Israel
– Rm 9:8).
Many will continue to serve the flesh and their self interest assuming that
Christ will bless them regardless. We read in Chapter One that the very essence
of sin is man’s desire to live out his will rather than God’s. To be
cleansed from filthiness or sin, Christ must conquer our self-will and rebellion
and bring it into subjection to His purposes, and thus we are saved from the
power of sin. Psalms 24:3-5, “Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or
who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart;
who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity (Pride in ourselves), nor
sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and
righteousness from the God of his salvation.” If we do not have a clean heart
to do God’s will then salvation will not be ours. Psalm 5:4, “For thou art
not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with
thee.”
Rewards
Many
folks think of heaven in terms of what they will get (mansions, crowns, gold,
precious stones, privilege, etc.). God shows that what man thinks as
important are merely road paving and building materials in heaven. Man still
wants God to serve him – even in heaven! The book of Revelation reveals heaven
to be a place where God is greatly praised and exalted, and His perfect will is
flawlessly accomplished. If you do not perform God’s will now on earth (putting
yours aside), don’t think God doesn’t realize that you will have no
interest in doing so in heaven (Mt
6:10
). God is not gathering more
rebellious ones. When some religious organizations teach of obedience and
holiness, it is usually in the context of receiving rewards (or not losing
any) and this is fleshly and flawed – without love or sacrifice. Do not
assume that one will have the same fleshly lusts and desires in heaven. Dwelling
in God’s presence will be paradise, but our outlook will be different than on
earth. We will be in glorified bodies, purified and bearing the image of the
heavenly (1 Cor
15:40
-44, 49).
Recall what happened to Lucifer when his desires rose within him. 1 Corinthians
15:53, “For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must
put on immortality.” When Christ shall appear, we shall be like Him (1 Jn
3:2). There will be much to enjoy, but the covetous will not be there. We
will dwell with God and that is paradise.
Many
people want to go to heaven – an eternal life of bliss! Do these want to love
and obey God such that His will is performed even if it requires immediate (and
sustained) suffering, tribulation, reproach or self denial on their part (Job
13:15)? Are these willing to justify God to their own detriment (loss,
disadvantage, injury)? I dare say that many just want to seize upon the
inheritance (Mt
21:38
). We must live in the Spirit (deny
flesh) to gain the inheritance. We must have a heart of love for God and
delight in His Will if we want to dwell with Him (Is
66:2). We must desire to be endeared (to
make beloved) to our creator, Lord and Savior and not seek selfish benefit.
The
End of the Age
Prophecy
concerning the end of the age is located throughout the books of the Bible. The
bulk is located in Matthew (Chap. 24),
Mark (Chap. 13), Luke (Chap. 21), Daniel (particularly
Chap 12), Ezekiel, Joel, and the book of Revelation. In Daniel we are told,
Daniel 12:9, “And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and
sealed till the time of the end.” In Revelation we are told, Revelation
22:10
, “And he saith unto me, Seal
not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.” We are
also told, Revelation 22:7, “Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that
keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.” When the prophecies were
given to Daniel (who was very wise),
he was greatly perplexed and deeply troubled, but was not given the meaning.
These things have now been unsealed and we can understand them and are blessed
in it. The Coming of Christ is preceded by a period of time known as the Great
Tribulation. This will be a time of affliction and great trial. God’s wrath
will fall upon the wicked. The righteous will be tried and purified. This will
be such a time of trouble that if it were not cut short, no one would survive.
That which is holding back Satan will be removed and the devil will be given
much more leverage to afflict the world (as
he was granted with Job) as God’s protective hedge is lessoned. He will
bring forth his son the antichrist, together with a false religious system and
will rule the earth for a short period of time. God is still in control! Even
so, the saints will suffer and be purified. Hebrews 12:26-27, “Whose voice
then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake
not the earth only, but also heaven. And this word, Yet once more, signifieth
the removing of those things that are shaken,
as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may
remain.” The things which can be shaken are those things which you (man)
have produced. The things which cannot be shaken are those things which God has
wrought in you. The saints will triumph over the world in their sacrifice of
self for God’s purposes. Christ will then return and destroy the devil’s
works and take dominion of the earth.
