7churches.htm

The apostle John had had a long and exciting life. Tradition has it that the Roman government had even tried to execute him by immersing him in boiling oil. But for this old saint, it was just another baptism, and the oil caused no harm. Finally, the aged apostle was banished to the island of Patmos, where there was nothing left to do but die.

Jesus has a different way of looking at things than we do, and He visited John for one last time. . The power, sounds, sights, and symbology were so overwhelming that John fell at his feet as a dead man. Jesus then gently laid His hand on him comforted him, and instructed him to write down what he had seen, and was about to see.

After some initial explanations of the symbology, Jesus begins to specifically address seven different churches that were in existence at that time. Being all within a circle of about 150 miles, they obviously didn’t represent all the nations and cultures of the world, so why were these particular churches selected as examples for the rest of the world?

I would suggest that although the towns did not represent a broad geographical sample, that their problems did. Even in today’s world of high mobility and instant communication the messages in these letters remain important everywhere.

Beyond the geographical areas, we see a progression in these letters that details the spiritual growth, challenges, and opportunities of every one of us.

As I read through these letters again and again, exciting patterns emerged that tied the conditions, challenges, and opportunities facing these churches to other features in the Bible. The resulting study is greatly enriched by the details and insights contributed by widely divergent patterns and scriptural references.

We begin to discover here that the Christian walk is indeed a pathway, with a sequence of priorities and opportunities. We become alerted to pitfalls, and are given instructions and encouragements on how to overcome them. This study is very relevant to understanding spiritual growth. It addresses problems we see in churches, and the rewards of overcoming the various obstacles

It is amazing to see the tight entwining of the teachings of the Bible, the Christian walk, and Hebrew traditions, and it helps us to grow in confidence towards our God of order. Some of the correlations between the churches and Biblical features are fairly obvious, and others appear more obscure, or lacking altogether. Before proceeding, let’s review some of the patterns found in scripture:

Structurally, God is revealed in the triune aspects of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Man, created in the image of God, consists of spirit, soul, and body. From an administrative standpoint however, we see that God’s expressions are organized in groups of seven. The tabernacle for instance, consists of three structural areas, and is furnished with seven prominent features.

We are referred to as God’s temple, both individually and as a church. Now we know that the temple consists of a court yard, and a two-room building consisting of a holy place, and a most holy place. There are also correlations here between these and our bodies, souls, and spirits. The body for instance can be seen by all, as could the courtyard of the temple. Our souls and spirits however are hidden, as were the interior rooms of the temple.

Going a step further, we might note that there are three types of lighting in the temple. There is (a) the natural light of day which serves the courtyard, (b) the oil, which serves the holy place, and (c) the shekinah glory of God Himself which illuminates the holy of holies beyond the veil. Spiritually, I believe these represent (a) understandings that are available through study and human logic, (b) that which is revealed supernaturally by the Spirit, and (c) that which is only understood when we are so close to the heartbeat of God that we feel what He feels and see what He sees. These are the moments when we know as we are known.

Dropping down into further detail, the first feature of the temple is the gate. The sacrifice was killed outside this gate, even as Christ was crucified outside the city. The death and subsequent passage of the sacrifice through the gate represents the repentance and baptism of the believer as we begin our spiritual journey (the word “baptism” simply means to place into).

The acceptance of Christ puts us on a collision course with much we have served in the past. Often we undergo persecutions, and conflict with old friends, abandonment of long-established habits, and other changes. The first item before

us in the temple is the bronze alter, where the corpse of the sacrificed animal is consumed.

The next item is the bronze laver, a huge wash basin. Here we are washed by the water of the word, a new world perspective is gained as we study God’s word and become grounded in essential doctrines. We are encouraged in the Bible to be

diligent in such studies of the “logos” word of God. Logic and scholarship are important here.

We then enter the two-roomed building, and encounter the fourth item. This is the show-bread, which was baked fresh daily and placed before the Lord. This too represents the word of God, but presented in a different way. In the temple, it was not visible to the light of day, nor in the spiritual sense, is it acquired by human reasoning. This is the rehma word of God, that which ministers to our spirits daily as we seek His guidance. It is the hidden manna that is made visible by the light of the menorah, the lampstand fueled by oil representing the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

The fifth item is the menorah itself, a series of seven oil lamps forged from a single piece of gold. We are called to be lights to the world. Studying the word of God, and learning to be led by the Holy Spirit are important, but we have not completed our callings if we do not let our lights shine.

