Blog for Podcast #9
Into
Welcome to another broadcast and I am Dreamwalker1960. Once again you can read today’s podcast at dreamwalker1960.com. You can also listen to it on YouTube. Please like and subscribe.
Discussion
Today will be the toughest Bible study I am most likely to ever record. In addition and also tough to talk about. Will be one of the dreams I believe I was given from God in accordance to Acts 2:17. Which also serves as verification that we are living in the end times.
If you have been following my teachings. You will remember the offer the Glorified Jesus Christ made to the church of Laodicea. To surrender the gold of the earth for heavenly gold. As well as covering their nakedness with garments of white.
Why do I mention this?
Well there is other places where there is a mention of white garments or robes in Revelation. Here is one of them:
Revelation 7:9 – 10 – After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands. And they were shouting with a great roar, “Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!”
Many do not understand what is going one here.
I have been studying the end time prophecies most of my life. I realize there are multiple views on this. However, of all the commentaries I have read. Then through analyzing these studies by looking into the Greek. I have found the John Walvoord Prophecy Commentaries to be the one that follows a true logical formula to not only the book of Revelation but as well as the books of Mathew, Daniel as well as First and Second Thessalonians.
As a result of my own studies and taking into account the Walvoord commentaries. I have come to the following belief. And Yes I say “belief,” because I do realize many will not accept what I am going to say.
There are multiple raptures throughout the Tribulation period. As a result there are going to be a lot of people that are going to find themselves not in heaven standing before the Throne of God after the first rapture, but still here upon this earth.
This is actually fortified by the verses I just read, which I feel is a depiction of the second rapture, which occurs in the middle of the Tribulation.
Why I say this is due to the preceding verses in which the elect of the Tribulation receive the seal of God. These are named as members of the tribes of Israel. There is no way around this description. It clearly names 12,000 from each tribe of Israel and shows that these are the true 144,000 and that they are Israelites otherwise known as Jews. This is done just before or while the altar to the last Temple is defiled by the antichrist. Why they are sealed is something to be handled at other time.
Right now we are concerned about the number uncountable standing before the Throne of God in verse nine wearing white robes.
Six times there is a reference to white robes, linen or garments in the book of Revelation. The first is when Christ ask the seventh church to wear them (Rev. 3:18). The second refers to the twenty-four elders (Rev. 4:4). The third time they are given to the martyrs below the altar (Rev. 6:11). The fourth and fifth deal with the multitude before the throne (Rev. 7:9 and 13). And the sixth deals with what the armies that follow Christ upon His return to earth wear (Rev.19:14).
Now the majority of times white clothing is mentioned a theme is established.
Revelation 6:9-11 – When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of all who had been martyred for the word of God and for being faithful in their testimony. 10 They shouted to the Lord and said, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you judge the people who belong to this world and avenge our blood for what they have done to us?” 11 Then a white robe was given to each of them. And they were told to rest a little longer until the full number of their brothers and sisters—their fellow servants of Jesus who were to be martyred—had joined them.
Revelation 7:13-14 – Then one of the twenty-four elders asked me, “Who are these who are clothed in white? Where did they come from?” 14 And I said to him, “Sir, you are the one who knows.” Then he said to me, “These are the ones who died in the great tribulation. They have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb and made them white.
The theme is that of martyrdom. In chapter six those under the altar ask why they must wait and their answer is that not all the martyrs are accounted for. While in verse 7:14 we are told they are all the martyred. This too adds a chronological order to the book of Revelation. So those that stand before the Throne of God are all that is left of those upon the earth that turn to Jesus Christ after the first rapture, which takes place between the last verse of Chapter 3 and the first verse of Chapter 4. During the ensuing time of tribulation when the events of Mark 13:9-13 occur is what leads to the last of the martyrs enduring to the end.
This tells us that those left upon the earth after the first rapture are those that live in sin and Israel.
This must be said. There is a clear understanding of those that are counted amongst them are the “lukewarm.” They will not be in the first rapture, for they have been spit out of the body of Jesus Christ per His own words.
