The Scroll of Revelation, 6 – God Speaks to the Churches (2)

Thyatira. (2:18-29) This church, spoken to by One who sees right through them with eyes like a flame of fire (2:18) is with us today and in all ages, as are all seven churches: the corrupt church, being corrupted by a woman who “calls herself” a prophetess (2:20). Great “tribulation” is promised the unrepentant who follow her, also. (2:22)

There is a growing presence of female leadership in today’s church. Paul forbade women to lead men, and that was that. But here already in Thyatira, was not only a woman, but an evil woman, teaching immoral doctrines in the first century church. Why is no one stopping her? Here is a church of love, service, faith, and patience. Here is a church that has grown better, not worse (2:19). But Jezebel prospers (2:20).

God’s remedy for His people, after giving the woman ample time to change her ways (2:21) is separated living. He Himself will cause a division between the immoral and moral in the church of Thyatira. (2:22-23) The one segment is encouraged to hold fast (2:25), and overcome (25-26). The other is to be judged, and soon, if repentance does not follow.

And so the Word must go out to faithful believers today, not that they are to try to take the reins of the Church, but rather that they should take to the knees, to be faithful, be consistent, and allow God to do what He must. “Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them,” says the apostle. (Ephesians 5:11) Yet we are not to be pulling weeds, either (Matthew 13:29). Not before the time.

In 2:27 we have a promise to overcomers that they will rule the nations with a rod of iron. The coming Kingdom of Jesus will be a kingdom of laws and rules. It will be a time of perfect government. The planet will function as it was meant to from the beginning. How incredible that we shall actually reign side by side with God Himself in a world being made perfect by the Son of God.

Sardis. (3:1-6) From One Who by His Spirit and angels is and gives life, and knows what’s going on in Sardis comes the message, “You have a name that you live.” (3:1) A reputation in the city. A history. A fine building. Nice people. Your sign says “church”. And church means “called out.” Surely you must be alive, recognized by God. But no, only death here. You have long forsaken the call. You have heard instead the call of the world, and you have responded to it. Your music, your mission, your messengers, are all of this world. The “mixture” is lord in your church, the desire to conform, the flow of ecumenicity. “All things to all men” has turned into bald-faced idolatry and man-pleasing.

God tells the sleeping, nearly dead, church, to wake up (3:2), to repent, and that to it He will come like a thief. (3:3) The idea of a secret, startling coming is always in the context of a church like Sardis, in need of repentance, never a church that is watching and waiting for Christ. “You are not in darkness that that day should overtake you as a thief” (I Thessalonians 5:4).

Notice that even in this saddest of churches there are a “few names”. (3:4) These folk are not encouraged to come out of the Sardis congregation, but to continue on to their certain reward.

The Book of Life (3:5) is certainly a Revelation theme, although it appears in other portions of Scripture from Moses to Paul. (Exodus 32:32, Daniel 12:1, Galatians 3:10). More of interest here, though, is the idea of “blotting out”. Is it possible, then, for a man to lose his place in the Book? God says to Moses (Exodus 32:32) that anyone who sins against God will indeed be blotted out! Then are we being led to believe that every man who is born is put into the Book to begin with, then “blotted out” when sin occurs, then placed into the “Lamb’s” Book of Life (21:27) upon repentance and true conversion to Jesus? And out of that Book listing all the “overcomers”, there is no blotting out? I believe this is a valid understanding. I imagine, though, that both camps of the “Eternal Security” issue will find a way to make the “Book” fit their view! For now, I will leave that issue with them, with the suggestion that my readers be encouraged to study this further.

Philadelphia(3:7-13) The “door opener” (3:7) has set before the church an open door (3:8). How wonderful when situations in our ministerings become so obvious. We have prayed. We have waited. Then one day it happens. Note how Jesus praises the little-but-pure strength of Philadelphia over the little-but-waning love of Ephesus. God tells us here that He desires quality in what we do, not just quantity.

Possession of the “Key of David” (3:7) brings us to Isaiah, in 22:22, where the Spirit is talking to Eliakim, the Son of Hilkiah. Eliakim is in the process of taking the place of another servant of the Kingdom, Shebna, who was seeking his own glory. Eliakim is to be placed over the household, and given a sure position of honor and responsibility. Talk of his coming “throne” and the key to the Kingdom seems to blend into Messianic predictions. Eliakim was at the very least a beautiful picture of things to come. His name means “God will establish.” In this case, the establishment of God’s Kingdom is predicted. Jesus of course has inherited the Throne and the Key of David, temporarily presided over by then-king Hezekiah and his worthy servant Eliakim.