The alter of incense is next, and it stands before the veil. In scripture we find incense as representing the prayers of the saints. We must stand before God and intercede for the world around us. There are spiritual forces at work that must be confronted through the diligent prayer of the saints.

Finally, beyond the veil, sits the ark of the covenant, upon which is the mercy seat, and the presence of God Himself. It was from this ark that power came forth in ancient times and performed mighty deeds. The prayers and intercedings of

Christians bring this power to bear upon the forces of darkness.

Although the letters were written to churches with widely divergent levels of spirituality, income, and challenges, there were certain structural forms common to all of them

1. Each letter begins by describing Jesus in terms of one or more features seen by John in the first chapter. We will find that these features are appropriate to the respective church being addressed.

2. Not all of the seven churches received reprimands (two did not), but they all faced challenges and received encouragement and direction.

3. There were promises to those who overcame the challenges. In many cases, they introduced the next item in the temple sequence.

Keep in mind that although there is a sequence in the temple, all of the components existed at the same time. The point is that while we may be struggling with specific challenges, all aspects of the Christian walk remain continuously

relevant to our spiritual growth.

I’ll need your help in communicating the concepts to follow. Although it may not seem like it, I have tried to keep things as simple and brief as possible. One of the things I’m counting on you to do however is to read this with the Bible text (Rev. 1, 2, & 3) open before you. The good news is that this is about a third as long as it might be; the other news is that you’ll need to be reading Bible verses in context for all of this to make sense.

EPHESUS -- Rev.2:1-7

--- Appearance of Christ ---

Jesus appears here as the One who holds the seven stars in His right hand. Rev 1:20 tells us that these stars are the the pastors of the churches. ( Note: The word “angels” is used, but this is the same word used for messenger and for pastor. John was instructed to write physical letters to physical pastors, which in turn were responsible to communicate to their respective congregations.)

Jesus is also described as the one who walks among the lamp stands. Jesus watches the churches very carefully, but only expresses His will through individuals within the churches.

What characterizes the deeds that one does when they are first saved? They talk about Jesus everywhere. Jesus is the subject that is foremost on their minds and hearts. Jesus occupies their time, their thinking, their conversations, and their basis of relationships. The discovery of life has exploded into a joyful mission of exploration and sharing. Futility has been replaced by purpose, selfishness by love, and competition by compassion.

The challenge is to return to this level of love, involvement, and zeal. “Shhhh” says the devil; “JOY!” says the Lord!!

This tree of life (reference the Bible text here)was in the Garden of Eden, although it was never accessed by Adam and Eve. The result of partaking of this tree is everlasting life. This is the reward for those who overcome. It is significant that these promises are always addressed to individuals within the churches, and never the church as a whole. No matter what our circumstances, or the conditions of the people in the churches around us, we each have an opportunity and a responsibility to remain pure before God.

--- Additional Notes ---

There were two forbidden trees in the garden of Eden. Eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil brought a death sentence. If you do your best to do all the right things, based upon what you are able to learn from the Bible and all the available teachers, you can still miss the whole objective of creation -- i.e. Having a love relationship with God.

Knowledge is good, but it is also power, and when it becomes more important than obedience to God, this quest for power becomes a form of competition with God -- rebellion. Take time to admire, appreciate, and love God.

Rev.2:1. “To the angel ....”(pastor): In any church there is likely to be a wide range of individual needs and maturity levels. God places men in charge to care for people individually, and to assist in meeting their respective spiritual needs. In these letters, Jesus hands the encouragements, warnings, and instructions to such individuals, to be administrated and distributed at the local level.

Verses 2 & 3 indicate a sincere pursuit of the truth; effort was invested, evil people were not tolerated, and those making bogus spiritual claims were examined, tested, and exposed. The profession of their faith was challenged, but they held fast and persevered. These are all great things, but at this point, they were apparently driven by something besides love.

Verse 5. The church at Ephesus had already been sentenced: Jesus was on His way to remove its lampstand. There was still time though; repentance could have prevented the death of this church. This parallels the status of everyone born. Our status in life is that of the spiritually condemned, but we are given instruction, time, and opportunity to avoid this sentence through repentance.

It is much cheaper to sacrifice than to love, and it is sobering that, other than the Biblical record, there is no historical trace that this church ever existed (the existence of the other six churches have been confirmed through history and archaeology).