Now the question that needs to be asked is this:
Will all those that are the lukewarm then become martyrs?
That is not in my job description as teacher. I am not a prophet.
Can I speculate? Yes I can.
Doing so I will say that there will be those that will feel betrayed by God. Mainly due to a lack of true understanding of the Bible or its teachings within it. However it is not God who has done the betraying. It is they who have done so. Many will decide to receive the mark of Satan and accept the chip into the hand. So they can continue to live their lives in the worldly lusts they desire more than the eternal salvation offered to all. They will do this as those others that are lukewarm awaken to the errors of their ways and turn again to salvation and offer themselves up to the teaching of the gospel so those willing to hear will hear and turn to God through the blood of Jesus Christ. And they will willingly surrender to their fates as martyrs, for they know that in a short time they will at the very least be under the altar and at the most be counted among the uncountable as they stand before the Throne of God in a truly very short time. For they will know without any question or doubt that they are at the beginning of the Tribulation. And it best to die a martyr than to receive the mark or accept the chip.
This brings me to one of my dreams I was given in the late 1980s. In this dream I found myself in chains, which not only held my hands and feet but led to those in front and behind me. All in these chains were glad in grey. Which I now take to identify that we are lukewarm. Neither hot or white for God through Jesus Christ. Nor cold or black for those living in sin.
We were herded into a Walmart. Its shelves rifled and cleaned out. Those herding us were barley glad yet covered in tattoos. They laughed and mocked us as they pushed us to the back of the store, which had become our jail. A monument to our desires to have the riches of the world instead of the riches of salvation, as they moved us toward the back, to be held in this store as if mocking us for our stupidity.
It must be said that in the late 1980s tattoos were around, but they had not become as prevalent as they are today.
One of these people driving us stood upon the now empty racks. Jeering us as his lashed us with the wipe in his hands. As he yelled his insults at us a cheer came up from the back of the line. As I looked back I saw a boy no more than twelve come into view at the end of the isle. He was filthy and the beginning of tattoos was evident upon his skin. A huge grin spread across his face and his eyes were filled with a type of insanity. Just looking upon him sent chills into me. Then I noticed what he was carrying in one of his hands as he thrust it over his head.
Within his hand was a severed head of a woman, as he held it up by her blonde hair. Those herding us began to yell and cheer with delight at the sight of this. I went into shock as once again they began to move us to the back of the store.
Once we were at the back of the store we were given cots to lay upon. Showing us they we were not worth of the luxuries of this world. Then one by one those with me were taken to door at the back of the store. Then my time came and I went through these doors. What happened next I have no idea for at that moment all went black and it was that way from some time until I awoke from my dream. Something that has never occurred before or since in any of my dreams.
Now with that imagery upon your mind. I come to what we can do to change this from becoming a reality to those willing to listen. That being we must all diligently begin to study the Bible. As a foundation I give you these verses.
Acts 17:11 – 12 – And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth. 12 As a result, many Jews believed, as did many of the prominent Greek women and men.
In the KJV of verse 11
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
And searched – G350 – anakrino – to scrutinize, i.e. investigate, interrogate, determine [Strong’s]
The paraphrased interpretation of this word in the TDNT gives this impression:
That these people came at what was said by Paul and Silas with doubt. However they were so determined to find the truth that they found what these two men had said to be THAT TRUTH. So as a result they became saved and accept Jesus Christ as the true Messiah and their Savior.
My point?
That the people did not accept the words given to them without question as many do these days. They went to the scriptures.
The scriptures – G1124 – graphe – a document, i.e. holy writ (or its contents or a statement in it) [Strong’s]
The only complete scriptures at this time was the Tanakh. It is this they searched through and found within, what we call the Old Testament, the Truth. It is not merely the fact that they found the truth. It is that they thoroughly searched.
We are not to take the words given to us a fact, just because it comes from someone who has been given a type of authority over us. Which goes back to the time I mentioned when the Methodist Minister said the book of Revelation was a fairy tale.