The
book of Revelation opens with Christ’s message to the seven churches (types
of called out ones, assemblies).
Ephesus
is has religious works, but is
without love, having lost her first love, Jesus Christ. They labor in Christ’s
name, but do not KNOW Him (Rev 2:3-4).
They are rebuked and told to repent (Rev
2:5) and overcome (Rev 2:7).
Smyrna
is suffering persecution (trial,
testing) and is poor (humble) and is not rebuked. Jesus equates their
suffering and poverty to being rich (Rev
2:9, in eternal merit) – such a paradox to the flesh. They are told to be
faithful unto death (
Rev
2:10
) and overcome (
Rev
2:11
). Pergamos is worldly and holds
to the doctrines of Balaam and the Nicolaitanes (those who want to
rule/lord-over the people). They are rebuked and told to repent (
Rev
2:16
) and overcome (
Rev
2:17
). Thyatira is adulterous (loves
the things of the world) and has received false teaching. They are rebuked
and told to repent (
Rev
2:21
) and overcome (holdfast,
Rev 2:25
).
Sardis
is hypocritical, but a few have been faithful and are worthy.
This group believes they are “alive” and doing great things. God sees them
as otherwise (Rev 3:1-2). They are
rebuked and told to repent (holdfast, Rev
3:3) and overcome (Rev 3:5).
Philadelphia
is faithful and is not rebuked.
They are told, Revelation
3:10
, “Because thou hast 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.” This
refers to the great tribulation. Notice that the whole world will be tried. They
are also told to overcome (can’t let up,
Rev 3:7). The Laodicean church is proud and self-sufficient and thinks she
needs nothing. They are rebuked and told they are wretched, miserable, naked,
poor, and blind. Christ tells the lukewarm that He will vomit them out of His
mouth. They are further instructed to repent (
Rev 3:19
) and overcome (
Rev 3:21
). The overwhelming message to the churches is to repent and overcome
(sin and the world). To be an
overcomer (conqueror)
you must be faithful to Jesus and enduring (2 Tim 2:3). Matthew
10:22
, “And ye shall be hated of
all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.”
Hebrews
3:14
, “For we are made partakers
of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end.”
Although these churches are mostly rebuked, Christ does acknowledge any good and
gives encouragement for those who will repent and overcome. It’s not too late,
but time is running out.
Romans
12:21, “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Revelation 3:21, “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.” Christ overcame and we are expected to do the same (through Him).
Overcoming is victory. If you continue to sin, and you live for self and the
world, then you have no victory. If the battle were won at
Calvary
for those who “just
believe” yet continue to sin, then the messages to the churches would be
unnecessary. Remember that Christ overcame by dying to self and absolutely
performing the will of the Father in all things. Christ humbled (submission) Himself to accomplish this, and now the Father has
greatly exalted Him to the throne. Jesus is our example (Jn
16:33
). When we die to self (man’s will) and become
humbled, then God’s will can be manifested in our lives and He will exalt in
due time. Revelation 21:6-7, “And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and
Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the
fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all
things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.” This fountain is the
Holy Ghost and we must have Him dwelling within us (Jn
7:38
-39, 1 Jn
4:13
). If we do not then we are not Christ’s (Rm 8:9).
Are you athirst?
Notice that the churches of
Smyrna
and
Philadelphia
are
the only ones Christ finds no fault with.
Smyrna
is
persecuted, and persecution brings purity – they are tried (
Rev
2:10
).
Dying (martyrdom) for Christ is equated to overcoming sin and the world,
and these are given white robes that represent purity (see Revelation 6:9-11,
Zech 3:1-7).
Philadelphia
has
kept Jesus’ Word (doers, Js
1:22
) and
not denied His name, so Christ promises to keep them from the hour of
temptation, which shall come upon the whole world (the
great tribulation). This
does not mean that Christ will take
Philadelphia
out of
the world, but will sustain them within it (like
Noah). John
17:15
, “I pray not that thou shouldest take them
out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.” If you
want to be taken out of the world prior to Christ’s Second Coming in some
supposed pre-tribulation rapture then there is only one way – death by way of
the beast (Dan 7:21, 25, 8:10, 24-25,
11:33, 12:7, Rev 6:9-11, 7:13-14, 12:17, 13:7, 14:13, 15:2, 20:4).