SMYRNA -- 2:8-11

--- Appearance of Christ: ---

“The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life” Jesus surrendered every possession and breath of His physical life, for the spiritual benefits to be thus purchased. He entered this realm, experienced death, and overcame death. Jesus is well qualified to minister to people who are undergoing or facing persecution. He can also tell them first-hand about the joys of the victories that await on the other side. The name “Smyrna” comes from “myrrh,” a spice used widely in embalming.

New Christians are often brought into immediate conflict with everything they have valued in the past. As their values have changed, so have their connections and relationships to everything currently in their lives. There is a period of loss of old pursuits and interests, often rejection by friends, the abandonment of former forms of entertainment and goals.

In addition to the changes brought on by the choices, the enemies in the spirit realm may launch a terrific onslaught of destruction and persecution. This challenge to your newfound life may consume everything but the new life itself.

This corresponds to the bronze alter, where the animal slain outside the gate is now consumed by fire. It is significant that Old Testament teachings declare that the life is in the blood, and that a portion of the blood is set aside to continue on through the temple, until finally it is to be presented before the mercy seat.

One sure thing about life is that you never get out of it alive, but it’s the second death that really hurts. Everything we are or have, including the bodies we live in, is only borrowed for awhile. During our brief visit however, we have the opportunity to exchange a life that we really can’t keep, for one that we can. Endure persecution as a living sacrifice, and you can ignore death for the rest of eternity.

Verse 9:. “I know your tribulation...” Jesus didn’t say “I know about your tribulation,” He had been there and had been tested as they were being tested. Jesus was qualified by experience to understand and minister to the agony of their trials.

The most desperate assaults against believers come from those who would compete for spiritual superiority. This “synagogue of Satan” are phonies to begin with, who apparently had been getting away with infiltrating the church. The fire of persecution was getting a little too hot for them however, and they are advocating things that would relieve the pressure. They are like Job’s wife who wanted out of her connection to one who was going through so much, and told him to “curse God and die.”

These are like Job’s friends who, when they could not understand what was going on, began to dream up all sorts of logical reasons for it. These “reasons” of course, obviously could not dare be against a perfect God, so they all had to take the form of accusations against Job. They did not have the humility to recognize -- as Job did -- that they simply did not understand. These are not the kind of people you want along side you when the going gets tough! These are the people who attempt to run things based upon man’s interests instead of God’s. These are the people of the spirit addressed by Jesus when he turned to Peter and said “Get behind me, Satan!” (Mt.16:21-23). verse 9 also mentions “...and your poverty (but you are rich).” It is an interesting contrast that in the seventh letter we have a church enjoying material wealth, whom God calls poor -- as well as blind.

PERGAMUM -- 2:12-17

--- Appearance of Christ ---

“The one who has the sharp two-edge sword...” In Rev.1:16 we see that this sword is coming from the mouth of Jesus. From this and other scriptures we see that “sword” is often used as a metaphor to denote the word of God. It is also significant that the city of Pergamum contained a massive library of over 200,000 volumes. God’s word has competition!

Unable to dislodge the new believer by destruction or intimidation, an attempt is made to lead astray through distorted doctrines. An understanding of the Bible is an important tool in resisting false doctrines. The most important part of understanding God’s word is to know the author. False doctrines arise from people who are trying to make the Bible serve their own desires; this is what makes them so appealing to the flesh. By keeping your heart on the objectives of love and obedience towards God, the scriptures themselves will make a whole lot more sense. The other part is scholarship. Disciplined study is important to (a) provide an opportunity for God to reveal additional truth, (b) confront those promoting false doctrines with the authority of the written word, and (c) encouraging other believers who have not yet learned to listen to God.

A relationship with God, coupled with even minimal scholarship, enabled otherwise uneducated men to overwhelm the wisdom of an academic establishment (the priesthood), who had devoted their entire lives to study. Careful and prayerful study will reveal the characteristics and false motives behind organizations and false doctrines within the church. These usually apply Christian terminology to demonic doctrines, and oppose the truth of God’s word through stealth.

Notice that the challenge actually revolves around people. Although the specific doctrines identify the people, it is the individuals who hold such doctrines that are the concern of this letter. There are many people who admire and are attracted to churches because of the lives of the people they see there (plus by social opportunities etc.), but Jesus himself does not tolerate their recognition within His church. There are many people who disdain Christianity, and are repulsed by churches because of the lives of people who attend.