We are to not just read the Bible but we are to research the Bible. I use the Strong’s Concordance and the Theological Dictionary of the New Testament. This is something we ALL should be using.
We should not just accept what a Minister, Pastor, politician, professor or new broadcaster tells us. We should never take anything on face value. Not even me. A few episode back I had said the message about Jesus being the vine was after His Resurrection. That was wrong, and I corrected it as soon as possible.
This goes to my point. I made a mistake. Why? Because I am human.
We should always verify for ourselves what is given to us. This is our duty as Christians. To seek out and find the truth and to show what is true to the world. Then if they doubt us they can research for themselves and they may come to the truth themselves.
This is how you end the lukewarm, which is my ultimate goal. For they will know the truth of the Gospel and realize they are living in sin and end it by not just seeking for the truth but who is the TRUTH. That being the true image of Jesus Christ our Savior and Messiah.
God Bless
Blog for Podcast #8
Intro
Welcome to another Podcast. I am Dreamwalker1960.
Now remember you can read what is in my podcast at dreamwalker1960.com. You can also listen on Apple, Spotify and YouTube as well as look for my page on Facebook. I am also accepting donations on fundly at:
Discussion
To reach a full understanding of who are those that are considered the “Lukewarm.” We must come to an understanding of the city of Laodicea itself.
It was a city of wealth. Made so by trade and a type of manufacturing. It was situated at the crossroads of major trade routes and so the populous became extremely wealthy. As a result of this luxury they became complacent in their faith and believe in God and His Son the Lord Jesus Christ.
Does any of this sound familiar?
Well it should. It describes the current state of most of the world we now live within. Not all of it is like this. There are areas of the world that still live in squalor and those within it struggle. However, for the most part most of the world lives in a type of luxury and have need of little.
This was how it was for Laodicea when they were included in the book of Revelation. The city had even been rebuilt from destruction only a few decades before hand from an earthquake. All done without the help of any outside moneys.
When taking this imagery into account and following the chronological order of the seven letters I established in an early podcast. We come to a realization that we are in the era of the lukewarm. But to be in that era there must be those that are lukewarm within it that outnumber those of the other six churches.
This is the recognition of why I am here. This is my calling from God. To make those out there that are willing to open their ears and minds to these truths I have set before them in all the podcasts I have done to date.
Let us take a look at James 2. From verses 1 -12 it describes the behavior many live by today who profess to call themselves “Christian.” They embrace those that reflect worldly wealth and they turn away from those that are poor or live in rough areas. Within these verses James makes this reference:
James 2:5 – Listen to me, dear brothers and sisters. Hasn’t God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith? Aren’t they the ones who will inherit the Kingdom he promised to those who love him?
This leads us back to the story of the young rich man I once mentioned in another broadcast. This is described in Matthew 19 and Mark 10. Why did I made mention of this? Because it describes those that lived in Laodicea. It labels those that place the wealth of this world before their own faith in Jesus Christ. It tells us all who are the “lukewarm.”
The young man was told by Jesus Christ to follow the commandments. The man replied that he followed them all, and Christ looked upon him with love. SO this clearly shows that God loves us all.
So then Jesus told the young man to sell all he had and to give it to the poor. The young man stood and left Jesus in sorrow. Key in on that he turned his back on Jesus Christ and walked away from salvation.
This shows that WE have an active part in the relationship we have with God through Jesus Christ. What did the young man choose? He chose the world and all it had given him over his own salvation. This is made clear in these verses.
Matthew 19:23 – Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. 24 I’ll say it again—it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!”
In the KJV:
Matthew 19:23 – Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Shall hardly – G1423 – dyskolios – impracticably
a: impracticably – impracticable – impossible in practice to do or carry out (Oxford Dictionary)
24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
The eye of the needle was a gate into Jerusalem. it was too narrow and too low for a camel to use, especially when laden with cargo. Once all the merchandise was removed from the camel it was doable but still difficult. So no one bothered to use this gate into the city with a camel.
So the analogy Jesus was making to His disciples gave them a clear meaning of what He was trying to teach them. That being, those that embrace the world with all its riches would rather reject God than to surrender all they had here in this temporary life we now live within.