Christ says of the church at Ephesus: Revelation 2:2-3, “I know thy works,
and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are
evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and
hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s
sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. They did some good things making
converts and lots of good works, but were so caught up in the effort that they
lost sight of why and for whom. They left their first love (v.
4) and were endanger of totally being removed. Jesus notes that Pergamos
follows the doctrines of Balaam: Revelation 2:14 , “But I have a few things
against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who
taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat
things sacrificed unto idols (partake of
idolatry such as television), and to commit fornication (love
the things of the world).” These sins at Peor (Num 31:6, Josh
22:17
) were
grievous because those who called themselves God’s became one with the things
of the world (those things that oppose Him). Woe to those who profess Christ and
do the same. This is also what Thyatira is doing: Revelation 2:20,
“Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that
woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my
servants to commit fornication (worldliness),
and to eat things sacrificed unto idols (partake
of idolatry, benefit, become corrupted).” Christ says of the church at
Thyatira which is worldly (doctrines of
Balaam) that if they do not repent they will be cast into the great
tribulation (
Rev 2:22
). Those who are worldly and adulteress (eyes
off of Christ and onto the dainties of the world) must be purged or
separated – and so it shall be. The tribulation forces a choice – the world
(flesh) or God (spirit) – and a choice will be made - fence
sitters.
Christ says to Sardis: Revelation 3:1-3, “And unto the angel of the church
in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and
the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and
art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to
die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how
thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt
not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not
know what hour I will come upon thee.”
Sardis
is
deceived. This group believes they are living for God and all is well. Jesus
thinks they are mostly dead and dying. This is quite a disconnect with eternal
implications. Those who are deceived are blinded to the truth and rarely receive
correction well. Jesus gives them a serious warning when He says he will (future
tense) come as a thief (see paragraphs
on “vials” and Armageddon” this chapter). Christ will come soon and
take their last chance at eternal life. Jesus tells them to be watchful (Mt
24:42-43, Lk
12:38
,
21:36
). This
is an indication that they are living for self and the world with their hearts
and minds on other things. Luke 12:45-47, “But and if that servant say in his heart, My
lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the
menservants and maidens, and to eat
and drink, and to be drunken;
The lord of that servant will come
in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will
appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. And that servant, which
knew his lord's will, and prepared
not himself,
neither
did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.” The
Lord goes on to say that they are in danger of having their name blotted out of
His book of life (Rev 3:5).
Great Tribulation
Jesus
was asked, what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
Mark 13:19-20, “For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from
the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall
be. And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved:
but for the elect’s sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.”
There will be great uncertainty, war, famine, plagues, death, and persecution.
Affliction is continued pain of body or mind, as sickness, losses, calamity,
adversity, persecution, distress, or grief. The “elect” are the only body of
Christ (not those “Left Behind”). They are chosen or set apart;
designated by God to salvation through the act of God’s grace (through
Jesus Christ) by which the affections of men are purified or alienated from
sin and the world, and exalted to a supreme love to God. This will be a
difficult time: Luke
21:26
, “Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those
things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be
shaken.” The world through all it’s wars, famines, holocausts, and suffering
has yet to see anything to compare. Matthew 24:21-22, “For then shall be great
tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no,
nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no
flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.” Jesus
said, John
16:33
, “…In the world ye
shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” We
must also be overcomers through Christ (
Rev 2:26
). Jesus is our example! Only through faith in Christ
will one be saved.
It is important to note that all men have breaking points. There is only so
much anyone can take mentally or physically. Our strength and power must not
come from within (human effort), but
rather through Christ. The Lord can give us the supernatural ability to face
whatever comes our way. Often this ability will only manifest itself “just in
time” as we are required to have faith and trust in Christ and not look at
circumstances (consider Peter’s walking on water experience, Mt
14:26
-32). Throughout the ages believers have faced death for Christ.
In many cases these believers have given signs (hand gestures) to others
that Christ did in fact give the needed strength in the midst of their
surrendering their lives (those burned at the stake, etc.). God leads –
we must obediently and lovingly follow.
Jeremiah
30:7-9, “Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it:
it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it. For
it shall come to pass