The discipline of the heart and mind in seeking God within His written word, prepares the follower to properly handle things revealed by the Spirit -- the hidden manna. You’ll enjoy this one when we move on to the next letter. Peter refers to us as living stones, being built up into a spiritual house. People who are diligent in pursuit of knowing the heart of God are given places of ministry within His church. I love the fact that the name given is a secret between you and God. Jesus treasures our individuality, and protects the fact that no one else besides you and He will ever fully understand how He intends to use you in ministry.

This church correlates with the bronze laver, or wash basin. In the book of Ephesians, we see that the bride of Christ is “washed by the water of the word.” This sequence of the alter followed by teaching is also reflected in Romans 12:1 & 2. In verse 1 we are told to present our bodies as a living sacrifice. In verse 2 we are told to be transformed by the renewing of our minds so that we may prove (by testing) what the will of God is.

The next step involves receiving revelation by the Spirit, in addition to that which is learned by study. The initial miracles in the church were performed primarily through the apostles, those who had been trained for the past 3-1/2 years. Concerning the rest of the church, it says they were devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching (Acts 2:42). A little later on, we begin to see others, such as Stephen and Philip, operating in gifts of revelation and miracles. We also see this pattern during the growth of the church at Antioch. Saul of Tarsus (before he was called “Paul”) was brought in as a teacher for the young church in Acts 11:26, just before the mention of those with gifts of Spirit revelation arriving from Jerusalem in verse 27. It’s a good idea to read the instructions before exposure to the heavy equipment.

THYATIRA -- 2:18-29

--- Appearance of Christ: ---

Jesus is noted here as one “who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet are like burnished bronze.” We now enter an environment illuminated by the oil of the lampstand. This “flame of fire” reveals things even when it is dark outside and the natural light of day (human logic) is not available to guide us.

There is now an attempt to lead astray through false spirit voices. As a believer’s heart becomes accustomed to receiving divine revelation directly through the Holy Spirit, there will be other spirit voices that will attempt to emulate the Holy Spirit. Just as false doctrines based upon logical and scholastic distortions attempted to lead the believer off into flesh-fulfilling

paths, so will spirit voices attempt to intrigue the mind and heart with sensuality.

These spirits will likewise tell people that they want to hear, set up coincidenti and false wonders. These are designed to woo the intellect into lustful studies of things strange and perverse. In some cases, such things may decree instances of immorality to be ordered by God. Men and women have abandoned their spouses and families under the voluntary spell of such sorceries.

Verse 26: Overcoming these enticements, and keeping the deeds of Jesus leads to positions of authority from the Father. Authority over the nations is promised in this quote from Ps.3:8&9. Jesus also speaks of giving the morning star. Since it is Jesus doing the giving, then He can’t very well be this morning star, and the context connotes conquest -- you figure it out who this “morning star” is. I have my suspicions, but am reluctant to share them at this point.

The first item encountered in this illuminated environment is the showbread which was baked fresh daily. This represents the rehma word of God which guides us daily as we worship God and seek His wisdom in our lives. The manna was provided daily by God in the wilderness, and if you tried to use what was given the day before, it was no good. When God tells us to do something today, there is no point in doing it later instead. This bread is illuminated by the oil of the lampstand and is not visible by means of daylight (or logic), but only by the revelation of the Holy Spirit. It is the hidden manna referred to in the previous church (Pergamum).

--- Appearance of Christ: ---

Jesus is presented as “He who has the seven spirits of God. John had mentioned these seven spirits as being before the throne, and as playing a part in delivering the messages in Rev.1:4. Also note, that the seven spirits were not the angels of the churches, but rather, along with John, participated in communicating the letters.

Jesus is also presented as “He who has the seven stars.” a reference to Rev.1:16&20. The seven stars are the messengers (pastors) who are responsible to illumine the churches with the revelation and messages that Jesus desires to communicate. Jesus walks among the candlesticks (the churches), but holds the pastors in His right hand. The presentation of Jesus here, is all about the light of God shining forth in the church the world. As we would expect, this letter therefore corresponds with the menorah that illuminates the holy place within which the anointed priests would serve.