Again we return to James:
James 4:1 – What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? 2 You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. 3 And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.
4 You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.
Befriending worldly possessions shows that those that do it are the lukewarm. So this was why the Glorified Jesus Christ said what He did to those in the church of Laodicea. And thus since we are now in the age of the lukewarm it is what the Glorified Jesus Christ is saying to the majority of those that say they are “Christian” yet live within mansions here within this temporal earthly realm.
Conclusion
When the young rich man said he followed all the commandments Jesus looked upon him with love. I know I keep coming back to this point, but it is this point that needs to be understood without question. God Loves ALL of humanity be they rich or poor, sinner or saint. That is why we have the Bible. This Bible is the owner’s manual of salvation. It is something that those that received these letters when they were first written didn’t have. They just had letters. Letters they read and re-read. Copied and recopied. The Bible is the only book that has so many copies that it has hardly changed and those copies that were found to be false cast aside and called evil.
The Bible is nearly 100% pure and accurate. This is the only book in existence that is thousands of years old that can truly boast this.
How is this possible if God is not real? How is this possible when those like Josephus mention James the half-brother of Jesus wrote this about him:
Festus was now dead, and Albinus was but upon the road; so he assembled the sanhedrim of judges, and brought before them the brother of Jesus, who was called Christ, whose name was James, and some others, [or, some of his companions]; and when he had formed an accusation against them as breakers of the law, he delivered them to be stoned:
So even outside the Bible Jesus is called Christ. And from a book thousands of years old that has barely changed Jesus is called Christ. And He has sent a letter to the lukewarm saying he will cast them out if they do not turn away from the world and return to Him.
So turn to Jesus Christ and ask His forgiveness, but do not turn away in sorrow like the young rich man. If you must get rid of your riches and give them to those in need within the body of Christ then do it. Seek out God through our Savior for you can only get into heaven though Him.
God Bless
You are a “lukewarm” if…….. (Part 2 Conclusion)
https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-iebr7-e31519
The end of this series which describes the world about us today and the signs of what to look for in the “lukewarm.”
Blog for podcast #7
Intro
Welcome to another broadcast, and I am Dreamwalker1960.
Today we will begin to explore the mindset of the lukewarm. So they can begin to understand why it is that the Glorified Jesus Christ spit them from His body.
Again this will be a painful message. However it must be said. The world has had enough of pampering and as it says in Proverbs 13:24:
Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children. Those who love their children care enough to discipline them.
Discussion
In Revelation 3:17 we are given a description of the lukewarm:
“You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.”
Now it continues to say which rewards you are to seek after in verse 18:
So I advise you to buy gold from me—gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see.
Christ says to seek after purified gold which ties into verse 17’s “I am rich.”
Then he states to buy a white garment from Him. This goes partly to “I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing.”
In this world we live within today. The lukewarm can boast to all about them that they are rich. They live in a huge house, they drive a fancy car. Their house has many room. Many of which are not even used unless they have guests. Yet every room is filled with items they have collected unto themselves for their own satisfaction and grandeur. Sacrificial offerings all unto themselves.
They dress in their finest when they go to the buildings called “church.” Showing off their foofaraws.
I remember one day in the early years of my faith as I sat in the balcony at church I was attending with my family. A lady stood up from her seat in the pews down below me. She caught my eye because she was waving her hand to someone a few pews away and was trying to get her attention. When she caught the other woman’s eye. I could see this lady mouthing the words:
“I love you hat!” to the other lady.
All I could do was shake my head. This was my enlightening that this church I was in was not a God focused church. It was focused upon the people within it, not God.
This is one of the main issues that those that are lukewarm suffer. They are self-absorbed. Their god is not THE God. But themselves.
The very first commandment given to us in Exodus.