Jesus, who took upon Him the form of a Servant, like Eliakim, has been given the Key to the Kingdom, the position of highest honor, and through Him, God will establish the very reign of God on the earth. Jesus gives the Key to whomever He will. Peter was given a Key for the Jews and a Key for the Gentiles. His message of introduction of God’s forgiveness opened to them eternal life forever. The Key has been passed down to all believers willing to use it in the proclaiming of the Good News. To this end, doors open and close, as predicted here to the Philadelphia Church, and thence to believers of all ages.

For comments on the Synagogue of Satan, (3:9) see under “Smyrna.” It is in both of the “faithful” churches that this enemy of the saints tried to have a perverse effect on God’s chosen. The passing of this “test” by both churches has certainly been one factor of their strength.

(3:10) There is no direct evidence anywhere in Scripture for a pre-tribulation rapture. But passages like 3:10 are used as indirect proof. Here the “hour of trial” is called the Great Tribulation, the Philadelphia Church becomes the end-time church in the church-age theory, and the faithful are thus promised they will not have to go through this Tribulation because, it is further assumed, they will be here “caught up” before that time comes.

But what if the hour of trial is not three and one half years, but simply the day of his coming? What if we look at the literal fulfillment of this prophecy to Philadelphia? Does God ever remove people from the earth in Scripture, or merely from the danger?

(3:11) He comes quickly. Suddenly. Be ready at a second’s notice! Your very crown is at stake! Now there is an interesting study. What crown could be taken away by letting up? What crown is available to the believer? Paul, Peter, James, and John all talk of a crown that is ours. From them we learn:

1. That Jesus promised a “crown of life” to those who love Him (James 1:12). Now, we have no record of such a saying of Jesus in the Gospels, but it is loud and clear in Revelation 2:10: “Be faithful unto death and I will give you a crown of life”. John may have received this message before and perhaps James heard it from him. Or Jesus may have spoken this directly to James as he walked closer and closer to Him after His resurrection.

2. That this crown will be given to, not only those that love Him, but to those who love His appearing. (II Timothy 4:8) Those who pray for and long for the return of Christ are obviously walking in such a way as not to be ashamed at His coming.

3. This crown is permanent( I Peter 5:4), incorruptible (I Corinthians 9:25), unlike the fleeting glories of this life.

4. The 24 elders, seeming representatives of the saints before and after Jesus’ Incarnation, all have crowns, but they quickly remove them and cast them before Jesus. We will soon realize the inappropriateness of wielding power in the light of the greatness of this Lord, Who wore a crown of thorns on our behalf. We will know that it is pure grace that we even have a crown to throw at His feet.

So I ask you again, is it possible to “lose” the crown? If indeed there are a set number of crowns, one for every elect child of God, how could someone take mine? I submit that warnings such as this fit into the same category as things Paul said to the churches He wrote. Immediately there comes to mind II Corinthians 13:5, “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Prove yourselves… Jesus Christ is in you unless indeed you are disqualified”. Disqualified? Someone else take my crown? That is, the crown I thought was mine? Is it possible that members of the congregation, upon taking Paul’s simple test, will find that they are not members of the church, and be born again?

It is not my desire to use John, or Paul for that matter, to demand a Calvinist interpretation of all Scriptures. The security of each believer is as strong as the promises of God, but when warnings are given, the godliest in the church need to examine themselves. The rest God will take care of.

The New Jerusalem (3:12). The Spirit here anticipates what shall not even be announced until the end of the Book, and which perhaps will not be revealed, at least as a city “coming down out of heaven”, until 1000 years after Jesus comes. Here also is first mention of the “Temple.” But in that final version of the City of God, there shall be no “Temple” as we know Temples, for the Lord God Himself is the Temple!

The apostle Paul mentions this wondrous City 30-40 years earlier in (what we suppose to be) his epistle to the Hebrews, 11:16, 12:22. And, this must be in Jesus’ mind when He speaks those words of comfort to the disciples before leaving: (John 14: 1ff) “In My Father’s house are many mansions… I go to prepare a place for you.”