The church at Sardis had a reputation for being alive, but it was in fact, dead. How does a church appear to be alive, and still be dead? I would suspect that people who were seeking blessings were attracted to it. It may have been a “happening place” in its day, with terrific music and late model chariots in its parking lot. They may have had anointed teachers and great healing

From God’s perspective however, they had not been diligent in the things they had been called to do. The viability of life is better judged by it’s ability to reproduce, than by its ability to merely grow. Presumably they were an anointed people, or they would never have gotten the reputation they enjoyed. If they hadn’t been dealing with people with false spirits and false teachings, they would never have gotten as far as they had. Like the 120 in the upper room on the day of Pentecost, they had been given power and authority to rule the nations, and to break the spirit strongholds in the world around them, but they had not been walking in this authority.

The authority of conquest they had been given for having overcome the sort of problems confronting Thyatira, had not been exercised. They had received talents from the Master, but had buried them at home, rather than investing them in the surrounding markets. Spiritual giftings are not just ornaments; there is work to be done, and there is authority to be exercised.

The challenge is to overcome the lethargy brought on by status and contentment. Accepting the praise of men is deception, and is a call to relax spiritually, when we should be confronting and conquering. Those who exalt men are like the Gibeonites, who by flattery and deceit defuse their own conquest. A similar attempt at this tactic was made during the rebuilding of the temple, but in this case, it was soundly rejected. King Saul had been given authority and a commission to conquer, but he did not complete the assignment. As a result, he lost his authority, his kingdom, and ultimately his life (1 Sam. 15). The nation he ruled was not lost however, but his kingdom and his authority were transferred to someone more worthy.

If you have been seeking God, and He has given you vision and giftings, enjoy them, walk in them, and praise God for the results you’ll get to see. Accept these things, but recognize them as very serious responsibilities. We need to stay alert to the condition of our hearts and the directions of our desires, and Jesus provides us with a checklist right here in Sardis City. (a) Wake up and inventory your condition. (b) Rebuild and strengthen whatever you find still alive. (c) Take a look at what you’ve received and learned in the past, and walk in it. (d) Repent of any negligence.

Sometimes when we are sleeping lightly, we have the option or waking up or continuing to sleep. We have a choice. If we choose to continue to slumber concerning the issues above, we are going to be surprised at the cost of our indiligence when Jesus calls us to account for it.

The reward here is for those “..who have not soiled their garments...” But who said anything about dirt? Those who kept their hearts and minds on God were not contaminated by self interests. Their hearts and visions remained on the path God had placed before them, and they did not cross the muddy ditches on either side of the road. There is also opportunity for those who repent. We are all invited to wake up and return to the path.

I don’t like what I am about to write, but I didn’t write Rev.3:5. It includes the phrase “I will not erase his name from the book of life.” The implications of this are pretty plain, and I hate to use this word, but we would be fools to ignore them. I have no further commentary here, other than to suggest that this context and statement be compare with the lesson of king Saul in 1Sam.15.

The part of verse 5 that I enjoy, is the part where Jesus speaks of confessing our (we overcomers) names before the Father and before His angles. I am confident that the news of our overcoming will not be a secret anywhere in the spirit realm. The demons at Ephesus certainly knew who DIVaul was, and I believe their friends are going to become increasingly concerned about who we are.

This place had a reputation. It was one of the anointed hot spots. If you wanted a healing or prophecy -- you should have seen the service last night. This is a safe and prosperous place for believers, and all expressions of faith were warmly welcomed.

Jerusalem might have become such a church, but sudden and severe persecution kicked over the tables of the might-have-been money changers and bless-me-clubs of the day. Suddenly those who professed were either fleeing the territory or blending into the cultural and religious woodwork of the region. The wheat and tares were suddenly separated. Christianity and Christians were then tested in the streets, in other towns, in other countries and in other cultures. The tares, having no real spiritual life of their own, soon cooled, while the true sparks, went on to endure opposition and to ignite other fires.

James 2:14-26 is a difficult and annoying passage of scripture. It deals with the importance of works in that they are the result and evidence of faith. In Rev.3:1&2 we see a church at Sardis that appears to be alive, but is in fact dying for a lack of works. In the case of Ephesus (Rev.2:4&5), we see that the wrong kind of activity is dead as well. Look at it this way: If a body is warm, it probably isn’t a corpse; warmth is an evidence of physical life, as works are an evidence of spiritual life.

PHILADELPHIA -- 3:7-13

--- Appearance of Christ:

Holy and true, (He) who has the key of David, (He) who controls doors

--- Promise --- (Jesus had no problem to address in this church, only an encouragement to offer.)