“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”
For decades I away thought of this as if God were referring to the ancient gods of Egypt, Greece or Rome. These gods are another topic altogether. Then for decades I thought He was referring to Hollywood actors or sports personalities. Well He was, but that wasn’t all He was referring to. He was also referring to the greatest god all humans worship. It is themselves. Each and every human worships themselves over God and His Son our Savior. It is something that we can never truly purge from our souls as long as we live within these corrupt earthly bodies. It is why we must have a daily, if not hourly, relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
Jesus actually added two new commandments in a fashion.
Mark 12:29 – Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. 30 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. 31 The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”
They also appear in Deuteronomy 6:4-5 and Leviticus 19:18.
A quick Note here. This statement by Christ tells us two things. First there are 12 commandments and second there are actually more than just twelve. We are to follow all the teachings within Deuteronomy and Leviticus and apply where required in a post resurrection world. But that is a topic for another day perhaps.
But enough of the side note, let’s get back on topic.
Each person is their own greatest god.
Due to this they seek after what is pleasing to them. Be it possessions; to complements; to entering into sexual encounters, which at times result in a child they don’t want. So they go down to the nearest temple to the ultimate god of selfishness. Offering up this child as gift upon the altar of self-indulgence. Many times professing they are “Christian” and doing what is best for all concerned. All save the child whose life just ended.
Was this child loved as those that chose to abort it love themselves, as we are told to do by Jesus Himself? The answer is no.
What is truly sad is that due to people thinking themselves “Christian” or not. They have truly no concept of this basic knowledge due to the removal of God from where God once could be easily found. That is one way we know we are in the last part of the church age, and why I am teaching upon these difficult and even heartbreaking topic. For I want all to stand before God in joy and happiness, and not sorrow and horror.
The mere fact that there is so much unrest going on in our streets is a testament to the truth I am speaking right now. Other signs we are in the end times is:
Matthew 24:7 – Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world.
Additionally in Mark 13:12 Jesus says this:
“Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.”
Nations translates to races, while kingdoms translates to countries. Have we not experienced a race against race upheaval? Are we not in a war as I speak? Isn’t there reports of earthquakes nearly monthly? I just saw a video the other day of a young black man who on his birthday told his family that he was conservative. They disowned him on the spot. Plus you add on top of this we are in the church age of the lukewarm.
Jesus is coming and soon.
Stop worshipping yourself. Stop hording your riches unto yourself. You don’t need to live in a huge home if there is only two people or even one person living in it. The money you spent upon yourself could be uses to help those in true need.
“But that is why I pay taxes!” someone just said.
It is not the government’s job it is your job as a Christian. If you have the money to live in a huge house. You have the money to live in a two bedroom condo and use the rest to love your fellow humans as you would love yourself. We are to give our money to needed charities that help those in need. We are to do it not the government. This comes from 1 John 3:17.
The greatest leader is someone who desire to serve his fellow humans not lead them. Any who seek to lead and control are to be shunned and turned away from. Any who wish to dominate are worshipping themselves and see themselves as gods that deserve to be worshipped. They wish for you to look upon them as a god. Does this not sound like the Pharaohs and the Roman emperors of old? All humanity is equal be they ruler or pulpier; sinner or saint. Look to Mark 10:42-44.
Conclusion
Humanity are not the gods. Only the Creator of the Universe is. Stop seeking after self-glorification. Turn toward the true God. Who sent His Son to walk amongst us, to be the ultimate sacrifice so that we can speak to God freely and without shame. Cast off the worldly gold and seek after the gold that is purchased from Jesus Christ upon the pyres of trials and tribulations. That we as Christians are told we must endure. Seek out the white robes of salvation that can only be purchased by being bathed in the Blood of Jesus Christ.
Bow your knee to God and beg for His forgiveness in the name of His Glorified Son, the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior. Seek out those that do not seek to rule or control. Seek out those willing to stand their ground for God. Seek out those willing to teach the true Word of God. Accept the trials and embrace the pain that comes with being a true disciple of Jesus. For our path is not easy, and we are told it will become even worse the closer we come to the return of our Savior Jesus Christ. As we are seeing by being denied the rights to even gather to worship our true God.
God Bless.
You are a “lukewarm” if……..
https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-7ygak-e232c0
In this study we start to examine how the “lukewarm” are described in Revelation Chapter 3.