It is time for the wheat and tares to be separated. The false seeds that have been allowed to grow along-side the true fruit-bearing believers are now shaken out. The impostors, the tag-alongs, the fruitless, the politically ambitions, the comfort-seekers will now stand naked for what they are, and acknowledge the leaders they opposed. Those having “a form of godliness but denying the power” will bow to those willing and fearless enough to actually exercise their power.

--- Notes --- Rev3:7-13

Verse 7: Jesus controls our opportunities. These open and closed doors do not appear on just any path. The One who provides them is holy and true, and the path of meaning must be followed in like manner. Verse 8: The opportunities are conditional: “I know your deeds.” Waiting for doors is active, and full of deeds. It means being actively diligent within your current set of responsibilities and opportunities. God’s open doors cannot be controlled by the will or actions of any person or group.

When God sets an open door before us, it is our open door, and no amount of opposition or danger can close it. “..He who calls, will perform..” This particular door was there because of their activity in deeds. (a) They had exercised and developed the use of power in their lifestyle. (b) They had kept God’s word. There is a difference between holding and keeping. A corpse can hold something, but these saints had had God’s word out there where it had been challenged, and at times they had had to cling to it by faith. They had been exposed to temptation and overcome. (c) They had not denied Jesus’s name. The name had been challenged; This means that their association with it had cost them.

The name of Jesus had been carried into hostile territory by them, been seen by the world in them, and it had proven more valuable to them than their reputations. This God whom some had thought was dead or obsolete, had stood up very much alive and undeniably real in their very faces. Since the name of Jesus had not been denied under pressure, the world had been forced to evaluate its own beliefs.

These people had been active in completing the works that were left undone in the church at Sardis.

This open door was for those who had defined themselves as activists and subduers, and who disciplined their lives to be obedient to God’s word. Verse 9: The synagogue of Satan is within our midst. These are the tares that were sown among the wheat by the wicked one (Mt.13:24-30). The demonstration of God’s power, the steadfastness during persecution, and love, the fruit of the Spirit, are separating the true believers from those with false motives. These tares have gotten along fine until now. They’ve professed to love Jesus, they’ve studied the Bible; Some of them have even participated in spiritual gifts. (Mt.7:21-23).

These were made uncomfortable by the persecutions at Smyrna, and had joined the opposition to avoid the pressure. They were annoyed at the “big deal” made over the doctrines they preferred at Pergamum, and considered it very unloving to treat Jezebel like the church did at Thyatira. Sardis was kind of fun; love and religious fantasy flowed freely. There was no test of conviction within a culture that loved Jesus, professes His word, and did nothing. But then some radical do-gooders started stirring up trouble, and now the pressure is really on. Their comforts had been withdrawn as the church at Philadelphia had surged forward in true dedication and purpose. Furthermore, there is this doorway looming ahead of them, and they know that the One who controls it will never allow them to pass. They are doomed to become homeless in the very near future. They have nothing left but to beg alms and forgiveness of those they have stolen from and opposed for so long. The bless-me club is over, and Judas has met his end.

In this light these tares are being compared against those who have stepped out of the cradle, equipped themselves, and gone out into combat. They now stand in astonished nakedness before the armored warriors who have stepped forward from their midst and conquered. The slave who buried his Master’s talent is without a home. Procrastination has born the fruit of poverty.

verse 10. The perseverance or steadfastness here presumably refers back to clinging to God’s word and name, along with the active exercise of power while so doing (verse 8). These warriors have already accepted testing, and have proven faithful. Therefore, there is no need to test them further. There is a period of testing to come upon the world.

Scholars generally agree that there are to be 3-1/2 years of extreme “weather” -- i.e. plagues and disasters. According to this verse, those who have gone out into battle and born the fruit of conquest will be protected from the tribulations to come upon the earth (consider Rev.12:6-17). This testing will consume the tares before the harvest (Mt.13:30). The form of this protection may well follow the Biblical pattern of protection while the world around them is in the midst of judgment. We see this during the plagues of Egypt, Noah during the flood, and the siege of Jerusalem during Hezekiah’s time (see also Psalms 91). In any case, there is a doorway here that leads still closer to the heart of God. It is significant that this sixth church corresponds to the alter of incense. This is the last item before the veil in the temple, which only Jesus was able to open. No power of man or darkness is able to close this door. Jesus ripped this veil from top to bottom, just as soon as He had purchased it with His very own blood -- however: Jesus now owns it, and only allows access to those who choose to walk in His forgiveness.