The Seven Churches (Part 8) – The letter to Laodicea
re-post
The City is Laodicea was found on the road to Colossae some forty miles southeast of Philadelphia. The city had become wealthy under Roman rule and were known for their production of wool garments. They were so wealthy in fact that after an earthquake in 60 A.D. the city had rebuilt itself off its own resources. There had been references to the existence of the church up into the fourteenth century, but now the city is nothing but ruins. Paul mentioned Laodicea in his letter to Colossae.
Revelation 3:14 – And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: “The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.”
CHRIST THE ETERNAL AND FAITHFUL WITNESS: Christ called Himself the “Amen” which mean “so be it,” something He used frequently during His time when He walked amongst us. As Dr. Walvoord states it: “As a title for Christ it indicates His sovereignty and the certainty of the fulfillment of His promises.”
He also called Himself the faithful and true Witness, which tells us that he see all and knows all. Within our minds and in our actions and when the time comes and those that do not understand why they are standing before the Great White Throne instead of in the audience looking upon the judgment that is soon to follow will then simply look upon the Glorified Jesus and they will instantly know the answer without even having to ask the question.
Revelation 3:15-16 – “I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.
Christ does not mince words with those that lived in Laodicea. It made it clear and plain. Without works and faith together you are dead and a bitter taste unto God and must be cast out of the Body.
James 2 (KJV) – 14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Christ makes it very clear he would rather you be cold or against God then to be lukewarm. But what are works? The key to works is found within the two new commandments given to us by Christ:
Matthew 22(KJV) – 34 But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. 35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, 36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Revelation 3:17-18 – “For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.”
This is also today’s church which has been seduced by the luxuries of this soft and pampering world we now live within. Even now the children revolt against their elders. Thinking they know better than those that have been in this world longer. They have been so spoiled that they wish to have everything just handed over to them. This is selfishness to the extreme. This is the total opposite of placing God first and treating all those about you as you would wish to be treated yourself. The golden rule is dead and it was killed by those that wished to kick God totally out of the world. Well now as violence is on the increase. Different social groups begin to self-segregate, refusing in interact with none but their “own.”
Revelation 3:19 – “Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent”
Christ here makes it clear that those HE LOVES he will “reprove and discipline.” So the next time you feel like accusing someone, especially someone who appears to be a Christian, of “judging,” remember it may not be.
2 Timothy 4(KJV) – 4 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
We are as Christians are instructed by the Bible to reprove, rebuke and to exhort and any that calls this “judging” are wishing to stay lukewarm and desire to be spit out of the Body of Christ.
Revelation 3:20-22 – “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come to him and eat with him, and he with me. The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
The Seven Churches (Part 7) – The letter to Philadelphia
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The city of Philadelphia now known as Alasehir has existed for a long time even though located in a region that suffered from earthquakes. It is twenty-eight miles southeast of Sardis.
Revelation 3:7 – And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: “The words of the Holy One, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.”
CHRIST THE HOLY SOVEREIGN: Jesus being the son of God and who walked amongst us to know us and then took our sins was given the keys of David upon His arrival in heaven. Between the time of His crucifixion and His resurrection Christ went into the hell itself and took the keys of death and hell. He is the holder of the keys and all actions go through Him. Any door of opportunities are opened and closed by Him. Biblically this is also associated with Isaiah 22:22 in reference to Eliakim the son of Hilkiah who was placed in charge of the kings treasure. As Dr. Walvoord says in his commentary: “The Philadelphia church, surrounded by paganism and wickedness, needed the assurance Christ gives that He has to power to bring about His sovereign will.”
Revelation 3:8-9 – “I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is about to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet have kept my word and have not denied my name. Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie – behold. I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you.”