LAODICEA -- 3:14-22

--- Appearance of Christ: ---

Faithful and true witness, the beginning (source, origin) of creation. Jesus is the source of creation. He is the witness, the visible expression (the word) of the invisible God, as our bodies visibly express our souls (Jn.1:1-3, Col.1:15-17, Heb.1:2,3, Rev.1:8 -- there are more references if you need them).

Beyond the veil there is no daylight, and there is no light from the candlestick. The light beyond the veil is the glory of God. This is the lighting of the New Jerusalem, which needs neither sun nor moon (Rev.21:23). All things are evident in this light. 1Cor.13:12 “...but then, face to face...know fully, just as I am fully known.”

In Jn5:19-21 & 30, Jesus did only what He saw the Father doing, and judged only as He heard the Father judging. He did nothing of His own initiative. this is why He was the faithful and true witness. In Col.1:17 and in Heb.1:3, we see that creation itself is continuously dependent upon His faithfulness. If He was not faithful, we wouldn’t exist at all. As the Creator, He is the definition of ultimate truth We have seen various aspects of Jesus addressing different stages of Christian growth and dealing with various challenges, but here we get the big picture, and now, He speaks.

--- Challenge --- (1 Jn. 3:17)

Jesus wastes no time here: It is our human nature to try to fabricate eternities out of fragments of time; we look for positions of stability, and for controllable futures. But we see in Jn.3:8 that those who are walking by the Spirit are forever in motion. God gives us periods of rest, but then, He moves us on. Here are people who feel they have done everything they have been told to do. They were obedient. The Christians at Laodicea (assuming the previous steps had taken place) had been active in external ministries, had persevered in persecution, and had been identifiable by their love -- come on now, what else is there? They could go through all their little checklists and find nothing wrong with themselves. The Pharisees did that, and so did Paul (while he was still called Saul).

This practice basically makes listening to God unnecessary. After all, when we really get all our doctrines right there is a temptation to say “OK God, I get the picture, and I can do it from here.” The actual terminology Jesus the Creator uses in response to this contentment with status quo is literally: “I am going to vomit you out of my mouth.”

It is time for our self-images to be purified of the “self” part. We are in fact to be in God’s image. We need to accept the heart, perspective, and zeal of God. Even if we have received salvation, freedom, doctrine, revelation, power and separation, we have fallen short if we do not allow His very heart to beat within us. The heart of God is the gold refined by fire, that does not relate to uncleanness of any kind; it compels our vision to see things as He sees them.

This makes us one with Him, and comfortable at His table. Communication is a two-way street. They had entered the veil and come through the doorway of God, but they had not opened their own veils and doors of protection. they had not made all of their hearts, desires, and thoughts available to Jesus for His view and discussion. They had not yet offered everything to Jesus as Jesus had offered everything to them. There were things Jesus could not explain to them and give to them, because there were yet things they were unwilling to discuss and give. And Jesus says “Come now, and buy. Give me those wretched little things that are so personal and precious to you, and let me replace them with my glory and wealth.” I have to suspect that the proportions of this exchange would rival those of the exchange we made of our “righteousness” for God’s righteousness.

“Come now, open the door, and let’s talk face to face. Don’t look down, look at me. Please, let me touch you; let me wipe that tear. I already know all about that, and I can fix it for you. You didn’t think I loved you enough to love you anyway? Let’s walk together -- you and me. Let me show you where we get to sit!” This church too has a door, only in this case, it is up to each individual saint to open it.

There are many ways various scholars have presented the letters to the seven churches, one of them being historical and prophetic. I believe there is something to this, although I don’t buy into some of the things I’ve heard and/or read. What I do believe, is that any valid interpretation is going to be found in additional patterns within the Bible. This is a very helpful safeguard.

If the Bible says something once, it is valid of course, but somewhat susceptible to interpretation. If it is repeated in various places and forms however, the meaning, context, and relevance can be quite clear. This principle is becomes even more important in subjects -- like prophecy -- over which there is disagreement or controversy.

The reverberating theme of these letters is to call individual believers to deeper more intimate levels of love, purity, and obedience. We are heirs to become one with the purpose, power, and love of God. Each one of these challenging distractions seeks to entice the flesh in some way.