Dr. Walvoord believes the image of an open door is in reference to opportunities for the witness of the gospel and to spread the word of that Jesus is the Messiah. Of all the options he listed this one makes the most sense. I do not agree with his opinion of the fallen away Jews though. Christ and God have never let their desire and love for the Jewish people fade. This does not mean that the Jewish people have done the same for Him. It has been twenty-five years since the destruction of the Temple by the Roman army. It is my personal believe that these Jews fell away in their true faith of God and had started to embrace the world about them since in their eyes God had abandoned them. Then to have the Christians of their city professing the Son of God and the Messiah made the Jewish congregation turn to wrath not only out of hearing a group profess of a true Messiah but also out of their falling away from their believe in God and their own guilt was a factor as well.
Revelation 3:10-11 – “Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.”
To me this praise given to the church of Philadelphia supports my above statement. For in prophecy the Jewish nation is not given this promise that the Christians are given. We are offered the Rapture while the Jewish nation is to stay upon the earth during the Tribulation to come.
Historically for the church as a whole this period of praise, worship, and ability to spread the gospel took place between the 1500s till the middle of the 1960s. After this the time of the great falling away started to take place and in my opinion was celebrated at Woodstock by Satan in 1969.
Revelation 3:12-13 – “The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from My God out of heaven and My own new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
To those that overcome and live a faithful life to Christ are promised glorious rewards in this closing. They who have an ear, let them hear.
The Seven Churches (Part 6) – The letter to Sardis
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Sardis the capitol of the country Lydia was located fifty miles east of Smyrna and thirty miles southeast of Thyatira. It was also located on the main trade caravan route. Much of the wealth for this city came from textiles, dyes and jewelry. Found near each other are the ruins of the Temple of Artemis and a Christian Church.
Revelation 3:1 – And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: “The words of Him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.”
CHRIST THE POSSESSOR OF THE SPIRIT: This is the first of two letters that have no commendation. Instead it goes straight into a rebuke. Here Christ is in possession of the seven spirits of God, the same which were shown before the throne of God in the first chapter of Revelation. This is a reference to the sevenfold character of the Holy Spirit as described in Isaiah 11:2-5. He also holds the seven stars which are the angels of the seven churches. This is to show Sardis that He has the power to judge them in righteousness.
Revelation 3:2-3 – “Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.”
Even though most were seen as dead to Christ, there were those that still has a spark of the life of Christ within them. His admonishment in these verses is to cause them to awaken from their decline unto death like the rest of those about them. Wealth and luxuries were all about them. The world was pleasing to look upon and so they felt contentment and peace. This wealth allowed them to live a life where the actions of faith were seen and heard, but the fruits they bore were dead and rotten.
It is also amazing how the hand of God works. For though this letter was written to the church of Sardis in the mid 90s A.D. God had planted His message to this church hundreds of years before. First in 549 B.C. when Cyrus the king of Persia conquered the city and again in 214 B.C. when Antiochus the Great conquered Sardis in the exact same way. It was at night and it was where the guards were not looking.
For the church as a whole this reflects the point in history between the time of the first discovery of the Americas (or rediscovery, however you wish to view that), till the time of the landing of the Puritans at Plymouth Rock. Within this time events like the later part of the inquisition were still in practice as well as the formation of the Church of England. Both of which were dead, but from them rose the Quakers and the Puritans.
Revelation 3:4-6 – “Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they walk with me in white, for they are worthy. The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. 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.”
Here is a critical part of the Bible. Something many do not wish to hear or accept. For to do so would mean that they have to change their lives. That they need to awaken for the slumber unto to death.
The sentence is setup for what is to follow within these three verses. “Yet you have still a few names in Sardis,” is directly set to work with “and I will never blot his name out of the book of life.”
The other setup is “people who have not soiled their garments, and they walk in white,” which connects to “the one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments.”
Why is this important? To the first point. The way the sentence is worded at the beginning “yet you still have,” this implies that at one time their names were in the book of life. They had been saved, they had been known, they had been seen by God. So to the next point. They had white garments and they then soiled them and fell into death as a result.
John 15:1-2 – I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
2 Peter 2: 20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
So per the Bible the man-made doctrine of “once saved always saved” is just that man-made, a lie, a falsehood. Designed to put those not willing to hear to sleep unto death in the eyes of God. As was stated earlier to the church of Sardis we are to stay ever vigilant by learning the word of God, but staying true to the teachings of the Bible and not allowing in those things that are called sins, or allowing the luxuries of a soft and pampered life to overwhelm us and send us into a sleep we will never awaken from.
The Seven Churches (Part 5) – The letter to Thyatira
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The city of Thyatira is about forty miles southeast of Pergamum in a rich agricultural area. It was known for the making of purple dye. How the church of this community come into existence is unknown. What is known is that a woman named Lydia was brought to Christ by Paul in Acts 16.
Revelation 2:18 – And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: “The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze.”
CHRIST THE HOLY ONE: Here Jesus introduces Himself as the “Son of God” instead of what He usually called Himself the “Son of man.” Since in every church how He describes Himself is part of the message to each church, how he depicts Himself is important. Here He is stating clearly that is the only way to God.
John 14:6 – Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
As Dr. Walvoord puts it: “The church of Thyatira was tolerating a departure from the true worship of Christ that was so serious that He responded with burning indignation and purifying judgment.”
Revelation 2:19 – “I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first.”
COMMENDATION: None of the preceding churches were commended for their love of Christ, but this church is. Those that are loyal to God within this church truly are, but….
Revelation 2:20-23 – “But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works, and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am He who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works.”
It is doubtful that the woman’s name was actually “Jezebel” it was a reference to the wife of Ahab of 1 Kings 16 who was known for her subtle corruption, immorality, and idolatry. This same influence has welcomed its way into this church and was corrupting it in the worst way possible. Jesus said He would cause her to fall ill and those that follow her practices into great tribulation.
Dr. Wolvoord found it notable that “adultery” was specifically called out against this church, since other churches has encountered “sexual immorality” as he states this: “is indicated, a reference to the violation of the marriage vow. Those in Thyatira who had sinned in this way had not only violated the moral law of God, but had sinned against their covenant relationship with God that bound them to inward as well as outward purity.”
This church is seen in the overall church throughout the Middle Ages. In this time Catholicism worshipped the mother of Jesus Christ and began placing statues everywhere. This is idolatry and also tries to approach God through someone that cannot and should not be used to gain access to God. Also in this time period took place such great events as the Plague, The Crusades, and various other hardships that devastated the population of humanity. From within this also came the Protestant Reformation which were those that saw the corruption within the Catholic Church and so separated themselves from it.
Dr. Wolvoord stated it this way: “The idolatry being tolerated in Thyatira also foreshadows the departure from the scriptural doctrine of the finished sacrifice of Christ. In the Middle Ages the false teaching of the continual sacrifice of Christ was advocated, transforming the observation of the elements of the Lord’s Supper into another sacrifice of Christ. This fundamental error of the church in the Middle Ages has been corrected in modern Protestantism by the recognition of the bread and the cup as symbols, but not the sacrifice itself, which Christ performed once and for all on the cross of Calvary, In contrast to the false doctrine exalting the Virgin Mary, Christ introduces Himself to the church of Thyatira as the Son of God, The One to whom alone we owe our redemption and in whose hands our final judgment rests.”
As I stated in part 1 of this series that the doctor was not a fan of Catholicism, but he himself was blind to the erroneous teaching of “once saved always saved,” which in itself is leading to the great apostasy and will be witnessed later in the letters that follow.
Revelation 2:24-25 – “But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold the teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden. Only hold fast what you have until I come.”
Here is the first time in all the letters that a group is singled out within a local church as being true to Christ and He encouraged them to continue to do so. This also shows that the idea that these churches do truly reflect the church as a whole throughout the centuries could be fact. Since as mentioned above the Reformation took place, separating those that saw the corruption within the Catholic Church and like Martin Luther who started it, left that church behind. Here also is made mention for the first time of Jesus return to earth in His second coming.
Revelation 2:26-29 – “The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority 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.”
In this closing Jesus promises those that overcome will be shepherds unto the nations that exist after His return and as God gave Him authority, He shall pass that authority on to those that prevail.
dreamwalker1960 